Monday, December 28, 2015

Getting more loft with your irons

     One question I'm often asked from customers is how can I get more loft with my long and middle irons? Granted hybrids have become a popular alternative there are still many players who enjoy hitting their 3,4 and 5 irons. The problem is the lower trajectory shots won't hold and run off the back of the green.  
     The most effective way to increase height is to adjust the loft of your irons. Using a loft and lie machine to add loft will increase the trajectory - the ball will land softer and stay on the green. You will hit the shots just a far because the ball stays in the air longer, thus increasing your carry distance.
     Modifying your shafts can help, but to a lesser degree. Flighted shafts are designed to produce a higher trajectory in the longer irons, but not the shorter irons. Another method is to install a softer flex in your longer irons than what you have in the rest of the set. Soft stepping is another method where the 3 iron shaft is installed in the 4 iron, the 4 iron shaft in installed in the 5 iron, and so on throughout the set.
     If you have questions about the your equipment give Steve a call or stop by Golf Rx.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Gift Cards available at Golf Rx

     We all know golfers can be difficult to buy for which makes a gift card from Golf Rx the perfect solution. Golf Rx gift cards can be used for any of our products and services including lessons, golf equipment and club repair.
     So whether your golfer wants to improve their game, needs new custom fit clubs, or new grips for their existing clubs a gift card will make your shopping easier.
    We also carry Bushnell Rangefinders and Golf Buddy GPS handhelds and watches. Gift Cards may also be used for custom orders if we don't have the item in stock.
    For more information contact Steve at Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Things to consider about golf shafts

    I have often heard golfers say that the shaft is the "engine " of the golf club. Actually the shaft is more like the "transmission" of the golf club. It connects the player's hands to the clubhead, and allows the golfer to transfer his power to the clubhead, and thus, to the golf ball. Players who like to say the shaft is the engine of the golf club often come to this conclusion when experiencing shot improvement after making a shaft change.

   In regards to the importance of the shaft to the performance of golf clubs here are three factors to consider:

1. The weight of the shaft is important to all golfers because the shaft weight determines what the overall weight of the club will be. The weight of the shaft influences how much headweight is required to produce a particular feeling of the clubhead during the swing.
    Most golfers believe a lighter shaft will increase clubhead speed resulting in more distance. It is true a lighter shaft may increase clubhead speed, but this doesn't mean all players using a lighter shaft will experience an increase in distance. To do that the lighter total weight must be matched to the golfers timing and tempo so that they can hit the ball on center the highest percentage of time. Hitting the ball off center with higher clubhead speeds results in less distance compared with a slightly slower clubhead speed with more on center hits.

2. The flex and bend point of the shaft can contribute to launch angle and spin rate, but only for players who possess a late release of their wrist on the downswing. For the majority of golfers who unhinge their wrists early or in the first half of the downswing the shaft won't display any real difference in launch angle of spin rate. 

3. Most experienced golfers, not just tour players, have an inherent sense of feel regarding shafts. When players sense the shaft is too stiff, they tend to swing harder - and when the shaft is too flexible, they try to ease up. In both cases these swing adjustments are an attempt to make the shaft feel right for them. In either case the shot results are not very good. This is the classic example of a player adjusting his swing to the club rather than having the club built to his particular swing.