New Business Hours

Please note that beginning on July 6th we will be open two days per week - Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 5:00. 

What is torque?

    You often hear the word "torque" in reference to golf shafts and I often have customers asking what it is. Torque is the shaft's resistance to twisting around its axis. Shaft engineers design shafts with different amounts of torque to create a certain feel with that shaft. Lighter, more flexible shafts will have a higher torque allowing the shaft to twist more. Heavier, stiffer shafts are designed with a lower torque so the shaft twists less. 

    Torque ratings are specified by a number scale. For instance a heavier, stiffer shaft may have a torque rating of 2.5 degrees compared to a lighter, softer shaft with a torque rating of 5.0 degrees. The lower the number the less the shaft will twist during the swing. Most of the twisting of a shaft takes place after impact so torque is more about creating a certain "feel" in the shaft than anything else. 

Beware of upselling when shopping for a new driver

Players today should expect to pay between $400 and $550 when shopping for a new custom fit professional grade driver. Unfortunately what often happens is they pay nearly twice this amount because of what's called upselling. The fitter says "Based on the results of your fitting the shaft you need is on our custom tier and will cost an additional $300." You end up paying $700 to $850 for a driver. At most club fitting chain stores the staff is trained to upsell the customer to increase their commissions and profits.
 Is paying an additional $300 for a custom shaft worth it for most players? If you are a PGA Tour Player the difference may be worth it ( they don't pay for their clubs ) but for most amateurs - even scratch players - the difference is small if any.
Most recognized golf club companies will offer 3 to 4 shaft options at no upcharge. These are high quality shafts from reputable companies such as Fujikura, UST Mayima, Aldila and Project X.
The most important thing is to be professionally fit to find the right shaft for your swing characteristics.
If you really want to improve your game take the $300 you saved and purchase some lessons from your local PGA Professional.

Importance of being fitted for your putter

    Think about this statistic: Putting accounts for 40 to 50 percent of your total strokes. With one club being used for nearly half your strokes it certainly makes sense to be fitted for your putter rather that buying a random one off the rack. The three most important factors in a correctly fitted your putter are length, lie and loft. 

   Proper length is based on your height, wrist to floor length and putting posture, i.e. do you crouch over like Jack Nicklaus or stand taller like Tiger Woods. 

   The standard lie angle for putters is 70 degrees. A too upright putter will cause the ball to go left of your of your target - a too flat putter will cause the ball to go right of your target. 

   Putters on average have 3 degrees loft.  Depending upon the amount of negative or positive shaft lean you have at impact your putter may need more or less loft to create a proper roll.

    The iPing Putting App is an excellent tool in determining the right specifications for your putter. I use it in all my putter fittings. Call the shop to schedule an appointment and learn how a custom fit putter can save you strokes on the green.

10 Year Anniversary

    This month marks the 10 year anniversary of Golf Rx. I opened this business to provide instruction, custom fit golf equipment and club repair services to the Nashville Golf Community. In the past 10 years Golf Rx has been featured in PGA Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Tee Times Magazine and was named to Golf Digest’s 2017 Top 100 Clubfitters List. This attention and very kind referrals have allowed me to reach beyond Nashville into the surrounding areas. 

   When you visit our studio you deal with me personally. You benefit from my years of experience and my standards and ideals. I value each and every one of you who has helped Golf Rx and me, reach this milestone.

Steve Kirkpatrick

PGA Professional – Owner

Golf Rx

Should I choose steel or graphite shafts?

     I often hear customers say they now should be using graphite shafts because they are getting older.  I ask them why they think this and they usually respond " Well, all my friends tell me that I should".  There are a number of factors to consider when choosing graphite or steel shafts. - age can be a factor but it certainly isn't the most important one.
    First, what are the primary differences between graphite and steel shafts? Graphite shafts are usually lighter than steel and have better dampening ( absorbing vibration) characteristics. Because shaft weight is the number one factor that controls the overall weight of the golf club, graphite shafts  have the potential for more speed and possibly more distance. Today, because of improved technology the disparity in weight between graphite and steel has narrowed considerably. Steel shafts weigh between 80 to 130 grams where graphite shafts weigh between 50 and 125 grams.
     There are a number swing characteristics to consider in finding the right shaft for a player. Club head speed, swing tempo, how the player loads and unloads the shaft as well as the physical strength and fitness of the player.
     In some cases a heavier shaft gives a player a more favorable "feel" and more control of the club head. Generally we find this to be the case with players who are physically strong with more aggressive swings.

     The best way to determine the right shaft for you is to be fitted by a qualified professional. During a fitting the player will hit a variety of shafts to determine which one results in the best shot dispersion, consistent launch and more frequent on center hits. Shaft fitting is also subjective meaning the players feedback on how the shaft feels is important to consider. 

     If you have questions please feel free to call Steve at Golf Rx or stop by.  

Bushnell GPS items on clearance

Right now we have the 2019 Bushnell GPS products on clearance. Included are the following products:

Bushnell Tour V4 Laser Rangefinder                       $279
Bushnell ION2 GPS Watch                                      $169
Bushnell Phantom GPS with magnetic mount         $119

Prices apply to in stock items only.