Club Fitting 101

The most important start for basic club-fitting is to recognize that "off-the-rack" golf clubs simply can't fit you right. No way...no how! The custom fitting standards of golf clubs have come so far that you have every right and opportunity to have your clubs fit you and your unique abilities.
I don't care whether you pay $100 or $1,000 for your set of golf clubs...they can all be made to fit you very closely and improve your game. Learn about club fitting possibilities, find a custom club maker in your town or go to our site (http://www.howtochoosgolfclubs.com/) and get everything you need.

3 Ways To Better Fit Your Driver

If you check these three fitting factors and make adjustments, you will be much closer to better results off the Tee.

1. First, make sure the Length fits your swing. Take "impact labels" (available at most Golf shops) and see if you are hitting the ball in the sweet spot.


2. Check the specifications for Face Angle. If you Fade the ball too much you shoulod have at least a 2 degree+ closed face. If you Hook too much you need a square or 1 - 2 degree open face.


3. Check your Grip Size. When you grip the Club at set up, take the right hand off the club (left hand for left-handed golfers). The fingers on the remaining Hand should just touch the palm. If they dig in a bit, the grip is too small, if they don't touch, the grip is too big. Get them changed to fit.

The Leading Edge - Iron fitting

Many golfers don't realize that the leading edge of their Irons are a fitting variable often overlooked. The leading edge variables can be described as narrow (thin & sharper), medium (more rounded and a bit thicker) and blunt(very rounded and larger). Depending on the Tur & Sand conditions, the leading edge can be matched to course conditions.
If you hit the ball Fat or have very soft turf, changing to the next more rounded/blunter leading edge can help prevent the club from "digging in". If you hit too many Thin shots or your Turf or sand traps are harder/thinner, a sharper leading edge can dig in a bit and get under the ball.

The Gap Wedge - Fit for the "Gap"

Most players who do not have a Gap Wedge in their set have a distance control problem between their Pitching Wedge and their Sand Wedge. The standard set of Irons are usually separated by about 4 degrees of loft in the club to club loft differences. But the loft between the Pitching Wedge and Sand Wedge can be as much as 8 degrees leaving too much distance between them.
This is where the Gap Wedge comes in to play. It fills the gap with a loft of about 52 degrees. The player making a full swing will find the distance between the Pitching
Wedge, Gap Wedge & Sand Wedge shots will be spaced much better like the rest of the Irons.

Fitting Clubs for Shaft Flex

There are so many variables in the dynamics of shfts today that it has become somewhat of a science. The various ways that Graphite shafts can be manufactured makes for many performance options.

That said, there remain a couple of Core factors that all of us should pay attention to when picking the right shaft. Flex (based on your swing speed), Weight ( with many lighter shaft options) and Bend Point (low bend-higher shots, high bend-lower shots).

The Importance of a Fitting Review

Whether you have clubs that were Fit for your unique needs or not, this is a good time of year to take stock of the state of your game. Those of us who love the game understand the ever evolving and changing nature of playing Golf. Here is a quick list of "non-skill" related Club Check Points.

Are you; hitting shots Fat or Thin, hitting the ball too high or low, trouble getting out of Sand Traps, pushing/pulling, slicing/hooking or not having good "feel" with a club or clubs? If one or more of these represent an issue for you, you have a problem good club fitting can overcome.

Time For a Fall Club Check

Fall is a good time of the year in the cooler climates as well as the warmer climates who are at the end of a long golf season. Think of it like a "tune-up".

Here are some things to check:, worn Grips, loose club heads (slipping away from the ferrule), any bent or damaged shafts (check to see if your graphite shafts are nciked from the other clubs bumping them), and see if the groves on your Irons need cleaning or repair.

Importance of Loft In Club Fitting

The Loft of your clubs is a very important fitting factor. In the Irons, there are several considerations. Are you a strong hitter of the ball? Generally you can test a decrease in the Loft of your irons. Strong players (think TIger Woods) usually hit the ball high. A more "boring" trajectory can improve distand & control.

For the slower swing speeds and golfers with a smooth transtion an increse in Loft may help with more distance. A higher ball flight creates more carry distance.

Grip Fitting - An Easy Way To Check

The Golf Grip is very important to your Feel, Control and Release. So how can you tell if your current Grip is right for you in order to determine if you need to change if needed?

One accepted method is to go ahead and Grip you club as you would in your set up. If you are a right handed golfer, take just your right hand off the club at address. Look to see where the last three fingers of your left hand touch the palm of the left hand with it still gripping the club. If these fingers just barely touch, your grip is OK. If they are pressing into your palm, the grip is too small. If they don't touch at all, the Grip is too big.

Grip Fitting - Nows The Time

This time of year usually represents the end of the golf season for many golfers and well into the season for those who play year round. By now, your Grips are probaly warn from lots of rounds of golf. The fall is a great time to get your clubs regripped. You will be amazed how much better your golf clubs will feel and perform with new grips.

Take them to your Club Pro or golf shop and get new grips. Make sure that you determine what size grip fits your hands the best. This can be measured several different ways but is very important. For seniors with a bit of arthritis in the hands, try over-size or "afthritic grips".

Putter Fitting

Most golfers I see have putters with a "toe-up" lie angle when set in the putting position. Toe up means the toe is off the ground at set up. Set your putter up with your normal stance and have someone slide a 3X5 index card first under the toe and then under the heal. The cards should come together the same distance from the exact center of the club face.

If the toe or heel is more in the air at address, it may be a club length problem. But if you are comfortable with the length, take your putter to a golf shop or custom club maker and have the shaft or hosel bent just enought to have the putter level at address.

Fitting Between the Pitching Wedge & Sand Wedge

Most golfers have heard about the "Gap" between the Pitching Wedge (PW) and Sand Wedge (SW). Ideally, you want about 4 degrees of loft difference between your Irons. Typically, the PW ia about 48 degrees and the SW about 56 degrees. That's an 8 degree gap!


The GAP Wedge has become the answer to this gap but requires some thought.


First, determine your "gap" in degrees between your PW & SW. Next determine the mid-point degee of Loft between them. Try to find or order a Gap wedge with the exact mid-point. Most Wedges can be bent +/- 2 degrees for loft so a custom golf shop can make any fine adjustments.


Also, to stay within the 14 Club limit you will have to give up a club (probably that hard to hit long iron).

Hybrid Clubs Fitting

We have talked about the Hybrid Woods vs. Fairway Woods. More thought on the Hybrids is warranted because they are fast becoming a wise choice for Amateurs and Pros alike. In contrast to the log irons (2,3,4 & even 5 irons), the new generation of Hybrids are much easier to hit and get airborn.

In fitting the Hybrids we need to make sure that the length is correct. If you can hit some Demo clubs and use club face labels to see if the ball is being struck in the middle, you can get the length right. Next, if you select a Hybrid with rear weight port(s), you can add or reduce weight to control how high you will hit the ball.

Grip Fitting - Wedges

One of the newest innovations in golf club grips is longer grips for the Wedges used in the short game. I just installed these grips on all four Wedges used for the short game...PW, Gap, SW and LW. The ability to choke down for controlling the Pitch & Chip shots is very important.

The longer length Wedge Grips allow you to choke down very comfortably without your fingers being on the club shaft. The Grip gives much better control than the shaft.

Fitting For The Chip Shot

In terms of scoring improvements, there is much support for the short game around the greens. We have discussed before the preferred technique of getting the ball on the green as soon as possible and rolling to the hole. Some players will find that chipping with a lower lofted club such as a 7 0r 8 Iron in more of a putting stroke works best. Others will find using a higer lofted club such as a Sand Wedge or Gap Wedge and accelerating (applying energy on the through swing) allows better control.

Whichever club selection works for you, there are two key fitting techniques that make a big difference. First is "Bounce" or the sole angle. The more bounce the less your club digs into the turf. The less bounce the more dig. When chipping you don't want too much of either depending on the turf. Soft turf, more bounce...hard turf less bounce. Same with the leading edge of the club. Not too sharp for soft turf...not too blunt for hard turf. Check these factors against your normal course turf conditions.

Club Length Fitting - You Can Choke Down

Having your clubs custom fit to your unique needs for Length is a mjor factor in accuracy and distance. As a general rule, the shorter the Club the more accurate you will tend to hit the ball.



But whether your clubs are fit to length or not, you can very easily experiment with "choking down" between 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inch and sometime more. Try choking down 1 inch on your 8 iron and see if you hit it about 9 iron distance or a bit more. Tiger Woods uses this technique as do many Pro's. You will find that you hit the ball solidly, accurately and with good distance control.

Fitting Irons for Sweet Spot Consistency

One very simple technique that can make a big difference in consistently hitting the Irons in the center of the club face (sweet spot) is to use club face labels. You can purchase these on-line or at the chain golf stores. You place the label on the face of each Iron and hit 5 - 8 balls with each club. When you hit the ball it leaves a "ball mark" on the label.

You will be able to see where you are actually hitting the ball most of the time. You can then begin to make adjustments such as standing a bit closer or farther away until you see the ball marks on the labels more in the center of the club.

Fitting Clubs For Consistency

It doesn't really matter whether you hit the ball straight, Draw it or Fade it. What matters most is consistency. I played in a tournament where one of the players had a big Draw (curved the ball right to left - right hander). I thought 'this guy will have trouble with that big Draw'. Not so, he hit the same big Draw every shot. Never missed a fairway all day.



If you have a tendency, say you draw or fade your shots, but only sometimes, you can benefit by club fitting particulary in your driver and fairway/hybrid clubs. Here's how. Say you draw the ball a little but not consistently. Have your Driver/Fairway/Hybrid clubs set up to enhance the tendency to Draw the ball. Use a 1 - 2 degree closed face, find clubs with weight ports and set the weights to promote more of a draw. Experiment with these fitting techniques until you can draw the ball more than 75% of the time. Use the same approach for a Fade (open face & weight ports for a fade). You will achieve consistency and set up to play your Draw.

Putters - Fitting For Loft

Many of my custom club fitting customers don't realize that putters actually are lofter. The usual putter loft is in the 3 - 4 degree range. The pupose of putter loft is to get the ball rolling right as it is struck. A "rolling" putt, end-over-end at the target will hold th line much better.Most golfers I fit for putters actually set up and stroke the Putt wih hands forward and maintain this hands forward during the putting stroke.
A "hands-forward" stroke de-lofts the putter, reducing the natural roll inducing effect of loft. If you are a hands forward putter, consider adding 1 - 2 degrees of loft to your putter (usually by shaft bending). the added loft will get the Putt rolling. and will off-set the hands forward effects.

Club Weight - Fitting for Your Game

Total Club weight is an often overlooked factor in club fitting. There are competing advantages/disadvanatges to lowering over-all club weight. A Club that is too light. resulting in a lower Swing-weight, is hard to control because you lose "feel" for just where the club head is during the swing.

A club that is too heavey can create fatigue and and some difficulty is squaring the face at impact. That said, most seniors, most women golfers and all golfers who have slower swing speeds can benefit from lighter clubs because you will most often gain swing speed with a lighter club.

Since most club heads are weighted to a fairily narrow standard, a lighter total club weight is achieved by re-fitting your clubs with lighter shafts and lighter grips. Today's Ultra-light shafts, now under 60 grams, and a variety of lighter grips make it pretty easy to lower total club weight.

Fitting The 3-Wood

Most golfers have somewhat of a love affair withthe 3 Wood. I very seldom find a custom club customer whose current set did not have a 3-Wood. My observation is that in most cases the 3-Wood is used much less than you might think.


A 3-Wood fitted to each golfer's unique specifications can be the valuable tool we think/wish it could be. First, figure out how you will use it the most. If it is often a replacement for your Drive (because you hit it straighter), consider adding about 1 inch in length. If you your 3-Wood is intended more for shots off the fairway consider a head with a weight port in the back of the head. Add more weight in this port to increase ball trajectory (higher) and easier to get airborn.

Hybrid FItting

I am really high on the value and playability of Hybrids. When fitting the Hybrid-Wood (versus the shorter Hybrid type Irons) you need to know whether the "Fairway" Woods are a better choice. Both the Hybrid-Wood and the Fairway Wood are intended for the same longer fairway shots. So...which may be best for you?

While some people like the look of one or the other at address, the real fitting difference appears to be "swing plane". If your swing plane is Flat, the shorter length of a Hybrid compared to the corresponding Fairway Wood is a better choice. If your swing plane is more upright, the longer Fairway Wood may be better.

Another factor is consistency of direction. If you need help hitting the ball straighter, the shorter Hybrid may help. Another fitting technique for hitting it straighter is to use the longer Fairway wood but have it shortened just a bit.

Fitting Clubs - End Of Season

For many in the USA and other parts of the world in the northern climates, the golf season is winding down. This is a good time to evaluate your clubs, game and game improvement needs. Take stock of how your game is working and make a list of areas where your skill or Clubs may need some work.

I recommend you break it down as follows. Set up three columns on a sheet of paper; Game Areas, Skill Issues & Club Issues. Under the "Game Areas" heading, list the following; Putting, Chipping, Pitch Shots, Middle Irons, Long Irons, Hybrids, Fairway Woods & Driver.

For each list and Skills you need to work on and any golf Club problems where a club just isn't working. Start with this list to develop your improvement plan going forward.

Fitting Hybrids

The Hybrid golf club is a very important addition to almost all golfers set of clubs. There are basically two types; Hybrid Irons and Hybrid Woods. Which type is right for you is based on several consideration.

If you have trouble hitting most if not all your Irons, selected Hybrid Irons or a transitional set of Irons, moving form more traditional irons in the short Irons to more Hybrid Irons in the middle and long irons. Hybrid Irons are made the same length as the regular Iron it replaces. Because they are shorter than Hybrid Woods, they provide more control.

Hybrid Woods should be fit as you would your Fairway Woods.

Fitting the Irons - Sizing

Getting the proper length for your set of Irons is a key to consistent ball striking. There are various tables and references available that provide a good starting point. But before you make changes or buy that next set of clubs, think about doing this first.

You can get some "face labels" (on-line or at a Golf store). These are stick on labels that you place on the face of each iron and then hit 4 - 5 balls at the range. When you hit the ball it leaves an impression/mark on the label. You will see immediately if you are striking the ball on center. If not...check the length.

Fitting Loft & Swing Speed

One factor of importance to may golfers and many senior golfers is the affect of "Loft" on distance. Swingspeed is the speed in miles-per-hour through the "hitting zone" at point of contact with the ball. The higher the swingspeed the farther the ball goes.

This works for those golfers that have swingspeeds in the 100 mph and over levels. They need and can benefit by lower lofted clubs particularly in the Driver. With higher swingspeeds the energy transferred to the ball, called "ball speed", can propel the ball to roll farther when it hits the ground. At slower swingspeeds, there is not enough energy transferred to the ball, with lower lofted Drivers, to get much roll once the ball hits the ground and encounters resistence.

With slower club swing speeds, in the area of less than 90 mph, greater loft that carries the ball farther in the air before it first hits the ground, will result in greater over-all distance. Don't hesitate to test Drivers with 11, 12 or more degrees of Loft.

Chipping for Success - Fit The Club To The Shot

I watched a local Golf Club tournament over the weekend. Several players asked for some Tips on chipping. Good idea. Most players don't spend enough time (if any) working on the chip shot around the green.

The biggest issues I observed was the tendency to use a Club with too much loft and to not use even the most basic chipping techniques. The goals, for most Chips, is to get the golf ball on the green and rolling as soon as possible.

Unless you have a bunker to go over, which is more of a "pitch shot" or very close Pin ( say withing 10 feet) try using a 7 or 8 Iron. Set up like a Putt, positon your hands forward a bit toward the target and keep them ahead through out the smooth stroke.

Choose a Putter and Fit Your Tempo

A Putter is just as important and I believe more important to Fit than other clubs in your Set. Think about this...if you two-putt all 18 holes in a round (very good average) and you shoot even Par 72, 50% of your total shots have been Putts!


The putter length, Lie, Grip, Weight and Loft (yes putters have about 4 degrees of loft) all must be Fit to you. Next, you have to find a Tempo but please find a "Tempo". The best putting is a "putting stroke" not a "putting hit". The ball just gets in the way of your stroke. Watch Tiger Woods and you will get the "tempo" thing.

Choose the Right Club "Off-Set" to Fit Your Needs

Club "Off-Set" is described as the degree to which the center-line of the shaft is off-set toward or past the leading edge of the Club Head. The major swing benefit of added off-set is allowing the club head a fraction of a second more time to square up toward the target line.

If you find that you are pushing the ball to the right, fadding or slicing (right handers), More Off-Set can help. If you are pulling, drawing too much or hooking, check to make sure you don't have added Off-set.

How To Fit Wedges For Your Course

There are a lot of factors that go into fitting your Wedges to fit the course(s) you play most often. One important factor is the club head leading edge. While there are numerous "grinds" for the leading edge, think in terms of Sharp, Medium & Blunt. The Sharp leading edge is for digging into harder turf or thin-hard sand, Medium is for a wider group of conditions and Blunt would be for soft turf or fluffy sand (where you don't want to dig in).

If you are having trouble with fat shots or big divots..check to see if the leading edge is too sharp. If you are bouncing the club into the ball (thin or skulled shots) or not getting under your sand shots, your leading edge may be too Blunt.

Driver Fitting A Key To Consistency

Most have heard the saying..."Drive for show, Putt for dough." It is true that solid putting is a must and over comes a lot of other shot mistakes. That said, all year I have watched golfers I play with and my own game and I will make this statement...'If You Can't Get Off The Tee with Directional Control and reasonable distance, you will struggle throughout your round and put excessive pressure on all other phases of your game.'

On most courses, there are 4 Par Three's per 18 holes leaving 14 "Driving-holes." If you hit 10 or more Driving-hole fairways, you will consistently shoot lower scores. There are two main solutions. First,Skill improvent through practice and lessons. Second, custom Fit Drivers. With today's Driver club options and new custom fitting techniques, it is possible to narrow the bad shots and increase fairways hit in regulation.

Chipping Can Lower Your Scores

Improved chipping takes strokes off your game and custom fitted wedges makes good chipping better.

Many golfers who want to improve spend many hours practicing hitting Drivers, Full-shot Irons, Fairway Woods and Hybrids, I am amazed how few spend as much time with the short game...particularly Chipping. A good estimate is that mastering the chipping skills could reduce at least 4 - 6 shots per 18 hole round. Regardless of how good a player you are, you'll eventually find yourself faced with a little chip ... First, start by choosing the proper club for the shot at hand.


The general rule of thumb is to select a club that will get the ball onto the green rolling much like a putt. Could be a 7 -8-9-PW, etc. A little practice will tell you. The proper Club is also the right Set of Clubs, particularly in the Wedges. They must be Fit for Loft, Lie & Length to increase the consistency of each Chip or Pitch shot.

Fit Your Clubs - Trust Your Swing

Over the weekend, I watched a local club Tournament where several of the two-player teams in the play-offs were friends. Two had custom fitted clubs I had set up for them one of which was a putter. This customer struggled with consistency with the Putter. His un-fitted Putter was the wrong length, wrong Lie, wrong loft. We fit him exactly. His putting has improved.

During the second round of the tournament, during pre-game putting Green practice, he allowed that he was not putting well. He felt he was still guding the putter (a previous problem). He asked me to watch him practice. After several Putts off-line I said..."your custom fitted putter is set up exactly for you in every way right? It feels good, you like the way it rolls the Putts, right?" He agreed. So I suggested this, and it applys to all of us, "just trust your stroke!"

Find your aiming point and break, practice your stroke to get the speed, set up and trust your stroke. Release the putter through the stroke, don't look up...you have a custom fitted putter...just trust yourself. He made the play offs!

Fitting The Grip For Better Results

One of the least utilized fitting techniques involves your golf club grips. When I check clubs for custom fittin customers, I am always amazed at the differences in Grip Size unique to each golfer. Standard Grip sizes include ladies (undersized), standard, mid-size, oversize and jumbo.
But...not everyone fits into the standard.
The easiest test for how your "current grips" fit is to grip you club as if you are ready to hit, then simply take your right hand off the club (left hand for left handers) and see if the fingers of the left hand still on the grip just lightly touch the plam of that hand. If there is a gap, your grip is too big, if your fingers are pressing into your plam the grip is too small.

Tournament Play - Everyone Makes Mistakes

In a local club tournament (earlier Blog) I experienced and observed an interesting phenomenom of playing under the pressure of a tournament. Many players who make a mistake...miss hit, slice or draw into the rough, into traps or the water, three-putts, etc...get down on themselves and let it effect their game after the bad shot.


What you learn with expereince is that almost all players in the tournament will also make mistakes, it's just a matter of time. It happens in every round, we all will make mistakes.


Learn to put your bad shot or bad hole behind you. Think like this, "I can do better, stay positive and the opponent is going to make mistakes to, I just need to stay focused and be ready."

Custom Fitted Wedges - Create Confidence

I love talking about the short game and the importance of the Wedges in a golfers set. The Wedges are the scoring clubs. From 100 yards and in they set up the putter and your scoring success. They need to be cutome fit to your abilities and length, loft, Lie and weight.




When you know that you have the right Wedges for your game and your course conditions, you practice purposefully to know how far each Wedge goes with different swings (1/4, 1/2, 3/4 backswings) you can be confident. You approach each shot knowing your Wedges are set up just rihgt for you, put a good swing on the shot and trust the results. Bingo...lower scores.

Accuracy Improved By Simple Club Fitting

Accuracy with the Irons clubs is effected the most by the "Lie" of each club. The lie is how level to the ground your club is at contact. If the lie is "toe-up", the club hits the ground heel-first and can spin to the right resulting in a shot off taget to the Left (for right handers). If the lie of the irons are "heel-up" the clubs toe hits the ground first, causing the heel to swing through first and she shot right off target.



Have the "Lie" of each club checked dynamically, during the actual swing on a Lie-Board. Have each irons that is hitting the groun etiehr toe or heel first adjusted. Your accuracy and control will improve.

Fairway Woods or Hybrids - Choose One

With the growing popularity of Hybrid clubs, a number of my club fitting clients wonder which is right for them. The best gauge is your swing plane. If you have a “flatter” swing plane, Hybrids are better.. they are shorter and a bit flatter in the lie.

If your swing is more upright, the Fairway wood is generally a better choice. Have a friend stand behind you and watch your swing plane and see if the the club is below the angle of your left arm (right handed golfers) at the top of the swing, more around your body, a flat swing. If above, a more upright swing.

Got a Three-some? Here's A Fun Game

Play Nine Ball. A fun golf game when you only have three players is Nine Ball. Use full handicaps. Each Hole has 9 points to award; 5 points for low ball, 3 points for second and 1 point for third per hole. If two tie for low on a hole they each get 4 points and the high score gets 1 point.

If two tie for second, they each get -two points and low ball gets 5. At the end, tally up the points and see who owes who what. You can play for a penny a point a dime or more. You will ber surprised how close it usually is at the end

Sand Traps Got You Sand Blasted!

Many players and most higher handicappers struggle with the Sand shot around the Green. Most players know the basics…Open your stance, open your Club Face, Hit 2- 3 inches behind the Ball and follow through…works for the Pros!

When I fit a client who is struggling to get out of "Green-side Bunkers," I set them up with a 58 – 60 degree Wedge with a lot of Bounce Angle and wider sole. This way they can open the stance slightly, keep the Club square and hit just a little behind the ball….pops right out.

Fitting The Variety Of Wedges

It wasn't long ago that a set of Irons had a Pitching Wedge & Sand Wedge. Today the Wedge Club set make-up has grown significantly. Consider what is possible in your Wedges. Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge, Weak Sand Wedge, Strong Sand Wedge, Gap Wedge and Super Gap Wedge.

Fitting the right wedges depends on; skill, course conditions, course design, distance management from 100 yards in to the Green. Getting the right Fit and Wedge set for your game has never been more important.

Trouble with Thin or Skulled Shots?

In some geographic areas the course turf conditions can get hard or the sand traps thin, course or hard. You may find that you have trouble getting the Club under the ball and airborne the way you want. You may be hitting thin shots in the traps or hard ground.

When fitting someone for clubs in these conditions, I make sure thye have a shallow bounce angle (particularly in the Wedges) and a fairly traditional sole depth. I may also grind the leading edge a bit sharper. These fitting patterns allow the club to be a more effective “digger” and get under the ball in most conditions.

Hitting a Lot of Fat Shots?

Many players I custom fit, particularly those where the courses are soft or have deep thick rough, have trouble taking to big/deep divots or getting the club head stuck in the thick rough. I fit them with Irons, particularly the Wedges, with more Bounce Angle and deeper Soles.
In some cases I Grind the leading edge a bit rounder as well. This keeps the Clubs from digging into the soft ground or thick rough. The added bounce and deeper sole will resist going to deep.

Trouble Hitting Through Your Irons?

I have had some trouble the last few years getting my weight off my right side on the down swing. Result? More tooped shots, less solid hits and some chunks!

This year I have worked to set my stance up with 60% or so of my weight already on the inside of my left foot (for right handers) and my right knee tilted in a bit toward the left knee. I try to stay in the position during the back swing and keep my head behind the ball as I swing down and through…much better ball contact. Give it a try.

What's the Proper Set Up For The Pitch Shot?

What’s The Proper Set Up For The Pitch Shot

I am a total believer in the Dave Pelz school of golf. My Pitch shots from 50 yards and closer have improved a bunch. Set up first with a “Square grip”, hands facing each other and thumbs both on top of the grip. Aim the face of the club at your desired target.
Next, set up square behind your club at address. Once set, open your leading foot (left foot for right handers) about 30 – 45 degrees. Check to make sure your club head is still pointing at your target. Soften the hands (Pelz Calls this the “dead hand grip”). Turn your body –Arms – Hands – Shoulders back and through all together.

Do Your Putts Bounce a Lot with Little Roll?

Many of the golfers I Fit for putters just don't get the Ball rolling smoothly end-over-end. There are two main reasons. They play the ball too far back in their stance resulting in closing the putter down (de-lofting). The putter hits the ball down and it then pops up bouncing to the hole.

Play the ball in the middle of your stance or a ball forwared. In some cases the Putter needs more loft for a given player. Yes…a putter has about 4 degrees of loft. A local Club fitter can bend the putter slightly to add a degree of loft so that you get the ball rolling.

How To Make Those Critical Short Putts

Inside 10 feet is the putting “Red Zone” like in football, when you get inside the Red Zone you need to make a high percentage of your Putts.. Here is a process that works for many golfers. First, determine what you think the “break” might be. Pick a spot along the line to the hole that represents the break.



Next determine the stroke needed to get the ball to the hole (distance). Here I find most golfers come up short or are too tentative. Pick a spot on the back of the Cup and stroke the Putt to hit that spot. Commit to it…believe in your Read & Speed – take the putter back and stroke through – and Don’t Look!

How To Make More Putts!

When you arrive at the course and have time at the practice green...concentrate on your putts from 15 feet and closer. Determine how to stroke the ball to go 9 feet (3 full stepes), 12 feet (4 full steps) & 15 feet (5 full steps).

One technique is to see how far the putt goes when you take the Putter back just inside your back foot, then back to your Toe and then back to just outside your back foot..then adjust from there. Next practice from 3 feet. Get the feel for distance at 3 feet and Do Not Look up at all. Practice stroking the Putt and not looking from all distances but particularly the 3 footer.

100 Yards In To Win!

To reduce your scores, I can't stress enough how important it is to know how far each Wedge will go (from your Pitching Wedge on up). I mean 'how far will each Wedge go with a 3/4 swing, 1/2 swing and 1/4 swing'?


You simply have to know this! If you want to learn more, I highly recommend the book Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible by, of course David Pelz. You will thank me and you will improve your game.

How Many Wedges Should You Have?

More golfers are beginning to realize that they should work on game improvement from the Green back to the Tee. I believe the Tee shot with the Driver is one of the 3 most important clubs to master...also among the hardest. Keep proacticing with the Driver but put more emphasis on the "Short Game" from 100 yards in and consider having 3 -4 Wedges in your set. I recommend a Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge and Loft Wedge (no more that 58 degrees for handicaps above 15).

Paralysis By Analysis Hits Tiger Too!

Most golfers know the term "paralysis by analysis" used to describe the poor shot results by over-analyzing the shot you need to hit. If you watched Tiger's play on the last day of the PGA Championship...Y.E Yang caught and beat Tiger for the Championship...I believe we witnessed Tiger totally distracted and over-analyzing. Yes, the course was Windy, but even the announcers commented on how distracted Tiger was testing the Wind by tossing grass in the air almost every shot. We can all stand to be more focused on the Vision and less analytical.

Chipping: Lofted Club or Less Lofted?

When facing a chip around the green, the general rule of thumb is to use a "loft" that will get the ball on the green rolling as quickly as possible. Most golfers I see use too much loft when chipping. If you are in the fringe around the green or the first cut of rough (if it's not to high/thick) try using a 7 or 8 Iron and stroke it much like a putt. If you are a bit farther away, use a 9 Iron. Think...what club will get the ball onto the green and rolling the quickest.

The Hybrid Shot Beats Tiger

Wow. Y.E. Yang's #3 Hybrid Shot at the PGA on the last hole seals Tiger's fate and delivers the PGA Championship to Y. E. The Hybrid type club is among the fatest growing golf clubs in the market and for good reason. Easier to hit for most golfers, with a higher and straighter ball flight, the Hybrid can replace the harder to hit long irons. Fit properly, the Hybrid can really make a difference.

YOU can learn to Choose golf clubs for you too. To learn more about how to fit your clubs to come visit my site!

Golf Season Underway - what clubs to Play?

The PGA Tour is in full swing, golf is well underway for the season in the warmer climates and just around the corner in the northern realms. You are ready to pick up where you left off...or are you? Do you have the right clubs for you? Do you know how to choose the right golf clubs for your game?

Getting clubs that fit you, replacing problem clubs or finding a better club for a certain shot problem (Hybrid v. Long Iron) can get you started on the right front.

Most Golf Clubs Don't fit the Golfer

It would not be an exageration to say that the majority of golf clubs don't fit the swing charactersistcs and player specifications. Most golfers simply buy their golf clubs "off-the-rack". They give no consideration to key club specifications such as Loft, Lie, Length, Flex and grip size. Choosing the right clubs is so easy with some solid basic understanding of club fitting.

How to Choose Golf Clubs

How to Choose Golf Clubs: "Golf continues to gain in popularity. It is a game that people continue to play and enjoy for many years. Golfers commit a great deal of time and money to enjoy this very popular sport. They spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars purchasing new clubs, buying the latest technology in club design, succumbing to the sales hype and Brand promotions. There are sales on-line, catalogues, clubs on e-bay…no end to the pursuit of better golf through buying the next best club!"

Can Your Clubs Fit You like Tigers?

Masters major obstacle in way of Woods playing at SHO Golf Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "The SHO is one top-10 player away from having the most in its field since 1986 — the year Jack Nicklaus won his record 18th and final major championship. Really, about the only thing missing from the lead-in event to the Masters is the center of the golfing universe.
Where’s Tiger Woods?"

Do you think Tiger's Clubs are custom Fit for him...of course!

YOU can learn to Choose golf clubs for you too. To learn more about how to fit your clubs to come visit my site!

Welcome to Choosing Golf Clubs For You

Hey Fellow Golfers - My name is Brad Duncan and for over 15 years I have been a custom club maker, fitting friends, family and referrals with exactly the right Golf Clubs...Fit for their game.

One of the most costly lessons I have learned over a life time of playing golf and custom fitting golf clubs for myself and other people is the total frustration of spending hard earned money on the latest and greatest golf technology and Brand Hype about clubs and sets of clubs that just don't help improve your game! Nothing, Nada...new clubs...no game improvement.

The core problem is Not Understanding the Key Factors needed to match You & Your Needs (skills, abilities, shot improvement needs, course conditions, etc.) to exactly determine which golf club or set of golf clubs to choose that FIT YOU BEST. If your Golf Clubs are properly set up to Fit You, Your Game and Your Needs...it will result in better buying decisions, leading to lower scores, more fun and much less Frustration.

And the Great News, it is easy to learn to Choose golf clubs that Fit, fun to apply what you learn and best of all...YOU can do it!

To learn more about How To Choose Golf Clubs for you, come visit my site