The IMPORTANCE OF LIE ANGLES

Follow Thread

By Bill W

  • 3 Likes
  • 11 Replies
  1. Bill W

    Bill W
    Metairie, LA

    The importance of lie angles in irons, especially in wedges, cannot possibly be overstated. Club manufacturers present standard, VERY upright lieangles that are designed to help the "average" golfer (a slicer), definitely not the competent or even the middle handicap player. The shorter the club, generally speaking, the more important the lie angle becomes. These days, the average lie angle for a wedge seems to be around 64*. I doubt any competent or improving player will not find that lie angle will send the ball markedly left even on the best swing.

  2. Bryan W

    Bryan W
    Hillsboro, OR

    I play my PW thru 60º all 2º flat. I tend to draw wedges too much without the correction. Both on course results and trackman confirm. Get fit.
  3. James Young

    James Young
    Costa Mesa, CA

    Keep in mind that your most suited lie angle may change over time.
    I've always been an 1*-2* upright or at least neutral player, but at a recent Titleist fitting, gave my fitter the 'ok' to have me try different things - I've been working on fitness and overall swing changes. He said he saw I was fighting to hold off too much draw and had me try some at 2* flat. Shots began coming more out the middle without fighting it.
    After the fitting, went and had all current clubs bent to 2* flat and sure enough... it's been a fun summer since.
    Get fit and keep an open mind.
  4. Jim V.

    Jim V.
    St. Marys, GA

    Agree James Y. Since I am 6'2", I was always told that I needed upright clubs. When I was fitted, I ended up +1/2" and 2 deg flat. As stated by Bryan ...GET FIT!!
  5. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Am 6'2" and was fitted for +2* years ago and standard length, was all over the course. Went to a Titleist fitter, -2* and 1/5" on length. Made all the difference, plus a little help from my teaching pro. Getting the right who has the experience is equally important. One who "helps not sells". Have been with him ever since. Will be seeing him shortly for the new T350s. David Ayes is my main man.
  6. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military
    Once you get a little consistency at impact, you definitely need a proper fitting. Poor lie angle can certainly derail your confidence. You can only compensate for so much. I have to be 100% honest here, even buying from a manufacturer's rep directly from the company still doesn't ensure that your specs will be dead on, have them checked. We almost always find a few discrepancies with loft/lie, even length on occasion. I will say TT is much better than their competitors are, but it is still assembly line built.
  7. Thomas Y

    Thomas Y
    Wenham, MA

    I agree with Chuck Z. I've worked primarily with the same Titleist Product Specialist for my fittings over the past few years here in MA. Paul Clark has given me the opportunity to see which products fit my game. I don't really look at the shafts or the settings on Sure Fit until I can see ball flight and feel impact, after trying the different heads/shafts. It's important to have someone you trust when going through a fitting.
  8. Military
    Also important to note that each manufactuerer’s “standard” is different; hence, not standard…Titleist are the most upright clubs in the industry and I think miz might be the flattest with standard being 2 degrees flatter than Titleist…TM and cally fall in the middle. So, if you were standard in one manufacturer, don’t assume you’re standard in another. I play a set of Mizunos and a set of Titleists…my miz’s are 1 degree upright, and my Titleists are one degree flat…
  9. Hey all. New guy here. Been playing since the 80’s. Got fit in 90, 93 and 2000 by local club makers as my game improved. I am 6’4” and in all instances I was 2-*2.5* up and 1” long. Through the years I have consistently played the iron specs listed below - or at least that is what they are based on the OEM clubhead specs. And 2* up. The last fitting i had was 2 part. The irons were built to length and the guy used impact tape, lie board, and ball flight at the range. Made notes for each club and took them back to his shop and bent them. Met back at the range to hit them again to see if any tweaks were needed.

    OEM stock 64*?- Gw,Sw,Lw
    62* - 9,pw
    61* - 8
    60* - 7
    59* - 6
    58* - 5
    57* - 4
    56* - 3

    I am looking at replacing my current irons (23 year old Golfsmith combo set 7-w forged blade 3-6 forged CB) so I’m doing my research and will try to get to a few demo days and a fitting or two. I honestly think I could get along fine with a combo set of 620MB/CB 2* up and 1” long that basically would refresh what I’m now playing with new “usga conforming” irons. Or go straight 620CB but personally don’t think that really gets me much extra. I don’t exactly buy into the “added distance and forgiveness” claimed by todays irons as i have always looked at gaps and the distance carry/loft not club number and grew up in the 70’s watching old school shot making.

    Not sure where i would go with wedges as i now have a miz MP T series and two Cleveland 588’s.
  10. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    You are right to not worry about loft and distance.
    Assuming you have been playing for 40 years and approaching 60 years young, newer clubs with all their loft changes also have combined new mixed materials that improve launch and add forgiveness across the face.
    The new T Series irons have markedly improved the aforementioned capabilities and the fitting paradigm is to build a set that can maintain height and descent angles so each club has a correct gapping and shot making ability. Avoiding flatlining after the 4/5/6 iron.
    Consider the T100 to be a cavity back that can handle material improvements. The 620 irons and the T Series are the same price per club. Even if you can hit a MB cleanly today, to paraphrase Tom Watson, the tool box at 70 isn’t the same.
    Find a Titleist fitting specialist and let them know in advance of your current lie and length so they have those ready as a starting point.
    Just be open to what the fitter recommends. In the past I’ve bought into the siren song of the next release but these Gen 3 irons have made a substantial difference in my ball striking. Albeit I’ve been an AP1 player and the T200/T350 mixed set has allowed me to approach greens the same.
  11. roosevelt t

    roosevelt t
    euless, TX

    Excellent post. I'm going to get my wedges checked ASAP. I've been pulling only my wedges lately even when i feel like I've made a really good swing.
  12. Military
    Unfortunately, different manufacturers have different “standard” lies…Titleist seems to be the most upright and miz the flattest (2 degrees difference between them) of the major OEMs…TM and cally are in between…not sure on Cobra and others…So, if know your fitting in one brand, it may not transfer to another…I have a set of Mizunos and Titleist and and had to them bent to be similar…as for wedges, there was an article recently that talked about how pros usually flatten their wedges or else you wind up pulling your shots left…they are usually lofted for chipping and not for full shots as much…can’t remember where I saw it.

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up