[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by mikeod

OK, I'll give it a shot. A fitting is done to optimize the club characteristics for the particular golfer. Length, lie, overall weight, shaft flex and material, set make-up, and more are considered. Yes, a shorter shaft may mean a loss of clubhead speed. But, I remember a teaching pro at a clinic asking attendees what determines how far a ball will go. They answered clubhead speed. So, the pro took a driver, opened the clubface until it was pointed skyward and took a mighty swing. The ball went nowhere. Then he held the driver normally, took a leisurely swing and hit the crud out of the ball. The point is that clubhead speed delivered with a square club face moving in the proper path will deliver the best shot with each club. So, if a shorter shaft allows a player to hit the center of the clubface more frequently and deliver the clubhead to the ball square to the intended line of flight, that is the best length for that player. Another example. I was working at the old Tournament of Champions at La Costa one year after Ben Crenshaw won the Masters. He and Jack Nicklaus were on the practice tee and one of those watching heard Jack say he could hit the ball farther with Crenshaw's driver. So he asked why Jack didn't use one like Crenshaw. Jack then took Crenshaws driver and hit three balls with it. All of them took off like a jet and headed over the net at the end of the range. But before they got there, they all turned dead left. Jack said that is why he doesn't use one like Crenshaw. To further make the point. He then took his driver and three balls. He told us the balls would start out about 10 yards left of his caddie, Angelo, and fade over to him. Angelo caught all three on one bounce without moving his feet. Jack then took three more and started these out about ten yards right of Angelo and he caught all three without moving a step. The point is, with his driver and the specs set up just for him, Jack knows where the ball is going. With Crenshaw's driver, he doesn't. BTW, Jack was also known for using a driver about 1/4 to 1/2 inch shorter than standard. Didn't hurt his length much did it?

I would not advocate using an upright lie to "cure" a slice. All that does is encourage the heel to dig in and turn the face closed. Better to learn to swing properly, or, if desired, consider a large offset to help square the face. The proper lie will encourage the proper ball flight for each club. Lie is affected by club length and the person's hand to ground distance when taking a normal stance. There are short people with short arms and short people with long arms. They will likely need different length clubs.

The proper flex and overall weight will allow the player to optimize clubhead speed at impact, where it really matters.

Loft determines ball flight. Ball flight determines distance. These are generalizations as loft can be altered by stance and swing. Ball flight and distance are also affected by the ball type used. Some balls spin more than others, some fly higher than others, and some roll more than others. Loft is also affected by club design. Some clubs emphasize weight near the sole/bottom of the club, others at the center of mass of the clubhead. A club with more sole weight may launch the ball higher than one with more weight in the center of the face.

An advanced player may want clubs that let him/her "work" the ball left to right or right to left at will. A newer player may want a club that forgives off center hits more than one that works the ball.

A good clubfitter will listen to a player's needs and desires, ask about physical limitations, watch them hit some balls, then try out different clubs with different characteristics to try to determine the optimum set for that individual.

If an individual is going to take up the game seriously, meaning lessons, frequent practice, and playing, then they will likely need a new fitting as their game progresses. But the clubs will still be useful. A recreational, social, golfer who is less interested in lessons, practice, etc., may not need a subsequent fitting.

Wow, that got long. Hope it's not clear as mud now.

I am printing this. We certainly have expert help here on this forum. Thank you Mike!