Monica Stratton has been a golf instructor for 15 years and a clubfitter for eight. Blending the skills makes sense since a person’s swing should match their equipment. Or is it the other way around?
Getting caught up in the hype of club manufacturers is easy, as added distance, control and lower scores are practically guaranteed by the marketing machines. But new technology does make a difference, no matter the skill level.
“Average players used to think that clubfitting was only for professionals or really good players,” said Stratton, the 2014 SCPGA Clubfitter of the Year who works at Carlsbad Golf Center. “But everyone can benefit. Even beginners come in now asking questions about needs and guidance from setting up to the proper clubs for their level. It’s all across the board. It’s much more the norm these days. “
Here are other tips, trends and advice from Stratton regarding the fitting process and technology available on the market.
Q: How has the interest in clubfitting changed in recent years?
It’s definitely more popular and common now. The attitude is, if you’re going to buy new golf clubs, you need to get fit.
Q: What’s the process like? Are you looking for patterns?
The most important thing is getting beginners, or any player for that matter, into the right size, length and weight of golf clubs. Overall, it’s set makeup. Some people have clubs in their bag they don’t need. Putting core clubs in the bag that are easier to hit and will make them more successful is the top priority. You don’t have to have 14 clubs. One hybrid could replace a couple irons.
Q: What trends are you seeing this year that stand out?
Hotter faces, especially with irons. We’re seeing irons that are two clubs longer but launching at a normal rate. Before, the clubs launched so low that it was harder for players with slower swing speeds to get the ball in the air. But now, your novice or beginner can take advantage of these benefits and get a nice, higher ball flight.
Q: So is it the face of the club or increased loft doing that?
It’s the technology of the head, how they’re able to change the center of gravity and slots to actually get the ball up in the air quicker and carry farther.
Q: Almost every driver, wood or hybrid now has adjustable technology. Is this a good or bad thing for weekend amateurs?
I think having the adjustability drives people more to getting fit. It shows how important face and loft angles are. Is it the be-all and end-all of club design? I think it’s very good and helpful, but once a fitter or player gets something dialed in, it’s probably best not to change it on an experimental basis. You don’t want to react to a bad round by tinkering with the club. Get back to basics with your swing.
Q: If a person has a good swing and a five-year-old set of clubs, will getting new clubs help a little, a lot or maybe not at all?
I think if you center punch (hit a ball in the middle of the clubface) your irons or your driver and you center punch a club with new technology, they’re going to go very similar in terms of distance. But the change is on the mis-hits. You’re going to see a much more robust version of your ball flight and distance on your mis-hits off the face. That’s where new technology is really helping – not losing ball speed when you don’t hit it off the center of the face, which is typical for most people.
Q: When fitting, do you look at the swing or offer tips?
For me, I’m going to go with the swing you bring, so we first measure things such as length and swing speed. From there we’ll bring out different heads and shafts that will work best for the swing speed and have them hit all the different brands in those settings before weaning them down to what feels best.
Q: How do physical capabilities factor in?
That’s very important. Almost all manufacturers have three models of a particular club style. They’ll have something for the lower-handicap, mid-handicap and high-handicap players. A lot of that is based on things such as flexibility and swing speed.
Q: What should a person with a really slow swing speed look for?
You definitely want to find a shaft that matches the swing speed. The main thing is finding something that can be swung easily yet still gets the ball in the air. We don’t want something they’re going to struggle with. We want clubs that are going to enhance the swing and overall experience.
Q: Should a person with a fast swing speed automatically look for a stiffer shaft?
It depends how efficient the swing is. Some people might need a heavier shaft to slow things down a bit because they’re not super consistent with accuracy. That way they can also feel the head at all swing positions and be much more balanced.
Q: So what should a person concentrate on – getting a better swing or new clubs?
The truth of the matter is, swings don’t really vary that much. Your shots might vary, but if you get yourself into the right weight and the right club you’ll see yourself picking up on trends with a certain manufacturer or with nuances in your swing. If a club feels good, performs good, looks good to you and you have confidence with it, that’s all I’m looking for and what you should be looking for, too.
