Do Your Clubs Fit YOU?

Do you know whether or not your clubs fit you?  Did you know that clubs need to fit you!!  All major club manufacturers have a ‘Fitting Cart’ that professionals use to fit individual golfers.  (Although I am a certified Titleist fitter and have worked with many ‘fit carts’,  my suggestion would be to get fit with the equipment you are most likely to purchase or get a custom fitting done by a professional fitter).

The question is what came first; the improved swing or the correct fit.  One thing is for sure; if you have a good swing and a poorly fit club you will make compenstions in your swing to make the ball fly and go where you want it to.  Or in other words you will be trying to fix a swing that ain’t broke!  The Titleist website provides an excellent explanation of why proper fit is important.  Read more……….

During the iron fitting process, the fitter will determine which model and specifications best meet the individual golfer’s needs to enable better scoring.  A big part of this process is the golfer being comfortable with the look, feel and sound of the golf club.

Step 1: Test baseline Conditions

The fitter will observe current ball flight tendencies, personal swing characteristics, and discuss your preferred ball flight, carry distances and ball-stopping performance expectations.

Step 2: Select the Proper Model

Titleist offers a variety of iron models to fit your game, with various profiles, offest, loft progression, and aesthetic properties. Here is an overview of our iron models and their unique features and benefits:

Step 3: Select the Iron Specifications

Length
The proper iron length will allow for ideal posture at address and will result in the most consistent on-center impact. The length fitting process will begin by testing a standard length 6-iron with face impact tape. Depending on shot distribution, golf swing, posture and ball flight results, the player will continue testing 6 irons at various lengths until on-center impact marks have been achieved and ball striking optimized.

The most common 6-iron on the PGA Tour is 37.5″ (standard) followed by ¼” over standard. This is the result of good posture at address and maintenance of proper posture during their swing.
There are circumstances where a player’s swing does not allow for on-center impact marks, and the ideal length will be determined by one that encourages good posture and the most consistent ball striking.

Lie Angle
Lie angle has a significant effect on a player’s ball flight and is easily identified and diagnosed. When lie angle does not fit the player’s swing correctly the ball flight will often force changes in their swing and the player can develop poor swing mechanics.

Lie angle is tested with impact tape and a lie board. The player will begin testing lie angle at 62.5° (standard) and hit shots off the lie board with both ball flight and impact marks evaluated. R & D Test Results: Based on a 165 yard #6 iron shot.

Lie angle 2° off equates to a shot 20 feet off target line. Lie angle 4° off equates to a shot 40 feet off target line. Depending on the ball flight, testing will continue until the player’s preferred ball flight is achieved with shots flying consistently at the target. When a player’s swing does not allow for on-center lie marks a lie angle will be chosen that promotes the most accuracy or encourages preferred ball flight.

Step 4: Optimize Launch Conditions

Iron ball flight is largely based on the player’s swing characteristics, which can be fine-tuned with varying head and shaft properties. Regardless of a player’s individual trajectory, the selected irons should provide specific yardage gaps and ball stopping ability throughout the set.

Shaft Flex
Proper shaft flex allows the player to load the shaft properly and maximize energy transfer to the ball.
Quicker tempo swings generally require heavier shafts and firmer flexes, while smoother tempos may benefit from lighter weight shafts with softer flexes. Most players will benefit from softest flex that producess controllable and consistent ball flight.

Shaft Type
The shaft largely plays two roles - it impacts the golfer’s feel during the swing and alters the ball flight due to properties such as flex point and weight. The ideal shaft type produces the player’s preferred trajectory, feel and performance. During the fitting process, players will test different shafts in search of the combination of properties that field the desired ball flight. The following table lists ways a fitter may use club variables to fine-tune launch conditions:

Iron Set Composition
If not already completed, the fitter will determine the longest iron which produces a playable trajectory using Titleist Long Game Performance Charts. More and more PGA Tour players are removing long irons from their bag due to the performance benefits of utility clubs. A playable trajectory is defined as a high launching trajectory that produces maximum carry distance with a descending angle that will allow the ball to stop on a green with control.

Grip
Proper grip size will produce less tension in hands and forearms, and facilitate proper release. Test different grips to arrive at the best size and preferred grip type (round or ribbed). Proper size will have fingertips slightly touching the palm in the player’s left hand.

What you don’t know

Myths About Golf Equipment And Performance
April 11, 2006

By Dick Rugge
Senior Technical Director
United States Golf Association

1. Golfers with faster swing speeds get disproportionately greater distance benefits from new golf balls that have been introduced after 2000.

False. Physics, scientific tests, and actual results on the PGA Tour all confirm that faster swinging players have not gained a disproportionate amount of distance from modern golf balls.  An example: Corey Pavin , the shortest hitter in 2000, gained about the same amount of distance from 2000 to 2005 (7.4 yards) as the longest ( John Daly at 8.7 yards).

2. Golf ball distance is not currently limited.

False.  Golf ball distance has been regulated since 1976 and golf ball rebound characteristics have been regulated since the 1940s.  In 2004, the USGA updated its testing methodology to more closely reflect the athleticism and clubs of today’s Tour pros. All golf balls played on Tour and the vast majority of golf balls sold have passed the USGA’s distance limit test.

3. Driving distance on Tour is increasing rapidly

False.  While average PGA Tour driving distance significantly increased over the past 10 years, it has leveled off during the past three.  The average increase since the level of 2003 to the current level in 2006 is only about 1 yard per year.

4. The longest hitters on the PGA Tour finish higher on the money list.

False.  While some long-driving professionals have been very successful, on average, the top 10 driving distance players have actually been falling down on the money list in recent years.  From 1980-85 the average rank was 64.2; in 2000-2005 it was 77.1. The second worst single year average rank on the money list of the longest 10 drivers was in 2004 with an average rank of 103.3.

5. Most of the PGA Tour professionals swing at 120 mph or more.

False.  The average swing speed on the PGA Tour is approximately 113 mph.  There are some who swing at or higher than 120 mph, but they are clearly in the minority.

6. The USGA ball test doesn’t control ball distance well enough because actual pro golfer swings are different than the test method.

False.  The test method employed by the USGA, using a 120 mph swing speed, is representative of the swing conditions used by the longer PGA Tour professionals.  The USGA tests balls like the PGA Tour pros hit balls.

7. The average distance for 5-irons on Tour is more than 200 yards.

False.  The PGA Tour Shotlink system, which records virtually all shots throughout the season, shows that the average 5-iron shot from fairway to green is approximately 185 yards.  From the tee on par threes, the average 5-iron distance is about 197 yards.

8. You get more distance when you put topspin on a drive.

False.  Every normally struck drive has backspin. Backspin generates lift and keeps the ball in the air.  You can put topspin on a ball - but only when you ‘top’ the ball.  It will go a very short distance and dive into the ground.

9. Accuracy off the tee isn’t as important as it used to be on the PGA Tour.

That’s no myth, it’s true.  During the ’80s driving accuracy was almost as strong a predictor of money-winning as putting.  Today it has fallen to the lowest level ever.

Launch & Spin Makes a Difference

To maximize your ability to play your best requires that you know how your golf ball spins and what the launch angle is. Without either being correct, you risk losing valuable yardage and ball control.

Optimize Launch Angle and Backspin

The ideal launch angle varies according to ball speed and involves some degree of player preference and adaptation to local conditions. Our fitters are equipped with charts and graphs developed by the Titleist Golf Ball Research & Development that accurately determine optimal ball flight at many different ball speeds.

Launch Angle

The angle at which the golf ball leaves the club face in relation to the ground at impact. Launch angle can be visually identified during the first half of ball flight.

Club loft, shaft properties, and club impact location have a great effect upon launch conditions and the fitter will adjust these variables to maximize performance.

Accuracy

The Zelocity PureLaunch (TM) has been tested at Golf Labs in San Diego, Metro Services, an independent testing facility, and is the only launch monitor certified by the Professional Club Maker’s Society (PCS).

At Metro Services, the PureLaunch was tested using a 60,000 frame per second camera system in a controlled environment where the ball was tracked for fifty yards.  The results of the testing from all sources substantiate that the Zelocity Club Speed and Ball Speed metrics are within 2/10th of a degree, Total Spin within 125 rpm and Carry Distance within 2% of actual.  Zelocity PureLaunch (TM) uses the latest Doppler radar technology to capture club and ball metrics through two receivers.  This captures 100,000 readings per second, per transceiver, of the golf ball traveling down the fairway.

See more information on the Zelocity Purelaunch (TM) on the Technology Page.

Improve Your Putting!

In split seconds, TOMI captures and analyzes the basic mechanics of putting which, when well executed, produce fluid, well aligned strokes TOMI (The Optimal Motion Instructor) measures 8 parameters of your putting stroke in real time.

1) Alignment at Address
2) Alignment at Impact
3) Path at Impact

The impact zone is defined as 4 inches before and 4 inches after impact.  The path at impact refers to the direction in which the putter head is traveling through the impact zone.

4) Stroke Path and Rotation

Stroke Path

The top view of the stroke path is important to determine whether the golfer brings the putter back to impact on the same path on the backstroke and to see the ratio of backstroke length to forward stroke length.  In order to respect the laws of the pendulum, impact should occur as close as possible to the center of the motion where the putter head is traveling at its top speed.

Rotation

The tour average of the total rotation during the stroke is 11 degrees for a ten foot putt.  The rotation at the end of the backstroke should be between 4 to 6 degrees, depending on the target distance and the rotation at the end of the forward stroke should be between -4 to -6 degrees.

5) Shaft Angle

The shaft angle measure by TOMI refers to the shaft angle in relation to vertical.  The tour average is to add 1.5 degree of loft to their putter.

6) Impact spot

The impact spot should be consistently in the center of the clubface from stroke to stroke.  If the impact spot is on the toe, putts will be short and right.  If the impact spot is on the heel, putts will be short and left.

7) Speed at Impact

Speed must be consistent from stroke to stroke no matter what the number is.  The ability to control speed is something all good putters have in common.

Stoke Tempo

To be a good putter you should be consistent on all parameters in the following way;

• Total time from swing start to impact:
• Time from swing start to end of backstroke:
• Time from end of backstroke to impact:
• Tempo: represents the ratio of backstroke time against forward stroke time.  The tour average of the ratio of backstroke time to forward stroke time is 2 to 1.  The forward stroke to impact is twice as fast as the backstroke from initial address and throughout the entire stroke.

TOMI pinpoints the critical aspects of golfers’ putting skills that are well grooved or need attention and practice.  TOMI ’sees’ stroke angles and motions that often are not seen even by experts.  There is also a HOME version of TOMI.  Load the software into your computer, set the laser camera on the floor (the size of a Blackberry), put the clip on your putter and you can practice and see the relults instantly.
For more info on the home version visit TOMI.

Real-Time Swing Analytics

Putting Woes!

In split seconds, TOMI captures and analyzes the basic mechanics of putting, which, when well executed, produce fluid, well aligned strokes.  From initial address and throughout the entire stroke, TOMI helps pinpoint critical aspects of your putting skills that are well grooved or deserve special attention and practice.

1) Alignment at Address
2) Alignment at Impact
3) Path at Impact

The impact zone is defined as 4 inches before and 4 inches after impact.  The path at impact refers to the direction in which the putter head is traveling through the impact zone.

4) Stroke Path and Rotation

Stroke Path

The top view of the stroke path is important to determine whether the golfer brings the putter back to impact on the same path on the backstroke and to see the ratio of backstroke length to forward stroke length.  In order to respect the laws of the pendulum, impact should occur as close as possible to the center of the motion where the putter head is traveling at its top speed.

Rotation

The tour average of the total rotation during the stroke is 11 degrees for a ten foot putt.  The rotation at the end of the backstroke should be between 4 to 6 degrees, depending on the target distance and the rotation at the end of the forward stroke should be between -4 to -6 degrees.

5) Shaft Angle

The shaft angle measure by TOMI refers to the shaft angle in relation to vertical.  The tour average is to add 1.5 degree of loft to their putter.

6) Impact spot

The impact spot should be consistently in the center of the clubface from stroke to stroke.  If the impact spot is on the toe, putts will be short and right.  If the impact spot is on the heel, putts will be short and left.

7) Speed at Impact

Speed must be consistent from stroke to stroke no matter what the number is.  The ability to control speed is something all good putters have in common.

Stoke Tempo

To be a good putter you should be consistent on all parameters in the following way;

• Total time from swing start to impact:
• Time from swing start to end of backstroke:
• Time from end of backstroke to impact:
• Tempo: represents the ratio of backstroke time against forward stroke time.  The tour average of the ratio of backstroke time to forward stroke time is 2 to 1.  The forward stroke to impact is twice as fast as the backstroke from initial address and throughout the entire stroke.

TOMI pinpoints the critical aspects of golfers’ putting skills that are well grooved or need attention and practice.  TOMI ’sees’ stroke angles and motions that often are not seen even by experts.  There is also a HOME version of TOMI.  Load the software into your computer, set the laser camera on the floor (the size of a Blackberry), put the clip on your putter and you can practice and see the relults instantly.
For more info on the home version visit TOMI.

Do you think you have the yips.  I know how to check and I can help you overcome them.  They are not what you think and most things you have ever heard about how to overcome them won’t help.  The ‘yips’ are actually a form of a repetitive motion disorder.  There have been several studies on the cause and there are things you can do to combat them.

Read More About Tomi Here

What About Balls!?

Do you know how to buy a golf ball? This is a good guide (taken from Dick’s Sporting Goods website).  As far as which brand is the best that depends on which you prefer (and how much you’re willing to pay!) The question is what kind of game do you play and what kind of game do you want to play?  Read on………

How to Buy Golf Balls

Today’s golf balls are the culmination of a variety of disciplines and talents, from material science to physics. Since there are many kinds of golfers, engineers have devised many kinds of golf balls. When matched correctly to a golfer’s game, specific golf balls can increase enjoyment as well as chances for better scores.

The technology of golf balls has reached an unprecedented level, offering different covers, cores, dimple patterns, and compressions to best suit golfers’ varying needs. In general, golfers should look for a ball that offers low spin and high launch angle off the driver and the appropriate amount of spin around the greens.

Just as each golfer has his or her own shoe size, not every golf ball will fit every golfer. Swing speed is the biggest factor in determining which ball is right for which golfer - golfers with lower swing speeds should typically use a harder distance golf ball, while golfers with higher swing speeds should typically use a softer golf ball that offers more feel and control.

Ball Types

Distance

• A ball designed to react quickly off the clubface for maximum speed, which results in more overall distance.
• Distance balls typically appeal to people who find every yard counts. However where these balls may bring 15 more yards off the tee, they might not stop as quickly on the greens.

Control

• A ball designed to deter excessive spin.
• Control balls help golfers fight hooking-and-slicing tendencies.

Spin

• A ball intended to create as much backspin as possible, which generally leads to higher trajectory and better stopping ability around the green.
• If distance is not an issue for a golfer, but he or she prefers more control around the greens, then spin golf balls may be for them.

Ball Construction

Overall Design

Two-piece balls:

• Contain a large solid core and Surlyn cover
• Enhance distance and durability
• Most Distance golf balls are 2-piece

Three-piece balls:

• Contain a solid core that typically exists to enhance distance
• Usually has a thin middle layer, called the mantle, designed to either enhance spin or deliver more energy to the core, improving distance
• Surlyn or urethane cover is designed to enhance distance (surlyn) or spin (urethane)

Core

• Solid cores are usually made of a high-energy rubber or plastic compound
• Titanium cores provide more reaction and greater distance

Cover

• Determines feel on shorter shots like putts and chips, a softer cover typically spins more for better control around the green
• Blends co-polymer plastics, high-energy rubber, or similar resistant compounds
• Multi-covers (3-piece balls) layer material over the core to induce different playing responses
• Surlyn-covered balls typically travel farther with less spin
• Urethane-covered balls are typically softer and offer more enhanced feel, although they don’t resist scratching well

Dimples

• Vary between 300 and 500
• Affects the aerodynamics for more or less trajectory
• Larger dimples promote higher trajectory
• Smaller dimples promote lower trajectory

Playing Level

• When thinking about which ball will help you achieve par, it’s best to imagine a good-sized par-4. If getting an extra 15 yards off the tee would help you most, then maybe a distance ball would help. If stopping the ball more quickly on the green would help most, then perhaps a spin or control ball would be best.
• In general, most golfers play golf balls that are too soft for their swing speed and should steer more toward a distance golf ball, so if a golfer is playing a soft golf ball perhaps he or she should try a distance ball next time around.
• Some balls are designed for slower swing speeds. These balls typically have lightweight construction that helps promote higher trajectory. They are generally marketed for women or seniors, but don’t let labels fool you. Plenty of men play these balls because for them they yield the most distance.