Custom Fitting Golf Clubs--Not Just For Pros

There are many of you out there who have bought clubs off the rack for many many years without stopping to think if the clubs really are what you need. A lot of you probably think, "Custom fitting is only for professional golfers. What will it really do for an amateur like me?" Well, that is definitely an incorrect way of thinking. In fact, many of the top clubfitters have proven that a club fitting is actually more beneficial for players of a higher handicap. It may just be the difference between falling short of your personal best, or smashing your personal course record.

Clubfitting usually starts with static measurements--they measure you for length of the club. The length is important because too long or too short of a club may lead to many shots that are not hit on the center of the clubface. Once the fitter knows your stats, you are ready to get started.

If you go to a reputable fitter, they will then move on to the dynamic fitting process. If you are getting fit for irons, they will have you hit on a lie board to make sure the lie angle of your clubs are correct. An incorrect lie angle can lead to digging of the toe or heal at impact and will lead to shots that are sprayed all over the place.

After all of the measurements are complete, you move on to the fun part--hitting. Most fitters will start with your old set of clubs to take a baseline measurement. The best system to use is a Trackman or Flightscope launch monitor that utilizes radar technology. These are the most accurate and best when it comes to data. The fitter should record everything with your old clubs: clubspeed, ball speed, launch angle, angle of attack, spin rate, side spin, and smash factor.

After the baseline measurements are complete, the fitter will provide you with clubheads and shafts that fit your swing profile. This is the most important part of the fitting and where you will get the most information and improvement. The fitter will have you hit combinations that are proven with your swing characteristics to give you the best performance. At a good fitting, you will be able to try as many heads and shafts as it takes until you find the one that maximizes performance based on your swing. Every fitter knows the "gold standard" of flight data based on each swing speed.

When all is said and done, you should have spent 1-2 hours fine-tuning each and every club for your individual game. Now you know the clubs that fit you and the shafts that will help you shave those strokes off your game. So what are you waiting for? Go to your local clubfitter (google search usually helps), give someone a call, and schedule your best game improvement you will have. And try to find a fitter who has the Trackman or Flightscope, as these will give you the most accurate readings.

Good luck, get fit, and play your best golf ever!

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