Custom Fitting

[markwarne]

Any forumers out there had the experience of a Ping custom fitting (or any custom fitting for that matter).

I am contemplating some shiny new irons and think that getting them fit is the best direction in terms of both my money point of view and also to get my game playing better (combined with much practice and more lessons).

Does anyone also have a view on buying a set of clubs on a "club by club" basis as opposed to a full set that you perhaps grab in AG or wherever .I don't see the point of buying a 4 iron as part of a set when perhaps I don't use it. Likewise with the wedges

 

[TonyN]

Custom fitting is definitely the only way to go if you are quite serious about your golf or just want to play as best you can.

I have been custom fit for my driver and 3 wood, my irons and wedges I bought off the shelf but when I do change them, they will be fitted.

Custom fit basically eliminates all the clubs that don't suit you and singles out the ones that do. Its maily about getting the shaft that suits your swing and then matching it with a head that enhances the shaft to its maximum capacity. for me, it was an ft-5 tour head with a soft tip aldila shaft. It added 30+ yards to my 'off the shelf' ft-I

Go for it, you may as well, its free if you buy the clubs.(most places)

As for choosing your bag, club by club, thats very sensible as you wouldn't want to be stuck with a 3 iron you cant hit, or a SW you don't like.

 

[minty18]

Mark,

I had my pings fitted last week (had standard G5's).

Got them back on friday after they had added 1/2 an inch and changed the lie angle 2 degrees upright.

Fridays round was a mixed bag really, wasnt striking them too great.... however yesterday was a totally different story, an extra 10yds atleast on each club and hardly any sidespin on my bad shots.

I'm looking forward to hittng the range this week and getting abit more used to them.

 

[USER1999]

It makes sense to only buy the clubs you will use, although obviously when you sell them on (it happens, eventually), you may find them worth less as a part set.

C/f is definately the way to go in my opinion. I have been fitted up (is that the right wording?) by Titleist, and would recommend it.

Pings are good, as when you sell on, Ping will refit them for the new owner foc, and you can also buy per club rather than a set. Titleist also sell by the club.

Not sure what c/f does to sell on prices, as you need to sell to someone of similar height / swing, although I am sure they can always get the lies changed, and shaft lengths altered.

I didn't get a 3 iron, but bought a hybrid instead. Interestingly, having turned down a 3i, was also offered a 2i. ?

 

[surefire]

If you haven't guess by the previous replies, custom fitting is well worth it.

Every club is custom fit in my bag, except my putter which was a bit of an impulse buy, but I am looking for somewhere to retrofit it.

I got my irons done by TM and my wedges done by Cleveland. I bought the irons individually so I only have 3-9 then All my wedges are CG 12s. I am tempted to add a 2 iron to this, although everyone says I am crazy and should get a hybrid, so I am still thinking about it.

 

[Cernunnos]

I've been custom fitted before, although I'm one of the few who can generally go in & get irons off the peg so to speak, as I tend to come out standard. When I was measured up for my Ping Irons I cam out as Blue which is every other manufacturers standard, though not Pings.... work that one out.

On the last day of the British masters, Daly Golf fitted me for one of their putters, ironically was almost a spontanious buy & hadn't even intended on visiting their stand till I read some litterature about some new putters they had & the fact there is also a new bladed version. Ended up with a fitted #7 bladded putter, one of their tour bags & a couple of caps with magnetic ball markers all at a very very very nice price indeed. Many thanks Robin & Alan.
I ended up with a 33" putter. very nice indeed, really can't wait to try it out in anger on the course. well anger is the wrong word... rofl. But their helpful tips & advice as well as the fitting experience was brilliant.

My Pings were fitted by a Ping technician on a club fitting day. Generally its advisable to visit the Ping site or visit somewhere like The Belfry where they can provide a very detailed fitting experience.

oh & whilst at the British masters I now know what shaft, shaft type, I'm best looking for in my next driver purchase. Cheers Belfy guys.

 

[viscount17]

not seen this before so,

do cf'd clubs last you longer?

does cf help you resist the lastest shiny creation?

is cf more cost effective?

 

[USER1999]

No.

It won't last any longer.

It won't stop you looking at shiny stuff.

It doesn't cost anything.

It just maximises what you are buying.

If anything it is depressing. Once you know the clubs are fine, it is just you that isn't.

 

[Cernunnos]

1. the clubs wont last any longer being custom fit though its posible certain types of wear might be less likely.

2. It wont stop you looking at other shinny stuff, though you are less likely to gas on other things when something has been tailored to your needs & your game.

3. There is rarely a charge for custom fitting so on one front its very cost effective as you can get exactly what you want or need right from the word go, so shafts & grips will be what you want within reason & the limitations of the choices you have from whatever manufacturer.

 

[viscount17]

actually, I meant that if 1 & 2 are true, then is it cost effective to get fitted for that more expensive set.

 

[USER1999]

Depends if you really, really NEED that expensive set, and how shiny it is.

No, because you can c/f clubs from about £200 a set.

 

[Mawgan]

Dear all,

As a bright, shiny new member of the Forum, a thread regarding bright, shiny new bats seems a logical place to post my first inane contribution.

Custom fitting seems to loom large in all the magazines recently, and the cynic in me wonders if the articles should have 'Advertising Feature' written large above them. However, the bulk of opinion here is obviously that c/f is a Good Thing.

So what happens? Is one required to choose a manufacturer first, or does/can the fitting process recommend one make over another for any given bat? This question is relevant (honest) considering the advice above that buying individual clubs can be benficial.

Grateful for any comments/experience, and apologies if I appear to be barging in on the thread.

A joy to be among like minds...

M

 

[USER1999]

Most of the manufacturers offer c/f.

Most do this either through their own centers, in which case you need to have decided on a manufacurer first (if not necessarily a model), and got your pro to book a session.

A lot of the big golf retailers (AG and NB + others) also do c/f, and then order the clubs from the manufacturers, so you can try different brands and models.

There are also a few club builders who will c/f some of the less well known brands (snake eyes, Orka, etc) who are locally based, and will build your set themselves. These will propose a particular brand / model to suit your ability, and as you are dealing with them direct, it is in their interest to get it right.

 

[GB72]

Also need to be aware of the types of custom fitting. Most big stores like AG and NB only do a static fit (ie take measurements and fit for length and lie). Choice is normally limited to what they stock so you can try clubs with the standard stiff, regular shafts etc but cannot deviate away from those supplied on 'off the peg' clubs.

Going to the manufacturers fitting centre will open up many more options and even allow, in some cases, a mix of clubs to be bought so you can have cavity back long irons and bladed short irons for example. The only issue is that the options available still have to fit in with the manufacturing process of the company and are still liable for deviations due to that.

Club fitters will take you through a full fitting and normally build the clubs themselves so you are almost guaranteed that care has been taken to ensure everything is as you need. The makes of club available to buy new are often not as well known (Snakeeyes and Orka being 2)but they often are cheaper than buying from the big names. Club fitters are also willing to fit your existing clubs and make adjustments irrespective of make.

To compare the experiences with a big store and a club fitter, my first set of irons were assessed and supposedly fitted in 10 minutes at DG whilst my Orka driver was fitted after a nearly 2 hour session.

 

[USER1999]

Although I didn't buy from AG in Finchley, I did spend an hour in there on their launch monitor discussing custom fit, and it was way more than a static fitting. That said, technology moves on, and it may depend on the size of the store.