Do Golf Clubs Matter?

Did you know that golf clubs are designed around Ben Hogan who was 5'8. Generally speaking if you are between 5'6-5'10 you would probably be okay to fit in to the correct length of the standard golf club. But there is so much more than length to fit a golf club.

You golf clubhead speed influences the stiffness and weight of the shaft. Your swing tempo also influences where and how the golf club kicks or it's bend point.
Below is a general guide to finding the right flex:

Golf Clubhead speed with a driver
<80 L-Flex
80-90 mph A-Flex
90-100 R-Flex
100-105 S-Flex
105+ X-Flex

Next comes this issue of lie angle or the angle the golf club shaft comes out of the head. Did you know that if your lie degree is off one degree with a wedge, you miss your target by 48' on a well struck shot. If your lie angles do no match your swing you'll consistently making compensations in your aim and alignment and not be rewarded for your well struck shots. It is critical to measure your lie angle dynamically, in motion, rather than statically, measure from knuckle to floor. There are averages, but I've never met the guy or gal directly in the middle of the curve.

Grip size also influences how you swing your golf club. Traditionally, grips are a personal preference and I agree. One thing to take into consideration, if you're right-handed, and you slice the ball, chances are your grips are too big. A small grip will promote the roll of your wrists and squaring of the clubface.

The brand of club doesn't make as much of a difference as many people think, other than getting a consistent spread of weight. You do need to remember that you ultimately get what you pay for. Companies like Taylor Made and Callaway spend the most money in research and development and their products are often getting replicated. Most knock-offs are not made from the same type of steel and do not feel the same as the real thing.

Best way to save money is to buy a season or two behind. The other option is to start with a 5, 7, 8, 9, PW SW combination iron set and a driver and 5-wood along with a putter. You can expect to spend $400-800 on a starter set, or  $700-$1200 on a full set.

Another option is retrofitting your current equipment. Adding or subtracting a half-inch in length or adjusting your lie angle is possible and relatively inexpensive at between $8-12/golf club.

Did you know that it is the same price to buy golf clubs from the big box stores (Golf Galaxy, Dicks, Golf USA etc.) as to get them fit from the Golf Improvement Group.

Any questions or comments, please leave a comment below. If you would like to schedule a fitting with one of our golf club fitters. Call 952/401-4653 or e-mail pluthb@pga.com.