Why a Driver Fitting Matters
As golf drivers evolve, so does the possibility of hitting the ball faster off the tee. But to add more distance and speed to your drives, you must have a club fitted to match your swing.
A well-fitted driver should significantly change the feel, playability, and performance of the club.
In this guide, we discuss the key benefits of a driving fitting and the elements the specialist will look at.
Performance Gains - The Key Benefits of a Driving Fitting
Every golfer is unique in height, body shape, athletic ability, and skill set.
Off-the-rack clubs have standard measurement specifications, which usually don’t highlight or maximize your individual characteristics. It’s not just your physical features but your personal preference and how you like to swing your driver. And since there are no equipment rules against fitting, you might as well take advantage of it.
Let’s explore a few crucial benefits a driver fitting can provide.
Advanced Metrics
When you work with a fitting specialist, they use advanced launch monitors to record critical information during testing, such as spin rate, launch angle, ball speed, and swing speed.
Ultimately, the specialist will harness the power of data to recommend a driver that helps mitigate your weaknesses and accentuates your strengths.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Beginners can benefit greatly from getting fitted, as a fitting specialist helps identify and correct any swing flaws and equipment issues.
For example, if you tend to slice the ball, you can benefit from a driver with a more closed-face angle. Or if you struggle with mishits, you’ll want a driver with a more forgiving clubhead design.
Increased Distance
A driver is the first club you use for every game, so getting distance off the tee can set you up for a great round.
Sometimes your driver may be too heavy, which doesn’t maximize your chances of clubhead speed.
Your fitter will ensure you’re getting consistent contact on the sweet spot.
Important Driving Fitting Elements
Rather than finding the best model or brand, you'll succeed by finding the right custom club fitting specification that matches your needs, such as athletic ability, strength, measurements, and swing characteristics.
Here are the key driving fitting elements that you want to consider.
Shaft Length
Shorter shafts create more consistency in your strike pattern, but the impact location will lean closer to the toe. However, longer shafts have a less consistent strike on the face, but it’ll hit the golf ball closer to the heel.
A custom fitting is crucial in finding the right length of your driver shaft since it can help ensure consistent contact and contribute to greater distances off the tee.
Grip
The size of your grip impacts your ability to maintain consistent pressure and your control of the club.
It’s also good to factor in the weather you plan to play in. Playing in humid conditions means you’ll sweat more and want a more tactical and rugged grip type.
Face Angle
The correct face angle helps you maximize your driver's directional control. The face angle is the direction your clubface points during impact and thus influencing the direction a golf ball travels.
By altering the face angle of a driver with a fitting, it can help you correct potential swinging flaws such as hooks or slices.
Shaft Flex
In general, a stiff shaft causes shots to launch too low, with low peak heights and too little spin. Conversely, a shaft with too much bend causes shots to fly too high, spin too much and widen dispersion patterns.
Your clubhead speed is pivotal in determining which flex type is right for your needs. High swing speeds require stiffer shafts, while slow swing speeds need softer flex shafts.
Weight & Balance
In addition, the shaft weight has a similar correlation to performance as the flex. Heavier shafts fly low with less spin, while lighter shafts will fly higher and have more spin.
The overall driver’s weight and balance affect your shot’s tempo and swing mechanics. The right weight promotes a smooth and consistent swing for more consistent strikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
With golf becoming an increasingly popular sport, club-fitting will give you a slight edge over your competitors.
If you’re still curious about why a driver fitting is important, here’s a short FAQ to help.
What Can I Expect From a Driver Fitting?
Generally, you can expect a pre-assessment, equipment analysis, and testing before deciding on a driver. A fitting specialist will analyze your swing and golf mechanics and provide their expert recommendations.
Why Is a Driver Fitted?
A driver must be fitted to improve your performance on the course. When properly fitted, the driver can be optimized to match your individual preferences and swing mechanics. A fitting session will allow you to explore different shaft options and clubhead designs to help instill confidence at the address.
Look Like a Pro on the Course — Shop Stitch Golf!
A driver fitting can be a game changer in your golf scores.
Don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. There’s a good chance your off-the-rack driver is holding you back.
A properly-fitted driver can help you maximize your distance off the tee, improve playability, and boost accuracy.
It starts with getting the right golf gear and apparel. Check out our full collection of premium golf gear, bags, clothing, and accessories at Stitch Golf. Let exceptional quality be the driving force behind your golf triumphs!
