DJ Trahan Driver Golf Club Fitting

Sat, 01/16/2016 - 14:00 -- Don Trahan

Today, I'll discuss my son DJ's recent club fitting session with Doc Griffin. We spent a lot of time working through every club in the bag, but Doc was able to provide some really interesting information about DJ's driver in particular.

Most golfers today get sold on the fact that a longer driver is better for distance. As I'll prove today, that's not the case at all!

Doc ended up building DJ a driver, but you'll have to watch the video to see the critical change that was made. DJ's really hitting it solid and straight!

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

Comments

dgundling@verizon.net's picture

Submitted by dgundling@veriz... on

Would you expect to see a loss of swing speed, with age, which would cause 3 wood distance to drop from 160 to 75 yds?

Dave

Dale S.'s picture

Submitted by Dale S. on

Dave,

If your swing speed has dropped significantly with age, you may want to dispense with the 3 wood altogether and go to a 5 wood. It has worked well for me.

dgundling@verizon.net's picture

Submitted by dgundling@veriz... on

Thanks for the several replies. I think a bit of clarification on my part might help. Up until about last May, I hit my driver about 160 which had dropped since January from 180. My 3 wood was my normal club of choice for the second shot on every par 4 or par 5. It was my 160ish club but had dropped to like 140. In June I had a heart blockage and was given a pacemaker. In September I was diagnosed with fluid on the brain and had a brain shunt put in. Then in about November my right knee developed a torn meniscus. Started feeling pretty good so tried the driving range. I expected some drop off, but when the best I could do with either a PW, 7 iron or 3 wood was 75 yds on good clean hits, I thought something is dreadfully off. I am looking for solutions. I am 77. With 75 yds being the max I could hope for per club I would project about 116 as being near the very best I could average on the 6061 yd course I play on (6061/75=about 80 plus 2 putts per hole comes out to like 116. Hard to shoot par with those constraints.

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

Based on all that you're saying number one you're playing a course that's way too long with what I'm surmising would be your club head speed probably down in the 50 mile an hour range you need to be playing courses are about 4500 to maybe 5000 yards also at this stage of the game you don't even need a full set of clubs you need to have them staggered and more than likely the proper shaft for you would be a junior shaft of course this is all surmising it's not anything that I haven't seen and it's not anything that I haven't done but of course it would require a fitting in order to be able to tell you for sure

Russty Kiwi's picture

Submitted by Russty Kiwi on

That looks to be a very big drop in distance Dave. I think that even at 160 yds, unless you'r using the 3 wood off the tee, you probably should not have one in your bag. You will need a lot more loft to hit a ball off the fairway with a slower swing speed. Not to mention shaft options needed. Talk to someone like Doc.

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

If you dropped from 160 to 75 then there is a huge problem. HUGE! I'm sure you don't need a 3 wood but what would be advisable would be a guess without numbers. A fitting would be necessary.

Walburghian's picture

Submitted by Walburghian on

Just received my new Driver from Doc just like Surge described. First try yesterday in -1 degree Temperature so too early to make a definite judgement call. However the ball came off the club nicely and no problem getting good carry despite the temperature - we Limeys are a tough bunch. Thanks to Doc for great service

Leednc's picture

Submitted by Leednc on

I was just looking at the new Golf magazine at the new drivers and I can't believe what I'm seeing. Multiple $500 dollar drivers and one for $700; do the club manufacturers not know that golf participation is down? How many new people are going to take up golf with $50+ green fees and $1500 - $2500 for new sets of clubs?
My irons are 5 years old and my driver is close to 10; I have tried the newest and 'bestest' and never bettered my ping G2 by more than 5 yards or so. And 5 yards isn't worth $399+ to me.
My question is how does the rest of the Surge Nation deal with these constantly escalating prices? Doc, doesn't this have an impact on your business as well?

Checking the used club rack,
Lee

Dcgaylord's picture

Submitted by Dcgaylord on

Don... Are there any certified fitters/ instructors in southeast florida( palm beach county)? The closest ones listed on the website are in lady lake up by Orlando.
Thanks Dave Gaylord

Brady's picture

Submitted by Brady on

Our certified fitters and instructors are listed here on the site. We update the list the moment it changes - it is always kept up to date.

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

I would think that you were pretty close to Jupiter Florida and we're going to be there this weekend just sold the last spot today. shame that you didn't sign up for a fitting you could have had one from me while I was there

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

The prices of these other companies drivers in the escalating prices really doesn't have any bearing on my business at all I have not raise my rates in the last 7 years and I also have to ask what good is going to the used club rat if you buy a club that doesn't fit you you're still wasting your money

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

Excellent. First fitting of the trip. I'm stoked because this is going to be one fitting where significant results are going to be experienced immediately. I'm stoked and looking forward to it!!!!

Dcgaylord's picture

Submitted by Dcgaylord on

Thanks for all the time you spent with me today and making me understand how too long of clubs prevents me from swinging vertical. I am looking forward to trying my custom fit clubs and my free lessons with a quality Doc!! This guy knows his stuff people.

MikefromKy's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy on

I have been fit by a PPGS Fitter. I have had some serious health issues over the last 3 years. I almost lost my left leg from below the knee do to circulation issues. I ask my fitter about a new fitting last summer and he suggested waiting until my keg is all the way healed. The problem becomes not being able to completely get turned on to the left side I am right handed. I doubt that it is going to get any better than it is. I have lost at least a club to club and half distance all the way through the bag.

I have a 44" shaft driver reg flex built to a reg plus flex lost 20 yards. My buddy has a 44 " driver with a stiff flex shaft that I hit from time to time and pick my 20 yards back up it feels less sloppy more solid feel to hit.
I am back shooting in the upper 70's despite after all I have gone through at my home course.

I am using the clubs that were fitted to me should I continue to keep using them as is or at what point do I get a fitting with my limitations ?

MikefromKy's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy on

Brady

I have always been around in the back ground. I lost a year and half of playing with health issues since 2013.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Hey Mike, I'm sure many gave me up for dead it has been so long since I have said boo. Yes, Cindy and I are still alive and well. We're still Surge advocates, just been invisible on the blog for a long time. Any how hello to all and golf on indeed! Many may remember we live in Las Vegas. We took a two day trip to Sedona Arizona two weeks back and played a couple round at the Sedona Golf Resort course. So pretty. Cindy just gets better and better. Plays with me twice a week and she now shoots in the mid to high 80's all the time. Hope y'all are well and still chasing the lil ball around the grass fields. Gotta love it!

Brady's picture

Submitted by Brady on

Wow! Everyone is coming out of the woodwork. Have missed seeing the posts from everyone. Been rather quiet on the blog, despite the same number of people viewing the posts.

MikefromKy's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy on

Glad to here from you Robert was wondering what happened to everyone. Have not heard from Steve Smith in a long time or Dick and some of the others that were here in a long time hope everyone comes back.

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

Sure is good to see you both back. Surge and I were talking about both of you on the way to Florida. Wonder where Amos Roger reed are too?

Mike: stiff? Regular? What are they? Profile of entire shaft is the key. As for other clubs, if they are still satisfsctory, play them. Who is you fitter?

MikefromKy's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy on

Doc
It was Bill up here in Ohio. I am going to work on ringing the bell and the forward up swing and talk to him this spring about it. I like the irons he built for me back in 2012. I . halfway there now. I'm going to try rotating open the left front foot more and see how that works. I have half the feeling that I use to have in my left lower leg from all the scar tissue.

If this doesn't work I will have to suck it up and be happy to be playing the way I am.