Take some time on the driving range to learn the distance you get from every club in your bag. (Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com)

Knowing what your clubs can do will help lower your scores

By Karl Fischer,
Contributor

If you have not "calibrated your bag," you'll need to do it one day soon.

Get your swing smooth and consistent (remember the three Cs). Take your clubs to the driving range. Warm up properly. Hit five balls to a specific measured target with each club, starting with your wedge, working through the irons to the woods. Record the results.

Next, do it in reverse: woods down through your irons. Record the results. Now, average the yardages. You will then know how far your clubs go using range balls.

Generally, quality tournament balls will fly approximately 10 yards farther. If you calculate on-course yardages, you will soon need to make real-world adjustments.

Now that you have your bag calibrated, use it well. Do not force your shots. If your 7 iron goes 150 yards, you can squeeze it five yards or back off five yards. If you need to reach 158 yards, use a smooth 6 iron.

Better clubs hit better shots. When your clubs are consistent (what we call "bracketed"), your swing does the rest.

Let your custom-fitted clubs do the work. That's why you bought them!

October 13, 2003

Karl Fischer has spent some 35-plus plus years teaching golf nationally and internationally earning the title of "IGAD-Doctorate," "CIMTP-Certified International Master Teaching Professional," "CMCB-Certified Master Club-Builder" and "CGC-Certified Golf Clinician." He has written six golf books, thousands of editorials, tips, "Bullet-Proof Drills" and much more. He can be reached at KF@555golf.com or by phone at (817) 673-8888.