Club Fitting: Kickpoint

Fri, 03/22/2013 - 10:00 -- Don Trahan

Today, Doc Griffin is going to give us all a lesson on kickpoint. Different shafts and the speed in which a player swings the club correlate to kickpoint. If you're swinging a club that's not fit exactly for you, kickpoint is one aspect of your clubs that will most likely be way off.

Watch the video as Doc provides really detailed information on this very important, yet unknown, aspect of club fitting. Hopefully it answers any questions you may have had on the subject.

As always, you can contact any of our PPGS Certified Fitters around the country and in Europe.
CLICK HERE TO CONTACT CLUB FITTER.

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.

Comments

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

That there is both funny and painful. Years ago my Dad riding with my Uncle flipped their cart and broke my Uncles arm. Beer was involved and likely very little pain until later. Amazing more people aren't hurt on the golf course.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

The closest I've come to getting hurt on the course lately was at Moccasin Bend on the Tennessee River.

There is a hole next to part of the river right next to a tee box. While we were waiting on the group in front of us to move we decided to see if we could hit a ball across the river.

There is a rock wall a couple of feet high between the tee box and the river (that should have not been a factor). None of us made it but when Mike's friend hit he hit it too low and hit the rock wall about 20 feet in front of us. The ball came screaming back right past my ear. Whew!! I'll never try that again.

reedclfd's picture

Submitted by reedclfd on

Steve: Thanks for posting the link -it's just plain funny and a keeper! I see what you mean about island greens and reading putts. Hard to believe people do these things and continue to survive and play another day. What a great game! lol, R2

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

One more intervening variable to the lottery we play when we just buy whatever is on the rack at the store. Good luck EVER getting it exactly right off of the rack.

One thing I'm not sure of (but of course I have a theory) is how much difference the length of a swing makes in shaft dynamics if the club head speeds are equal.

It seems that a very long swing (maybe Phil or Bubba) would load the shaft more gradually and/or differently than someone with equal club head speed that has a much shorter swing (maybe JB Holmes).

If I took a fishing pole and used a long stroke to make a cast of say 30 yards the pole would flex less and/or differently than if I took the same pole and made the same length cast with a very short stroke. The latter would put much more strain on the pole.

(Just one of the stupid things I spend my time wondering about). Ha ha!

barrowcloughr@aol.com's picture

Submitted by barrowcloughr@a... on

wow DJ finishes with an eagle on a par4 ! to be certain of making the cut and he birdied the previous hole !

barrowcloughr@aol.com's picture

Submitted by barrowcloughr@a... on

ooops seems they got their wires crossed somewhere , he parred the last but should still just scrape in.

reedclfd's picture

Submitted by reedclfd on

Doc: Another great, to the point, very interesting topic! I for one really appreciate you taking the time to clearly explain shaft dynamics. I like to poke around the big-box golf stores to see whats new, and find it quite entertaining (and sad) to see the things they do to "fit" the unsuspecting golf community! Anyway, keep up the great work and thanks again! R2

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

Thanks sir! Nice that you appreciate the efforts. I wondered if it had been watched based on most of the comments. :)

CervezaFria's picture

Submitted by CervezaFria on

Hi all. It has been a while. I guess that is what happens when you become a working stiff.

While the golf swing is coming along, I can't seem to swing up on the maximum vertical inclined plane without over rotating (rotating close to 90 degrees). Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Russty Kiwi's picture

Submitted by Russty Kiwi on

I have two swing thoughts that keep me close to vertical. One is palms perpendicular to the ground throughout the swing. The other is thumbs pointing straight up at the top of the backswing, which you cant do if you over rotate. Good luck

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Good to see you again. I suppose you are a rich lawyer by now.

I still think that the swing thought idea you mentioned a long time ago is a great one (remember?)

It's easier to monitor where your hands are in relation to a closer body part (ie. your neck) than it is something like the toe line on the ground.

Since your hands are basically hanging down below the base of your neck at address it's easy enough to just try to swing your hands in a vertical circle around the base of your neck with your palms perpendicular.

Of course there is much more to a golf swing than that but it's still a great template to start from. Other things like how much turn to make and the bump come fairly naturally anyway for anyone used to making athletic moves.

CervezaFria's picture

Submitted by CervezaFria on

Yes, I remember. Thanks for the reminder. My problem is that my hands end up a little on the outside (closer to the target line) at the top of my backswing. The only way I have been able to get my hands more inside is by rotating more. I am thinking there must be an error in my set up that causes this to happen.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Cervesa,

Nice to hear from you. hope you're well. One thing that helps me is just not making any effort to turn. If I male the effort to turn enough I will over turn. If I swing my arms back I will usually over turn. Just lift to 3/4's and focus on the forward swing. The bump will happen naturally and you will likely not over turn back. Most of us over turned for many years (with the rotational swing) so turning too much is easy. if we just focus on the lift up we will get more than enough turn by nature. The other thing is - control that front left knee. If that front leg stays stable in the back swing it limits the turn back. think knee and lift as you start back. Maybe "Hold,lift, through" would work. 'Through' being the trigger for the FUS.
Hit 'em straight and let us know how you do pal. Stop by more often. All work and no blog is no wanno!

CervezaFria's picture

Submitted by CervezaFria on

Everything is going well. I have a good job, a beautiful wife, and three wonderful children. I even get to sneak out to the golf course once or twice a month.

I realized recently that I was not lifting on the vertical inclined plane. I went back and watched the revised videos and Surge's daily videos on this topic from the beginning of the year. I feel like I have a good understanding of the vertical inclined plane; I just cannot seem to swing on it without rotating more.

Dragonhead's picture

Submitted by Dragonhead on

CervezaFria,
After you have set up and are ready to make the swing, does the crease inner crease of your right elbow face straight up,ie, parallel to the toe line? Mine now points from that position to as point mid way down the left or forward forearm. In this start position it is a breeze to lift the club to the correct position without over swinging. Another tip perhaps is try to make a shorter backswing.
If your right elbow crease at set up doesn't point at halfway up the lead forearm, then your swing up to the BUS will be restricted and slightly rotational. To rectify this just [without changing your grip or anything else], rotated your right elbow forward [not rigid at the finish]. It will make lifting the club up to the position to 'ring the bell' much simpler and easier to repeat.
My irons and woods are now 'burning the grass', no over the top or 'thumps' etc.
Good Luck on your journey to improve. DH

Mike Hertel's picture

Submitted by Mike Hertel on

I don't know if all y'all saw the tune up offer on FB page, it just popped up, so I signed up and paid for it already. It is in my price range. Looking forward to it. All y'all in N.C and S.C should be able to make this. I am looking forward to it.

https://www.swingsurgeon.com/special/spring-tune-up-golf-clinic-charlotte-nc?utm_medium=socmed&utm_campaign=clickit-golf...

I already have the manual and videos, maybe I can get a different one?

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

That is a super deal Mike. Every one with in 3-500 miles should go if possible.
Have fun and let us know all about it.

reedclfd's picture

Submitted by reedclfd on

Hey RM: Lets see if we can get one of our "leaders" to come out to Vegas and do a little teaching. Put me on the list! Anyone else interested? R2

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Surge and Kenny anywhere west of Texas would likely having me show up some how some way, especially the deal that they have lined up April 7th. Wow what a deal. I am hoping to visit Surge later this year back east with Cindy. We are still in the planning stages and haven't settled on a date.
Either way I would love for them to come out our way. I think we could gather up a pretty good size group like we did for the PPGS tourny a few years ago, don't you?! Hope it happens R2:)

Leednc's picture

Submitted by Leednc on

Hey Doc, What is your opinion on the the backweighting (counterbalancing) concept long ago used by Jack Nicklaus and now by Boccieri? Would it slow down your hands as you come through impact?

Leed

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin on

I think that back weighting is viable if you need to increase the MOI of the club to fit you more properly and you don't want to have more "feel" in the head. I personally would rather feel the weight at the other end of the club as that is what I'm swinging and trying to hit the ball with.

bhmullen@earthlink.net's picture

Submitted by bhmullen@earthl... on

It seems that the kick point and other shaft properties are extremely important when for graphite or composite shafts. Is kick point important for the metal shafts predominately used in irons. Can you comment on different metal shafts for irons? I am currently using graphite shafts in my irons but I am considering going back to metal shafts. I am 70 years old with a club head speed of about 88 mph.
Thanks,
Byron

shortgamewizard's picture

Submitted by shortgamewizard on

I have had a lot of success in using True Temper's GS 75 shafts, going on two years now. Switched from graphite and enjoy the easier shot making with the steel and the similar weight.

dsopchak@twcny.rr.com's picture

Submitted by dsopchak@twcny.... on

I saw the video on kick point and understand the concept. How about iron shaft weight. How do you match the weight of a shaft to the golfer if everything else (flex, kick point, torque) are the same? Is it strictly feel/personal preference?

bobpd68@hotmail.com's picture

Submitted by bobpd68@hotmail.com on

Not sure how to get this to you so trying here. I am interested in the Ehlow grips. I understand club fitting and have read everything I can find about the grips and have discussed via email the grips effect on the club with Brad at Enlow grips. He has stated just put the grip on and go with it. I have fitted clubs and there is no doubt if I do that they will be several swing weights lighter and the flex point will move up the shaft. This seems in contradiction to everything I know about fitting clubs. Am I missing something?