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