Golf clubs are exposed to significant pressure on the course, what with having to hit all those golf balls, sometimes missing and chipping the green.
As such, it is no surprise that club heads have been known to go flying off from time to time.
When this happens, you have to turn to epoxy – a special glue that attaches things such as club heads.
So, Can You Use Regular Epoxy for Golf Clubs?
Epoxy can be regular or specialized for golf club use. While you can certainly use either, it is best to use golf club epoxy because it is more suited to the job. It gives you better reattachment thanks to its high bonding strength.
If you are looking for epoxy for your clubs, this article highlights everything you should know about it.
What Is Epoxy?
Epoxy is a thermosetting polymer with a significant adhesive strength that can effectively attach golf club heads to the golf shaft. A golf club epoxy is typically strong enough to withstand hard impacts into the ground and fast clubhead speeds.
All epoxies come in a two-part formulation – the resin and the hardener – which are carefully stored in different containers and only mixed when ready to use.
Furthermore, these two bits of epoxy components tend to form a strong bond when mixed that will last for quite some time.
Usually, when a golf club is shipped from a manufacturer, they use epoxy to affix the clubhead intact.
However, if the epoxy either wears out, cracks, or has any other issue, you will be required to replace it.
This is when epoxy comes in handy.
Tip: When you place epoxy on a surface, it will not immediately adhere the parts together. After a while, however, it will start to harden, forming a very strong bond with the golf club and clubhead.
The Two Types of Golf Club Epoxy
There are two main types of golf club epoxies:
- quick cure epoxy
- long cure epoxy.
You can use either epoxy by placing it on the clubhead and shaft, where they will cure and harden to form a strong bond.
That said, they differ in how long they take to bond.
Long Cure Epoxy
The long cure epoxy is certainly the best choice for golfers due to its ability to form very strong bonds that safeguard your club head from damage caused by heavy impacts with the ground.
However, the main disadvantage with the long cure epoxy is that you will have to wait for about 14 to 20 hours before using your golf club.
Quick Cure Epoxy
The quick cure epoxy is an ideal choice if you happen to have a golf round or tournament the following day.
This is because it will only take 5 minutes to cure.
On the downside, it forms a less durable bond than the long cure epoxy.
Long Cure Epoxy Vs. Quick Cure Epoxy
Both of these epoxies have their unique abilities, pros, and cons.
If you want an adherent for your club that will last for a long time, the long cure epoxy is the right choice for you.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a quick fix that will not require you to be in a temperature-controlled environment, the quick cure epoxy is the better choice.
It is important to note that the quick cure epoxy could cause your club to potentially break later in the future.
What Is Golf Club Epoxy Used for?
Golf club epoxy is commonly used to attach golf club heads to the shaft of their clubs.
However, it cannot be used to fix broken golf shafts.
If the shaft of your golf club is broken, you must remove the clubhead, insert a new shaft, and then use epoxy to attach them firmly.
Is Regular Epoxy Ideal for Golf Clubs?
If you have some epoxy around your home, you might be wondering if it will work for your golf club.
While regular epoxy works much the same way as golf club epoxy, the two are suited to different jobs.
It is advisable only to use epoxy specifically built for golf clubs since the epoxy you have might not be ideal for fixing your golf club.
A golf club typically experiences excessive pressure when swung at speeds of over 60mph or when it makes an impact with the golf ball or the ground.
Golf club epoxies are specifically designed to withstand the excessive pressure and twisting of the club’s iron head.
This is unlike regular epoxy that might not create a strong enough bond to handle such exertion.
Important: Avoid putting reattached golf clubs in the trunk of your car, as the golf club epoxy could melt and lose effectiveness. This is especially true for quick cure epoxy.
Golf Epoxy Vs. Regular epoxy
Golf epoxy is most certainly the better choice compared to all-purpose two-component epoxies.
It has unique characteristics such as high elasticity and peer-shear strength that significantly increase the lifespan of your golf club.
It also has a relatively lower melting temperature than other regular epoxies.
Furthermore, golf epoxy has high adhesive strength that allows it to withstand the excessive impacts of your clubhead hitting the golf ball.
This epoxy is not as brittle as the other standard epoxies. The overall effect is that it is more effective in protecting your club head from cracking at the joint.
What Is the Best Epoxy PSI Number?
The best golf epoxy should have a PSI number of more than 2500 PSI.
For example, the GolfWorks shafting epoxy renders 90 percent curing to 2765 PSI daily and 100 percent curing to 3280 PSI weekly.
Moreover, this EPX epoxy has high shear strength and torque resistance and works efficiently with both steel and graphite shafts.
Related: Can You Reuse Golf Ferrules?
How to Apply Golf Club Epoxy
Golf club epoxy is fairly easy to apply if you understand what you are doing.
However, any mistakes made during the application can jeopardize the bond, leading to a weaker link.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you reattach your golf club head:
Step 1: Clean the Surface
To prevent curing problems, start by completely removing any old epoxy on your golf club head to the shaft, leaving it clean for new epoxy.
This helps strengthen the bond so that the connection is good enough to serve for long periods of time.
As soon as the old epoxy is off, use a solvent to clean the surfaces and allow them to dry before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Apply the Epoxy
As you apply epoxy to your golf club, make sure to use the required amounts to prevent creating a mess that could be difficult for you to clean up.
Using excessive amounts of epoxy does not really imply that your fix will be much more secure.
In fact, it might negate all your efforts when the golf club shaft and head don’t attach. During application, ensure that your club head is not crooked but straight.
It won’t be easy to adjust your clubhead to the proper position after the epoxy matures and firmly connects.
Step 3: Allow to Dry
As soon as your clubhead is firmly and straightly attached to the club shaft and your epoxy is in place, leave it to cure for a certain period of time.
Long cure epoxy must be allowed to cure in a room with temperatures of about 70-90 degrees.
Step 4: Start Using Your Golf Club
Once your golf club is completely dry, only perform simple golfing tasks within the first 24 hours.
Doing this is crucial because it will allow you more time to ascertain that the clubhead is in its proper place safely attached.
It helps confirm that the clubhead will not fly off as soon as you hit the range.
Golf Club Epoxy Alternative
If you are looking for an alternative to a golf club epoxy, try to find one that is closest to it.
Most golf-club epoxies are two-component long cure epoxies, and hardware stores often stock epoxies with the same characteristics.
That said, most of these epoxies are designed explicitly for perpendicular forces and could cause your clubhead to come off the shaft while playing.
Where Can You Find Golf Club Epoxy?
Regular epoxy is sold in hardware stores everywhere and is not that hard to find.
In contrast, golf club epoxy is typically sold at local club repair supply stores, where you might also find other golf-related consumables.
If you strike out at such a store or you don’t have one in your area, you can buy epoxy online through mega-retailers like Amazon.
Related: Are Golf Extensions Worth Investing In?
Final Thoughts
Even though a regular two-part epoxy found in local hardware stores can be used to re-shaft a damaged golf club, it is still advisable to use the only epoxy specifically designed for golf clubs.
Using epoxies that are not formulated to provide the shear strength required to completely keep both the golf club head and shaft intact could cause your clubhead to fly off the shaft when playing.