It usually requires under $100 for bending the lie angle of all the 14 clubs of your golf bag. If your local golf shop adjusts a golf club’s lie angle within $6 for you in 10 minutes, why would you spend $500+ on a loft and lie machine to do that at home? Well, you don’t need to in this case.
But your golf clubs’ are likely to need the bending more often if you play on hard turf conditions. It can also be for hitting the ball in the hard mat of your golf simulator or swinging your golf clubs harder than others with deep divots in the golf course. In these situations, you may even need to modify the lie angle twice or thrice a year, meaning about $140- $300 every year. And much more than that in the coming years.
Thinking it that way, bending golf clubs’ at home is a better idea to save money in the long run. Plus, you have the option to earn some extra money by fixing the lie angle of your family members’ or golfer friends’ golf clubs.
Step by Step Guide on How to Bend Golf Clubs’ Lie Angle at Home
Step 1: Get yourself a loft and lie machine
The obvious first step is to get yourself a good loft and lie machine. Don’t even think of hitting the clubs with a hammer. That’s a horrible idea. You may end up breaking the hosel.
You can buy a loft and lie machine from a nearby golf repair center or golf club part manufacturer. Expect to spend $500 or more for a new and good-quality loft and lie machine. The economy machine options come at a lower price.
Golfsmith, True blue, Mitchell brands are the much-talked ones for your information. While Mitchell provides both quality and accuracy, they usually are more expensive than Golfsmith and True blue machines. But if you have a tighter budget, consider getting a used one.
However, no matter which one you choose, get the one with a bending bar. Though all loft and lie machines come with a bending bar in general, make sure to recheck with the dealer or manufacturers if you are buying online.
Step 2: Put the club in the loft and lie machine
Set up the golf club in the loft and lie machine. The process of setting up the club can be slightly different for different models and manufacturers. Make sure to read the instructions that come with the machine.
The general rule is –
- Position the golf club squarely.
- Then, make the radius surface parallel to the score lines.
- Adjust the toe stop. The clubhead should be tight enough with the machine for the golf club to avoid slipping or falling later when you put pressure on the bending bar.
Step 3: Measure the lie and loft angle
Follow the steps below to measure the lie and loft angle accurately-
- Put the shaft against the shaft plate first.
- Once you have done that, find a good bed position for the club to sit well.
- Read the lie angle and note them down.
- Measure the loft too.
- Determine the lie angle you want.
Even a brand new golf club may need bending. Because the lie angle manufacturers mentioned can be slightly different sometimes depending on different manufacturers. Also, all the bending machines are not the same with the reading. There can be differences. So, you need to measure the lie angle and loft angle first to make sure it’s the club that is affecting the accuracy of the shot, not you.
It is not necessary to have the same lie angle you previously had. You may choose a different angle, which still suits you because of the other factors of the clubs.
Step 4: Use the Bending Bar with least pressure
Lock the bending bar with the clubhead. Put pressure against the hosel to make the changes. You may make short bumping motions. But don’t go overboard. That may make the hosel break or change the lie angle too much. Go slow.
Depending on the golf clubs’ design, you can even adjust the club’s lie angle to 3° or more from before. The golf clubs with long hosels usually can be bent more than the usual ones. But it may sometimes leave stretch marks on the clubs or eventually crack if you try to bend 5° or more. Thus, it is recommended to not bend the lie angle more than 2° so that you don’t end up damaging the overall design of the club.
Step 5: Measure the lie angle and loft again
Once you are done adjusting, measure the lie angle and loft. Follow the same process again if you haven’t reached the lie angle you want. It is better to repeat the process several times than going 2° more than the desired lie angle. You shouldn’t go aggressive while bending the clubs. Putting too much pressure at a time may cause damage or crack to your golf clubs.
Step 6: Try hitting a few shots
If possible, try hitting a few shots before and after fixing the lie angle. Sometimes the lie angle and loft you got after the process, don’t go the way you want. So, check how that is working. This will help you know whether this lie angle and loft are suitable for you or not.
You may use a golf simulator or a launch monitor to measure the accuracy of ball flight. Alternatively, you may take a video of you hitting the golf ball. Or ask help from a friend to determine the changes. Note down the data of shots before and after adjustment in the lie angle. It is to understand the changes better. If the golf balls go toward the direction you want after bending, your golf clubs’ lie angle is ready to go.
Frequently Asked Questions about Golf Club Lie Angle
1. Does a 1-degree lie angle make a difference?
A good lie angle helps to make a more accurate shot and keep the golf score. The difference of 1° lie angle can help the golf ball go 1-4 yards closer to the target. It is especially important in golf irons and wedges as accuracy in the short game is more crucial.
2. How much does it cost to bend golf clubs’ lie angle in a golf club repair center?
It depends on the shop, area and the type of golf club. But the range is typically from $5-$10 per club to bend the lie angle. If you have previously made a purchase from a particular local place, they usually give you a discount for your clubs’ adjustments or fitting.
3. What lie angle do I need?
It depends on your playing style whether you need to reduce or increase the lie angle. It’s best if you can afford to go for a golf club fitting to a pro shop. They usually determine which lie angle is suitable for you with a lie board or a launch monitor.
4. How much can you bend the lie angle?
Depending on the club’s design, you can usually adjust the lie angle up to 4°. But it is better not to exceed 2°. However, it’s different for different kinds of clubs. For example, clubs with multi-material construction can be hard to bend. Those may crack if you put too much pressure.
5. Which golf clubs can be bent?
Golf clubs’ with forged soft steel club heads are usually the easiest to bend. While titanium club heads make it harder. On the contrary, aluminum Bronze clubhead may even crack while adjusting. It is not recommended to bend clubs with TPU insert, micro-cavities, hollow head design, etc., as that may cause damage to them.
6. Can you adjust the lie angle on the cast irons?
Yes, you can adjust the lie angle on cast irons depending on the design. Whether you can bend the lie angle or not, it depends more on the club’s material, shape, and other factors. It doesn’t always depend on being a cast or forged iron.
It is a misconception that you can’t bend the lie angle of cast iron. You can even change the lie angle of some cast irons upto 4°. Though it is considered safe to go till 2°, some may show stretch marks on the first push with the bending bar. This is true for all your clubs, not just for cast irons. Therefore, it would be best to always put minimum pressure on the first go while using a bending bar regardless of club type.
Summing It Up
Make sure to have the proper knowledge and read all the instructions before setting up the club. Then, when you are bending the lie angle for the first time, do it under an expert’s supervision if possible. Or try out with your old golf clubs first.
