13 Questions to Ask Your Clubfitter. Question 1: Why do you recommend this particular grip and grip size?

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Marcia Patterson
5 years ago
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1 13 Questions to Ask Your Clubfitter Question 1: Why do you recommend this particular grip and grip size? The grip may be the most ignored part of the golf club. People freak out about head style, shafts, even what color to use for their ferrules but how many freak out about the grip- particularly the grip size? The grip needs to be the correct size for your hands. It used to be thought that a grip too small would cause a hook, and a grip too big would cause a slice, but that s not true. Miss-hits can go either way, regardless if the grip s too big or too small. Grip material is a personal choice. Find what feels good to you. Some, like cord-style (rubber with strands of cotton running through it) can help if your hands sweat, but some find it too rough. With all the different styles and materials used, there s something for everyone. Question 2: How do you determine the correct lie angle for my irons? Question 3: How does the iron lie angle affect ball flight? These should be answered at the same time. Lie angle is important, because it s the biggest determining factor in accuracy with your irons and wedges. Look at this:

The more loft you have, the more lie angle effects the ball flight. Here, you see (left to right), what happens when the lie angle s too flat, correct, and too upright with a PW.

2 The more loft you have, the more lie angle effects the ball flight. Here, you see (left to right), what happens when the lie angle s too flat, correct, and too upright with a PW. That s why this is such a critical spec to get right. Question 4: What is the real difference between graphite and steel shafts? Some people think that, because graphite shafts cost more, they ll be better. That simply isn t true. There are only two real differences: 1.Graphite shafts have an inherent vibration-dampening property 2.Graphite shafts can be made lighter Other than that, there s no real difference. For example, if you need a 120 gram shaft in S-flex, would using a graphite shaft make your ballstriking better compared to a 120 gram steel shaft with a similar flex profile? Unlikely, especially when something like a Sensicore or ProSoft insert can be used in the steel shaft to dampen vibrations.

3 But let s say it s found that you need a 70-ish gram shaft in your irons. There aren t many steel models that are that light, so you ll really need to make a decision here. Make no mistake, though: you can buy whatever you like. If you find a steel shaft and a graphite model that both help you, but you want to spend the extra money on the graphite (for whatever reason), that s your decision to make. It s only the wrong choice if you re buying it for vanity reasons. Question 5: Why does shaft flex matter and what flex is best for me? Shaft flex works its best magic when it matches your swing speed, transition, and release point. A properly-fit shaft will feel good to you. Too stiff and it will feel like swinging a telephone pole and impact will feel harsh; too soft and it ll feel whippy, or impact will feel dead. On its own, the shaft flex doesn t effect performance. For example, if you ve been using R-flex shafts and arbitrarily decide to switch to X- flex, that won t make your shots longer or straighter. If anything, it could make them worse. But when you have a shaft flex that matches your swing, your timing will be better. Your tempo will be smoother. Your release will be better. All that adds up to better impact conditions. Another bonus: you consistency improves.

4 Question 6: How do you determine the correct shaft length for me? Shaft length, which means overall length, is vital to finding the sweet spot. Most clubs are sold too long but it helps with selling distance The easiest way to determine the correct length is to hit test clubs. The way I do it for drivers, I have multiples of the same shaft. They re all cut to different lengths. Something like this: Start by finding your wrist to floor length. From there, we d find a test club to start with. Here s an example of a wrist to floor chart: Remember, this is only a starting point.

5 From there, just slap a piece of face impact tape on and hit with the initial test length. If the marks are all over the place, you most likely will need to find a shorter club. If they re focused around the sweet spot, you can go longer- up to the point where you're no longer concentrating impacts on the sweet spot. Question 7: Why do some golfers replace some of their irons with hybrids? Question 8: Why do some golfers use high-lofted fairway woods instead of hybrids? These are another couple of questions that can, or rather, should be answered together. There s an old clubfitting rule: The 38/24 Rule. For many golfers, if the club s >38 long and has <24* of loft, the club will be harder to hit. That s where many 2, 3, 4, even 5 (and 6!) irons fall. By switching to a hybrid, they gain more help in both accuracy and distance: The bigger head of a hybrid has more MOI (Moment of Inertia), or, forgiveness. They have more COR (Coefficient of Restitution), like drivers, so they can hit the ball farther. But that s not the only option. Some people just aren t comfortable with hybrids. That s why there s higher-lofted FWs that can be used.

6 There s notable differences between a hybrid and FW of the same loft: FWs are generallly longer FWs, because of the shaft, are generally lighter Rankings for Distance (longest to shortest): 1. Fairway woods 2. Hybrids 3. Long Irons Rankings for Accuracy (most to least): 1. Long Irons 2. Hybrids 3. Fairway woods See how they re inverted? That s a function of their build style but this is very much generalized for the average golfer. Question 9: Do I need a 3 wood (or Driver)? The short answer is no. You need the 2nd-longest club to be something you can comfortably use from both the fairway and tee. It s not always going to be the 3 wood. For some it s a 5 wood. For others, it might be a 7 wood. Anthony Kim carried a 19* hybrid during his pro days. That s not necessarily going to be the case for you, but with the help of your fitter you need to find what that club is.

7 In the case of the driver, no, you don't need that, either. You need the longest club you can hit comfortably from off the tee. Maybe it is the driver... but if it's the three or five wood (or something else), go with that. Question 10: How do you determine the correct loft for my driver? By finding your swing speed and angle of attack. The faster you swing, the more upward (positive) your angle of attack, the less loft you need. The converse of each is true for slower swing speeds and downward (negative) angle of attacks. When it comes to loft, who cares what others think? Use the tools that help you play better. Question 11: Do I need an adjustable driver? Honestly, no. If you know what loft is best for your swing speed and angle of attack, you can buy a fixed-hosel model. The adjustability is good from a fitting standpoint. But as far as you re concerned, as soon as you find the right loft, LEAVE IT ALONE. If you suspect something s wrong, go see your fitter. Question 12: Would I hit the ball farther with a longer shaft? We touched on this earlier, but to get more in depth: no.

8 Length is what the OEMs sell you. They can slap their 46 driver into the metallic hands of their trusty swing robot and prove without fail that a driver that long hits the ball farther. You aren't a robot. Missing the sweet spot will not only damage distance potential, but accuracy, as well. Don't be tempted by what the TV or magazines say; help the fitter find the correct length for you. Question 13: Why would a fitted putter help me putt better? Just like a fitted driver helps you hit the ball longer and straighter, a fitted putter will help you make more putts. There are some specs to look at: length loft grip/grip size weight lie angle It's best not to just pick up a putter and go. Consider things like where your hands are at impact, how you address the ball, what suits your eye, and what feels good in your hands to find the right putter for you. Now, use this info to find the right clubs for your game!

The Science Of Golf Clubs And Golf Club Performance. Tony Wright Game Improvement Golf. ORICL February 27, 2016

The Science Of Golf Clubs And Golf Club Performance Tony Wright Game Improvement Golf ORICL February 27, 2016 My Lifetime Golf Love Affair! WPGA Caddy Scholarship to attend Carnegie-Mellon University 35