HughJars
Q-School Graduate
So what were the changes made by this gype?
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Welcome to the club Craw. This game can be very punishing when you fall out of love with it. Very hard to keep the will to fight on with the low h/c as it only takes a couple of bad holes and you cant be bothered to fight anymore. This turns into a really pointless round and then it turns into two and you're then on a spiral of "cant be bothered to try" rounds.
You're at the place I was last year and you've got to take a break , a good long one too. Dont sell your stuff unless you want to come back later and start again. I've come back to it but i'm only playing every now and then on my terms without all the chasing handicap nonsense. I've got an old set of irons with some old battered regular steel shafts in. Totally unsuitable but who cares its actually good fun trying to get round with them and work the ball both ways.
Just give it a good long rest over the winter and maybe you'll have a different outlook in the spring.
MGL
Challenge Tour Pro
I'll start this reply by stating up front that I am a custom club fitter/builder, so obviously I'm biaised!!
I firmly believe that ALL golfers can benefit from custom fitting - but I caveat that by meaning, good custom fitting. I've read some horror stories about what some people purport to be custom fitting and those kinds of experiences are dangerous and cause problems to people's game.
To those debating whether a beginner can benefit from custom fitting, I wanted to relate an experience I've had in the last week with a guy who is a complete beginner. He's had two lessons, been on a course once and been given a full set of clubs by a friend - good quality ones as his friend can't play anymore.
I spent two hours with him last Sunday morning. We didn't use a launch monitor as he's not consistent enough to give results worth examining in that detail. We worked with different length shafts then different weight and flex shafts. eventually, we settled on a spec that he was getting good results with.
I've spent about 10 hours reshafting his clubs and have altered length, weight, flex, grip size and swing weight. He can now hit a bit straighter more often, a bit further and sees the ball fly higher in the air and has a smile on his face. I consigned his 3wood and one of his hybrids to eBay because they were way too difficult to use.
The next thing we are going to do is fit his putter to him and as he has just bought a brand new ping driver, I've told him to bring it to me so that I can cut an inch off the length so he stands a chance of using it properly.
In a month or two's time, we might look at the loft and lie angles on his clubs, mainly to make sure he has the right gaps between clubs rather than try and kid anyone that adjusting the lie angles on a beginners clubs will make a difference.
Now obviously, as stated at the beginning of this post that I am biaised - but please someone tell me how custom fitting has not been of benefit to this beginner golfer?????
I firmly believe that ALL golfers can benefit from custom fitting - but I caveat that by meaning, good custom fitting. I've read some horror stories about what some people purport to be custom fitting and those kinds of experiences are dangerous and cause problems to people's game.
To those debating whether a beginner can benefit from custom fitting, I wanted to relate an experience I've had in the last week with a guy who is a complete beginner. He's had two lessons, been on a course once and been given a full set of clubs by a friend - good quality ones as his friend can't play anymore.
I spent two hours with him last Sunday morning. We didn't use a launch monitor as he's not consistent enough to give results worth examining in that detail. We worked with different length shafts then different weight and flex shafts. eventually, we settled on a spec that he was getting good results with.
I've spent about 10 hours reshafting his clubs and have altered length, weight, flex, grip size and swing weight. He can now hit a bit straighter more often, a bit further and sees the ball fly higher in the air and has a smile on his face. I consigned his 3wood and one of his hybrids to eBay because they were way too difficult to use.
The next thing we are going to do is fit his putter to him and as he has just bought a brand new ping driver, I've told him to bring it to me so that I can cut an inch off the length so he stands a chance of using it properly.
In a month or two's time, we might look at the loft and lie angles on his clubs, mainly to make sure he has the right gaps between clubs rather than try and kid anyone that adjusting the lie angles on a beginners clubs will make a difference.
Now obviously, as stated at the beginning of this post that I am biaised - but please someone tell me how custom fitting has not been of benefit to this beginner golfer?????
shagster
Head Pro
goog reply MGL
another golfer talking complete and utter sense
if you do not believe in custom fitting, why comment on it?
shagster
another golfer talking complete and utter sense
if you do not believe in custom fitting, why comment on it?
shagster
T
thecraw
Guest
MGL
Challenge Tour Pro
A price worth paying for some happiness on the course perhaps???? I see so many golfers playing with kit that is just completely unsuitable for them and making life very hard for themselves. People just give up and don't realise they are tying one hand behind their back.
HughJars
Q-School Graduate
Neither would lessons, do you advocate not taking lessons?
What sort of useless, argumentative unhelpful comment is that? Are you just poking the fire or is there actually something positive you can contribute?
S
Snelly
Guest
That is exactly what I advocate. Would you like an argument about it?
HughJars
Q-School Graduate
Don't take lessons? Mental.
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Just like custom fitting though , one size doesnt fit all. I am self taught and got to 3 and didnt feel like I had fulfilled all my promise. I know of plenty of people who dont do lessons or at worst have had the odd one every few years and they are also cat 1.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Lessons are only of benefit if you're going to listen to what the Pro says, practice any changes until your hands bleed and then never go back to the way you played before.....otherwise you may as well just give the Pro your money and walk away.
I'm in Jammy and Snelly's camp on this - only coz they've got the biscuits tho.......
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
I think a golfer has a good idea when going for some kind of custom fitting will help them. My driver was awful, dreadful infact. I bought the G15 because it was fairly cheap, had a good reputation and I got it with a regular shaft, as I had only just take up the game.
Good shots were rare but I realised soon that even a good swing did not result in a good shot! I got "fitted" for a shaft, the guy did it by eye and the resulting shaft was ideal for me.
From personal experience and opinion I think the head matters FAR FAR less than the shaft when comparing similar type clubs ie GI, SGI, cavity, mid cavity etc. In drivers the heads seem to differ slightly but with the right shaft you could hit most of them as well as each other. Brand comes down to personal preference in styling, model comes down to the amount of forgiveness required which is where a full custom fitting can come in outside of getting the right shaft.
I love my mizunos, nothing will get me to change (apart from those lovely new JL clubs.. OH BABY), I like sleek, plain, simple heads. I also like a thin top line and no extra protrusions etc.
Are the S300 shafts right for me in the irons? Probably...
Are the loft and lies right? No idea, they are old and well used so probably could do with a checkup.
Is my 3 wood and driver right? Heads? To me it doesnt matter, they work and that is all that matters. Shafts? Driver, may need updating, 3 wood.. no idea.
So would custom fitting now benefit me? In my irons & wedges? No, but a checkup is needed... Long clubs? No but again checking would help confirm that!
I doubt going out and getting custom fit for an entire new set of clubs would take more than a couple of shots off my game BUT going and getting my current gear validated would probably help me be a little more consistent, eventually leading to a reduction in scores for a fraction of the price.
Good shots were rare but I realised soon that even a good swing did not result in a good shot! I got "fitted" for a shaft, the guy did it by eye and the resulting shaft was ideal for me.
From personal experience and opinion I think the head matters FAR FAR less than the shaft when comparing similar type clubs ie GI, SGI, cavity, mid cavity etc. In drivers the heads seem to differ slightly but with the right shaft you could hit most of them as well as each other. Brand comes down to personal preference in styling, model comes down to the amount of forgiveness required which is where a full custom fitting can come in outside of getting the right shaft.
I love my mizunos, nothing will get me to change (apart from those lovely new JL clubs.. OH BABY), I like sleek, plain, simple heads. I also like a thin top line and no extra protrusions etc.
Are the S300 shafts right for me in the irons? Probably...
Are the loft and lies right? No idea, they are old and well used so probably could do with a checkup.
Is my 3 wood and driver right? Heads? To me it doesnt matter, they work and that is all that matters. Shafts? Driver, may need updating, 3 wood.. no idea.
So would custom fitting now benefit me? In my irons & wedges? No, but a checkup is needed... Long clubs? No but again checking would help confirm that!
I doubt going out and getting custom fit for an entire new set of clubs would take more than a couple of shots off my game BUT going and getting my current gear validated would probably help me be a little more consistent, eventually leading to a reduction in scores for a fraction of the price.
MGL
Challenge Tour Pro
For me personally, custom fitting is as much about retro-fitting and improving someones current set, as it is about fitting a brand new set. The processes are pretty much the same.
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
Without the change of gear, I would have nothing against someone telling me to put new shafts in any of my clubs at all...
I promised a validation of my kit to myself when I join a club again, just to ensure the shafts, lofts and lies are all right for me.
Tiger
Money List Winner
I've been custom fitted. I've also had a truckload of lessons. People say my swing's quite good. Yet I still play off 25. Why? The six inches between my ears is why. The way I see it you can have 'ill fitting clubs' , a swing that resembles a frog in a blender, hit the ugliest left to right shot shape in the universe and still play to a relatively low handicap if you understand the game and know how to score.
Develop your game your way and make sure you have loads of fun in the process
Develop your game your way and make sure you have loads of fun in the process
MGL
Challenge Tour Pro
Spot on. I've just met a guy up at Sharpley range today. Plays off 10. Hits a nice consistent shot, straight, but far too high and hence drops like a stone. He's playing a R flex Taylormade stock iron shaft. Absolutely nothing wrong with the heads (TM 320's) which suit him down to the ground - we are going to change the shafts and sort out lofts, lies, SW's etc. The basic problem is that he is hitting it too high, which more often than not is getting caught in the wind, and he's losing accuracy. If we can get a lower, more piercing trajectory, then he's going to hit more greens in two rather than just missing by a few yards and then having a 10/20 yard chip on. He's basically chipping a shot when he should be putting, which is wasting shots for him.
Now this isn't going to cost him a lot of money (compared to a new set) and he's been at this point for a year or so now where he just doesn't know if its him or his clubs. He was thinking about buying a new set and being fitted for them. He's gone away surprised that i have told him that the 320's are probably one of TM's last proper iron heads and that all he needs to do is get new shafts rather than a new set and have them set up properly for him.
We'll spend a couple of hours getting the trajectory right and then work out what lengths, etc suit him best.
Again, I can't see how this form of CF isn't a benefit.
S
Snelly
Guest
Why is that mental? The three best golfers I know have never had a lesson between them and their handicaps are 2, 0 and +2. They very rarely lose and are experts at the game. I'm the same (apart from the expert bit of course!). Never paid for a lesson and am a reasonable player.
What makes you think that you know best? Because I'm telling you now, you don't. If you think lessons are the best route to excellence in golf then you know the square root of nowt.
Please tell me why lessons are the panacea for our golfing ails.......
Robobum
Money List Winner
Lessons are a must I'm afraid and have to be at regular intervals. My first lesson was in 1985 followed by my 2nd one in 2000. Can't wait for lesson 3, fed up with chopping it round....3yrs to go 
S
Snelly
Guest
Lessons are a must I'm afraid and have to be at regular intervals. My first lesson was in 1985 followed by my 2nd one in 2000. Can't wait for lesson 3, fed up with chopping it round....3yrs to go
ah Robobum, a man after my own heart! I was 1 under gross on Saturday at Devils Dyke. An eagle and 3 birdies and I still lost to one of the blokes I referenced in my previous post. If only I'd had lessons this year, I might have done a whole lot better!!!!
