Feb 1

Written by: Mike Stowe
2/1/2010 9:44 PM 

You could be wrong about your swing

One of my students brought a friend home from college this weekend. She is a player on the schools Ladies Golf Team.    Many of you have heard me talk about fitting and the real difference it can make in the way you play the game.  Well, this was the most dramatic demonstration of that I have ever seen.  When we first met, I asked what her clubhead speed was? She replied with 79 MPH.   I was shocked that a college level player would have a speed so low. I was puzzled until I saw her swing.  Her swing was long and slow with a huge arc.  Then I watched as she fought to control the club through the swing. She could not lever the club because she needed to control it completely through impact with her hands. 

After just a few minutes with my favorite drill to get the club on path and her shoulders turning with the hands, arms and club you won't believe what happened.   I was looking through her bag at her set of "Professionally Fitted" clubs and thought this shaft is to weak for someone this tall.  She was using a 50 gram regular flex  shaft in the driver and fairway metal, too light and soft.  I took my  Adams Hybrid and handed it to her, give it a swing I said.  She hit my 3 hybrid farther than she had hit her driver.  She looked very puzzled by the result. After a few swings I handed her my fairway metal with the same result. Then the driver, yep same thing. She looked at me and said, I could lower my score  a bunch! 

What just happened was I had given Her a club with a firm enough shaft that She could not only lever the club but She could be agressive through impact.  With some work She could lower Her score by 5 to 8 strokes per round.

Many times we blame our swing when the problem is your equipment. the number one complaint in Golf is "Lack of Distance". Most often that is the shaft in your driver and nothing more.  As I said, this is the most dramatic difference I have witnessed in my career.  The point was made, fitting is necessary and must be performed by a knowledgeable Golf Professional.  I will be happy to look at your swing any time.

See you on the Practice Tee,
Mike

Tags: