Don Delorenzo
Don is the PGA GM of Gilroy Municipal Golf Course and Gavilan Golf Course . He is the 2014 Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and a PGA of America ’ s Bill Stausbaugh award recipient for excellence in education . Contact Don and book your tee time : 408.848.0490 or at gilroygolf . com
It ' s Your
SWING
Invest in the Right Set of Clubs , Then Take Care of Them !
These days , a set of golf clubs is no cheap purchase . That ’ s why it ’ s important to purchase the correct clubs for your swing and then protect your investment once they ’ re yours .
Unlike purchasing a pair of shoes , where you only have to worry about them fitting your feet , a set of golf clubs has a few variables to consider . If you ’ re going to invest several hundred to a couple thousand dollars into your “ perfect ” set of clubs , make sure they fit you . Invest in a club fitting session . This will ensure that the type of shaft , the shaft flex , the length of the club and the lie of the club matches your swing speed , height , and posture . I can easily fit two people who are both 5 ’ 10 ” and weigh 200 lbs with totally different clubs , based on their needs .
Swing speed is the first item you need to consider . How hard you swing directly influences what shaft flex you need . The flex of the shaft needs to fit the speed of your swing . A hard swinger needs a stiffer shaft than a soft swinger . If the shaft in your club is too stiff for your swing speed , it won ’ t flex enough to help give your swing a “ kick ” at impact to aid in hitting the ball higher and farther . If your shaft is too flexible for your swing , it will be too hard to control , making it next to impossible to hit the ball straight . I recently had a customer who got a “ great deal ” on a used set of clubs at a garage sale and spent $ 150 on a full set of irons . Sounds like a great deal until I told him that the shaft was extra stiff , similar to the degree of stiffness that pro players like Tiger Woods or Bryson DeChambeau use . These clubs hurt his game .
Club length and lie angle are the next things to look at . Though your height is the main determining factor , two people the exact same height may need clubs of different lengths and lie angles ; the length of your arms determines how long a club you need . With longer arms , your hands are closer to the ground , making a shorter shaft the right choice . For shorter arms the opposite is true .
Finally , let ’ s look at grip size . The size of your hand will determine if you need a smaller or larger than average grip . If your grip is too fat for your hands , it will prevent you from making the proper motion through impact and thus cut down on the distance you hit the ball . If your grip is too thin , you ’ ll get very “ flippy ,” and once again it will be difficult to control the ball .
Once you have all the information from a club fitting session , you will have a blueprint for the set of clubs you need . Your professional will let you know in the form of a “ recipe ” what is right for you . It may look something like this :
• Shaft Length : + ½ ”
• Shaft Material : Graphite
• Shaft Flex : Stiff
• Lie Angle : + 2 degrees
• Grip size : + 1 / 32 ”
Remember that in general , clubs that are fit to your specifications don ’ t cost any more in comparison to stock clubs off the rack . So get what fits you .
Once you have your clubs , take good care of them . You don ’ t buy a new car and never wash it do you ? Make sure to keep the club heads free of dirt , sand , and debris that could mar the face and be detrimental to the hitting surface .
Keep your grips clean and tacky . Your hands are naturally oily so frequent use will transfer these oils to the grip and they will become slippery . A soft brush and some mild abrasive will take care of it . Eventually , you will need to change grips , as they will become worn or hard . Any professional can do this for you . Keep an eye out for any rust spots on your shaft if they are steel . This means you have a kink and it could be a weak spot . If you have graphite , look for any splintering that will weaken the shaft and possibly cause it to break .
Correct lie angle is a little known component that can make or break your game . The lie angle is the one between your shaft and the bottom of your club . A taller or shorter-armed person needs an “ upright ” angle , where a shorter- or longer-armed person needs a flatter angle . What happens if you ’ re playing with a club with an incorrect lie angle ? If the club is too upright , the tow will stick up in the air and you will pull balls to the left of your target regularly , since that is where the clubface is now aimed . If the club is too flat , your toe will dig into the ground and you will miss the shot to the right because that ’ s where the clubface is aimed . Either scenario will make it impossible to hit the ball at your target .
Your game will change over time ; your swing speed will increase or decrease , or a young player grows taller , etc . Your shafts can be modified to accommodate these and other changes . For example , a new grip can be installed very easily to accommodate older golfers if their hands become arthritic . In this case , a larger softer grip can make it easier to grip the club .
So go out and treat yourself to a new set of clubs or put it on your upcoming Christmas list – you deserve it . Just make sure to get them properly fitted , and don ’ t neglect the upkeep after the purchase . Happy golfing !
66 FALL 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com