As most people in my profession I started out as a child with the intention of becoming a tour player. At the age of 18 I realised that my scores and success were simply not good enough to fulfil this dream. It was clear to me that I would remain and work within golf and I soon got a Job in south London as an assistant Golf Professional. My duties were mainly repairing and refurbishing golf clubs in which I was from childhood experience, very proficient. A few months later I began to teach golf and have been doing so ever since. Although I had played golf since being 8 years old and had competed in national amateur tournaments, it was here at my first job in 1985 that I first encountered a custom fitted golf club. I was most impressed and found it a very logical concept that people of different sizes played different fitting equipment.

In 1989 shortly after becoming a fully qualified PGA Professional I travelled to Finland to teach golf in a major club in Helsinki. Whilst in Finland I met a number of Swedish PGA golf professionals. From their knowledge I truly began to understand the golf swing and became free from the many shackles and misconceptions that had restricted my own game and in turn that of my pupils. Many of the things that I had been trying to accomplish in my golf swing immediately became absurd, the reason being the new information made perfect sense while the old, made none. The understanding that the head should not be held down or still but should move naturally with the body I can only describe as a liberating breath of fresh air. Many more parts of the correct technique began to fall in to place in my mind. I understood that a balanced and athletic setup position was an essential part of playing good golf and that the larger muscles of the body are the dominant force in the golf swing. A balanced and athletic setup position being a prerequisite for a dynamic and efficient movement of the body was something that I would get back to a few years later. I immediately began teaching my new found knowledge with considerably more success. I also improved my own game with very little practice, mostly through a better and clearer understanding.

After returning to England for just a year I responded to a job advertisement as a teaching professional in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The advertisement spoke of an interest in the modern teaching methods that I had encountered. In 1993 I began work in Germany alongside fellow PGA Professional, Jody Morris. Jody had played on the European tour but like me had been through a very similar process of golf technique enlightenment.

Through teaching golf on a daily basis it became clear to us that many golfers despite already having custom fitted equipment were not able to achieve an athletic setup position. Taller golfers in particular when gripping the golf club correctly would be forced in to a setup position that was bent too far forwards. The poor setup position resulted in negative consequences within the golf swing. The custom fitting methods that I had been introduced to in 1985 that had seemed so logical now appeared to be inadequate in resolving the problem.

Between 1996 and 2000 we broke free from traditional custom fitting ideas and began to give golfers golf clubs that were often longer than traditional custom fitting methods would advocate. The results and progress of the golfers playing this new golf equipment was very positive. The goal during this period was always to give the golfer a golf club length that would promote a balanced athletic address position similar to that of Ben Hogan, for example. During this period we sold clubs from reputable companies such as, Spalding, Titleist, Ping and Wilson. All of these companies had a problem with delivering a golf club that was more than 2 inches longer than standard. In traditional custom fitting this would not be necessary. However if you look at the increase in average height of a human male in western Europe during the last 100 years you will find about an 8% increase. During the same time frame the standard length of golf equipment has not changed. A proportionate 8% increase in the golf club length to accommodate for the increase in average height would result in a standard 7 iron being three inches longer than it is at present. (Making a club more upright is not a solution! Watch this video). Watch

In 2003 we approached the major manufacturers of golf equipment with a concept and proposal for developing a new line of fitted equipment. Initially our ideas were very well received but this did not come to fruition. In 2004 we founded the “Made To Measure” (MTM Golf) golf company. In 2005 I designed the “Setup Engineering” measuring system and software. In 2005 we brought to market the world’s first anatomically proportioned set of irons, built to promote a better setup position for each individual golfer. In the next years I spent a considerable amount of time running this company, designing new golf equipment and also teaching golf. In 2011 the NOVA series was released which is also anatomically proportioned. The diversity in club length, club head weight and total personalisation that is available from MTM is simply unparalleled in the golf market.

In 2008 I began lecturing for the “European Association of Golf Physiotherapy and Golf Medical Treatment.” (EAGPT & GMT. e.V.). I lectured at a 4 day further education course, “Golf-Physio-Trainer”. The course participants were mainly Physiotherapists but also included doctors, orthopedic doctors, sports scientists, experts in biomechanics and PGA Golf Professionals. Together with the association president Mr. Dieter Hochmuth I trained around 500 course participants in the „Preventative Biomechanically Optimal Golf Swing (GPT).” During these courses it became clear that as far as the medical profession is concerned the MTM Golf concept was very much of benefit to the everyday golfer. In 2008 and 2009 I also lectured for the PGA of Germany on the MTM concept.

Today I am no longer part of the Made To Measure Company but promote the concept as a sales representative. I wish to return to golf instruction which was the genesis of the MTM Company. Achieving a balanced and athletic setup position is an advantage to your golf and is absolutely dependent on your anatomical proportions and the length of the golf club! Conventional golf equipment and their assigned custom fitting methods (Static or Dynamic) dictate a different posture position for different sized golfers. Smaller golfers stand more upright and taller golfers are forced to bend more forwards, I assure you that this is not just my opinion, the trigonometry in the “Setup Engineering” measuring system shows this clearly. An independent doctorate study from Heidelberg University in Germany concludes the same. Throughout golf literature you will read that the setup position is fundamental to good golf and the basis of golf instruction yet it is different for individuals depending on their height. This brings even more confusion to golf instruction. Clearly it is possible to play excellent golf form a bent posture position, Keegan Bradley is just one of many top Professionals that do so. This does not make it recommendable for the average golfer.

With an estimated golf population worldwide of 80 million golfers, the top 2000 golfers of the world represent only one golfer in every 40000. The average age of the hobby golfer is more than double that of the tour player. Despite the age difference and poor representation for the hobby golfer you are advised and encouraged to emulate the top player both in choice of golf club and swing technique. In 2013 Nike struck a deal with Rory Mcilroy to pay him 250 million US Dollars in a ten year contract to play Nike equipment. Why does Nike pay this staggering amount? They consider it a very good Investment and expect you to follow suite and buy the clubs that will make you play like Rory! Other manufacturers market their products in the same manner!

I think that both your golf instruction and your equipment should be for more suited to your personal needs! Contact