The Golf Academy Player Profile & Interview. The first step of the TGA Fitting Process takes you through a comprehensive Player Profile. It is our belief that the most important step in any properly performed custom fitting session is the Golf Performance Screen and personal interview to gain an understanding of a player’s current game and the identification of his/her individual goals relative to golf. While we believe this is the most important stage of the fitting process, it is widely ignored and/or neglected by the majority of custom fitters and never used by the large golf retailers. How can anyone properly fit you for golf equipment if he doesn’t know: (1) how long you’ve been playing golf, (2) what you currently score on the golf course, (3) if you are rapidly improving or if you have been stuck at the same level for a significant period of time, and much, much more…? Profiling you as a player is an essential element to performing an accurate and effective fitting. At TGA we place a substantial emphasis on understanding your current game as well as where you want your game to go.
Complete Analysis of Your Current Clubs. We use the advanced technology we’ve talked about throughout to measure critical data about your current equipment. We measure the following parameters:
- Shaft Profile of Irons/Woods (frequency, torque, flex and kick point)
- Wood Face Angle
- Wood Loft Angle
- Iron Loft Angle
- Length of all Clubs
- Hosel Type (offset or non-offset)
- Iron Clubhead type (oversize, cavity, muscle, blade)
- Swing Weight
- Lie Angle
- Grip Size
- Grip Type
Swing Profile Measurements. We take a detailed look at your swing and measure it on a variety of angles. We take a look at the following parameters:
- Swing Path
- Face Angle at Impact
- Clubhead Speed (6 iron & driver)
- Impact on Clubface (heel, toe, center)
- Lie Angle (through Swing Labs and re-verified with lie board)
- Club Length
- Ball Spin Rate
- Ball Speed
- Carry Distance
- Club Rotation
- Solid Hit Factor
- Grip Size
- Swing Tempo
- Swing Length (important for shaft recovery)
Static Fitting. The next step of the TGA Custom Fitting Process is to determine your static fit. The Static fitting is a compilation of your physical measurements including:
- Height
- Wrist-to-Floor
- Hand Size
- Set-up Length
These physical measurements are used as a starting point for the next step in the TGA Fitting Process- Dynamic Fitting. Golfers with similar physical measurements (static fit) can necessitate very different club specifications. This is because ultimately club fitting must be matched to a golfer’s swing and not his/her physical make-up. Two players with the exact same physical make-up can have very different golf swings. Thus, properly performed club fitting is about placing you into the right equipment dynamically relative to how you impact the golf ball, not how you address the golf ball statically. As such, we use the Static fitting information only as a starting point for our dynamic fit and as verification of your final club specifications.
Dynamic Fitting. After we have profiled your game, performed your static fitting, we then move into the dynamic aspect of your fitting experience: During the dynamic fitting we will analyze your golf swing and the corresponding actual ball flight in order to determine the following equipment specifications:
- Lie Angle
- Length
- Shaft Flex
- Shaft Type
- Shaft Weight
- Shaft Torque
- Loft
- Grip Type
- Grip Size
- Much more
TGA state-of-the-art technology, using our V1 Digital Video Analysis. FlightScope Doppler Radar Launch Monitor, I-Club, K-Vest and 3D Weight Right Force Plates may all be used to ensure a properly performed dynamic fitting session. Club head speed and ball flight are critical information to properly fit you. Our certified fitting professionals use lie tape and face tape during our dynamic fitting process as but one of many indications of your proper equipment specifications. At the conclusion of your dynamic fitting session, we guarantee you will be completely confident in your true custom club specifications.
Functional Gap Analysis / Set Composition Profile. During this step in the TGA Fitting Process we will evaluate your complete set composition and analyze the distance gaps between each of your clubs. USGA rules dictate that a golfer may carry a maximum of 14 clubs in his or her golf bag during a round of golf. How do you know what 14 clubs will most benefit your game? Moreover, do you know with certainty how far you hit each of the clubs in your current bag and under what circumstances specific clubs should be used? These are among the many issues we will address and resolve during the Functional Gap Analysis and Set Composition Profile of our fitting process.
General golfing statistics show that 70% of golf shots occur from 120 yards and closer to the green. How many clubs do you carry in your current bag that you hit from 120 yards and closer to the green? Most amateur golfers carry one or maybe two clubs that they hit from this distance. Correspondingly, most amateur golfers carry 10-11 clubs that they hit from 120 yards and farther. This is a prime example of a common set composition issue that causes many golfers to lose critical strokes simply because they have an improper set composition in their golf bag.
How many wedges do you carry in your golf bag? How many fairway woods? Do you carry any hybrids in your bag? How far do you hit each club? Do you have a consistent yardage gap between each of your irons? What is the yardage gap between your longest iron and your weakest lofted fairway wood or hybrid? Do you find yourself making half and 3/4 swings with your current set composition because you are always “between clubs”? Do all of your shaft flexes match? Are the lengths and lie angles of your clubs correct? Are the lofts of your clubs correct? All of these questions and many more will be addressed and resolved.
Club Type, Make & Model. After we have profiled your game, taken you through the static and dynamic fitting process and performed the functional gap analysis and set composition we now have the information necessary to select the proper club type(s), make(s), and model(s) that are best for your game. Are you looking for just a new driver, fairway metal(s), hybrid(s), irons, wedge(s), a putter or any combination thereof? Do you need steel or graphite? Cavity back or blade? Should you play with super game improvement or players clubs? Are aftermarket shafts or vendor stock shafts something we should consider? Are your current clubs okay with just minor modifications?
The TGA Certified Fitting Pros have taken you through an interactive pre-fitting session utilizing state-of-the-art launch monitor, swing analysis and other fitting technology to determine the proper club types, makes, and models of the equipment that will be best for your game. At the end of this portion of the fitting process you will feel 100% confident that you have selected the best possible equipment for your game.
Test Clubs. Based on all these factors and findings, we provide a variety of test clubs to sample & swing. We offer a chance to test and experience clubs that are similar to those recommended.
Custom Fitting Wrap Up & Recommendations. The final step of the TGA Custom Fitting Process is a relaxed and informative wrap-up session with your TGA Certified Club Fitter. During this session we will walk you through the entire process and thoroughly explain each of the specifications determined for your club(s) through our Swing Labs software. The Wrap-up includes: a review of your Player Profile report and Static Fitting, a shot-by-shot analysis of your dynamic fitting session, presentation of your set composition and functional gap analysis results, and a final, easy-to-understand summary of your order and custom fitting information. We will then clearly explain the timing and process for delivery of your custom ordered golf club(s). Allow us the opportunity and we guarantee you will be amazed at what we can do.