Experienced a Club Fitting Session: Unexpected Discoveries Highlighted
In a recent visit to TaylorMade's Performance Lab at The Belfry, an 8-handicap golfer underwent a comprehensive full bag fitting to optimize their game. The outcome of this fitting revealed the benefits of incorporating high lofted fairway woods into their arsenal.
During the fitting, the author was suggested a P770/P790 combo set of irons, offering a good balance of workability in short irons and forgiveness in long irons. For the long game, high-lofted fairway woods were introduced, providing several notable advantages that enhance performance and versatility.
One of the key benefits of high lofted fairway woods is their ability to launch the ball higher and land it softer, which is especially beneficial on long par-4s and second shots into par-5s where control and stopping power are crucial. The author found this to be particularly true with the high-lofted fairway woods, which produced a towering ball flight and greater distance numbers than the author's lesser-lofted irons.
Another advantage of high lofted fairway woods is their increased forgiveness and ease of use. These clubs are easier to hit than long irons, hybrids, or low-lofted woods, particularly for high and mid-handicap players. The higher loft helps players with moderate swing speeds achieve better trajectory and distance consistency.
High lofted fairway woods are also versatile for all skill levels. Once considered clubs mainly for beginners or slower swingers, they are now embraced by elite players like Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, and others who use them strategically for full shots as well as tricky recovery or approach shots.
In addition, high lofted fairway woods can perform well from rough or uneven lies, cutting through turf efficiently and producing reliable ball flight and distance. Models like TaylorMade’s hybrid offerings are particularly effective in these conditions.
In a well-fitted TaylorMade full golf bag, players can tailor the loft and shaft specs to match their swing and course demands, combining long irons, hybrids, and high lofted fairway woods to maximize distance, trajectory, and control.
The author's fitting also highlighted the importance of using the same golf ball during a fitting as the one used long-term, to ensure the clubs perform at their best on the course. In this case, the author was able to use TP5x balls during the fitting, which worked best for the driver and irons, but also provided ample control on shorter wedge shots.
The author's full TaylorMade fitted bag now includes a TaylorMade Qi35 driver, TaylorMade Qi35 fairway woods, TaylorMade P790 and P770 irons, TaylorMade MG4 wedges, TaylorMade 5K ZT putter, and TaylorMade TP5x ball. The Qi35 driver combined with a Fujikura Ventus Red 6S shaft provided the ideal blend of distance, spin, and trajectory.
The author ended up with 12 degrees of bounce in the 60-degree wedge, and found it transformative for both short game and full shots. The P770s delivered ideal spin rates and additional control and workability in the shorter irons, while the P790s, weakened by a single degree, allowed the author to create a perfect blend point within the set, resulting in ideal distance gaps.
The author found the TaylorMade Spider ZT putter to be stable and confidence-inspiring within eight feet. The slightly lower CG in the P790s from 4 to 6-iron helped the author launch the ball higher, and the high-lofted fairway woods provided the much-needed boost in performance that the author had been seeking.
In conclusion, high lofted fairway woods offer higher launch angles, greater forgiveness, versatility across lies, and improved control, making them valuable assets in a well-fitted TaylorMade full golf bag for players ranging from beginners to touring professionals.
While exploring different club options during the fitting, high-lofted fairway woods were suggested for the long game, thanks to their ability to launch the ball higher and land it softer, providing improved control and stopping power, particularly on longer par-4s and second shots into par-5s.
Moreover, high-lofted fairway woods proved to be more forgiving and easier to hit compared to long irons, hybrids, or low-lofted woods, making them a valuable asset for players of varying skill levels.
