Golf Club Custom Fitting

The West of England’s number 1 Custom Fitting Centre.

At Nicky Lumb’s Golf SuperStore, Bristol Golf Centre

The importance of using the best equipment for your golf game cannot be over emphasised. Consistency, distance, trajectory, control and accuracy are all affected by the use of unsuitable equipment.

Recently, golf club technology has dramatically changed. Club heads are now bigger and more user friendly than ever before, allowing YOU to hit the ball consistently further and straighter.

Using modern day equipment is essential, but it must be suitable for you. Standard clubs are available off the shelf, but there is no industry standard. Therefore to maximise your playing potential, you must use clubs that offer the playing characteristics you desire.

YOUR IRONS, DRIVER, FAIRWAY WOODS, HYBRIDS and WEDGES MUST BE THE CORRECT:

• DESIGN
• LOFT
• SHAFT FLEX
• LENGTH
• LIE ANGLE
• GRIP THICKNESS

Golf Club Design
Golf clubs vary in appearance and playing characteristics. The type of club best suited to a player depends on skill level, ball striking ability and desired playing features. Beginners or improving players will suffer from a variety of swing faults affecting accuracy and distance. Through club design, common swing flaws e.g.: slices, can now be accounted for helping the ball fly straighter and further!

Game Improvement Clubs
If you're looking to improve your ball striking consistency you need to use a cavity back, or game improvement iron. This type of head re-distributes weight around the club's perimeter and with a wider sole, positions the majority of weight further away from the clubface, offering a lower centre of gravity. With a thicker top line, higher moment of inertia, larger sweet spot and more club head stability through impact, the cavity back is the most forgiving iron on off-centre strikes. (put in TaylorMade picture here)

Blades
The other main type of iron available is the blade. This has no cavity, and the weight is more evenly distributed across the back of the club. The sole and club top line are thinner, which appeals to low handicap players. The centre of gravity is closer to the face, offering a lower launch angle, lower trajectory, lower MOI and more feel and control. The ball can be shaped more effectively too, however shots struck from the heel or toe will lack distance and accuracy. (put in Mizuno iron picture here)

This chart from Ping Golf, illustrates the playing features that each type of Iron head will give you.

Custom Fitting - How important is it that your clubs suit you?
Selecting the correct club head design to best compliment YOUR game is essential. Once this is achieved, custom fitting the club(s) to ensure they suit YOU is essential.

Shafts
The correct shaft is vital, as this enables the ball to travel further with more control, optimising launch angle and controlling ball spin rate.

Launch Angle
Launch Angle is the angle the ball leaves the clubface in relation to the ground at impact. It is identified during the first half of the ball’s flight. To maximise distance this must be optimised.  More...

The diagram shows the ideal launch angle and demonstrates how too high or too low a launch angle affects distance.

Spin rate
Spin rate is the amount of backspin and sidespin imparted on the ball at impact, which affects distance and accuracy. It is visually identified during the second half of the ball’s flight. More...

This diagram demonstrates how optimum spin and launch conditions results in optimum distance. Too much or too little spin will affect distance and accuracy.

A low trajectory occurs, when there is not enough backspin on the ball. This causes the ball to fall quickly, loosing distance. When the ball flies too high, it has too much backspin, reducing distance, as the ball starts too low, then quickly climbs upwards and drops.

The ideal type of shaft (steel or graphite) and flex for a player varies according to their swing speed, ball flight and swing characteristics.

This chart illustrates the importance of choosing the best shaft and flex:

Kick Point
This is the point where the shaft bends during the forward swing. Players with a slow club head speed generally benefit from a lower kick point, which helps get the ball into the air more easily, resulting in a higher trajectory, longer carry and greater distance.

The positions on a shaft of a high and low kick point

Torque
The correct level of torque helps ensure the clubface is square at impact. It refers to the amount of rotation that occurs in a shaft. A value under 3 indicates low torque, so the shaft twists less, offering a harder feel.

Shaft length
The correct length helps players consistently deliver central strikes, producing maximum ball speed and control. Longer shafts produce more club head speed, but consistency and control can be lost. A player’s address position, swing mechanics, ball striking, shot pattern, posture during their down swing, height, and wrist to floor measurement must be considered as this affects shaft length.

IRON IMPACT LOCATIONS

DRIVER IMPACT LOCATIONS

Lie Angle
With irons, once the correct shaft length has been determined, the lie angle must be established. This measures the angle between the sole of the club and the centreline of the shaft,

If a club is too upright, the ball starts left of the target. Too flat a lie results in the ball flying right. Therefore ensuring your clubs have the correct lie angle, gives you the best chance of hitting the ball straight!

Grip Size
Grip size is important. The grip must feel comfortable, and fit your hand. Grip size can even reduce the effects of some swing faults.

Why not let your equipment start talking!

Book a Custom Fitting Session Today
A standard club customisation is FREE
(Monday – Thursday 11am – 8pm and Friday – Sunday 11am – 5pm)

If you would like to have your launch angle and spin rate tested using the Vector Pro Launch Monitor and have the ULTIMATE CLUB CUSTOMISATION, please call 0117 9701116 to book an appointment.