Lie Angle Question

[cvlngineer]

I was fitted for clubs and was told that I needed the lie adjusted to 1 degree upright. My question is: How much difference will this 1 degree make? Is it worth paying to have it done?

[bigphil]

Custom fitting clubs is a great idea and highly recommended! lie angle is definately an important thing to have correct. there are several factors to determine the correct lie angle for you and your swing. first is getting fitted by a professional or consulting a fitting chart (here > FITTING CHART and the other is to get some lie angle tape and fit your irons using that too. if your irons are impacting the sole of the club towards the toe, you need to have them more upright. likewise...if you are towards the heel, you need to be more flat.

and to answer your question...i think for every 1º off you are, its like 10' difference in shot dispersion.

[cvlngineer]

How do fitters determine to what degree the lie angle needs to be adjusted? I saw on the tape (at Golfsmith, he used masking tape and had me hit off of a rubber mat) that the mark was just a hair toward the toe of the club, but the fitter did not whip out a digital micrometer or any other measuring device. He just looked at it and said, "you need 1 degree upright." LOL

[andre112]

they will put impact tape at the sole of your club probably a 6i and let you hit off a plastic board see where the marks are, comparing to the center of the club face. the farther off from the center the more degrees is needed to be adjusted. with marks close to toe, you need to bend clubs upright, vice versa.

[hawkeye]

My Pro was able to tell me that I should be around 1 Ping Colour upright (0.75) - we have identical builds and posture at address and he says he'd be the same only he likes to play a draw so he plays standard Pings (Black). It means his irons are 0.75 flat - If you're used to it, 1 degree out is alright, especially if you can hit it straight.

[Backswing]

I was being fitted for new irons at Golfsmith.  I'm 6'1" with a wrist-to-floor measurement of 37".  They started me out hitting clubs with a lie angle 2 degrees upright, but never used lie angle tape.  They looked at the results on the Foresight CG2 Launch Monitor they were using.  Is that adequate to determine my proper lie angle?

Also, is it assumed that every golfer has the same bend at the waist or hang their arms at the same angle when holding the club and addressing the ball?  Don't these differences affect the fitting process and in particular the lie angle?  Or are the mechanics of an optimum swing the determining factor such that, given a proper fitting, we learn to adjust our body position to the club at address?

Thanks

[1badbadger]

I was being fitted for new irons at Golfsmith.  I'm 6'1" with a wrist-to-floor measurement of 37".  They started me out hitting clubs with a lie angle 2 degrees upright, but never used lie angle tape.  They looked at the results on the Foresight CG2 Launch Monitor they were using.  Is that adequate to determine my proper lie angle?

Also, is it assumed that every golfer has the same bend at the waist or hang their arms at the same angle when holding the club and addressing the ball?  Don't these differences affect the fitting process and in particular the lie angle?  Or are the mechanics of an optimum swing the determining factor such that, given a proper fitting, we learn to adjust our body position to the club at address?

Thanks

I've always used a lie board or tape when fitting for lie angle.  You're correct...everyone is different.  It's entirely possible for two players who are both 6'1" with a 37" wrist-to-floor to need different lie angles.

[Backswing]

Thanks for the info. I'll be going back for another fitting to try a few more brands. Once I zero in on a brand and agree on shaft length (Probably +1") I'll have them break out the tape to finalize the lie angle set up.

[arturo28mx]

My opinion. One degree upright is not that big of a deal. Two degrees is a different story.

Most Titleist irons come from the factory one degree more upright than other brands. Nobody seems to care.

A very slight change in posture or how high you grip the club may cause the club to lie one degree more upright or more flat. It's normal.

If you have the time and money, do it. Your clubs will be more perfect. But if you don't do it, the impact in your game will be smaller than that of many other more important factors that affect ball striking.

Again this is my opinion. Other people will surely differ.