(Ping) Does length of club and degree of flat/upright matter for a new player?

[SonRK]

Hey guys,

Avid tennis player for 13 years and just got into golf last year. Decided to take a completely different approach than my quest of tennis and decided to focus on getting lessons and stuff vs just getting out there and blasting balls with incorrect technique/form. One important thing I learned in tennis was that gear didn't matter and it's all about form.

Picked up a set of used Ping irons (orange) from a seller on craigslist, and was using them for summer last year and beginning of this year. After a round with my friend last week, I noticed his clubs seem significantly shorter than mine, and he's taller than me. I then looked at the following ping color code system: http://www.eagleusagolf.com/proshop/makers/ping/image/ping_colorcode_e.jpg

I'm only 5'6, and my wrist is about 33" from the ground wearing my golf shoes. This would put me at a black code, and to have it "shortened". I've never been fitted, but was wondering if it was worth the investment to do so, get some corresponding clubs, and continue on with my golf career. If it doesn't matter, then I get to save a few hundred and keep on getting lessons and putting money on course fees :)
 

[phillyk]

First off, welcome to the site!

Orange is 2.25* flat and you say that you are black or 0*.  That is a huge difference!  It could very well hurt your progress in learning a good swing.  I would go get a standard length & lie angle set of clubs.  When you start setting into a swing pattern, then getting fit would be fine.  But being 5'6'' and 33in, a std (black dot for PING) set of clubs will most likely be your fit.

[Golfingdad]

Hi @SonRK, and welcome!

Before you go out and get new clubs, or look into getting your orange dots adjusted, confirm (or deny) your suspicions by trying this:

All you need are range balls and a sharpie. :)

[dennyjones]

Welcome to the site.  Glad you found us.   Read the "How to" section and participate often.   

To answer your question, I'll echo what the others have said..."YES".

[Buckeyebowman]

In short, length of club and lie angle matters for EVERY player!

[WUTiger]

On 6/2/2017 at 4:00 PM, SonRK said:

I'm only 5'6, and my wrist is about 33" from the ground wearing my golf shoes. This would put me at a black code, and to have it "shortened". I've never been fitted, but was wondering if it was worth the investment to do so,

The Golfworks Academy guys caution that wrist-to-floor length is only a starting point for clubfitting. You do not trim shafts over a w-t-f measurement. Using w-t-f as a guideline, the fitter starts you there on shaft length and lie angle (upright, OK, or flat). Then, final decision depends on your stance posture, how you come into the ball, etc.

Clubfitters suggest that lie angle is one of the first parts of a person's swing to stabilize, and is unlikely to change much w/o a swing rebuild, or the effects of aging (persons get shorter as they get older). Too upright lie causes you to miss left, too flat a lie causes you to miss right.

Also, a fitter can help you with proper grip thickness.