(Health Note: R&R for The Surge. Thank goodness for The Golf Channel. The doctors said his good recovery had a great deal to do with his healthy lifestyle: daily workouts, walking 9 or 18 holes, moderation in everything (except golf), and a good attitude. I would add hardheadedness to get well quickly. Again, he says thank you — and don't slack off on your practice, especially your short game.)
If you've followed the Surge's blog for any time period you have no doubt read a couple articles on fitting and its importance to good golf. The players that it will benefit the most are those of us who don't make a living playing the game.
However, while Tour players get the best equipment the manufacturers can provide, the equipment still need attention, and that requires a proper fitting.
PGA Pro DJ Trahan (left) discusses fitting
with The Surge (right), J. Lynn Griffin,
and fitting assistant Vaughan Griffin.
During the week of the Heritage, I had an opportunity to go down to Hilton Head Island and spend some time with DJ on the range after one of his rounds and 'run him through the paces,' so to speak. The information gathered was very interesting and informative.
We started with his irons. He was hitting really pretty shots with nice trajectories and very long (the understatement of the week). But he wasn't hitting the sweet spot dead on. So I adjusted MOI and got the ball striking spot on. Another thing that we found was that his lofts and lies were out. Some were off by a little, some by a lot.
A good example of what can happen with this factor was the shot DJ hit in the water on Thursday of the Heritage. He was between clubs and was debating between hitting a full 6 iron or a soft 5 iron. He went with the soft 5 and 'kerplunk'. Until I checked his 5 iron and found it to be 2* weak, he thought he'd hit the shot too soft. He didn't. I also found his shafts to be just a bit too soft. The corrective action for his 'gamers' (clubs) was to adjust the loft and lies and I MOI matched all his clubs. Since I felt the shafts were a bit soft, a complete new set was built using different shafts. Initial tests are good and I'll get more feedback after his practice round at the Wachovia on Tuesday.
We tested the driver next. The results from the driver fitting presented a very unique situation. DJ was using a new shaft that not been released to the public yet, so it will remain nameless. The characteristics of the shaft are very stiff tip, middle, and butt sections. The tip is designed to reduce spin. The shaft works! However, DJ's spin rate for the driver needed to be in the 2450 rpm range and it was in the low 2200s. This was also with range balls that are designed to spin.
I had him hit a couple shots with his Titleist balls and the spin rate was even lower at 1900 rpm's. This was not good. In essence, he was hitting a knuckle ball. The result is that the slightest bit of wind would blow the ball off line.
The other facet of his driving was that he had a very high launch angle. The oddity is that having such a low spin rate you don't normally have a high launch angle. The challenge was to get him into a shaft that would bring up the spin rate yet not increase his launch angle. I think we were successful. He has tested the new shaft on the range and initial feedback was good. We now have to have a live test on the course. With his old shaft his average distance was about 311 yards. With the new shaft his average was 323.9 yards.
I stood and watched in amazement as he made the ball go left, right, high, low, just about whatever he wanted it to do. I finally said, “How do you do that?”
Without missing a beat, DJ turned to me and said, 'Lots of practice, and a good teacher.'
J. Lynn Griffin
Note for Golf Schools:
California PPGS schools at Talega Golf Club in beautiful San Clemente, May 17 ' 19 and 20 ' 22 are still on! Instructors: Derek Hardy (PGA's 2010 Horton Smith Award winner) and Greg MacDonnell, Don's #1 PPGS teacher
One Day PPGS Golf School!
Location: Old South Golf Links, Bluffton, South Carolina
Instructor: Greg MacDonnell, PGA, PPGS Certified
Tuition: $599. (IC Members receive 10% discount)
Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1
Curriculum & Dates:
Long Game – May 3, 5,10, 12; June 7, 9, 21, 23; July 5, 7,19, 21
Short Game, May 4, 11; June 8, 22; July 6, 20
Instruction: 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Includes lunch and 9 holes of golf following instruction
CALL: 1-888-847-9464
Recommended accommodations: Hilton Garden Inn (3 minutes from course).
1575 Fording Island Road (U.S. 278), Hilton Head Island, SC 1-877-782-9444
Airports: Savannah International Airport (45 minutes), Hilton Head Island Airport (15 minutes)