Golf!!!2!

[DoubleK]

Do you carry 3 and 5w?

I went to a 4w (16.5) and a 3h.

[bomber317]

Any advice for a mid-high handicapper getting fitted for Driver?

I'll probably head back to Ted and Daves, but is there anything I should be looking out for during the process?

I'm assuming modifying my current driver could be feasible as well? Depending on what mods are required.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Do you carry 3 and 5w?

I went to a 4w (16.5) and a 3h.

Yes, I like the traditional shape of the fairway woods over the hybrids. I never considered a 4w, which is ironic as I have one in an old set I played when I first took up the game, and could crush it. I like the 3/5w combo as they cover a really nice range of distances for me. I can hit the 3w almost as far as I can hit my driver, so when the big dog goes sideways I have that in the bag. The 5w has a nice high trajectory that I can land softly and limit roll that I don't get with the 3i. I'm at the age where I'm bleeding distance, so I need those clubs in the bag when I play with the younger and better players at the back of the golf course. When I play with the guys my age or older, I can get away with the shorter clubs. Maybe the solution is to just bite the bullet and buy the 60 and rotate as needed? Or just be over the club limit and remember which club is out of play on a given day?

Originally Posted by bomber317

Any advice for a mid-high handicapper getting fitted for Driver?

I'll probably head back to Ted and Daves, but is there anything I should be looking out for during the process?

I'm assuming modifying my current driver could be feasible as well? Depending on what mods are required.

Start with contact in the middle of the clubface. Without that, your experience is going to be less than expected. Make sure they are landing you on a head that gives you the best performance for your swing and ability, and then fine tune it with shaft and weights to maximize your launch stats and get you optimum performance out of the entire club. For example, reducing spin was something I wanted/needed out of my driver. We got the right head, then it was just playing with shafts and weighting to get the ball speed and spin in the sweet spot. Now I have way better shot dispersion and added extra distance, even on the odd mis-hit. Don't buy something ungodly expensive because it looks good and they sell you on it. Make sure they have data to back up the claims. Nothing worse than blowing $500-700 on a club and then going to the course and it not performing like it was advertised. Take your own player in and do a comparison on the launch monitor. That will tell you if you're getting the actual performance you are looking for. If the stats are the same, then why waste your money?

[Lubicon]

[QUOTE=Lanny_McDonald;8174287]Yes, I like the traditional shape of the fairway woods over the hybrids. I never considered a 4w, which is ironic as I have one in an old set I played when I first took up the game, and could crush it. I like the 3/5w combo as they cover a really nice range of distances for me. I can hit the 3w almost as far as I can hit my driver, so when the big dog goes sideways I have that in the bag. The 5w has a nice high trajectory that I can land softly and limit roll that I don't get with the 3i. I'm at the age where I'm bleeding distance, so I need those clubs in the bag when I play with the younger and better players at the back of the golf course. When I play with the guys my age or older, I can get away with the shorter clubs. Maybe the solution is to just bite the bullet and buy the 60 and rotate as needed? Or just be over the club limit and remember which club is out of play on a given day?

I have no real advice but do want to comment on this. I understand people feel differently about the rules of golf but unless you are playing in a league, tournament etc. does it really matter if you are over the limit? I know it will to some and that's fine, but I golf to have fun. I follow the rules more or less but not always to the letter of the law. I'll move my ball is the lie sucks (up against a tree etc. because it's no fun wrecking your club and making a poor shot. I'm not good enough that a stroke here or there matters, to me I want to enjoy my game and if having an extra club in the bag that I might use once every few rounds helps then I'm good with that.

But to each their own, that's cool.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

I have no real advice but do want to comment on this. I understand people feel differently about the rules of golf but unless you are playing in a league, tournament etc. does it really matter if you are over the limit? I know it will to some and that's fine, but I golf to have fun. I follow the rules more or less but not always to the letter of the law. I'll move my ball is the lie sucks (up against a tree etc. because it's no fun wrecking your club and making a poor shot. I'm not good enough that a stroke here or there matters, to me I want to enjoy my game and if having an extra club in the bag that I might use once every few rounds helps then I'm good with that.

But to each their own, that's cool.

No. Unless you are playing in a tournament or for money with your buddies, you do you. It's a game. And a silly one at that.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

No. Unless you are playing in a tournament or for money with your buddies, you do you. It's a game. And a silly one at that.

It's totally this, but I would definitely call out the guys I always golf with if I knew they had an extra club!

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Slava

It's totally this, but I would definitely call out the guys I always golf with if I knew they had an extra club!

That goes without saying! Along with some commentary that they still suck despite the extra clubs!

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Slava

It's totally this, but I would definitely call out the guys I always golf with if I knew they had an extra club!

I carry a desert club in Phoenix. Does that make me a cheater?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I carry a desert club in Phoenix. Does that make me a cheater?

Nah, that’s different. A rock club is necessary there. And really, for the “average” guy playing a round with his buddies, does a 15th club make a huge difference? I doubt it. My friends and I play these gambling games for a beer after a round (or those kinds of stakes). It’s just for fun. But I guarantee that if I showed up with 15 clubs and it was because I couldn’t decide between a 3 iron and 5 wood, they’d chirp me relentlessly! That’s at least a third of why we’re out there in the first place!

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

I have no real advice but do want to comment on this. I understand people feel differently about the rules of golf but unless you are playing in a league, tournament etc. does it really matter if you are over the limit? I know it will to some and that's fine, but I golf to have fun. I follow the rules more or less but not always to the letter of the law. I'll move my ball is the lie sucks (up against a tree etc. because it's no fun wrecking your club and making a poor shot. I'm not good enough that a stroke here or there matters, to me I want to enjoy my game and if having an extra club in the bag that I might use once every few rounds helps then I'm good with that.

But to each their own, that's cool.

I'm personally not a stickler on the rules. I play for fun and let people get away with murder. I let people roll the ball for preferable lies, move the ball when sprinkler heads are between you and the hole, call anything near a tree or cactus a "decorative planting", and have a gimme range of the length of a driver. We're there for a good time, not a long time, so have a good time, because the sun don't shine every day!

I only keep track for myself and make sure I comply with the rules of bag configuration, with the exception of a "rocker". Everyone needs one in the desert, especially with new clubs that you want to keep nice. I only care about maintaining the spirit of the game and making sure everyone has fun, unless I'm playing in tournament. At that point, everything is enforceable, as stupid as it can be at times.

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I carry a desert club in Phoenix. Does that make me a cheater?

I don't count "the rocker" as a club in the bag and don't view it as a cheat. That's just smart for Arizona golf. Dirty little secret, when I got my PXGs I talked them into tossing in an extra 8 iron for a rocker, no cost. They actually did it for me and didn't charge me. Even gripped it differently so I would immediately recognize it. Very cool of them. Better to beat the crap out of one new club than a number of them.

[jayswin]

I've actually become better at golf (low 80's-ish now) but didn't even know about bag limits for regular golfers until this last page haha. Thought that was just a PGA pure professional thing. Maybe it's just from playing with my friends and never for anything.

So if you're playing silly little course tournaments or mens night or whatever, they actually care how many clubs are in your bag? That's hilarious and I guess I'll start figuring that out as I get better.

[jayswin]

So 14 seems to be the number? Just went and counted and I have Driver, hybrid 3, putter, lob, and then 5-gap irons. So 11 total. Sweet, guess I'll get add clubs for tournaments lol.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Traditional configuration is supposed to be:

Driver, 3w, 5w, 3i, 4i, 5i, 6i, 7i, 8i, 9i, PW, SW, GW, putter = 14 clubs.

Pros like to have the extra wedge in the bag so many of them go with this config.

Driver, 3w, 3i, 4i, 5i, 6i, 7i, 8i, 9i, PW, SW, GW, LW, putter = 14 clubs.

Pros will have their clubs custom bent and tuned so their spread in lofts remain consistent throughout the bag. They can have a club bent a little strong or a little weak so they maintain the gaps properly. For example, most bags I would setup for advanced players would have the following setup. It depends on shot flight and shape the player desires.

Driver, 3w (15-18), 3i (21), 4i (24), 5i (27), 6i (30-31), 7i (34-35), 8i (40-41), 9i (43-44), PW (48), GW (52), SW (56), LW (60), putter = 14 clubs.

Pros are having their tolerances checked weekly. These are guys that toss wedges out of the bag after they hot 500 balls with them as the groves begin to deteriorate. For amateur players this is unreasonable, because of expense and LOFT. We also are not fine tuned athletes where a degree of tweaking is going to significantly impact our shot dispersion. That's one of the reasons why I am against fitting for all but the advanced players. The ability to replicate the swing consistently to take advantage of the fine tuning fitting makes is limited because of the variation on our bodies from session to session. Pros are machines, and finely tuned machines. They are mechanical and exacting. Amateurs are loose and messy, so the fine tuning is eliminated from round to round.

Another dirty little secret that manufacturers will not tell you? They have manufacturing tolerances in production that can have as much of four degrees in variation (a full club!) in the same club from set to set. The only way you'll know for certain is to get on a loft and lie machine. You can also guarantee your shafts are not frequency matched, so variance there is increasing dispersion. Only having your clubs built by a qualified clubsmith will get you these tolerances. Trying to maintain them is a full time job. It's why we're chasing it all over the golf course and the tour pros hit it within feet of their target when they are on. Just some more info on the messy world of clubs.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Pros are having their tolerances checked weekly. These are guys that toss wedges out of the bag after they hot 500 balls with them as the groves begin to deteriorate. For amateur players this is unreasonable, because of expense and LOFT. We also are not fine tuned athletes where a degree of tweaking is going to significantly impact our shot dispersion. That's one of the reasons why I am against fitting for all but the advanced players. The ability to replicate the swing consistently to take advantage of the fine tuning fitting makes is limited because of the variation on our bodies from session to session. Pros are machines, and finely tuned machines. They are mechanical and exacting. Amateurs are loose and messy, so the fine tuning is eliminated from round to round.

I understand what you are saying here, however I think there is still value to get fitted.

My first set of clubs I purchased, was just a recommendation from the store. It was something to start with, and I took lessons with them, got my swing to be somewhat normal.

I finally broke 100 last year. My swing is still changing, but I decided to get fitted because honestly there is no perfect time for me to get fitted. I don't foresee myself being a scratch golfer ever, or single handicap either for that matter. I remember (I think it was you) saying that until you can consistently strike in the same spot on the club face, there's no point getting fitted.

My strike consistency isn't great, but even with that, I'm glad I went to get fitted last week. 3-4 of the clubs I tried were infinitely easier to hit for me than my current set of clubs. The mis-hits were much more forgiving. The old clubs had a non-stock lie that was causing issues for me.

Different lie, different shaft, and obviously different head with a lot of tech in them.

My expectations for this season with the new clubs - less frustrating practice sessions, less frustrating golf rounds. Overall having more fun out on the course and in practice.

Now, for my driver - I thought about getting fitted for a new driver, however I went to hit some balls yesterday and I have a lot of work to do. Consistently striking in the heel right now. So no point in getting fitted until I sort that out.

[nfotiu]

Has anyone ever seen anyone play cross handed before? We played in 2 person scramble this weekend and were paired with a father son team and the dad played cross handed. It was pretty messed up to watch, but he was a good golfer (2 handicap, his son was +3) and hit the ball a long ways for a guy same age as myself. He played from the right handed side cross handed and putted like a regular lefty.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Has anyone ever seen anyone play cross handed before? We played in 2 person scramble this weekend and were paired with a father son team and the dad played cross handed. It was pretty messed up to watch, but he was a good golfer (2 handicap, his son was +3) and hit the ball a long ways for a guy same age as myself. He played from the right handed side cross handed and putted like a regular lefty.

I have played with a guy who hits cross-handed. He got a set of wrong handed clubs as a kid, and just started that way and never changed. He's also a pretty good golfer, but it looks incredibly awkward and difficult!

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Has anyone ever seen anyone play cross handed before? We played in 2 person scramble this weekend and were paired with a father son team and the dad played cross handed. It was pretty messed up to watch, but he was a good golfer (2 handicap, his son was +3) and hit the ball a long ways for a guy same age as myself. He played from the right handed side cross handed and putted like a regular lefty.

My grandpa golfed cross-handed. "No such thing as left-handed clubs when I was young". I would've golfed left naturally, but ended up golfing right because of him (though not cross-handed).

He was pretty good. Able to shoot his age until he was 90 or so. Definitely never hit it long, but cross-handed does keep that left arm locked and so was exceptionally straight.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by bomber317

I understand what you are saying here, however I think there is still value to get fitted.

Just so we can clarify and have a better discussion about this, please describe the "fitting" process you went through.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Just so we can clarify and have a better discussion about this, please describe the "fitting" process you went through.

I'm not sure what the correct term is for what I went through. "Fitting" for beginners? Just finding a set of clubs that I can hit? I only got to hit the 7-iron from the models that they picked out for me.

It sounds like you're measuring and tuning each club to specs of the golfer?

Nerd Alert analogy

I'm Harry Potter in Book 1 getting his first wand.

It sounds like you're tuning Harry Potter's wand for the Book 7 fight against Voldemort.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by bomber317

I'm not sure what the correct term is for what I went through. "Fitting" for beginners? Just finding a set of clubs that I can hit? I only got to hit the 7-iron from the models that they picked out for me.

It sounds like you're measuring and tuning each club to specs of the golfer?

Nerd Alert analogy

I'm Harry Potter in Book 1 getting his first wand.

It sounds like you're tuning Harry Potter's wand for the Book 7 fight against Voldemort.

What you got was not a fitting. What you got was a common sales tactic - a chance to hit some balls with different clubs on a launch monitor, and they sold you something that "felt" good. There was no fitting involved, it was a feel session which is widely conflated with fitting. Fitting involves fine tuning and matching material components to build the perfect club for your ability and swing.

During a fitting session you'll experiment with different heads to find the one that gives you the most consistent contact. Then you'll get to work with different shafts to find a consistent shot shape from data off the launch monitor. Depending on the club manufacturer they may start playing with weighting to make micro corrections. An important facet many times left out is the grip size, which can dramatically affect shot shape and hand speed. Some fitters will do this first, others will do it after the shaft is landed on or prior to the micro corrections, or some will just go with standard rack 58 grips. This is the attention to detail that makes you know how well trained your fitter really is.

This is a general statement, and not one directed at you and your experience. Just because you go to a golf store and hit some balls in a simulator does NOT mean you were fitted for clubs. There is a process involved with fitting, there is a process involved in construction, and there is a process involved in maintenance of fitting clubs. A fitting session on any one club takes 30-60 minutes and involves painstaking adjustments in materials and weighting. The intent is to develop consistent shot metrics on the launch monitor and striking on the club face, to shrink shot dispersion to a manageable range. This applies to every club in the bag, including the putter. The putter fitting is arguably the most important as it is the most important club (and most often ignored club) in the bag. Micro adjustments of a degree or two can correct any bias you have in your stroke and save you a ton of strokes on the course!

Frankly, the store that sold you your first set of clubs should be ashamed of themselves. They never should have put a new golfer into a set of clubs that were modified for another player. Beginning players should always start out with a standard-standard set of clubs so they can develop easily correctable swing habits through instruction and later fitting. That store was just trying to move stock they knew would be a tough sell to other more experienced players. I am sorry this was your introduction to the game and it led to some bad experiences in developing your skills. This should not have been the case and I'm glad it didn't blunt your enthusiasm for the game.

Find those clubs that feel best for your. Continue to work on your game and finding the middle of that club face. Every time you hit the ball, look at that face to see where you hit it and begin to understand the areas where you contact the club consistently. This will help with correcting your swing and make you a better player. I like black faces for that very reason, as I can better see where I strike the ball on any shot. I hope your new set of clubs feel good and are right for you to help you get more enjoyment out of the game, as that is the most important thing a store can do. They should be setting you up for success on the course, not just selling you the most expensive or popular clubs on the rack.

What did you ultimately end up getting?