Many golfers are familiar with the term ‘browning’, which is mostly associated with guns and hunting. However, did you know that the term comes from golf clubs and refers to the metallic coating that forms on the surface of the club head during use?
The coating, which is also known as ‘burr’ or ‘oxidation’ is a natural reaction that occurs between molecules in the air and the iron/steel surface of the club head. Typically, this process begins to form after around 20 hours of use, but can take much longer depending on the type of environment or weather conditions in which the club is stored.
If you’re a golf enthusiast then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. After using your club in the morning, your hands will start to feel a little rough as the coating begins to peel off, revealing the shiny, metal surface underneath. Although this may seem like an inconvenience, the coating actually serves as a protective layer that reduces friction between your hands and the club, as well as preventing damage to both your hands and the club.
While this may be inconvenient, you’ll soon learn to appreciate the coating’s benefits as it gives character to your club. Before long, you’ll be removing the browning from your golf clubs using specialist equipment designed for the purpose.
Here’s how you can remove browning from golf clubs. Check out the infographic below for the steps.
Table of Contents
Air Dry Your Club
The first thing you need to do before removing the browning is to dry your club. As I mentioned, when the coating begins to peel off, it will be moist and might even be a bit slippery. This is why you need to air dry your club for at least 20 minutes before re-gripping it in preparation for use. If you don’t have a proper air dryer nearby then you can also use your club’s lid or a clean, wet cloth to absorb the excess moisture.
Clean Your Club
After you’ve firmly air dried your club, you need to make sure that the surface is clean before removing the browning. Use a stiff brush or metal wool to gently scrub away any loose coating at the base of the club head. Just make sure that the brush or wool is completely dry before re-gripping the club.
Prepare Your Club For Removal
Now that your club is clean, it’s time to remove the coating. Begin by grasping the club firmly in one hand and use the other hand to pull down on the club head. You’ll hear a slight ripping sound as the coating is scraped away from the base of the club head. You might also feel a slight burning sensation as the coating is scraped off in places, but this will soon subside as you remove more of the coating. If you’re really determined to remove all of the browning, then you can use a sharp tool to scrape away at the surface or an abrasive cloth to finish the job.
Rough The Surface With Steel Strips
Once you’ve removed all of the coating from your club, you’re going to need to roughen the surface with some steel strips. The easiest way to do this is to simply fold the steel strips in half and wrap them around the base of the club head. Make sure to position the strips parallel to each other and that they are tight against the club head. Once you’ve wrapped the strips around the base of the club head, give it another firm twist to secure the strips in place.
Use A Brush On The Surface
Now that your club is prepared, it’s time to use a brush on the surface. The type of brush you’ll need depends on the shape of the surface you’re working on. If the surface is particularly rough, then you can use a wire brush to scrub away at it. The most commonly used brush for this purpose is known as a ‘leather’ or ‘saddle’ brush. A leather brush is a great choice because it allows you to remove most of the coating while giving a slight buff to the surface. In addition to leather brushes, there are also synthetic brushes, which are more common on the professional golf course but can be found on the cheaper end of the market. The choice is really up to you.
Get The Most Out Of Your Club
It’s important to make sure that your club is in good condition before you start using it. Begin by checking the grip and shaft to ensure that they’re not cracked or damaged in any way. If they’re in good condition then it’s time to check the fit of the club head in the club body. Some golfers might experience issues with tightness or sloppiness when using a new club, so it’s useful to have the club head examined by a professional. The last thing you want to do is damage your club or hands while trying to remove the browning. This might result in you having to buy a new club or hands being hurt.
Making sure that your club is in good condition means that you’ll need to do a bit of research into the history of the club. Are there any visible marks on the club head that indicate previous use? Is the grip free of oil or moisture? All of these factors can indicate whether or not the club is in good condition and ready to use.
Gently Wipe Away The Excess
Now that you’re familiar with how to remove the browning from your golf clubs, you can begin to see the advantages of this protective coating. While it might be nice to have a shiny, brand new club every year, making sure that the coating stays intact is essential to keeping the character of the club. In some instances, the coating can be worn away by strong winds or in heavy rainstorms, but it will typically survive a standard cleaning with dry, iron-based cleansers. Wiping away the coating with a soft cloth can also help to prevent any potential scratches or marks on the surface from water or oil residue.
Removing the browning from your golf clubs is not as difficult as you might think and can be a fun project for the family to do together. Having a few tools around the house will make the process much easier. In addition to preparing your club for removal, you’ll also need to make sure that it’s thoroughly dry before re-gripping it. If you don’t have a proper air dryer then you can always use your club’s lid or a clean, wet cloth to absorb the excess moisture.
Making sure that your club is cleaned and dry before use is an essential step towards keeping its original character. In some instances, the club can become unplayable if the browning is not removed, so it’s important to preserve the integrity of the club as much as possible. While it might be tempting to just buy a new club every year, this could result in you damaging the original character of the club. Instead, you should look into buying accessories that will help to preserve the original look of your club. For example, some golfers prefer to use a weight collar with their clubs to help increase their striking power. In addition to that, you could always purchase a protective case for your phone or tablet to prevent it from being damaged on the course.
Keeping your original club and its original character is a top priority, especially if you value the time and energy that went into building up its unique look. In most cases, you shouldn’t need to remove the browning on a regular basis as it will typically stay intact for the life of the club, but it’s still good practice to clean it on a semi-regular basis. This will help to prevent any issues that could arise from using a worn-out club head.
Hopefully, this article has helped you to understand how to remove browning from golf clubs. In some instances, this process can be quite tedious and might require a bit of trial and error. In others, it might just be a matter of following a few simple steps. In either case, removing the coating will help to make your time on the golf course more enjoyable and reduce the chances of you getting injured.