A Perfect Fit - Failure to Launch? Technology Creates an Off-Season Edge
Dan Langell makes a bold assertion about the benefit of golfers can reap from modern club-fitting technology.
Langell owns and operates Precision Golf in Brighton and claims that properly fitted clubs can cut a golfer’s handicap by three, four or even five strokes in a season.
Craig Holmes of Brighton gleefully backs up Langell. A year ago, Holmes was a 10-handicap when he visited Langell’s shop looking to replace his set of cast Titleist irons with forged Mizunos.
"I’d been through some club fittings," Holmes said, "but nothing like the technology that exists today."
Holmes, 51, went through Langell’s extensive fitting process and, by the end of the season, had whittled his handicap down to a six. He called the effect of the fitting on his game "pretty major."
Holmes didn’t declare Langell a miracle worker , but he did say their work together and the technological help was integral to his improvement.
"It wasn’t all because of the clubs I got from him," Holmes said. "It was partially that and partially because I drove the ball good this year. It all fits together, and his process gets you right on what you need. He’s got the best process that I’ve ever seen."
Langell’s fitting process - and others that use state-of-the-art-equipment - are helping give Joe Hacker some of the same benefits Tiger Woods.
One of the PGA Tour pros’ secrets is the equipment trucks that sponsors supply at each tournament. Pros fiddle with new clubs all the time because they can. They enter the equipment truck and place orders with clubmakers, who can construct an entire set of clubs from scratch in less than an hour.
Langell supplies a similar service on a much smaller scale in Brighton.
"Yeah, I mean he’s got a launch monitor in there," Holmes said. " I can pop in there anytime I want if I want to check something out. I’ve been working on hitting my driver a certain way. I go in there, and he and I both hit the driver together. You’ve got your own little tour lab."
Langell uses a camera-based launch monitor and computer software that analyzes how much a golfer bends his or her shaft on the down-swing. Langell said the "bend profile" is like a fingerprint and provides the starting point for his analysis.
Like most club-fitters, Langell charges for his services, anywhere from $30 to $200. I’ts a premium service, but not necessarily for premium players. In fact, Langell said high handicappers who play casually might benefit the most from a fitting.
"A driver with a lot of loft and an offset face design for someone who slices and doesn’t want to take lessons but go out and play weekend golf will make a huge difference," Langell said.
— source January 31st, 2008 edition of Detroit Free Press
