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I had a set of TAYLOR-Made Bubble shaft irons. I used them for five years with no trouble. Last summer I sold them for 50.00 and the guy called me yesterday to tell me he's used them five or six times and that two (6 & 7) shafts have broken. The shafts are broken almost in the middle and are cracked in a way where the crack is on the right side of the shaft (rt handed) or just the opposite of the way it would break if you hit something while swinging it. Can anyone explain to me what the cause might be.

Graphite shafts do weaken with use especially if you tossed them around at all.

Five years is a relatively long time...so it's possible they were just weakened to the point of snapping due to "normal" usage.

Or if they were splintered in any way (maybe during re-gripping?), that would accelerate things.

Agreed ^^ they do weaken, but I would contact Taylor Made and see what they can do...Or just reshaft them......sounds like he got a good deal on them anyway

Five years on graphite shafts is a long time though for irons.- IMO.

Think of all of the bag chatter just wearing down the integrity of the graphite.

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They are cracked across the shaft not along the shaft and backwards like you were a lefthander.

Across the shaft doesn't seem normal. Are they cracking at the "bubble" by chance? Anyway, did you give the guy that good ole south Georgia "tail light" warranty? You know...when my tail lights disappear, the warranty is over!"

i could see one breaking from weakening, but not two, it has to something he's doing, like slamming the club down, or using it to lean on.

That could be a def possibility too!

Ups! grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

No georgia warranty. But I would like to tell him it's not the shafts.

Sounds like user enthusiasm to me.
It is hard to break shafts in the middle. Temperature changes can make the edge near the clubhead more fragile, but I have yet to snap a shaft in the middle.
Guess I need to pump up a little.

Graphite shafts for the most part do not wear out from standard usage..I've never seen one do so...never seen any natural degredation caused by age or extended usage.

However, I've seen hundreds who's lifespans have been accelerated due to improper or negligent handling, usage and storage.

95% of all shaft breakages occur at the hosel or under the grip...and for those few that have broken midway have ALWAYS been done due to unatural trauma to the shaft.

I don't think yu owe this guy anything...sounds like he's inflicted the damage.

Check with the buyer to see if he's been hitting off mats at the driving range. I've broken a couple of graphite shafts myself hitting balls off the mat. Easy to do if you're hitting down on (as you're supposed to with irons, right?) as opposed to sweeping, the ball. That, coupled with the clubs being 5 years old, could certainly be the reason why the shafts broke the way they did.

You are way too nice...as everyone above has pointed out this will happen and for 50 bucks he got a good deal...I am sure that he has been hammering the clubs...is he a beginner? I would reccomend a good place for reshafting and be done with it...

If Colombo was on the case, He'd be over your friends house like 5 or 6 times. Ummm I'm sorry to keep bothering you Mr jones. But uuhh do you mind if I uuhhh ask you one more question? There are smug marks where the damage is. Since you don't hold the club their I know its not your finger prints. You'll be glad to know I took the clubs to the lab to find out who's finger prints and DNA they are. Hey would you mind submitting your finger prints and a DNA sample? It's just a formality. Those sure are a fine set of clubs if I do say so myself Sir.

1) As the bag was falling off the cart the 6&7 irons came halfway out of the bag, hitting the ground hard and thus the clubs became damaged.

2) After a bad shot the 6 iron was stuffed/jammed into the bag in a fit a rage. And the club did not go into the bag, so the club was forced into the bag. Thus the club became damaged. And then out of habit the same thing happened to the 7 iron at a later date.