Belfry Custom Fitting

[CirenBhoy]

I see on the GM FB feed that the Belfry are doing free Custom Fitting throughout May. As I am going to be in the area at the weekend and in the market for a new set of irons I think the moons be aligned nicely for a wee visit.

However, there are no details as to whether this "free" offer is only if you buy a set from the Belfry or whether it really is free. I know they normally refund the £50 booking fee if you buy from them. Anyone know whether this is truely free?

Also, I'm not sure what manufacturer I want to buy. How would this work when booking a custom fit at the Belfry? I see they only have 5 CF studios ( Callaway, Nike, Ping, Titleist, Taylormade). Would I get a shot in each studio until I found the club manufacturer that I liked? Or would they expect me to know this already and to go with a specific brand / club in mind.

Anyone been to Belfry for a CF be able to shed any light.

 

[SVB]

All good Qs but I'm sure a quick phone call to them would get you the answers you need?

 

[nemicu]

All good Qs but I'm sure a quick phone call to them would get you the answers you need?

My thoughts exactly

If it's any help, custom fit bookings are usually taken with one OEM only - you have to choose which one of those available you would like. Rather than wasting time (and therefore money) with customers who can't really make their mind up on which club to buy, they have wisely put the onus on the customer to do the "making the mind up" bit so they can then fit you to the required club with the options available. If you thought you could try every single club and shaft combinations along with every OEM - even for a £50 fee - then you probably never had a bunch of tyre kickers who never bought anything at the end of a long and tiresome session.
Bear in mind - you are paying for the fitting staff time and expertise. Yes, they actually like to earn a living and would prefer somebody to buy a club even with ridiculously low margins on major OEM clubs. If they spent 3 hours (or more) fitting every customer with all resources available, then they would likely go out of business pretty quickly even if they sold the odd club or two.
Free fitting is basically a loss leader - some places will naturally try to steer you in the direction of expensive upgrades and add-ons to make up for this, in which case it makes a bit of a mockery out of the term "fitting".
It's all a business - and it looks on the surface like places like the Belfry are making a healthy profit judging by the snazzy fitting studios and equipment. But - it's the investment provided by the OEM's that put up the cash for studios to lure you to buy clubs. The actual fitters and core business make very little.
Still hoping 5 OEM's and proper fitting is going to be free?:rofl:

 

[hovis]

The fitting really is free. You put your name down, turn up and off you go. You wont be able to hit different manufacturers in one fitting so you will have to choose the brand. You might get away with booking two sessions on different days. They would never know, believe me. If you go ahead ask for Gareth or phil . They are the best fitters

 

[fundy]

The fitting really is free. You put your name down, turn up and off you go. You wont be able to hit different manufacturers in one fitting so you will have to choose the brand. You might get away with booking two sessions on different days. They would never know, believe me. If you go ahead ask for Gareth or phil . They are the best fitters

Assuming its the same Phil we had there when we were in the TM suite last week then he was as you say Hovis excellent, would highly recommend him if people are looking for a fitting

 

[CirenBhoy]

Ok Thanks all. Looks like I'll need to do more research into what I'm looking for beforebooking a CF.

 

[SVB]

Ok Thanks all. Looks like I'll need to do more research into what I'm looking for beforebooking a CF.

If it helps, I know my club (Minchinhampton new) are agents for all the brands you mention and have demo clubs + do fitting (small charge I think) that may help narrow your search.

S

 

[Hacker Khan]

I had an iron fitting there a few years ago and I hit a number of clubs from different manufacturers. We then narrowed it down based on the stats, and then I chose the ones I felt most confident with.

Fully appreciate that this would not allow me to get the best possible shaft. But at my standard I thought it was more important to get a club I was happy/confident with as that would make more difference to me than the shafts, once we'd worked out if I needed stiff or regular. Which didn't take long based on my swing speed.