Equipment - Advanced Player

The right tools

All golfers are physically different. Golf clubs should therefore suit each individual's physique. The correct swing with an incorrect fitted golf club will not produce a consistent shot. In order for you to understand the importance of club fitting the following aspects will be discussed.

• Lie angle
• Club length
• Shaft flex
• Loft angle
• Weight
• Grip size

Lie angle - The best way to check the correct lie angle is to tape up the sole of a 5 iron with masking tape. After hitting shots check the strike patterns at the bottom. If the marks are more towards the heel of the club, the lie angle will be to upright. This will result in the shots going to the left.

If the strikes are more towards the toe of the club, the lie angle is to upright. This will lead to shots going to the right.

Club Length -There is no general rule of thumb for the length of a club. A 6foot3 person will not necessarily need a longer club because he may have very long arms and visa versa.

The best way to check the correct length will be to tape up the face of a 5 iron and hit some shots. If the club is to long the strikes will be more towards the heel of the club. On the other hand if the club is to short the strikes will be more towards the toe of the club. The length of the club will have a direct bearing on the lie angle of the club and then influencing the ball flight in the same way.

Shaft Flex - The shaft flex determines the clubface position at impact. If the shaft is too whippy the majority of the shots will go to the left. A stiffer shaft will tend to leave most shots to the right.

Loft - These angles can be adjusted on clubs. If you hit the ball to high loft can be lowered to encourage a lower ball flight and visa versa.

Weight - The actual weight of the club is the "dead weight". This weight varies from club to club. The "swing weight" of the club is the relationship between the weight of the head and the length of the club. The swing weight should be consistent for all the clubs to promote a consistent feel.

Grip size - Grip thickness will be determined by hand size. If your hands are big a thicker grip will be needed. If the grip is to thin shots will tend to go to the left. If the grip is to thick shots will tend to go the right. If your 3rd and the 4th finger on the left hand can touch the fleshy pad the grip size will be correct.

If you have your clubs correctly fitted to your swing this will only promote consistency.