THE BENEFITS OF CUSTOM-FIT FOR THE LADY GOLFER

I intend to look at the benefit of club custom-fit clubs for the lady golfer, how it’s perceived by the lady golfer and ways in which ladies can improve their handicap through playing custom-fit clubs

Could be on slightly dangerous ground here, as over the last few years amazing improvements in technology may not have been as well conveyed to the ladies market as the men’s. There are a lot of key issues that can easily improve the ladies playing handicap and enjoyment and targeting only major factors are important, as too much information can prove a negative to many players.

The first assessment to make is on your player goals and current ability! Straight forward questions on playing goals are often missed but - do you want to hit the ball further, higher, straighter, do you hook, slice etc., are good first steps to understanding a players needs, plus “do you just want to get your handicap down” and forget hitting the ball better.

Just getting your handicap down seems illogical as the assumption is you must play better to do so, but just using a better set make-up can have a profound effect on your handicap. When the best lady player in the world often starts her iron set from the 6 iron, it would appear that by supplementing your longer irons with more lofted woods “set make-up is a very key issue in scoring better”. Sevens, nines and eleven woods are so much easier to hit consistently due to their larger flat soles and soft leading edges than 3, 4 and 5 irons, which have a sharper leading edge and higher centre of gravity. So start here for better scoring!

Now hitting a better-flighted and more consistent ball with irons is a head design function and also a major factor in getting you to play better. Head design requirements are defined by a players ability, but by focusing on head design features such as “off-set hosel and low centre of gravity” you can easily help stop slicing, hitting the ball heavy and also create a better and higher ball flight. All key factors in enjoying golf. By changing your iron head design to an offset hosel model with a lower centre of gravity you are in effect increasing the “Moment of Inertia” (MOI). MOI relates to the centrifugal force put on the shaft by the head as it approaches the ball and the clubs maximum. The force of the clubhead is trying to make the toe of the club pass the hosel, the greater the weight in the heel of the clubhead and the lower the centre of gravity – the greater the MOI.

On to the driver! and matching shaft design to head style and loft. These two factors when perfectly matched to your ability will have a profound effect on your shot performance and consistency of quality of shot. Many lady players find they hit their 3 wood as far as their driver. The reason for this is in the fact that their swing speed is not fast enough for them to get a high enough trajectory angle and spin rate when the ball is launched with their driver. Checkout your swing speed if you have a machine, many ladies only manage a swing speed of around 55 to 65mph which is why they hit the 3 wood better than the driver. If this is the case try a driver with a shaft that is lighter in weight and one that has a lower bend-point. The lighter shaft weight will enable you to create a higher swing speed, as the dead weight will be lighter, this also takes the swing weight down too, therefore enabling a faster swing. Plus the lower bend point in the shaft will create a sharper angle in the shaft before impact which will impart more active loft at impact, increasing the launch angle and spin. Shaft length is always an issue here and do not be afraid to try shortening your driver shaft length, it could assist if you struggle to perform your best with the driver.

The style and type of driver used is a major factor too! With driver head sizes getting bigger in cubic centimetre volume, faces are becoming deeper. Whilst the bigger head size does usually raise the centre of gravity, it also usually comes with a deeper face, which can effect launch angle and spin rate for slow swing speed players. By using a driver with lofts from 12.5° to 15° you will ensure you achieve the maximum launch angle and spin rate possible. This will increase both your driving distance and accuracy.

Finally to the grip! Is it a major factor in playing better! Well it certainly gives you confidence and control over the clubface and it has a feel issue too. However, if the grip material is not suited, the design or size is wrong or the grip is worn, it will have an adverse effect on distance and also shot direction. This is mostly due to holding the club too tight, which lowers swing speed through restricting the swing. Research shows that worn grips can cause lose distance and also consistency of ball striking.

So to improve your golf today, look at the benefits of custom fitting, and remember these are often more profound when good custom-fitting practices are applied to the lady golfer.