Recently, we asked some of the top fitters in the country burning questions that golfers have about golf club fitting. Their responses were eye-opening. Top fitters from the following fitting locations participated in this extensive survey:

• Club Champion
• Felix Clubworks
• Joe Kwok Golf
• Miles of Golf
• Modern Golf
• 2nd Swing Golf
• The Tour Van
• True Spec Golf

Thank you to all of the fitters who took the time to help us with this survey, and took the time to answer.

Here are the questions we asked, and the answers from the top golf fitters in the nation.

1) What percentage of golfers need more loft on their driver?

2) What percentage of golfers need LESS loft on their driver?

• Average answer: 35 percent

3) What percentage of golfers play shafts that are too stiff?

• Average answer: 50 percent

4) What percentage of golfers play shafts that are too whippy?

• Average answer: 35 percent

5) What percentage of golfers need to play with more forgiving irons?

6) What percentage of golfers need to play with LESS forgiving irons?

• Average answer: 14 percent

7) What percentage of golfers play the wrong wedge grind?

• Average answer: 64 percent

8) What percentage of golfers have an adjustable driver that’s setup incorrectly for their swing?

9) What’s the one part of the bag that golfers would benefit most from after a proper fitting?

• Driver: 8.33 percent of answers
• Fairway wood/hybrid: 0 percent
• Irons: 0 percent
• Wedges: 16.67 percent
• Putter: 75 percent

10) With the choice of only one to fill a yardage gap, should a high-handicap golfer choose a fairway wood, hybrid, or driving iron?

11) What will lower scores more quickly, a fitting or a lesson?

• Fitting: 75 percent
• Lesson: 25 percent

12) In your own words, is grip size important to the fitting process?

• Yes, but it can be tricky. I think incorrect sizing can cause a player to “hang on” to the club or limit their release. At the end of the day, the player needs to have a grip that gives them the “warm and fuzzy” feeling. If the club feels good in their hands, they are more likely to produce a better swing.
• Yes, grip size influences grip pressure. Grip pressure can influence face angle, club head speed, and other factors that directly lead to ball flight. Grip style may be mostly player preference, but grip size should be constant and correct on all your full swing clubs.
• Yes, it can have a dramatic effect on performance depending on the circumstances.
• Grip size is important. Having a grip that allows you to feel more comfortable or relaxed results in better shots.
• Grip size is important because it is the only thing that we touch while swinging a golf club. Traditional grip sizing metrics might be a little out of date. I do believe golfers have a misconception on what grip size does to ball flight (oversized grips fade/undersized grips draw). Everyone is unique and you can see different results by testing size.
• For sure it is important. Over 75 percent of my fittings play the wrong size grips.
• Very, but no proof that hand size measurements are exactly what the player needs.
• Yes, it is the only connection to the club.
• Very important.
• Yes it is extremely important. It will allow you to hold on to the club with the proper pressure and still maintain control. Also grip size can help you let your hands be more active to help square the face or slow them down to help slow down a draw.
• Of course. Though the traditional trend that big grips prevent hooks and little grips prevent slices is a very broad and inaccurate generalization. Grip fitting is very important and has a huge effect on swing weighting.
• Somewhat. It depends on the player and their tendencies… doesn’t have to be spot on, but needs to be close.

13) In your own words, how often should golfers change wedges?

• Depends on how much they play, but an avid golfer who practices a few days a week should likely switch once a year. Most tour players switch 3-4 times per/year.
• When distance and spin are noticeably affected.
• Once every 100-150 rounds
• Every 50 rounds or even less. For golfers who practice a lot, even sooner.
• Depends on how the golfer enjoys the game. Someone who is playing in local events or club events would usually want pure performance. In that instance, I would change out what ever club they use around the green every 75-100 rounds.
• For those playing 50+ rounds a year, changes wedges every other year can help consistency with short pitches & chips.
• Every year.
• Depends on how much golf they play, but every year is a good time frame.
• Every 100 rounds + 40 Range sessions.
• Depends on how many rounds they play. Just keep an eye on the grooves and as long as they are playing the correct bounce.
• When the groove texture on the face is no longer effective, or if their playing conditions or angle of attack change significantly, which would change the bounce and grinds they need to play.
• When their wedge stops hitting the shots they intended to hit.

14) In your own words, how often should golfers change drivers?

• If launch, spin and speed numbers are as good, they may not need to upgrade. In general, I’d say they should entertain new technology every 18-24 months.
• When a player can see evidence of improved ball flight, consistency, or feel and upgrade is appropriate. Until then, keep what you have and work with a fitter to determine what changes will benefit your tee game.
• Only when they find one that can beat what they have.
• To have more noticeable gains, every 2-3 years. Technology is improving way too fast to not keep up.
• If they are playing something from 2012 or newer, they should only be looking to switch if their ball speed, launch or spin are out of whack.
• As a fitter, if I am able to maximize ball speed, optimize launch angle & the spin rate it could be every year. Most often I find 85-90 percent of players are able to gain accuracy & distance when taking part in a fitting.
• 3-year check up.
• When they find something that is an improvement.
• Every 2500-3000 hits.
• Every 2 to 3 years if they were originally fitted correctly.
• Only after testing and fitting all available options to see if it is better than their current driver.
• When performance starts decay, or their swing has changed enough that they aren’t hitting their desired shot.

15) In your own words, how often should golfers change irons?

• Similar to the wedge answer, it really depends on how frequently they play/practice. Assuming all things are equal, a player should entertain new irons every 2/3 years.
• When distance and ball flight become unreliable, and as a result your confidence in hitting greens suffers, it’s time to look at different irons. Consider set make-up and even combo sets to improve long and short irons appropriately. Look for consistency, and stopping power, not just distance.
• Depends on how often the golfer plays, but about every two years, or once significant wear is appearing on the face and effecting backspin.
• Most golfers should change every 4-5 years.
• Tournament players every 3 years Competitive golfers 5 years. Weekend warrior every 10 years.
• Depends on what the player is looking for. If they want distance over accuracy, it can be done. If they are trying to gain accuracy, that can me a bit more of a challenge, but I’d suggest every other year is a good place to start.
• 2-year check up; irons are changing quicker than drivers.
• Grooves wear out after a season or 2, or when they find something that is an improvement.
• 150-200 rounds.
• Again depends on how many rounds they play and how their game changes, but I would say 3 to 5 years.
• Only after testing and fitting all available options of irons and shafts and identifying which could be better than what they currently play.
• When performance starts decay, or their swing has changed enough that they aren’t hitting their desired shot.

16) In your own words, what is the biggest mistake golfers have in their bag when they come to you for a fitting?

• Set makeup. Often times players arrive with the wrong configuration of golf clubs for their game.
• Too many clubs that go a similar distance. Either too many head covers or too many longer irons. Often too much neglect for wedges and putter design.
• Driver shafts that are too long, irons with incorrect lie angles, and too many clubs that do the same thing in the top of their bag.
• Most golfers are typically playing one to two longer irons vs having more hybrids in their bag.
• Typically they have clubs that just aren’t useful. Usually you will find 3 clubs in the bag that all carry the same distance. Most of my fittings never have had a gapping analysis. When you can show them how everything carries and how everything stops, it is eye opening for them and helps build a set where all the clubs have a purpose.
• Too many long clubs such as fairway woods or hybrids. Many would shoot lower scores by taking out a low lofted fairways and add a wedge.
• Long irons.
• Loft and lie gapping.
• Loft selections on their wedges.
• Gapping issues, clubs that are similar, not having clubs that help them correctly for their misses, trying to match every club from the same OEM.
• Set makeup, and a set that is not built consistently.

17) In your own words, when is swing weight incorporated into the fitting process?

• Throughout.
• Feel and tempo changes.
• All the time with every club. It is vital for feel and making the golf club perform properly!
• Throughout the entire process… from start to finish it needs to be considered.
• From the start.
• The player will initially give you feedback when you are comparing current vs new. We find swing weight is an important part of the process.
• Great question… only if my customer seems to very tech-y or if we go longer or shorter than standard. Most OEM’s do a wonderful job with swing weight.
• Not always a specific time. Would depend on which club we are using. The biggest thing is during the fitting process when you find the setup that works is to make sure that the build matches those specs.
• Swing weight is a tough road to go down. Most players can adapt to how different clubs feel without discussing why. Once you start going into a lot of detail as to why or how swing weight is changed it becomes more complicated then it needs to be. I would say that swing weight is discussed about 25 percent of the time.
• Swing weight should be considered during the entire process. The fitter should be looking for constant feedback on how the weight of the club feels.
• Once the winning combination of head, shaft, lie and loft are established. Swing weight can help create confidence in feel, and consistent swing weights help players replicate their swing and tempo from club to club.
• Swing weight is a result of the overall fitting process. There are too many variables to mention that can influence swing weight.

18) In your own words, what are the signs that a golfer has the wrong sole width on their irons?

• If the club doesn’t go through the ground properly, typically the club will stick in the ground.
• Hit location is consistently high or low on the face. Turf interaction has too much bearing on the ball flight.
• The sound of impact will be off, often times sounding muted or heavy. A low flight despite a wide sole.
• The most telling sign is turf interaction. Swing speed with Angle of Attack tell me a lot. Slower and more shallow players can benefit a lot from more width.
• If the set is more experienced, you can show them the wear patterns on the old set. When I start talking about sole widths/bounce of irons and how it can change the contact point on face, I will usually start talking about wedges. Most golfers understand why is important in wedges but do not realize that the same applies to irons.
• If they struggle getting the ball in the air or we see several shots being hit heavy or fat. Also depends on turf conditions.
• Turf interaction and impact location (launch/spin).
• How high or low on the face.
• Attack angle, divot and trajectory are producing inconsistent distance control.
• When their attack angle is too steep or shallow. Finding out what course conditions they play mostly. Bad ball position.
• Improper turf interaction and ball contact.
• Inconsistency at impact.