Before a single bat is drawn from the rack or a ball is hit, adapter needs context. How has your golf been lately? How does your current device feel and perform? How often have you played and how often do you expect to play in the future? What are you actively working on in your activity?
These questions are not complementary. They help define the goals of the session.
Of all the questions, one stands out as particularly important: What are you trying to do with your swing? right now?
Why swing goal matters in a matchup
In my role as a Master Fitter with Golf True SpecI place a high priority on understanding a player’s swing intentions. Two delivery dynamics come up more than any other during these early conversations: club path and angle of attack.
Some golfers are happy with where these numbers live. Others are actively trying to change them. However, most players today have at least a working awareness of their path and angle of attack (AoA), and this awareness matters in a suitable environment.
If a player’s swing intentions are contrary to the lie angles of their clubsgood contact becomes difficult to achieve. As we all know, quality contact is the foundation of any good golf swing.
The most common case: Flattening a move over the top
The first scenario I see, and by far the most common, is the player countering an overly high move in transition. For a variety of reasons, this golfer is likely to take instruction aimed at flattening the swing plane and neutralizing their path. “Feel like you’re moving to first base” is a familiar suggestion.
For this player, the angle of the lie matters. A lot.
Club length considerations aside, I pay attention to the lay angles across the bag. This is not limited to irons and wedges. With today’s adjustable pipes, hybrids, fairway woods, and even drivers must be evaluated as well.
If a player is working on flattening their swing and moving their path more inside-out, I don’t want their equipment to fight that goal. Overall, I wouldn’t put that player in anything fairer than standard. Most of the time, I’ll go a little flat.
There are two benefits here. First, flatter lie angles can promote desired movement both visually and by feel. Second, as the player’s path approaches neutral, overly straight lie angles will no longer contribute to the ground contact on the heel side that leads to weak shots and disappointment.
Less common case: When a good draw goes too far
The second example occurs less often and is usually found among the best or fastest players in the club.
This golfer already makes a draw, sometimes a strong one, but doesn’t have the control they want. They are working to “swing left,” stabilize the clubface, and produce a ball that starts left and turns right for the right-handed player.
Often, this player has been using flat lie angles for years. As they change the way they deliver the club, something changes. Suddenly, the toe is interacting with the ground. Contact feels inconsistent and ball flight suffers.
In this case, slightly straighter lie angles can help. They support the player’s new swing aim while also restoring centered contact.
True Spec Golf Club Mount
With over 70,000 head and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf will custom fit you and create an exact set of clubs.
Lie angle as a convenient tool, not just a specification
Lie angle should not be treated as a static measurement or a box to check during an assembly. It is a dynamic variable that must match how a player delivers the club and how they intend to deliver it.
When lie angles are in harmony with swing intentions, they support stroke performance and improve stroke quality. They can also serve as a subtle but effective tool to help a player implement a change of pace rather than fight against it.
That’s why conversation comes first. Before we talk with numbers, we need to talk with purpose. Come inside Your local True Spec Golf today to have those conversations and build a set of clubs that match your movement goals.
