I spend a bit of time each year thinking about whether I have the proper equipment in my golf bag. As I age, my swing, physical conditioning, and flexibility vary more frequently than in the past. This is not a bad thing (sort of), but the nature of any player who is entering the latter part of their golfing career. At this time, I use stiff shaft golf clubs because my swing speed is at the low end of where stiff shafts are recommended by professional golf fitters. I am comfortable with my choice because I currently hit the ball straight and reasonably long. However, this does not stop me from examining my equipment every spring as I prepare for the upcoming season.

The inspiration for this article came from a recent game I played against a player I had not played with before. He was lamenting that his swing had changed so much that he really needed to have a fitting and to get sticks that would better fit his game. After watching him play, I would agree that it might be time to ensure his equipment fits his swing.

After watching a few videos, I found that there is more to analyzing our equipment than just buying the same “type of settings” that we always used. There is much more to finding the proper golf clubs to match our game than just one aspect like shaft flex. Rick Shiels explains this very well:

Finding the proper clubs to suit our swing is best accomplished through the help of a professional. For those of us who do not have readily available professionals to seek out, finding the right clubs is a bit of ‘hunt and peck’ method. It can be a long frustrating process, but once you find what your are looking for your game will be the benefactor.

Through the years, I have stuck to a stiff shaft driver. It best suits my swing and I have found great success sticking to that setting. However, I have tried (actually purchased and used for at least one season) various manufacturers that include Calloway, Cobra, Titleist, and John Daly (no judging). During my experiment with the different drivers, they all were set at 9.5 or 10 degrees and the grips were midsize. Keeping all of this in mind, I think that the conditions for each driver were very similar and my results were reasonable.

Regardless of which driver manufacturer I used, I never felt as comfortable as I do when hitting Calloway drivers. I am not sure why, but through the years this brand of driver always suited my game. Mostly, I hit the ball straight and reasonably long. Additionally, my confidence level was higher hitting a Calloway driver. At this moment, I am using a 2018 Rogue driver and love it. I hit it very straight and consistent. It is a the right club for my game and the proof is in the results when I play. I do try other drivers when it is time to replace, but it seems that the Calloway driver is the one for me.

This article is not a plug for Calloway, but a reminder that there are more aspects to choosing the proper golf equipment than just shaft flex. It is important for amateurs who have inconsistent swings, but so is degree of clubs, grips, golf swing, and attach angle to name a few. Hence, I take the time each spring to assess my equipment to ensure that I am using the clubs that best suit my evolving game and physical conditioning. Sometimes this process takes a short period of time and others much longer, but I can assure you it is time well spent.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!