Golfers ask me all the time if the top-of-the-line clubs really make a difference in their ability to be a better ball striker. My answer is always YES with a very important exception, they have to fit you properly.
When playing with clubs that don’t fit properly, golfers will still figure out a way to hit the ball. The problem is they are compensating in a way that makes it impossible for them to get consistent. Many times when I am working with a player in a club fitting, I have seen the right clubs completely change their swing to the point they will no longer have certain swing flaws.
A good example of this is a very tall person who has been playing with a standard length set of clubs. He or she has learned to compensate by bending over to much or flexing their knees to get down to the ball. However, once they start to swing, they stand up losing their spine angle or knee flex which either causes them to top or slice the ball. Once you give them a longer club, their posture improves immediately and so does their ball striking.
You don’t necessarily need to mortgage the house to buy a set of clubs because many manufactures offer club fittings as different price points. Below is a list of things I look for when fitting clubs to a student:
- Lie Angle at impact: When fitting irons, it is important to find the proper lie angle at impact. If the heel or toe hit the ground first, it forces the club to open or close once it makes ground contact usually leading to a pull or a slice. If the club strikes the ground squarely, the player will hit straighter and easier shots.
- Shaft Type and Flex: The shaft is the engine of the golf club. Steel and graphite are two types of materials but there are many different properties among each of those types of shafts. Club head speed helps us determine the proper shaft but ball flight will also help a good club fitter determine what type of shaft you need.
- Shaft Length: Important to your proper address set up but also your overall swing.
- Grip Size: One factor that is ignored when buying clubs is grip size. If the grip is too small, the hands become too active. If the grip is too big, it becomes hard to release the club at impact. A proper size grip helps you be able to use your hands and set the club properly throughout the swing.
To enjoy a better game this summer, have a club fitting specialist take a look at the clubs you are presently using. Sometimes, we can adjust your clubs and help save you from making a big investment in new clubs.