Opinion & Analysis
Confessions of a Golf Equipment Tech Rep
It seems like a dream job, doesn’t it? Golf equipment tech reps spend hours on the driving ranges of some of the most prestigious courses. They have access to all the new gear from a golf equipment company and get to talk golf with like-minded individuals.
Let me tell you, it’s a ton of fun, but just like any “job” it does have its challenges. Here’s an inside look into what it’s really like to work as a summer tech rep for a golf equipment company.
The Travel
The commute can be one of the most challenging parts of any job, but traveling to golf courses really isn’t that bad. Most demo days are in the afternoon or around the lunch hour, so traffic in most cities is pretty light. Also, the majority of courses are located around the outskirts of the downtown cores just off arterial roads. The trick is avoiding the evening rush hour, but that’s easy when you have your clubs and an endless bucket of premium golf balls.
In contrast to my car (cover image), this is car of a full-time Ping rep. He built a shelf for his van.
The most difficult task actually is trying to get everything to fit into your car. Full-time reps have the luxury of either a company van or have made the decision to own a large vehicle. Tech reps, on the other hand, are not always so well prepared. I, for example, own a (humble brag) 2009 Toyota Matrix. It’s not a large car by any stretch of the imagination, but on the plus side it is a hatchback. A few other guys have small to mid-sized sedans. In another life, we must have all been very good Tetris players, because we somehow always get everything to fit (including the pop-up canopy tents). Speaking to the camaraderie, I’ve seen reps help each other out by taking an extra staff bag or two to the next event if for some reason it won’t fit in a rep’s car.
The Other Reps
Since we spend so much time together during the busy summer demo-day months, we’re more of a band of brothers than rival tribesman. When working with customers, it’s all business, but during off times we hit each other’s gear and trade golf balls and war stories. We even play golf together after demo days wrap up.
When it comes to finding the right piece of equipment, someone is either going to end up with our gear or move on down the line. We always do our best to make sure every golfer that comes out is giving our gear a fair shake and tries what’s right for them, but we all know people have brand biases, too. The one thing we all abide by is the unspoken etiquette of the range, which includes never interrupting another rep during a conversation with a golfer. We’re also never “that guy” who walks all the way to the other side of the range to push a product onto someone at another booth. We’re not new to the golf industry, and we’re all in it together. Our job is ultimately to fit and sell clubs, but at the end of the day, regardless of what equipment the golfer decides to purchase, it’s more important to represent your company the right way and make sure every golfer has a positive experience.
The Food
Each course we visit treats us amazing, from the head professionals all the way to the back-shop and range teams. Plus, since they want us to be good guests and stay with their members on the range, lunch is provided and delivered.
I’ve made the joke many times now that, by the end of the summer, I will be able to rank every sausage, hamburger, and chicken-caesar wrap from every private club in and around the Greater Toronto Area. So far, they’ve all received top marks.
The Fitting Experience
One of the best things about being on the range with golfers at their own club is that they’re comfortable in their surroundings and familiar with course conditions. This, to me, is one of the best ways to fit a golfer, especially one that plays a majority of their golf at their club.
Fittings move very quickly when a golfer can see ball flight and make an apple-to-apples comparison with their own clubs on their own range with an outdoor launch monitor. The benefits of new equipment are quick to spot and problems are easy to correct.
The Golfers
From scratch club champs to weekend warriors, we fit them all. The better golfers are easier to fit them since their swings are more repeatable. Most better players are also able to more accurately describe what they are “feeling” swing after swing.
When testing equipment, it helps to clean your clubs in between shots. It also helps a tech rep!
The one thing that still shocks me is the lack of understanding golfers have on simple fitting principles. Many are stuck in the past with what they know about technology. So many golfers also have misconceptions about what leads to gains in distance, accuracy and consistency. It’s part of our job to help make things simple to understand, and something we take pride in. Here are the top-5 misconceptions I hear from golfers on demo days:
- Hitting it higher with a driver causes distance loss.
- Graphite shafts are only meant for the slowest swingers.
- Forged irons are only for highly skilled players.
- “I don’t need to get fit. Just give me off-the-rack clubs.”
- All “stiff” shafts and all “regular” shafts are the same.
The other difficulty lies in the outliers: the guys who are 6-feet, 6-inches tall and have club head speeds in excess of 120 mph with hands the size of bear paws. These are tough fits since most carts don’t have mid-sized grips. And as far as aftermarket shaft options go, it’s really hard to carry more than what’s already offered by golf equipment manufacturers. The great thing about the Mizuno fitting cart, particularly the company’s iron shafts, is that there aren’t many people I can’t fit given the wide amount of options.
The Weather
This is the one thing that is beyond our control. I’ve experienced days where it’s blowing 30 mph directly into golfers on the range and that’s a tough place to be. Not only that, but be prepared for at least one face full of dirt and sand along the way. No lie, on an extremely gusty day, I once saw a rep get thrown 8 feet into the air trying to save his tent. Thankfully, he walked away unscathed, but I can’t say the same for the tent (he crushed it when he landed inside of it, upside down).
And rain… even the thought or possibility of it scares people away, which can lead to pretty slow days on the range. We all know how much it sucks to have to dry out your entire golf bag after a soggy round. Imagine doing that with 5-6 golf bags after a few extra hours in the rain.
Golfers, don’t let the sun get away with anything, either. One of the first lessons as a tech rep is to load up on sunscreen or risk a very bad sunburn. If you think a golfer’s tan is bad, a rep tan can be even worse.
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To all the golfers headed to the demo day, make sure to stop by and say hello to us tech reps. Don’t be nervous or embarrassed to make a swing in front of us; we hold no judgement. And please, ask as many questions as you’d like. We’ve heard them all, and want you to learn and enjoy trying out some new gear. You might just be surprised what ends up working for you, and you may even have a great conversation with one of unsung road warriors of the industry.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again
After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.
Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.
Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”
Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.
“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.
Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.
“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”
“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”
As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.
In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.
“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”
Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.
Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:
Fairways Hit
1.) Louis Oosthuizen
2.) Anirban Lahiri
3.) Jon Rahm
4.) Brendan Steele
5.) Cameron Tringale
Greens in Regulation
1.) Brooks Koepka
2.) Brendan Steele
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Cameron Tringale
5.) Anirban Lahiri
Birdies Made
1.) Brendan Steele
2.) Dean Burmester
3.) Thomas Pieters
4.) Patrick Reed
5.) Carlos Ortiz
LIV Golf Individual Standings:
1.) Joaquin Niemann
2.) Jon Rahm
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Louis Oosthuizen
5.) Abraham Ancer
LIV Golf Team Standings:
1.) Crushers
2.) Legion XIII
3.) Torque
4.) Stinger GC
5.) Ripper GC
LIV Golf Singapore Picks
Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)
Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.
This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.
Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)
Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.
This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.
It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.
Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)
Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.
Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.
Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.
Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)
Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.
Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.
If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.
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In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.
While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.
Here are some of my key takeaways.
Method Teacher
It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.
Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.
The Cult of Stack and Jilt
The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”
Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.
These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.
Fooled by Randomness
In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.
Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.
Practice
One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”
Sunk Cost
The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.
Cliches
Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.
The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.
This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…
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The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.
Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.
However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.
Past Winners at TPC Louisiana
- 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
- 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
- 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
- 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
- 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
- 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)
2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks
Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)
Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.
This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.
McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.
Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)
Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.
Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.
Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)
Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.
NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.
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19th Hole2 weeks agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole2 weeks ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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19th Hole3 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
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19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
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19th Hole3 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
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19th Hole1 week agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
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Equipment2 weeks agoJason Day on his recent switch into Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 Mk II irons
Chris Downing
Apr 23, 2018 at 5:49 am
I think Ryan thought he boss would read this before he submitted it. In the past I have worked as a rep in a lot of industries – pluses are new cars supplied to you, quite a lot of freedom – downs – not all customers are nice, targets you need to hit causes stress, hours wasted on the road. Because you get a car and lots of people want the job it depresses the salary. It’s also not a particularly well respected career – as my mother said,” Couldn’t you get a proper job?” Ouch!
D williams
Mar 29, 2019 at 7:18 pm
I have been the top tech rep in Texas for many years. I command top dollar from any company. The things that have been said are BS. Tech reps will never be more than that and most tech reps I know don’t have the ambition to be more. I have worked for multiple companies at same time I’ve worked full time Year around. In closing if you want to be a tech rep good luck maybe get a real job
ooffa
Jun 25, 2017 at 6:42 am
Calm down dude. If some one wants to get fitted let it be. Why are you always freaking about stuff?
High handicapper, low handicapper, so what, let people enjoy themselves a bit. Stop being such a know it all downer. You must be a whole lot of fun at the monthly member mingler.
Ward Wayne
Jul 1, 2017 at 12:32 pm
What?! Are you responding to the comment above?
Dave R
Jun 25, 2017 at 12:02 am
Very good article and well explained. Every time I went to demo days I was always treated with respect . And showed the same in return . Never did I feel that I was being pressured into buying. And yes would strongly advise before you buy get fitted by someone who knows what they are doing. Expensive is not always the answer.
Tom1
Jun 24, 2017 at 5:12 pm
you rep’s need larger vehicles
Compressthis
Jun 23, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Long time Cobra demo tech in the Midwest. Liked the article, we are a band of friends at all events looking to only set up anyone with the clubs that best fit their swing. Of course I will do my best to explain why my clubs would be the best when you hit them as I believe like everyone that we have the clubs to fit your swing. You are still the one making the decision to purchase. It is your job to take the launch monitor readings, ball flight information, feel and performance observations and narrow down your ideal club selections for final comparison. We all have no problem going head to head with each other because the customer walks away satisfied knowing he got the best club for him. Not sure where the tech reps are shoving new product down people’s throats, that is not the case here. If you are not interested in hearing about or trying the new equipment why are you at a demo day anyway? Hopefully your response isn’t for the free balls to hit! ????
Bobbyeggroll
Jun 23, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Best time for me was when working a driving range I received a few new clubs and put them in the demo bag for an afternoon demo day. I set everything up and while getting setup a few keeners went looking in my bags and took a new hybrid out and started hitting it. This person wasn’t the best golfer but made reasonable contact and brought the club back to me and said they really liked it particularly the grip. Amusingly the protective plastic was still on the grip as I had only got the head plastic off. Slipped the club in the bag and said I was glad they liked it and could I order it for them? They came back later and bought one through the proshop and I never heard anything negative from the transaction and never told the pro the story.
mr b
Jun 23, 2017 at 11:04 am
always been something i wanted to do….but…there just wasn’t any money in it from what i saw. but if money wasn’t a concern it’d be a dream job for this guy.
Me
Jun 23, 2017 at 9:17 am
I too am a Club fitter, have been for over 10 years. The amount of stock & custom upgrade-able shafts, fitting heads for both Right and lefties- there is no way I could fit in a small SUV. I travel with more club and shaft selections ( including driver shafts in different lengths} that any superstore could possibly offer at any time. I have full sets of lefties, ladies, even full sets of ladies lefties. In addition I have the latest Trackman launch monitor not for consumers ego, but to be fitted. It amazes me that some large club companies, send a guy out with a tent and 2 staff bags, no launch monitor of any kind, a folding table with table cloth, a 1/2 dozen iron & driver fitting heads and conduct a demo day. A “demo day” consisting of hitting free range balls is not the way to conduct business. A fitting day on the other hand, with appointments is a partnership(s) between the Pro, vendor and consumer/member….Sadly many “pros” do not understand this & act like they are too busy. PXG, Taylormade and Titleist understands appointment driven fitting days, the consumer loves the attention to detail and often buys. The pros that do get it, see in an up tick in business profits and often an increase in lessons by these purchasers investing in their game.
Thomas Murphy
Jun 23, 2017 at 10:17 am
Yay a full set of lefties. I hate when I go to fitting events and they have like 30 RH 6 irons of the same model and no LH. And I also agree that models like Titleist with “fitting thursdays” and appointments is great though at times I am not wanting a “fitting” I just want to try(demo) stuff but more directed models are great.
Mike Sykes
Jun 23, 2017 at 4:03 pm
I am a Titleist Product Specialist (Tech Rep.). Titleist Thursdays serve both purposes…Fitting Appts. offer 45-min. total attention to a player’s wants & needs. If a player just wants to demo clubs & ask questions, they just need to walk up..no appt. needed. A somewhat consistent swing does help in fitting and player feedback during the fitting is critical. We are there to help players with their equipment. No-pressure selling here. If I can’t help improve their game, in their opinion….thanks for coming out!
Nick
Jun 23, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Mike I to am a Product Specialist which Rep do you work for? I am on the west side of Michigan.
Bert
Jun 23, 2017 at 9:04 am
Best quote in the article is scratch golfers are easier to fit than bogey golfers.
” The better golfers are easier to fit them since their swings are more repeatable. Most better players are also able to more accurately describe what they are “feeling” swing after swing”.
Said this for years and still believe it. If you can’t repeat a swing, it’s difficult at best to be fit. Fitting is normally, hit this, hit this, I think this will fit you best, your numbers are better.
Dat
Jun 23, 2017 at 9:43 am
This IS the truth. Not everyone can benefit from a true fitting unless you have a consistent swing. Truly has nothing to do with handicap or the size/shape of the golfer. The best question I was ever asked was if I had a “Flex Shaft” for a gentleman to try out…
Was
Jun 23, 2017 at 9:55 am
Well you know why men ask for e “Flex” shaft, don’t you? They’re too ashamed to ask for a “Soft” one. Ego gets them every time.
Steve
Jun 23, 2017 at 10:49 am
Launch monitors have really smoothed out that shaft flex thing for me…my motto is your best fit driver will hit the fairway, best fit irons will hit the green and if you find a putter that will put the ball in the hole I want one….
Ude
Jun 23, 2017 at 6:04 pm
New club designs — stronger lofts and softer shafts — more distance and more flex for higher shots — and the OEMs don’t tell you about it because golfer’s egos would suffer
Bishop
Jun 23, 2017 at 12:23 pm
I’m personally on the fence about this statement. I think that though the low ‘cap may be easier, even a high handicapper would be easy to fit, so long as their swing is consistent (which I completely agree, is absolutely necessary). To play Devil’s Advocate, I have a couple of friends who are 35 handicappers, but have a very consistent and repeatable swing (one in particular has a high handicap because he doesn’t line up for his 20 yard slice to land in the fairway, and thus his second shot is almost always out of the rough).
stephenf
Jun 23, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Absolutely. A _lot_ of higher-handicap players have distressingly consistent swings. From a teacher’s perspective, the typical challenge is to get them out of those consistent patterns.
Dave
Jun 25, 2017 at 7:50 am
He should line up to see that a 20 yard slice ends up in the fairway he should determine what is causing that slice and FIX it. I speak from painful experience.
Dave
Jun 25, 2017 at 7:53 am
That should say SHOULD NOT line up …. doggone bad typist.
Double Mocha Man
Jun 25, 2017 at 2:29 pm
You sliced that one. 🙂
Double Mocha Man
Jun 25, 2017 at 2:30 pm
You sliced that one! 🙂