OLYMPIC HERO PINSENT GETS 'FIT' WITH COBRA!

Four time Olympic rowing gold medallist and keen golfer Matthew Pinsent looks to improve his golf game with custom fitted Cobra clubs.

After the drama of Athens and the tense scenes on the Olympic lake when Matthew Pinsent achieved his incredible fourth Olympic rowing gold by a matter of inches, the 16 handicap golfer has spent some of his new found leisure time on the golf course. For the last 4 years, Pinsent has been a very occasional golfer and now, despite being kept busy with speaking appearances, functions and his recent book launch, he is taking a short, well-earned break from the water and is keen to improve his golf game. Cobra, the market leading game improvement brand, was happy to help him on his way by organising a custom fitting session with one of its leading UK Custom fitting centres at the Leaderboard Golf Centre, Reading.

Cobra has 60 'Gold' Custom Fitting accounts around the UK and each account has a fully stocked 48 club Cobra custom fitting system and fully trained custom fit staff member. Using a combination of club face and sole impact tape and the various lies, shaft flex, lengths and grip size options in the cart, the custom fitting expert is able to establish the correct specifications for each individual golfer. Leaderboard's Andrew Wild was very impressed with Pinsent's swing and described him as a classic test case to promote the benefits of custom fitting "There is just no way a 6 foot 5 inch powerful man should be using standard spec clubs. He obviously needs longer shafted clubs but the custom fit process is not about static measurements, it is about analysing each golfer's actual swing, ball striking and shot shape. From the swing analysis and impact tape markings it was clear that Matthew would benefit greatly from a more upright lie as the toe was dragging at impact and causing the club face to open. He also felt more comfortable with thicker grips and hit more consistent shots with a stiff shaft. With the new specs, Matthew will be able to square the club face more easily and hit longer and straighter shots."

Olympic legend Pinsent is delighted to finally have a set of clubs that are suited to his large frame and thoroughly enjoyed the custom fitting experience. "It is amazing the difference a change in club length and lie made to my ball striking. This game is hard enough without playing with the wrong kit. My aim is to get down to single figures at some point in my life and hopefully my new Cobra clubs can help me along the way".

Pinsent was fitted with King Cobra irons that were 2 degrees more upright than standard (64 degree 6 iron lie), one inch longer than standard (38¼" 6 iron length), stiff steel shafts and two extra layers of grip tape (+1/32"). He also preferred the King Cobra SZ 400 driver with and Aldila HM Tour graphite stiff shaft with matching SZ fairway metals.

Pinsent put the new clubs to good use two weeks ago making his debut in the Dunhill Links Championships alongside European Tour Professional Peter Baker, played over Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews. Pinsent played very consistently over the first three rounds although the team narrowly missed the cut by two shots on 18 under par.

Cobra's UK custom fit programme is going from strength to strength with custom fit sales up 50% since 2001.