Club Fitting

[Big-Dog]

Gents,

I have read in the magazine about fitting and I have read about the various clubs that some of the other Forumers (hope it is a word) have undertaken or will be.
However what about going to a club maker ? I am an engineer by trade and was wondering about tolerances?
For instance if your measured by the local pro and let us say's you need 10 degree on a driver but that driver is the top of tolerance band and the manufacturer making them up takes one from the bottom of the tolerance band they could possibly be a degree or two different.

I am going with the Buy the club you tried at the range scenario.

When I have talked to one or two of the club fitter's when you buy the heads that they supply each one is certified to be correct. Am I reading two much into this as I am saving for some new clubs and would like some input as I am in my second year back to this great game and want a bit of guidance from people who have been there, seen it, done it etc!

Any help would be gratefully received.

Hit em Straight ....ish

 

[nemicu]

The thing is - is your game at a level where you can detect tolerances in club build without measuring?
For the record, most OEM's have a tolerance level from the factory of quite shocking variances if you took them to a level of comparing them against "blueprinted" specs. For most mortals, that means +/- 0.5 degrees on loft and lie, +/- 1 swing weight point, +/- 1/4" length - and nobody actually notices anything askew. Unless of course you are an elite player who can. This is where club building to a level where specs are on the money - and consequently the overall package is consistent to a level where the player cannot blame the tools, only themselves.
I've certainly seen evidence that finding the right flex, length, loft and swing weight can make a marked difference to how well the player swings a club (i.e. being properly fitted), but I've yet to see it at a level where the specs tighter than those given by the tolerance level noted makes much of a difference to average joe.
So unless you're a player of some exceptional talent, then yes - you probably are over thinking it a bit. However, being an engineer, the placebo effect of knowing everything is tickety-boo is probably too strong to ignore lol.

 

[SVB]

Not sure whether things like 'shaft puring' comes into this sort of category also.

I'm not commenting on whether this is technically possible or not, a seam welded tube must have some non-uniformity. However, if it made a difference to the real performance to a club golfer, I'd think the major manufactures would jump on it in an instant as a relatively easy positive differentiator to help sell their clubs. They have (to date I admit) not yet thought there is enough in it to develop this in other than a small niche market.

Don't know, am I way off / ill informed (wouldn't be the first time!)?

Simon

 

[pbrown7582]

The thing is - is your game at a level where you can detect tolerances in club build without measuring?
For the record, most OEM's have a tolerance level from the factory of quite shocking variances if you took them to a level of comparing them against "blueprinted" specs. For most mortals, that means +/- 0.5 degrees on loft and lie, +/- 1 swing weight point, +/- 1/4" length - and nobody actually notices anything askew. Unless of course you are an elite player who can. This is where club building to a level where specs are on the money - and consequently the overall package is consistent to a level where the player cannot blame the tools, only themselves.
I've certainly seen evidence that finding the right flex, length, loft and swing weight can make a marked difference to how well the player swings a club (i.e. being properly fitted), but I've yet to see it at a level where the specs tighter than those given by the tolerance level noted makes much of a difference to average joe.
So unless you're a player of some exceptional talent, then yes - you probably are over thinking it a bit. However, being an engineer, the placebo effect of knowing everything is tickety-boo is probably too strong to ignore lol.

at least some work to 1.5 degrees!

 

[nemicu]

Not sure whether things like 'shaft puring' comes into this sort of category also.

I'm not commenting on whether this is technically possible or not, a seam welded tube must have some non-uniformity. However, if it made a difference to the real performance to a club golfer, I'd think the major manufactures would jump on it in an instant as a relatively easy positive differentiator to help sell their clubs. They have (to date I admit) not yet thought there is enough in it to develop this in other than a small niche market.

Don't know, am I way off / ill informed (wouldn't be the first time!)?

Simon

Ha ha - you're way off!
why? Any form of shaft alignment adds an unnecessary step to mass production. Clubs are already made to within a finite profit margin. Sure, the Puring could be done, but the cost would have to be passed onto the customer, who already thinks clubs are expensive enough as it is. Would you pay an extra £100+ for a process that has vague benefits not endorsed by any major OEM? Neither would the rest of the golfing customer base.
Nice thought, but at the end of the day if you want something extra, you pay extra. That goes for blueprinted sets too. It's all about basic economics.

 

[drdel]

The biggest tolerance is between your ears.

Since the loft of clubs vary with brand unless you could detect the difference on the range between two 7 irons you would be kidding yourself.

 

[Foxholer]

....
I am going with the Buy the club you tried at the range scenario.
.....

That's the way to go imo!

Who cares what number is stamped on the club. OEMs are notoriously bad (maybe for our own good) at being within tolerance. shafts too have differences and what feels right for you may not work for an otherwise equivalent person.

So if a club works for you, buy that one rather than ordering one like it!

 

[Big-Dog]

Thanks for the input Guys appreciated I probably am over thinking things, once again appreciated.

Hit em straight .....ish