The Myths and Magic of Custom Fitting Golf Clubs
Question: Do you believe that golf club design technology is advancing at such a rapid rate that one or two year old models are already obsolete? How about five or ten year old models? The major club manufacturers want you to believe it’s true. This is one reason why more golfers with handicaps of 18 or less don’t spring for custom fitted clubs. They don’t want to “miss out” on new improvements that might get them a few more yards or make their shots more accurate.
Question: Have you hit a new “demo” club that you borrowed from your Pro-shop or Club Pro and found that club-for-club you hit the “demo” farther? Did it make you want to invest in a new set? Were you glad you had not “wasted all that money” on a custom fitted set? The club manufacturers want you to answer, ”yes”, to all of these questions.
Question: Have you tried any of the new hybrids and found them easier to hit, i.e. get up in the air? Have you always hit the “woods” better than your irons? Are you planning on replacing some or all of your irons with hybrids? The club manufacturers would sure like you to consider it!
You have probably caught the gist of what I am trying to teach you. Golf club manufacturers want you to buy golf clubs! If they can convince you that their product will help you to play better golf, they sell more clubs and make more money. Way back in 1947 I went to work for J. R. Ingels, head Professional at Fairview Country Club in Elmsford, N. Y. , and one time president of the PGA. I worked in the “backroom” of the Pro shop where we repaired and modified clubs. J. R. was a pioneer in the art of custom fitting golf clubs for players with grooved swings and handicaps of 18 or less. I learned quite a bit about the golf swing and how to generate club head speed and attendant power by listening to him. The point being that the most critical part of playing golf well is the swing, not the club! That is the magic of the game!
New clubs have been introduced into the game for as long as the game has been played. Gene Sarazen invented the sand wedge out of necessity. He needed a better, more consistent method of playing out of sandy lies and hazards. He first introduced it into the game in the 1932 British Open, which he won. Since the official rules of the game limit each player to using no more than fourteen clubs in any 18 hole round, guys have come up with all kinds clubs to improve their personal shortcomings in handling a particular shot. Most notable probably is the plethora of putters available on the market today, followed closely by the bevy of wedges that are in common usage everyday. The sale of golf clubs is BIG business.
Most golfers will answer yes to most or all of the questions posed above. They would be wrong! Back in the 1970’s the standard loft angle on a 9 iron was 48 degrees. Nowadays the loft on a 9 iron is 42-44 degrees. Today’s 9 iron is equivalent to about a 7 ½ iron back in the 1970s. When Tiger hits his 9 iron 159 yards today, he would have needed a very strong 8 iron or an easy 7, back in the 70’s. The same is true of the rest of the clubs. The manufacturers de-lofted the clubs as a marketing gimmick, so the weekend golfer would think he was hitting it farther. They got a bonus out of doing it because the steeper faced 2, 3 and 4 irons started looking like 1 irons, and as the old saying goes, “Even God can not hit a 1 iron!” This created the market for the hybrids that are easier to hit. It also brought about the introduction of a whole new family of wedges to fill the gaps between lob, sand and pitching.
So, how do you get off the golf club merry-go-round? In order to get the most out of your particular grooved swing, you have to improve your consistency. The best way to do that is to eliminate as many factors that contribute to inconsistency as you can. One-size-fits-all sets of golf clubs are a myth. Your clubs should be fitted specifically to your swing. The club length and club head lie (sole parallel to the ground at address) and loft have to be tailored to your height, stance and club face position at impact. Each club in your set should feel exactly the same throughout your swing. That translates to proper weighting and balance of each club. Additionally, you need the right grips, shaft flex and head design to maximize your club head speed and lift angle at the point of impact. Consistency is the key to being able to play this wonderful game with more enjoyment.
If you have not yet reached the 18 handicap or lower level of proficiency, it is too early to think about custom fitted clubs. You should however, continue to work on improving your game by grooving your swing. There is plenty of help available to correct most common problems like excessive slicing or hooking, or hitting the ball “fat”! Check out my golf tips, to get more help.
Tags: get the most you can out of your swing, lower your handicap, lower your scores, play better golf, stop hooking your irons
