Golf

Getting fit for golf

By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
Published October 4, 2007

Chris Hurlburt, owner of Cotton's Golf in St. Petersburg, believes custom-made clubs can improve anyone's golf game and estimates that he produces 150 sets a year at a cost of $500-$550 each.
	[Scott Keeler | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Scott Keeler | Times] There are a variety of golf grips, including rubber, leather and cord, with cord offering the best moisture management.

Becoming a better golfer could be a matter of inches. Or it could be the difference between steel and graphite. Or maybe it's the size of the grip.

Most of the time, shaving strokes off your score means acquiring a better swing. But the clubs in your bag also could be a problem. Chances are, if your clubs came off the floor at your local sporting goods store, they don't fit.

A set of custom-made clubs could make the difference. If the clubs fit your size and swing, it should mean fewer strokes on the course.

Walking in the door

Chris Hurlburt, owner of Cotton's Golf in St. Petersburg, is in the middle of sizing a set of irons. It is one of approximately 150 sets of custom-made clubs he produces each year for golfers of all ages, sex and talent levels.

A blow torch, sand paper, glue, golf grips and various hammers and saws are spread neatly across his work bench. Hurlburt is all about building from scratch.

He believes every golfer should have a custom-made set of clubs, whether beginner or scratch. And he doesn't believe in buying off the rack at a sporting goods store.

"Never," Hurlburt said. "I would suggest getting a fitted set of clubs to anyone. To me, it doesn't make any sense to spend money on a set of clubs that aren't made for you, and then if you want to continue to play you have to go buy another set that fits you. It makes more sense in the long run to buy a fitted set of clubs that you can have for a long time."

Hurlburt, of course, is bias. But he believes clubs that fit can shave as much as five strokes off a game. That means the length, shaft stiffness, grip size and club face should all fit the individual.

Measuring up

The process starts with getting measured. Arms by your side, Hurlburt will measure from the left wrist to the floor to determine how long the club should be.

There are some other factors. A golfer with a bad back, for example, may need a longer club in order to stand more erect and take the strain off.

"We'll factor in all those considerations for each golfer," Hurlburt said. "A lot of times, somebody who is playing with a set that is too short has to dip down to hit the ball. We'll take a look at their normal swing and make clubs accordingly."

Swing analysis

A computer in the back of the shop measures certain factors in a swing. Golfers are set up on the machine, which measures speed, position of the club at impact and other tendencies of the swing.

Hurlburt also uses a strike plate. There is impact tape on the strike plate that shows where the golfer makes contact with the ball. If the impact is on the sole or toe of the club, it could cause a hook or a slice.

He could make an offset face, or use a cavity-backed club, to help control the hook or slice.

If a golfer has a slow club speed, Hurlburt will use a flexible graphite shaft that will be more forgiving at impact. A golfer with fast club speed will use a stiffer, steel shaft.

"I would suggest the graphite shafts for most women and seniors or perhaps for golfers with injuries," he said. "Steel is for the stronger player. If a stronger player has a loose shaft then the club head is going to be off at impact. If the swing isn't fast enough for a stiff shaft, then the same thing will happen."

Hurlburt doesn't shy away from using the oversized club heads for drivers or 3-woods.

"That's what everybody is using and what everybody wants," he said.

Getting a grip

Once the length, shaft and club head are determined, the only thing left is the grip. Loosely hold a grip in your left hand. With the grip resting in your palm, wrap your hand around the grip.

If the fingers don't touch the palm, then the grip fits. If there is too much gap, a thinner grip will be made. And if the fingers do touch the palm then a thicker grip is used.

There are also different kinds of grips. Some are rubber, some are leather and some are cord grips. Cord offers the most tackiness, for players who may sweat a lot.

"You want to just grip the club loosely," Hurlburt said. "Tension in a golf swing will kill you."

Test them out

Armed with all the information, Hurlburt can start making a set. Most clubs that he makes are 5-iron through driver. Instead of three or four irons, he adds two hybrid clubs, which are a cross between a driver and an iron.

A new set costs $500-$550. He suggest golfers give themselves some time to test drive the clubs.

"Get to know your clubs," Hurlburt said. "I always tell people that you can't give up on the clubs right away. Play with them for at least two weeks. Get used to them. They're your new best friend. Don't clean them or anything. Then bring them back in and we can make any little adjustments we need to make."

Rodney Page can be reached at page@tampabay.com or 727 893-8123.

[Last modified October 3, 2007, 22:20:13]