Lie angles

Question
I have a question that has to do with lie angles and stance.  I am very close to your height at 5'3".  I have always watched the pros stance and the butt of the club always points at there buckle, however when I have my stance (spine at 60 degrees) mine points upwards of my buckle.  If I were to point it at my buckle I would need a really flat lie angle.  Would it be better to get the flat angle and point the butt at my buckle or keep it how it is?  right now my 5 iron is about37" 57 lie.  What was your 5 iron lie angle and length?  I am about a 5 handicap and swing about 105-108mph with my driver.  I have dropped my putter down to 30" and that has helped a bunch.   
Do you have a picture of your setup?  I would be interested in seeing someone else my size set up to a golf ball.  That would be awesome.  
With lie angles on woods getting more upright how much effect would this have on a shorter person like us?
Did you have wood lie angles adjusted on your clubs?
Thank you very much.  
Jason


Answer
Hi Jason:

Great question.  If you take your set up position (with no club), put your hands together like you are praying and get ready to go, I bet your hands will be opposite your belt buckle.  If you tilt forward from the hips at set up and your hands "hang" above your waist, then you have really short arms.  But, I doubt that to be true, because you said you are a 5 handicap.  So I would say your clubs need to be flatter than what they are now.  Do not try to fit yourself to the club you are playing, the club should be fit to you.  I do not know the numbers on my clubs, however, I have 3 different lie angles in my set of irons.  My 4 and 5 iron is 2 degrees flat, my 6-8 is 3 degrees flat, and my 9 through SW is 4 degrees flat, and my lob wedge is 5 degrees flat.  I know I said 3 different lie angles, but I rotate clubs depending on conditions and courses I play.  How I arrived at those lie angles is by hitting golf balls and watching the ball fly.  My lie angles on my woods are pretty much standard.   They don't bend woods at all, so sometimes it's hard to find one with a somewhat flat lie.  My biggest problem has always been a 3 wood, but I finally found one that fits me pretty well.  A Titleist 15 degree.  My driver is always standard, I play the Titleist, 44 and a half inches in length, 9.5 degrees of loft, stiff shaft.  The length of my clubs has always been standard.  I have never cut my clubs short because I was short, although I have had several fitters over the years say I need shorter clubs, but when I asked them why, they stumbled and bumbled and quit trying to explain.  Sounds like you need to go to a good, respected club fitter or repairman and get yourself fitted properly.  The lie angles of your irons Jason are so important.  If the lie angle of an iron is off one degree, at 150 yards, you will be about 20 feet offline...all no fault of yours.  Get them checked.  I will bet you need flatter lies.  I currently do not have a picture on file of my setup, however, it is coming soon.  If you want to send me your personal email address, I will send you it once I put it up.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member