Criteria for Clubs

Here are specific criteria for clubs that govern my choices for the equipment I want to play.

First, the clubs need to feel like an extension of my swing. I don't want to feel that I'm working hard to swing them. They need to feel effortless and smooth and stable. It's important to focus on the next shot, not on how to compensate for club characteristics that are not quite right for me. Feel is important to me. When the club feels right, I swing it better.

Consistency is an essential performance factor. I need to know that each club will perform as expected. When I judge the distance and trajectory needed for the next shot, the club should give a result that corresponds to what my swing is capable of delivering. I don't want to think about overcoming a limitation of the club. 

The clubs should help me execute good swing technique. The irons should have a sole width, shape, lie angle, and bounce that are right for me. The iron should help me attack the ball for an aggressive shot and hit softly for short delicate shots. The length, weight, and balance should be comfortable for my swing. I don't want to make subtle compensations for poor club design.

Wedges need a sole design that enables me to control chips, short pitches, and full swing. Most other criteria for playing irons also apply. It's a lot to expect of a wedge, and knowing how to select the right specifications is essential. I expect to spend as much time fitting my wedges as any other club because wedges can convert a missed approach shot into a scoring opportunity. 

The putter needs to fit me correctly because it's the only way to be consistent. The clubhead should not fight my putting stroke and it should complement the way I see the target and align the putter face. Subtle deficiencies will cost a stroke. If I have made a great approach shot to get onto the green, the putter should not let me down.

The fairway wood and the hybrid need to be absolutely reliable. They are in the bag to perform. I want to hit them equally well off the turf and off the tee. The ball needs to get into the air and float down to the target. A club that always sends the ball on a low trajectory will not produce acceptable distance. An excessively strong loft makes the club too difficult to hit consistently well. The length needs to be short enough to facilitate a repeatable swing that yields solid contact and the optimum trajectory.

The driver should be reliable off the tee. I want the ball to be in the fairway on target and as long as a good swing will allow. I don't like to hit my second shot from the rough or from behind a tree. I want to be in position to make the best possible second shot. The length and weight of the driver needs to match my ability to swing it with full control. 

Craftsmanship is important to me. I want the clubs to look good and have a professional-looking finish. I want to be inspired by how the club sets up at address and how it looks when I hold it. I like a beautiful finish and great looking graphics on the shaft. 

What is a reasonable price to pay? Cost was a major factor when I began playing golf, and it ruled my buying decisions. It wasn't untill I had played for awhile that I realized that the fit of the club should rule my buying decision. I play the game to enjoy the course and score low -- how the clubs perform matters more than cost -- it's why I don't shop out of bargain barrels at the "discount" store, or buy dogs that won't hunt from online auctions. OK, I know there are great values to be had but I don't want to work through too many misses before making that great purchase otherwise the value isn't there.

And finally, where do I get my clubs? When I began to appreciate the technology and design features that seemed important to getting optimum performance from my clubs, I approached buying them in a different way than through the usual retail outlets and sales promotions. I did not want to fit my swing to the club, I wanted the club to be responsive to me. It's what I looked for in custom clubfitting, and it's how we approach helping other golfers find what's right for them.