Understanding Fitting Of Golf Clubs

When you are being fitted with golf clubs you are very much at the mercy of the shop assistant. Having an understanding of how a club is fitted, helps to ensure that you are being treated professionally and have correct clubs for your physique, fitness and golf experience.

The key measures in golf clubs are:

• Lie Angle
• Loft Angle
• Swing Weight
• Frequency
• Spine Alignment

Lie Angle

The lie is an important factor in proper fitting.

Lie angles are described as too upright, too flat or correct.

A lie angle that is too upright will cause the ball to be hit left of the target and a lie that is too flat, the ball will be hit right of the target (for a right handed golfer).

Note: Not all irons can be adjusted more than 3 degrees.

Loft Angle

The loft angle is the angle of the face to the centerline of the hosel. Higher lofted clubs result in a higher trajectory of the ball. Loft angles are expressed in degrees with respect to vertical rather than the ground.

Low Loft Angle Clubs: Drivers, 1 and 2 irons. Long distances at low trajectory.

High Loft Angle Clubs: Sand and pitching wedges. Short distances at high trajectory.

There is a natural progression in the loft of your irons from 1Iron to the Pitching Wedge [PW]; determining the height of the trajectory and distance you hit each iron.

Swing Weight

Swing weight is the relationship between the head weight, shaft and grip weight. It is measured from the butt end around a 14 fulcrum.

Swingweight is a function of feel when choosing a set of clubs. It is recommended you o use the lightest swingweight you are comfortable with. For most players swingweights in the mid-C to mid-D range is appropriate.

Swingweight is NOT total weight, however, generally, as shafts get lighter swingweights also tend to decrease. A very heavy club in real weight may only have a D-2 swing rate.

Longer clubs mean higher swingweights. Super long drivers (50+) can get into E and even G swingweights.

Frequency Matching

Frequency is a method of dynamically determining the stiffness or feel of a golf shaft. The frequency of a shaft is measured in vibration cycles per minute [CPM]. A set of frequency matched clubs has shafts with the same CPM readings.

Spine Alignment

The spine of a golf club shaft is the longitudinal plane that is more resistant to bending than any other line or plane. The spine is located and placed in a predetermined position. Every clubmaker has their own preferred positioning, commonly 9 o'clock. The goal of spine alignment is to aid repeatability via a stable plane.

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