The technique depends on how the shaft broke and what it's made of. Here's how we handle both steel and graphite breaks in the shop.
What You'll Need
- Heat gun or propane micro-torch (steel can take torch; graphite gets heat gun)
- Easyout / screw extractor sized to the shaft tip (steel only)
- Drill with bits sized to the hosel ID (graphite)
- Needle-nose pliers or vise-grips
- Bench vise with rubber clubhead pads
- Heat-resistant gloves and safety glasses
- Wire brush or hosel cleaning bit for cleanup
- Well-ventilated workspace — burning graphite resin gives off toxic fumes
Step 1 — Assess the Break
- Stub protrudes from the hosel: heat the hosel, grip the stub with vise-grips or pliers, and twist it out.
- Flush or splintered break: proceed to the appropriate method below.
Method A: Steel Shaft Broken Flush
Step 1 — Secure and Clear the Hosel
Clamp the head in vise pads with the hosel pointing up. Drill out any debris (cork, swingweight material) until the hosel ID is clear.
Step 2 — Heat the Hosel
Apply propane torch heat to the hosel for 30+ seconds to break the epoxy bond. Stand to the side — pressure can launch the shaft remnant.
Step 3 — Drive the Easyout
Pound the easyout into the shaft remnant with a hammer until it's force-fit. Never heat the hosel with the easyout inserted — heat alters its temper and can snap it off inside.
Step 4 — Twist It Out
Reheat the hosel briefly if needed, then turn the easyout counterclockwise to back the remnant out.
Method B: Graphite Shaft Broken Flush
Step 1 — Secure and Heat
Clamp the head and apply heat from a heat gun (not a torch — graphite resin combusts at ~350°F). Try to grip and pull the remnant with needle-nose pliers first.
Step 2 — Drill It Out
If grip-and-pull fails, drill the remnant out using a bit slightly smaller than the hosel ID:
- 0.335" hosel: 8.6mm bit
- 0.350" hosel: 8.9mm bit
- 0.370" hosel: 9.4mm bit
Drill slowly. Stop before you reach the hosel stop at the bottom — drilling through it drops the plug into the hollow head, which is nearly impossible to retrieve.
Step 3 — Clean the Hosel
Run a wire brush or hosel cleaning bit through until the inside is shiny, raw metal.
Important Notes
- Always wear safety glasses. Heated shaft remnants can launch from the hosel when the epoxy releases.
- Ventilate well. Burning graphite resin produces toxic fumes — open the shop door and run a fan.
- Don't drill aggressively. A wandering bit will widen the hosel ID and ruin the head's spec.
- Once the hosel is clean, follow our How to Re-Shaft a Golf Club guide for the rebuild.