Why front-to-back spread is more important than you think

The ‘interview’ portion of a professional club fitting is one of the most important parts of my time with a customer at True Spec Golf.

Here I get to know their playing history, understand where their game is today, and set goals for where they want to go. Together, the technician and player outline the current state of their equipment and define reasonable outcomes for the session.

As you might expect, common goals include greater distance and better distribution. What most golfers don’t realize, however, is that these two goals can sometimes work against each other.

The real value of carry distance

When I talk about distance, I focus on bear distancenot the total distance. If my 6 iron carries 150 yards but rolls out to 175, that total number doesn’t help much on the course – especially under the firm conditions often found in competition.

If a player tells me he wants a better spread, I challenge him to rate it North/South (front-to-back) spread as much as East/West (from left to right). As a fitter, I learn more from a player’s ability to control distances from front to back than from how tight his shot pattern is around the goal line.

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Throughout the bag – from wedges to drivers – good stopping power is a sign that the equipment fits properly. Ball height, spin, shaft profile, swing weight, offset, loft and length all play a role. When a player achieves proper launch and spin, it means he is hitting the ball solidly. And there is nothing more important in golf than solid contact; all good flows from it.

It is also important from the tee

Consistency from front to back doesn’t just apply to irons. It is equally important when hiring a driver. I understand the urge to get distance, especially in an appropriate environment, but prioritizing the longest ride you’ve ever had over a setup that produces repeatable distance and consistent hits can be fool’s gold.

Consider this example: Player A and Player B have identical swing speeds, angles of attack, and club paths. Player A chooses the driver who produced his two longest drives during the fitting, but also the shortest. It took extra effort to hit well. Player B chooses the easy-to-swing formation and keeps his drives within five yards of each other, even if his longest shot wasn’t that far.

Both players hit the driver about ten times per round. Player A is two times better than player B, but those are also the only two fairways he hits. Player B finds eight of the ten fairways. Who is likely to enjoy the game more a season from now?

Probably player B.

True Spec Golf Club Fitting

With over 70,000 club head and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf custom fits and builds a precise set of clubs.

In short

The next time you want or are thinking about getting a fitting done at your local True Spec Golf your equipment, paying close attention to the spread from front to back. It deserves as much focus as your shot pattern from left to right. The tighter the North/South window becomes, the more control (and fun) you will experience in your game.

Want to find the best set of irons for your game in 2025? Find a club fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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