The Whole-In-One adjustable golf club

In the last couple of years, adjustable drivers have become very popular. For example, TaylorMade has dominated the market with its R11S driver. With the use of a wrench the club head can be adjusted to correct a slice, produce a draw or change the loft. It is estimated that 34 per cent of golfers now use adjustable drivers, all in the effort to hit the ball straighter and longer. Distance sells.

Most golfers do not realize that there is no standard for the loft on golf clubs. The loft refers to the angle of the club face expressed in degrees. This variation in the loft applies to all clubs in the bag. Two nine-irons from two different companies may vary between two to four degrees. For example, a 5-iron could vary between 26 to 30 degrees, depending on the creep factor. The creep factor means the manufacturer reduces the club loft to make the golfer think they are hitting the ball further. In 1960, the typical 9-iron had a loft of 47 degrees. Forty years later, the 9-iron has a loft of 41 degrees, producing greater distance. That is the creep factor.

Steve Divnick came up with a solution to the creep factor. What if one club could do it all, allowing the golfer to select the correct loft for every shot? Divnick International Inc. of Miamisburg, Ohio, manufactures an adjustable club that can be used as a driver, a wedge or a putter, allowing the golfer to select the proper loft for each shot.

How the club works

The Whole-In-One Golf Club is really a standard 4-iron at 38.5 inches (97.9 cm), although the club can be ordered to fit your height. On the hosel is the “internal vernier transmission,” with P for putter, D for driver, the standard 3, 5, 7, 9 and S for sand wedge. Using the black lock adjustment lever, make one complete turn and the club head is now free to turn. Select the desired club and tighten the lever. The transmission works very much like a socket wrench, preventing the club head from turning. 

The lines on the gears are odd clubs (3, 5, 7 and 9) and the spaces in between the lines are even clubs (2, 4, 6 and 8), and each is four degrees apart. Divnick claims that by setting the transmission just above or below the lines, the result is a half loft of two degrees. The result is like having 34 different clubs in the bag and eliminates the problem of being caught between clubs.  

With a little practice, the loft can be adjusted in a matter of seconds. That means the golfer only has to carry one club for the entire game and simply adjust the loft from tee to the green. The club head is stainless steel, perimeter weighted and has a telescopic three-piece shaft which reduces the club down to 17 inches (43 cm).

About Steve Divnick

When Steve Divnick took up the game of golf, he quickly tired of having to carry around a cumbersome, heavy golf bag. After four years of design and testing, the Divnick Whole-In-One Golf Club was patented in 1991.

The company boasts that its club hits the ball further and more accurately, with a 38 per cent tighter shot pattern, 17 per cent greater spin rate and 21 per cent more accuracy. The company also produces a driver, three metals and a set of hybrids. The club can be personalized with your name or company logo and sells for around US $2000. (See divnick.com.) There are other companies selling a similar product, including the Universal Golf Club and the 33-In-1 Golf Club.

Advantages and disadvantages

The club does have some disadvantages. When I tried the club, it took some practice to select the right loft, especially between the lines. Since the club is equal to a 4-iron, the length off the tee is considerably less than a regular driver. If the lever is in a down position, getting out of tall grass could prove difficult. Finally, the club is not approved by the USGA, so cannot be used in tournaments.

The advantage in using one club is that the swing mechanics change very little and muscle memory is constantly being reinforced, because the club length remains the same and only the loft changes. As for pushing that heavy bag, golf is now an easy walk in the park. Lastly, this telescopic club can fit into a suitcase, making travelling much easier.