Prosoft shaft inserts

therod

Just curious...has anyone tried installing them by just shoving them in with a dowel rod, or something similar? Just wondering how needed the install kit actually is...

sdandrea1

The tool puts them at the proper depth. I'm not sure how critical that depth is to their effectiveness, but I've always used the tool.

@ValueGolf (Aaron) may weigh in.

Rickochet

I cant remember how far to insert them but I think they need to go down about 14" into the shaft and the inserts are about 10" long. You can't just push them in as they are too noodly. You have to drag them down the shaft from the lower end of the insert. Maybe try inserting the insert about 1" in the shaft then use a 1/4" wooden dowel next to the insert tip and push it down the shaft then pull out the dowel. Put a mark on the dowel at the proper depth. If you want to pull the insert out use a stiff piece of wire like a steel coat hanger with a small bend in the bottom to yank it out.

raggmann54

May I ask why not just the foam backer rod you can find in the window insulation section of Lowes or Home Depot instead of these inserts??

sdandrea1

raggmann54

It has been said that backer rod is not closed cell foam and will hold moisture, causing rust. ProSoft inserts are made of closed cell foam. I have used both but the ones from Value Golf go in easier.

Rickochet

raggmann54 May I ask why not just the foam backer rod you can find in the window insulation section of Lowes or Home Depot instead of these inserts??

I agree. The material looks the same. I first bought the Prosofts from MyOstrich when the first came out and made by FGI member Arniesgolf. The original material was a two color grey foam in a kind of figure 8 shape that allowed air passage after insertion. I liked it and the next time I ordered more it was a solid lighter grey round foam and larger (like backer rod). The original allowed air and moisture to pass. The new one did not and they would move position or pop out if you use air for gripping. I sent Arnie a pic of the old and the new together and he totally blew smoke up my ass telling me that they were the same and that the difference was that one was from the end of the roll. Total BS and the last of the "new inserts" I used to seal up cracks around a storm door.

Rickochet

sdandrea1 It has been said that backer rod is not closed cell foam and will hold moisture, causing rust. ProSoft inserts are made of closed cell foam. I have used both but the ones from Value Golf go in easier.

I recently used some 1/2" backer rod for a home insulatation project I got from Lowes and it looks exactly like the last batch of prosoft inserts I got. Open cell foam is like a sponge. Closed cell is shiny and slick. And inside the shaft it doesn't matter if it is closed or open cell. If air cannot pass from the tip of the shaft to the butt moisture can get trapped. That is why the sensicore inserts had a "straw" down the center of them.

raggmann54

sdandrea1 The backer rod I've used for years is closed cell. I've never had a problem with it in the past. Used the 3/8" version and seems to have plenty of room to "breathe" and let moisture escape from the shaft. Now all my shafts are graphite so I have no need for the product any more but I do have some iron sets in the shop that are steel shafted with the backer rod...

Arnie

Rickochet Sorry I don't "blow smoke" the color of the ProSoft insert material does vary from time to time and as it comes to me on a spool of 2500 feet sometimes toward the middle to end of the spool the material gets compressed and it flattens the material. The compressing is prevented with the new larger spools.

Arnie

Rickochet

the ProSoft material is dual density - open celI interior (for vibration dampening) and closed cell exterior (to prevent holding moisture against the shaft wall).
The "backer rod you can purchase at Home Depot or Lowes is a closed cell material which is much denser and it won't compress tgiven to meo install in a shaft. If you get this in a smaller diameter to fit a shaft it won't work well to dampen vibration. Value Golf has decided to sell something other than ProSoft Inserts with the reasons

sdandrea1

raggmann54 Now all my shafts are graphite so I have no need for the product any more

Same here. Steel shafted days are gone......

cpanther1995

raggmann54

I used closed cell backer rod in my Alpha irons when I built them 9 years ago ( a record for me to keep a set that long) many rounds of golf and many regripps and my Rifle 5.0 shafts have no rust.

potbunker

Closed cell only and you can get it at Lowes.

I have a tool and some inserts if interested.

A dowel does not work but coat hanger can.

Pushing it down the shaft will cause it to bunch up.

The tool goes in with the leading end or the insert, not the butt end of the insert.

Rickochet

potbunker A dowel does not work but coat hanger can.

Pushing it down the shaft will cause it to bunch up.

I have done it with a dowel. Agreed, you can't poke it down like packing the barrel of a long rifle but if you put the dowel tip along side the tip of the insert just like you would the installation tool and push it down with a little side pressure the insert will follow. Wire works also. Lots of ways to skin this cat.

LBlack14

Try putting the backer rod in a shaft and get back to me. I have.

LBlack14

cpanther1995 how'd you get it in the shaft?

ZWExton

The purpose of these is to "absorb" some of the impact, right? Maybe I need to look into these. I've been suffering on and off with a thumb injury for 18 months now that REALLY doesn't like divots. Can hardly play when it's "on."

sdandrea1

ZWExton The purpose of these is to "absorb" some of the impact, right? Maybe I need to look into these. I've been suffering on and off with a thumb injury for 18 months now that REALLY doesn't like divots. Can hardly play when it's "on."

They help, but graphite shafts are the real solution. My last ditch effort was steel-prosoft inserts-jumbo Golf Pride Tour Wrap 2G grips and that was tolerable but my tendinitis kept coming back. After the shoulder replacement surgery graphite became mandatory if I want to play 4 times a week.

Weirfan

ZWExton

They will definitely help particularly if you are a stronger player and not ready for old man graphite shafts in the irons. Bigger grips and a softer grip material will also help with absorption of vibtarion. clubhead design with more mass behind the contact area will also help . In extreme cases with hand injuries ive used therapeutic vibration dampening material that has a sticky tape side stuck to my hand of glove, of course this messes with ones normal grip

cpanther1995

LBlack14

Wooden dowell,and twisted the backer rod into the shaft. I positioned them about half way down the length of a grip.

DC300

I used to put them in with no tool, I took a coat hanger, bent the end enough to pinch the insert lightly, then wrapped the backer around the wire enough to hold it close as it went in. Once I got it where I wanted, just twist the wire the opposite way and pull it back out. Tool worked well, the clubs never felt a damn bit better.

LBlack14

cpanther1995 I gave up. The pressure wouldn't let the BR go into the shaft.

Rickochet

LBlack14 I gave up. The pressure wouldn't let the BR go into the shaft.

Sometimes you have to squeeze the insert a bit where it goes into the butt as you push it in with the other hand. For a righty you put the shaft in a vice, hold the tool with the right hand with the tip of the tool near the tip of the insert. As you push the tool/insert in with a little sideways pressure squeeze the insert near the shaft opening and push it in with the left hand.

LBlack14

Rickochet Sometimes you have to squeeze the insert a bit where it goes into the butt as you push it in with the other hand.

Rick, I use prosoft inserts and have the tool as well. I could NOT get backer rod to go into an iron shaft. I didn't spend a bunch of time f-ing with it being the PS inserts are very affordable.