Equipment rollouts can be overwhelming and raise annual questions of whether the latest and greatest clubs on the market can really improve our scores.
The best players in the world will benefit, no doubt, but there’s a deep chasm between their skill set and ours. But the same technology they use to dial in their clubs is available to us, so using it, if desired, makes sense.
“The two biggest things, I think, are adjustable drivers, so you can really dial in your ball flight without having to try driver after driver after driver,” said Stewart Cink, a 21-year pro with six victories on the PGA Tour and a British Open title. “The second one is Trackman or the launch monitor. When you get the Trackman you can really start dialing in the spin and launch angle. It optimizes; that’s what it’s all about.”
Basically, Cink says all players – amateur and professional – can produce a certain level of power, with proper technique and maximizing ball speed the easiest ways to start launching more powerful shots.
“You don’t want to have too much or too little spin,” he said. “It’s all about not wasting any energy you put on the ball.”
Adam Hadwin, who turned professional in 2010 and has two victories on the Web.com Tour and two on PGA Tour Canada, doesn’t yet have the name recognition of Cink but he does have a take on how double-digit handicaps can get better, and that’s by improving the swing before delving too much into technology.
“I think the priority would be getting lessons,” Hadwin said. “Trackman is giving you numbers based on center contact every time. What are the odds that an amateur will hit the center of the clubface that often? Even as pros we still struggle with that some days. So when these readings are based on center contact, it’s tough to measure with amateurs. My advice is take a lesson, hit it solid first.”
Two-time PGA Tour winner Harris English agrees with Hadwin on lessons and thinks the emphasis on golf equipment and technology is often too costly for the typical amateur.
“Clubs are so expensive right now,” English said. “If you have something that works, stick with it.”
Andrew Loupe, a four-year pro known for being long off the tee, thinks amateurs should focus on delivering the clubhead to the ball correctly when starting the downswing.
“I would say, as a whole, amateurs get to the top and lose their angle of attack,” said Loupe, who in mid March was 20th on the PGA Tour in driving distance at 304.4 yards. “They cast it from the top and lose the right angle of the hands on the club. A lot of power is lost there. You’ve got to hold it in and maintain that angle. Try a few different thoughts, like keeping your elbow tucked.”
Loupe, who plays a Titleist 915 D2 driver with a 75-gram Rogue shaft and X flex, got fitted for his clubs at Titleist’s facility in Oceanside. While most amateurs don’t have that type of access, they can – and should – get clubs that work best for them, Loupe said.
“I would say go down to your local club and get fitted,” he said. “Hit a bunch of balls, try a number of varying drivers and just go for it. You want to know exactly what the ball is doing. Most amateurs aren’t going to fly the ball a great distance, but try some different driver shafts and see what you can come up with.”
After joining the PGA Tour in 1997, Cink has been a mainstay on the circuit by utilizing the best equipment for him, even if it goes against the norm.
“I’m a 12-degree driver, and that might be the highest of all tour players,” he said of his driver’s loft. “I don’t know why that is but I need a little bit of help in that area. But it’s good for me because I don’t spin it much, but adding loft to my driver helps me spin it more and produce a higher ball flight. That gets me in the optimum range.”
By comparison, another well-known player in Cink’s age range – Ernie Els – plays with an 8-degree driver.
“It’s not that he’s better or worse than me or I than him,” Cink said. “It’s just different swings fit different players.”
So, should amateurs who have trouble with launch angle and ball carry get a 12-degree driver?
“Amateurs need to find their own balance with spin and loft and take that truth for what it means to each of us,” Cink said. “If you’re a tinkerer, go and do that. If you’re confident simply in the feel of contact, then that works for you.”
Garrett Johnston is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Southland Golf. Follow or contact him at garrettjohnstonproductions.com or @johnstongarrett.
