- Audio version at the end of this post –
This subject has been approached several different times on the blog and it is an excellent question. My stock answer has been that the dynamics of the swing that we measure in a club fitting will not change that much so the old clubs should fit. I have given this a touch more thought and would like to delve a bit deeper into the question and answer.
First, the assumption is made that the old club fit to begin with. Not knowing what type of fitting or just how thorough the fitting really was, I cannot say with certainty that the clubs as they are fit the old swing much less the new swing. Therefore, if your fitting was done by a big retail chain operation or by anyone that only did a partial fitting, you may want to get a “second opinion.”
In switching from the flatter rotational swing to the more vertical PPGS swing, there are a few things that perhaps deserve more scrutiny. Let’s look at length first.
Some of you that are a tad bit shorter than the average American male and have a shorter wrist to floor measurement have more or less had to swing with the flat rotational style swing. The biggest reason for this is that the off the rack clubs are too long. If you were to swing these long sticks vertically you would be pounding the dirt well before the ball (fat shots). Does this sound familiar to anyone? This would case number 1 where the old clubs would not fit and a change would be needed.
I occasionally see posts on the blogs about distance loss. I think some of this is due to not properly understanding the PPGS fundamentals but I also think some of it can be due to loss of swing speed which results in loss of club head speed. With the long looping rotational swing you were likely to generate more club head speed than going to the ¾ limited turn PPGS swing. This will not be the case with everyone but if you fall into this category then you may need to go to a bit softer more flexible shaft.
Thirdly, the toe down effect and resulting lie angle may need to be checked. If going from the rotational swing to the vertical swing you notice that the toe of the club is making deeper marks in the ground, you will need to have the lie angle adjusted to a more upright position.
Of course as is always the case, see a good fitter. I will post fitter information again in an effort to help you locate someone to help you with your clubs. I appreciate the personal emails asking for fitters in a certain locale’, but I would have to use the same web site that I’m going to list below to see if anyone is listed in a particular area. I do not do personal recommendations as a rule other than the three PPGS fitters listed.
Thanks for your continued support of the PPGS, Surge, and the staff. You are the greatest bunch of golfers on the planet!
PPGS CERTIFIED FITTERS:
Bronson Wright: www.theclubfix.com (West Coast)
Russ Ryden: www.fit2score.com (Texas)
J. Lynn Griffin: www.thegolfstop.net (East Coast)
FITTER LOCATOR SITE:
www.agcplocator.com (this is not a personal or PPGS recommendation of anyone listed rather a tool to assist in your search for a qualified fitter)
Better Golf Is Just A Fit Away!
J. Lynn Griffin, Master Fitter/Builder
PPGS Certified Instructor
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Wmbrooks, If you are interested in a great training aid for keeping your left wrist flat, i have found one on ebay. I have been using it for a month or so and it's really a great and very simple, also cheap (under $20.00), product. It will not let you cup or bow your left wrist, so you get the true feeling of a flat wrist swing. Under golf training aids, type “jama wrist brace” into the search block. Or use the Item number: 260542186057 . It's really helped me to keep my wrist flat, throughout the entire swing, especially at impact, to keep from cupping or bowing. Good luck.
Steve,
The only videos that require anything special are the flash videos (such as the updated setup) which take a little conversion before burning to disc so a DVD player can read them. The software to burn video to a disc an play it on a DVD comes standard on almost every computer …. and for those without the software, google will point them to free software that gets the job done.
one way to stop the incessant DVD “can't find them” chatter is for Don to stop calling them DVD's. On-line video downloads makes perfect sense. I have suggested this before.
We are all very tired of hearing about the computer illiterate. This should be about golf only.
Now, about the continued success of my cut down driver and 3wood. My new number is 43″. Awesome. I have some friends with hacksaws out.
I gained distance. After I figured the swing out, I had trouble scoring even though I hit the ball on a rope. The problem was that I was hitting the ball over the green into the Zone of Death. It took almost a month of adjustment to believe I was hitting a full club further.
Range of motion can be helped by Feldenkrais exercise , (http://www.feldenkrais.com/)or yoga. Speed by working out on rotation with light resistance
Speed up your arms and hit it farther.
I was playing today with a guy who is fairly new to the game but is a very good athlete. He was struggling with consistancy although very long with the driver. He finally asked me what he could do to be more consistant. He started his swing with a wrist cock and by the time he got to the top of his swing everything was off plane. I showed him how DJ holds his hands and wrists throughout the swing and he started hitting everything dead straight and had to make a 2 club adjustment on irons because everything was going right over the flag and off the green. This was with only one of the PPGS principles. I told him I didn't expect him to make that much improvement that quick. He shot a 79 (breaking 80 for the first time) even after hitting the first few irons over the green.
Hey Lynn,
Love your posts and the PPGS (20 to 15 handicap this season so far). Regarding getting fit for clubs, I live in Michigan and have an AGCP Master of Golf Club Technology fitter about a 2 hour drive away and a Certified Class “A” PCS Club Fitter about a 45 minute drive away. Is it a no-brainer for someone of my skill level to spend the time and money to get fit by AGCP Master rather than the PCS Club Fitter? Or maybe it wouldn't make that much difference?
The PCS folded up 3 years ago. Go see Mr. Hoefling and tell him I sent you.
Thanks Lynn, greatly appreciated.
Hi! Surge: I started playing golf in 2004 at age 71 and love the game but have the banana slice problem. They tell me I'm not rotating my wrists soon enough and leaving the club head open. I've tried aiming left of the target to compensate to no avail. Am I just one of those people that can't use this PPGS 3/4 swing to hit the ball straight off the tee? Do you have any ideas?
Larry from Massachusetts
Larry,
You identify your problem. By not rotating your arms back to your address position and squaring the club head you're dooming yourself to a slice. It doesn't matter if you use the PPGS or a big rotational swing … if you leave the don't get the club square at impact the ball will slice. As Don says in his free videos and the paid lessons … aim where you want the ball to go (you can't play for it if you don't want it) …. then concentrate on getting your hands back to square the club.
Take the club back with a one piece movement, rotate your arms to get the toe up in the “mitt”, lift up the tree, bump and reverse the process until you reach the T finish.
Hi Larry,
The LAST thing you wan't to do to try to fix a slice is aim left of the target line. This is what you would do to intentionally hit a slice. To fix your slice figure out why the clubface is going through the hitting zone open. There are several things that can cause this and not seeing your swing it would be a guess. Probably coming over the top or improper grip. Just to try to work it out try aiming a little right of target and aim your clubface a little left of target on the range and see if you can hit a few draws. If possible have somebody stand behind you to make sure you are not coming over the top or video your swing.
I don't believe there is any such thing as “one of those people that can't use this 3/4 swing to hit the ball straight”. You can work it out!
Hi Surge, my question is about when to see my local club fitter. I am transitioning to the PPG swing. I took your advice and had my driver shortened an inch and it made all the difference. My mizuno irons seem to be fine but I wonder if they are optimum and how will my local club fitter know? By the way he was voted the 2008 International club fitter of the year. In short should I get a fitting now or wait until I am more proficient in the PPG swing?
Hi Surge, my question is about when to see my local club fitter. I am transitioning to the PPG swing. I took your advice and had my driver shortened an inch and it made all the difference. My mizuno irons seem to be fine but I wonder if they are optimum and how will my local club fitter know? By the way he was voted the 2008 International club fitter of the year. In short should I get a fitting now or wait until I am more proficient in the PPG swing?