Each year, we undertake a months-long process of research and testing to release the Golf Digest Hot List, the industry’s most comprehensive reviews of the latest equipment. We commit the time and effort to create the Hot List because we understand that if you’re going to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on golf clubs, you had better be sure you’ve got the right ones for your game.
Essential to the Hot List are the expert clubfitters who ensure our golfers have the right club and shaft setups, and that’s why we’re excited about this Golf Digest Happy Hour: The most overlooked part of your game—unlocking the mystery of club fitting.
Chris Marchini, Golf Galaxy’s director of golf experience and the lead clubfitter at the Hot List, spoke to Golf Digest+ members for an hour on all things equipment, including the biggest golf club misconceptions, why you might not need 14 clubs in your bag, how often you should change your wedges, why a hybrid might not be right for you and much more.
Along with Marchini, we were joined by Golf Digest’s equipment experts and the editors who created and lead the Hot List each year, Mike Stachura and E. Michael Johnson.
Why is clubfitting so important? How can average players benefit from a fitting? What do you need to know before your fitting? What are the biggest mistakes golfers make with their equipment? What are some common golf-club setups that average players often overlook?
We covered all of those topics and much more throughout the Q&A. Below you will find our key takeaways, as well as a complete recording of the Happy Hour.
Key Takeaways
- One of the biggest misconceptions that golfers have about clubfitting is that they aren’t good enough to be fit for their clubs. Marchini emphasized that oftentimes, a clubfitting is most beneficial for higher handicap players because the proper adjustments can help fix their common faults.
- Consider a higher-lofted fairway wood instead of a hybrid. In recent years, 5- and 7-woods have begun to gain popularity on tour and among average golfers because of how high they launch the ball. For many players, they are more beneficial than hybrids.
- You might not need 14 clubs in your bag. Every club should have a distinct purpose for your game. If it doesn’t, then it’s likely doing you more harm than good. Marchini has fit players with 11, 12 and 13 clubs in the bag instead of the standard 14. It's more important that each club is optimized for your game than simply playing the maximum number of clubs allowed.