Ask the Pro

QUESTION from Mike Lautenbach of Jacksonport:  I’m in the market for new clubs. How important is custom fitting? What should I be looking for when purchasing new clubs?

ANSWER from Jason Daubner, Head Golf Professional at Peninsula:

Buying equipment can be a daunting process. There are a lot of different equipment brands available and choices to make. In order to make sure you make a wise investment, one should go and get fitted before making the purchase. Your local PGA Golf Professional or a Certified Club Fitter will be able to help you. It is very important to get clubs that fit your swing. Golf clubs vary in weight, length, grip size, stiffness of shaft, and clubhead lie angle, to mention a few.

Not everyone swings the golf club the same way. Golfers are different heights and have different hand sizes. Some golfers swing the club faster than others and are of different strengths. The goal of club fitting is to put the right equipment in the hands of golfers, allowing them to maximize their true potential. By fitting equipment properly, a fitter is also trying to reduce the number of off-center hits of the golf ball on the clubface.

Another suggestion before making a purchase is to go to a range or golf course that has demo equipment for the golfer to try. There is no better way to buy equipment than to see improvement while playing or practicing on the range. The proof is in the pudding. If the golfer is a fairly consistent striker of the ball and is fit with the proper club, more consistent shot making is in the near future.

Most PGA Professionals or club fitters will charge a fitting fee or apply the fitting to a lesson or club purchase if made. In today’s market, it is not unheard of to pay $500 to $2,000 for a full set of clubs depending on the set make up. All the more reason to make sure the golfer is fit properly, hopefully producing better shots and a better overall golfing experience.

Do you have a good golf question that you would like one of our local golf professionals to answer? Perhaps you have a question about your swing, or the rules, or you need an answer for that annoying slice of yours. Just send it in to [email protected], and we will see if they have an answer for you.