Higher IS Further!!

At the AGCP Roundtable 5, we had the treat of listening to Tom Wishon (Tom Wishon Golf) talk for about 2 hours on things he has learned from working in the golf club business for about 40 years.

He noted his belief that the top 3 factors that have a major influence on driving distance are (in order of importance):

1. Driver loft
2. Driver length
3. Driver MOI/Swingweight

I believe that shaft flex and shaft flex profile are also important in fitting for distance – but I think Tom’s point is that the three factors above play the Most important role in obtaining more distance.

The more I have thought about this in the past month, the more I agree with him. I recall one of the best driver fittings that I have ever done, and what I did was put the player into a 13 degree driver with a 43 inch length. This was for a player over 70 years old who I do not think has ever hit his drives 200 yards – but he could with this club.

I also think about what I see from the “big boys” on the PGA Tour. I do not think you ever see drives that are low and boring any more – they all fly high and carry long. All of their drives fly significantly higher than I know my drives do.

But the majority of drivers that we see in stores are still 9.5 degrees, 10 degrees, 10.5 degrees of loft. Maybe good for players who have 100 plus mph swing speed, but most of us are well below that.

Do not be afraid to test 13 and 15 degree drivers – the final results may surprise you!

Tony