Selecting the Right Clubs for YOU!
There are key indicators that club fitters use to guage how your clubs should be fit to your body and swing. These indicators will include measurement of your height, grip diameter, swing speed and others. Each manufacturer or retailer will use slightly different measurements, but all are geared to finding your correct fit. I will usually only take about five minutes to verify your measurements and indicators, well worth the time spent. Be prepared to give your height, your "floor to wrist" height, swing speed (or estimate anyway) and age. With just these few indicators they will give you an extremely accurate "fit" guide for your new custom clubs.
Elements of the Club
Shaft
Most people disregard the importance of high quality shafts when buying or building clubs ... this is a huge mistake. As club maker Tom Seldon has said, "You can put a poorly designed club head on a good shaft and you will have a playable club. However, the best designed club head in the world on an inferior shaft will be junk." Just about any "off the rack" set of clubs you can buy will have inferior shafts, that is why a reputable custom fitter is so important. But again, there is no need to spend a thousand dollars or more for this benefit.
Your shafts should offer the right amount of flex for your swing. Faster swings require stiffer shafts while slow swings require a more flexible shaft. It is better to err on the side of a more flexible shaft as it will be more forgiving. A shaft that is too stiff for you, on the other hand, will accentuate swing flaws and reduce your ability to get the ball in the air.
Graphite shafts are more flexible than steel shafts and are very useful for women, junior and and senior players.
So how can you find the correct shaft flex for you. Well ... how far do you USUALLY hit your driver?
Less that 200 yards ... Ladies flex
200 to 230 yards ... Senior flex
230 to 250 yards ... Regular flex
250 to 300 yards ... Stiff flex
300 yards or more (and your not lying) ... Extra stiff flex
If you still can't figure it out, a 1/2 hour lesson with a golf pro should be enough time for a professional recommendation.
Shaft length should also be customized for your body. The measurements you take for the online fitting guides will give you a recommendation on your ideal shaft length.
Grip
Grip size is an important measure when fitting your clubs. The correct grip size will be the most comfortable as well as the best performing as they will help to eliminate grip slippage.
Other than that, grip softness or hardness has a lot to do with personal preference. Some prefer hard (or more dense) grips because they feel like they offer better swing feel. Others like them softer because they are more comfortable in their grip. This one is really up to you.
Head
Golf club heads come in a number of different types, shapes, materials and weights for different playing characteristics and purposes.
Types of heads ...
Woods (or metals)
Generally used for longer shots and off the tee. The head design places the center of gravity farther behind the ball than with irons generally making it easier to hit the ball higher on a similarly lofted club. This allows very low loft angles for shots that travel farther. There generally less control of ball spin for "working" the ball with woods because of club face characteristics.
Irons
Usually used for mid-length to shorter golf shots. The center of gravity is very close to the face of the club which allows more control over the shot. Height on the shot is generated through loft angle.
Hybrid
Becoming more and more popular because it offers many of the benefits of woods and irons in one club. They are more often used in longer irons to overcome some of the difficulties in hitting low lofted irons. The center of gravity is farther away from the face (like a wood) making it easier to get the ball in the air. The shaft is usually about the same length as its iron counterpart allowing easier control over the swing path.
Shapes of heads ...
There are just about as many different "shapes" of golf club heads as there are golf clubs. A few of the more important characteristics include ...
Perimeter weighted: Accomplishes a higher "moment of inertia" (MOI), which basically means the club is less likely to twist on impact, causing a "miss hit". This is often referred to as club "forgiveness".
Head size: Club heads generally come in three different sizes ... traditional, over-size and super over-size. Generally speaking the larger (over-size or greater) the head is, the larger the "sweet spot" and the easier it is to hit. Smaller head sizes generally offer great control to "work" the ball for better players.
Cavity or Muscle back: Cavity back irons offer perimeter weighting mentioned above. They are, therefore, generally more forgiving than muscle back irons. Muscle back irons will generally offer more control for low handicap players.
Head materials ...
Many different types of materials are used in the production of golf club heads. Those that are harder generally have a greater ability to impart energy to the golf ball making it go farther! That said, this area of club making really is pretty confusing. Many "mass" manufacturers will deceptively name their materials to trick customers. Here is a quick and easy guide for knowing which materials are used different types of clubs.
Beginner woods: Aluminum, Titanium alloys (or Ti-Alloy)
Good woods: HST Aluminum
Better woods: 17-4ph stainless steel, 431 stainless steel
Best woods: Titanium (usually used in more expensive drivers), maraging metal, bi-metal, tungsten insert
Beginner irons: Zinc
Best irons: 431 stainless steel, 17-4ph stainless steel, bi-metal, tungsten insert
Head weight ...
The heavier the weight of a club head, the more energy it can transfer to the ball. Also, many different weighting tactics are employed to improve the playability of a club ... example: perimeter weighting.
Loft and lie
Loft and lie adjustments are probably the most complex and disputed elements of club fitting. Lie refers to the angle at which the bottom of the club head departs from the shaft. This is adjusted as needed for different type of address postures over the ball. Loft refers the angle at which the face of the club lays to the ground. Example: a 9 iron has more loft than an 8 iron.
Some online club fitters prefer not to adjust loft and lie. To make these adjustments the head hosel itself has to be bent and will weaken the hosel. One adjustment rarely weakens the hosel to a detrimental degree, but multiple adjustments certainly can. Therefore, many online fitters recommend taking your club to a pro shop for onsite lie and loft adjustments (and many suggest never making loft adjustments).
For those manufacturers that do recommend lie or loft adjustments, they will be given after using their fitting guide.