Club Fitting
At Klees Golf Shop we believe golf lessons can do more for your game than any other activity. One good lesson will improve your game, your practice, and your confidence on the course.
We refer customers to several golf teaching professionals in the area. In most cases, our staff has had direct experience with the teaching pro so we are confident about our referrals.
At Klees Golf Shop we think club fitting is a good idea for most golfers. This is the only process that can determine the right length, the right grip size, the correct lie angle and the right shaft flex for you.
The typical fitting cart will meet most golfers’ needs and Klees Golf Shop has the Ping, Titleist, Cobra and Callaway Optifit carts. We also have fitting irons from Mizuno, Cleveland and Tour Edge, as well as demo clubs of many other models.
Klees Golf Shop does not charge for standard club fitting using any of the carts and/or our Swing Simulator.
Diagram from Ralph Maltby: How golf clubs affect your ability to score
For a more advanced assessment of your swing characteristics, particularly as they influence ball flight, we have the Vector Pro Launch Monitor. The Vector Pro is very helpful in determining the best shaft and loft combination for selecting a wood. For more information about our Vector Pro Launch Monitor fitting click VECTOR PRO.
Here are the metrics we determine during a standard club fitting:
Length: Measure from wrist to floor in a relaxed, standing position
Tall people or average height people with short arms will often need an iron length ¼ to one inch longer than standard in the model of their choice. The longer the length the heavier the iron and the harder it is to swing. It is better to be conservative about length, so we often recommend adjusting the lie angle rather than adding length. We will use face tape to verify that a longer club is actually producing a more centered hit for people who need longer irons.
Shaft Flex: A measurement of how much a shaft will bend under a certain load
“Load” is a physics term referring to the force (swing action) applied to the shaft that causes it to spring. Shaft flex is usually assigned a letter such as A, R, S or X. Generally, golfers with slower swing speeds require more flexible shafts (A, Soft R, and R flexes), while golfers with higher swing speeds generally require stiffer shafts (S, X).
Other Shaft Measures: Shaft flex point (bend), torque and weight
Of these three measures shaft weight is probably the most important for the average golfer. Steel shafts are easier to control but their weight can reduce club head speed, resulting in loss of distance. The stiffer the flex or the longer the shaft the heavier the club gets. For these reasons most golfers prefer graphite shafts in their woods and steel shafts in their irons. Today’s steel and graphite shafts come in a broad range of weights, bend points and flexes. For a great illustration of this range click on True Temper.
Shaft flex (bend point) and torque are shaft characteristics that are best evaluated using a launch monitor. Most steel and graphite shafts have published weight, bend point and torque specs that we can use to determine the best combination given your clubhead speed and ball height. We use the Swing Simulator to see that.
Lie Angle: The angle between the bottom, or sole, of the golf club and the shaft
A correct lie angle ensures that the club is resting squarely on its sole at address. This will help keep the clubface square at impact. A lie angle that is too upright will cause the heel of the club to hit the ground first, which will close the clubface and produce a pull or hook. A lie angle that is too flat causes the toe to hit the ground first, opening the clubface and resulting in a push or slice.
Grip Size: The grip size is correct if your middle and ring fingers are barely touching the pad of your palm near the thumb. Your grip should be relaxed during this measure. If there is space between your fingers and palm then the grip size is too large. If your fingers are digging into your palm then the grip size is too small. Too small of a grip can cause the club to twist in your hands, or cast at the top of your backswing. Too large of a grip and the club may come loose at impact or prevent your hands from coming through the swing. In either case the results are bad.
Common Errors: Clubs are too short (short clubs feel better than long clubs); clubs are too stiff (stiff is easier to control than flexible); clubs are too upright (lower lofts and more upright lie angles make today’s 5 or 6-iron perform like yesteryear’s 3-iron); grips are too big (big grips feel better than average grips). Many women are playing with clubs that are too long or too heavy or the grips are too small.
Playing with clubs given to you by a friend, bought when you were a teenager, handed down by your dad or uncle (or mother), or more than five years old is a mistake. They won’t help your swing or make a hard game any easier.
