A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ball flight and feel preferences are all important aspects that go into finding the right driver shaft for you. Without going through a professional fitting, trial and error can help you determine a comfortable and effective length for you. 4. Kick point
What should you be thinking about when getting your next driver fitting?
We asked three of Golf Digest’s 100 Best Clubfitters to weigh in on what you should be thinking about as you head in for your next driver fitting: One of the first keys is to remember that one long drive in and of itself does not mean you’ve found the perfect driver.
Should you go for a golf fitting?
For anyone who hasn’t gone for a fitting, you’re gonna be hitting a lot of golf balls. As a result, you’re going to want to make sure you go rested to guarantee that you don’t run out of gas and start getting sloppy with your swing.
Should average Golfers pay attention to driver shaft length?
“Where did it land?” he said, noting that average golfers should pay attention to driver shaft length, too. Rickie Fowler just won a tour event using a 43 1/2-inch shaft and averaging 300-plus yards off the tee. That’s two inches shorter that most standard shafts in today’s latest drivers. “The woods are full of long drives.
Why are golfers so obsessed with driver fittings?
Particularly with a driver fitting, golfers are inclined to be drawn to the model that produced that single “bomb” that felt better than you could’ve ever imagined and sailed 15 yards farther than anything you’ve ever hit.
What do I need to know before fitting a driver?
Things to Look for During a Driver FittingConversation/Interview.Bring current driver for comparison.Pay attention to what is added to the club during the fitting.Put a priority on ball speed instead of smash factor.Pay attention to which fitting elements are addressed.
What should I look for when buying a golf driver?
When you are in the market for a new driver, there are seven major aspects to consider: skill level, size and shape of the club head and clubface, color, loft, shaft flexibility, and adjustability.
How long should my golf driver be for my height?
Using the ratio of every 6" of height there should be a 1" change in length then there should be a 1 ½" difference between their 5-irons. For example, recommend 36.5" for the lady and 38" for the man (or 36.75" / 38.25").
What does a driver fitting include?
“They are clubhead speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch, and spin rate. There are more numbers, but those are the ones that always come first. I don't think ignoring any number is right. I would say ignore the idea that 'what's right for somebody is right for me.
How do I size my driver?
To determine your optimum driver length, look at where you hit the ball on the face of your driver. If your hits are mostly towards the heel, your driver is too long. Another possibility is that the shaft is too light. Try choking down on the shaft and see if your contact improves.
What size driver do I need for my height?
Driver Shaft Length Based Solely on HeightHeight (feet/inches)Driver Shaft Length5'4″-5'7″45.5″5'2″-5'4″45″5'0″-5'2″44.5″4'10”-5'0″44″6 more rows•May 9, 2021
How do I find the right driver?
Driver loft, which typically ranges from 8.5° to 15°, should match your swing speed. The slower your swing speed the more loft you should have. If your average swing speed is between 80 and 90 mph (the average for most male golfers) you should be using a driver with about 10.5° to 12° of loft.
How do you size a golf driver?
Simply hold your golf club at 45 degrees to the ground or as in your playing position. At this point take a golf club ruler or take measure and place under the sole of the club. Measure to butt of grip. This will give you you an accurate and USGA standard for measuring your golf driver.
How do I know if my driver is too long?
The longer your driver shaft, the more your swing faults will be exaggerated. Assuming you don't make any other adjustments, your driver shaft will also be stiffer, which will impart less spin on the ball. The result: less curving right and left.
How much does a driver fitting cost?
Driver only fittings typically cost from $50 to $175 as do 'irons' fittings. Wood/Hybrid and wedge custom fittings can be cheaper at $40 to $150 but golf club fitters will often 'refund' fitting costs if you buy clubs afterwards.
Is a driver fitting worth it?
A proper driver fitting should lead to a noticeable change in the playability, feel and overall performance of the club. And, to dispel one common misconception, a golf club fitting isn't just for advanced players.
What are the most forgiving drivers?
The most forgiving drivers are:Ping G425 Max driver – Top Performer.TaylorMade SIM 2 Max driver – Runner up.Titleist TSi 2 – Great adjustability.Cobra F-Max driver – Best value.Callaway Epic Max – Best for distance & forgiveness.Cobra F-Max offset driver – Reduce my slice.More items...•
How much does a golf fitting cost?
A complete fitting (woods, irons, wedges and putter) easily can take more than an hour and cost more than $100. Be sure you get a document that covers everything you hit, how well it worked for you and what each club and shaft costs. At many facilities, some or all of a fitting session’s price can be credited toward the purchase of new gear.
What degree is a golf club?
It can either be an 18-or 19-degree 5- wood, an 18- or 19-degree hybrid or even an 18- or 19-degree iron . “If the courses you play typically leave you with short-iron approach shots, add an extra wedge. If your approach shots are on the longer side, ditch one of those wedges and add a hybrid or fairway wood.”.
What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?
On the other hand, if the shaft doesn't load enough or if it's so stiff that it unflexes too soon, your distance is going to suffer. A fitter with a watchful eye will make recommendations based on your shaft loading and your swing speed, two factors that always ought to be considered together.
What is driver shaft fitting?
Driver shaft-fitting is arguably the most important part of the club-fitting process. Of course, choosing the right head, loft, clubface angle and grip is important too, but how the shaft functions during your swing is, in our opinion, what matters the most.
What happens when you swing a shaft?
Answer: There are two things a shaft does when you swing it, load and unload. (We can already hear shaft-fitters grumbling about the strength of that statement. We know, guys. A lot more stuff happens, but we're trying to keep it simple, okay?) Basically, a shaft flexes, then it unflexes. When it first flexes, it's called loading. That happens during the transition from backswing to downswing. Think of it as pulling the rubber band of a slingshot or a bowstring. Some players load the shaft tremendously, like Sergio Garcia who retains a tremendous amount of lag through his transition. Other players have slower transitions, where the downswing starts slower and perpetually increases speed. They load the shaft much less.
How does shaft load affect golf?
How does this affect you? Simply put, how much you load the shaft affects how much it has to unload through the impact area. If you load too much and the shaft doesn't release soon enough, control will be a serious issue for you. On the other hand, if the shaft doesn't load enough or if it's so stiff that it unflexes too soon, your distance is going to suffer. A fitter with a watchful eye will make recommendations based on your shaft loading and your swing speed, two factors that always ought to be considered together. If you simply go by swing speed, you won't get the whole story, because it doesn't tell you when your shaft is loading or unflexing. Some golfers, even though they may have a slow to moderate swing speed, may benefit from a stiffer shaft because they transition from their backswing to their downswing quickly. Conversely, some players with fast swing speeds can get away with a more flexible shaft because they transition slower and have a bigger overall arc. There are a lot of factors to consider in fitting, and how you load the shaft is crucial since it affects your shot quality tremendously.
How does shaft frequency rating work?
A shaft's frequency rating comes from using a special machine that oscillates the shaft in a controlled matter. The fewer the oscillations (more often referred to as cycles per minute–CPM), the stiffer the shaft.
What to do if you're a low handicapper?
If you're a low-handicapper, check to see if your best drives fly too high or low, draw too much, etc. If so, you might be using the wrong shaft. As for high-handicappers, if you miss deep and wide, struggle with distance or have trouble with consistency, a better-fitting shaft can help minimize the effects.
Is a premium shaft better than a discount shaft?
We've tested a lot of shafts, and, generally, the premium shafts do perform better than discount shaft s, but there isn't enough data to support that claim as unequivocally true. Many value shafts are a great buy. What matters most are the shaft performance characteristics and the fit–flex, weight, torque, etc.
How to determine loft on golf driver?
The appropriate loft is actually determined by how the player tends to strike the ball, whether they hit up and lift the ball into the air or hit down and through, like an Iron. But a good starting point is to go by the speed with which you swing the club. Slower swing speeds will want more loft in order to help get the ball in the air for better hang time and longer shots while faster swings (and ball speeds) create lift on their own and don’t need as much loft. Most of today’s drivers are available in (or able to be adjusted to) “draw bias”. This is the practice of repositioning the clubs weight toward the heel, which will noticeably reduce a player’s miss to the right or will help to promote a “draw” shot that will curve to the left (for right-handers).
How to determine what clubs to put in your golf bag?
A proper fitting will also help you determine which clubs you need in your bag. Of course, every set should include a driver and a putter, but a fitting helps you find out everything in between. A common technique is to start with how far you hit your 7 iron. By starting there, a fitter can determine which fairway woods and hybrids you need as well as where your iron set should start. For instance, the shorter distance you hit your 7 iron, the fewer irons you’ll want and the more hybrids and fairways you’ll need to improve distance. Longer hitters can put more irons in play with fewer woods and hybrids.
Why is a softer shaft better?
Some prefer a softer flex because it allows them more control and gives them a smoother swing. However, if your shaft isn’t stiff enough you might give the ball too much loft. It’s important the tempo and length of your swing match your flex. If a shaft is too stiff, you’ll swing too fast and won’t produce enough spin.
What is TGW golf?
TGW.com offers customization of all the latest drivers and irons to fit your specifications and swing. Explore the aspects of finding the right club below, answer a few quick questions on our Fitting Guide, and you’ll be on your way to improving your game.
Why do slower swing speeds need more loft?
Slower swing speeds will want more loft in order to help get the ball in the air for better hang time and longer shots while faster swings (and ball speeds) create lift on their own and don’t need as much loft. Most of today’s drivers are available in (or able to be adjusted to) “draw bias”.
What is a professional club fitter?
Many golfers seek out the service of professional club fitters, as they often have years of training as well as high-tech equipment to analyze a player's swing, impact angles/speed, body type and ability, all to help them fit golfers with custom clubs.
Why is it important to fit a shaft?
It’s important to be fit for the proper weight and flex in your shafts in order to get the best distance and consistency from your shots.
What is a driver golf club?
The driver is typically one of the most fitted and often replaced clubs, and is usually the most-expensive club in one’s bag. A properly fit driver can have a dramatic effect on distance, accuracy, consistency and confidence; maximizing the opportunity for optimal results. When looking at driver fitting many principles from an iron fitting carry over, but there are some unique aspects to the driver (e.g. some elements of adjustability).
How does shaft fitting affect golf?
Players have a vast array of choices when it comes to shaft fitting. Various combinations of weight, flex, and torque can affect the way a shaft feels and performs. Ultimately these shaft properties can not only have a big effect on how a driver feels as it is swung and as it impacts the ball, but also can influence the trajectory that can be achieved with a given model.
What is loft in golf?
Loft is the angle of the clubface relative to a vertical line perpendicular to the ground. Loft has considerable influence on the launch angle and spin rate of a golf ball, although other factors such as shaft type and model also influence launch conditions. PING drivers are offered with different lofts to fit players of varying swing speeds, swing tendencies and ball-flight preferences.
How does length affect golf?
Altering the length of a driver can have a significant effect on performance. As length is evaluated, keep in mind the trade-offs in performance that can govern changes in driver length. Table 2 displays how altering length while maintaining a constant swingweight can affect performance. For example, for a 1-inch increase in length, the carry distance increases an average of 4 yards. As a general rule, an increase in length can increase distance, but will usually lead to a significant decrease in accuracy. There is also a point with most players where increasing length will lead to shorter distances due to poorer contact, though this point is highly dependent on the player.
What is the average driver length for a ping pro?
For PING pros on the PGA and European tours, driver lengths range from 44.25″ to 46″, with an average of 45.25″. On the LPGA Tour, lengths range from 44.5″ to 48″, with an average of 45.25″.
How does swingweight affect performance?
As with irons, overall swingweight can affect performance by influencing the way a club is delivered. In general, heavier swingweights and total weights tend to fight a miss to the left, while lighter clubs tend to fight a miss to the right. Most equipment manufacturers have dialed in swingweights for their drivers that provide the best performance for the overall population, but weight and balance should be part of the fitting discussion.
Why is tee height important?
Tee height is important to optimizing trajectory and distance with the driver. When teed too low, the ball typically launches lower with excessive spin. When teed too high, the ball may impact high on the face, leading to a higher launch angle than desired with insufficient spin. Hitting too high or low can also significantly affect ball speed. Typically, an average tee height that places the equator of the ball even with the top edge of the driver face works best for most. Particularly in an indoor environment, it is important to ensure that one can adjust tee height and achieve a sufficient tee height during a fitting. If you are not comfortable with the tee height during the fitting, be sure to discuss this with your fitter.
What does fitting do in golf?
A fitting will often allow golfers to hit the ball into places they were unable to reach in the past. Getting used to your new yardages, turf interaction, ball flight and course strategy may take some time. Don’t surprised if you find yourself reaching some hazards or flying some greens you may not have had issues with in the past.
What are the advancements in golf equipment fitting technology?
In the last 10 years, there have been major advancements in both golf equipment and golf equipment fitting technology. Systems such as FlightScope and TrackMan have given fitting professionals the data they need to maximize every golfer’s performance, regardless of their skill set or technique.
Why is it important to give your fitter an accurate representation of your game?
I cringe when I hear them say that, because the golfer is typically going to be focused on their swing instead of producing quality shots. It’s important to give your fitter an accurate representation of your game, which means you shouldn’t try to mask your flaws with a lesson immediately beforehand.
Why do golfers swing differently?
Golfers often tend to swing slightly different when hitting indoors due to the lack of feedback. Having four walls around a golfer will also change the sound of the ball at impact, which for many players is the main source of “feel.”.
What is a good club fitter?
A good club fitter has worked with golfers of all different abilities, from professionals to people who are just learning how to play golf. What I’m getting at is that they’re not going to be overly impressed or discouraged about your skills, because they’ve seen it all. If you normally hit a fade and, don’t try to use your “draw” swing during the fitting. All you’re doing is getting fit to a swing you don’t normally make.
How to find a good fitter?
Another great way to find a good fitter is to ask your friends, golf league members or even a good player in your area where they were fit and what their experience was like. You can quickly get some honest feedback and make an educated decision on whether or not that particular fitter might be a good option for you.
How to make golf more enjoyable?
New clubs can be a huge help, but it’s still up to you to execute the shots. Take the time to learn the distances each of your new clubs fly and do your best to trust those yardages. Be patient with yourself and your clubs, and you’ll find that the game will start to become more enjoyable.
What questions should a golf fitter ask?
Your fitter will probably ask you some important questions (“are you taking lessons?”, “how often do you play?”, or “what’s your common miss?”) that will help them determine what equipment might best serve you. Experimenting with swing changes and claiming that you never slice the ball isn’t going to help you get the most out of your fitting.
What to do when you show up for a club fitting?
When you show up to your fitting, go in with an open mind and try everything that’s available to you, even if its different models within the same manufacturer’s product line. Do NOT go into the fitting with the mindset that you’re meeting with the fitter just to confirm and fine-tune the club head and shaft combination that you’ve already picked out for yourself.
What are the factors that affect the total distance of a golf club?
With respect to spin rates and launch and descent angles , all of which also affect carry and total distance, there’s likewise target numbers you’ll want to hit with each club. Spin and launch and descent angles are all very important factors that need to be perfectly balanced when dialing in your irons because, in contrast to woods (where the goal is primarily to maximize carry and roll-out distance), you want to make sure your irons are traveling a consistent distance and spinning enough to hold the green (instead of rolling out an extra 10-20 yards).
Why do you get custom fit?
As I mentioned earlier, the purpose of getting custom fit is to help identify the clubs that will help you play your best. Fortunately, the fitting simulator numbers don’t lie and, as a result, don’t sell yourself short by showing up for the fitting with your mind made up on each club head, shaft model, and shaft flex that you want to put into play.
Why do you need to go rested for a golf bag fitting?
As a result, you’re going to want to make sure you go rested to guarantee that you don’t run out of gas and start getting sloppy with your swing. This is particularly important if you’re going for a full bag fitting.
Do you have to take your time when fitting a golf swing?
This will help make sure that you’re making a quality swing on every swing. Additionally, even if you’re only getting fit for woods, irons, or wedges, make sure to take your time and be deliberate with every shot. At no point during your fitting should you feel rushed.
Is a fitter a test?
Your fitter has seen thousands, possibly even hundreds of thousands, of swings, and it’s unlikely that he’d describe most of them as “tour-quality” or “pretty.” And that’s fine because you’re getting fit; this isn’t a test or a lesson. So when you show up for your fitting, be honest with yourself, your fitter, and (perhaps most importantly) your skill level .
What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff?
Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that’s too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.
Why do golfers buy shafts?
The problem is that buying a shaft because someone else uses it is like buying a size 44-long jacket because that’s what Tiger wears. It can be counterproductive to your game to purchase a shaft that isn’t right for you.
What does low torque mean on a shaft?
5. Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.
What shafts do you need for a slow swing?
Slow swing speeds will generally require softer-flex shafts, while high swing speeds need stiffer shafts; due to variations in swing patterns, however, swing speed is only one portion of finding the right shaft. Briand’s recommendation is to use your current driver shaft as a baseline.
What happens if you have a longer shaft?
As Briand says, a longer shaft will cause a less consistent strike on the face, and the golfer will tend to hit the ball closer to the heel. A shorter shaft, on the other hand, will cause a more consistent strike pattern, but impact location will tend to be on the toe. A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ...
How many inches is Rickie Fowler's shaft?
A look at Rickie Fowler's fairway wood shaft, which measures 42 inches with 0.5 inches of tipping.
Does tipping a shaft change the bend point?
Remember, though, that tipping a shaft will change the bend point, and it’s also irreversible, so make sure you know the purpose behind tipping your shaft. 2. Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex.
