Before Jedi Mind Tricks, Make Sure You Have the Winning Angle!

For the upcoming 2020 PGA merchandise show, they’ll be a lot of sessions dealing with different variables regarding your swing. These include how to overcome mental obstacles, proper nutrition, breaking through barriers, gaining confidence, and many more.

And while these are important topics to consider, there’s one swing topic that should be top of mind: the accuracy of a club’s loft and lie. This holds true with both the manufacturer’s original specs and based on the golfer’s swing mechanics.

Your club’s lie may not be telling the truth.

• First, it’s good to check the lie angle stated by the manufacturer. Most clubs are mass-produced with manufacturing variances in every factory. Remember, the set is not necessarily progressively consistent from one club to another, and therefore each club should be checked.
• Second, if the lie angle of your clubs doesn’t match your swing mechanics, you are already making the game harder than it should be. A custom fitting will often result in better performance, more confidence, and a lot more enjoyment of the game.

Another point to remember is that the greater the loft of a club, the more effect the lie angle will have on the ball’s direction. Incorrect lie angles will start the ball more offline in higher-lofted clubs, such as wedges, then it will in lower lofted clubs, such as drivers.

That is why determining the proper lie angle with your irons is so important: Once you hit the ball, it starts to spin, exaggerating any directional problems due to the ball spinning in the “wrong” direction.

Custom club fitting

Custom club fitting is the process where professionals utilize a launch monitor, a shaft frequency meter, angle machine, grip station, and other small measuring tools. This process helps golfers determine their proper loft and lie angles, which in turn improves the performance of their existing clubs. If technical is where you are at, this Mitchell Golf reference guide covers the precise way to measure golf club angles and the best bending techniques.

How Often Should You Check Your Specs?

Besides checking your specs to ensure you’ve got the right angle, the next question is, how often should you do it? Although there is no definitive answer, here are some good guidelines to follow:  

• Spring in the northern part of the country is a great time, especially if the golfer has used a mat during the winter season.
• The southern part of the country often experiences firmer playing conditions, depending on how much the golfer is practicing and playing. You may want to spec them as often as bi-weekly
• After a lesson or series of lessons – if your instructor has implemented swing changes, chances are your equipment also needs to be assessed to make sure the face attitude is correct at impact.
• For putters, considering they are responsible for more than 40% of your score, often!

If you have any questions about any Mitchell Golf Equipment or club fitting in general, Mitchell Golf’s Director of Golf Operations, Patrick Gallagher, will be happy to help. He will also be at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando from January 22 to January 24. For more information, please contact Patrick at 800-437-1314 or email patrick@mitchellgolf.com.