Iron vs. Driver Fitting

[LarryK]

Excellent article, Erik. Really interesting.

Now about this quote:

We test players that are 6 handicaps and lower (recommended) and sometimes get players up to the 10 handicap level. Any higher than that and a consistent swing is sometimes if not always impossible.

I used to make the same argument when I worked at Golfsmith and customers were buying their first beginner set of irons off the rack and inquired about getting fitted as to "lie angle". I was always tempted to say, "Hell, it's going to take you six months just to make solid contact and after that you'll have another year of snowflake swings -- no two are alike. What would we adjust your lie angle to?"

Agree or not? Any significantly different considerations as to fitting the driver on the launch monitor vs. loft and lie angle of irons?

[iacas]

I used to make the same argument when I worked at Golfsmith and customers were buying their first beginner set of irons off the rack and inquired about getting fitted as to "lie angle". I was always tempted to say, "Hell, it's going to take you six months just to make solid contact and after that you'll have another year of snowflake swings -- no two are alike. What would we adjust your lie angle to?"

I disagree by proxy, and that proxy is a very reputable clubfitter named Jerry Smith at Tam O'Shanter near Sharon, PA. People drive two hours to be fit by Jerry.

He says once you're fit, you're fit - in 30 years he's had to change the fitting for someone only five times, and in every one of those instances it's been due to an injury or some fairly significant physical change. He says that it's important that a person be in at least a proper address position - so someone addressing their pitching wedge outside their left heel may not be a suitable fit - but everyone else, he says, will stay within a degree of their impact position throughout their life. They made improve (lead more with the hands, change their angle of attack, improve clubhead speed, etc.) but the fitting numbers themselves (for irons): length, lie angle, and shaft weight and stiffness really don't change much. Shaft weight and stiffness, in fact, are all that he'll change on even a sporadic basis, and it's usually in the direction of lighter weight and less flex as players age. I don't think Jerry gets many 36 handicappers coming to him, but 20 to 24 and under have played enough that they should have a semi-consistent impact position. Fittings are all about identifying trends - if you're consistently hitting the ball on the toe, that calls for a slightly longer club perhaps. Jerry did say that for people with a major swing flaw (for example, one that causes shots on the toe) he'll recommend a lesson or two and won't actually fit them at that time. Note: This thread moved from here . It belongs in its own thread...

[LarryK]

Shaft weight and stiffness, in fact, are all that he'll change on even a sporadic basis, and it's usually in the direction of lighter weight and less flex as players age.

Okay, then. Guess I should get fitted (always wondered if I was "good enough").

One last thing. Why would he recommend less flex as I age. I always thought less turn and slower swing speed would require more flex?

[iacas]

Okay, then. Guess I should get fitted (always wondered if I was "good enough").

By less I meant lower on the scale... which is badly worded. I meant basically a shaft with less strength, less "power," less sturdiness, etc. If the scale goes "L S R S X" (where the first S is senior) less would be left, "more" would be right.

Better worded: weaker flex as you age.