Custom fitting: your experience

[Tiger]

Right. I got a little bit curious about wedge grind and the lack of response here raised another question. We've heard Bob bang on about it, read Pelz and Rotella harp on about it, listened to our aspiring touring pro Jason talk about it. The short game is key to performance. But yet I ask a question about wedge fitting and sole grinds and nada nothing zilch zero and I know you all haven't gone shy all of a sudden. So my question what clubs have you been custom fitted for if any. If putter and wedges (not in a we'll give you the same set up as your irons kind of fitting) come out last, it opens up another question for me. It's how we score so why don't we get specialist fitting for this kit?

 

[Imurg]

Got fitted for irons by a Ping stockist a couple of years ago and they got something wrong in the specs. For me the clubs were virtually unusable - lost any confidence I had in them, moved them on for the same money I paid and went to Mizuno who got things spot on. The MP58's I used until recently "fitted" me like a glove - I just need my A game too much to get the best from them.
Wasn't really fitted for the Razrs I have now except having the lie altered 1 degree flat. The length was ok as was the shaft.
Been fitted for 2 or 3 drivers in the last few years - none of them lasted long.

 

[timchump]

i had my mizuno mp60's custom fit 4 years ago now

i'm 6 foot 2, so went for and extra inch in length
really wanted to go for regular flex, though hit a number of shots without knowing the shaft in the club, the stiff turned out to be be soo muchbetter
had the grips thickened and finally 1 degree upright

custom fitting just makes sense to me, being a fairly big chap, i cant believe i could hit a standard clubs made for an average person as good as i do with my current bats

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Played with both custom fits and off the shelf and to be honest I remain totally unconvinced that either were better or worse for my level of golf. I am interested in getting some R11 but not a huge fan of the KBS 90 stock shaft so would have to consider other options so I guess my next set would be C/F to a degree

 

[NWJocko]

Only ever been fitted for a driver courtesy of GM.

Out of interest, how do they know what thickness of grip suits you? Is it just hand size or something? Apologies if this is a simple question!

 

[Hobbit]

Got fitted for my first set of Pings, and never got on with them. Changed for a set of fitted Callaway X-Forged and they fitted like a glove - superb. Went down the fitted route again in the summer and have now got Ping S57's and so far they're working well... just got to get used to cast irons.

Got fitted for a Ping G10 and it worked well, but had always wanted a Callawat FT-9. Bought it off the shelf and it was a nightmare. So got fitted for a G15, and all is well with the world.

Would always recommend getting fitted.

 

[Tiger]

But what interests me most about the responses is the hodge podge approach to fitting. I'm guilty as anyone. Most people who have been fitted have had just their irons c/f'd. But why is it important for your irons and not your wedges? Why your driver but not your fairway woods or hybrid?

 

[jasondransfieldgolf]

I have had a few sets fitted on trackman, all sets have come out as needing Project X 6.0. I have used this shaft and the Rifle 6.0 before that for the last 10 years or so. I also know that I am 2 degrees flat. So Iron fitting has not been as important to me, but I believe driver fitting is important as there are so many possible shaft options. Wedge fitting is important as some players will have shallow angles of attack and so would ideally need less bounce than people coming in steeper to the ball.

 

[Tiger]

Thanks Jason. Would be interested to know if you have the standard grind in your wedges or a variation. If you do have a variation how does it help your wedge play? Cheers

 

[patricks148]

I was custom fitted for my last set of irons and wedges 4 years ago. Turned out I was standard everything anyway apart from 2 layers of tape in the grips.
Started having lessons last year and my swing has come on quite a bit and consequently club head speed has increased, though still a work in progress. Recently changed to stiff shafts in my irons to cut down on spin and take the flight down, which seems to be working, though still getting used to the shafts, not all bad as I won an open 2 weeks ago.

Was custom fitted last year for a new 3 wood and got on with it so well, had the same again with the driver. Always used a 2 iron but love the shaft in my 3 wood and driver so just got a 17 with the same shaft.

To be fair could have just got away with off the shelf and just experimented with different shafts.

Wedges not sure it would make much difference to me on my handicap, low cat 1, scratch and pro probably makes a difference as to get there you would have a very repeatable swing and would be hitting hundreds of balls every week so know what’s what. For your average handicap club golfer not sure it would be worth it unless you have money to burn. Quite a few high handicappers appear to believe custom fit is going to cure everything.

 

[Tiger]

Patrick you mention money to burn. Can someone please let me know if the different grinds are cost free. My irons would have cost the same as off the shelf if I hadn't got a shaft upgrade. If you got a stock shaft my understanding is the cost would be the same so why not get fitted?

 

[Shaunmg]

I was fitted for my irons which I been using for about 3 years. I’m not very convinced they are right. I had lessons afterwards and my stance, posture and grip have all changed. I was reaching for the ball instead of my arms hanging naturally when I was fitted for them. So surely they are now not right

Neither am I convinced the shop owners want to sell what’s best for, but rather what’s best for them. I asked in my Nevada Bob shop about wedge fitting, only to be told they don’t fit for wedges. I bought one off the shelf
I was fitted for a driver at the same shop. Oh! How lucky I was, they had just the driver for my spec already on the shelf.

Weeks late I was alone playing behind a four ball, I invited two blokes who caught me up on the tee to join me. Little did I know (until he hit the ball) one of them was a Pro. After a few wild drives he politely asked could he see the driver. He said guessing your swing speed I don’t think a light shaft is best suited to you. He invited me down to his store in Sale, Scottsdale golf, he tested my swing and changed the shaft to regular, all 8 swings monitored indicated a regular shaft, 2 were almost stiff. He changed my shaft. I promise you it made a big difference

 

[Alex1975]

My iron fitting was done badly in my opinion. The shaft had the right stats (apart from launch) and felt really good but in a real world scenario they are way too high launch. I have been refitted since and know what shaft I would get if I did it all again.


I think that if its done right why would you not do it, it does not cost anything!