We Fixed This 18 Handicap’s Release… Then Fitted His Driver

What happens when you book a driver fitting, but the biggest problem isn’t actually the driver?

That’s exactly what happened during this fitting at EP Golf Studios in Newbury, Berkshire.

Our golfer arrived looking for a new driver. His strike pattern was consistent, unfortunately, it was consistently poor. Rather than simply swapping between different driver heads and shafts and hoping to find a combination that masked the problem, we first looked at how he was delivering the golf club at impact.

Should You Fix Your Swing Before a Driver Fitting?

Not necessarily.

You don’t need a perfect golf swing to benefit from custom fitting. In fact, golfers of almost every ability can benefit from equipment that better matches their delivery.

However, there are occasions where a particular movement is having such a significant effect on strike and clubface control that changing equipment alone isn’t the best answer.

That was the situation here.

Before continuing the driver fitting, we spent some time working on his release and ability to square the clubface.

Improving His Release and Driver Strike

One of the feels we introduced was simply:

“CAST IT.”

That might sound like the last thing you would tell an 18-handicap golfer.

But golf swing feels aren't always literal. What matters is how a particular feel changes what the golfer actually does.

In this case, it helped change his delivery, improve the release of the club and produce a much better strike pattern.

Suddenly, we had a much better golf swing to fit equipment around.

And that is an important distinction.

A good custom driver fitting shouldn't simply be about finding the driver that produces the best numbers from a handful of swings. It should be about understanding why those numbers are being produced.

Then We Started Fitting the Driver

Once the strike and delivery improved, we could properly assess which equipment suited him.

During the fitting we tested driver options from:

• Callaway

• PING

• Titleist

• Cobra

• TaylorMade

Changing the driver head, loft, shaft and specification can influence launch, spin, strike, dispersion and overall performance.

But there isn't one driver that's automatically best for every golfer.

The objective is to find the combination that works with your swing and your delivery.

Golf Lesson or Driver Fitting?

Sometimes the answer is a little bit of both.

This session is a great example of why we don't believe a custom fitting should simply involve hitting every new driver until one produces the longest shot.

If something in your delivery is preventing you from striking the driver effectively, understanding that can be just as valuable as changing equipment.

Likewise, even after improving your swing, poorly suited equipment can make producing your best shots more difficult.

The two can work together.

Struggling With Your Driver?

If you're struggling with driver strike, direction, distance or consistency, you don't necessarily need to guess whether the problem is your swing or your equipment.

At EP Golf Studios, we can analyse what your golf swing and equipment are actually doing using GCQuad data alongside our fitting experience.

Our aim isn't to sell you a driver regardless of the result. It's to understand what's happening and find the most appropriate solution for your game.

That could mean changing the driver, changing the specification, identifying something in your delivery or discovering that your current equipment is already suitable.

Book a Driver Fitting or Analysis Session

If you'd like to understand what's really happening with your driver, book a custom driver fitting or golf analysis session at EP Golf Studios in Newbury, Berkshire.

We'll look at your existing equipment, ball flight, strike and launch data before deciding where improvements can be made.

Your swing first. The data second. The right equipment from there.

Check out the YouTube video for the full details below.

Should I have a golf lesson before a driver fitting?

Not necessarily. A good driver fitting should first establish how you deliver the club and whether your current equipment suits that delivery. If a swing issue is significantly affecting strike or clubface control, identifying it before changing equipment can produce a more useful fitting.

Can a driver fitting help a 18-handicap golfer?

Yes. Driver fitting isn't only for low-handicap golfers. Matching loft, head design, shaft and specification to a golfer's delivery can help golfers of different abilities improve launch, spin, strike and consistency. Custom Fitting is likely more important to a high handicap golfer than a low handicap golfer.

How do I know if my driver problem is my swing or equipment?

Launch monitor data can help separate equipment issues from swing delivery issues. At EP Golf Studios, we analyse your existing driver, strike, ball flight and GCQuad data before recommending equipment changes.