God. I can't tell you how many times I've stood on the first tee, gripping my trusty driver, completely oblivious to the fact that my equipment was actively sabotaging my game. And I'm not alone in this particular brand of golfing ignorance.

Turns out, those of us hacking our way around the course with ill-fitting clubs might as well be throwing money directly into the nearest water hazard. Six shots. SIX. That's what the wrong shaft length could be adding to your scorecard.

The £2.7 million mistake

Think about this for a second. If Rory McIlroy had played the Masters last month with clubs that weren't properly fitted, he wouldn't have been slipping on that green jacket. Instead of claiming the title and the massive $4.2m payday, he'd have finished joint-eighth alongside Xander Schauffele and the others. His earnings would've plummeted to a "mere" $588,000.

That's a difference of approximately £2.7 million. For having the wrong length shaft.

I feel stupid now thinking about all those rounds I've played with my bargain-bin clubs...

Would you run a marathon in someone else's trainers?

Lewis Baker from American Golf puts it perfectly: "Most players buy clubs off the rack without realising that standard sizes don't suit everyone. You wouldn't wear shoes two sizes too big and expect to run your best race - so why play with clubs that aren't made for your game?"

He's right. (And I'm embarrassed to admit how many years I've been doing exactly this.)

"A custom fit is like a personal MOT for your golf game," Baker continues. "It's a process that makes sure every club is built for just you. By doing this, you can shave up to six shots off your round, especially with a full bag fit."

Six shots! That's the difference between me shooting 90 or 84. Between feeling accomplished or feeling like I should take up bowls instead.

The shocking truth about proper fitting

Listen. The numbers don't lie. With a properly fitted driver, Baker says bad shots become better and most golfers gain up to 10 yards in distance and 20 per cent more accuracy off the tee.

That's the difference between finding the fairway and spending half your round searching for balls in the rough. Between par and double-bogey. Between enjoying your Saturday and wanting to snap your driver over your knee by the 7th hole.

And here's teh kicker - the higher your handicap, the MORE you stand to benefit from custom fitting. It's not just for the pros. In fact, Baker insists that higher-handicap players often see the biggest improvements.

American Golf has invested over £700,000 putting this technology into more than 60 stores nationwide. And they'll do the fitting for free. FREE!

My humiliating journey to better golf

My first round of 2025 was... well, let's just say I didn't embarrass myself completely. My playing partners were kind enough not to laugh directly in my face when I pulled out my ancient sticks. Instead, they "gently suggested" I might want to consider upgrading my 25-year-old clubs.

Bought off the internet years ago, I'm not even sure what brand they are anymore. The logo wore off somewhere around 2019.

So I bit the bullet and booked a fitting at American Golf in Hazel Grove. Walking in was intimidating - walls of shiny clubs with price tags that made my wallet preemptively cringe.

Steve, my advisor, quickly honed in on three sets that included bags and wouldn't force me to remortgage my house (all under £1,000). We started with my trusty old 7-iron.

The moment everything changed...

I smacked a ball at the computer screen, feeling pretty good about my 150-yard shot. Then Steve handed me three newer clubs to try.

The difference? Immediate and undeniable. 25 yards further. WITH EACH CLUB.

Steve noticed something I'd been doing wrong for decades - using the same stance for my woods as my irons. No wonder I couldn't hit my driver to save my life!

After examining all the data (and there was a lot), he recommended one of the three sets. Interestingly, it wasn't the most expensive option, which made me trust his judgment even more.

I left with some new balls (because what golfer doesn't always need more balls?), the confidence to make an informed purchase, and what felt like a free golf lesson.

My wife's gonna kill me when I tell her how much I'm about to spend. But for the first time in years, I'm actually excited about my next round. And really, can you put a price on that?

Well, yes. About a thousand quid, apparently.