Legends-Custom CLubs and Golf > 703

I love when I have a student who has never really hit a good shot before.  The look of aw on there face when they can’t quite believe they were the one responsible for hitting a shot that looked like that.  Why did they hit that shot to begin with?  Well, it was because they were absolutely listening to directions I gave them, and forgot for a moment they really wanted the ball to go far, or straight, or just go.  The swing all came together in that moment, and worked the way its suppose to.

Now, here’s the trouble with a good shot, you will want another one.  The average golfer will go from a mind set of “I need to perform a good swing” and go right into a mind set of “I want to make another good shot.”  To hit the original “good shot” they never thought about making a good shot, they simply were trying to swing well.  You never need to think about a good or bad shot, you simply need to do your job and perform a great swing.

I’ll describe a couple of scenarios to illustrate this point.

Scenarior 1:  Imagine if you will you are playing a long par 4 with a water hazzard along the entire right side of the hole.   You set up to hit the drive right down the center, when all of a sudden something goes wrong and the ball drifts to close to the water, and falls in.  Upset you take a drop and take aim at the green.  The club goes back. You have a second thought and oops the ball travel pretty far but falls into the same hazzard.  You go to were the ball went in to take your next drop and take dead aim at the green, with a solid swing you send the ball clear over the green. (don’t feel too bad, it never left the pin).  You chip up and four put.  Ouch, that would be a 10 on a par 4.  How do you think you should handle such a melt down.  The best way is to put it out of your mind and get back to work.

Scenario 2:  Imagine you are playing a long par 3.  You take dead aim at the stick and execute a perfect feeling swing.  The ball soars majestically through the air, lands a smidgen short, bumps the stick with a sharp click then falls in.  There you have it a hole-in-one.  Are you happy now?  Can you think of anything else now?  How can you finish your round?   The best way is to put it out of your mind and get back to work.

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Golf Swing Tips to Teach Tiny Golf Tots

Legends Custom Clubs for Juniors > 571-275-1707

I am often asked at what age do I start teaching children?

The youngest recommend is six, but you can help them younger if you like, I find that the parent usually knows best when to start their child playing and learning sports. If you want to take your children golfing earlier that’s awesome but let them ride in the cart, hit a few shots into a lake, play in the bunker and just generally have fun on the course. This will build a positive relationship with golf and going golfing.

Here are the four critical things I consider when starting a ‘tots’ in golf, swinging the golf club and golf instruction:

1. Can they comfortably stand and hold a golf club?

2. Can they make there hands grip the club in the proper order?

The correct hand on top and bottom. I don’t worry about hand position or separation of hands, they can hold the club like a baseball bat if it’s comfortable and allows for a free swing.

This article appearing at eHow.com by Joe White tells us the reasons to build a good grip but remember to let your child hold the golf clubs comfortably then later in their golf life, it  will be easy to adjust them to good grip mechanics.

3. Can they swing a golf club and make a ’swishing’ sound?

When the young future golfer swings his or hers club, I try and encourage them to make a swish sound, the idea being swing the club from the beginning to the end instead of directing the club head  into the ball.  If your a parent and working with your young golfer, if you hear a swish sound give them lots of positive reinforce and praise.

4. Can they stand after finishing their golf swing - the finish?

The ’swish’ is beginning to be generated work on finishing well. For a right handed golfer the junior golfer should finish by standing on the left foot looking out in the direction the ball is traveling with the right toe sticking in the ground.

Legends Custom Junior Golf Clubs - info@legendscustomclubs.com

Here is an example of a good finish to use as a model for your junior. This is the more difficult step to master but with practice you should master it.

This article appearing at About.com, “How to Get Your Child Started in Golf” by  Frank Mantua, Director of Golf, US Golf Camps has excellent material and great recommendations. Check it out.

Good luck with your new golfer! Let us know if you need anything, we’re always available: 571-275-1707

Thanks, Mike

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2007 & 2008 World's Top Pro ClubFitter - Legends Custom Golf Clubs

The professional golf guys at Legends Custom Clubs, Mike Cates & Evan Sturdivant have been named to the list of the countries top 100 clubfitters for 2007 and 2008.

If you need special care and technical work done on your golf clubs, you know your getting the very best care, resources, knowledge base and expertise when you take your golf clubs to Legends Custom Clubs at the Golf Park at Hunter Mill.

Here’s what WorldGolf.com had to say in their article, “List of the World’s Top 100 Professional ClubFitters.”

List of the World’s Top 100 Professional ClubFitters announced

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The 2nd annual list of the World’s Top 100 Professional ClubFitters has been released. All of the top 100 are accomplished professionals who have studied and trained for years. In terms of skill and knowledge, the 2007 Top 100 winners are on par with the technicians on the PGA Tour. The only difference is, the World’s Top 100 ClubFitters provide those benefits to the everyday golfer, improving performance and ultimately making the game easier and more enjoyable.

The Top 100 hail from all over the world: 2 from Australia, 15 from Europe, 5 from Asia, 13 from Canada and 65 from the United States.

Everyone will tell you…getting your clubs custom fit will improve your game…no equivocation here. But there are so many claiming to be fitters…the nineteen year old standing next to an expensive simulator in a large retail store, the old soul who eyeballs your ball flight, and the very questionable “expert” who claims he can fit you over the internet.

There are “wagglers”; there are the “guessers”; there are the “which one feels best?” and then there are bonafide Professional Fitters. Where do you find someone who really is going to do it right? The Top 100 is a good place to look.

An exhaustive selection process designed by an elite panel of independent industry insiders produced the globally diverse final list, which includes members from all over the globe. From retail shops serving small communities to urban mega-facilities, the World’s Top 100 ClubFitters represent those who are the most skilled, the most knowledgeable, and the most committed to the process of custom fitting golf equipment.

Many of the golf industry’s experts contributed to the process of establishing the selection criteria, from well-known club head designers like Clay Long and Art Chou, to Gene Parente of the independent testing facility Golf Labs, to Kim Braley world renowned shaft designer, Dr. Christian Reichardt golf sports fitness expert and a host of others involved in manufacturing and training of custom fitters. While input varied from panel member to panel member, there was an overall desire to find clubfitters who could merge technical expertise with a distinctly personal touch.

Each application was evaluated on a point system rating the level of sophistication of the fitting process, an understanding of head and shaft design and how they affect play, the proper use of launch monitors and fitting systems, understanding the golfer and his psychological and physical needs and goals, marketing, advertising, providing first-class service and facilities, and overall success (always a good indicator of one’s reputation in the area). Also heavily weighted was “integrity” for those professionals who put their customer’s needs ahead of profit, who guarantee their work, and whose passion will help grow the game.
“Seeing the big picture is really at the core of what we’re doing,” says Jennifer King, President of KZG, the #1 Custom ProLine. “When golfers play with clubs that fit, they play better and enjoy the game. When they enjoy the game, they play more, and the game grows. In the end, it’s a win-win for everyone who loves golf.”

Applicants for the World’s Top 100 list were required to complete a lengthy application that included several essays on equipment knowledge, clubfitting process, and business ingenuity. Career history and education were also considered.

Here’s the view of Mike & Evan’s listing or link here to see both lists 2007 and 2008 World’s Top Clubfitters:

CONGRATULATIONS TO… THE WORLD’S TOP 100 CLUBFITTERS FOR 2007 & 2008

2007 - Virginia: Evan Sturdivant, Legends Custom Clubs
Vienna 571-275-1707
Mike Cates, Legends Custom Clubs
Vienna 571-275-1707

2008 - Virginia Evan Sturdivant Legends Custom Clubs 571-275-1707

Swing Analysis & Golf Club Pro Fitting Process at Legends

Give them a call today or email at info@legendscustomclubs.com

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My golf clubs are custom fitted exactly to me.

Not fitted to a random set of measurements, for the average human being or golfer - JUST for ME!

Legends Custom Clubs | 571-275-1707

I bet Tiger Woods has fitted golf clubs, what do think?

That’s why my golf clubs work so well and have always worked well. They fit. Buying golf clubs without a personal club fitting is like buying a suit without checking the size. Custom fit golf clubs will tailor the golf game to the golfer.

Take a look at this well written and incredibly informative article appearing at Suite101.com titled, “Golf Club Fitting - Custom golf club fitting can make a huge difference in performance,” written by Alan L. Hammond.

The golf clubs displayed at golf shops and pro shops are built to standardized specifications. If the customer doesn’t fit those specs, the equipment won’t fit the customer. Without the proper club fit, no golfer will reach optimal performance. It is a necessity for golfers to receive a custom club fitting, from a trained and experienced club fitter, before making a golf club investment.

A good professional club fitter will test the following seven interrelated variables during a custom fitting session: shaft length; lie angle; shaft flex; shaft type; grip size; golf club head design; and set make up. Each variable is briefly explained below:

• Shaft Length: Among other things, shaft length will impact where on the clubface the ball is consistently struck. The correct shaft length will prevent a golfer from having to alter a natural swing arc in order to make optimal impact.
• Lie Angle: This is the angle formed by the shaft and sole of the club. Having a correct lie angle will cause the center of the clubhead to touch the ground. If the toe of the clubhead is raised, a hooking shot may result. Should the heel be raised, a push or slice may result.
• Shaft Flex: The shaft flex impacts things such as trajectory, accuracy, distance and consistency. During the golf swing, the club “flexes” throughout until squarely meeting the ball at impact. An incorrect shaft flex significantly reduces the chance of making consistently solid contact.
• Shaft Type: Here, again, personal characteristics make the decision. The composition of steel and graphite shafts, their kick (or bend) points, swing weights and torque ratings are considerations
• Grip Size: The right grip size can impact the golfers ability to return the clubface to a square position and release the wrists through impact. Also, with the variety of grip compositions, personal preference is a determining factor.
• Clubhead Design: With the advent of MOI (moment of inertia) importance, this factor has become a big consideration, particularly with higher handicappers. When shots are struck outside the sweet spot, a high MOI reduces twisting at impact, delivering shots closer to the target area.
• Set Make Up: The new hybrid clubs have given golfers a wider range of choices in the clubs they carry in their bag, their set make up. Numerous lofts and designs in woods, hybrids, irons and wedges make the need for professional custom club fitting more important.

Due to the interrelatedness and number of variables, it is difficult, if not impossible for anyone aside from a professional to conduct a proper club fitting. Online golf retailers offer club fitting, but often all factors aren’t considered. Club fitters should be able to give golfers personal attention and many often use technology in the form of launch monitors as one means of assessment.

A launch monitor typically measures clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, carry distance and overall distance. Measuring these characteristics, along with others, will help the club fitter select the proper clubs for each golfer. Many golf shops will offer club fitting without requiring club purchase, albeit for a fee.

After a custom club fitting, golfers will feel confident that they have made a good decision in their investment. The added confidence will enhance performance almost as much as the custom fitting itself.

Only after I went through the fitting process, did I see the results of all my lessons, practice and course time start to pay “HUGE” dividends. Why not give Mike and Evan a call - What do you have to lose - a few more strokes off your handicap?

Legends Custom Clubs | 571-275-1707 or email info@legendscustomclubs.com.

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Legends Custom Clubs at 571-275-1707

Legends Custom Clubs & Golf
571-275-1707
info@legendscustomclubs.com
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We all, sometimes, hit bad golf shots. I know I’ve hit my fair share and keep coming back to the golf course for more, year after year. The one thing I try to do after every bad shot is regain my composure and focus on the next shot at hand. This is easier said than done, but if you can develop and routine for dealing with these moments, it will benefit you with lower scores and more enjoyable golf - for life.

eHow.com has a great article on just the subject, filled with techniques and tips”

Life is like a golf game: Sometimes we slice, sometimes we hook and sometimes we drive it 300 yards. In life, we pick up from the bad times. But how do you recover from a bad golf shot? Do you demolish your clubs like Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore”? The pros know that having a plan is the best way to pick up, move on and regain your game.

Tips & Techniques:

1. Be familiar with your swing. That way when your game goes awry, you’ll know how to correct it. Practice each part of your swing and analyze each part.
2. Develop a routine. The pros practice their swing over and over until it’s second nature, and if they are interrupted, they start over from the beginning. You don’t have to wait until you’re on the course to go over your fundamentals; you can practice your swing anytime, anywhere.
3. Harness your emotions. Take all your pent-up feelings and channel them into your swing
4. Be confident. Don’t focus on your bad shot; instead, remember past successes on the course. Positive memories will help you turn your bad shot into a distant memory.Step 5
5. Try a conservative approach until you get back in the game. Forget the risky moves. Grip the driver down an inch and try a smaller swing that moves the ball forward until you get your game back.

Now take theses tips out on the course and test them out with your game. Might make all the difference in the world, in posting that low score. See out on the course from Legends Custom Clubs and Golf, located at the Golf Park in Hunter Mill.

Technorati Tags: Bad Golf Shots, eHow, Golf Park at Hunter Mill, golf techniques and tips, recovering from bad golf shots

Custom Fitted Golf Clubs by Legends

Every golfers swing is like a finger print, it’s your personal golf swing. Why not have your golf clubs tailored to suit your personal swing?

Article Alley’s professional golf contributor makes a great point in this article, “Tailoring A Golf Club To Suit Your Personal Swing.”

Every golfer’s physical capability and swing is distinctive. Many of today’s best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. This custom golf club has become more than a fad that even not so professional golfers test its waters.

Custom fitting is the process for tailoring a golf club to suit your personal swing.

Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.

Custom Golf Club: How To

To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.

Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of “standard length” for men and women.

Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 ½-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 ½-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.

Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the custom golf club’s shaft flex that is appropriate for you.

Custom fitting can fix your slice. If you slice the ball it means that the toe of the club is leading into the ball which opens the face of the club. That may be down to a swing fault, but it could be because the club is too flat. So as part of the custom fitting process you can make the custom golf club more upright to help with this. This will mean that the toe of the club will be slightly off the ground at address to compensate.

There are different methods of fitting according to custom golf club manufacturers but ultimately they are all trying to improve your game. To begin with simple measurements such as wrist-to-floor, height and hand size are taken and will point you to the right size club and at what angle it should be to the ground. Then you will take a club and hit some balls. One method is to place impact tape on the bottom of the custom golf club and an impact board on the floor.

As you hit the ball the board will leave a mark on the tape showing whether the heel or the toe of the custom golf club is striking the floor first. The resulting mark will show whether the club face needs to be flatter or more upright. Then things get a bit more advanced. Analysis equipment can measure everything from your club speed to the side spin of the ball so that you can get maximum distance from your shot. You can also measure the launch angle of the ball, how much backspin you generate and impact efficiency - all which affect distance. The angle in which the custom golf club approaches the ball and the sidespin of it can help fix your game too.

Rather than bringing down your old clubs, it might be better to start from scratch. It’s a big misconception that custom fitting is only for good golfers. Anyone can benefit. That said, if you plan to upgrade a new set of clubs with the same manufacturer they may be able to adjust your old set to become custom golf clubs.

Custom fitting won’t cure all your bad shots. Coaching will sort that out. But if you do make a good swing, then the custom golf club will arrive correctly at impact and should produce a straight shot at your target. That alone will save shots during a round.

Lastly, custom fitting is often free of charge. But it is usually on the condition that you buy some clubs once you’ve been fitted. So it really depends on what your budget is. If you’re prepared to buy a new set of clubs it’s definitely worth getting fitted.

Learn more about Legends Premier Golf Services by visiting Legends Custom Clubs. Call 571-275-1707 or email to set up an appointment at info@legendscustomclubs.com.

Evan and Mike of Legends have been working on custom golf club fitting and golf swings for over 12 years in the Washington DC metropolitan area. There club expertise is a step above the rest and so is there customer service and the customer satisfaction rating. Just ask their loyal following of long-time clients.

Legends Custom Clubs and Golf
Phone: (571) 275-1707
info@legendscustomclubs.com
www.legendscustomclubs.com

Golf Clubs by Legends Custom Clubs

OK, you bought a new pair of running shoes, are they the right size? Do they fit? How about the feel, do they feel perfect? Did you put on the shoes and walk around in the shoes?

Maybe you walked into the shoe store, closed your eyes and walk up to the shelves of shoe boxes and grab one. Stumbled blindly to the register, paid and then drove home. That pair of running in size 6 don’t fit your size 12 feet, do they?

Now you can open your eyes, because that sound you hear, is the police officer that followed you home after you drove home on the sidewalk. I know, I’ve gone way off on a tangent about running shoes fitting right, because nobody would ever think about buying running shoes without trying them on first.

Why, then would you buy golf clubs that don’t get custom fitted either? Especially if you want to improve you golf game, the most important aspect after the practice, is custom fitted clubs that are perfect for you. Then all that practice will have some real meaning and purpose. Check out this article by “Get Fit for Golf Clubs,” clubfitting helps your clubs and your game by Brent Kelley at About.com, here’s the whole story.

Any golfer who is about to invest in their game by purchasing a new set of clubs should make one more investment, too: getting custom fit.

Every golfer is a bit different in size, body shape and the shape of their golf swing. A custom fitting results in clubs that are specifically suited to an individual’s height, strength, clubhead speed and swing characteristics.

Off-the-shelf golf clubs are one-size-fits-all, designed for the “typical” golfer. In this case, typical means someone 5-foot-9 or 5-10 who hits a 5- or 6-iron 160 yards. A golfer might get lucky with an off-the-shelf set, but many golfers will find themselves ill-suited to such a set.

And the adjustments a golfer makes in his or her game to compensate for an ill-fitting set can make grooving a great swing that much more difficult.

A clubfitting can be performed by nearly any pro shop or golf pro, although it’s best to get with a teaching pro and be certain to hit balls outdoors so that the ball flight can be observed.

Contrary to the belief of many, clubfitting does not have to be a time-consuming or expensive endeavor. A very basic clubfitting might take as little as 15 minutes, with the average being 30-45 minutes.

More in-depth fittings can take a half day, but are only likely to be necessary for the very best players.

As for price, some clubs will give you a fitting free of charge as long as you agree to purchase your new set from them. Most charge a modest fee, perhaps $35 to $50 being typical.

During the fitting, the golfer hits many variations of the same club. For instance, a well-equipped fitting center might have dozens (in some cases, hundreds) of a particular club, say a Ping 6-iron. Each of the Ping 6-irons will be different from the next in some way.

The idea is to find the best combination of shaft (length, flex and kickpoint), loft (standard, strong or flat), lie (strong or flat), grip and swingweight, among other factors.

By watching the ball flight produced by each variation of a club, and checking chalk marks left on adhesive strips attached to the clubface and sole, a clubfitter can quickly narrow the search and lead the student to the best fit.

Fittings can be done for every club in the bag, including putters, but iron fittings are most common, with driver fittings following closely behind.

Of course, a fitting only works if you follow up by purchasing a set of clubs custom made to those specifications. Two things to keep in mind: If you want a set of, for example, Titleist clubs, the ones you order after a clubfitting will cost approximately the same as the same set bought off the shelf; and a golfer is under no obligation to purchase a set from the pro doing the fitting.

So there’s little reason for anyone in the market for new clubs to avoid a clubfitting.

Legends Custom Clubs and Golf are expert golf club fitters in the Washington DC metropolitan region. Take it from master fitter, Evan Sturidvant, named KGC’s World Top 100 Professional ClubFitters in an article by Golf World.

So what are you waiting for, bring in those irons and that driver so Legends Custom Clubs can fit you personally and build the perfect set. Thanks, see you on the range, Golf Park at Hunter Mill. ]]> http://www.legends-customgolf.com/?feed=rss2&p=77 http://www.legends-customgolf.com/?p=36 http://www.legends-customgolf.com/?p=36#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:53:22 +0000 New Golf Grips http://www.legends-customgolf.com/?p=36 Legends-Custom Clubs and Golf
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Phone: (571) 275-1707
info@legendscustomclubs.com

Legends-Custom CLubs and Golf - (703) 759-5664

Your playing the round of the summer, it’s smoking hot and as you get to hole 15, the sweat begins to really rain down. And right in the middle of a full speed shot, going for the par 5 green in two - Your Hand Slips!

And the shot is well, off. Well off in the woods. Deep in the woods.

Most golfers would call it the “S” word but for superstition sake, let’s call it a “hosel fade.” Now you’re sitting deep in the woods and you can feel your best round ever, slipping away. All those hours worked on the course and range.

Get a grip, it’s time to get some new grips. Now! Like today, right after this round.

Drop your clubs off at the Golf Park at Hunter Mill with the guys at Legends Custom Clubs and Golf. They’ll fix you up and no more, slipping and sliding. Just scores you can brag about with the other golf nuts.

Here’s what the grip experts at Golf.com article,

Remember that golf is played by feel,” says Dr. Ben Huang, founder of Winn. “Don’t ignore the importance of the grip.” How important is it? Golf Pride claims that 66 percent of all amateurs who change their grips immediately drop their scores by up to four strokes. That’s a change for the better.

That’s right 66% of golfers who change their grips, shoot lower score. If that’s not reason enough, I don’t know what is!

Now get going and get some new grips, how about Golf Pride or your favorite grips from Legends Custom Clubs and Golf. And most of the time, if they have them in stock, they’ll get your clubs back the very next day.

WOW! No more slipping and sliding.

Ask for Evan or Mike - Phone: (571) 275-1707 or  Email: info@legendscustomclubs.com

Quote from Golf.com, written by By SCOTT KRAMER SENIOR EDITOR, GOLF MAGAZINE

Legends Custom Clubs Shop | 571-275-1707

Welcome to our new site, a site for those that love golf and want to know what’s going on in the Washington DC metropolitan golf scene and the most up-to-date technical golf information available in Reston, VA.

This is our first post. So hold on for the ride, we’re going to fill this site with every piece of golf knowledge we’ve built over the last decade and a mountain of funny golf moments from the shop and the range. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from each of you as we grow and develop this site. Let’s get golfing, thanks Mike & Evan

Call us at (571)275-1707 or email us at info@legendscustomclubs.com
www.Legends-CustomGolf.com - blog www.LegendsCustomClubs.com - main site

The Legend's Total Golf System - (571) 275-1707

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