What a Week!

The first week of school is in the books, and what a week it was! I don’t have class on Fridays this semester, but because I signed up for my first lesson with PGA Master Teaching Professional Tim Eberlein, I found myself back on campus.

For my first lesson, I decided to get fitted for a new set of irons. I’m doing it for a couple of reasons. First, a 3rd semester student I ran into on the golf course last week recommended I do it earlier rather than later. Students get some pretty great discounts on one entire set of golf clubs while they’re in school. This student told me the sooner I get fitted, the faster I will improve my game with the help of the Golf Academy instructors.

Secondly, I have never been properly fitted for a set of irons. I play to a 2-3 handicap now, but I’ve had a feeling that the set of Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons that I’ve been playing for the last 18 months or so are a little too stiff for me. A buddy of mine was kind enough to give them to me so my irons would conform to the USGA’s current grooves rule. Beggars can’t be choosers. I was playing an old, non-conforming set of Titleist 704 CBs.

It didn’t take long for Tim to confirm my suspicions. My clubs were way too stiff and actually a little too upright. That means there are days when I have to work a little harder to make the ball do what I want it to do. If I’m not releasing the club on a particular day, I’m going to leave the ball a little out to the right. I like to play a draw, but this game’s hard enough! When I tried a few different shafts on TrackMan, I picked up another five miles an hour of clubhead speed as well as a little extra distance. Tim recommended that I start with new irons and wedges, make the improvements that should come by working with Golf Academy Instructors, and then get fitted for a set of woods after I get used to the new irons and wedges.

Next week, I’m going to have another fitting lesson, this time with PGA Instructor Jay Friedman, to convert my specs to Titleist. I’ve got my eye on the CB Forged 714s. I’m leaning towards Titleist because they gives students a 40% wholesale discount, which is the best deal any of the clubmakers offer Academy students. We’ll see what Jay has to say.