If you’ve ever wondered about the level of discernible feel professional golfers have and how small changes can make a big difference, let’s take a closer look at a classic tale – “The Princess and the Pea.” In this story, only a real princess can feel a tiny pea under a huge layer of mattresses, leading to a terrible night’s sleep. Now, let’s draw a parallel to Matt Fitzpatrick’s driving.
For Fitzpatrick, a left miss in his drives became a persistent issue. However, after some experimentation with weight settings, he discovered that the culprit was quite small – a counterbalanced weight under the grip in the butt end of his driver. Interestingly, this discovery occurred when Fitzpatrick needed to regrip his club.
In February of last year, Fitzpatrick conducted some testing and decided to keep the counterbalanced weight in his irons after a successful few weeks. Wanting to match the feel across all clubs, he added the weight to his driver as well. However, over time, this small detail slipped his mind until he needed a new grip.
To his surprise, when Fitzpatrick took his driver to be regripped, the technician informed him about the weight hidden within. This revelation shocked Fitzpatrick, as he hadn’t realized it was there. The weight in question was a mere four grams, not much from a technical standpoint, but enough to alter the balance point of the club.
The impact of the counterbalanced weight became evident in Fitzpatrick’s swings. It caused him to experience more face rotation and a greater kick from the shift, resulting in the left miss he had been struggling with. However, after regripping his driver and removing the weight, he felt an immediate improvement.
As Fitzpatrick stepped onto the course the next day, he could feel a night and day difference in his drives. Previously, he had struggled to prevent his shots from going left, even when hitting hard. However, with the weight removed, he found that he could swing as hard as he wanted without worrying about a left miss.
To support the effectiveness of this change, Fitzpatrick’s performance in the Players tournament at TPC Sawgrass speaks for itself. After the first round, he ranked first in Strokes Gained: Off the tee, fifth in driving distance, and managed to hit 11 out of 14 fairways.
This experience highlights the sensitivity that some golfers have to the distribution of mass in their clubs. Even a small change, like removing a counterbalanced weight, can have a significant impact on the results. For Fitzpatrick, this adjustment could pay off handsomely as he vies for victory on Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How did a grip change transform Matt Fitzpatrick’s driving?
By removing a counterbalanced weight hidden under the grip of his driver, Fitzpatrick was able to eliminate a left miss and achieve more consistent drives.
What was the weight in question?
The weight in question was a mere four grams, but it had a noticeable impact on the balance and performance of Fitzpatrick’s driver.
What improvements did Fitzpatrick see after the grip change?
After regripping his driver without the counterbalanced weight, Fitzpatrick felt a significant improvement in his swings. He no longer struggled to prevent his shots from going left, even when swinging with greater force.
How did Fitzpatrick perform in the Players tournament at TPC Sawgrass?
After the first round, Fitzpatrick ranked first in Strokes Gained: Off the tee, fifth in driving distance, and hit 11 out of 14 fairways, showcasing the positive impact of his grip change.
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