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TWGT Earns Second
Hot List Award
TWGT
is pleased to announce that the 949 MC fairway woods have been
selected for inclusion on Golf Digest magazine’s 2008
Hot List.
This represents the second time that one of TWGT’s designs
has made the official list. The 515 GRT fairways were the first
TWGT design to earn a position on the official Hot List in 2006.
TWGT is proud to be the only company from the custom clubmaking
side of the golf equipment industry to have it’s designs
recognized and included in the official Golf Digest Hot List.
We are pleased to see that the 949 MC has been recognized for
what many of you already know it to be-an easy to hit fairway
wood that produces exceptional ball speed from its high COR,
forged high strength steel face design.
As a specialized design and technical research company that
doesn’t have the marketing dollars of the large already
assembled club companies, we are delighted that a design like
the 949 MC can originate from a custom clubmaking design company
to overcome the judging criteria of the Hot List and be appreciated
for its exceptional performance.
TWGT is committed to the design of superior performing equipment
to be offered exclusively through custom clubfitting. We would
like to take this opportunity to thank all of the custom clubmakers
who support our ongoing effort to educate golfers about the
benefits of professionally custom fit and custom built golf
clubs.
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New Year Means New
Designs and New Directions from TWGT!!
A Design Blog by Tom Wishon
Our TWGT E-TECHreport editor dropped a hint the other day that
since January means new catalog time, and since many clubmakers
focus on the new catalog to kick start the new year, what better
way for TWGT to talk about the new designs and new plans for
2008 than to have me do it in a first person article. So here
goes. Without further ado, we’re pleased to open the
door to 2008 and share the thoughts, concepts and actions which
will combine to create what I truly believe is by far the best
collection of products, services and support for your professional
custom clubfitting.
First a little preamble to preface my comments; normally when
I sit down to plan the next year’s product line, I never
like to create designs for the sake of simply adding models
to sell. Been there, done that in the past for other companies
and won’t ever do it again. At TWGT, new model development
results from different new performance concepts that we’ve
been working on, or at times to fill a “hole” in
the line to be able to offer a certain golfer type a product
aimed specifically at their fitting and game improvement needs.
In the case of 2008, our first “problem” was that
there really were no (what I jokingly call) “dog models”
in the 2007 catalog product line. What do I mean by a “dog
model?” It’s important to have a sense of humor
in this business. Over the many years I have been designing
golf equipment, I coined the term “dog model” to
describe any of my designs which don’t sell very well
or which don’t perform as well as other models within
the design area.
Plain and simple, there were no “dogs” in the 2007
catalog product line to retire and put out to pasture. Pretty
much the only model we dropped for 2008 were the PCF wedges
– and that was not because they began to bark, it was
because with the huge success of the Micro-Groove scorelines
and CNC Milled Face of the CX Micro wedges in 2007, it was time
to upgrade the narrow sole wedge family in our design line to
have the same spin-enhancing performance of the CX Micro wedges.
OK, we dropped the 0.900 COR driver heads we named the 0.9OL.
On January 1, 2008 the rule which limits clubfaces to a COR
of 0.830 was required to be “law” in every country
of the world. Prior to that date, the COR limit was only in
effect for play within the borders of the USA and Mexico. Now,
every golfer playing in competition has to use a driver with
a COR no higher than 0.830. Hence, out went the super high COR
drivers we’ll fondly remember as the 0.9OL design.
So, time to quit yammering and get to it. What’s new
for 2008?
DRIVERS
At the time they went into development, the 919THI drivers
were initially planned to be a new release in January 2008.
After all, the 525GRT drivers were new in the 2007 catalog,
so why dilute their impact by introducing the 919THI in mid-2007?
Well, for one, they were done, checked, tested, tweaked and
finalized earlier than originally anticipated.
For
the other, they impressed everyone so much in the testing, honestly
including me, that we all felt we should begin to introduce
the 919THI drivers in calendar year 2007. I think they must
have impressed a lot of you as well because within 6 weeks of
their introduction, we realized the 919THI were taking over
as the number one most popular driver in the TWGT design line.
There has to be a reason for everything. In this case, I think
Clubmakers and their golfers discovered the 919THI to be the
best driver for overall, total performance of any driver head
they have ever custom fit and built. On-center hit performance?
Yessir, very strong. Off-center hit performance? Well this one
is nothing short of fantastic. Even I was blown away that the
brand new type of variable thickness face we had created for
the 919 faces was perceptibly better. And that’s saying
something because I really believe the 525 and 949, the first
to incorporate the new direction we have been heading in variable
thickness face design, are superb.
We’ve actually had golfers tell us they intentionally
try to hit the ball a little off center toward the upper toe
area of the 919THI because the combination of carry plus the
additional roll from the toe side gear effect creates a longer
overall shot than a dead center or slightly above center face
hit!
For 2008, we have added a number of new 919THI fitting options.
In addition to the RH 9°, 11° and High Launch 13°
models which debuted in mid-2007, for 2008 we will offer the
additional versions of a 919 Draw Bias 10.5°, an 8°
square face, and coming in early spring, an Offset/hook face
11°. And yes, you southpaws can cheer, as we now have the
919THI in a 10.5° loft in LEFT HAND!
FAIRWAY WOODS
Call it ‘old school’ or whatever, but when I create
a new driver design that begins to garner a strong following,
something gnaws at me to design a matching set of fairway woods.
I know there is a strong trend among Clubmakers and golfers
to fit golfers with a different fairway wood model than the
driver, and yes, no question it is right to always look at every
golfer’s unique needs in a driver versus a fairway wood
model. In the end, my experience and age tells me it’s
almost as if I think the drivers are going to be “lonely”
unless I create a matching set of fairway woods to keep them
company!
The genesis or reason for existence for the new 919THI fairway
woods actually began from correspondence back and forth with
veteran clubmaker Richard Kempton from the UK. A long time friend
in clubmaking, Richard and most of his fitting clientele play
on ‘true’ links courses in England; courses that
have about as much grass on the fairways in the summer as a
3-day growth of beard on my face! Very tight lies in other words,
with ground that wouldn’t yield a real divot if you welded
a razor blade to the leading edge of a wedge! To Richard and
his golfers, the 33mm face height of the 949MC fairway woods
was even a little too deep!
When I decided to create the 919THI fairways, it was a foregone
conclusion they would mirror the longer face to back shape of
the 919THI drivers to push their MOI higher than any of our
current fairway wood models. To complement the higher MOI, I
decided to “make Richard’s day” by designing
the new 919 fairways to be the most shallow face wood in our
design line.
Equally important to the ease of playability in the 919 fairways
is the reduced sole area; even though the heads are longer from
face to back, I reduced the “sole footprint” by
elevating the rear of the heads off the ground to ensure good
playability from the fairway or first cut of the rough.
The
real design challenge posed by the shallow face 919THI woods
was whether we could keep with our tradition of being the first
to design a fairway wood with the same high COR limit of 0.830
normally associated only with drivers. The smaller the face,
the more difficult it is to get the face to flex the required
amount to achieve a high COR. Thanks to a little adjustment
in our manner of designing cup-face construction for fairway
wood faces, and with kudos to Carpenter Specialty Metals Corporation
for their brand new C475 high strength steel alloy, we’re
very pleased to deliver a shallow face, high MOI fairway wood
with a high COR for superb overall performance!
We’re introducing the 919THI fairway woods in lofts of
14°, 16.5°, 18° and 21.5°. This will allow Clubmakers
to better customize the fairway woods set makeup for the golfer’s
ability; for lower handicappers or those who have no problem
getting the ball well up off the deck, the 14° and 18°
make the ideal two-fairway wood set makeup. For less skilled
players, the 16.5° makes the perfect “second longest
wood” after the driver, with the 21.5° completing
the makeup.
HYBRIDS
When looking at our 2007 lineup of hybrid long iron replacement
designs, it’s pretty hard to say there were any “holes.”
From the original 321Li to the hot face, high COR 785HF to the
versatile 915F/H which offer the golfer a hybrid that looks
more like a fairway wood, I truly believe our custom hybrid
model selections are second to none in the industry.
However,
I felt that we should try to create a true hybrid that actually
looks like a conventional iron but plays like a modern hybrid.
Hence, the goals in the development of the new 585HI hybrid
irons was to work within the traditional face profile of a conventional
iron, but design the same playability features that our experience
has proven to make a hybrid easier to hit than any conventional
long iron.
Three separate and different design features combine to make
the 585’s a design for golfers who want to play hybrids
that have the look of an iron.
First, the sole and back design which keeps the center of gravity
both low and more rear located are cast in two pieces which
are then welded together. This allows us to customize the wall
thickness of the sole and rear walls to achieve the right CG
location for true hybrid performance.
Second, we incorporated a 0.335” hosel bore so the 585HI
heads are to be custom fit using one of the two different weight
versions of the GI-335 graphite hybrid shafts, or the steel
Series 5-335 tip shaft. There is no question our small tip hybrid
shafts are a key element in the performance of our hybrid long
iron replacement designs.
Third, we incorporated the Micro-Groove scorelines on the face
of each 585HI hybrid iron to increase backspin and from it,
increase the trajectory and soft landing capability of shots
hit with our new hybrid design. \
For 2008, we’re introducing the 585HI hybrids in a #2
(18°), #3(20.5°), #4(23.5°) and #5(27°), all
in RH and all designed with headweights to correspond to iron
length assembly. This practice of some companies making their
hybrids to be either fairway wood length or “in between”
wood and iron lengths is quite frankly, garbage, and another
example of how the industry wants to use distance to fool golfers
into spending their money.
To do anything with a hybrid long iron replacement other than
to fit the clubs to be the same length as the conventional irons
they are replacing is a waste of the game improvement technology
that makes a hybrid what it is, and what it should be. . . a
long iron replacement that is easier to hit.
IRON SETS
On the Forged Carbon Steel Side. . .
When I decided to expand the offerings in our forged line up,
I knew that what was needed was more of a tweak than a completely
new design. We’ve been very pleased with how popular the
550M and 550C have been and continue to be for clubmakers, but
the sole design was better for firmer turf and ground conditions.
With the introduction of the 555C and 555M, you still have all
the same mix and match options as with the original forged design,
but the 555’s now have a softer leading edge which will
work better for the softer turf and ground conditions.
In short, I recreated the same sole grind on both models that
I did for irons I had the honor to design for Payne Stewart
in 1999. The pronounced face to back radius with a blunted and
rounded leading edge now make the 555’s about as perfect
as I think I can make a traditional forged cavity and
muscleback design.
To keynote the new design, we are producing the 555’s
in a soft, satin nickel/chrome plating finish with a little
more understated graphics on the back of the heads. The player
who wants or needs a traditional, low offset, forged carbon
steel iron simply won’t find a better model from anyone,
anywhere on the planet. Strong words? I know. That’s just
how happy I am with the 555C and 555M ironheads.
And On The Investment Cast Side. . .
Shifting gears from forged carbon steel, the other new iron
design for 2008 are the 705w2 Investment Cast Stainless Steel
Irons – with the w2 representing the TWO weight bores
incorporated on each 705 iron to give Clubmakers the capability
of adding up to 15 grams of weight. This means a broader headweight
range for Clubmakers to use the 705 irons for MOI matching,
for light graphite shaft assembly or for assembly to shorter
playing lengths.
Over the past few years, some of the Clubmakers asked if I
was ever going to design a set of irons that would appeal more
to the average to better than average ball striker who did not
want to spend the money for a forged carbon steel iron. In my
opinion, the new 705w2 irons do fall into that category. With
their traditional profile, low offset and progressive back cavity
weighting, the 705’s are going to appeal to the golfer
who does not like super deep cavities with full offset.
By progressive cavity weighting, I mean that we have pushed
the cavity a little deeper, a little lower and increased the
weight low on the back of the long irons to offer a lower CG.
From the middle irons, the cavity begins to decrease and the
weight begins to move up the back of the heads, until on the
short irons and wedges, the 705 takes on virtually the same
back weighting as a muscleback design.
Golfers who really need the most off center hit forgiveness
possible need to focus on the 770CFE, the 560MC and the 752TC
irons. Good candidates for using the 705w2 irons are golfers
who need off center hit forgiveness far more on the long and
middle irons than on the short irons and wedges, as well as
players who prefer a traditional look with low offset.
Another very unique feature of the 705w2 irons is the use of
conventional scorelines on the #3, 4, 5 and 6 irons, with Micro-Groove
scorelines on the #7, 8, 9, PW, AW and SW. Fully acceptable
within the rules of golf, this combination of scoreline designs
within the set offers enhanced spin on the short irons and wedges
where it is most needed to stop the ball closer to the hole.
WEDGES
Shortly after we released the new CX Micro family of wedges
in 2007, I realized we were looking at another variation of
a “good news/bad news” situation. The good news
was that the USGA conforming Micro-Groove scorelines, combined
with the CNC face milling, allowed the CX Micro wedges to produce
1000rpms more backspin than a wedge of the same loft with conventional
scorelines.
The bad news was that I began to think that any new wedge designs
we might create in the future would have to incorporate the
Micro-Groove and CNC Face Milling technology or risk being ignored!
One of the other things I noted during 2007 was the occasional
comment from a clubmaker who recognized that the CX Micro sole
width was not as narrow as the sole width on the PCF wedges.
Putting
2 + 2 together, I realized that the PCF Micro Tour and PCF Micro
WS were wedge designs with conventional scorelines and normal
bead blasted faces. Hence, the stage was set to create two new
families of wedges – the new PCF Micro Tour Wedges would
be a traditional narrow sole design, the CX Micros would occupy
the role of the medium wide sole wedges, and an all new super
wide sole PCF Micro WS could be the super game improvement wedge
design. Three different player types, three different wedge
designs, but all with the Micro-Groove scorelines and CNC face
milling to offer the most capability for spin within three different
wedge fitting options.
One of the most fun times I had this year was the day the first
testing samples for the PCF Micro Wide Sole wedges arrived.
First though, I have to clue you in – if I have an hour
or two to kill and I am around the golf course, I love to take
a wedge and a few balls and throw balls everywhere around the
practice green to try to “get up and down”.
Because the sole width of the PCF Micro WS is over 30mm, I
knew in the design process that I would keep the bounce sole
angle very, very low. In wedges, the wider the sole, the more
any bounce sole angle is magnified. In short, the very low single
digit bounce of the PCF Micro WS allows these very wide sole
wedges to be played from ANY lie, and I mean even including
very short cropped grass with firm ground. My first day with
the initial design samples saw me hitting wide open cut/flop
shots from very tight grass and not once having the ultra wide
sole cause a bladed shot.
The
function of a super wide sole on a wedge like the PCF Micro
WS is to keep the sole from digging too deep in sand or “hanging
up” in tall grass. To have the ability to hit shots from
very short grass with such a wide sole is a real bonus. At any
rate, I personally am very high about the new PCF Micro WS wedges
– and yes, that first test sample is still in my bag because
it has been so much fun to hit in so many different shot conditions.
For 2008, we’re really being kind to the Left Handers
– the PCF Micro WS are available in RH in Satin Chrome
and Platinum Nickel finishes, in a 55° SW and 60° LW
version. LH in 55° SW in both finishes.
The new PCF Micro Tour narrow sole wedges are available in
RH in 48°, 52°, 56°, 58° and 60°, LH in
the 52° and 56° models. This is the first time I have
designed a standalone wedge like the PCF Micro Tour in a 48°
loft to allow golfers the option of a PW that matches their
standalone gap, sand and/or lob wedges.
STEEL SHAFTS
Over
the past two years, I wanted to develop a steel iron shaft that
was lighter than our popular Series 5 Steel. I believe sub-100
gram iron shafts have a place in clubfitting for golfers who
need or will play more consistently with a lighter iron total
weight, but who cannot afford an all graphite shaft set in the
irons, or who simply like the impact feel of steel iron shafts.
I also believe most golfers who fall into this category will
play better with a sub-100 gram iron shaft that is not too butt
or tip firm in its bend profile design. Typically, golfers who
play better with a lighter iron total weight are not usually
golfers with a strong, aggressive downswing move at the ball.
When cut and installed, the new TWGT Series 5 SuperLite Steel
Iron Shafts will weigh between 92-97 grams, which will allow
Clubmakers to offer golfers the impact feel of steel that so
many golfers still prefer, but in a lighter iron total weight
than is possible with conventional steel shafts.
Bend profile design wise, the Series 5 SuperLite is similar
to the Series 5 Steel irons, although with a slightly softer
tip section profile. Hence the Series 5 SuperLite irons are
available in both R and S flex versions, and are intended for
golfers who,
• Prefer the more crisp feel of steel vs the softer,
more shock absorption feel of graphite
• Have average to below average physical strength (1 or
2 rating)
• Have a smooth to average transition move (1 or 2 rating)
• Have an early to midway to even slightly late release
(1, 2 or 3)
• Have a smooth to average swing tempo (1 or 2 rating)
Series 5 Steel SuperLite Steel Iron Shafts are NOT for very
strong golfers or for golfers of average strength who have a
very strong transition, or for golfers with a very strong tempo
AND a very late release.
TWGT
GRAPHITE SHAFTS
Forgive me for saying, but I’m very proud of the work
I’ve had the opportunity and desire to do over the past
20 years in the field of shaft fitting research and analysis.
During the past three to four years, I truly believe that we
have identified the most accurate way to fit shafts to golfers
– by matching the design characteristics of shafts to
the golfer’s swing characteristics of swing speed, downswing
transition move, downswing tempo/acceleration, wrist cock release
and the golfer’s physical strength.
We’ve written articles in the E-TECHreport, covered the
subject extensively in Chapter 5 of the Common Sense Clubfitting
book, and included information to explain the principles of
TWGT shaft fitting in our catalog. Starting in 2008 we are taking
a bigger step to help Clubmakers fit shafts to the golfer with
more accuracy and confidence than before.
For 2008, each of our TWGT original designed graphite shafts
have been cosmetically re-designed to create a more uniform
appearance for our shafts to highlight the importance of TWGT
original designed shafts within the fitting and assembly of
each TWGT custom fit club. As part of the graphic re-design
of our shafts, each proprietary TWGT graphite shaft will carry
its individual fitting parameters of swing speed with the transition,
tempo, release and golfer strength ratings on the shaft.
Later in 2008, we plan to complete work on a new upgrade to
the TWGT Shaft Bend Profile Software to incorporate shaft fitting.
Our plan is to create a section in the software which will allow
Clubmakers to input the swing speed plus 1, 2, or 3 number ratings
for the golfer’s transition, tempo, release and strength
and obtain the shafts which match the golfer’s shaft fitting
requirements.
If you have overlooked TWGT’s original design shafts
in the past, you really do need to stop and join the thousands
of Clubmakers who use our proprietary, golfer specific shaft
designs for the majority of their custom clubmaking. We know
shaft design, shaft analysis and shaft fitting better than any
company in the golf industry today. Our shaft fitting methodology
is accurate to ensure TWGT shafts will result in a more accurate
overall fitting experience for
your golfers.
ADDITIONAL NEW TWGT PRODUCTS
If you haven’t noticed, knit headcovers with pom-poms
are making a definite comeback with golfers. For 2008, TWGT
has developed all new acrylic knit headcovers for your sales
of TWGT driver, fairway wood and hybrid clubs. Designed in an
attractive black and red style, TWGT’s all new knit headcovers
will be a very “in” complement to your custom fit,
custom built TWGT clubs.
Coming in April is the latest in TWGT’s book campaign
to educate golfers of the truths about golf equipment. The Right
Sticks: Equipment Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game came
about as a result of a request from the buyers for the Borders
and Barnes & Noble bookstore chains. The publisher of my
Search series books happened to show the buyers a copy of the
32 page booklet, 12 Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game, which
we created for Clubmakers to use as a low cost way to promote
their clubfitting services to golfers. Knowing that people want
their information in short, succinct doses, the major bookstore
buyers loved the short, “get to the point” format
of the 12 Myths booklet. They asked if I could create a book
of golf equipment myths that would be 100 to 110 pages in length,
but keep the explanation for each Myth at 3 to 4 pages in length.
Ask and you shall receive is my motto when it comes to getting
the country’s major bookstores to get behind a book that
will continue to promote custom clubfitting. As a result, TWGT
is optimistic when The Right Sticks is released in April, Clubmakers
will have more golfers knocking on their shop doors or calling
to be custom fit!
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TWGT Commentary:
Shaft to Head Connection Systems
It was some ten years ago that quick change, shaft to head
connection devices became available to allow custom Clubmakers
to offer golfers the chance to hit different combinations of
shafts and clubheads during a fitting session. The devices were
created with the belief that through actual hitting, the golfer
could find the right shaft and clubhead to walk away from the
fitting session knowing they were custom fit.
However, it is 2008 that such shaft to head connection systems
are initially going to garner a lot of publicity in all of the
golf magazines and golf information web sites. With more OEM
companies launching fitting systems which include a quick change
shaft to head connection capability, there is no doubt such
devices and the instant fit concept they convey to consumers
will be a topic of several conversations in your shop.
In the past six weeks, four golf magazines have asked TWGT’s
opinion of shaft to head connector systems. With such interest,
we felt it would be appropriate to state the facts and give
all Clubmakers the straight talk on the value of shaft to head
connector devices in a fitting session.
To an uneducated golfer, the concept of being able to find
their perfect club(s) by instantly hitting numerous combinations
of shafts and clubheads sounds ideal. Rather than taking measurements,
observing the golfer hit balls with his clubs or other demo
clubs, and combining the information with the clubfitter’s
knowledge and experience to offer the fitting recommendation,
the golfer can “plug and play” until they actually
find the right club(s).
However, to do that and end up with the very best custom fit
clubs requires so many pre-made shafts and heads to cover all
the key fitting specifications that no retailer and no clubmaker
could possibly afford them, much less be able to easily store,
organize and find the exact shaft and head to plug together
for each golfer to hit.
If we talk Driver fitting only, which is where most of the
OEM companies’ shaft to head connection systems are exclusively
focused, the most important fitting specifications are Length,
Loft, Face Angle, Shaft Flex, Shaft Bend Profile, Total Weight,
Swingweight (MOI), and Grip Size. Ignore one or two of these
in a fitting session and you not only risk sending the golfer
out with a Driver that falls well short of being able to improve
the golfer’s tee shot play. . . you pretty much ensure
less than optimum driving for the golfer.
The vast majority of the OEMs connection systems will only
allow golfers to try different shafts, all at too long of a
length, and with no consistency for swingweight. The OEMs’
connection systems will consist of a wide variety of different
shaft models, each one offered in 2 or 3 flexes. Driver heads
to plug into the shafts will be available in only a handful
of lofts, typically from 9 to 11 degrees, and with no options
for face angle.
The OEMs’ connector shafts are cut so the clubs will
all end up at each company’s standard men’s driver
length of 45” to 46”. All of the heads which the
shafts are to be attached are made to the same headweight, without
any ability to change headweight. As a result, plugging in a
shaft that weighs 55g will result in the connected club having
a low swingweight, while plugging in a shaft that weighs 90g
brings about a club with a high swingweight.
None of the OEMs’ driver heads for the connector systems
will have face angle options. Face Angle is without question
the number one fitting specification that can bring about an
improvement in accuracy for every golfer. In addition, few of
the companies will have heads for their connector systems with
lofts higher than 11°, a critical omission for many golfers.
In truth, to successfully incorporate a connection system in
custom fitting would require no less than 60 to 80 different
shafts and at least 36 different driver heads. How so?
If you know shaft designs, it is possible to pick a minimum
of 5 different shaft models in which the bend profile design
varies enough to fit most of the different golfer combinations
of transition, tempo, release and strength. More might be better,
but if you really study differences in shaft bend profile design,
you could find 5 different shaft models that could cover the
transition, tempo, release and strength requirements of 90%
of all golfers.
Next, each of the 5 different shaft models would need to be
included in 3 to 4 different flexes to cover a wide range of
golfer swing speeds. Five shaft models in 3 to 4 flexes each
means a group of 15-20 different shafts – and this is
the starting point only.
Each of these 15-20 different shaft models/flexes has to be
made in different lengths so when plugged into the heads, you
can offer driver lengths of 43.5”, 44”, 44.5”
and 45”. Now your count of pluggable shafts to cover all
golfer swing speed, swing mechanics and length fitting is 15-20
times 4 different lengths each, for a total of 60-80 different
shafts.
If you wanted to offer grip sizes to match most, but not all,
golfers’ hand sizes, you’d want to have each of
those 60-80 shafts built with grips of ladies standard, men’s
standard, men’s +1/64”, men’s +1/32”
and men’s +1/16” oversize. Do that and you’ll
be up to 240 to 320 different shafts!
You say we can skip the grip sizes and do the grip fitting
later? OK, we’ll buy that for practicality, so let’s
go back to the 5 different shaft models times 3 to 4 flexes
times 4 different lengths for a total of 60-80 shafts. Now it’s
time to switch over to talk about the driver heads you need
to plug into the shafts.
Since all golfers are not going to want to choose the same
clubhead model, you’ll probably need a minimum of three
different driver head models. Making an effort to keep things
under control, it is possible to cover the driver loft fitting
needs of 90% of all golfers with each of the three driver models
bought in lofts of 9.5, 11, 13 and 15 degrees. Not bad so far,
that’s only 12 driver heads.
Because 70% of all golfers slice the ball in varying amounts,
and you can’t ignore the other 30%, you will need to have
each of those 12 drivers in face angles of at least 0° square,
1° hook and 2.5° hook. Oops, that means you’re
now up to 36 different driver heads, into which you can plug
the 60-80 different shafts.
And by the way, if the driver heads don’t allow you to
add or remove weight to be sure every shaft can be plugged in
and set up to a viable swingweight (MOI) for each different
golfer, you’ll need to have a big roll of lead tape close
at hand as well. Simply plugging shafts of different weight
and length into heads is going to cause the swingweight (MOI)
of the clubs to be all over the place. And one sure ticket to
driver fitting failure is to ignore the swingweight (MOI) of
the club.
Total cost? Even if your suppliers give you a volume deal,
a successful shaft connection fitting system for drivers, one
that truly will allow the vast majority of golfers to find their
perfect driver through plug and play, will cost at in the area
of $4,000 to $5,000.
And we’re only talking drivers. Want to add on the same
plug and play capability for fairway woods? Hybrids? Irons?
You can see where this leads.
TWGT is not anti-connector in our fitting philosophy. We are
dedicated to true custom fitting and not the pretense of it
by “trial and error” fitting. Companies who tell
golfers they can be accurately custom fit with their shaft to
head connection systems, despite their severe limitations for
length options, no swingweight, no face angle, and not enough
loft options, will never provide as good of a fitting result
as a full fitting that considers all of the performance specifications.
If you wish to incorporate one of the available connection
devices in your fitting sessions, fine. They can be compelling
to consumers for their simplicity, so such a system in your
fitting sessions might actually reel in an interested golfer
you otherwise may not have landed for a potential sale.
But please, please understand that if you do use a shaft to
head connection system in your fitting, you must be careful
in setting up all the combinations of shafts and heads to include
options for length, swingweight (MOI), loft and face angle along
with the different shaft models and flexes. You can’t
possibly cover all the fitting parameters you may need to accurately
fit all golfers, but if you’re smart, you can put together
an assortment that can help satisfy the golfer’s curiosity
and give you enough additional information to allow you to come
up with a final fitting recommendation that is accurate.
If we did it for driver fitting only, this is how TWGT would
create such a system to allow for enough plug and hit options
to fit over 90% of all golfers:
Shafts (33 pcs total)
ZT Series Graphite - A, R flexes, each one in 43.5”/44”/44.5”
(6 pcs)
InterFlexx Mid/Low Graphite – R, S flexes, each one in
43.5”/44”/44.5” (6 pcs)
Series 7 SUL and FL Graphite-R, S, A, AA flexes each one in
43.5”/44”/44.5” (12 pcs)
Series 5-SL 65g Graphite – R, S flexes, each one in 43.5”/44”/44.5”
(6 pcs)
730CL Graphite – L flex in 42.5”/43”/43.5”;
(3 pcs)
Driver Heads (8 pcs total)
919THI – 9°/0 FA; 11°/1 hook FA; 13°/1 hook
FA; 11°/2° hook FA
525GRT – 9.5°/0.5 Open FA
915CFE – 15°/1 hook FA; Offset 11°/2° Hook
FA
730CL – 16°/1 hook FA
From these 264 different driver fitting combinations, such
a system would allow a combination for just about any golfer
who plays the game. Yes, the 21 shafts and 8 driver heads would
cost more than $1,000, but if you feel you need to be in the
shaft to head connection game, this combination of shafts and
heads will allow you to offer golfers a far better way to find
their perfect driver than through the head to shaft connection
systems any of the big golf club companies are offering.
On the other hand, you can also take the approach of the custom
tailor to offer an analytical fitting experience that conveys
extreme care and demonstrates fitting skills to the golfer.
* Session 1 – measurements of the golfer,
measurements of the golfer’s existing clubs, observations
of the golfer hitting shots to evaluate the contribution of
their swing mechanics to the fitting recommendations, showing
the golfer clubhead model options, making the golfer very aware
the KEY to their improvement is all about the precise FIT of
all 20 specifications of the clubs.
* Session 2 – Observing the golfer hitting
the small number of test clubs you have built based on the information/observations/golfer
feedback you obtained in Session 1. Obtaining the golfer’s
feedback about the test clubs’ performances, and making
decisions on the final specifications for the golfer.
* Session 3 – Doing the dynamic lie fitting
test and alterations of the full set, delivering the set and
taking payment from the golfer.
As we said, shaft to head connection devices have been available
to Clubmakers for more than ten years. If they represented such
a fool proof way to custom fit golfers, why haven’t these
connectors found their way into every single clubmaker’s
shop by now? They haven’t because the majority of Clubmakers
have learned they cannot cover all the important fitting requirements
to end up delivering clubs which are accurately fit to bring
about the most improvement in each golfer.
Accurate, professional clubfitting requires the clubmaker to
study and learn what changes in what fitting specifications
will bring about the most improvement for each different golfer
size, strength, athletic ability and swing characteristics.
Not some instant plug and play connection system that totally
ignores most of the key fitting factors in an effort to generate
the excitement to sell more clubs which never perform any better
for the golfers.
Please, don’t let the brainwash marketing of the big
golf club companies fool YOU into thinking shaft to head connection
systems are the greatest thing since sliced bread for conducting
a custom fitting session. The marketing of such systems this
year is going to fool enough golfers, and professional custom
clubfitting needs every committed clubmaker possible to learn
the truth and educate golfers about exactly what a truly accurate
and professional fitting experience is and can do for all golfers.
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TWGT Attends AGCP
Roundtable
TWGT’s
Director of Business Development Matt Mohi represented the company
at the 2nd Annual AGCP Roundtable Conference in Columbus, GA
hosted by AGCP founder Roy Nix. The three day meeting, held
December 10-12, was attended by some of the top clubmakers in
the country who also gave presentations on a variety of technical
subjects.
The Association of Golf Clubmaking Professionals is an organization
of professional custom Clubmakers whose goal is to create a
successful business model for clubfitters and clubmakers by
using proven, successful custom clubmaking business practices.
The AGCP strives to bring professionalism and true clubmaking
expertise into the custom clubmaking industry to a level that
will help serious clubmakers find the best way to not only enjoy
what they do but to make it profitable enough to make a living.”
(www.clubfitter.org)
TWGT’s Mohi said, “I always enjoy the opportunity
to meet with clubmakers face to face to hear what they have
to say about TWGT, their businesses and how we might be better
able to work together. This group was as technically savvy as
any clubmaking group I’ve dealt with and they were squarely
focused on how to build their clubfitting businesses."
AGCP member Keith Chatham and Mohi presented a joint seminar
on MOI Matching of Golf Clubs. Particular emphasis was placed
on both the fitting of MOI to the golfer and building techniques
to ensure accuracy of the desired golf club MOI for each club
in the set.
TWGT’s man on the ACGP scene, Matt Mohi, also gave a
presentation on the three different and most predominant Moments
of Inertia that we deal with in the golf equipment industry
– the MOI of the full assembled club, the MOI of the clubhead
about a vertical axis through the center of gravity, and how
the MOI of the assembled club about the axis of the golfer’s
spine has an effect on proper length fitting for the golfer.
Matt’s third and final presentation to the 75 AGCP clubmaking
professionals in attendance was a combination of a “sneak
peak” of a few of the new 2008 TWGT product designs along
with offering proven ideas of how to grow a clubmaking business
and leverage the brand recognition that TWGT has been created
through its Search and 12 Myths books for consumer golfers.
“The open nature of my last presentation ensured that
there was a good exchange of ideas,” Matt offered. “I’ve
been to a number of seminars over the years and for the most
part they focus on the technical aspects of fitting and building.
My last presentation gave us a chance to share some ideas that
we’ve gathered over the years from speaking with successful
clubmakers on a daily basis, as well as draw on my own personal
experiences of fitting and building in a retail environment.
I came away more convinced than ever that TWGT must utilize
some new technologies to get the word out to more consumer golfers
about true custom clubmaking and fitting.”
Roy Nix, founder of AGCP, presented an award for “Sponsor
who has contributed most to Clubfitting” which Matt accepted
on behalf of Tom Wishon and TWGT.
TWGT would like to thank Roy and Linda Nix for their hospitality
and dedication to making the AGCP Roundtable a success, as well
as the attendees who made this a rich learning experience for
all.
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