They say a bad worker blames their tools… but workers usually have 2 arms!

We've all had those rounds where we blame our clubs. But what if your swing is a bit… unconventional? As a one-handed golfer, I needed more than just a new grip.

Sometimes trying to play golf one-handed feels like the universe is playing a practical joke on me and my rag-tag selection of ladies clubs found in my garage seem to be in on it. For every pure one out of the middle, there are another 2 or 3 which scamper across the ground like a squirrel trying to escape from a hawk.

It’s not that I expect much but I did wonder if equipment more tailored to my unique situation would help my game. I decided to contact a company called Club Champion, which I had used before. Club Champion specialise in custom fitting all types of golf clubs to help you get the most of your game. I’m sure, if you are a golfer and reading this blog, you either have already had a fitting or have considered it!

In an act of amazing generosity, Aaron from Club Champion’s Crawley studio replied and offered a free fitting. I did mention that I was unlikely to spend much money given that I would (hopefully) be back to two handed golf before too long, but Aaron said he would love to help out regardless.

So last Monday, I headed down to Crawley on the back of 3 rounds in 4 days in Portugal. As usual my one-armed golf in the Algarve was a rollercoaster, but despite a definite sense of fatigue, my last 9 holes were my best - only 12 over par! Don't ask about the front nine!

A few photos from the Portugal trip

My right shoulder was achy after all that golf but I was keen to see what Aaron would suggest. 

Here is a video of Arran explaining the conclusions of the fitting. But you can read the rest of the article to hear how it went from my perspective.

I should just reiterate that Club Champion kindly gave me a free fitting as a generous offer to help me on my unique journey, but I was not asked to or paid to promote them in any way.

Ironing Out Some Issues 

So far I’ve been using ladies Wilson cavity back irons. I can definitely hit the odd good one with them, but they are inconsistent and I rarely get much loft. Aaron suggested we try some Yonex cavity back irons, which promised a bit more elevation. We then tried out a range of shafts. I was amazed how quickly Aaron could tell if the shaft would be a good fit. Usually only 2 or 3 shots. Some were too heavy, some too whippy, some the right weight but whippy in the wrong places. 

We eventually landed on a Fujikura Vista Pro 2021 Iron 40 R3. This is a men’s regular shaft. I went into this assuming that a ladies shaft would be best for me but Aaron explained that even with my abbreviated swing, stability in the club is crucial to avoid spraying the ball left. The real magic trick came with the loft. Aaron, with the air of a seasoned magician, increased the loft on the Yonex irons from 30 to 34 degrees. The result? My golf balls actually started to climb into the air! And surprisingly, we didn’t sacrifice distance; in fact, the carry improved. Who knew a few degrees could make such a difference to a struggling one-armed bandit? 

Some of the shots felt just amazing and I involuntarily let out a ‘Wow’. What a change from last year, when it was an ‘Ouch’!

I don't have video of the fitting itself, but here was a challenge with my 6 iron from the Portgual trip. Look at that weather!!

Hybrids: Finding a Friend in Technology

Moving onto hybrids, the shaft selection was thankfully less of a rollercoaster. We settled on a similar Fujikura shaft and again, the focus was on maintaining that essential stability.

We then talked about lie angles. Apparently, my one-handed swing means I don't come quite as much "around" my body as a two-handed swing. Consequently, we went a tad flatter on the lie angle for the irons. It’s funny the little things that can make a difference! We ended up with a Ping hybrid, which is handy because you can tinker with both the loft and the lie angle. 

We found that the distance I was getting from a 5 hybrid wasn’t actually that much different to the 7 iron, so Aaron suggested a 4 hybrid with less loft would be better.

The Driver: Still in the "Getting to Know You" Phase

Ah, the driver. Our relationship remains… interesting. By this point, my solitary swinging arm was starting to feel like it had run a marathon - can you run a marathon on your arm - probably not! 

Finding a driver that clicked was a bit of an adventure. Aaron noted that a shorter shaft felt better in my hands, and we played around with the idea of counterbalance to get a better feel for the club head.

And yes, you guessed it – more loft was deemed beneficial! We moved up to a 12-degree driver head. We also adjusted the weight in the Ping head towards the toe and flattened the setting slightly to try and counteract those high-toe strikes that tend to send my ball on a rather undignified nosedive. It feels like we’re on the right track, but let’s just say my driver and I are still in the early stages of figuring things out.

Takeaways?

So, what did I learn from my little trip to the club-fitting wizards?

• Weight Matters: The weight and how the club is balanced are super important when you’re relying on a single swing. Finding the right balance can be a game-changer.

• Loft is Your Lifting Buddy: Seriously, don’t underestimate the power of getting the ball up in the air when you're a bit short on leverage.

• Stability is Still King: A stable shaft helps keep things consistent and minimises those wild misses.

• Adjustability is a Gift: Clubs you can tweak for loft and lie angle are incredibly useful for a one-armed golfer trying to dial in their unique swing.

Overall, my Club Champion experience was quite enlightening. From a fitting perspective, although I am a bit “lop-sided”, to a golf club fitter, I’m just like any other punter. They just apply the same principles to find the optimal solution. 

As I mentioned to Aaron before the fitting, I wasn’t planning to splash out of new, shiny (and expensive) clubs. But it’s great to know what I should be looking for on Ebay.

Keen to see if this one-armed golfer can actually improve with clubs that will help rather than hinder? Subscribe below for updates on my golfing (mis)adventures! Would be great to hear your experiences of club fitting in the comments.