Club Fitting at Tim Jenkins Golf

At Tim Jenkins Golf we aim offer a professional club fitting experience to players of all abilities, using the latest technologies and proven process to get the right club into the players bag.

The days of walking into a golf store and buying a set of irons, 3-SW, regular flex with steel shafts off the shelf are long gone. All the major brands offer custom fitting for their club models at no extra cost.

We use FlightScope to analise the various swing and shot parameters needed to offer the ideal club make up to suit the individual.

Benefits of Club Fitting

Club fitting is nothing new. In days gone by clubs were hand made by Golf Professionals as part of their job. Clubs would be made to suit the idividual ordering the clubs, maybe not quite to the precision we now demand.

Club fitting offers the golfer the opportunity to play a set of clubs personalised to thier height, build, strength and swing characteristics. It will help to make the game a little easier and more enjoyable. It will help you deliver the club into the ball faster for more distance, more centered for better consistency and squarer for better turf interaction to help with direction.

Fitting Parameters

There are various measurments and considerations to take into account when fitting any club to a player. These must always take into account the players preferences and feel as well as the physical measurments. 

1. Make and Model. This is the customers preferece and should always be the starting point.
2. Static Measurements. This is to determine the players height and importantly wrist to floor measurment. This will help choose the initial length and lie of the club.
   
3. Dynamic Measurments. These will be taken using FlightScope after the players has warmend up using their own club. FlightScope uses Dopler Radar technology to track both swing and ball flight, giving a comprehensive analysis of each shot played.

       Measurements include;

• Club Speed
• Ball Speed
• Smash Factor
• Carry Distance
• Total Distance
• Spin Rate
• Launch Angle
• Height
• Descent
• Angle of Attack

       All the above measurments help the fitter to determine the                correct shaft flex, weight and bend point.

       The last measurments taken will be to determine the lie angle           for irons using the dynamic test of hitting a couple of shots                 from a strike board and finally measure hand size to get the               correct grip size.

Driver Fitting

Fitting for a driver is arguable the most detailed and complex of all the club fitting processes. The object of the fitting is to maximise distance and optimise ball flight while maintaining consitencey and accuracy.

Increasing distance from the tee requires optimising the relationship of Swing tempo, angle of attack, launch angle and spin rates.

The fitting will use club loft angles, shaft flex, shaft weight  and bend point to try and create a launch angle of beteween 12-14* for a golfer with a swing speed of 90mph. Spin rates will be influenced the players angle of attack into impact with the ball and loft. The ideal spin rate for a golfer with a 90mph swing speed should be around 2500rpm.

Fairway and Hybrid Fitting

Fitting for a Fairway and Hybrid within the set should be related to the Driver. In general the make, model and shaft would be compatible. There are two main differences to the driver, length and shaft weight.

Shaft lengths for a 3 fairway is generally between 42 and 43 inches with a 4 hybrid being around 40 inches. Shaft weight generally increases by 10g for the fairways and a further 10g for the hybrid.

A very important factor to consider when fitting a fairway is the launch angle as you will be predominantly hitting this club from the turf, so the emphasis should be on launch and height over distance.

Iron Fitting

Make and model is the first thing to discuss when looking at fitting a set of irons. With the many different designs it is important to understand what a specific model will offer. 

Game improvement irons, super game improvent, blades, muscle back, combo, multi material and peripheral weighted are all terms you will see in the description of irons. The majority of irons fit under the game improvement banner and are suitable for the majority of golfers.

Game improvement irons generally have a lower center of gravity, bigger club face, peripheral weighting, more offset, stronger lofts and slightly more bounce to stop the clubs 'digging in'.

A very important factor when fitting irons is the choice between steel and graphite shafts. There are more and more players of all levels now playing graphite shafts, including many 'tour' players. Graphite shafts offer the golfer a much wider variety of specifications with heavy, light, low torque, high torque, high bend and low bend options. Some of the latest options also incorporate steel fiber or matrix with in the graphite to enhance the stability of the shaft.

Combo sets are becoming more popular with the higher loft irons being more blade type irons and the longer irons game improvement. When considering a combo set the loft gaps are important as the change over point may leave more of a gap than in a standard set.

Wedge Fitting

One of the most important and one of the most overlooked element in club fitting. The wedges are the 'scoring' clubs', they can rescue you from various situations around the green, from bunkers, rough or simply the fairway when you have missed the green with your approach shot. 

Your wedge fitting will start with the specifications of the Pitching Wedge in your set, loft, lie, length, shaft model, shaft flex, grip type and size. The next step is to determine how many wedges you prefer to play as this will affect loft gapping. After this the fitter will ask about your swing, wether you have a steep, neutral or shallow angle of attack as this will help to choose a suitable bounce and grind for each wedge you want to play.

Loft Gapping; The first thing to decide is how many wedges you want to play. Look at the loft of your pitching wedge and the highest loft you use, then look to create consistent loft gapping between. If your pitching wedge loft is 46* (the most common loft) and you add 2 wedges, invariably you would look at a 52* gap wedge and a 58* sand/lob wedge, giving a 6* loft gap. If you were to add 3 wedges you would be looking at 50*, 54/56* and 58/60*

Bounce; What do we mean by 'bounce'? This is the angle created from the leading edge of the club face to the lowest point of the sole of the club. Bounce can vary from 0* to 16*. It is how the sole of the club interacts with the turf through impact with the ball stopping the club from 'digging in'. Choosing the correct bounce will depend on two factors, the swing angle of attack into impact and turf conditions. A steep angle of attack will require more bounce while a shallow angle of attack less bounce. If the turf is lush more bounce would be advantageous while firm turf conditions require less bounce.

Grind; This is the geometry or shape of the clubs sole. By removing, 'grinding' areas of the sole around the heel, toe and trailing edge, the club face can be manipulated to help creativity in your shot making. Popular grinds include a Standard Grind similar to the other irons in your set. C Grind, where the heel, toe and trailing edge are shaped into a 'C' offering the most versitile sole for all playing conditions and a Wide Sole Grind, most useful for bunker clubs or a player with a steep angle of attack.

Lie angles and length should idealy marry up to your set of irons. In general the shafts in your wedges would be heavier and stiffer than the rest of your set which will help with control and consistency. You would usually keep the same grip and grip size on your wedges as your set of irons.

Booking a Club Fitting

At Tim Jenking Golf, club fitting is available 7 days a week. Fittings are delivered by qualified PGA Professionals with exceptional product knowledge in our Custom Fitting Studio at the Driving Range, Cleveland Golf Club.

An iron fitting, driver fitting or wedge fitting is usually around 45 minutes. The cost is £35.00 which is credited back as part payment of any purchase made.

To book a fitting with myself email andy@asbrookgolf.co.uk or phone the Professionals Shop at Cleveland Golf Club on 01642 498772