Need advice on fitting

[Raven Logics]

How do I know what club length I need? The store I just bought my irons from measure the location of impact on the face to decide if I need a shorter shaft. Does that work? I feel as though I adjust the swing depending on the length of the club making this measurement worthless. I am 5'6, and with a standard length the club is sitting on the heel at address. Shortening will also flatten the lie a little, but reduce swing speed - why wouldn't I just have the lie adjusted to the current shaft length?

 

I know that these are dumb questions, but I would like to understand the reasons for shortening the shaft before I have it done.

 

Thanks!

[clubshack]

One misconception in your post is SS. Just because theory might suggest that a shorter club equals a slower SS doesn't mean that it is true. You should swing the longest, lightest, most flexible club you can control. If you need a club that is 1" shorter, then use that club. Posture and balance are everything in accurate golf. This is a target game not a distance game. That being said.....

 

It is a function of the human brain to adjust to what is presented to "make do". Get refitted. Swing with your eyes closed until you can do it with your eyes open. When getting fitted, maintain your posture and balance to make the swing your body will allow. Talk with the fitter to tell him your concerns and try other options. He tried to give you the benefit of his experience but would not be able to tell that you were 'adjusting'.

 

Remember, Natalie Gulbis can kick your butt with her "C" game and clubs that are 1 inch short. :rolleyes:

[Raven Logics]

Forgive me, I'm new to the concept of fitting which is why I want to understand how this works. When I hit a 3 iron the shaft is longer and flatter than my 7 iron. If I used the 7 iron with a 3 iron shaft, surely I would swing it like a 3 iron? If I can control a 3 iron, that doesn't mean I should have the same length shaft on the 7. Is there something particular that I am trying to achieve when fitting, for example does each club have a particular shaft angle that I should be aiming for?

 

My clubs sit slightly on the heel at impact, so there are two ways of solving this - either shorten the club or flatten the lie. The guy in the shop says that I am close enough on both (maybe 1/4" and 0.5 deg) to not worry about it. I am just concerned that (a) I should be worried about it, and (b) hitting a 7 iron a few times and measuring the point of impact does not show the correct shaft length (especially as I was inconsistent).

 

Sorry if this is painful to read, but I just need a little help to understand :rolleyes:

[MarkinTN1]

Clubshack had great advice, length contributes very little to distance, centerface contact and loft are about 85% of it.

 

Hitting a 7 iron is not good, I'd think you'd want to work with the longest club in the set, be it 3 or 4 iron. Face impact tape is a great start, but you need to see ballflight also.

 

A standard wrist to floor chart would give most players a good beginning.

I googled it and got this, at a quick glance the numbers looked pretty good.

 

http://www.golfdiscountcenter.com/Custom-F...-Guide-s/47.htm

 

In a custom made set I try to look at the longest iron and the shortest iron, get a comfortable fit on those and then work out the increments. In a lot of instances, not all mind you, or I might say the most common complaint is long irons too long, short irons too short. Every player can benefit from custom lengths, at 5'6", I'd certainly make it a higher priority. Correct length is the most important clubfitting factor.

[Raven Logics]

Clubshack had great advice, length contributes very little to distance, centerface contact and loft are about 85% of it.

Not quite - the longer the shaft the faster the speed, providing the swing is exactly the same (think about it, the end of the shaft has much farther to travel in the same time). His point as I understood it was that other factors also come into play, such as control. If a longer shaft means less control (i.e. the swing isn't the same), then the result could be a poor contact and therefore less distance.

 

The chart suggests that I should shorten by 0.75", but I think Clubshack's point was that it's not necessary if I can control the standard length. It certainly feels weird to hold the club that much further down. I think I would be better off hitting some already shortened clubs to compare with the ones I have so that I know for sure. I will take his advice and talk my concerns through with the shop.

 

Thanks!

 

Edit: This might explain to me why a longer club can carry less distance, and why face impact tape might actually be useful - http://www.wishongolf.com/faq_tech_answer.php?techKey=31 - I just found it after posting :rolleyes:

[clubshack]

My advice is that you should get clubs fitted to your natural swing. I know how hard it is to swing the club the same every time with every club. The fact is, it is impossible. Every club is different and every swing with that club needs a setup for that club. Get each club fitted for lie angle. You may indeed find you fit a normal size club, with minor adjustments for loft and lie. More than likely, you will need adjustments for every club that are not uniform.

 

I find that I need a flatter 4 iron and a more upright wedge. My range of lies can vary 4 degrees and I am an upright player with a strong inside to out to inside move and a late release. I never fade the ball unless the situation absolutely requires it. I don't play a 3 iron and use a 2 iron hybrid (Wishon 585). I have my set dialed in to give me predictable results. I am a 4 handicap.

 

The point is....know your game. Get fit for the game you play. And have fun doing it.