In this episode, Ryan Barath, senior editor at golf.com for golf equipment, shares his journey into the world of golf equipment fitting. He discusses his passion for helping golfers understand their equipment and improve their game. Ryan also addresses the common misconception about golf shafts and explains the importance of considering the shaft profile and weight in the fitting process. Additionally, he highlights the need to challenge the notion that better players should always play low spin and low launch clubs. The conversation covers topics such as finding the right golf club, understanding the numbers in club fitting, a day in the life of a golf content creator, covering tour events, interesting setups on tour, pros' equipment choices, driver head choices and golf ball preferences, and fitting tips for average golfers. In this conversation, Ryan Barath emphasizes the importance of learning and being curious throughout the fitting process. He shares his favorite golf clubs of all time and discusses timeless and ageless clubs that still perform well today. Ryan also highlights his favorite clubs from this year and the value of building custom golf clubs. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and invites listeners to connect with him on social media.

Takeaways

• When choosing a golf club, it's important to focus on what works best for you rather than what you think you should play.
• Understanding the numbers in club fitting, such as spin rates and launch angles, can help golfers make more informed decisions.
• Being a golf content creator involves a mix of writing, fitting, building, and creating content, with a focus on helping golfers improve their game.
• Covering tour events requires efficiency and the ability to capture interesting equipment choices and stories from professional golfers.
• Some professional golfers have unique and interesting setups in their bags, and their choices are often based on what works best for their game.
• Pros may choose to use previous year's golf balls because they are comfortable with them and have had success.
• When going for a fitting, it's important to ask questions and understand why certain equipment choices are being recommended.
• A good fitter will be able to explain the reasoning behind their recommendations and help golfers play better golf. Be curious and embrace the learning process during your fitting to gain a better understanding of your golfing and equipment, leading to improved performance.
• There are timeless and ageless golf clubs that still perform well today, such as the Ping Answer 2 putter and older Tour Edge fairway woods.
• Building custom golf clubs allows for personalized specifications and can result in a set of clubs that perfectly suits your game.
• Continuous learning is essential in the golf industry, and seeking advice and insights from other golfers and fitters can provide valuable knowledge.