Technical Paper

as presented at the

Professional Clubmakers Society Annual Members Conference Feb. 25, 2007

True Length Technology ™

An Alternative to the Traditional ½ inch Length Increment

True Length Technology ™ is a Registered Trademark of Dan’s Custom Golf Shop

‘My long irons are too long and my short irons are too short!’

True Length Technology ™ is my thesis to the golfing industry.

Have you ever been troubled by the condition of ‘My long irons are too long and my short irons are too short’? Every set of clubs I’ve owned in my 35 years of playing this gentleman’s game have fallen into that scenario.

True Length Technology ™ addresses this condition through CAD modeling the entire set by correlating the ‘lengths and lies’ to the golfer in their athletic address position. Imagine having one single, stable athletic address position for every club in the bag. Holding every club in the same hand position and still utilize varying lengths and lies that fit your math model, perfectly.

Formal Background

I have a strong mathematical background, with precision accuracy (micro measurements) being my primary function for the last 18 years.

Currently a Precision Inspector (Metrologist) for the General Motors Canadian Regional Engineering Centre as a CAD programmer for the Coordinate Metrology Lab
Past Chairman (2 years) of the ‘Association for Coordinate Metrology Canada’ - devoted to educating & understanding micro measurement technology
- http://www.acmc-canada.ca/
Durham College Graduate - Mechanical Technology Program
Certified by the Ralph Maltby’s Clubmaking Academy in:
- Assembly and Repair
- Professional Clubfitting
- Masters Program (only 3 in Canada)
Certified Rifle Centre
Certified by the Golf Clubmakers Association (GCA) with Professional / Advanced Status
Owner of the Proprietary Length / Lie / Fitting System - True Length Technology ™
Currently pursuing Certification with the Professional Clubmakers Society

Current Trends

When I reviewed published lie angles verses length throughout the industry, the lie angle progressions did not add up mathematically to the traditional lengths.

Company A - Lie angles increment in ½ degree per club,

Company B - Lie angles increment in 1 degree per club,

Company C - Lie angles vary and don’t seem to follow a progressive pattern.

How could each of these (different) lie angle designs all have (identical) finished lengths?

Address Position

During any lesson, I was always taught to ‘get into my athletic address position’

Feet shoulder width apart
Knees slightly bent
Spine tilted forward near 30 degrees
Arms hanging down and slightly out from your body

When I did this my 7 iron fit and played like it was built for me

Slight amount of grip cap above my hand
Lie angle looking correct at address
Hit the ball straight

However, my 3 iron would have nearly one inch of butt cap above my wrist at address, and my pitching wedge would be down into the palm of my hand. It seemed that there was roughly an extra 1 ½ inches between my longest and shortest clubs that just did not seem to fit my position.

Some players will adjust their spine tilt, knee bend, distance between their feet, etc. for every club in their bag. This will result in the golfer having to recall and execute 13 slightly different setup positions to maintain one common hand position. No matter how good of an athlete you are, this is still a very difficult task.

I felt that if I was a visually handicapped golfer, I would setup in my athletic position consistently - waiting for my club. Would I know the position I was suppose to be in if I was holding my 3 iron verses my pitching wedge? Would there be a difference? My thoughts were ‘No, I am ready to hit, give me my club please.’

In trying to understand how these theories worked with my existing clubs, I began to think, that just maybe, there was a more scientific approach to length verses lie relative to my athletic address position.

The birth of - True Length Technology ™

My first attempts at alternative lengths were building in 0.4 inch, 0.33 inch and 0.25 inch increments, which did help, but this too did not fit perfectly. After many different attempts, I decided to try ‘Math Modeling’ a set based on my athletic address position. As I began plotting lie angles on my CAD system, it became apparent rather quickly that any uniform increment length cut (not just ½ inch) was not mathematically correct. True Length Technology ™ proves that the length cut has to be progressively less per club, as your clubs get shorter and more upright.

Representation

If you picture a set of triangles and compare

one at 56 and one at 57 degrees,
one at 64 and one at 65 degrees,

The length differential between the 56 & 57 degree angles are greater than the length differential between the 64 & 65 degree angles. Herein lays the proof that any static number like ½ inch or ¼ inch variation per club is not mathematically sound. Each increment has to be progressively less than the last increment as the clubs get shorter.

True Length Technology ™ clubs do vary in length. Just in less than the traditional ½ inch increment. In fact the length variance is perfect from club to club, giving one very athletic and repeatable setup position and posture for your personal setup.

As all custom club fitters know, one size does not fit all. Matter of fact, only one size fits you and you alone. As all custom club builders know, length and lie are imperative, but builders only have access to a few charts that are ‘recommended build sizes’ - 2 charts for men, 1 chart for women.

If you look at some of the old ‘Club fitters Rulers’, a single ‘recommended length of golf club’ fit over 3 ½ inches of Wrist to Floor (WTF) variations, except if you were a women, then your clubs would simply be 1 inch shorter. How much sense does that make? Someone with a 34 WTF is playing the same lengths as someone with a 37 WTF. This again is not mathematically sound.

Current True Length Technology ™ Status

The True Length Technology ™ system has charts that vary from a Series 0 to a Series 12. Every chart is a Math Model of perfect proportions for each individual series. The math behind the True Length Technology ™ build charts is the result your athletic address position. Not everyone addresses the ball in the same manner and therefore the target build chart is still susceptible to variation. You, as a fitter need to find the correct series target length and build to the appropriate Series chart.

Note; WTF measurements are used but only as a starting point within the fitting process. A full dynamic fitting is still recommended using the True Length Technology ™ Fitting System.

Hitting balls allows the fitter to be aware of swing tendencies and club head paths that do influence ball flight.
Individual swings certainly do play an active role in determining the correct final lengths and lies.
Dynamic fitting is still a necessary step due to different bend profiles of shafts, and the dynamics of the individual’s swing. The math model would remain intact if all lies within the set were altered to the same degree, resulting in an averaging out of today’s swing flaws.
The traditional lie board adjustment may be used for every club as an alternative to the averaging method described above.
The golfer who sets up with the traditional stance will often find that the WTF measurement will often correlate to the Initial Target Series Chart and will indeed be very close to the final build specification.
Single axis golfers and some women who carry their arms out and away from their body will in all likelihood need a set of greater length and possibly an alternative lie, deviating from what their WTF target indicated. Again, True Length Technology ™ is not a WTF system and traditional fitting procedures will insure a sound fitting to the individual.
People with disabilities, that cannot get into that traditional position may need a variation in length and lie, but will end up in their best athletic position - common to every club.
All of the above scenarios need to be addressed by the fitter in determining what the proper ‘actual’ build size will be. Once the Target Series Build Chart has been determined, the builder needs to build to the specifics of that Target Series chart keeping the math model intact.

Fitting System

Each True Length Technology ™ fitting set has its lengths correlated with its lies - set to a perfect math model for all Series Build Charts. The golfer gets to actually swing a 4, 7 and PW that fts their math profile. When the correct Series is in your hands you will instantly know you have found you specifications for length, and a great indication of lie.

Traditional fitting methodology still does apply, where the customer needs to go through;

Wrist to floor measurements
Statically fitting with a variety of clubs
Dynamic fitting with a variety of clubs
Hitting balls with a variety of lengths
Hitting balls with impact stickers
Watching ball flight
Dynamic fitting procedures still apply

The most satisfying feeling is, when the correct length and lie are determined, you are confident that the entire set will fit the golfer like never before.

FAQ

Does the shorter length separation affect the distance separation between clubs?

No, in fact many report back that they have actually increased distance due to more on center hits.

How are the Swingweight affected?

A long set of clubs (Series 10) often will be built with the lightest head weights possible to help maintain a manageable feel and swingweight to the set.
A short set of clubs (Series 2) often will be built with heavier head weights to help maintain playable characteristics, feel and swingweight.
A mid length set (Series 6) can be built to a single swingweight or on a progressive slope (very similar to a Moment of Inertia set).
Sometimes Swingweight is simply a resultant that cannot be controlled due to length and actual head weights, but as a custom builder you can minimize the variation.

What happens if I need a very upright (or flat) set due to my swing (and I don’t want to change it)?

The entire set will need to be upright (or flattened) from the TLT standard, but in a uniform progression. If 1 club needs to be upright 2 degrees, then they all need to be upright 2 degrees. Remember, you still want to keep your math model intact. Dynamic fitting can certainly be an asset in determining the final lie target within the math model.

Do wedges follow the same length / lie technique?

This depends on your type of wedge play. I keep the length of my Gap, Sand & Lob at the same length, but this means that their lies will also be identical. If you are only using half shots with some wedges than special attention may need to be taken to tune the lie as head flattening can be to a lesser degree.

Why are Drivers and Fairway woods built to a much flatter degree than what the actual head specification is?

Wood shafts are thinner in the tip area and are prone to different bend properties. As the club is swung the Center of Gravity of the larger head is trying to get in line with the shaft axis at the hands. The size of the head and the location of the COG cause a higher degree of head flattening during the swing. Research has shown that woods built to their corresponding WTF charts have proven to be the most effective.

Summary

True Length Technology ™

One common hand position, relative to a perfectly math modeled length and lie will result in:

A very repeatable athletic address position
A very repeatable swing pattern
More on center hits
Less fat shots
Less thin shots
Improved feel and playability
Less physical stress on the body
Final result - Improved scoring.