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Custom Fitting W-T-F measurement
All human beings share the same skeletal, muscle, tendon, and joint functions and from a mechanical standpoint are the same regardless of height or sex. Non-mechanical differences arise in custom fitting however, for instance: the height of a bicycle seat needs to be greater for a taller person than a shorter person although the mechanical design of the bicycle remains the same. By the same token there is only one true fitting variable in the building of golf clubs and that is club length. Based upon your wrist-to-floor measurement we adjust your club length to correspond to the lie angle of the club-head in order to ensure a proper fitting. The W-T-F measurement should be taken while standing on a hard surface. Wear jogging shoes (not golf shoes) and stand at strict military attention with your shoulders back, feet together, and your arms rigid and straight down at your sides. Measure from the left wrist (the base of the palm), to the floor for a right handed golfer and from the right wrist to the floor for a left handed golfer. You should have someone else take this measurement for you to ensure accuracy. Do not round-up the measurement to the next inch increment and if you are right on the line (ie: 35” exactly), err on the shorter side.
How does the W-T-F measurement work?
It is based upon trigonometry. At the point of ball impact in the downswing your wrist, ground, and club-head form a right triangle. Assuming an ideal swing posture, there is a mathematical relationship between your W-T-F measurement while standing and wrist-to-ground distance at ball impact. The clubhead lie angles are known for the irons and fairway woods as well as the length of one side of the right triangle based upon your mathematically factored wrist-to-ground distance at impact. This gives us the measurement of two angles and the length of one side. We then use trigonometry to solve for the hypotenuse or club length. This is somewhat oversimplified as we factor in shaft deflection and numerous other factors. The fitting formula that we developed produces the correct golf club length for anyone regardless of height, arm length, etc.
Proper club length
The determination of the ideal golf club length to be used in the 1 Iron Golf System involved a three part analysis:
1. Golf swing mechanics. 2. The determination of a swing plane where muscle, tendon, and joint functions are optimized for power and control. This optimum swing plane would determine the correct lie angle of the club-head and the ideal corresponding club length based on the individual golfer. 3. Interviews with golfers of all skill levels.
After a complete analysis of the first two, the one ideal swing plane and corresponding clubhead lie angle for both the irons and woods was determined. Based upon the club-head lie angle the ideal club length for the individual golfer could be factored using their wrist-to-floor measurement.
During the third part of the analysis where the golfers were asked what they considered to be their favorite iron and wood, over 98% of them identified golf clubs which met the specifications of our previously determined ideals.
The correlation between the mechanical/skeletal analysis and the golfers interview analysis proved that our previously determined ideal club-head lie angles and corresponding club lengths for the irons and woods placed the golfers body in a position to maximize power and close enough to the golf ball to ensure consistent solid ball contact.
Shaft Optimization Process
We use our own Shaft Optimized stepless steel golf shafts in all 1 Iron Golf clubs. Shaft Optimization is a proprietary process we developed whereby the playability characteristics of the shaft are optimized for peak performance in relation to the design specifications of the clubhead. This forms a perfect mechanical marriage and balance between the individual components which produces the ideal shaft loading and ball trajectory for the golf club regardless of the strength or swing speed of the individual golfer. While other golf club manufacturers concentrate on non-standardized flex ratings and other shaft performance myths we have found that shaft optimization is the major key to golf shaft playability.
We are also the only golf club manufacturer to perform shaft flex plane orientation as part of our Shaft Optimization Process. If a golf club is shafted without regard to the inherent flex plane of the shaft it will try and rotate around its axis to a position of stability during the swing which creates an oscillation between shaft and clubhead. This oscillation results in the clubhead literally wobbling through impact. However, when the shaft is correctly oriented in respect to its inherent flex plane it will resist twisting to any other position when placed under load and will remain stable and on-line through impact. The feeling is that the club-head is riding on rails through the impact zone. The result is a much higher degree of ball striking consistency with a maximum transfer of power at impact. It is important to note that over two-thirds of PGA Tour players have had the shafts in their golf clubs oriented for flex plane stability. This is an additional step that is not included in the manufacturing process by any other golf club manufacturer.
Due to the precise balancing of clubhead and shaft resulting from our Shaft Optimization Process a 1 Iron Golf club produces much less of the vibration and shock normally associated with steel shafted golf clubs. Consequently, our 1 Irons possess the comfort of a graphite shafted club with the inherent performance consistency of steel. It is worthwhile to note that many of our customers are former graphite shaft players. |
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1 Iron Golf®
Custom Fitting |
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1 Iron Golf, Inc. Corporate Offices Perrysburg, Ohio 419-662-9336 Any information collected by this website is confidential. It is neither shared nor sold. |