gmhTODAY 17 gmhToday Nov Dec 2017 | Page 98

it’s your SWING BY DON DELORENZO Invest in the right set of clubs… then take care of them? J WESTERN GOLF If your grip is too fat for your hands, it will prevent you from ust like everything else in today’s day and age, a set of making the proper motion through impact and thus cut down golf clubs is no cheap purchase. That is why it is very on the distance you hit the ball. If your grip is too thin then important to purchase the correct clubs for your swing you will get very “fl ippy” with your hands and once again it and then protect your investment once they’re yours. will be diffi cult to control the ball. Unlike purchasing a pair of shoes where as long as it’s a Once you have all the information from a club-fi tting size 10 it will fi t you. A set of golf clubs has a few variables session, you will have a blueprint for the set of clubs you to it. That’s why if you’re going to invest a few hundred to need. Your professional will let you know in the form of a a couple thousand dollars in your “perfect” set of clubs let’s “recipe” what is right for you. make sure they fi t you. Invest in a club-fi tting session. This It may look something like this: will insure that you know the type of shaft, the shaft fl ex, the ith the great weather and the long days of summer, it’s time to plan that golf getaway length of the club and arrival the lie of the club golf match your swing Shaft Length + ½” speed, height with and posture. I can fi t two people who are both friends, family, or your golfi ng spouse. We are very Material lucky to live close enough to some of the Shaft Graphite 5’10“ and weigh 190 lbs they can have totally spending different all day Shaft greatest golf and destinations without on a Flex plane or breaking the bank just getting there. Stiff needs when it pertains to their clubs. Lie Angle + 2 degrees Swing speed is the fi rst item. How hard you swing directly Grip size + 1/32” infl uences what shaft fl ex you need. The fl ex of the shaft needs to fi t the speed of your swing. A hard swinger needs a Remember that, in general, clubs that are fi t to your stiffer shaft than a soft swinger. If the shaft in you club is too specifi cations DO NOT COST MORE than stock clubs off the stiff for your swing speed, it won’t fl ex enough to help give rack. So get what fi ts you. your swing a “kick” at impact to aid in hitting the ball higher Once you have your clubs let’s take good care of them. and farther. If your shaft is too fl exible for your swing, it will You don’t buy a new car and never wash it do you? So be too hard to control and hitting the ball straight will be next make sure the club heads are kept free of dirt, sand and to impossible. debris that could mar the face and be detrimental to the Club length and lie angle are the next things to look hitting surface. at. Though your height is the main determining factor, you Keep your grips clean and tacky. Your hands are natu- can have two people the exact same height need clubs of rally oily so constant use will transfer these oils to the grip different length and lie angle. The reason is because the and they will become slippery. A soft brush and some mild length of your arms determines how long a club you need. abrasive will take care of it. After time, you will need to Longer arms and your hands are closer to the ground and change grips if they get worn or hard. Any professional therefore a shorter shaft will work. Shorter arms and the can do this for you. opposite is true. Keep an eye out for any rust spots on your shaft if it is The lie angle is a little-known important component that steel. This means you have a kink and it could be a weak if you don’t have it correct, it will be tough to hit the ball at spot. If you have graphite, look for any splintering that will your target. The lie angle is the angle between your shaft and weaken the shaft and possibly cause it to break. the bottom of your club. A taller or short-armed person needs If your game changes over time, for example, your swing an “upright” angle where a shorter or long-armed person speed increases or decreases, or for a young player you needs a “fl atter” angle. What happens if you’re playing grow taller. Your shafts can be changed to accommodate with a club that has a lie angle that is incorrect? If the club this change. A new grip can be installed very easily. Often is too upright, the toe will stick up in the air and you will pull times as a person gets older and the hands become arthritic, balls to the left of your target regularly. Why, because that is a larger softer grip makes it easier grip the club. where the clubface is now aimed. If the club is too fl at, your So go out and treat yourself to a new set of clubs…..you toe will dig in the ground and you will miss yourshot to the deserve it. Just don’t neglect the upkeep after the purchase. right because that’s where the clubface is aimed. Remember, if you can’t fi gure out your golf swing woes on Lastly let’s look at grip size. The size of your hand will your own, call your local golf pro. They will be ready, willing determine if you need a smaller or larger than average grip. and able to get you on the path to high-fl ying straight shots. GETAWAYS W 98 GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 gmhtoday.com