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Swing Style
There are two primary swing styles that will determine which wedge variables are best for the players’ short game technique. |
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1. Slider/Sweeper
This player has a shallow angle of attack and slides the leading edge of the club under the ball picking the ball off the fairway. This player will play their best with a wedge that has a narrow sole, less bounce and more camber. |
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2. Driver/Digger
This player type uses less hand action, a stronger grip and steeper angle of attack and will take a large divot. This player may position the ball back in their stance and trap the ball at impact and will play their best with a wedge that has a wider sole, more bounce and less camber.
A wedge with a Low bounce option is good for shots from tight lies and firm turf conditions. The combination of less bounce and narrower sole width lowers the leading edge of the blade to promote clean contact on every shot.
A wedge with a Standard bounce option is the best all round wedge for playability in all types of conditions for all types of players. It is very versatile for players who like to be creative around the greens. It is also good for players who have an average to slightly steeper attack angle.
A wedge with a High bounce option is designed for play out of extremely soft turf conditions and bunkers. The combination of the wider flange and ample bounce angle prevent digging and creates a smoother gliding action of the sole along the ground or sand. The High bounce is good for players with extremely steep attack angles. |
Putter Fitting
Putting is said to make up about 43% of the average golfers’ score. If it is important enough to have correctly fitted irons and woods which represents 57% of your score for 13 clubs then it makes 43% for one club extremely important.
Putter fitting is primarily the process of adjusting loft and lie angles and correctly fitting the length of the
putter to the individual, in addition the putter style eg. Offset, face balance and centre shaft, should be considered.
Dynamic putter fitting is the ability to measure certain parameters from the putter head making contact with the golf ball. The objective of the dynamic putter fitting process is to improve the consistency of the golfers ability to aim the putter on the intended line, repeatedly make solid contact, impart the correct amount of loft on the ball to minimize skidding and to roll the ball at a consistent speed to maintain a controllable distance.
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1. Loft & Lie
Loft and lie both influence the roll and direction of the golf ball. If the lie is incorrect for the golfer and the putter head does not sit flat at address, then the ball will be misdirected by the stroke. In other words if the putter face is not a horizontal attitude at impace, the face plane will be pointing in a direction other than straight towards the hole.
For example, if the putter is too upright (toe up), the face is aimed to the left of the hole for a right hand putter. The golfer must compensate the stroke to make the ball start on the intended line.
The Proper loft is important to get the ball rolling properly along the target line. The ball is actually airborne after leaving the face of the putter. If the putter has too much loft, the ball will be in the air too long and the ball will skid and bounce on the putting surface for several inches before it starts a true roll. This greagly affects the distance the ball will travel and influences how the ball reacts to the break in the putting surface. It will also increase the change of being knocked off line as it bounces and skids. The ideal loft will minimise the distance the ball is in the air which will reduce the likelihood of it going off line.
A standard loft is ideal for most players and putting surfaces but players with certain set-up or stroke preferences that change the effective loft at impact may require a different loft. A pronounced forward press of the putter will effectively deloft the putter producing undesirable roll characteristics. In this case more loft than standard would be recommended.
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2. Length
Putter length is primarily determined by the golfers’ height. Generally taller players require long putters, while shorter players require shorter putters. However your preferences for posture and hand position may dictate a shorter or longer putter.
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3. Grip Profile
Grip profile influences how the golfer releases the wrists through impact. Players who prefer a wristy stoke may prefer a thinner profile grip, while players who prefer a pendulum stroke may prefer a deeper profile grip.
Golfers with and an ‘open-close’ putting stoke may prefer a thinner profile grip which encourages the release of the wrists.
Golfers with a pendulum-type stroke may prefer a deeper profile grip. |
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4. Putter Design
Different putter designs can benefit golfers with different types of putting strokes. Designs range from heel-shafted models, which benefit an ‘open-close’ putting stroke, to ‘face-balanced’ putters which benefit a pendulum type stroke.
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The Solution
A putter of the correct length and lie angle guides the player into the correct posture for effective putting. Putter loft is a key factor in achieving optimum roll, whilst balancing the putter for weight achieves stoke stability, better distance control and enhanced feel. This results in more holed putts and improved confidence on the greens. |
| Pro-Balance System |
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At Lavender Park we have the Pro Balance System, this is a concept which was discovered by former NASA engineers whereby a counter balance weight system could stabilize and tune putters. |
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By putting more weight above the hands a couple of things happen.
The weight tends to give a greater balance to the putter resulting in keeping the hands quiet and more strokes that keep square to the target.
With the ‘right’ weight, more feedback is sent to the hands by moving the vibrational centre further up the shaft. |
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While it may seem insignificant, the resulting feedback in almost all cases results in more distance control and greater ‘feel’.
All these factors have caused professional Tour players to lower their putting stroke average, the same has been true for regular golfers too.
A simple 15 minute test can establish if your stroke will improve by having the Pro Balance installed in your putter. |
