How to Find a Clubfitter

All club fittings are not created equal.

Nick Paez, GolfTEC Cleveland & Canton, Golf Digest Top 100 PGA Club Fitters, Northern Ohio PGA Teacher of the Year

Clubfitting is an extremely important part of anyone’s golf improvement. If done correctly in can lead to more fun and success on the course. If done incorrectly the frustration can continue to grow and in the worst cases lead people to leave the game. So what do you look for in a clubfitter and how do you find one?

One challenge that we face with our students is the belief that clubfitting should be done when the swing has changed and at the end of a lesson program or that “I am not good enough to get fitted clubs.” Experience has taught me that nothing could be further from the truth. This was a theory that made sense to me as a novice assistant professional but as I developed as a golf coach I learned that the improvement process speeds up dramatically when the fitting is done on the front end of a lesson program. It makes the game and potential swing changes that much easier. In addition my players no longer have to learn a move two different ways (one with the wrong specs and another way with the correct specs).

If you are looking to get properly fit, find someone who is busy and is spending most of their time helping people play better golf. Many golf professionals spend their time merchandising or managing the tournaments or the facility where they are employed and because they are forced to wear so many different hats it becomes difficult to specialize and keep up to date with the latest trends. If they are busy helping people play better golf it means that their students are getting better. If their players are getting better chances are that they would have a profound knowledge of clubfitting and how it relates to swing technique, contact, accuracy, distance and their players overall improvement.

One resource to find a clubfitter in your area would be your local PGA section office. Each section has an executive director and they could give you a good idea of who has an excellent reputation in your area for player development. In addition Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have a list of the top clubfitters and teachers in the Country and also in the State. And lastly if you have a multiple referrals telling you about a great experience with a coach; chances are you have found the right person.

Make your short game practice count on the course

Dan Sniffin, GolfTEC Park Meadows.

Success around the greens on the course requires a few key skills. Those skills are the ability to choose the best type of shot and the ability to execute the shot correctly. For many players, the only time they work on situational shots is during a round. When playing with amateurs, I often see them choose a low-percentage type of shot, and then watch as they execute it poorly. Better players already know their best shot before they hit the links, and so can you.

 

There are two golf practice habits I recommend to address this common problem:

1) “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”

What it does: This game will help you identify your short game strengths and simplify your decision making on the course while reducing the chance for posting a big score.

How to Play: Place your ball off the green in a position that allows for multiple approach options. An example would be a shot from off the green with fairway grass or fringe between you and the flag. You could elect to hit a high shot that lands by the flag and stops, a lower shot that lands on the green and runs, or even run the ball along the ground with a putter or hybrid.  Think about what your first choice would be on the course in that situation. Hit 10 balls each with at least 4 different clubs that you could use and score the results as follows:
Scoring:

3 points –Holed
2 points – Within a club-length of the hole
1 point – Within a flag-stick length from the hole
-2 points – missing the green

After tallying the results of each club, you will begin to see if your first choice on the course is indeed the best, or if you are costing yourself shots by choosing the wrong type of shot. In addition, this game also forces you to practice with a variety of clubs and helps you add some creativity to your short game.

2) “Rule 13”

What is does:  If you go to a short game area and watch the players practicing, you will likely observe a common habit: Everybody practices from the short grass on a level lie. Consider your own short game practice; what percentage of the time do you practice from short grass vs. the rough? Now think about your last round or two, think about the greens you missed and the kinds of shots you faced? How many short game shots were from the short grass? How many were from the rough? This can vary based on where you play, but most courses in the U.S. have greens surrounded primarily by rough.

How to Play: Take 10 golf balls and toss them in the air to an area within 10-20 yards of the green. Play each ball as it lies and try to get up and down. Be sure to putt everything out!
Scoring:

3 points –Hole your approach
2 points – Up and down in 2 strokes
1 point – Up and down in 3 strokes
-1 point – 4+ strokes

20+ points	You’re at a touring pro level
13- 20 points	You can compete for the club championship
7-12 points	Good for a bogey golfer
<7 points	You’re wasting too many strokes!

Add a bit of fun to your next visit to the range, but make sure that it still points towards improved play!