The Kingdom is TaylorMade’s premier fitting facility, where the game’s best go for custom equipment. But what’s it like for a regular golfer?
Golfers dream about getting fit at The Kingdom fitting. It’s where some of the best players in the world go for custom equipment. The range has been graced by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and many more. But what if you’ve never won a major? Or even played a round of tournament golf for that matter.
Can The Kingdom benefit, better yet, be relatable to the average amateur?
To answer that question, we shadowed an everyday golfer as they journeyed through the experience. This golfer could be any one of us. So, for that reason, their identity will remain anonymous during this exercise. For added perspective, this golfer tees it up once a month and plays more for companionship than competition. He’s played everywhere from upscale private clubs to local munis, and going into The Kingdom experience, he was expecting a culture that matched the former – particularly as he approached the medieval-style entry.
The doors flung open, and he was greeted with a warm smile from his fitter for the day, Joe Ryon. A casual: “Hey, come on in!” quickly removed the expectation of stuffiness. Joe showed him around and took him over to a locker that had his name on it. They talked about life, things they like to do away from work, family. You know, all the normal things that normal people talk about every day.
It made him feel…comfortable.
They walked out to the range, and he was struck by a wow moment. A perfectly manicured green space that would make any golfer giddy. Joe left him there for a few minutes as he prepared for the fitting. “Just go ahead and warm up at your pace. Make yourself at home, and I’ll be back,” he said.
He found himself thinking: “How relaxed is this vibe?” He looked through the rows and rows of TaylorMade equipment. All the shafts, grips and fitting technology. He took it all in, and for a moment, it was his personal golf playground.
He began to loosen up as Joe made his way back to the range. A casual conversation about his golfing goals, how often he plays and his thoughts on the game kicked off the fitting. Armed with this info and the visual of a few swings, Joe went to work.
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Read more about details from that day at The Kingdom in the Q&A session below.
Walk us through the driver fitting session.
The driver had been an area of weakness for me. I tended to hit down on the ball and even sometimes contacted the turf. I know, a major no-no when you’re trying to hit the ball far. The first thing he did was shorten the length of the driver. He noticed that I was standing too far away from the ball, causing me to lose track of where the clubhead was. So, by shortening it up, I naturally moved my stance a little closer, giving me more control. He also tweaked my tee height, having me tee the ball up much higher than before. Those changes combined with the right shaft, and I was carrying the ball way farther than I was at the start of the day.
Did you guys measure your changes with TrackMan and spend much time looking at the launch monitor data?
The fitters at The Kingdom are experts at what they do. They’re able to provide a custom experience based on your game and what you’re trying to accomplish.
Towards the end of my fitting, another golfer came out and worked with a separate fitter about 10 yards away. He was a better player, and I could see them going back to look at the iPad after every swing and rattling off numbers. This player had different goals than me. I wanted to make sure I was getting the most beneficial experience for me, and Joe delivered that. We could visually see the improvement in distance and launch.
So, it’s a customized experience beyond just a custom fitting?
Right. They can figure out what the golfer needs, what the golfer wants and cater that fitting experience to the player. He wasn’t like: “This is our formula for fitting, and we’re sticking to it line for line.” I appreciated the focus being on me and my goals.
What clubs did you focus on the most?
Without a doubt, our major focus was on replacing long irons with easier-to-hit hybrids and fairway woods. Coming out of this, the longest iron in my bag is a 6-iron. I replaced the 5-iron with a Rescue (25°) and the 4-iron with a 7-wood (21°). That club has become my go-to. It launches off the turf or the tee, and it has made my life easier on the long par 3s and long second shots. If you’re reading this—thanks, Joe.
What was your major takeaway from it all?
We talked about it already, but it was how comfortable everyone there made me feel. Whether you’re a low handicapper or a high handicapper, The Kingdom isn’t intimidating. They’re going to customize the experience and make you comfortable. So, don’t be afraid that this is only for those folks who are excellent golfers. It’s for all types of golfers, and it can absolutely improve your game.
