Figuring out if you have the right equipment

[cyrick]

I am in the process of trying to figure out if I have the right equipment. More specifically, if I have the right flex for my swing.

 

A little background:

 

I have been playing semi-regularly for about 3 years. I shoot in the 80s mostly, with the occasional upper 70s and the occasional mid-90s. My 8-iron usually goes about 150 off the deck (a little longer off the tee). People I play with always comment at the height I get off my short irons. My driver has recently gotten more consistent in terms of hitting it straight. I usually hit it in the 250-280 range. Bad driver shots tend to be pushed right with a slight fade.

 

All my shafts are "stiff" flex from the factory. The driver is a Nike SQ 10.5*. Irons are Callaway Fusion irons.

 

So here are my questions:

 

What do I need to find out to know if I am getting the most out of my swing? Swing Speed? Ball Speed? etc... Is there a generally agreed upon swing speed where you move from regular to stiff? Which club should I use as a gauge for swing speed?

 

I am also looking at possibly re-gripping my irons. What should I look for in a new grip?

 

Thanks in advance.

[The Boom Bapp]

The two most important words for golfers in this situtation are:

 

"GET" & "FIT"

 

Hit a Golf Galaxy, Golfsmith, Edwin Watts, Demo Day, Public Fitting shop at at local golf course and have them put you through the ringer on a launch monitor to measure loft, lie, length, shaft type, shaft flex, head type, grip size, swing speed, ball speed, etc, etc. You may have the correct setup already and you also may not! Log onto Lamkin.com, they have a chart that measures your hand for grip size, I used a standard until I found this and now I know I was suppoed to be using a Mid with + 2 tape added under the grip. Things have gotten vastly better since I regripped correctly, the Lamkin Crossline mid's are waht I use bu the entire crossline "line" of grips are extremely popular!

 

Be aware of the events that your local golf shops/clubs/courses offer, throughout the year they will host the tour vans from all the big boys and do waht you can to attend, some may require you to put your name on a list for a time slot for a fitting, they cost you no money and you are not obligated to buy what they fit you for.

 

It is a pain in the ars but you will thank yourself when you realize how important fittings are as you stripe a sweet drive and stick one close to a tough pin. So set aside some time and plan on making a day of it!

 

Good Luck.

[The Big Schwag]

Find yourself a reputable clubmaker, I went throught he fitting process at a box store (Golf Town) thought I was doing everything right, found a very good clubmaker and I had rifle shafts put in my irons the guy measured me up and had me choke up and down on the club to find a good length then yesterday we spent about an hour doing lie angles till they were perfect. I have never felt more confident with my irons even the 4 can't wait to play tonight.

 

I have a set of MX-23's with the stock DG R-300 shafts, found out my clubs were about 1.25" to long for me and the freq. was 3.5 which is like a ladies/ senior flex (my 5i swing speed is 85 mph), my rifles now play to the proper length and to a 5.5 freq. I went to the range last night and I have never pured so many balls in 1 session