After reading the information about Mizuno’s new Shaft Optimizer that has been added to their fitting system we were very interested to see how it would differ from past fitting experiences that we have had.  Fittings that we have gone to in the past have been both outdoor and indoor using different data collection methodologies including trackman, flightscope, and other top launch monitors and software sytems. 

Mizuno Match and the Shaft Optimizer is the latest technology in advanced fitting.  By simply visiting the www.mizunomatch.com microsite and clicking on the “Find Your Perfect Match” bubble one can enter their zip code and find a fitter (or fitters) in their local area.  In addition to the locator feature, the microsite also contains testimonials, accolades, and a video explanation of the Shaft Optimizer tool.  We conveniently found our local fitter at Culver City Golf, just about a mile from our location and set up a date to try this system out.

The microsite most definitely has a sense of humor in addition to providing an amicable user experience.  The bubble entitled “It’s Not You, It’s Me” is named “Breakup Videos” at the top of the menu.  In addition, catchy phrases like “We’re Flattered”, “Hear From Some Perfect Matches”, and “Find Your Perfect Match” aptly plays on the “relationship” that many golfers have with their clubs.

The actual Shaft Optimizer piece of the fitting process is based on what Mizuno calls a player’s Swing DNA, or blueprint of your swing.  According to this system, your swing DNA is based on:

•    Clubhead Speed: This is how fast the clubhead and shaft are moving during your swing.
•    Tempo: How quickly a player transitions from the backswing to the downswing.
•    Shaft Toe Down: A measure of the bowing of the shaft in a downward direction during the downswing.
•    Shaft Kick Angle: The amount of shaft forward bending during the downswing motion.
•    Release Factor: How and when the clubhead and shaft are releasing during the downswing.

For those who have been on a launch monitor you’ve probably noticed that most of the information generated is largely based on swing speed, ball speed, smash factor, and distance. Mizuno is collecting the factors relating to the shaft and what is happening during the swing.   The test club that collects the data is an actual club that is equipped with strain gauges and a microprocessor so that the feel is on par with a finished product.  All one has to do is take three swings and the data is recorded by the system software to generate a player’s swing DNA. The numbers are represented on a chart that computes the player’s ideal shaft with two other options.

The higher swing speed golfer between us was the test subject for this system.  In the past we have found that reading launch monitor information can be a bit confusing.  Trying to comprehend all of the factors like spin and smash factor can cause one’s head to spin when they are trying to interpret the results even with a fitter’s explanation.  To our surprise (and delight), the results were consistent with fittings that we have seen for this player from other, more involved fittings but in a more easily digestible format.  The system recommended the Dynamic Gold x-100-130 gram, Project X 6.5-125 gram (the player in question’s current iron shaft gamers), and the KBS x-flex-130gram.  According to Mizuno there are more than fifty shaft offerings that the system compares before matching the data. 

Other than swing speed, which is calculated in MPH; tempo, toe down, kick angle, and release factor are each based on a scale from 1-10.  The latter pieces that are measured on that 1-10 scale are indicative of a player’s Swing DNA.  For example, a particular kick angle and release factor would perhaps be indicative of a shaft that needed to decrease launch. An identical swing speed could have different shaft suggestions based on thesae and the remaining factors of a swing’s blueprint. Once a player has their shaft recommendations they can try each of the products in Mizuno’s iron lines and continue through the remainder of the fitting process which includes familiar elements such as the lie board and individual length measurements.

We left this experience feeling quite excited that the player measured already had the optimal shaft in his gamers.  The new Shaft Optimizer part of the fitting process takes under 30 minutes and gives a player a wealth of information about their swing and well on their way to a custom set of Mizuno clubs that has been fit especially for them.