10
Jun '12
Proper club-fitting a crucial step for everyone
By Chris Wallace
The technological advances that have been made in the golf world over the last decade or so have been nothing short of spectacular.
In fact, some might argue that you can actually buy a better game these days. Maybe not a tour-level game or that of a scratch golfer, but technology can help you play better golf and it’s a mistake not to take advantage of what’s available.
Getting fitted for the golf ball and shafts that best fit your game, especially when it comes to a driver shaft, are crucial aspects of the process. And launch monitors, which are readily available in most golf shops and at many golf courses these days, will make that process easy.
Probably more important, however, especially in terms of understanding your swing, is making sure that the irons you play fit you. If they don’t, you might see issues in your ball flight and ball-striking that you think are swing-related but that are actually a result of your equipment.
For example, if the lie angle on your irons is too upright (toe up at impact), hooked shots to the left are often the result, while shots that are missed to the right can often be the result of irons that are too flat (toe down at impact).
Additionally, if you play clubs that are not standard length, the longer the club is the more it effectively plays upright and the shorter the club is the more effectively it plays flat. This is especially important to understand if you altered a set of used irons that you purchased.
The good news is that with the newer loft-lie machines that are available today almost any club can be adjusted, whereas years ago typically only forged clubs could be altered without the risk of snapping a shaft.
You can see a professional club-fitter to make sure that your irons are the correct lie angle but you can also check this yourself.
Put a piece of masking or electrical tape on the bottom of your irons and take swings on a piece of plywood, making contact with the plywood just as you would the ground on a normal swing.
Then look at the tape and see where the markings are most prominent. If they’re most prominent toward the toe, your irons are likely too flat for you. If the marking is most prominent toward the heel, your irons are likely too upright.
If that’s the case, find a professional who can alter your clubs and make sure that you’re “skidding” the club in the middle of the tape. If that’s the case, you’re good to go.
One of the keys to evaluating the effectiveness of your golf swing is to eliminate all of the variables that can negatively impact the shots you hit before you take the club back.
Grip, posture and alignment are things that typically come to mind first, but it’s equally imperative that golfers who want to play better and improve take necessary measures to make sure their equipment fits them.
Probably more important, however, especially in terms of understanding your swing, is making sure that the irons you play fit you. If they don’t, you might see issues in your ball flight and ball-striking that you think are swing-related but that are actually a result of your equipment.
For example, if the lie angle on your irons is too upright (toe up at impact), hooked shots to the left are often the result, while shots that are missed to the right can often be the result of irons that are too flat (toe down at impact).
Additionally, if you play clubs that are not standard length, the longer the club is the more it effectively plays upright and the shorter the club is the more effectively it plays flat. This is especially important to understand if you altered a set of used irons that you purchased.
The good news is that with the newer loft-lie machines that are available today almost any club can be adjusted, whereas years ago typically only forged clubs could be altered without the risk of snapping a shaft.
You can see a professional club-fitter to make sure that your irons are the correct lie angle but you can also check this yourself.
Put a piece of masking or electrical tape on the bottom of your irons and take swings on a piece of plywood, making contact with the plywood just as you would the ground on a normal swing.
Then look at the tape and see where the markings are most prominent. If they’re most prominent toward the toe, your irons are likely too flat for you. If the marking is most prominent toward the heel, your irons are likely too upright.
If that’s the case, find a professional who can alter your clubs and make sure that you’re “skidding” the club in the middle of the tape. If that’s the case, you’re good to go.
One of the keys to evaluating the effectiveness of your golf swing is to eliminate all of the variables that can negatively impact the shots you hit before you take the club back.
Grip, posture and alignment are things that typically come to mind first, but it’s equally imperative that golfers who want to play better and improve take necessary measures to make sure their equipment fits them.