What a difference a new (semi-fitted) club makes.

[ZaPPPa]

When I started playing I wasn't sure if I would stay interested, so I didn't want to spend too much money. I bought some clubs online that were tagged 'beginner' and never really thought about shaft flex, brands and whatnot. Of course, I get totally addicted to the game .

One of the clubs I found in a used club bin was a slightly dinged TM superquad 460 10.5* with a regular flex shaft for $75 or so (IIRC). So, I played that for over a year. In fact, most of the clubs in my sig are still my first set.

Little did I know that my swing started to develop quite nicely. Honestly, I had no way of knowing because my distance with my driver was nothing to write home about. At the range I would barely carry the 200y marker and my trajectory was high, really really high. I tried all kinds of stuff and finally ended up with a swing that got me maybe 220y, but pretty erratic and no roll whatsoever. My irons were ok. Again the trajectory is very high, but distance is about average at 145-150y with a 7I.

Then a couple of weeks ago I walk into a Golfsmith and notice the launch monitors are empty and the store is pretty quiet. So, I start testing some clubs. First a TM superquad reg, for reference. Lo and behold my swing speed was 98-106mph. I had no idea.. I expected high 80's to low 90's (that's what it was shortly after I started). That should put me in the 250y carry range, but I ended up with a 215 consistently. The monitor showed tons of backspin (~4500-5500) and a very high launch angle (up to 18* at times). What's worse is that it showed over 1000 sidespin. I tried a stiff shafted TM burner and it was a little better, but not a whole lot. I tried some more, but still nothing special. Until I hit the TM tour burner 10.5* with stiff shaft. The launch monitor showed 250 carry, 13* launch angle, ~3300 backspin and NO sidespin.. just dashes. I tried several more times and the results were very consistent.

I did some research and then found a great used club at GlobalGolf. Available in four different flavors (Aldila VS, Fujikura E360, Graphite Design Pershing and stock). Reviews online were close between all three with the Aldila being a little worse. A friend of mine said he snapped two Pershings mid-swing, so that ended me up with the E360. The club arrived today. It is supposed to be a 3 star club (good used), but call me crazy if this has been used for anything more than a couple of times. Not a single scratch or blemish on the whole head (not even the bottom). Grip seems brand new and shaft is flawless.

So, I take it to the range. Warm up a bit and then try the Superquad, again for reference. As always, about 220 and all over the place. Then I pull out the new club, take a swing and "Oh s%#& !".. That's what came out of my mouth.. rather loudly I might add. First thing I notice is the launch angle is sooo much lower. Second thing I notice is that the ball is not ballooning.. Third thing I notice is that it is going dead straight. Fourth thing I notice is that it is getting harder to see the ball. And finally I notice is the ball taking one bounce and coming to a stop at the bottom of the driving range back fence. Google Earth told me that is 275y away, so I'm guessing about 260y carry (with a range ball). I look at the face and see a little faded dimple pattern about .25 inch from the sweet spot. Hit almost half a bucket with similar results. Even a severe heel-hit carried 220y.

Needless to say I am quite stoked with the results. I can't wait until I reshaft my 3W & 5W and replace my irons with something that will lead to a bit lower ballflight as well.

Anyway, moral of the story is to get fitted or at least get on a launch monitor every now and then so you have an idea of your numbers. I had no idea my backspin was so far out of control and it was robbing me of at least 30y carry and 50y total distance. Even if you like your current clubs, it is quite possible they are not fit for your swing.

[Shindig]

Despite my last post being about a driver fitting, maybe after my next set of lessons I'll go try out a stiff shafted driver on a launch monitor.

[indacup]

Great post.....bottom line we are all unique ...in size....force...strength.....style....etc....to even THINK that an OEM can produce a club or clubs for mass usage really indicates stupidity.

[SaltyDog]

Wow, that is amazing...I've been thinking of doing this but I haven't done anything yet other than extend my clubs an inch (i'm 6'4")

my other issue is my swing w/ my irons is so inconsistent that i'm not sure it would work for me, a couple rounds i'm doing one thing the next few i'm doing something else...i should def do this with my driver since i have a pretty good swing w/ that...

do you have a consistent swing?

[Dub]

Correct length / correct flex / correct lie / correct grip size = best chance for success , or at least puts the pressure on you to perform...no excuses.

[ZaPPPa]

do you have a consistent swing?

I am fairly consistent. However, this could be a chicken-egg problem. If you have a club that really does not fit you and is inconsistent due to incorrect flex for example, you might make small swing changes all the time to try and get a consistent trajectory or good distance. This will result in inconsistencies and the cycle goes on.

Now that I know have the carry distance for my swing speed, I can fully concentrate on trajectory and accuracy. Before I knew I lost 30 yards somewhere and I kept changing my swing, trying to correct it. I do agree that you need to have some kind of basis. I would not suggest someone who just picked up the game a week before go out and get fitted. I see this as a multi-step process. You start with something simple, get a foundation, get fitted, improve your foundation, get fitted again etc.. I fully expect my swing to change in the next year, but not nearly as much as it did last year. So, in two years or so I will get refitted, but the changes in club will be much smaller (same flex, but different kick-point for example).. it'll be more like tweaking than a full blown change. PS. Another moral of the story is that you cannot alway deduce your swing speed from your current carry. You even have to be careful deducing your swing path from your trajectory.

Despite my last post being about a driver fitting, maybe after my next set of lessons I'll go try out a stiff shafted driver on a launch monitor.

Another great way to do some testing is demo days. Find out if/when there is a demo-day on one of your local courses from one of the manufacturers and have a chat with those people. They want your business, so they'll try their best to get you hooked on one of their clubs. Ping came to my local course not too long ago and I tried a whole bunch of clubs. I was unimpressed with their G10 driver, but I was surprised by the consistency of their G10 irons.

[ZaPPPa]

Well, I took it to the course today. Although my swing pretty much abandoned me, the club did its work. I had two severe heel hits that still travelled 230yards. One high fade into the wind easily carried 235 yards, while it would have dropped dead out of the sky at 180 with my old club.

Even with a bad swing I can hit the same shots I could with my old driver with a good swing.

[chriskzoo]

Great post.....bottom line we are all unique ...in size....force...strength.....style....etc....to even THINK that an OEM can produce a club or clubs for mass usage really indicates stupidity.

See, I would say that to think getting custom fit (assuming you are not WAY off and playing a ladies flex when you need stiff) and thinking that is going to change your scoring much indicates stupidity. I would say that as long as you are in the right flex (regular or stiff for 90% of players) it's more about your swing and the short game than anything.

Chances are where most people are losing strokes on scoring (within 50 yards of the green) has little to do with proper fitting and far more to do with course management and a little practice at that range.

[ZaPPPa]

See, I would say that to think getting custom fit (assuming you are not WAY off and playing a ladies flex when you need stiff) and thinking that is going to change your scoring much indicates stupidity. I would say that as long as you are in the right flex (regular or stiff for 90% of players) it's more about your swing and the short game than anything.

I kind of agree, but wouldn't call it stupidity

. Being in the right flex is, IMO, the most important factor. A close second would be to pick irons that match your ability (don't pick Nike Victory Reds if you're a 30+ handicap). Spending money to tweak the lie angle will not do much for the vast majority of players out there. However, Golf being such a mental game, having been fitted with clubs will affect your confidence and that can have a major impact on your game. If I know the clubs are fitted for me, that's one less thing to worry about. It makes practicing easier. With my old club, granted it was the wrong flex, I never knew if it was the incorrect club or my swing that caused the dispersion and ballooning. In the end it is, of course, always my swing, but I am not going to change it to fit the club if I can change the club to fit my swing.

Chances are where most people are losing strokes on scoring (within 50 yards of the green) has little to do with proper fitting and far more to do with course management and a little practice at that range.

So true. I have played with people who are short on distance, have horrid slices, but they still managed to kick my ass on the course.. Because they know exactly how their ball is going to slice and what all their distances are. And you can clearly see how experienced they are in their short game. So, I copied that strategy and took 10 strokes off my average in a month.

[chriskzoo]

So true. I have played with people who are short on distance, have horrid slices, but they still managed to kick my ass on the course.. Because they know exactly how their ball is going to slice and what all their distances are. And you can clearly see how experienced they are in their short game. So, I copied that strategy and took 10 strokes off my average in a month.

Becoming good at golf is kind of like learning a foreign language - you never really get a foreign language until you starting thinking in it. Similarly with golf, most people go out and for every single shot to the green they are thinking "How am I going to get this close to the pin." My game really started to improve once I stopped thinking that way and started thinking "Where can I put this to give myself the best chance at par."

For the most part, that usually means taking dead aim. But when you're playing a hole with a bunker or hazard guarding the pin to one side, things realy click when you are now thinking "Aim to the fat part of the green, take my 25-30 footer for birdie and guarantee par. Anything else is gravy."

[Mahbles]

I'll echo Zappa's post, that getting fit makes a tremendous amount of difference. I've been playing golf for 9 years with stock clubs and shafts. I've tinkered with different shafts in my driver and 3W without getting fitted. I recently got married and my wife was getting me new clubs so I figured I should get fitted for them. Right off the bat, my new irons have a nice draw on them (they're 2 degrees upright) and the new shafts in them make the ball go higher but without all the spin. My driver and 3W are on order but they put me in a better shaft and lie and I can't wait to hit them. I still feel I'm wildly inconsistent, but hopefully the new clubs will straighten me out.

If you get the chance, get fitted, it will change your game for the better, always.