My nephew came to visit this weekend and we had a plan for me to fit him for a set of clubs. He has not played a lot of golf and I worked with him some today on his Swing Fundamentals - grip, posture, alignment, and ball position.
He was having some success hitting some short irons - but not close to this level of success with hitting a driver. And I could see he was getting frustrated.
So - should I build him a set of clubs, knowing that he was likely to still have some problems hitting woods and a driver? And he DID come to see me largely with the expectation of getting some new clubs.
I felt good about the final decision. That was - make a few clubs that are easy to hit, get him in the right length clubs, BUT also get his dad to give him a present of some lessons so that he can get started on the right foot.
Do you think if he went to a Big Box Store he would have had this kind of advice......I wonder. I felt good about the outcome for HIM.
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony Wright
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Key Element Of Successful Custom Clubfitting - YOU!!
The more I work with a variety of golfers to do custom fittings, the more I am totally convinced that there is more to True Success than the knowledge that I personally have about golf clubs and club performance.
At every point in a successful fitting, the player provides feedback and information that is critical to making the right decisions that lead to success. One of MY critical areas of expertise needs to be getting the right information from players at the right times. Some of the areas where this clearly happens include:
1. PRE FITTING INTERVIEW - obtaining data on what a player's typical misses are, where he/she wants to improve the most, what clubs work well and what clubs can provide the most game improvement for the player. Also, what physical issues the player might have - back problems, wrist problems, etc.
2. DURING THE FITTING - obtaining feedback during the entire fitting on questions like - does the club feel stiff, too long or short, too heavy or too light, can the player feel the clubhead, etc. Feel is a key element of getting the right club into a player's hands. Sometimes in fact a player will swing a club and say immediately that that club has a tremendous feel, and often the results from launch monitor measurements confirm this sense that the player has.
Another important element a player has during a fitting is to make small swing changes as a result of what the player and fitter see from video taken of the player's swing. The player being able to make these changes during a fitting can make the difference between a successful fitting and one that may not produce optimal results.
3. AFTER THE FITTING, CLUB FEEDBACK - In the best fittings the clubs perform perfectly when delivered to the golfer. But sometimes there can be a need to make some small modifications to them to get the final performance results desired. No one but the player can provide this final club evaluation, and his/her honest feedback is critical.
So - My View - There Is No True Successful Fitting Without Face To Face Player / Fitter Collaboration!!
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Monday, August 1, 2011
Yo Keith - A Passion for Compassion!
Keith Chatham is one of those truly great clubfitters - he does his stuff in Kerryville, Texas. He has won many honors, and when he speaks we all listen.
Recently I found a post he did on the Tom Wishon clubmaker forum that was inspiring and I think something many of us clubfitters aspire to. He talked about his Passion for clubfitting, but more about his Compassion for helping golfers to play the right golf clubs for them. Compassion for golfers who have never had the experience of playing clubs that truly fit them, compassion for disabled golfers who have in the past only been able to get off-the-rack clubs, compassion for lady golfers who have never had someone fully attend to their club needs.
His words are wonderfully inspiring, and something that I hope I get closer and closer to each day as I work to help golfers. Recently, one of my clients said that he no longer waits for golf catalogs to come to his house, because he knows that the clubs in those catalogs are not for him.
Thanks Keith.
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Recently I found a post he did on the Tom Wishon clubmaker forum that was inspiring and I think something many of us clubfitters aspire to. He talked about his Passion for clubfitting, but more about his Compassion for helping golfers to play the right golf clubs for them. Compassion for golfers who have never had the experience of playing clubs that truly fit them, compassion for disabled golfers who have in the past only been able to get off-the-rack clubs, compassion for lady golfers who have never had someone fully attend to their club needs.
His words are wonderfully inspiring, and something that I hope I get closer and closer to each day as I work to help golfers. Recently, one of my clients said that he no longer waits for golf catalogs to come to his house, because he knows that the clubs in those catalogs are not for him.
Thanks Keith.
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Monday, July 25, 2011
The True Custom Clubfitting EXPERIENCE - Expectations
Anyone being "fit" for a set of golf clubs should, I believe, have some expectations on what a superior clubfitting experience will include. Here are some of the things that I believe you should anticipate would happen if you are being truly fit for golf clubs....
1. The fitter will first ask you to provide some profiling information about your clubs - which clubs you hit well, which you do not, what are the areas of your game where you would hope to achieve the most improvement.
2. You will be asked if you have any physical issues - back, wrist, etc. - that could have an influence on how you swing a golf club.
3. The fitter will ask you specifically about what you hope will be accomplished during the fitting. He will tell you what his fitting process is, and what he will need you to do during the fitting.
4. The fitter will collect some data on some of your key golf clubs - particularly the ones that are not performing well for you. Length, swingweight, MOI, flex, loft and lie and face angle for wood clubs at a minimum. It is important to know where you are starting from to help you get where you want to go.
5. The fitter will know as much as possible about how golf clubs perform and how the 21 Key Variables of Club Fitting affect club performance.
6. The fitter will take video of your swing as part of the fitting process, and do a thorough review of this video as an initial part of a fitting. The fitter will have enough knowledge of the golf swing to identify any easily fixed swing issues. In some cases the fitter may even suggest that it would be better for the player to take some lessons before a truly effective fitting can be completed.
7. The fitter will have an ongoing dialogue with you during the fitting. He will let you see results of measurements made, and let you know when possible improvements are being produced with different fitting clubs. He will also listen to you A Lot during the fitting - what clubs feel good, which are too heavy or light - your input is a key part of a truly successful fitting.
8. The fitter will let you know the final specifications for the clubs that are being suggested be built. He will be sure you agree with the results from the fitting. In some cases, particularly iron fittings, it may be necessary to build one or more test clubs for you to use before the final club specs are completed.
9. When you get your golf clubs, he will ask you for feedback on the performance of the clubs. If they are not performing as you desire, he will modify them as necessary to get the results that you expect.
10. A few months after you have started playing the fitted clubs, the fitter will ask you for additional feedback on how they are performing. Again, if there are any necessary modifications to the clubs needed, he will work with you to ensure that they play to your expectations.
There is in fact a lot that goes into a True Clubfitting Experience. Throughout the entire process, you also deserve to work with someone who will be as excited about your golf improvement as you will be when you are playing clubs that really fit YOU!!
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
1. The fitter will first ask you to provide some profiling information about your clubs - which clubs you hit well, which you do not, what are the areas of your game where you would hope to achieve the most improvement.
2. You will be asked if you have any physical issues - back, wrist, etc. - that could have an influence on how you swing a golf club.
3. The fitter will ask you specifically about what you hope will be accomplished during the fitting. He will tell you what his fitting process is, and what he will need you to do during the fitting.
4. The fitter will collect some data on some of your key golf clubs - particularly the ones that are not performing well for you. Length, swingweight, MOI, flex, loft and lie and face angle for wood clubs at a minimum. It is important to know where you are starting from to help you get where you want to go.
5. The fitter will know as much as possible about how golf clubs perform and how the 21 Key Variables of Club Fitting affect club performance.
6. The fitter will take video of your swing as part of the fitting process, and do a thorough review of this video as an initial part of a fitting. The fitter will have enough knowledge of the golf swing to identify any easily fixed swing issues. In some cases the fitter may even suggest that it would be better for the player to take some lessons before a truly effective fitting can be completed.
7. The fitter will have an ongoing dialogue with you during the fitting. He will let you see results of measurements made, and let you know when possible improvements are being produced with different fitting clubs. He will also listen to you A Lot during the fitting - what clubs feel good, which are too heavy or light - your input is a key part of a truly successful fitting.
8. The fitter will let you know the final specifications for the clubs that are being suggested be built. He will be sure you agree with the results from the fitting. In some cases, particularly iron fittings, it may be necessary to build one or more test clubs for you to use before the final club specs are completed.
9. When you get your golf clubs, he will ask you for feedback on the performance of the clubs. If they are not performing as you desire, he will modify them as necessary to get the results that you expect.
10. A few months after you have started playing the fitted clubs, the fitter will ask you for additional feedback on how they are performing. Again, if there are any necessary modifications to the clubs needed, he will work with you to ensure that they play to your expectations.
There is in fact a lot that goes into a True Clubfitting Experience. Throughout the entire process, you also deserve to work with someone who will be as excited about your golf improvement as you will be when you are playing clubs that really fit YOU!!
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Monday, July 18, 2011
Who Clones WHO?
A month or so ago Roy Nix, President of the Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP) published a press release that includes some interesting facts related to custom golf clubs.
Roy did this because there is often an opinion that custom clubs are "knock off" clubs and not innovative designs.
The web address for reading this press release is....
http://www.thegolfwire.com/stories/239164
This information presents a dozen instances where new golf club innovations actually came from non OEM golf companies.
Custom clubs like those from Miura Golf (played by the winner of the Player's Championship this year), Wishon Golf and Alpha Golf, and wood shafts from companies like ACCRA golf are actually often leading the development of new ideas and improvements. These and other companies provide the highest quality components for use by professional clubfitters.
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Roy did this because there is often an opinion that custom clubs are "knock off" clubs and not innovative designs.
The web address for reading this press release is....
http://www.thegolfwire.com/stories/239164
This information presents a dozen instances where new golf club innovations actually came from non OEM golf companies.
Custom clubs like those from Miura Golf (played by the winner of the Player's Championship this year), Wishon Golf and Alpha Golf, and wood shafts from companies like ACCRA golf are actually often leading the development of new ideas and improvements. These and other companies provide the highest quality components for use by professional clubfitters.
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sergio Must Be Wrong?
Recently I saw some information in one of the golf magazines saying that Sergio (we all know who he is without saying his last name, right?) has switched from playing a 105 gram shaft in his driver to an 85 gram shaft. The information also noted that the length of his driver is 44 inches.
So I wondered why he would do something so different than the say golf club companies seem to want us to do with our drivers. I mean, does he not know that....
1. Drivers are supposed to be at least 45 to 45-1/2 inches long and maybe longer??
2. Driver shaft weights are supposed to be 65 grams, 55 grams, even down to 45 grams??
If my granddaughter, who is 2 years old, could understand golf clubfitting, she would say to me "Silly Gramps!" She would let me know that the vast majority of PGA tour players do not play the long drivers that are sold in stores. She would let me know that for a number of players heavier shafts feel better, swing better, and produce better results.
If all of the folks on the PGA tour could play longer drivers and control them they would. But they don't. Is there not a message there that is clear?
Recently I redid a driver for a female, cut her shaft length from 45 inches to 43 inches, put in a lightweight soft flex shaft - AND she is hitting the ball 15 yards longer and with more consistent results.
Maybe she talked with Sergio before she came to see me.....
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
So I wondered why he would do something so different than the say golf club companies seem to want us to do with our drivers. I mean, does he not know that....
1. Drivers are supposed to be at least 45 to 45-1/2 inches long and maybe longer??
2. Driver shaft weights are supposed to be 65 grams, 55 grams, even down to 45 grams??
If my granddaughter, who is 2 years old, could understand golf clubfitting, she would say to me "Silly Gramps!" She would let me know that the vast majority of PGA tour players do not play the long drivers that are sold in stores. She would let me know that for a number of players heavier shafts feel better, swing better, and produce better results.
If all of the folks on the PGA tour could play longer drivers and control them they would. But they don't. Is there not a message there that is clear?
Recently I redid a driver for a female, cut her shaft length from 45 inches to 43 inches, put in a lightweight soft flex shaft - AND she is hitting the ball 15 yards longer and with more consistent results.
Maybe she talked with Sergio before she came to see me.....
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Club Fitting Details MATTER!
Last week I noted that I had done an iron fitting and was rebuilding a set of OEM irons with KBS Tour S flex taper tip shafts. The player has been VERY pleased with the way these clubs are performing for him. These clubs were "MOI Matched" - this type of weight matching would not have been done if the player had sent the clubs back to the manufacturer for reshafting.
It is interesting to contrast these results with a request I received this week. A player from out of state asked me to provide a price quote to build a set of clubs for him. He said he had a fitting done and provided me some of the specs he had from the fitting.
Perhaps some might jump at this opportunity, but my view is that this would not be the right thing to do to get optimal results for the player. Great club performance results come the total package - doing a fitting that identifies the best club performance parameters, and then building the clubs to those exact specifications. Over and over, results from my clients show that this attention to detail matters.
The Fit Is IT!
Tony
It is interesting to contrast these results with a request I received this week. A player from out of state asked me to provide a price quote to build a set of clubs for him. He said he had a fitting done and provided me some of the specs he had from the fitting.
Perhaps some might jump at this opportunity, but my view is that this would not be the right thing to do to get optimal results for the player. Great club performance results come the total package - doing a fitting that identifies the best club performance parameters, and then building the clubs to those exact specifications. Over and over, results from my clients show that this attention to detail matters.
The Fit Is IT!
Tony
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