This week, we are still on fitting protocol. Today, we can discuss set make up. We have the right specs, but what clubs will we need to make the perfect set?

A couple of things to note. As lofts have gotten stronger and distances go further, the way we figure out a set makeup has changed too. In the old days, we would simply say “a 5 iron goes right under your 4 hybrid, so let’s do a 5- PW set. The PW will fall right above your current 52* wedge.” Not any more. 

Wedges are still built like old school irons. They don’t have the face flex, multi-material construction, or hollow body designs of todays irons (you wouldn’t want them to). As a result, there is a challenge on the club design side to make the shorter irons progressively less “active” so they blend in better with the wedges. The reality is that the 41* PW in the Paradym X set will not blend seamlessly with a players 52* wedge. You’ll have to figure out how to split that yardage gap.

As a fitter, you have to do a couple things. First, you have to know what a player is keeping, and what he’s replacing. The pre-fit interview will tell you this, and this is an EXCELLENT question to ask. Remember, you want to ask questions that the launch monitor can’t answer for you… So, if his 50* wedge is new and he wants to keep it, you need to play with the numbers to get them to work out. Second, you need to stop fitting by club numbers and start fitting by yardages. Todays clubs are longer than their older counter parts. They just are. Many irons are made like mini-woods. As a result, you need to fit by how far they go, rather than what number is stamped on the bottom. A few sentences ago, I said you have to play with the numbers – I mean yardages. If a 5 iron goes 190, you need a 200 yard club, not necessarily a 4 hybrid. If a player says he wants to keep his 4 hybrid, have him hit it on the launch monitor and see how far it goes. If it goes 190 (in the example above), his longest iron should go 180. On todays irons, that could be a 7 iron.

What’s essentially happening today is we are taking clubs out of the top end of the set and adding clubs at the bottom of the set. the old 4-PW could be a 6-P,A,G set. In the Paradym X, the 4 iron is 18.5*. My old Mizuno MP30 2 iron from 2002 was 18*. Ask yourself if you would put this player into a 2 iron 20 years ago. Based on how many 2 irons we sold back then, I’d say probably not. I’d think a Paradym X 6 iron at 24.5* is a pretty good starting point for almost everyone. Longer players may start at 7 iron. Let’s put this into perspective. The MP 30 set referenced above has a 39* 8 iron, 43* 9 iron, and 47* PW. That is essentially 9, PW, AW in Paradym X. See how we are 2 clubs stronger at the top end, but only 1 club stronger at the bottom end? 47* Pitching Wedge is not the world we live in any more. 

Want to have some fun? Hit the Apex TCB 7 iron, then the Paradym 7 Iron. I did it on Friday. Same shaft. Paradym goes 25 yards further for me. It puts what the tour players do into serious perspective!! The TCB is built like an old school iron. Two seven irons that go 25 yards different. You simply can not fit by club number any more. You have to fit by yardage. 

When it comes to FW Woods. If the player has a 12* driver that is set to D/+2, a 15* 3 wood is not a good option – EVEN IF the player asks for it. Explore other options. Heaven wood. 5 wood. Consider more lofted FW Woods (9 wood/ 11 wood) instead of stronger lofted hybrids (3,4,5 hybrid) for slower swing speed players. A 9 wood has 24* of loft. So does a Paradym X 5 hybrid. I can almost guarantee you that the 9 wood will be easier to hit, higher to launch, and straighter. Put it in the mix for yourself. Many slower swing speed players don’t need more than one FW Wood stronger than a 7 wood. Using 9 wood and 11 wood is an epiphany for many players. Try it, you’ll see.

When it comes to women, keep this in mind. Just because the USGA says you can carry 14 clubs, doesn’t mean you have to. Most women can get away with 8-10 clubs and find that’s more than good enough. Too many clubs gives too many choices and yardage gaps that are way too close together. If a lady hits her driver 150 and a wedge 50, that gives you 80 yards (you’re looking to fill 60 to 140 yards). 8 clubs at 10 yard increments gives a 10 club set (plus a putter). If a player hits driver 250, that gives that player 100 extra yards to gap. Gapping 190 yards is MUCH different than gapping 80. Think about it this way. What club do YOU hit from 150? 8 iron?? Do you have 14 clubs from your 8 iron on down?? How many do you have? 6? Don’t be shy about going every other iron if it makes the distances match up. 

I hope this helps!! Happy Fitting