Mental Mondays: Get A Clubfitting

Players in the market for a new set of clubs are on a fool’s errand if they don’t get a professional clubfitting. By measuring—and then accounting for—your height, weight, age, flexibility, swing speed, angle of attack, stance and other factors, a good clubfitter can get you into a set of clubs that will maximize the game you already have.

If you’ve already got a set of clubs, never fear. For a reasonable fee, a clubfitter generally can to measurements and adjust your club’s loft and lie, shaft length and swingweight. More drastically—but still cheaper than replacing a set of clubs—a clubfitter can swap out your current shafts with ones more suited to your game. A clubfitter also can get you fitted for grips.

A few rules of thumb about clubfitting:

• Lie Angle: The Lie Angle is the angle formed by the shaft when the sole rests on the ground. A club that stands too upright for a golfer will tend to cause a pull, or hook. A club which is too flat encourages a slice.
• Shaft Length: The longer the club, the flatter the lie angle.
• Loft:  Loft is the angle of the face. It affects trajectory, spin and carry. It can be affected by how you hold your club. Players who set up with their hands forward effectively “deloft” their clubs. Loft also can be affected by the angle at which a player brings his clubs through the hitting zone.
• Shaft Flex: A shaft that is too stiff for a player can reduce distance and make shots tend right. A shaft that is too flexible can result in club spraying, as well as added height to a shot (possibly reducing distance).
• Grips: Grips that are too large can encourage a hook. Grips that are too small can encourage a slice.

In any event, the key here is that a good clubfitting can actually improve your game without your making a swing change. It’s about maximizing the swing your already have.

This tip is an excerpt from The Five Inch Course: Thinking Your Way To Better Golf. The complete book is available in Kindle format at Amazon.com.