First of all there are no disadvantages to club fitting…only advantages! Club manufactures are spending millions of dollars annually to make golf clubs easier to hit, the resulting shots
go higher, straighter and longer. A startling article I read quoted “90% of U.S. golfers may be playing with improperly fit clubs”! Another article stated that “golfers who completed a club fitting almost always saw an immediate improvement in their driving distance and scores”! If you have never had a club fitting and you love the game what are you waiting for??
Every major golf club manufacturer has their own club fitting system and can be free to the consumer to try. You may have experienced some club fitting at a “Demo Day” and if you have you know what I’m talking about.
So what is a club fitting and what do I need to do? The first step is selecting a club fitter, then make an appointment and making sure to bring your current clubs. The club fitter will ask questions about your current skill level, look at your present golf clubs and have you hit some golf balls with them. Sometimes the fitters use a swing monitor such as “Trackman” to record the ball flight information showing swing speed, launch angle, spin rate of the golf ball and flight direction of the shots.
Typically after hitting 6 – 12 shots, with both wood and irons, the fitter will have enough information to start putting different clubs in your hand. The fitter takes the information from the swing monitor and determines a proper length, lie angle, grip size, shaft flex and weight.
The club fitter then selects an iron and metal wood head from a selection they bring that best suits your needs. The fitter also brings an assortment of shafts for ladies, men and seniors that allow them to make well over 100 different possible options.
The iron heads are also available in different lie angles allowing multiple fitting scenarios. Driver heads also come in varying lofts and can be adjusted even more once the shaft is put on.
It is not uncommon to see your ball flight change immediately and bringing with it a big smile. The technology today allows the player to change a slice into a fade or straight ball, a low ball flight into a higher ball flight as well increasing distance!
Most of the results are effected with equipment changes such as shafts and proper lofts. Sometime times the fitter supplies swing tips that enhance the fitting but remember this is not a lesson!
I have just briefly touched on the benefits of club fitting. My goal is to make you aware of this simple procedure and the immediate change it can and will make to your game. With the golf season just around the corner give it some thought. All major golf club manufactures offer fittings and they’re all good! Put a big smile on your face soon!
