Club Makers Help Golfers Get a Grip

Before he entered the business, Wade Liles didn't know all this was necessary. He assumed professional golfers bought clubs in January and were prepared for the rest of the year. He never could have guessed the balances, belt sanders and grinders existed, let alone were vital to many players' careers.

"Some players are still like that," said Liles, TaylorMade's PGA Tour technician, repair work whirring from a countertop nearby. "Some players you won't see at all, guys like Tom Lehman, they hardly do any club work. Some guys are in here every single day."

Liles and his colleagues are part of a weekly exodus of equipment specialists on the PGA Tour. Thirteen equipment trailers parked behind Congressional Country Club's clubhouse Sunday through Wednesday and were in service during practice rounds. Inside, manufacturers replaced gripping, installed driver heads, mounted shafts and tweaked club height and weight, among other things, to keep players happy.

"We do whatever they want," said Randy Shade, an Adams Golf manufacturer. "Everybody has a different golf swing. So you're using different shafts, different head combinations and different grips. There are different lengths and weights of the golf club for everybody."

Sizes of the operations vary. Trailers for large companies such as TaylorMade can be 32 feet long by 15 feet wide and include a lounge complete with a television and a computer. Setups for other companies such as Adams Golf can be much more humble, the work area resembling a high school shop classroom with tools scattered throughout.

Anyone can visit. Although they cater to those using their brands, manufacturers welcome everyone; they view the time as an opportunity to network and to strengthen relationships before the tournament's opening-day grind captures players' attention. Golf carts zipped along trailer row, and caddies made small talk with manufacturers over lunch. The interaction created a communal atmosphere that resonated beyond competition.

"They have to filter out a lot," said Bart Zaino, a caddie for golfer J.J. Henry. "That's what I learned [Tuesday]. If they don't have enough supplies, there's this understanding that they'll help one another."

Club repair doesn't take long. Because of demand, Liles said he builds a driver in about five minutes and a set of irons in about 30. He said he has seen an increase in business lately because players are making the transition to TaylorMade's Burner XD irons, released last year. A player's swing specifications are entered into a computer, printed and placed above the counter before a manufacturer gathers the appropriate head and shaft. Players will test adjustments on the driving range or course and return if they feel uncomfortable.

"I built one person 22 different drivers," he said. "He wasn't getting the numbers he wanted to see on the launch monitor. After 22 tries of different shafts, I was able to find him a driver that he was comfortable with."

By Wednesday night, the hum of trailer generators quieted. Manufacturers turned their focus to the John Deere Classic, held next week in Silvis, Ill. Some flew home to visit family. Others buckled in for the 13-hour drive to TPC Deere Run. The sun set on another pre-tournament session, and the exodus continued.

"Once they start playing," Liles said, "they're on their own."