Lie angles

[timd77]

Last year I went to a titleist fitting day at my club, they fitted me into some T200 irons, price was £1250, no way I could ever justify that and so I left it. They sent the recommendation through on email, which I kept.

I’ve just bought the same clubs for less than half that, second hand of course, same shafts etc, the only difference is that the recommendation included the lie angles being changed to 2° upright, this was to compensate for my slightly over the top swing and steep angle of attack.

I’ve never bought clubs I’ve been fitted into before, I always buy second hand, standard specs. My shot shape in irons generally is left to right, well struck ones. My miss is generally right.

Once I’ve had a go with them to see if my shot shape is still the same, is it worth just getting the lie angles changed by a pro? Or is it all hocus pocus?

 

[evemccc]

Last year I went to a titleist fitting day at my club, they fitted me into some T200 irons, price was £1250, no way I could ever justify that and so I left it. They sent the recommendation through on email, which I kept.

I’ve just bought the same clubs for less than half that, second hand of course, same shafts etc, the only difference is that the recommendation included the lie angles being changed to 2° upright, this was to compensate for my slightly over the top swing and steep angle of attack.

I’ve never bought clubs I’ve been fitted into before, I always buy second hand, standard specs. My shot shape in irons generally is left to right, well struck ones. My miss is generally right.

Once I’ve had a go with them to see if my shot shape is still the same, is it worth just getting the lie angles changed by a pro? Or is it all hocus pocus?

Yes, definitely I would

AFAIK there is nothing hocus-pocus about lie angles and golfers being Up or Down from Standard

 

[timd77]

Great, thanks.

As a follow up question, how much would you normally expect to pay per club?

 

[Neilds]

If your current clubs are standard, and therefore too flat for you, that explains why your miss is right. Loads of articles online to show this so definitely not hocus pocus.

 

[Neilds]

Great, thanks.

As a follow up question, how much would you normally expect to pay per club?

At a local store down here (Chippenham) it is £7 per club or £40 for the set. Other places are available

 

[Voyager EMH]

At a local store down here (Chippenham) it is £7 per club or £40 for the set. Other places are available

How many irons in a £40 set?

 

[Neilds]

How many irons in a £40 set?

No idea, just quoting the website. For the old fashioned golfers on here it is probably more than the youngsters who have embraced hybrids

And not sure if wedges and chippers count either.

 

[Orikoru]

In my opinion, you learn to play with what you've got. If the lie angle isn't what you were fitted, then maybe you'll just hit fades with them, and you'll learn to play that and aim 5 yards left every time. Or getting the correct lie angle might mean you don't have to do that, because you hit them straight. It's really up to you.

The last iron fitting I did was over two years ago, and I was hitting slight fades with the clubs. He got me to try a degree upright (I think), but I started drawing them instead. Told him I didn't really want to start playing a draw that I wasn't used to, he said fair enough and put me back in standard lie. So like, I don't think it's game-breaking, but you may find it beneficial or more enjoyable to play a different lie angle.

 

[Imurg]

I think a degree either side isn't going to make much difference to most people...more than that and there's a case for getting them altered.
The problem is that lie angles are always established from a flat lie on a mat...
Where I play there isn't a flat lie on 99% of the course.
If I stand a fraction taller, grip the club a fraction higher, stand a fraction further away......there's another degree at least...
So unless you set up exactly the same every time a degree either way isn't the end of the world.

 

[sjw]

Bear in mind that lie angles can change over time - they're repeatedly smashed into the ground, after all. This'll be more prominent with forged clubs as the material is softer.

I took my clubs (admittedly much older than yours) and the lie angles were all over the place. It cost me £60, I think, for a sort of "retro-fit" and the work to actually change them. Worth doing? For me, yes, as I then knew that they were all at a common starting point and I wasn't going to be struggling with certain clubs unnecessarily.

@Orikoru is correct in that you'll figure it out to an extent over time, but I wouldn't want to be aiming left of target every shot because I think the equipment is going to cause a fade. That's my two penneth

 

[timd77]

Thanks for the advice all, some good points made and food for thought.

If my left to right is down to the clubs being too flat, and I’m at the point where I can’t really change my swing that much, then it sounds like it’s worth getting them done. To an extent I agree that you adapt to the clubs you’ve got, I’ve been doing that since I started playing I guess. But aiming left to allow for the shot shape isn’t ideal all of the time.

Our 18th for example, a par 3 with water left. I aim at the right edge of the water and usually the ball comes back to the green. But sometimes I hit it straight or pull it, and the ball ends up in the water. If a fairly simple change to the clubs means I don’t need to aim so far left then I think it’s worth a go.

 

[spongebob59]

Local club fitter charges £7.50 a club .
He says he'd never adjust more than 2* so depends on what your set are as is.

 

[jim8flog]

Simple ways to check lie angle for yourself

1. If you hit off a plastic mat it will leave a mark on the bottom of the club.

2. Use tape on the sole of the club and see the wear point

3. Use powder on the sole of the club and see where the wear point is.

4. For a static lie check Take your stance and the gap at the toe end should be big enough to slide a 2p coin under as far as the middle of the club

Where I play the pro charges £5 a club

 

[timd77]

Simple ways to check lie angle for yourself

1. If you hit off a plastic mat it will leave a mark on the bottom of the club.

2. Use tape on the sole of the and see the wear point

3. Use powder on the sole of the club and see where the wear point is.

4. For a static lie check Take your stance and the gap at the toe end should be big enough to slide a 2p coin under as far as the middle of the club

Where I play the pro charges £5 a club

I’ll probably do one of these tests before I take the plunge, peace of mind.

 

[KenL]

Thanks for the advice all, some good points made and food for thought.

If my left to right is down to the clubs being too flat, and I’m at the point where I can’t really change my swing that much, then it sounds like it’s worth getting them done. To an extent I agree that you adapt to the clubs you’ve got, I’ve been doing that since I started playing I guess. But aiming left to allow for the shot shape isn’t ideal all of the time.

Our 18th for example, a par 3 with water left. I aim at the right edge of the water and usually the ball comes back to the green. But sometimes I hit it straight or pull it, and the ball ends up in the water. If a fairly simple change to the clubs means I don’t need to aim so far left then I think it’s worth a go.

Not being cheeky here, but some lessons might help.
My understanding was that upright would hit the ball more left, but straight left. I don’t think they would correct a slice by making them more upright.

 

[RichA]

It definitely makes a difference.
I'm tall. If I try to use standard lie irons then it's even worse carnage than normal.
The Ping lie angle chart is supposed to be very good. It was spot on for me and the fitter told me that the tests with Mizuno Swing DNA and lie angle mats generally confirm what the Ping chart says for most golfers.

 

[timd77]

Not being cheeky here, but some lessons might help.
My understanding was that upright would hit the ball more left, but straight left. I don’t think they would correct a slice by making them more upright.

It’s a valid point, I’ve had lessons over the years and have tried working on getting rid of the OTT swing, it’s less pronounced now but I can’t get rid of it unfortunately. I think it’s largely down to my arthritic hips reducing my general movement.

The fitting included all the dynamic loft, technical stuff and when she changed the club setting to upright it did reduce the curvature and added a bit of distance. I just wasn’t sure if this was a known thing or just particular to those clubs.

When they arrive I’ll play a few rounds with them, try those tests mentioned above and then look to get the lie angles changed. Worst case they can be bent back.