08-11-2021, 08:27 AM
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#4561
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
This is exactly why most club fittings are useless. The imperfections in the golf swing just mean you're going to be making the same errors, just with different clubs. If you want to solve a problem have a professional look at your swing. Good ones can give you minor corrections that will correct most ball flight or shot shape issues, and at a fraction of the cost. It ain't the tool that makes that beautiful piece of furniture, its the carpenter.
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This is only sort of true. Certain pieces of equipment can be better depending on your swing. Speed, shape, etc. A fitting isn't going in to change your swing. its to fit clubs to your swing.
If you want to fix your swing take lessons.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Weitz For This Useful Post:
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08-11-2021, 08:36 AM
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#4562
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Powerplay Quarterback
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
Are you a member there?
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Inlaws are. I golf there with them regularly.
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08-11-2021, 09:36 AM
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#4563
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weitz
This is only sort of true. Certain pieces of equipment can be better depending on your swing. Speed, shape, etc. A fitting isn't going in to change your swing. its to fit clubs to your swing.
If you want to fix your swing take lessons.
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If you can't consistently maintain a dime sized mark on impact tape, then a fitting is useless. Correct the swing before you get fitted. Its like getting a new suit before going on a diet to lose 40 pounds.
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08-11-2021, 09:45 AM
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#4564
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
If you can't consistently maintain a dime sized mark on impact tape, then a fitting is useless. Correct the swing before you get fitted. Its like getting a new suit before going on a diet to lose 40 pounds.
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Or its getting a suit to fit you at 40 pounds heavier...
If you're a 12 cap you can shave that down with a fitting to proper clubs. Does a 9 or 10 cap really want to go for lessons and get even better? Not everyone would.
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08-11-2021, 09:48 AM
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#4565
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
If you can't consistently maintain a dime sized mark on impact tape, then a fitting is useless. Correct the swing before you get fitted. Its like getting a new suit before going on a diet to lose 40 pounds.
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That's so much harder than it sounds though. Like I know there are a few things with my swing that need work. I tend to leave the clubface open a bit at impact (which is probably as a result of an outside-in swing and correcting for that!). So, while I know in my head that this is the underlying issue, that knowledge alone doesn't really get me anywhere.
This is why golf can be so frustrating. You might know that this is what you should be doing, and it sounds like a plan to say I'll just correct that and see some improvement. But that "correction" uncovers another issue and another issue, and it's like a continually painful process!
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08-11-2021, 09:56 AM
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#4566
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Royal Oak
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
If you can't consistently maintain a dime sized mark on impact tape, then a fitting is useless. Correct the swing before you get fitted. Its like getting a new suit before going on a diet to lose 40 pounds.
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This is bad advice. Having the lie angles adjusted on your clubs can help straighten your ball flight and improve your posture, all without having to make swing changes, which as some have said, is not that easy to do.
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08-11-2021, 01:25 PM
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#4567
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Powerplay Quarterback
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
If you can't consistently maintain a dime sized mark on impact tape, then a fitting is useless. Correct the swing before you get fitted. Its like getting a new suit before going on a diet to lose 40 pounds.
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I will never get there to be honest.
I have been taking lessons for over a year, and I have resigned to the fact that my swing will never be that consistent.
I finally broke 50 at Confed, and my game has been getting more consistent, but to be able to target my club impact that accurately and consistently on a ball seems unachievable at this point.
I do agree a club fitting should be done when your swing is consistent. Where it is consistently bad / average / good is a different question.
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08-11-2021, 05:39 PM
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#4568
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Franchise Player
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Lanny's point has validity, that, if you can fix the swing, you should do that first. Certainly, for someone still shooting over 100 for example, that would absolutely be a better place to start
But for most golfers that have gotten their handicap down to maybe 15 or less, most will never really improve much beyond where they now are. And what Lanny is ignoring, is that club fitting can make a significant difference, especially if your clubs don't currently align with your skill set.
Sure, if I want to lose 40 lbs, I should wait to buy a new suit until after I have lost the weight. But that ignores the situation many people are in, which is that, if you have never fitted your clubs, they probably aren't optimized to your swing. And if not, then getting fitted can, and likely will, make a pretty big difference for you.
I HIGHLY recommend getting fitted.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Enoch Root For This Useful Post:
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08-11-2021, 05:47 PM
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#4569
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Franchise Player
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Regarding grip, and shafts, yes, grip can make a huge difference, and, like with the fitting discussion, if you can improve your swing, that is the best place to start.
But the shaft is a very important factor as well. Someone mentioned a swing speed of 100 mph: yes, if you are 98 mph or higher, you should probably be using a stiff shaft. If you are up near 110, you might consider an extra stiff.
But you should do a fitting to be sure - find what is best for you.
For any of you that might be like me, I just got fitted with new clubs this year and, for the first time, I went the other way - I have always had stiff shafts, but I went down to reg.
I am older (late 50s) and my swing speed has dropped (mid 90s now). By going down to a regular shaft (driver, woods and irons), I GAINED distance with every club. So if you are older, like me, or if you have a slower swing speed, you may find that you can actually get more distance by dropping down to a regular shaft.
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08-11-2021, 05:52 PM
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#4570
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
If you can't consistently maintain a dime sized mark on impact tape, then a fitting is useless. Correct the swing before you get fitted. Its like getting a new suit before going on a diet to lose 40 pounds.
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This is terrible advice. Very few people can consistently maintain a dime sized impact mark - and never will, regardless of how much they spend on lessons.
If you can improve your swing - great.
But regardless of what your skill level is, fitting can, and will, also help.
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08-11-2021, 05:55 PM
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#4571
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
That's so much harder than it sounds though. Like I know there are a few things with my swing that need work. I tend to leave the clubface open a bit at impact (which is probably as a result of an outside-in swing and correcting for that!). So, while I know in my head that this is the underlying issue, that knowledge alone doesn't really get me anywhere.
This is why golf can be so frustrating. You might know that this is what you should be doing, and it sounds like a plan to say I'll just correct that and see some improvement. But that "correction" uncovers another issue and another issue, and it's like a continually painful process!
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Most people, regardless of how many lessons they take, never really improve much from their plateau level.
Again, if you can improve your swing, and you are inclined to put in the effort to do so - great.
Regardless, getting fitted, so that your clubs are optimized for your game, will also improve your game. It can get you more distance AND improve your consistency.
And, it is a MUCH easier way to gain some improvement.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Enoch Root For This Useful Post:
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08-11-2021, 06:34 PM
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#4572
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Franchise Player
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The rare quad post! All great Information though.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Weitz For This Useful Post:
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08-11-2021, 06:35 PM
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#4573
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary
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I posed this question to Hank Haney (Tigers former swing coach for anyone living under a rock) on twitter years ago, asking him how many shots I would save playing properly fitted, quality equipment vs. off the rack. His response was that people, on average, would improve between 5-7 shots per round. I still haven't put that theory to the test but he seems to know what he's talking about.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by HPLovecraft
I am beginning to question the moral character of those who cheer for Vancouver.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Mayer For This Useful Post:
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08-11-2021, 06:51 PM
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#4574
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayer
I posed this question to Hank Haney (Tigers former swing coach for anyone living under a rock) on twitter years ago, asking him how many shots I would save playing properly fitted, quality equipment vs. off the rack. His response was that people, on average, would improve between 5-7 shots per round. I still haven't put that theory to the test but he seems to know what he's talking about.
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That sounds like a lot to me. And my personal experience has been less. However, that may also be because my pre-fitted equipment was good quality and not that far off the mark.
Regardless, I think it's pretty safe to suggest that most people would experience a material difference.
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08-11-2021, 07:28 PM
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#4575
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Franchise Player
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Fitting changes club configuration by a degree or two. Changes in your body between sessions can make that much difference, or more. 95% of players can play standard-standard and be quite successful. Unless you're an advanced player, the variations in your swing and body between sessions will counteract any advantage a fitting provides. One area where it may provide benefit is the mental aspect. If you believe the fitting will make you a better player, then go for it. Every little bit of mental boost will help. But remember, it's the carpenter, not the tool.
To Cuz's point about having your lofts and lies changed, most clubs on the market today are not designed to be bent. Cast clubs are not made from a metal that is designed to be bent. To make cast clubs hot metal is poured into a form and then cooled which creates a metal that is hard and doesn't bend. It will actually fracture many times before it bends. In fact, trying to bend a cast club can cause catastrophic damage to both the club and the loft/lie machine, which is why you are trained to not bend cast clubs. Some places will try, but the metal will many time fracture, or return to the state it was prior to a bending session. Forged clubs are designed to be bent because they are created by pounding metal into a form. The metal is softer and was designed to be worked. All forged clubs will require adjustment from time to time, but only after thousands of impacts. Again, most players will not even notice the difference between a club that is a degree or two out of spec, as most players do not hit their yardages with any consistency.
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08-11-2021, 07:29 PM
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#4576
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maryland State House, Annapolis
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I'm pretty sure every manufacturer will fit your clubs for free when you buy them new (I know PING does). I believe standard fitting is made for a 5'10" male so unless you fall withing an inch either way it just seems odd to me not to fit your clubs. And forget how you swing for a second, your body and back specifically will benefit from fitted clubs, especially if you are taller than 6'
__________________
"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
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08-11-2021, 07:41 PM
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#4577
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
This is terrible advice. Very few people can consistently maintain a dime sized impact mark - and never will, regardless of how much they spend on lessons.
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Not true. Most players can do this with just basic practice. The sweet spot on most clubs is the size of a dime. If you can't hit a dime, then you're not hitting the middle of the club face with any consistency. If you're not doing that, then what are you doing out there?
BTW, prior to the launch monitor, impact tape was how you determined how to fit a club. It was the only way to determine the proper fit. Many fitting professionals, guys that are actually trained and certified on fitting systems from the manufacturers, will still go back to the tape to verify the fit.
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08-11-2021, 08:04 PM
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#4578
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
Not true. Most players can do this with just basic practice. The sweet spot on most clubs is the size of a dime. If you can't hit a dime, then you're not hitting the middle of the club face with any consistency. If you're not doing that, then what are you doing out there?
BTW, prior to the launch monitor, impact tape was how you determined how to fit a club. It was the only way to determine the proper fit. Many fitting professionals, guys that are actually trained and certified on fitting systems from the manufacturers, will still go back to the tape to verify the fit.
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Hardly anyone who plays the game maintains an impact zone the size of a dime. Anyone who has played with pros and seen their clubs has seen nice, dime sized impressions from consistent contact. I have seen it lots. I have never seen it on anyone's clubs above a 2 handicap or so.
To say 'what are you doing out there?' is silly. The vast majority of golfers - like 99% of amateurs and casual players - will never achieve that.
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08-11-2021, 08:06 PM
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#4579
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Franchise Player
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And more importantly, properly fitted clubs, with the correct lie and the most appropriate shafts, will significantly help most golfers hit the center of the face more often.
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08-11-2021, 08:15 PM
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#4580
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Franchise Player
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How do you think clubs are fitted?
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