Instead, when you get fitted, ask the fitter to not tell you what flex he's recommending, and if need be, have him cover the specs on the shafts with black tape so you can swing without any preconceptions. Our blind fitting proved that when we know what the flex is, both low- and high-handicappers swing a little differently to adjust.
Full Answer
What is included in a driver fitting?
Another essential part of your driver fitting is getting the right shaft. Our goal is to get the proper shaft so the player can deliver the sweet spot of the clubhead to the ball with the most consistency. We view shafts and driver heads as equally important.
What should I look for when choosing new golf shafts?
As you try different shafts, the fitter should solicit feedback about feel (flex, weight, impact) and performance, and evaluate how each shaft affects ball flight. During this process of elimination, golfers should resist the urge to look at the shaft flex code (R, X, S, etc.).
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.
How to get the best shaft for Your Driver?
Getting the best shaft by doing a driver shaft fitting is a very subjective task but also very beneficial. In a perfect world, all of our woods and irons would be fitted by a professional to suit our swings perfectly. But that isn’t the case. If there is one club to be properly fitted, it would definitely be the driver.
What should I look for in a driver fitting?
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.
Is golf driver fitting worth it?
Is it worth getting custom fit golf clubs? The simple answer is yes, it's definitely worth getting custom fit golf clubs. If you were to look at the back of a typical set of off the shelf clubs, they would usually have various markings on them as well as loft and lie angles.
How do I choose the right size golf driver?
LENGTH. The driver is the longest club in your bag. Men's drivers tend to measure between 45 and 48 inches, while women's drivers are typically between 43 or 44 inches. The size used depends on how a golfer feels in terms of overall control.
What do you bring to a golf club fitting?
What to Bring to A Golf Club FittingYour current club or set of clubs.Your typical outfit and shoes – Dress as if you're about to play a few rounds!Your completed pre-fitting survey for the fitting's informational interview.
How long does a driver fitting take?
A thorough driver fitting session should last around an hour, and typically takes at least 60 balls to dial in the right head and shaft combo. That's a lot of physical and mental stress packed into an hour, and it's more stress for golfers who decide to get fit for other clubs on the same day.
How much does a driver fitting cost?
On average it costs between $250 and $600 to get a full bag of golf clubs fitted. 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.
How long should your driver be based on height?
The Tall and Short of It For example, if you are 6-feet tall and your wrist-to-floor measurement is 35 inches, a standard length driver -- 44 inches for a steel shaft driver and 45 inches for a graphite shaft driver -- would be appropriate.
What loft do you want on a driver?
The ideal driver loft depends on your swing speed and the attack angle. Average players that swing the club less than 95 MPH will likely find that a 10.5-degree driver performs the best. Better players who can control their drives and want the most distance will lean more towards a 9-degree driver.
How do you shop for a driver?
Below are the most important things to consider when buying a driver.Find a quality shaft. The most important thing when searching for a driver is the shaft. ... Pick a Club-Head. This is the fun part of buying a driver. ... Choose a Loft. Unfortunately, there is no good way that I know of to choose a loft. ... My Best Tips.
How do you approach a golf club fitting?
Five Things to Know About Club FittingA personalized approach. Before going into any detail about what I might be looking for or my swing, my fitter wanted to learn about me. ... Bring your game to the shop. ... Be prepared to hit a lot of balls—or split up the days. ... Don't set expectations. ... Prepare for a big purchase decision.
What does a driver fitting do?
A Driver Fitting is a detailed process. It involves the customization of all the major aspects of a driver that can affect the playability, feel and overall performance of the club. Our trusted advisors use industry-leading TrackMan* technology to elevate your game.
How long does a golf fitting take?
Examples: Driver or iron fittings usually take 45-60 minutes, wedge fittings usually take 30 minutes, woods fittings usually take 60 minutes.
Weight
The weight of your shaft is going to primarily affect your distance. A heavier shaft will reduce your clubhead speed and thus the amount of energy transferred into the ball.
Kickpoint
Depending on the kickpoint, your shaft will bend closer to the head or the grip of the club.
Torque
Torque refers to how much the shaft twists. It’s the least talked about feature but still an important one to club fitters. High torque shafts can twist easily, and low torque shafts are resistant to twisting.
Cost
It always comes down to price at the end of the day and we are always looking for the best deal. A driver shaft can cost anywhere from $40 – $300.
Conclusion
Fitting yourself for a driver shaft is a bit like trying to do your own plumbing. You could do it yourself but if you get something wrong then you might end up in the water.
What happens if your fitter is closely connected to a few brands?
If your fitter is closely connected to a few brands and doesn’t have a diverse club matrix, it’s going to negatively affect your session.
Do fitters use launch monitors?
Some fitters have old-school tendencies, but nearly every one of them relies on a launch monitor in some form or fashion these days. If a launch monitor isn’t in the cards, consider an alternative fitting option.
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).
What is the effect of loft on golf ball?
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.
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.
Is club head speed a good indicator of distance?
In general, club head speed would be the best INITIAL indicator since distance can be greatly influenced by player perception and quality of contact. Although other factors (tempo, transition, impact position, etc.) may influence shaft recommendations, club head speed is a decent starting point.
Can you adjust a tee height?
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.
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.
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.
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.”.
How far can you gain from changing golf clubs?
Before, during and after your fitting, remind yourself that there are no shortcuts in golf. It’s not realistic to expect 30-or-40-yard distance gains just from changing equipment. On the other hand, most first-time customers gain around one-to-two clubs of distance from a complete fitting, while also minimizing their common misses.
Is golf a game of hard work?
At the end of the day, golf is a game of hard work and patience. 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.
Can you draw a swing during fitting?
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. Even if you think you’re lousy, your swing is likely a lot more consistent than you think. Play your own game to see the most improvement from your new sticks.
What to do during a fitting?
During the fitting, don’t be afraid to take breaks, get a drink of water, or eat a snack. Good fitters understand that it can be a long process. If you’re getting tired, communicate. A fitting can usually be broken up into two sessions is fatigue is an issue.
How to get fit for a full bag?
Especially if you’re trying to get fit for a full bag in one session, you’ll be making more swings than you’re used to. Get a good night’s sleep before the fitting, have a good meal, and get hydrated. During the fitting, don’t be afraid to take breaks, get a drink of water, or eat a snack. Good fitters understand that it can be a long process.
Why is it important to be honest with your fitter?
There are two reasons to be honest. First, just like your mother, your fitter already knows the truth. If you swing your driver at 80 MPH, your fitter knows that your drives aren’t carrying 275. More importantly, honesty is going to help you get the best results.
Can a fitter get you into the best clubs?
Your fitter can’t get you into the best clubs unless you’re honest about what you want. Another thing to let your fitter know is whether or not you’re going to be working on your game. An accomplished fitter can take this into account when making a recommendation.
Flex/Frequency
Length
- The length of your driver shaft will help you control the directionof the ball more. A shorter shaft will give you better accuracy. A longer shaft will give you more distancebut will cost you some fairways in regulation. You will sense a theme in this article that the name of the game is to find balance, and that includes length. There is a perfect...
Weight
- The weight of your shaft is going to primarily affect your distance. A heavier shaft will reduce your clubhead speed and thus the amount of energy transferred into the ball. But it’s not as easy as just going out and getting a lighter shaft. A shaft that is too light will cause you to swing out of control and lose consistency. You may lose feel too, which is very important when hitting the driver sinc…
Kickpoint
- Now we are getting into some in-depth driver talk. This is a word you may not hear too often amongst your weekend foursome pals. This refers to a spot or small range on the shaft where it experiences the most bend under duress or that of a golf swing. I’m sure you noticed that the grip end is thicker than the clubhead end. This tapering is different with each shaft and will affect ho…
Torque
- Torque refers to how much the shaft twists. It’s the least talked about feature but still an important one to club fitters. High torque shafts can twist easily, and low torque shafts are resistant to twisting. Not to sound like a broken record but generally, you want your torque to be not too high and not too low. Based on your swing speed, your club fitter can determine how mu…
Cost
- It always comes down to price at the end of the day and we are always looking for the best deal. A driver shaft can cost anywhere from $40 – $300. Yes, one shaft without a head or grip on it can cost $300+. Not many people want to drop that much cash on half of a driver. But that should be proof of how much science and technology goes into these so that we can all hit it a little furthe…
Conclusion
- Fitting yourself for a driver shaft is a bit like trying to do your own plumbing. You could do it yourself but if you get something wrong then you might end up in the water. It’s just easier to hire a trained professional and get it done right from the beginning. Getting fit for a driver shaft is a great learning experience and you will feel like a professional when you get to see all your numb…