American Golf Fitting

inthecup

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Nov 13, 2009
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I currently use an 8.5* Mizuno MP.001 driver with a stiff shaft which is quite a few years old now and not very forgiving. I hit it quite well but when things aren’t going too well it can be a bugger so thought I would treat myself to a new driver for Christmas.

I had the Titleist 910 D2 or D3 in mind so went off to American Golf today for a fitting. We started with my driver for a comparison which had a decent ball flight and was carrying an average 255yds. I hit the D2 9.5 with a Stiff Aldila RIP shaft which felt good but was only carrying 230yds with a good hit and ballooning in the air. Also tried the D3 8.5 with same shaft but only going 235. He then brought out the R11s in various shafts but with the same results.

The conclusion was that my swing speed at 120 and good striking was too much for what they could provide and I would have to go to the Titleist national fitting centre where they have more options.

Anyone else had the same problem or should I go to another branch and get a second opinion as he only tried the 1 shaft on the Titleist? The national fitting centre isn't exactly local to me and I got money burning a hole in my pocket.

Cheers
 
Sounds like the shaft was the issue, I would suggest definitely try a different shaft, is your heart set on titleist or are you open to others? Try as many shafts and clubs as you can is my suggestion
 
With that swing speed surely a Xtra Stiff shaft would be worthy a try. The RIP is a low spin shaft.

Was it just in a typical AG swing bay or actually hitting balls in a range?
 
I would stay away from AG for a fitting. I think a lot on here would agree as well. Am sure somebody close to you could suggest a centre of local pro who will do a better job...
 
Depending where you are you could try Scott Gourlay http://www.sggt.co.uk/

Wull on here has been and seemed impressed by his experience. I'm also sure Stuart Kerr at Strathaven does Titleist Custom Fit with Trackman.
 
Firstly I commend AG for admitting they did not have what you needed.

The RIP is maybe too light for you, I think it's 60 grams maybe 64, it is also high launch. I guess the fact that they did not offer you a go on all the other Titleist stock options was the fact that they did not have them in stock.

I have had the same thing happen to me but at a Callaway fitting. I hit a high ball flight as stock, I guess a little Flicky and a little lazy with the weight shift. I tried every shaft they had and the fitter could not get the ball down until he pulled out a real Kai'li shaft. It worked for me with flight and distance. He only wanted £435 for the driver too.....

But ye, specialy at your standard I would get a proper fitting.
 
If AG told you your swing speed was 120, and you only carried the ball 230-ish yards, walk away. Fast.

120mph driver speed should carry the ball 280+. Rory McIlroy is around that speed, and Alvaro Quiros is about 125mph. Luke Donald would love to have 120mph.

You would also probably need an X flex shaft, possibly tipped to add more stiffness.

In my opinion, nobody should ever rely on an AG fitting. I am sure there are decent ones, but just easier to apply a general rule. Titleist offers 83 shafts for the 910 series. Whether your speed is really 120 or not, there is bound to be one there that suits you.
 
Depending where you are you could try Scott Gourlay http://www.sggt.co.uk/

Wull on here has been and seemed impressed by his experience. I'm also sure Stuart Kerr at Strathaven does Titleist Custom Fit with Trackman.

Scott doesn't do Titleist, he does Mizumo Ping and others. He will tell you what your swing speed is and he has shafts that very few club fitters have. Top pros are going to him now.
 
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If AG told you your swing speed was 120, and you only carried the ball 230-ish yards, walk away. Fast.

120mph driver speed should carry the ball 280+. Rory McIlroy is around that speed, and Alvaro Quiros is about 125mph. Luke Donald would love to have 120mph.

You would also probably need an X flex shaft, possibly tipped to add more stiffness.

In my opinion, nobody should ever rely on an AG fitting. I am sure there are decent ones, but just easier to apply a general rule. Titleist offers 83 shafts for the 910 series. Whether your speed is really 120 or not, there is bound to be one there that suits you.

I have a 125+ mph swing. So if anyone has a definitive answer on where to get fitted properly for a shaft that suits me 100% let me know. I did a Nike fitting session and the guy said there was no shaft they offered as part of their package that suited me. The fitter said that I would need to speak to the manufacturers. Problem is that I don't want to buy a shaft if it doesn't work. I was set up by Callaway and got a Fujikura X Stiff Speeder 686. Goes okay but I still need something stiffer. I would buy a new driver from any mainstream manufacturer today if they offered me a shaft that actually ssuited my swing as part of the normal price. I hate being penalised for hitting a long ball.
 
I have a 125+ mph swing. So if anyone has a definitive answer on where to get fitted properly for a shaft that suits me 100% let me know. I did a Nike fitting session and the guy said there was no shaft they offered as part of their package that suited me. The fitter said that I would need to speak to the manufacturers. Problem is that I don't want to buy a shaft if it doesn't work. I was set up by Callaway and got a Fujikura X Stiff Speeder 686. Goes okay but I still need something stiffer. I would buy a new driver from any mainstream manufacturer today if they offered me a shaft that actually ssuited my swing as part of the normal price. I hate being penalised for hitting a long ball.

Have you tried an iron bar or a brush stale?
 
Cheers guys, the fitting was on trackman at a range with all the information on a screen infront of me which was good.

Really got my heart set on a Titleist. He was trying to push me down Taylormade route as he said there was more shaft options but after I was getting the same results we reverted back to Titleist. The impression I got was that they never had other shafts in stock for the D2/3.
 
A small thumbs up to AG for not trying to shoe horn you into a product that clearly wasn't right. However I'm pretty sure their equipment is ramped up anyway (at least in my experiences) and so the swing speed and carry may not be truly accurate, certainly not the distance based on the speed and quality of strike. Was this on a range or in a bay?

I think you need to go to a fitting centre and get something to suit that swing speed in terms of shaft. Are there not any club pros locally that are registered Titleist fitters?
 
Cheers guys, the fitting was on trackman at a range with all the information on a screen infront of me which was good.

Really got my heart set on a Titleist. He was trying to push me down Taylormade route as he said there was more shaft options but after I was getting the same results we reverted back to Titleist. The impression I got was that they never had other shafts in stock for the D2/3.

World of Golf Clydebank or Play Sport East Kilbride?
 
I have a 125+ mph swing. So if anyone has a definitive answer on where to get fitted properly for a shaft that suits me 100% let me know. I did a Nike fitting session and the guy said there was no shaft they offered as part of their package that suited me. The fitter said that I would need to speak to the manufacturers. Problem is that I don't want to buy a shaft if it doesn't work. I was set up by Callaway and got a Fujikura X Stiff Speeder 686. Goes okay but I still need something stiffer. I would buy a new driver from any mainstream manufacturer today if they offered me a shaft that actually ssuited my swing as part of the normal price. I hate being penalised for hitting a long ball.


Be worth you looking at either a genuine Diamana Whiteboard X Flex in 83g or a Rombax 7Z08 X Flex, theyve come up as stiff as any shafts Ive come across that are readily available. Neither are cheap but you can often pick clubs up with them in from ebay

Theres a titleist 909 on Ebay with the Rombax in currently

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Titleist-...Leisure_Golf_GolfClubs_JN&hash=item35b82e46c2
 
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cant see how anyone is been penalized for hitting it long. the idea that a slightly stiffer, softer flex of shaft will make us into world beaters or improve our game massively is one of the most successeful marketing ploys ever in my opinion. It plays on the human ability to blame anything but ourselves for our short comings. Guaranteed that if they marketed a super shaft for swings over 120 mph, when that did not give us what we thought it would or should, we would be talked into buying yet another product that not only added length but also improved accuracy and as a bonus our short game. Stop moaning and practice with what you have.
 
Ian Nicholson (Kilmacolm) is listed as a Titleist Fitter with a Launch Monitor. You could give him a shout.
 
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