How to Find the Right Golf Clubs for You
By this time, you are ready to get clubs that fit you, if you haven’t already. Basically speaking, you need to have the correct shaft length and flex, the correct grip size, and the correct lie angle. Many golf course pro shops now offer club fitting service, using one or more of the excellent portable club fitting stations offered by leading club manufacturers. These units have several different clubs with varying lengths, flexes and lie angles for you to try, until you find the one you hit the best. Incidentally, you do not necessarily need new clubs. If you like your present set, they can easily be adjusted to fit you. And that’s a lot less expensive than a new set.
When club fitting someone, I first look closely at their address position, not just their height, to determine the proper length shaft. Then I check swing speed and look to see how much the student loads (bends) the shaft at the top of the swing. That helps me determine the right shaft flex. I check grip size by looking to see whether the left hand fingers rest against the palm rather than digging in or not touching at all. Finally, I have them hit a few balls from what’s called a lie board, which best indicates the proper lie.
Since most clubs come in only regular or stiff Rexes, most of my students get the correct shaft. Tall players over six feet may need longer than standard dubs. Short players under five feet, six inches may need shorter than standard. Petite clubs are also offered by many club manufacturers for players under five feet.
The most important club fitting variable is probably the lie angle, and that should be done with a lie board which shows you where the sole of the club contacts the ground. I put duct tape on the sole of the club and have the student hit balls off of the lie board, which is just a flat board placed on the ground like a hitting mat. After the two balls are hit, I look at the sole of the club to see where the mark left by contact with the board, not the ball, is. If the mark is in the center of the sole, it fits. A mark out on the toe means the club is too flat, and will cause an otherwise good shot to go to the right. Conversely, a mark on the heel means the club is too upright, and will cause the ball to go to the left. Most clubs can have the lie angle adjusted to properly fit you, but you must get to a lie board to find out what lie you need. Do not trust a finger tip to floor measurement. The lie angle you require depends more upon your swing than your height and arm length.
The significance of lie angle cannot be overstated. For every degree too upright or flat, the ball will go eleven feet left or right of the target on a 150 yard shot. To play well with clubs that do not fit you requires that you compensate in some way for the ill fitting equipment. Golf’s hard enough. Get your clubs fit to you. A good club fitter or a competent PGA golf professional will be able to help you find the right clubs.COPYRIGHT © 2008 – 2009 All Sports PRO. All rights reserved.