Custom Fitting my own clubs

[JK1305]

No less than 5 months ago I bought an Taylormade RBZ driver without being fit, and the results for me have been truly shocking. My usual shot shape with the driver was a weak fade, but with the rbz it goes any way it wants. There is no consistency, I could be slicing one shot whilst skying the next.

Ive decided to go get fit for that driver, however I don't know where to take it. I am not a member of a club and therefore don't have access to a club professional I know well. So would American golf or direct golf do this or would they try and sell me another club (which isn't an option atm)

 

[DCB]

There's nothing stopping you going to a Pro at a club, even if you aren't a member there. I'd avoid the golf stores though, unless you really want a new driver

 

[duncan mackie]

I've decided to go get fit for that driver.........

you have lost me completely

what are you expecting from a club fitting that you believe can be fulfilled by the existing club? Doesn't make sense.

 

[Foxholer]

Fitting conclusion would probably recommend.....

Different Head!
Different Shaft!

Try your Pro, who might be able to suggest....Different Swing!

Actually, it's quite possible that the long, light shaft of the RBZ is the 'cause'. Easily checkable if it's 'adapter-changeable', but not quite so easy if it's glued in.

 

[DaveM]

From what you've said you seem to be, err shall we say inadequate with the driver. May I suggest a lesson on driving. Rather than wasting your money on fitting the thing. After all there's not much you can change on the RBZ. Other than open or close the face a bit. You did say your normal drive was a weak fade. So the lesson would be the best way.

 

[the_coach]

No less than 5 months ago I bought an Taylormade RBZ driver without being fit, and the results for me have been truly shocking. My usual shot shape with the driver was a weak fade, but with the rbz it goes any way it wants. There is no consistency, I could be slicing one shot whilst skying the next.

Ive decided to go get fit for that driver, however I don't know where to take it. I am not a member of a club and therefore don't have access to a club professional I know well. So would American golf or direct golf do this or would they try and sell me another club (which isn't an option atm)

The driver you bought is the driver you got - nothing a Pro can do with it too much other than put a new shaft in it completely or possibly change the swing-weight but doubt they would go down that route, or cut the shaft down.

Given the an RBZ is 46" long & the issue is you are not controlling the driver to find a centered strike on a reliably good attack angle & swing plane, if you do keep the driver might be worth considering that (reducing the length to say 44&3/4", otherwise you can choke down the handle an 1"+ .or so for the same result
Longer shaft does give the potential to generate more speed but only if you can control it.

If you used a driver before is the loft on the RBZ the same or have you gone down in loft which again likely to give you an issue with strike, can in itself with a similar swing path turn a fade with a higher loft into more of a slice with a lower loft.

But the real problem here isn't really the driver, sorry, but it's the swing mechanics in play here.

From what you describe of the previous swing pattern & the present one, it all stems from the same issue, a steep out to in swing path (check the left hand especially isn't weak, but the right too) check your shoulders are square to the ball/target line.

Also very importantly check your posture isn't a ways too upright this also oft times means it's accompanied with too much knee bend in order to compensate for the too straight spine angle makes you more swing with an upright vertical arm swing as this kind of posture makes it pretty much impossible to make a good body/shoulder turn.
So by that the back is straight instead of leaning from the hip sockets to present your chest more towards the ball (if you hold a club out in front of you at 90º when you're standing straight up, then you would bend from the hip sockets keeping the spine to shaft relationship at that 90º as you bend forwards & the clubhead is presented back of the ball)

You're currently swinging the club to the ball on a too much of an out to in vertical upright plane with your arms alone a ways too much, Then also to much of an alone arm swing & that will be disconnecting from the body, & therefore not enough body rotation in the swing with the arms being connected to that rotated upper body turn, as you take the club back & as you swing back down to & through the ball, the body needs to rotate.

On the takeaway you could be taking the club back too much inside which is why your throwing right shoulder arms hands & club outwards (over the top) as you start the downswing or you could be just using your arms to lift the club vertically up outwards on the backswing then coming down on a similar path.

The reason sometimes you're skying the ball off the top, is on those swings this happens, you're moving your upper body head & sternum left past the ball towards target.
Could be your doing that on the back swing & then starting back down from there or you could be doing this at start of your downswing.
But either ways it's happening, you're head & sternum is left target side of the ball as you swing steeply down towards impact this really steepens the approach & there's no width swing very narrow so then the contact is either right on top of the face angle or on the crown itself.

This drill done with an 8i or 7i will help you feel a better connected & rotated swing path & plane. You wouldn't do this drill with a driver though. You'd do it with the say 8i a few times to feel the movement, then without the headcover you could then have a swing through a ball with the driver at say just 70% swing effort so nice & smooth & slow so you can be aware of feeling the same moments you just did with the iron/headcover swing.
Just keep repeating from drill with iron/headcover then slow swing through ball with driver. (no headcover)

[video=youtube_share;QpF1RwO2XAY]http://youtu.be/QpF1RwO2XAY[/video]

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Get a lesson and learn to use the one you bought. Sounds like you're trying way too hard

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Listen to The Coach
He knows stuff we mortals don't