Playing better golf requires greater consistency and precision, to where you can guide the club face to strike the ball squarely and in the center, every time. For generations, the average golfer had to settle for buying standard-issue clubs. Technology and market competition has made it possible for average players to afford clubs built exactly for their swings. You could try to experiment on your own, but the fastest way to find the right fit is to see a PGA professional club fitter at a golf shop.
Grips
The first lesson any golfer gets is in how to grip the club. It’s the only way you can control the club face, so check your grips first. If they’re too large or small, it will be harder to keep the club face from being open or shut at impact. Some grips are made with lighter material to enhance your swing speed, and others are softer and offer more shock-absorption if you suffer from arthritis.
Shafts
A golf shaft is like the engine of the club, so finding the right flex, weight and length of shaft can have a profound effect on your shots. Golfers obviously differ in height, strength and the angle in which they strike the ball, so it’s important to visit a club-fitter and try different combinations. Club fitters use launch monitors that measure your shots for ball speed, spin rates, launch angle, carry and roll, so you can immediately see how the different variables in the club can affect your play.
Lie Angle
Two players of the same height can address the ball standing tall or slouching, and stand different distances from the ball. That’s why it’s important to have the proper lie angle, which is the relationship between the toe and heel of the club and the ground. A lie angle difference of just 2 degrees on a 6-iron can put a ball 20 yards offline. After testing shots on a strike board with impact tape, a club fitter can tell how much to bend your clubs upright or flat.
Loft Angle
Your clubs cover a range of distances because of their different loft angles, which is a measure of the loft of the club in degrees. A lower angle, such as in the 4-iron or 5-iron, helps you hit the ball farther than higher-loft clubs, such as an 8-iron or wedge. If have large yardage gaps between clubs, have the loft angles checked, but be aware that changes in ball position when using different clubs can alter the loft angle.
Putting
Every club in your bag has variables in lie, loft, shaft length and weight, and the putter is no different. The most shots of a round are on the green, so it’s particularly important that your putter fit. Every putter has a few degrees of loft. Without it, the ball would bounce first, making it tough to keep the putt on line and to control its distance. A proper lie angle keeps the sole of the putter flat, which keeps a player from pulling putts left or pushing them to the right. The swing weight and shaft length also play important roles, so it’s best to experiment, again with the guidance of a club fitter.
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