In Golf Club Fitting with PGA Professional Gary Balliet, we’re discussing how to fit different golfers for different clubs. We’ve already discussed wedges and putters as well as how to fit women, seniors, and juniors. But how do you fit a golfer for the proper driver?
The length of a driver should allow for good, athletic posture. The playing length may be different than the actual length of the driver, but the key is to make sure the lie of the driver is as flush as possible to the ground during the dynamic motion through impact. Playing length is measured from the top of the grip cap to the point where the shaft centerline touches the ground.
When fitting for a driver using a launch monitor, make sure you’re using high quality golf balls. Remind the player that the fitting is not a long drive contest, and if you’re fitting indoors, be sure the player is wearing spikeless shoes for a more level base. Have the customer bring his old driver so you have a benchmark, and be sure to record ball flights, distances, and posture.
Buyer beware: manufacturers often screw up driver loft by one degree or more. If at all possible, purchase the driver that you demo. There’s a good chance that the one you order will be slightly different.
Lie angle is important even for drivers. Lie angle affects the direction, distance, and centeredness of contact. Face angle at impact is important too. It will either be open, square, or closed. Tee height matters because it assists with center face contact. Contact should be as close to the horizontal face centerline as possible. The best impact range is 1/2″ above the impact zone.
TrackMan shows us that most of the great drivers of the golf ball swing inside to out and have a ball position that is slightly forward of center. Your average golfer needs more loft, softer shafts, a lower profile driver face, and a little offset. Always look for the finish of the swing to be in balance. That’s how you know you’ve found a winner.
Course conditions can also determine the type of driver a person should play. If the conditions are dry and firm, he might consider carrying two drivers (one with more loft, one with less, or even a 3-wood loft). If they’re wet and soft, he might consider a driver with less loft to get a little more roll-out off the tee.
Grip sizing is often forgotten during driver construction, which is a problem.
Grip Size
The club has to feel good in your hands, and that all starts with the grip. The size of the grip matters, and grip influences direction.
A grip is the proper size when the two middle fingers of a player’s left hand (for a right-handed golfer) barely touch the heel portion of the palm. If the grip is too small, those fingers will dig in. If it’s too big, those fingers won’t touch.
Address position also affects grip size. A flatter address position that’s bent over and closer to the ball will cause the grip to feel smaller. A more upright address position will cause the grip to feel larger.
Choking down on the golf club creates problems when determining grip size. As a player grips down, the grip size gets smaller, and the shaft gets stiffer, and the posture can get too bent over.
A grip that is too small will result in a low pull in ball flight. A grip that is too big will result in a high push in ball flight.
Larger grips are great for golfers with arthritis, but heavier grips cause swing weight to decrease (5 grams = 1 swing weight). Lighter grips cause a swing weight to increase.
Great job! Very educational.
– Gary