Boys Golf OPINION

Sizing up to the course

Boys golfers strive to find clubs that fit their playstyle

Nicholas Rasmusson rasmunic000@hsestudents.org

When heading out to the golf course, there are essential items to bring, such as a hat, some tees, a few balls and, of course, golf clubs. The clubs on a player’s back can alter the performance they have that day. While choosing clubs may look simple, the process is much more complex, as each aspect of the club ranges in different sizes and weights, which help tailor a club to one’s specific game. Senior Matt Wolf and juniors Owen Munkholm and Connor McMillan all attended formal fittings to get clubs that complemented the way they play. Wolf emphasized that getting fit for clubs is much more than meets the eye. Wolf stated that the process of getting fitted for his clubs went deep into his game from an analytical standpoint. “I go in and hit shots with different clubs, first with the club that I’m hitting with at the time,” Wolf said. “Then my swing coach will see my data through a tracker. He will get all iof my numbers, such as how far I’m hitting each club.” Wolf added that when his swing coach gathers his data, the way he strikes the ball is a key factor in choosing a club. “It shows what I want in a club, such as if I want something a little bit more ‘bladey,’ which is smaller, then I fit into that niche product,” Wolf said. “How hard I am playing the club will determine the shaft for each club.” Munkholm stated that a player could play with multiple different brands in their bag. Munkholm plays with three different brands of clubs. “I play a Ping driver and irons, I play Titleist hybrids and I play Cleveland wedges as my clubs,” Munkholm said. When picking his clubs, Munkholm highlighted that his process of choosing clubs came down to a few key aspects, such as how they suited his swing and how much they cost. Similar to Munkholm, McMillan plays with multiple different brands. McMillan plays with custom-fit TaylorMade and Titleist clubs. McMillan said that he does favor one of his clubs specifically and that it reveals something about the way he plays. “My favorite club, in general, is probably the driver because it goes the furthest, and it is fun to hit,” McMillan said. The performance of the clubs can also fluctuate based on the ball a player uses, as they all have slight manufacturing differences that change how the ball performs in the air. Wolf, Munkholm and McMillan all use different brands of golf balls. Wolf uses balls made by TaylorMade, while Munkholm and McMillan prefer balls made by Srixon and Titleist. Despite the simple appearance picking a golf club may have, the process goes far beyond the brand name. The way a player swings, the way they play and the ball they use all impact what clubs they choose. Nevertheless, getting fitted around Fishers is very accessible. There are pro shops scattered around neighboring cities that can help beginners get started. 1

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1. Freshman Will Major swings an iron at a practice on April 30. Photo by Olivia Holding. 2. Information collected by Bleacher Report. Graphic by Nicholas Rasmusson.