CLUB-FITTING SPECIAL THE ULTIMATE CUSTOM FITTING In search of the perfect set, Kit Alexander and Nick Wright visited world-renowned club fitter Derek Murray to discover what it takes to find the best clubs for your game.

proper custom fitting of new clubs is the one thing that can make you a better golfer overnight and in the long term – Ano matter your level of ability. Of course, improving technique helps lower scores, but it’s a long-term project. A custom-fit yields instant improvement, identifying the best equipment for you from the varied options. Take drivers for example. Let’s say Club A is a modern low-spinning driver and Club B is a more forgiving, higher-spinning model. A tour pro is likely to love A and hate B, while a mid to high-handicapper is likely to love B and hate A. It doesn’t mean one is ‘better’ than the other. Both are doing exactly what they are designed to. Which club is best for you will depend on how you swing and what you need from a club to enhance that and move your launch conditions and ball flight closer to their optimum. It’s that way through the bag. Custom fitting works for any standard of golfer. You might not think you swing consistently enough to benefit from it, but you do. But not all custom fittings are created equal. Some don’t have the facilities, options and expertise, while others are sales ploys in disguise. So you know what a proper custom fitting should include, we undertook the process with leading clubmaker Derek Murray at Fore in Ireland. In doing so, we uncovered the 11 golden rules for the perfect fitting.

ABOUT DEREK Derek is a former World Clubfitter of the Year and the owner of Fore Golf – a bespoke custom fitting and custom build company based at Killeen Castle on the outskirts of Dublin.

60 June 2018 June 2018 Golf World 61 Club-fitting guide CASE STUDY NICK WRIGHT “A change of 8 cured my pull shot” Modern technology can reduce the effects of a damaging swing flaw.

Derek says: Nick says: There are good reasons “I started the PLAYER PROFILE “I’ve always for starting your fitting session talking Swing speed: Medium been a golfer with your irons. to Nick about Swing path: Out-to-in who has tried his shot-shape tendencies Ball flight: Low to improve by making swing as well as his preferences Bad shot: Pull left changes rather than using for head design and top- modern club technology to compensate for swing flaws. line. I know that he is very THE FITTING GOAL visual in his preferences. But it quickly became Optimise performance Nick turns the club over apparent during this fitting through the bag, look quickly through impact – that equipment could help to use technology to which means unless he reduce some of my more lessen the effects of times it perfectly, he’s damaging tendencies. some damaging swing pulling the ball left. I wanted “I wasn’t really looking idiosyncrasies a solution that pulled a little for extra distance from this speed from the hit so that fitting, more peace of mind he didn’t have to “money” it RECOMMENDED that I had optimised every every time to get the CLUBS club in the bag. At 50 years old, I’m conscious of the distance he wants. Driver: Callaway Rogue “I was also trying to 10.5°, N+1 hosel setting, fact that, while I can still enhance speed retention Mitsubishi Diamana get it out there, my swing across the face. I thought Blue Board 60g speed and power are only that if I could manage the stiff shaft. going one way. “Derek recommended If your clubs aren’t the The driver that produces way the clubhead moves Fairway woods: spec you were fitted for, your longest shot isn’t through impact - ie. not the TaylorMade P790 or the they must be tweaked. always the one for you. TaylorMade M4 3HL & wanting to rotate too 5HL, Diamana M3 irons and I agreed. I quickly – and keep the Blue Board 60g shaft. need the ball speed retention because play speed consistent across the 4 : Mizuno JPX, face to reduce the effects of is the weakest part of my fitting should last at least an hour 22°, 70g Fujikura GOLDEN RULE #1 how tweaking specs will affect GOLDEN RULE #4 mishits – we would see an hybrid stiff shaft. game. When we switched (depending on how many clubs you’re into the recommended Hit outdoors with premium balls performance but it’s better to actually Measure and hit your own clubs improvement. In other Irons: TaylorMade M3 looking for) so you shouldn’t feel any words, I was looking to use shaft, I instantly noticed my An up-to-date launch monitor and an try it and see for yourself. first for comparison or P790. True Temper time pressures. speed technology to Dynamic Gold SL S300 slight pull straightened out. outdoor hitting area enables the fitter to The fitter should measure the loft and lie “I liked the Rogue driver GOLDEN RULE #3 manage ball speed across shafts. collect all the data and see the complete of your current clubs. What is stamped the face instead of just recommendation, too. It’s a GOLDEN RULE #6 Wedges: Cleveland ball flight. Use proper golf balls or, at the Have a proper, quality on them or listed in the official spec is out-and-out distance on RTX3 mid-bounce. really stable clubhead, very least, premium range balls to ensure conversation with your fitter not always accurate because there are It’s wise to start with the irons pure shots. Recommend a custom which helps keep my hands that data and ball flights aren’t skewed. Communication is a vital part of a good certain manufacturing tolerances when Murray likes to start a full bag fitting “Nick also tends to spin back-edge heel grind to out of the shot, but it also out of the shot a little early suit playing style. gave me extra distance over Most launch monitors are set up in range fitting. The more information the fitter clubs are built which can alter over time. with the irons because it eases you into in his downswing with a my previous driver. I was bays so you’ll likely be hitting off a mat has about you and your game, You should also hit shots and the session and how you hit these clubs resulting low thin, so I particularly interested also but the opportunity to go outside and hit the better positioned he is to gather some data with your and what you get fitted into gives the recommended a 1/2-inch PERFORMANCE when Derek recommended off the grass is very helpful since how a lead you in the right current clubs because it’s fitter a lot of information about your longer than standard shaft GAINS that I swap out my trusty reacts with the turf through direction and help you DEREKSAYS... impossible to judge swing tendencies and personal to help him stay a little taller ● Enhanced ball speed 3-hybrid in favour of a through the strike. In terms 5-. I have kept a impact has a significant impact on make the best “The fitting process is only as where you’re going if preferences. It also forms the main body and distance in irons. of the grip, I recommended ● 4-hybrid but Derek believes good as the information you Better distance performance. The ability to take a decisions. It’s always a you don’t have a of your set and allows the other clubs to a multi compound plus 4, the 5-wood will flight the put into it. Come prepared and coverage in hybrids. launch monitor with you is a big bonus. bit of a red flag if the starting point. be fitted around them. There are more with an extra wrap under ● ball better than the 3-hybrid ready to have a two-way dialogue, More personalised fitter doesn’t ask you options in irons than any other category the grip. Again, just to slow and give me more stopping having thought about your grinds. GOLDEN RULE #2 GOLDEN RULE #5 the hands down a heartbeat power on the greens.” lots of questions. The current equipment and what but what you like and works for you – in through impact to save the Access all the clubs on the market areas you should cover you want to achieve by Relax and don’t terms of performance, looks and feel – shot from missing left. It’s surprisingly difficult to find a club are ability, the clubs you changing it.” change your will help the fitter zero in more quickly Enhanced distance and tight dispersion fitter that gives you the chance to hit currently use, strengths technique on the clubs he knows will improve your “As for the shaft, we made the Rogue driver an ideal choice. needed something stable, every available club since many are and weaknesses, ball flight Try to be relaxed and swing game in other categories, too. Finding exactly as you would on the low on torque and fairly firm affiliated to a single brand or have the tendencies, the type of courses the right irons is about understanding in the tip. In theory, this capacity to offer only two or three and conditions you usually play in, how course. A club fitting can be stressful for what will help you score better. That combination works against manufacturers. A brand agnostic fitter you like clubs to look and feel, your some, while others will want to swing could be increased distance, forgiveness, the higher ball flight that enables you to try everything and general goals and what you’re looking to out of their boots to impress the fitter. launch, feel, workability – or various Nick wanted to see, which guarantee you find the best clubs for you. achieve from the fitting and your new The more closely the swings and shots combinations of all those factors. meant we needed a specific A wide selection of shafts and set-up clubs. There should be good back-and- you produce in the fitting are to your Ultimately, you want to identify the type of head – one that genuine performance, the more accurate created the ball speed specs that you can actually try will also forth dialogue throughout the entire irons that help you to hit the ball through the face technology help you gather more accurate process and you should never be afraid to your fitting will be. Remember, the fitter accurately to a specific target as rather than manipulated information. A good fitter can predict ask your fitter anything. is there to help, not judge you. A good consistently as possible. launch conditions.”

62 Golf World June 2018 June 2018 Golf World 63 Club-fitting guide CASE STUDY KIT ALEXANDER “I gained 35 yards HANDICAP 7 switching driver” Without sacrificing accuracy, Kit made significant distance gains.

Derek says: Kit says: “Kit’s swing PLAYER PROFILE “The fitting was tendency is to Swing speed: Fast comprehensive get a little bit Swing path: Out-to-in and enjoyable. ahead of the shot and a Ball flight: Medium low It was good to get some touch late into impact. His Bad shot: Push right data with my current clubs natural swing path is a little at the start, so we knew out-to-in, so the miss is THE FITTING GOAL what we had to improve. nearly always to the right. The dialogue was constant Kit is already a In direct contrast to Nick’s throughout, which helped consistent player but fitting (see page 55) we me to feel at ease and he wanted to optimise tried to bring in a certain convey exactly what I was his performance amount of offset in the iron looking for and feeling through the bag to see head to allow the clubhead through the entire process. if there were any to release a little with a Some of the questions achievable gains. more flexible tip (the Derek fired at me really got Nippon 950Gh shaft has a me thinking about each club softer tip) to help eliminate RECOMMENDED and my performance. the bad shot. CLUBS “We started with the “But we needed a balance. Driver: Callaway Rogue irons and I must have hit Kit doesn’t like the club Sub Zero, 9°, Tensei eight or 10 different models to feel too heavy and he 50g shaft (stiff). before narrowing it down to doesn’t like the look of Fairway wood: a couple. The TaylorMade A wide variety of brands chunkier irons. We want to M3 were my choice because is crucial to getting the Callaway Big Bertha right gear for you. bring the clubs halfway to Fusion, 15°, Lightweight they produced the highest the golfer, so you’re not graphite shaft (stiff). flight with a good amount entirely fixing the problem, Hybrid: Mizuno CLK, of forgiveness, and I love but it becomes less of one. 19°, 60g graphite shaft the look and feel. We also went for heads/ (stiff). “I’ve always favoured the GOLDEN RULE #7 GOLDEN RULE #8 you require. When it comes to your what you were fitted for and ordered faces designed for speed Vokey wedge shape and we three-wood, whether you need it as a when they arrive. Unfortunately, this isn’t Irons: TaylorMade M3, Wedges should give you solutions Move from long irons into hybrids and that also helped to 4-PW, 1° upright, went with quite a strong driver substitute off the , a club you’re always the case, and there’s no point launch the ball a bit higher gap wedge because I hit my not more questions Nippon 950Gh shaft when your distance gap drops more likely to hit off the fairway or both going through a custom-fitting session if since Kit’s natural ball-flight pretty far. It The distance you hit your pitching There are big questions regarding when (stiff). will influence which model is right for you don’t receive the clubs you need at is a touch on the low side. Wedges: Vokey SM7, was amazing how much the wedge is the starting point for getting you move into bridging clubs between you. More lofted fairway woods can also the end of it. If they aren’t, the fitter The higher ball flight meant 50° loft/12° bounce/F bounce and grind options your wedge gapping right. You need to we could bring the 4-iron affected my performance. your irons and the driver and what form help golfers struggling to launch hybrids. should tweak them to your specs or send grind, 54° loft/8° evenly cover the yardages down to about back into his set so he only bounce/M grind, 58° I’m relatively steep into the they should take. Generally speaking, them back to the manufacturer to be 80 yards with three wedges, four if your launch height and spin will increase and needed a 3-hybrid. loft/8° bounce/M grind, ball and the M grind worked adjusted for no extra charge. A club fitter “Kit’s current driver had a really well for me in the PW is strong and hits the ball a long GOLDEN RULE #9 S200 wedge shaft. workability and consistency will decrease that also builds the clubs will make this little too much spin so while sand and lob wedges. way. Choose the lofts based on the carry Find the optimum distance and as you go from long iron to hybrid to much easier, but they are increasingly rare it was straight and he hit a “I tried four different distances you need to hit for even accuracy for driver fairway woods of the equivalent loft. these days. lot of fairways, it lacked PERFORMANCE hybrids with the head gapping – not just evenly spacing The decision boils down to The driver that produces your longest distance. When we put him GAINS profile that I like. The the lofts. Your bounce and performance and what you shot isn’t necessarily the one for you. The into a lower-spinning head, ● 35-yard distance numbers were very close grind options will be want from these clubs. driver that has the longest average GOLDEN RULE #11 he jumped 35 yards without increase with driver. between the TaylorMade M4 determined by how you distance, improves your bad shot and You have to see real improvements sacrificing any significant ● Better wedge grinds and the Mizuno CLK but I Firstly, you need to move loss of accuracy. We could for playing style. opted for the latter because deliver the clubhead to DEREK SAYS... out of long irons at the enables you to be accurate enough to hit The whole point of getting fitted is to “It’s important to remember only do that because he hits ● Higher ball flight/ the feel was closer to what the ball, the types of point where the most fairways will help you score the help you hit better shots and improve up on the ball. Regardless, more distance on irons. I’m familiar with. that a clubfitting session isn’t just best. Make sure you judge performance courses you play and about distance. While it’s great to distance gaps drop. your scores. If this isn’t happening or the it’s a huge distance gain.” “The driver was a shots you need to hit. hit the ball further, you don’t want For example, if you on the average of all your shots rather results aren’t matching what you surprise. I’ve favoured more You want your wedges ball speed gains at the expense have 10-yard distance than your best shot with each club. experienced in the fitting and expected forgiving and higher- to help you hit the of a lack of accuracy or gaps through the set Length is more important than accuracy, from the finished clubs then take them spinning models the last few years but the Callaway shots you need, whether consistency. Think about and your 4-iron only but the latter is still a key factor. Murray back to the fitter. A good customer your whole game.” Rogue Sub Zero – a driver I that’s a stable and more carries five yards further likes to do the driver last in a full fitting service will allow you to check what you would never have forgiving gap wedge for full than your 5-iron then you as it enables him to see where the swing have and make changes if it isn’t working. considered I’d have success shots, a that makes should replace the 4-iron with tends to break down when you’re a bit This is all part of what should become a with – gave me an extra 35 bunker play as easy as possible or a a hybrid because the extra launch and more tired – and find the best solution. healthy ongoing relationship with your yards off the tee and was lofted wedge you can use for flop shots. spin will increase the carry distance. If club fitter. This ensures you get the best remarkably straight and It is especially important to hit from a GOLDEN RULE #10 clubs for you from someone you trust forgiving. A game-changer. you’re a strong hitter with good gapping “The Callaway Fusion variety of grass and bunker lies when right up to 3-iron then it’s more about Get the specs you need and guarantees repeat business for the Kit switched to the sleek 3-wood is a club I already you’re being fitted for wedges in order to Your fitter should check the fitter so it’s a win-win relationship for but user-friendly the shape you like behind the ball and TaylorMade M3 irons. had in the bag and there get a true and varied representation. the trajectory and level of workability specifications of each club are exactly everyone involved. was no reason to change.”

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