Al Rohleder, Tim Chopp and I met at Baehmann's Golf Center to fit me for a driver which would be made according to my needs. As a 66 year-old golfer with a swing speed in decline and an idiosyncratic golf swing, I was an ideal candidate for a personalized fitting.
Rohleder and Chopp are the principal owners of Tour Swing Golf, a company which they've been running for close to 10 years. Both are accomplished players and both have studied the science of golf equipment during that time. It is a fascinating process and their patience throughout the fitting process was quite remarkable. Their task was not to just test my swing for the results from which they would make my custom driver. They were charged with explaining the process while it was occurring so that I would be able to write about it.
I brought two drivers with me at their request. Both were newer models from major equipment manufacturers. One was white and one was black. I'll refer to them as T-1 and T-2.
Their launch monitor was set up in front of the shop. It was tethered to a computer and a power source. After a few practice swings the testing protocol was begun. I was to hit 5 balls with each of my drivers and, eventually, the 3 best results from each club was selected. The data which was collected was as follow: carry, launch angle, ball speed, clubhead speed, spin rate and the power transfer ratio (a measure calculated with ball speed and clubhead speed). This measurement can also be called the "smash factor".
I made my first series of swings with T-1 and my second series of 5 with T-2. Al Rohleder read the results off the computer screen and nothing emerged that really surprised me. With that data in the computer, the science was applied. Al had arrived on site with a large bag of drivers. The loft of the heads varied from 9.5 degrees to 12.5 with 4 different shafts. As I hit these drivers the data was again collected until I had made an additional 50 swings. My swing speed varied from 77 to 82 mph with ball speeds from 116 to 120. Tim and Al conferred about these results and Tim Chopp decided to drive to his home in Grafton to make my driver. Forty minutes later I had a purple-shafted, 10.5 degree driver in my hands.
I then hit a series of 5 drives with the new driver. After dropping the 2 drives which were least effective, we examined the results. My carry distances were 201, 205 and 210 yards. Swing speeds were 79, 78 and 81 mph. Ball speeds were 120, 123 and 127 mph. The collection of my driving DNA was complete.
The driver head which had been selected was a 10.5 degree "Infringer"; a head which Tim Chopp had designed and engineered. The shaft which was selected was an OKATO, a senior shaft which had been designed to function at 228 cycles per minute.
The number which was most stable was my swing speed; no surprise since my entry into the world of SS could have predicted it. It varied from 77 to 82 mph. My power transfer ratio increased appreciably; from low of 141 to the three best with the new driver of 152, 154 and 157. The increase in carry averaged 15 yards with the "Infringer". I am now playing with a senior shaft. My long-held belief that the shaft is the "engine" of the golf club proved to be true. I feel that this process was as thorough and scientific as required and that the results enabled me to discover some hoped-for distance in spite of my puny swing speed.
Tim and Al have done nearly 1,000 fittings over the years and their process is valid and reliable. These men are professionals and clearly enjoy helping golfers find the key to better and more enjoyable golf. They can be contacted at 262 339 3819 for Tim or timchopp1@gmail.com. Al Rohleder can be reached at 262 884 9180 or trohleder@wi.rr.com.
