Miles Chapman is a PGA Teaching Professional at Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Miles Chapman on the importance of having your players get fit at the right time:

We have all heard it before. “Go get fit!” But we need to make sure we are doing so at the right time. A good amount of my beginner players improve drastically in a short period of time. If I were to tell them to get fit within the first week of meeting and working with them, I would be doing them a disservice. Yes, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that it is not necessary for a player to be swinging with the right equipment. I am simply speaking on the more advanced types of fittings. I want my players to use the clubs that will give them the best opportunity to maximize their potential. With that being said, a lot of times my players gain improvement within months of first starting out. They become more consistent too. But let’s focus on shaft flex and loft and lie angles. It’s best to wait until our players are able to make consistent contact before recommending a detailed fitting session.

Miles Chapman on the business impact of having your players get fit at the right time:

Of course, when we discuss this topic, we also have to think of the type of player we are working with. Are they still growing? Are they a middle-aged player who can benefit from a fitting, and as a result gain more distance? Are we working with someone who is swinging clubs that are too heavy or too light for them? If we put any of these players in the clubs that work best for them, we are both going to see better results. This is beneficial for both the coach and the player. If we have our players in the clubs that are right for them, we are able to teach with no restrictions. We know the faults in ball flight are mainly because of the actions by the player, and the clubs are not having a negative impact on the golf ball. All in all, we want our beginner players to enjoy the game and we want them to be eager to continue to improve. In order for this to happen, we need to make sure that our less advanced players are swinging with the correct shaft flex and a loft and lie angle that is best for them. The simple aspects need to be taken care of in order for our players to get the most out of their games.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email mileschap03@gmail.com.