club-fitting process

Quite a revolution has transpired Nick DeMane’s time, and what Rick can do for the player today - from hickory shafts to today’s precision shafts, with high C.O.R. titanium club heads. Determining what club specifications and designs would best suit the customer is the main goal. It could mean altering the players own clubs, or having a set custom built to your exact specifications. One of the first steps in establishing which clubs would best suit a customer is gathering data. There are many factors to consider, such as age, handicap, frequency of play, as well as the goals and aspirations of the golfer. For a fee of one hundred fifty dollars per hour by appointment, a client may choose to have their golf swing analyzed using the latest technology. Should a player choose this service, the more consistent the swing the quicker the process.

The next step depends on the customer’s interest. When applicable, the fit of the player’s current equipment will be checked and evaluated. If the fit is off, it can be determined if the clubs can be successfully modified, and if that is practical. When a specific brand of woods or irons is of interest, that model will be used to fit with whenever possible. Another option is to select one of the many demo or fit clubs and begin collecting data and explore brands or models during the process.

The process is more accurate, efficient, educational, and comprehensive than ever. The two Launch monitors run simultaneously, two computers, two displays.  There is a simulator / projector, screen set up for more visual feedback.  Values are also displayed on the screen.  Flightscope and Foresight have powerful apps that offer some cool views the PC software does not offer. 

Interchangeable fitting systems continue to improve. The design and ease of use are not equal. Some offer more head weight options, some more lie angles.  There is no universal shaft sleeve, each OEM has a unique coupling approach. We have added many of the different optional shafts available.  This requires duplicates for each fitting system. These systems provide a more efficient path to the best combination of specifications.   The manufacturers that we currently have interchangeable fitting systems for are:  Adams, Callaway, Mizuno, Nike, Ping, Taylor Made, Titleist.

There are many commonalities in the process.

All 14 clubs need to be the correct length, and lie angle.  All clubs preform best when contact is at the sweet spot - the location that provides the optimum smash factor - the highest yield for your efforts.  Seldom is the Driver SS not in the top third and horizontal center.  Lower third and centered is the goal with irons.  Correct loft an lie will assist greatly in the process. Excluding the putter, and possibly wedges (there are longer and more parallel grips available for wedges) grip size and type should also be consistent. 

Our Machines and Technology: An Evolution We Keep Pace With As Times Change

Our first electronic device was Sportek Swing Analyzer.  Utilizing overhead lighting, a mat with sensors captured data from the shadow line. Club speed, face angle at setup and impact, and path information was gleaned. It was impressive at the time. 

A weight shift platform was available at a latter date, first hydraulic, then a solid-state version. WAVI (Weight Analysis Video Interface) was ahead of its time and it gave us dynamic weight values which were conveniently displayed in a user-friendly formant. 

Next for us was Swing Dynamics, which featured high speed cameras (1/19,000 sec ), a ball that required a line around the perimeter—aligned carefully—giving us real ball data, such as launch angle, speed, and spin as well as improved club data.

The “3D” version followed. This added angular spin values, and brought good data, but could be a challenge to capture correctly.  Many of our customers remember the black velcro legging frequently required to provide the correct contrast with the ball.  This brought more science into fitting than ever before.  Shops like ours, that were willing to invest,  found that good launch monitors were available.

EDH Flightscope, with phase array radar, followed.  We were one of their first customers in the US.  When new units became available we upgraded. Radar reveals info that no camera system can ever provide.

The Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor (LM) provided a tremendous amount of club and ball data. It featured self leveling feet, built in target video, WIFI, and outstanding software. It became a popular choice throughout the world. 

The Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor featured a user friendly interface with good club description and selection.  It was invaluable for teaching and fitting because there were screens full of detailed data, displayed in an intuitive format. 

The speed profile screen provided insight on tempo and could show any inefficiencies in the swing. The acceleration profile assists in identifying optimal shaft flex as well.

The visual aspect it had clearly showed horizontal and vertical path, which helped the client understand one of the contributing factors to excessive backspin: a too steep of a vertical angle of attack. Its horizontal path view clearly shows club influence on  spin axis/sidespin, and how it effects ball flight. The angles page opened up three revealing 3D views of  “Club Delivery”.  

This software allowed us to see an effective club comparison, from a downline view, or ranked by your choice of numerous other values.  

Many of our customers have been coming for decades, and we have seen performance changes together.  One of the most frequent issues is a loss of distance.  Flightscope has allowed us to maintain an extensive history of the customer’s sessions, which can be reviewed to compare changes in all data, including club speed and rotation… two big factors in achieving distance.  The data can also be emailed to the customer.  

The X2 was supplemented by a stereoscopic camera launch monitor made by Foresight called the CG2. It featured their Head Measurement Technology (HMT), and offered the latest steroscopic camera system in golf.

The CG@ provided comprehensive data, and its ability to capture the precise impact location is really cool, and without impact tape too!

The end-result is an ability to capture real spin and launch value, and accumulates a pattern to reveal the consistency of center hits for each club. 

As you enter the new golf season, and are reevaluating your equipment, feel confident in knowing DeMane Golf has just replaced both the Flightscope G2 with its latest successor: the G3, and the same holds true for Foresight’s G2: we now have their newest GCGuad. Both raise the bar for the most-precise custom fitting studios anywhere.

We’ve also doubled down on our investment in the newest Flightscope X3, and Foresight GCQuad, with the addition of two Mevo Portable Personal Launch Monitors. The Mevos have a 3D Doppler radar based launch monitor that can be used in other situations where we want critical data—club and ball speed, launch, carry, spin, and smash data—in either tandem with our X3/G2 HMT, or during over activities.

Custom-Built Shaft Analysis, Niche Fitting, and Essential Data All Used to Profile Your Shafts

The Mizuno Opto fit shaft analyzer will show real world distances and dispersion. You may decide to promote a lower ranked shaft based on feel and sound. You may even prefer a non optimal flight that suits your eye. It is just one of many ways we can help you make the final decision.

When it comes to one of the key components in your bag… the shafts… we have interchangeable cart account accounts with Titleist, Ping, Taylor-Made, Callaway, and Mizuno. That means we can match the heads with the right shafts for you, often right while you are in our studio, and if we are missing something, we’ll make it for you to test.

We don’t have a few barrels full of clubs and shafts, we have a room filled wall-to-wall full of them. But it is the software and its sensory devices along with a trained understanding and interpretation of the subtleties and nuances that is where the most value exists.

The Mizuno Opto fit shaft analyzer is a good starting point for shaft selection. It’s improved with Gen2 and is time efficient. FlightScope’s Speed and Acceleration Profile screens provide valuable data essential for confirming correct shaft choice.

Foresight FSX fitting/performance software has been updated. Blast Golf Replay for Full Swing and Putter Fitting provides good data that can be auditory if desired, and it has it’s own niche in the fitting place in process.

ADC, Advanced Design Corporation, built a computerized shaft analyzer for our shop. It is used to profile shafts, identify seam or spine. Basic CPM values and more.

DeMange Golf haas the capabilities and the expertise to assist you in your search for the perfect golf shaft.

DeMane Golf Uses the Flightcore X3, Two FlightScope MEVOs, and the Foresight GCQuad Stereoscopic Launch Monitor for Precision Club Fitting

DeMane Golf only uses the latest launch monitor tech just like the top players on the PGA Tour.

When you come to DeMane Golf for fitting, you not only get Rick’s 43 years of insights and experience, but they are fueled by real insights and feedback that only the most up-to-date equipment can offer. I’m Rick DeMane, and at DeMane Golf, we use the Flightscope X3, two Flightscope MEVO’s, and the Foresight GCQuad launch monitor.

Few fitting studios, if any, offer this amount of technological firepower and redundancy. I invest in the added launch monitor technology in order to be positive what we see is for real. No ifs, ands, or buts about it!

The monitors are invaluable because they provide visual feedback, and make it possible for us both to clearly see the club’s horizontal and vertical path, along with all the club and ball data. It all serves to define the process of arriving at specific recommendations, eliminates guess work, and feeds us with values we need to understand club/ball dynamics, how vertical and horizontal path alters spin, and club face angles.

DeMane Golf Utilizes Foresight's GCQuad for Precision Club Fitting

Part of golf’s technology evolution involves a mix of various methods of measuring and ‘seeing’ what is happening with the club head during a customer’s fitting session. 3D Doppler radar is one means, and another involves stereoscopic cameras. We use both, in tandem with one another, as your time is precious and here at DeMane Golf, we want to do it right for you the first and every time you come to see Rick DeMane for a fitting.

We have used Foresight’s measurement technology for some time, and currently utilize their GCGuad Quadroscapic Launch Monitor.

The Quad features four high-speed, high-resolution cameras that deliver unprecedented image clarity with each and every shot. The benefit to you is a more-accurate fitting session because the Quad’s patented Spherical Correlation™ analytics deliver measured values with greater accuracy, and that translates into decisions you can count on.