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Greetings!
We've spent a lot of time perfecting our driver, irons and wedge fittings. We knew that we were giving short shrift to putters. It wasn't like we didn't try. We had the most advanced (expensive) gizmo of its time, the SAM Putt Lab. The SAM includes a transmitter that clamps to the shaft of your putter and sends every twitch to your computer for analysis. You learn more than you want to know about your stroke. It's a great training aid if you can stand boredom and don't mind spending $7.000 for your next toy. No good for fitting putters.
Since our disappointment with the Putt Lab, we've worked on putter basics: length, lie and loft. We've helped a lot of players by adding weight to their own putters. That is what has passed as "fitting" for putters up until now.
Why not fit a putter by how well you aim it?
Your eyes and brain don't always see straight. The way a putter looks can cause a player to mis-aim. Can you "hit the hole?"
Do you want to lower your handicap?
The easiest way is on the greens.
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| A Brief History of Fitting Putters for Aim |
It seems like a logical starting point for making putts is to make sure that you're aiming your putter at your target.
Is this idea new? Golfers never trust a new idea. It turns out Henry-Griffitts - the second significant custom clubmaker in the United States after Kenneth Smith - started working on a custom fitting system based on aiming a putter over ten years ago. It was too complicated for the company to figure out. They gave up.
One of their suppliers, David Edel, took the idea of custom fitting by aim to the next level. He's been working on perfecting his fitting system for ten years. Overnight success? You bet. He has a grand total of thirteen complete fitting carts and not many more certified custom fitters for his putters in the whole world.
Labor of love? Passion? Strange words to describe a business.
The Edel fitting system includes mallet and blade head shapes - every conceivable variation in hosel style, offset and lie. Shaft flex and Opti-Vibe weights down the shaft are further fitting parameters. Exotic adjustment features include weight ports for static weight and moment of inertia adjustments. If you do the arithmetic, there are literally millions of variations.
Edel has even popped up on some of this year's "Hot Lists".
Edel has 50 full fitting carts on order. You could say that custom putters fitted for aim are coming into their own. |
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| Five Bucks Says: "You Can't Hit the Hole from Ten Feet" |
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We've been been testing Golf Lab clients for their ability to aim a putter as part of our "get acquainted" program with David Balbi.
We haven't found one player yet who could "hit the hole" with his own putter.
The testing method is to focus a laser on a ball eight feet from the target hole. Player "aims" the ball the way he normally does - straight back toward the laser. Fitter removes the ball. The laser reflects from a mirror on the clubface to a backdrop. It is not uncommon for "good" golfers to miss the target by a foot. Two feet is not a record. That's from eight feet.
I repeat: Aiming two feet left or right of the target. From eight feet away.
That sounds bad.
Here's why it's bad: If you aim a foot left of the hole, you must "compensate" for bad aim by changing your stroke. It stands to reason, a player aiming outside right of the hole has to re-route his stroke left to start his putt on line. Whatever you think you're doing with your putting stroke is certainly worth knowing for sure. It could be that the cause of a faulty putting stroke is a putter that you can't aim.
If you can aim your putter, you can make a good stroke and start the putt along the line you see. That's the goal. It's simple if you make it simple. |
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| Your Checkup is Free |
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Our early season "free special" - check your aim with your putter. We'll put a mirror on the face and set up the target and laser just like Balbi's. You'll see how well you aim. You can even use our equipment to help you get into the right position to understand how to aim your current putter better.
Call the Golf Lab (650) 493-1770 to book your free putter aiming check.
The complete putter fitting is conducted at David Balbi's studio exclusively with David Edel Putters. The capabilities of the Edel fitting system are unmatched with the ability to change the look of a putter millions of ways. Over the years Edel and his fitters have discovered that head shape, hosel offset, shaft flex, weight, loft, counterweights, and grips all influence aim. There is a fitting method that verifies a players current results with his own putter by building a similar Edel putter out of the fitting cart. Then, a progression of head shapes and alignments is tested. Each version gets checked with the laser for aiming. It's normal to test a dozen or more configurations.
Time after time, a player ends up with a putter he can just put behind the ball and aim straight at the target quickly and naturally.
If you'd like to check your aim and your stroke, you should book a putter fitting with David Balbi. If you wait, it will cost you $125 a la carte. The fitting takes at least an hour.
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| "Get Acquainted" Special Continues |
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We're well past the "get acquainted" stage with David Balbi. The idea behind combining two popular fitting services in a special offer was to see if we had compatible styles, complimentary knowledge and clients with similar interests. I recommended a few Golf Lab clients who I thought would benefit. So far we're 20-0 for total satisfaction.
I've been looking for another professional golf teacher to work with. I had a great relationship with Eric Jones for several years and I missed the ability to improve a golf swing that Eric offered. Together, we helped golfers get better faster. Many clients who started with Eric at the Golf Lab are still with him today. Alas, Eric lives in Walnut Creek. It's just too far to come to Palo Alto easily - especially with two little girls starting school.
Over the years I've developed a sharp eye for simple ways to help club fitting clients improve their swings quickly. It's better to fit a client with golf clubs that match the swing he wants, not necessarily the swing he has today. Players who buy new golf clubs expect instant improvement. Sometimes, there's a swing flaw standing in the way.
It's important for Golf Lab clients to be able to diagnose and correct swing flaws easily. If a player wants to understand his swing, the most efficient method is an electronic checkup. Some swing flaws simply cannot be seen with the naked eye. David allows a player to "see" his swing and then "feel" the most efficient movements. He utilizes sophisticated motion sensor devices to measure and record how your body moves.
The session is for analysis. You will be asked to make no changes to your swing that are not perfectly natural. You may decide to make your own changes to perfect your balance.
One of our "product testers" - the Pilot - made a small change to his weight shift and added twenty yards to his six iron. He won the first tournament of the year at San Geronimo.
Others have gone home with a practice regimen and an idea that it might not be all that hard to make their swing more efficient.
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| I'm Almost Ready for My Lesson |
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I am looking forward to a very good year. For years, I have been plagued by a poor weight shift. I can still hear my father hollering "fire and fall back" - his version of coaching my uncle Jack. It's been a long time since I finished my swing standing on my left leg.
After watching 20 David Balbi lessons, I spent half an hour at the range and had no problem reaching a balanced finish. Egad!! All those years of misery and all I had to do was turn my left foot thirty-five degrees open.
Now, at least I won't look totally hopeless when I go on video with David for the first time in years. That should make an interesting story. You're in deep denial if you know you've got swing flaws but don't want to see yourself on video.
There's still time to take advantage of the "Get Acquainted" offer. It takes two hours - minimum.
You will get a complete electronic swing analysis and identification of any swing flaws together with drills to help find the correct positions. And you'll get a complete putter fitting based on the Edel Putter Company fitting system.
We're scheduling Wednesdays and Fridays. Three sessions per day: 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM. I attend all sessions possible. All that for $150.
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| Golf Lab 2010-2011 |
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We have a lease at our current location until the end of this year. The landlord has a plan that will be approved. Re-development of the Edgewood Plaza will likely start early in 2011.
Golf Lab fittings will gradually transition to David Balbi's Studio in San Carlos. Golf Lab clients will appreciate the fully equipped, comfortable setting. There is even a full-size simulator for players who can't stand to hit into a net.
We will move the workshop to an industrial location at the end of the year. One of the issues we're debating is whether to open it to the public. In the future, we'll be asking our customers what kind of access they would like to have for repairs and services.
There will be no Golf Lab retail store for "new" golf equipment after this summer. It is impossible for a small shop to work with the multi-national conglomerates that dominate the mass-production of golf equipment. There is no market integrity.
If a Golf Lab client wants any new golf equipment, we will help manage the transaction - finding and purchasing the product on eBay - most of the time below wholesale. There is no longer any reason to deal direct with a "major" manufacturer. They have made eBay the cheapest and best source of golf equipment with over production.
Exception: The Japanese "boutique" foundries like Miura are no longer very much more expensive than run-of-the-mill brands when customized. Why not get the best?
In-stock product offerings will gravitate toward "full custom" - specializing in Japanese forgings, Mizuno and "playable classics".
An efficient "showroom" will take less space and save a useless inventory investment. Never fear, we will always have a world-class collection of test clubs.
It is possible to imagine another afiliated fitting studio location in the Bay Area if the right guy came along to operate it. We think it is important to offer expert clubmaking and repair services to compliment expert swing instruction and club fitting. Why bother with club fitting if you can't get the finished product custom made to match the fit?
Sometimes you want a perfect match for a favorite club.
You go through a custom fitting and then buy off the rack? Why bother?
The new schedule is working out well. Closing on Mondays gives us a chance to make plans and mop up from the week before. For the near future, I'll be taking most of my Wednesdays and Fridays at David's studio, observing his sessions with Golf Lab clients.
I'm keeping Tuesdays and Thursdays open for appointments at the Golf Lab. For the next few weeks, Saturdays will be open also.
BTW: It's only ten minutes from the Golf Lab to David's studio - when there is no traffic.
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| Aim Point Seminars |
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We're lining up the golf courses and the dates. We're planning to present the first "open" sessions the second or third week in March. The first few presentations should be very interesting. Mike Shuy, the PGA Pro who pioneered Edel in Northern California along with David Balbi is developing the Aim Point "Curriculum". We're putting a list together for that "First Weekend" whether it's the 13th or the 20th. If you want to brag about "being there at the beginning" you should get on our "invitation only" list.
Who knows? If we get a really good commitment, Mark Sweeney himself might show up.
If you want to be among the first called, hit "reply" to this email. Let me know. Or, if you want verbal confirmation, give the shop a call (650) 493-1770. Our telephone coverage is better between 9:30 and 12:30 - Monday through Wednesday.
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| Spring Checkup |
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Do you mind if we admit that "we can use the money?" What would you expect after two loooonnnnnggggggg years of recession? March is normally one of our two best months of the year.
We've got a good offer for a "Spring Checkup". You might want to check your lofts and lies. Not a bad thing if you haven't done it lately. That could lead to a discussion of "gaps" - do you have a nice progression of distances between your clubs?
Are you satisfied with your fairway metals and hybrids?
Grips are getting interesting for 2010. We've never been fans of the "soft" Winn grips, believing that the soft texture limits feel. We also let the "Iomic" surge go by. Somehow it seemed a little extravagant to spend $20 on a grip for a golf club.
There are some new textures coming out that are interesting. Tacki Mac has a new grip that feels just about like the expensive Japanese Iomic. Since we put grips on with air pressure, we can shape the grip to provide maximum comfort and performance. May players like an extra wrap or two under their lower hand - taking the "lefts" a little more out of play for right handed players.
If you want to check out how your current clubs match your swing we can do that with our launch monitors and Shaft Max.
Thinking drivers? How about testing a dozen different shafts that match your swing for feel and ball flight?
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| "Lipstick on a Pig?" |
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OOPS!! I hope that didn't offend anyone. But, I got your attention. Think about refinishing your current driver in a million-dollar color.
"Powder Coating" is a great way to put color on a driver. It's a durable "baked in" finish that now comes in interesting colors. If you're not resplendent in pink, you can opt for the double-mafia powder black. What's really cool about Powder Coating is that if you have an "accident" you can buff out the boo-boo.
I don't mind nicking up a favorite driver because if it's really good it will go out to get a colorful new finish and join the lifetime "Hall of Fame" in my garage.
Powder coating can make a driver better than new. Stop by to have a look at quality and color samples.
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| 2010 New Shaft Tips |
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Here are a couple of "shaft tips":
A customer asked us to order one of the new "green" UST Axiv Core shafts. It was "XX" flex. He never picked it up so, almost by accident I put it into our Nickent shaft testing system. If you know your numbers, the 292 CPM at 44.5" will tell the story. If you need a hint the flex was "off the charts".
Three out of the next four high swing speed players chose that shaft over all of the fancy names and labels (and much higher prices). And how embarrassing is this? It is "premium" by UST standards which for us means $150 installed.
Then, gaining confidence we recommended it to a "telephone" customer in Reno, NV. He called in after a week and said he was hitting it "off the world".
Mark my words, the UST Axiv shaft is going to be a "late developer" - a sleeper" - it's been out for a year and UST must have just about given up on wishing for a hit.
If you like testing shafts, you should try the UST Axiv. Keep in mind, UST is the mother ship for ACCRA - a trade name now owned outright by the former distributer PGMC out of Toronto. The history is for ACCRA to "prove" the exotic designs and materials. If ACCRA can sell "AXIV" for example - as they did last year - why would UST not add that to their mix this year?
Which is what they did and they have a very good line to show for it.
ACCRA is still "Out Front"
ACCRA is "remodeling" its line. Most customers don't care about the "technical details" of materials and manufacturing processes. We don't either.
What is interesting is that ACCRA is trying to "match" driver and fairway metal shafts. I don't like repetition but there are some things that deserve to be emphasized. Gawain Robertson has made good use of his time following the PGA Tour - with Kim Braley as a sidekick. He figured out that Tour players don't necessarily use the same shafts in their drivers and fairway metals.
Rather, they seem to favor shafts with softer than expected tips.
With ACCRA, you never, ever tip a fairway metal shaft.
ACCRA "Recall?"
We wouldn't say that in public but we wouldn't be responsible if we didn't point out that after a couple of years of selling ACCRA shafts the "whole world" realized that the shafts just might be a little too harsh - a condition caused by a stiff tip section.
There's a new ACCRA shaft for 2010 - the "RT" or Responsive Tip".
We've got a few of them in the shop but the weather has been so terrible that we haven't found many players to give them a test at the range.
The ACCRA boys have a good track record.
For any Golf Lab customers who have been ACCRA customers in the past - and who think that they might like to at least test the new "RT" shaft - we can set that up. If you find that you like this year's version better, we'll swap you for our cost of materials. You never have to wonder if you'd rather have the newest version if you work with us.
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| Come in for Personal Attention |
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The options are endless. Our suggestion? Book an "Open Hour". You get Leith and Clint if necessary for a hour of personal attention. You call the tune. $95. We do a lot in an hour.
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| The Weather Will Surely Break |
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It's been a tough winter for golf. Maybe we've got all of our worrying done for the year. The reservoirs are going to be full - what else is there to worry about?
I'm putting out my first invitations for "Morning at the Muni". For new readers, that means meet up at Palo Alto Muni about 7:30 - tee off by eight. Play the back nine. Buy the $30 Special - nine holes, cart and breakfast. And it's any breakfast you want including the very good omelets made your way. Hey, skip the golf, have breakfast.
Don't crab about taking a cart. If you want to play with a guy and you also want to talk to him, you've got to ride together.
I'll give you an entertaining and insightful analysis of your golf game. Worth at least what it costs. ($0).
If you want to meet up for a "Morning at the Muni" give the shop a call. (650) 493-1770. This Thursday is open.
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| For More Information . . . |
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| Let Us Hear from You |
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We live on customer feedback. I'll answer any questions quickly by email..
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Leith Anderson, Clint Smith, Dian Terova
The Golf Lab
2103 St Francis, Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 493-1770
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