![\"Miles](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/teemoore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2014\/12\/about-us-history-small.jpg\")
<\/a>Miles of Golf<\/p><\/div>\n
And generally speaking, I still believe in this philosophy. Game improvement should start with adhering to and honing proper swing and short game fundamentals. But as I have learned over the years, don\u2019t ignore the advantages of playing with the proper equipment suited to one\u2019s game and physical attributes\u2014especially as one gets older and those physical attributes gradually change. I was reminded of this truism this fall after scheduling a driver fitting at Miles of Golf near Ann Arbor, one of the most respected and acclaimed certified fitting locations in the country. And this is a big country.<\/p>\n
I last did a driver fitting four years ago at Miles of Golf and ended up ordering the Titleist 910D3 model with a 8.5 degree loft, stiff shaft. With the club, I saw immediate improvement in both length and accuracy. Of course, the highest compliment about it was when my older brother remarked during a round: \u201cMan, that driver is hot.\u201d Still in my hand, I didn\u2019t see any resemblance to a supermodel. But hey, I appreciated the words while wondering if my swing had anything to do with those well-struck drives. But that\u2019s asking a lot of an older brother\u2014if you know what I mean.<\/p>\n
Earlier this fall I decided to get a driver check-up. I had an inkling that spending a session with Mr. TrackMan (launch monitor) and a knowledgeable fitter might be beneficial. Besides, my overall swing was pretty sound and consistent and was delivering solid scores. That\u2019s an opportune time to visit the Cluboratory, Miles of Golf\u2019s award-winning club fitting facility.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Bryan Carpenter<\/p><\/div>\n
My club fitter was Bryan Carpenter, an experienced, tech-savvy and friendly individual who\u2019s been part of the staff for the past six years and a club fitter for five. A graduate of University of Detroit Mercy with a MA degree in Architectural Design, Carpenter said his education has been relevant and helpful to club fitting. \u201cThis stuff makes a lot of sense to me. I have a good math and physics background and that relates really well when it comes to driver and club fitting, especially with the numbers-crunching Trackman,\u201d said Carpenter.<\/p>\n
I also like how he\u2019s a competitive golfer and remains active in tournament play when his schedule allows. A frequent qualifier of the Michigan Amateur, Carpenter and Jim Lewis finished runner-up this past year in the GAM Senior\/Mid Am team championship. Players\/Fitters like him get the nuances and quirks of competitive players and their equipment. Even way-down-the-scoreboard players like me.<\/p>\n
After studying my drives under the watchful eye of Trackman, here\u2019s what Carpenter had to say about my Titleist 910D3:<\/p>\n
\u2014\u201cYour swing speed doesn\u2019t seem to match up well with this driver and its loft and shaft contribute to a flatter ball flight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014\u201cFlatter ball flight leads to decreased carry and overall length.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then I continued with my quasi-aerobic fitting exercise, hitting a number of drives (it can be tiresome) with several different brands, lofts and shafts. To cut to the chase, Carpenter recommended the new Titleist 915D3 with a 9.5 loft, stiff Diamana shaft. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n
\u2014I picked up 4.5 mph of ball speed with the new driver. \u201cEach mph of ball speed represents two or more yards of added distance,\u201d said Carpenter. \u201cSo you picked up an added ten yards or so in distance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014The added loft and a lighter (only 50 grams) and higher launching shaft increased carry off the drive. \u201cYour trajectory increased by at least five feet in the air,\u201d said Carpenter.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Titleist 915D3<\/p><\/div>\n
The new attributes and features of the Titleist 915D3 include:<\/p>\n
\u2014Active Recoil Channel\u2122 which according to the Titleist website \u201cdelivers more distance by actively flexing at impact to launch the ball off the face with higher speed and lower spin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014High MOI (moment of inertia) Design: \u201cReduced thickness up front allows weight to be strategically placed in the back, resulting in a low and deep CG (center of gravity) that provides ball speed while preserving forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
On that last forgiving trait, Carpenter added: \u201cWith this driver, you not only added length and height but your misses were better, with an acceptable left to right shot\u2014a playable shot.\u201d This was music to my ears as I\u2019ve long subscribed to the adage that \u201cthe game is all about the quality of one\u2019s misses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carpenter also enlightened me on the efficacy of the latest technology. \u201cPeople think there can\u2019t be a huge change in equipment from one year to the next,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cBut the companies always seem to prove us wrong. There are more often than not significant improvements. For example, we\u2019re seeing the lowest spinning drivers nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\n
OK, so maybe a re-write is in order for my opening paragraph.<\/p>\n
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For more information, visit www.milesofgolf.com<\/a> and www.titleist.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"