Get proper fit when buying new clubs

Good Day golfers. This week’s question comes from Todd in Mountlake Terrace. He is looking at purchasing a new set of clubs and was asking about club fitting.

With today’s technology there are more choices than ever with new models coming out every year. Before you make your next purchase consider these fitting items; lie angle, length, shaft flex and bend point, and head design. Obviously, there are more items that could be considered but these are the basics.

Lie angle refers to the angle between the sole of the club and the shaft. A proper lie angle and length will allow the club to contact the ground evenly and not toe first or heel first. If the toe hits the ground first the heel will kick out and push the ball right and vice versa if the heel hits first. Length is generally determined by the golfer’s height.

There are a wide variety of club head designs to choose from but there are a couple of things to look for when considering a particular club head. Unless you have a low handicap and can practice quite often, I would not recommend a blade iron. Cavity back irons are the way to go. They provide a much larger margin for error when trying to hit the sweet spot. The larger the sole, the lower the center of gravity which helps get the ball up in the air.

Shaft flex and bend point are the most important aspect of club fitting. Without the right shaft, even the best players will have trouble controlling their golf ball. Shaft flex is determined by club head speed. A shaft with too much flex will impart an excessive amount of sidespin on the ball. A shaft that is too stiff will cause a loss of distance and playability. Generally, a higher swing speed requires a stiffer shaft. My opinion is to get the most flexible shaft that you can control.

The last item is shaft bend point. Bend point affects the trajectory of the ball flight. A low bend point (closer to the club head) will help get the ball flight higher and a high bend point (closer to the handle) will create a lower ball flight.

When shopping for clubs the key is to hit a variety of club head and shaft combinations. Most golf stores will have at least basic club fitting available.

Please send your questions to tyroneh@ballingerlakegolf.com. Tyrone Hardy is the Director of Golf at Ballinger Lake Golf Course in Mountlake Terrace. See www.ballingerlakegolf.com.