Very often I hear golfers in the shop say that they aren't 'good enough for custom fitting'. Then they go out on to the golf course and keep battling away with old and ill fitting equipment that just makes the game harder and lessens enjoyment! It has been proven that mid-high handicap and even beginner golfers are those that will benefit the most from custom fitting. There is a strong argument that a good player will get around a golf course with any old equipment by making it work, the average golfer hasn't got the skills to do that and needs more help from their equipment. If you think golf is a very hard game and causes utmost frustration, it may just be your equipment holding you back, the question you need to ask yourself is 'are you good enough NOT to get custom fitted?'
Here are a few numbers that every golfer should know relating to golf club custom fitting:
30 - the amount in feet the golf ball will go offline if your club lie angle is just one degree out
85 - the percentage of golfers who are reckoned to be using the wrong loft on their driver 3 - the amount in yards your distance will increase if you improve your clubhead speed by just one mile per hour
1.50 - referred to as 'smash factor' - this is the amount your ball speed should be quicker than your clubhead speed, if it isn't the club isn't working at it's most efficient for you
17 - the optimum launch angle for a driver in degrees
1700 - in revolutions per minute the optimum spin rate for your driver
30 - the ideal peak shot height in yards
If you would like to ask me any question at all about club fitting and equipment please don't be scared to ask by clicking here.
Justin Rose returned to the winners circle at Congressional Country Club on Sunday. It's a welcome return to form for the likeable Englishman who will be one of the favourites when the Open Championship at Hoylake takes place in a couple of weeks.
In terms of equipment, Rose was one of two players who put TaylorMade's prototype UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) in to play at the Quicken Loans National. The company brought the club to Congressional feeling that many players would be looking to add a driving iron-type club for the upcoming Open Championship played over a fast running links course, and it shows us amateurs that it may be a good idea to have the right clubs in your bag to suit the type of course you are primarily playing. Rose used a 3-iron version of the club, and told the TV interviewers it provided more control than a hybrid, along with a lower, more penetrating flight. He also said he would be putting the 1-iron version in to play at Hoylake.
The TaylorMade UDI is expected to be in stock in our shop by the end of July.
Here is a look at the rest of the bag of the six-time PGA Tour winner:
Driver: TaylorMade SLDR 430 (Matrix Ozik 6M3 X Stiff), 'lofted up' to 10.5 degrees
3-wood: TaylorMade SLDR, 16.5 degrees
Irons (3): TaylorMade Tour Preferred UDI; (4-PW): TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB
Wedges: TaylorMade Tour Preferred (52 degrees); TaylorMade Tour Preferred ATV Grind (58, 60 degrees)
Putter: TaylorMade White Smoke DA-62 Shoes: Adidas Adicross Gripmore
Ball: TaylorMade Tour Preferred X
Last week I told you that we have some great deals on the current range of Titleist metals. We have reduced them all considerably and as a result we have sold quite a few. As a result there aren't many left now at these new bargain prices: 913 D2/D3 Drivers only £199 (was £299) Fairways only £139 (was £179) Hybrids only £129 (was £159)
Further to these great reductions we will also give you a sleeve of complimentary Titleist balls of your choice!
Rhys retains the Birdie Consulting Scratch Trophy
Our budding young England star Rhys Nevin won this Trophy based on the best gross score for the third year in a row. Rhys who plays off +1 had five birdies en route to a round of 72, but this total was only just good enough to beat the ever consistent Steve Bond who finished just one shot behind with a 73. Another good young golfer Tom Duncalf came third with a 74, remarkably dropping all five shots on just two holes, with pars on 16 out of 18 holes. With this being Rhys' third win in a row maybe he should just keep the Trophy!
On a day of fine weather and exceptional scoring Lee Slatford won the best nett, bursting in to form with a quite amazing score of 58. His handicap will be suitably docked I'm sure! It was hard luck on Captain Chris Bird who had his best round ever, playing the last ten holes in just one over par to score a nett 63 but still finished five shots behind Lee. On most other days Chris would have won with his score. The ever improving Matt Leach also played very well, scoring a nett 64 to take third place. Thank you once again to Chris Bird for his company's (Birdie Consulting) continued sponsorship of our Scratch Trophy, look out for the July Medal on Saturday, if the weather stays fine there could be some more good scores!
There was a welcome return to form for Alison Worrall last Thursday claiming the Ladies Mid Summer Cup with a score of 38 points. She finished in style with a fine birdie three on the last hole to cement her victory. Ann Broster came second with 36 points and Collette Walling was third with 35 points. Also a big well done to Wendy Wren who scored a brilliant birdie two on the fourteenth hole.
Thank you to our Lady Captain Jill Bebbington who has passed this write up on to me about her recent lady captains away day:
"19 lady members travelled to Wirral Ladies Golf Club, looking forward to a good days golf. The course is relatively short, just 4529 metres off the red tees. It was VERY challenging, and dare I say not necessarily enjoyed by all members! 'Narrow fairways, too much gorse, too much heather' were some comments I heard in the Clubhouse after we had played. The Course, facilities, and hospitality were first class. The weather was relatively kind, which added to the enjoyment of the day.
Presentation of the Prizes followed a very welcome meal, which was excellent and enjoyed by all. Certain members were able to overcome the challenges of the course, namely Elspeth Forbes, who came first with 33 points, Sue Fryer and Keira Wharton with 30 points, coming second and third respectively on countback. Alison Worrall won the longest drive on the 17th, and Elspeth Forbes and Trish Cleaver won the two nearest the pin prizes, a very big thank you to all of the ladies who participated."
The latest seniors nine hole Stableford was won by their Captain Graham Bower. There were three players tied on 19 points, however Graham had the best last six holes. In second was Peter Earlam and third was Geoff Dodd.
Next Tuesday the seniors are playing an 18 hole mid summer special Stableford, which is the front nine played from the white tees and the back nine from the yellow tees and is always a good challenge!
July Medal - Saturday 5th July 12:04pm start
Ladies team match - Monday 7th July 11:30am start
Seniors 9 hole roll up - Tuesday 8th July 9am start
Lady Captains Charity Day 9 holes & lunch - Thursday 10th July 9am start
Club Championship - Saturday 12th July 12:04pm
