If the club fits…

We’ve all heard the expression that bad carpenters blame their tools. But in the world of golf, sometimes, badly-fitted clubs really can be the problem. Sue Shapcott PhD, La Grande Mare’s Golf Performance Director and specialist club fitter, explains how even the world’s best instruction can’t fix a golfer’s game if the clubs don’t fit.

I'm a golf instructor - club fitting can sometimes do what I can't

To improve, golfers often focus on refining their technique. However, as I work to improve my students' ball flight, there's a point where instruction reaches its limit. The truth is that while I can improve technique, ill-fitting equipment can hinder a golfer's potential, making even the best instruction less effective. Many golfers underestimate how equipment is a critical partner to instruction, not a competitor.

It's not always the golfer (or instructor)

The notion that I might blame equipment for a student's struggles can sound like a convenient excuse. As an instructor, it’s my job to help players improve, and I take that responsibility seriously. I can often get a long way by changing grips, stances, or swings, but when I reach a sticking point, I know it’s the clubs. Beyond obvious issues like shaft length and flexibility, subtle nuances in a club's design, such as shaft weight and kick point, can lead to excessive spin, lack of distance, and overall inconsistent ball flight, regardless of how technically sound a swing might be.

Where’s the evidence?

To support this claim, I conducted a study with Club Champion We recruited 200 men and 200 women golfers with a 15+ handicap. The aim was to gather data on the real-world impact of custom-fitted clubs versus golfer’s existing ‘gamer’ clubs, and the data gave some resounding insights. Here are just three takeaways:

1.     Golfers’ smash factor increased by around 5% for irons and 3% for drivers with fitted clubs compared with gamer clubs.

2.     Club fitting increased players’ distance more with irons than with the driver – and without any swing intervention.

3.     Golfers with higher handicaps benefitted more from custom-fitted drivers than players with lower handicaps.

The study also shines a positive spotlight on the club-fitting experience, busting some preconceived myths about how intimidating golf environments can be. For example, an overwhelming majority of study participants found club fitting to be educational (96%), enjoyable (92%), and golfers came away with a new perception (70%) of the process.

As an instructor, I’ve seen how vital club fitting is for golfers’ improvement, regardless of their handicap. The benefits of club fitting aren’t exclusively reserved for high-performance players – they’re for everyone - and the experience is often less intimidating than expected.

It’s my job to match top-notch instruction with clubs that work for you, and only you. To see how club fitting can benefit your game pop by to give it a try?

Sue Shapcott PhD, PGA, is La Grande Mare’s Golf Performance Director. Sue is also Head of Research and Insights at Gather and is recognised by Golf Digest as a top instructor.