Do Golf Clubs Need Ferrules?

If you have never heard about a ferrule, you shouldn’t be too bothered because you’re not the only one who doesn’t know about it. A ferrule is a part of a golf club and is a piece of plastic between the shaft and the hosel that keeps it securely fitted and, as a bonus, looks great on the club as well.

If you have ever wondered about the question “Do golf clubs need ferrules?” you have come to the right place. 

Most modern golf clubs do need ferrules as it allows them to bend and flex without breaking. Older golf clubs were put together differently so they did not require ferrules. 

I will be taking a deeper look into ferrules, their purpose, and how you can fix, repair, and change them on your golf club.

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What Does The Ferrule Do?

Ferrules can be seen on several objects such as golf flags, paintbrushes, and even tow cables. They are added to a structure that helps secure and fastens two things together. Its purpose on the golf club is to secure the club’s head to the shaft.

Most golfers wrongly assume that these plastic things are meant to be traditional or decorative additions to the club, but they also have an important purpose. 

Without a ferrule, your golf club will easily break and fall apart.

Does Every Golf Club Need Ferrules?

Every modern golf club you find today has been designed to include a ferrule. Any club with a clubhead with a neck ending abruptly needs to have a ferrule to hold the club together. 

Some of the older golf clubs come with a tapered neck, meaning they fit the shaft flush.

You will struggle to find modern clubs that don’t have a ferrule except for putters. They tend to have less stress, and if you use them properly, you won’t need a secure attachment.

The Advantages Of Having Ferrules On Your Golf Club

Ferrules are mainly required to create a secure connection between the shaft and the clubhead on the golf club. The main advantage of having a ferrule on your golf club is that it will ensure your club can handle more stress throughout your swing.

Having a ferrule on your golf club means that you can fully trust that the club won’t twist over time. It’s not guaranteed that the club won’t twist even if you have a ferrule, but it adds more sturdiness to its connection.

What If I Use A Golf Club Without A Ferrule?

If you use golf clubs that don’t have a ferrule, you probably don’t need them. You can add a ferrule for decorative purposes to your club, but it won’t affect your performance in any way. 

However, if your golf club did have a ferrule and it has come off, it would be worth adding another one.

There are several places where you can purchase a ferrule online, and it’s advised that you don’t add or replace ferrules on your golf club unless you know what you are doing. You can speak to a golf club professional about helping you add a ferrule to your club to ensure that it is done properly.

Does Every Golf Club Have Ferrules?

Almost every golf club in the market today has ferrules. The only club you will find without a ferrule is the putter, and you may come across older clubs that don’t have ferrules on them. 

The older Callaway Big Bertha woods used to come with ring ferrules that looked excellent.

If you come across old persimmon wood, you will notice they have wound ferrules on them with pieces of a twine-like thread wrapped around the shaft and firmly connected to the head. 

They looked amazing, but that method of installing ferrules on the golf club was time-consuming and painstaking, which is why you won’t find them on modern golf clubs.

Different Types of Ferrules

The ferrule has almost as much of a cosmetic role as a functional one, which is why so many types of ferrules in the market are about appearance. One type that you can find is the collared ferrule, which fits between the shaft and the clubhead with a collar and creates space for a cushion of epoxy.

Uncollared ferrules sit flush on the club’s neck and will have epoxy in the ferrule’s inner surface. Collared ferrules are a modern innovation in the golfing world and have become increasingly popular among golfers. 

I will go into detail about them below:

• Collared Ferrules

These have been developed since the emergence of graphite shafts. The only problem with graphite shafts is that they are fragile and can break easily depending on the amount of strain. 

Collared ferrules help create a cushioning layer of epoxy between the shaft, and the ferrule protects the graphite shaft from potential failure and stress.

Even though collared ferrules aren’t required on steel shafts, most manufacturers are using them. That’s because collared ferrules on steel shafts won’t cause any harm or affect performance on the golf course.

• Specialty Ferrules

The rise of adjustable driver technology has resulted in the demand for specialized ferrules. These ferrules are designed to carry out their usual function, help you with the setup of the golf club and tell you what lie or loft you can set up.

Specialty ferrules are larger, have more contact with the shaft than other ferrules, and don’t bore into the clubhead. That means they take less stress than usual because it is specially designed to help the shaft 

withstand pressure.

• Custom Ferrules

The golfing world is increasingly adopting customization options in every piece of equipment, and golfers love adding details to their clubs to make them unique. Ferrules haven’t escaped this trend, and most of them have been designed to become more noticeable than a simple plastic ring on the golf club.

Even though custom ferrules won’t directly enhance your golf club’s performance, they will help them look nicer, stand out from your competitors, and give you more confidence in your club.

• Aluminum Ferrules

Aluminum ferrules have seen a surge in demand, with many golfers ditching plastic ferrules for them. It’s vital that the material used is light and strong and doesn’t affect the golf club’s swing weight, which is why aluminum has proven to be such an excellent alternative to plastic ferrules.

Final Thoughts

Most golfers may find ferrules to be insignificant black parts on their golf clubs. However, you have hopefully learned more about them now and can share your newfound knowledge about them with your golf buddies and partners. 

Ferrules not only look great on your golf club but help ensure your club can handle stress and doesn’t break easily.