Ever changed the length of your clubs with bad results?

**youngskip40** · March 13, 2009

After a fitting I recently had, I found out that my clubs were a full inch shorter than they needed to be, so I had my guy build me a 6-iron with the new specs and just picked it up yesterday.

I hit a few balls into the net at the shop, addressing the ball as I normally would and then proceeded to hit about 5 consecutive shanks.

I haven't yet hit it outside yet, but in the shop, I just hit awful golf shots for about a half hour. There were a few bright spots here and there and then at the end I was making some better swings... but here is the issue:

This new equipment, should I decide to keep it at this length, requires me to alter my setup. This is good, and this is bad. My current posture is not great, I have a little hunch that I developed evidently to compensate for always having clubs that are too short for me. Clubs that are the correct length force me to have textbook posture and position at address.

If this was your situation, what would you do? Keep ill-fitting clubs and continue to compensate... or learn to swing the correct way with equipment that fits?

**mad max** · March 13, 2009

Depends on how much you play and how long you have been playing. If you don't mind going through a swing change and not playing how you expect for as long as it takes to get your body to make a repeatable new swing go for it. For me I wouldn't do it though because I am not that serious about my game and I never practice so it would take a long time to get my swing grooved, but I am a long way from a 6 handicap.

**tonyy** · March 13, 2009

I actually kind of went through this today. I've been playing my 45.5" TM Tour Burner and I hit it decently I guess. Not the way I wanted to hit it so I took it into the shop and had it cut down. It's around 44" now I believe and I wasn't hitting it well at all on the monitor. It kept going hard left and defnitely needed me to alter my setup.

So hopefully I can make a couple swing changes and see if thing's work out. I really hope it does. I hope everything works for you too. Just gotta get on the range and work out the kinks!

**mjgraniero** · March 13, 2009

If this was your situation, what would you do? Keep ill-fitting clubs and continue to compensate... or learn to swing the correct way with equipment that fits?

This statement doesn't really make sense to me. Why wouldn't you want to learn to swing the correct way and have equipment that fits? Do you want to own ill-fitting clubs and continually have to compensate until you reach an age where your body cant compensate any more? Then what? I don't mean to be harsh but the answer is obvious. Keep in mind also that it takes about a full season of golf to get comfortable with a new set of irons, especially if your previous set was not fit properly.

I say learn to swing properly, use the right clubs and be patient. You'll benefit in the long run.

**Titleist Man** · March 13, 2009

I do believe that Tiger once said "The clubs should fit your game not the other way around"

**flanagan** · March 14, 2009

Did the fitting include checking out the right shaft for you, or just length/lie?

**paperclip** · March 14, 2009

In the long run, I think you'd be better off learning how to hit the longer (properly fit) clubs; you'll get more consistent solid contact. Will just take a couple of buckets to get used to and then maybe a couple of months to trust your new setup. Good luck!

**youngskip40** · March 14, 2009

This statement doesn't really make sense to me. Why wouldn't you want to learn to swing the correct way and have equipment that fits? Do you want to own ill-fitting clubs and continually have to compensate until you reach an age where your body cant compensate any more? Then what? I don't mean to be harsh but the answer is obvious. Keep in mind also that it takes about a full season of golf to get comfortable with a new set of irons, especially if your previous set was not fit properly.

Well, I'll be un-learning a swing that has given me pretty good results in the past. The trade off would be that I'd play pretty lackluster golf for about a season and then theoretically start reaping the benefits down the road. I mean, we're not talking monumental changes, and all the changes are positive things, I'm just not in a place in my life where I can spend 3 hours on a range 5 days a week to groove a new swing. I dunno, just thought I'd ask some opinions if you were put in that situation to completely rework your swing and setup if you would, or if you'd stick with what you're comfortable with, kind of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of mentality.

**youngskip40** · March 14, 2009

Did the fitting include checking out the right shaft for you, or just length/lie?

It did include a shaft fitting. Surprisingly, I went with a shaft a couple of flexes softer than what I'm used to playing. Makes a lot of sense, actually.

**youngskip40** · March 14, 2009

I actually made it to the range yesterday after work and hit some really great shots once I got used to the length of the club.

In fact, everything was going well until I dislocated my left shoulder (it's a recurring injury that I unfortunately can't shake).

The funny thing is, once I got it back in and got over the discomfort, I hit about a half-bucket more balls with a smoother, more controlled swing to avoid any further injury and I was absolutely striping it. The distance wasn't what I'm used to, but every shot was dead straight and within 5-10 yards of each other.

Amazing how that works...

**andre112** · March 14, 2009

well fitted club will guide you to a better swing!

**mjgraniero** · March 15, 2009

Well, I'll be un-learning a swing that has given me pretty good results in the past. The trade off would be that I'd play pretty lackluster golf for about a season and then theoretically start reaping the benefits down the road.

Skip- It may not seem broke but if you're continually having to compensate, it is broke and you're putting a band aid on it by compensating. It's in your best interest to get the right clubs and start grooving a proper swing for the long haul. You'll benefit in the long run. I see from some of your later posts that you started seeing some better shots as you've worked with the clubs. It'll take some time, patience and a shoulder injury or two but it will come. Good luck!

**youngskip40** · March 15, 2009

Skip- It may not seem broke but if you're continually having to compensate, it is broke and you're putting a band aid on it by compensating. It's in your best interest to get the right clubs and start grooving a proper swing for the long haul. You'll benefit in the long run. I see from some of your later posts that you started seeing some better shots as you've worked with the clubs. It'll take some time, patience and a shoulder injury or two but it will come. Good luck!

Haha, just one shoulder injury is enough for me! It was never a conscious compensation, I just over time developed a setup that works, but is just ever so slightly less than fundamentally sound. In any case, after spending some time loving my new 6-iron, I think I've found the missing link. Definitely will take some getting used to, but I think it'll be worth it by the end of the season.

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