Customising Golf Clubs

Sionnachster

I am looking for guidance regarding the need for shaft changes and grip changes with your clubs. There are some serious golfers in here and it seems to me the lower the handicap of the person, the more they have done to have clubs altered to suit or even purchased custom fit from the start. Obviously, there's something in it and giving yourself the best chance for clean strikes is important.

I spent a fair whack on Titleist 690MBs, Vokey oil can wedges and Taylor Made R7 Woods within the last 2-3 years so I don't intend on dumping them for the sake of custom fit options, so what can I do now to help raise my game looking only at custom club advancements? I am pretty sure the driver shaft isn't right for me and should have considered that more closely before purchasing but it's done now. I also used a similar iron on the range on Saturday with fantastic grips (B&W pattern) and slightly thicker wrap. I was intrigued...

So anyway, can anyone tell me if and where I could look into getting new grips and possibly get a swing speed analysed for a suitable driver shaft? I had a lesson recently also and the pro reckoned I could lose 1-2 inches off my putter so can i get all this done in one location?

All thoughts welcome except those saying I was stupid for buying an expensive club with a stiff shaft and practice is required - I'm aware already!! :mad:

Thanks...

ShriekingSheet

There's two places I know of with good reputations for what you're looking for. Fore Golf in Naas and the guy in Leppardstown Golf Centre (name escapes me) are two that seem to generate good reports from people who have been.

The right size grips and right flex of shaft are good things to have, but from reading your post, I'd be wary of doing too much with the clubs you already have. Mainly because you probably don't need to.

The best question you can ask yourself in this whole area is why?

Why do I have all these custom specs on my clubs?

Custom length? - yes - why? - Because I'm 6ft 4.

Custom lie? - yes - why? - Because i am tall but still have an orthodox set-up

Specific flex shaft? - yes - why? - because I can control 6.0 better than 5.5 without losing yards

Custom grips - yes - why? - because my hands are big and I like them

Tour Blades? - no - why? - because I'm not a tour pro


You might notice that pretty much none of these reasons are h'cap related. Pretty much none of them are in my control either. My point is, if you can't really explain why you need a custom fit, it's not worth it.

Secondly, if you do find you need a custom fit (other than grips), in my (unfortunately vast) experience of tinkering with clubs - it's ALWAYS worth the extra few quid to just buy the exact spec from the manufacturer rather than reshafting or reworking. While some adjustments work fine, I've seen way too many that just render good clubs inexplicably awkward.

My advice, fire away with new grips if you like thicker ones. Sell or trade in your current driver and buy something with the shaft you want already in it - IMO - reshafting is a very false economy. And if a pro you trust says get a shorter putter, provided your willing to accept that it will feel a very different weight, go ahead and cut your current putter down and get a grip you like.

Sionnachster

ShriekingSheet - thanks for that, I was banking on you replying as you normally speak sense. I agree about the overcomplication totally.

The main reason I'm asking is that since I stopped playing regularly 7-8 years back, there have been massive changes in spec and custom fitting. I'm just wondering if I am missing out on an obvious option to address something as people don't always play with the right kit. When the pro told me I was using a poorly sized putter for my stance I was shocked and it got me thinking about what else are a hindrance rather than a help. He also pointed out I jumped from PW to 56 degree and 60 degree wedge and feels I may have too much of a gap there. Especially as none of the wedges offer 10 degrees of bounce for bunker play. Little things like that are gold nuggets of info I've missed out on since I played regularly....

I'm very happy with the clubs I have and have never had an issue with blades, I much prefer the way they add control. The shafts are true temper as everything normally is but I'm not suggesting I change them either. I'm trying to get a picture of just how many people are making alterations that help their game. My goal is to get down to a low handicap and for now keep practicing until I can play off 9 again. I'm looking to have all angles covered by then!!

ShriekingSheet

Sionnachster wrote: »

The main reason I'm asking is that since I stopped playing regularly 7-8 years back, there have been massive changes in spec and custom fitting.

As per those who stand to make $$$ out of such massive developments? Roughly speaking, if you're not very short or very tall, 8 years ago you would have been advised to use standard clubs with either R400s or S300s. Today, your spec would be absolutely no different.

Sionnachster wrote: »

He also pointed out I jumped from PW to 56 degree and 60 degree wedge and feels I may have too much of a gap there. Especially as none of the wedges offer 10 degrees of bounce for bunker play. Little things like that are gold nuggets of info I've missed out on since I played regularly....

This is a change in fashion rather than an advance in the last few years. Shock horror, it was possible to make a 52 degree wedge 20 years ago. The reality is, if you want to avois such a 'jump' in your short clubs, you have to accept a big jump from 3 wood to 3 iron (40 yards?) or whatever combo you go with in that end of the bag.
For me, from a full pitching wedge and in, golf is all about punching, choking down, 3/4 swinging, or maxing the odd one - there are very, very few 'stock' shots. By adding a gap wedge ask why?. Reason - to increase the number of stock shots, eg: from 105 yards, instead of taking a little off your PW or maxing your SW, you have a GW to swing nicely. Personally, I like wedge play and the skill of getting the distance right. And the truth is, when you come up with 100 yards and your SW goes 95 and your GW goes 105 you'll need that skill anyway so unless you're gonne play with 8 wedges [insert link to the inevitable crazy japanese tour pro who does so] you might as well learn the damn skill!
I never did like 56 anyway so I use a 54 and a 60.

Sionnachster wrote: »

I'm very happy with the clubs I have and have never had an issue with blades, I much prefer the way they add control.

My goal is to get down to a low handicap and for now keep practicing until I can play off 9 again. I'm looking to have all angles covered by then!!

This is actually one development that has improved in the area of equipment. Let's generalise all irons into two categories for argument sake. Blades and Hacker clubs... not to put too fine a point on it.

8 years ago, when you last played a lot, I remember exactly how it was because I was working in a big golf shop as an after school thing. Indeed, the hacker clubs were truely for complete hackers pleased with making any kind of ball/club contact. And yes, anyone playing golf more than once a week had Mizuno or similar blades/small cavity backs.

This is no longer the case! Hacker clubs have come a long, long way. There are still some models designed to "get da ball in da air" but many are now less off-set, able to cut through rough, more workable with a penetrating flight and don't threaten low flying aircrafts.

When you take this and put it together with the variety of off centre hits that with the hacker club, still end up on or about the green, and with the blade, end up half way to the target, there really is a clear advantage and the amount of guys using blades (much fewer) reflects this. I know you like your MBs but when it comes to change-time, and you want to make a change that has a tangible effect on your score, think about it.


Anyway, on the whole isse, I have two beneficial elements to my POV. 1) I worked in a golf shop just as the new drivers and technology craze came in. 2) My degree and job is in marketing and I have watched with interest as manufacturers have created all sorts of new revenue streams that weren't there before, IMO, 80% money making, 20% can actually improve your game. (a higher percentage is more relevent to tour pros IMO but that's not the point)

You could spend a term in business college going through the development of such a huge global industry where the ball that lasts longer, flies further and costs half the price, is out-sold by a more expensive ball that lasts 9 holes, or in many cases, one bunker shot. And then the same company come up with a club that saves you the trouble of waiting for a bunker - spin milled wedges - garunteed to chew up from any lie

All this in a game where about 95% of the purchasers would actually be better off with the cheaper ball. Now that's what I call marketing!!

Yeah, I use both of these products but I do reckon I scrape into the 5% that get good benefit from them... but either way, a few quid on pro-vs is nothing when you're on the big marketing bucks I'm on

Gabbo57

if your worried about your shafts, grips then get them checked out by a fitter, no harm in it. It's nice to have that sort of info at hand.

PhilipMarlowe

You don't have to be 'special' to require custom fitting though... I am 5'11" and 12 stone weight and needed my clubs lie angles flattened by up to 6 degrees.... maybe it's the long baboon arms or something
In my case I was seeing everything as a draw due to the lie angle being too upright for me... my divots weren't flat and the ball flight was off so this was an indicator.

My irons were forged titleist so were simple to bend to suit me. Same thing with the vokey wedges. Got them done in Fore golf.

Sionnachster

SS - Many thanks, you speak sense and I trust your views as you actually have background in it. A lot of it is overkill and I'll bear that in mind when receiving the sales pitch..

Licksy - I fancy trying that or even simply enquiring with Foregolf. How would I go about that - where are they based? We've similar irons so that's good to know that any necessary changes could be made...

Gabbo - That's what I mean, I'd love to know if a fitter was telling me my angles were way off...

This may cost money... Who wants to contribute...

Sionnachster

Licksy wrote: »

You don't have to be 'special' to require custom fitting though... I am 5'11" and 12 stone weight and needed my clubs lie angles flattened by up to 6 degrees.... maybe it's the long baboon arms or something
In my case I was seeing everything as a draw due to the lie angle being too upright for me... my divots weren't flat and the ball flight was off so this was an indicator.

My irons were forged titleist so were simple to bend to suit me. Same thing with the vokey wedges. Got them done in Fore golf.

Licksy - a quick scan on the Fore Golf website tells me it's €200 for a one hour appointment before any work is even carried out?!? I was hoping a viewing wasn't the price of the club! Did you end up spending much getting your lie angles reduced?

PhilipMarlowe

200 for the consultation and then 100 for the adjustments to my irons and wedges.

Full details here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055254308

It was necessary for me certainly because my clubs were previously unsuitable even though I could play with them pretty well. Golf hasn't been top of my agenda this season (mini-me #3 intervened) so I won't lie and say that there has been a dramatic improvement.... yet

keepherlit

I would be inclined to trust your local pro who knows a bit about your game. if he says the putter needs a few inches shaved off then so be it. you cant always fit in to standard brackets. i'm 6'1 and use a 33 inch putter, why? because its comfortable and my eyes are over the ball.
Mr Sheet is speaking plenty of sense there. you really need to see if it is worth your while.. get assessment and then see if they think many mods are needed. take your results to your pro and see what he says. nothing wrong with a second opinion. fore golf seem to be the best in the business. there are plenty of marketing ploys that will point you in the direction of certain clubs, but play what is comfortable. e.g. I dont play a rescue club because i dont like the look of them, I carry a 52 and a 58 degree wedge because they suit my needs. It is an individual sport so I would go tinker with a few things but ultimately settle for something you are comfortable with.

ShriekingSheet

This could be an advertising slogan for Fore Golf

Licksy wrote: »

You don't have to be 'special' to require custom fitting though...

Haha, I'm just kidding. I take your point, and if you stand with the correct, upright posture and your arm length means that the club is toe'd up then you do need to flatten the lie. My main point was that you know exactly why you need such a tweak, which in your case, you do.

I didn't know it was €200 from the off in Foregolf. My concern would be the likelihood of anyone paying this and being told "actually, you're fine, you don't need to pay us to change your clubs" is pretty slim. In Licksy's case there was obviously a valid change but I fear there are many guys getting changes that may have pretty negligible benefit. Even if they have some kind of non-standard physical attribute, is this change to their clubs going to mean less shots taken?

So if we're to hazard a guess that the majority of guys that walk in the door of a custom fitting shop get advised some tweak or other, and the minority of guys can actually improve their score by doing so, therein lies my issue with the whole thing.

ShriekingSheet

Sionachster, have you discussed this with your pro who gives you lessons btw? Other than the putter, I mean.

As someone already said here, he's probably the best place to start. He might even have a suggestion of what you might benefit from changing and being your teacher, he can also tell what elements of your swing are works in progress and what are permanent traits, ie: the aspects you'd fit a club to.

ShriekingSheet

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

but either way, a few quid on pro-vs is nothing when you're on the big marketing bucks I'm on

this was a joke btw

on the off chance that anyone thought i was serious!

stringy

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Custom length? - yes - why? - Because I'm 6ft 4.

Custom lie? - yes - why? - Because i am tall but still have an orthodox set-up

Specific flex shaft? - yes - why? - because I can control 6.0 better than 5.5 without losing yards

Custom grips - yes - why? - because my hands are big and I like them

Tour Blades? - no - why? - because I'm not a tour pro

me too, exact same answers, apart from I use S flex in standard shafts

Sionnachster

Licksy - Thanks for the link, that's answered a whole lot. I hope the long irons and wedges are now working to your advantage without having to have adjusted your swing - I presume it just takes getting used to rather than swing alterations as that would defeat the point? I've an image of a heavy schoolbag in mind - it does the job but if you get a back support ergonomic bag it will do the same job but suit your body therefore long term gains i.e. consistency?

ShriekingSheet & Keepherlit - the point you both make that I am edging towards, would be to chat with the pro and see what he thinks. I'm hopefully going to see a pro I thought was excellent, (Tristan Mullally?), more regularly and he might think there are massive changes needed - such as retiring the clubs and playing chess, so it would be a total waste of money today. I'm pretty happy with the progress made already to the swing and would be better off concentrating on lessons until I'm sure the swing plane and angles are settled.

I should have said earlier, I'm of pretty average construction, a slim 5'10" and 12stone so I've never needed special considerations like some of you have being taller etc. Like ShriekingSHeet says, I can foresee handing over €200 and being told I'm Mr. Average lie and never worry! Still, even that would be good to know.

When I hear the scores you guys shoot and the low handicaps on here I think I should shut up and practice for 12 months straight before posting about custom lie angles!!

Really appreciate the help... If / When I approach Foregolf I'll update anyone who cares! :rolleyes:

Sionnachster

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

this was a joke btw

on the off chance that anyone thought i was serious!

Do you want to fund my progress and back me when I go to ForeGolf???

Just like the Renaissance times, you could be my patron!!

Please?:cool:

PhilipMarlowe

Just a quick comment - When I bought my irons, early last year, I was 'advised' by a 'pro' to get them 1 degree flat... This advise was not in the same universe compared to a proper custom fitting.
I'm not advocating one company in particular but I've only ever been fitted once so they are all I know. In terms of their attitude, they were hugely interested in setting me up with the right equipment that produced the best results. It wasn't just sales tactics - you could hit shots with different clubs or clubs set differently and see and feel the results for yourself.

There is a poster on here from Birr that I presume does the same thorough job and uses the Trackman monitor... he always posts very sound advice