If you want to play great golf in 2024, start with the best equipment fit for YOUR swing! As you reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024, if you are like most of us, there is room for improvement! Even the tour pros spend a lot of time with their coaches analyzing their rounds and making a plan to improve. We know it takes proper technique, practice and the right equipment fit to YOUR swing.
Analytics and More
One of the top degrees coming out of college these days is Data Analyst. The era of "Big Data" is here, even in the golf industry. When Mark Broadie wrote "Every Shot Counts" in 2014, it was used very little on the PGA Tour. Now, Strokes Gained is used and commented on regularly by tour players, analysts, and commentators. Golf Digest recently published this article on how analytics are being used on tour! The results have been pretty dramatic for several players! So, take a look at your scorecards and find out where you are losing strokes. Missed fairways? OB? Poor iron shots? Short-siding your wedges? Putting letting you down?
If You Have ARCCOS Golf, USE IT!
The use of distance measuring for all of your clubs is becoming more prevalent. Two of the most important aspects in my opinion are telling you where you have distance gaps, and helping you with club selection on courses you are not familiar with. So, take a look at this technology and see if the analytical side you thinks it is worth it. Click Here!
Get Fit for YOUR Game with our FREE Fit Quiz!
If you have not been through a professional fitting, make 2024 your year to do so! Understanding the dynamics of your swing (tempo, transition, release point) and how it affects shaft and head selection is key to improved performance! See this blog on the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer...awesome technology!
- Go see a Golf Digest Top 100 Clubfitter. If you cannot, use our FREE Fit Quiz.
- Select the "pain points" in your bag and get those fixed first! See our thoughts below.
- Choose the right set makeup (irons, hybrids, wedges, etc.) to make the game easier!
- Use our FREE Fit Quiz to See our Recommendations for Length, Shaft Weight, Flex, Trajectory, Spin and Swing Weight for Every Club in your Bag!
Look at these Key Equipment Areas:
- Hit Longer, Straighter Drives
- Get the Right Fairway Wood
- Better and More Hybrids
- Play the Right Irons For Accuracy AND Consistency
- Replace and/or Re-tool Your Wedges
- Drop More Putts!
- Replace Your Grips
Hit Longer, Straighter Drives
Driver OptimizerFrom an equipment standpoint, every company is focusing on distance and forgiveness. Yes, hitting longer AND straighter drives is key to lower scores and more fun. Here are our suggestions:
- Play a shorter driver (trust us, you will NOT lose distance), especially if you have an OB or two
- Get fitted with the right shaft (proper weight, flex and swing weight). Learn More
- Try a new lightweight exotic shaft from AutoFlex Korea or BreakThroughGolf Technology.
- Use your fairway wood or hybrid for those tight fairways
See our Recommendations for Best Shafts for Your Driver
Get the Right Fairway Wood
Drivers and Shafts 2023Most golfers have trouble with hitting their fairway woods consistently. The main reason is that off-the-rack fairway woods have shafts that are too light and too flexible. The next issue is distance. Today's modern fairway woods are much more forgiving and generate more distance than those of say 2015. So here is what we suggest:
- Get fitted for a slightly heavier, stiffer shaft in your fairway wood(s). Learn More about Specific Shaft Recommendations.
- Play a little more loft (think 4 wood/3HL)
- For stronger players, think swapping out a 5 wood for a 3 hybrid
Better and More Hybrids
Hybrids 2023Today's hybrids are hotter (more distance, less spin) and more forgiving than ever. Every manufacturer has stepped up their game and introduced hybrids than go deep into your bag and replace longer irons, some a high as a PW hybrid! The issue still remains that off-the-rack hybrids have shafts that are too light and too soft/flexible resulting in lack of accuracy and consistency. Our thoughts:
- Get fitted for a heavier and stiffer shaft in your hybrids...closer to what you play in your irons. See our Specific Shaft Recommendations
- Replace one more iron with a hybrid, i.e. if your highest lofted hybrid today is a 4 (22 degree) add a 5 (25 degree) and take your 5 or 6 iron out of your bag.
- Unless you hit your 4 hybrid over 200 yards, do NOT put a 3 hybrid in your bag...use a 5 wood!
Play the Right Irons For Accuracy AND Consistency
ZX Mk II IronsNearly 40% of our readers say their next purchase will be new irons in 2023. With all the hype about more distance, we recommend you concentrate on accuracy and consistency. If you hit more greens, you score better and have more fun! A couple of ideas:
- Think about a little lighter weight shafts if you are concerned about losing distance. There are a lot of options in graphite now to replace steel. See Our Specific Iron Shaft Recommendations for Your Swing
- Get fitted for the proper length, loft and lie. That is where accuracy starts.
- Try some of the new hollow body irons (TaylorMade 2021 p790, Ping i525, Cobra Forged TEC). Great forgiveness, more distance and exceptional feel.
Replace and/or Re-tool Your Wedges
Mizuno T22 WedgesThe main factor with wedges is to have enough groove action to stop the ball on the green from both full shots and chips around the green. Wedge grooves will be worn down significantly after 50 rounds, especially sand and lob wedges. And pay attention to loft separation, bounce and grinds. So....
- Replace your wedges often, especially sand and lob wedges
- Lofts are stronger on new iron sets so you may even need 5 wedges!
- Play no more than 5 degrees separation between your wedges, i.e. PW-45, GW-50, SW-54/55, LW-58/60.
- Play the right shafts both in terms of length and weight. Even try some of the new ZNE shafts from BreakThroughGolf Technology.
- Let us help you pick the right wedge shaft.
Drop More Putts!
TrackMan Putting AnalysisThere is a big emphasis being put on putting in 2022. In 2021 we saw a lot of emphasis on putter shafts for more consistency in putting stroke (STABILITY putter shafts, KBS Contour, Callaway Stroke Lab). This trend is continuing in 2023. We are also seeing a trend towards heavier putters, more mallet style putters and designs with more toe hang. Bottom line is that putting comprises most of your strokes during the round so here are a few tips:
- Play the right putter length. Get your eyes over the ball at set-up.
- Work on Alignment. A good putter head will help you line up straight on your intended line.
- Practice speed control. Speed determines how the ball breaks on your line. Speed kills or saves putts!
- Practice tempo for better distance control. Think 2:1 ratio of back to forward stroke Learn More
Replace Your Grips
Worn or slippery grips can cost you up to 6 strokes a round according to one of the studies we read recently. Wiping down your grips with a damp towel after/during a round will help preserve their lifespan. But, after 50 rounds, you should see wear marks and replace your grips.
- Replace your grips with the same size and weight to preserve the integrity of the club (swing weight, etc.)
- If you do go larger or smaller, consult your club fitter on the potential impact on your performance.
- Texture is more important for feel than actual performance so choose a grip that feels good in your hands.
So play the right equipment in 2023! You will go long... go straight... go low... and have more fun!
Dan Sueltz
