I built the perfect 6 iron (for me). How do I build out the rest of the set?

[Sparty4202]

1 hour ago, sirphilliam said:

As Howard mentioned, cutting shafts is very much an art and this is where I messed up the most. I only hit my target length 3/7, so I need to employ a better methodology for the next time around.  I don't have a bench grinder or the sort, but maybe an electronic sander with coarse paper will do next time.  I used pipe cutters and did a little bit of grinding with a file, but I cut too short too many times. 

Congrats on your new hobby…

Cutting can be tricky. If your plan is to build more you may want to pick up and inexpensive 6” Chop saw from Harbor Freight it will pay for itself in the long run. I’ve been building clubs for 20+ years and still cut everything a little over length and the grind down to get it exact.

[sirphilliam]

I had a question regarding softstepping AND cutting down 0.5 inches. Because I am technically doing both, is it almost like I'm playing softstepping x2? I only mention this because I realized a lot of the butt section of the shaft has been taken off and the grip starts going on the steps. 

[Howard_Jones]

2 hours ago, sirphilliam said:

I had a question regarding softstepping AND cutting down 0.5 inches. Because I am technically doing both, is it almost like I'm playing softstepping x2? I only mention this because I realized a lot of the butt section of the shaft has been taken off and the grip starts going on the steps. 

Lets start with the butt section left after all is done.
- A normal golf grip is about 10.50 as "insert", and you will most likely never see a shaft model that has a strait butt section of 10.50" after butt cut to play length.

If we still talk DG X100 130 gram, the uncut butt section is 10", and for most players irons thats relevant as head on this shafts, BBGM is 1.25", so we will in most cases end up like this:

#9 standard PL = 36.00
Uncut shaft = 37.00
BBGM = 1.25
Gross grip cap to top of dome = 0.25
= SUM club before butt cut = 38.50"
MINUS TARGET 36.00
= 2.5" inch butt cut
Uncut butt section 8 minus 2.5 butt cutt = 5.50 long 0.600 butt left

Steps is 1.75 long (cut butt + steps = )
1 step = Butt 5.5 + 1.75 = 7.25
2 step = Butt 5.5 + 3.5 = 9.0
3 step = Butt 5.5 + 5.25 = 10.75
We need 10.50 inches, so the grip will cover 1.50 of step number 3 (only 0.25 visible below the front end of the grip) even at standard play length.

If you both soft stepped (0.5 more butt cutt), AND went 0.5 shorter than standard, the 0.600 butt section is now only 4.50" long, so the grip will now cover 0.75 of step 4(1.0 inch of step 4 visible). Turned upside down, counting steps from the tip, 1.0 of step 9 from the tip shall now be visible. This can vary a little, depending on the actual grip model, and if they was installed "correct" (many does not check it, ending up with some grips stretched a little, others not or a tad shorter. A marker on the shaft where the mouth shall end is helpful for this during grip install)

Is grips over the steps bad ? NO, the S flex 130 gram started out with 2 inch shorter butt section, so your butt section length is the same as S300 at plus 1.0 as overlength...

As you can see, you have nothing to worry about, and the butt section on DG X100 is not moving much as flex when we go shorter or longer, its close to neutral vs its natural flex slope.

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT
What we can (and should) do about it (no matter shaft model), is to build up the steps, so we get a even and strait butt section thats long enough for "full insert minus the "mouth" of the grip" (tape area is between the white rings we see at both ends . We dont add tape under the mouth, the rubber mouth will "close", the front of the grip to prevent water coming in that way, and mess with your grip tape and build up.

DG X100 has a progression to Step OD very close to 0.015 per step, so i suggest we use BU tape (Mitchell Golf), thats 0.015, then we build up the steps like this.
- First step from the butt = 1 layer
- Second step from the butt = 2 layers
- Third step from the butt = 3 layers 
- Forth step, 4 layers, but remember to adjust the wide of the tape to fit the length of the steps (1.75" )

ACTUAL measurements ive done on 1 DGX 100 #1 iron and #9 iron shaft (link)

PS! what im suggesting is NOT common, most just add grip tape (and the BU they use), and dont pay attention to that the grips taper and size for the lowest hand vary from shaft model to shaft model ,due to both net cut butt length (variable), step OD (Variable progression), and step length (Variable).

The same grip will by that feel different depending on shaft model and how we deal with the above. 

Grip size is always measured 2.0" inches down from the butt (Only 1.75 into the butt section of the shaft), The above is the reason for why we don't get specs from OD on the rest of the grip. Its simply not possible to deliver that, since it will vary from shaft model to shaft model, and also due to head BBGM, play length, and measure standard for play length. 

Treat this as you like, (go by what works and feels the best), but now you got some in depth education on grips vs shafts we hardly ever talk about.

Edited June 13 by Howard_Jones