TITLEIST celebrated the opening of its new Brisbane Fitting Centre at Nudgee Golf Club with three familiar faces from the professional game – experienced tour professional Wade Ormsby, emerging professional Hannah Reeves and highly respected coach Grant Field.
Together, the trio provided an interesting insight into the importance of equipment, professional fitting and the relationships that develop between elite players, coaches and one of golf’s most recognised brands.
For Ormsby, the relationship with Titleist stretches back more than three decades.
“I first started getting Titleist golf balls when I was about 14, so I’ve been with the brand for a long time,” Ormsby said.
The 46-year-old has played extensively in Europe, Asia and Australia and says players today have access to information and technology that simply didn’t exist when he started his professional career.
“When I first went on tour there was no TrackMan or anything like that,” he said.
“I was probably a bit late to it because I was more of a feel player, but you have to move with the times and listen to the guys who really understand fitting.
“You have to keep adapting and evolving. I look at it a little like a Formula One car – you have to keep developing or eventually you get left behind.”
One of Ormsby’s biggest equipment changes in recent years has been moving away from the traditional blade irons he played for much of his career.
After watching fellow Australian Cam Smith succeed with Titleist T100 irons, Ormsby decided greater forgiveness could also benefit his own game.
He has also moved away from a low-lofted hybrid at the top end of his bag and now regularly carries a five-wood.
“Blades and the five-wood would probably be the two biggest changes I’ve made to my bag in the last 20 years,” he said.
While his playing schedule has changed, Ormsby’s competitive appetite remains.
Following more than 20 seasons travelling throughout Europe, he now concentrates much of his schedule around Asia and Australia.
With status on the Asian Tour and the Australasian circuit, he can be more selective with his tournament schedule while still competing in major events including the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and New Zealand Open.
“I’m still hungry,” Ormsby said.
“I love having the opportunity to try to win golf tournaments. Being in contention at the Australian Open last year and being in one of the final groups on Sunday was pretty cool at my age.
Open to all, the new Titleist Fitting Centre at the Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane.
Reeves begins professional journey
At the opposite end of the career spectrum is Hannah Reeves, who turned professional in October after developing her game through Queensland’s junior and amateur ranks.
Reeves’ association with Titleist also began early.
She recalled receiving her first properly fitted set of clubs at around 12 or 13 years of age while attending the Hills Golf Academy.
“Ever since then I’ve played Titleist. I’ve never really thought about trying anything else because I’ve always been so happy with the equipment,” Reeves said.
Her first year in the professional ranks has already provided plenty of encouragement.
After turning professional in October and competing through the Australian summer, Reeves headed to Europe and quickly tasted victory early in her campaign.
“To win so early gave me a lot of confidence,” she said. “Winning is winning. Getting that feeling when you’re in contention reminds you why you play and why you train so hard.”
One equipment change that has already made an impact has been the introduction of Titleist T150 irons, with Reeves noticing improvements in consistency and distance control.
Field combines coaching and fitting
Grant Field has spent close to three decades coaching players at virtually every level of the game.
After years of extensive international travel alongside elite professionals, Field is now spending more time coaching in Queensland and helping develop the next generation.
For Field, the importance of professional club fitting goes well beyond simply measuring numbers on a launch monitor, with best results occurring when a player’s coach and equipment fitter work together.
“I think we need to get away from treating coaching and fitting as two completely separate things,” Field said.
“They need to be much more joined together.”
Field explained that understanding a player’s swing tendencies and the changes a coach is trying to implement can make a significant difference during the fitting process.
“If someone is doing a fitting without any context from the coach, they are only seeing what is happening in front of them at that moment.
“They might not know the player’s tendencies or what movements we are trying to change.
“When the coach and fitter can work together, I think it can make a world of difference.”
Field also warned of one of the less obvious dangers facing elite professionals — having access to too much equipment.
Tour players can experiment with virtually any club, shaft or specification they want, but Field believes constant tinkering can sometimes create more problems than it solves.
“The temptation is always there because players have so much equipment available to them,” he said.
“The more experienced players tend to know what works for them and they have relationships with their fitters. Younger players coming onto tour can sometimes change things simply because they have access to it.”
A fitting centre for every golfer
The opening of the Brisbane Fitting Centre at Nudgee Golf Club provides Queensland golfers with access to the same sophisticated equipment-fitting philosophy used with Titleist’s tour professionals.
And for Ormsby, Reeves and Field their message was remarkably consistent.
Good equipment matters — but having equipment properly fitted to the individual golfer matters even more.
The new Titleist Brisbane Fitting Centre brings all of those elements together, giving golfers the opportunity to better understand their equipment and ensure the clubs in their bag are helping — rather than hindering — their game.
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