Everyone playing the game of golf wants to hit the ball farther, straighter and more consistently to achieve lower scores and enjoy the game.
Fact is, club manufactures spend thousands of dollars to entice you into buying new clubs. Just watch golf on TV and see all the commercials. The fact is, most golfers who buy clubs off the shelve never hit it any better, score any better than with their old clubs. I have also heard players state “I just have to get used to my new clubs”.
Well, a lot goes into getting the proper set fitted to you. there are 13 key factors for full fitting:
- Length
- Loft
- Lie
- Face angle
- Total Weight
- Swingweight
- Grip Size
- Grip Style
- Shaft Weight
- Shaft Flex
- Shaft Bend Profile
- Set Make up
- Clubhead Design
Clubhead speed is what mostly comes to mind to most players, but centerness of hit is a major factor. Did you know that a swing speed of 80 mph with a 10 degree driver will project a golf ball 200 yards in the air, give or take one yard. Hit the ball 1 inch off center and 14 percent of the energy is lost and the ball will only travel 172 yards. That is a loss of 28 yards. So what I am saying, don’t rely on club head speed to determine what type of shaft you should be using.
A player with a good swing and not the right equipment will not get any better. Players are directed towards a specific brand, based on the commercial they viewed, and direct their purchase on the feel of the club in their hands. Of course there are all types of heads: blades, cavity back, thin top line, thick top line, heavey sole etc. What ever appeals to you when you address the ball is a step in the right direction and builds confidence. Now how that club peforms depends on you and your swing motion. Now here is where the professional club fitter comes in. The shaft is the engine of the club. We look at several things besides club head speed to determine performance. Shafts come in different flexes, have different flex points, have different weights measured in grams. If you don’t have the right shaft you will not play better period.
Drivers
As I look into a golfers bag I see that they are buying drivers with 9.5 to 10.5 degrees of loft. They believe they need less loft cause they hit the ball so high. Their problem, which they have anlyzed with their buddies who say less loft to get the launch angle lower. But their anlge of approach is really too steep causing the ball to go to high and not far at all.
I tell everyone “loft is your friend”. The average player I see today needs at least a 13 degree driver. In fact, players I have fitted play much better with a 15 degree driver. Remember “LOFT IS YOUR FRIEND”.
Putters
When you go into a Golf Pro Shop or a big retail store and you look over the putters you will see that they are all 34 or 35 inches long. Why? Cause they fit in the bag easily. Phil Mickelson is over 6 feet tall and uses a putter that is 32 inches long. So length is important. Good putting strokes are square at impact and ecelerate through. Manufactures are trying to assist you in alignment during set up so you have half a chance of making the putt. There are all types of putter heads to choose from. Lately, grip size is a factor, the bigger the grip the less active the hands become. But you need confidence when you put that putter in your hands to give yourself a change to make the putt.