Custom Fitting

[HarryMonk]

As some of you may be aware, I am looking to change the sticks with which I swing.

Now I am looking to go down the "custom fitted" route but I am not sure really where to start

Do most people custom fit,(Pros , AG, etc...)or is it done at demo days, Or do I need to look else where??

 

[Cernunnos]

There really are many route, all with pro's & cons'

Yes you can get fitted by your pro, they have usually been clued up by the different manufacturers, plus they as pro's can impart experienceof their own to helping you make a choice.

Golf shops can vary, some shops just have sales assistance who have been taught how to do all the meassuring thing & how to read the info the simulators tell them to give a fit. Though, if you are lucky there will be a pro at a golf shop who can give you similar feedback as your golf pro would, but with the added advantage of the electronic data too.

Then there are specialist centres like the Belfry which dealwith numerous suppliers. Not delt with the Belfry other than during the Quinn Masters, when one of their Pro's was giving free fitting. Obviously not the full experience, as it was simply as a way of enticing people to go there for a proper fitting.

There are various manufacturers you can visit to get fitted for their clubs. Very useful if you know the brand you want

Demo days are a way of getting some of the manufacturers experience & expert fitters knowledge without traveling over half the country yourself to get to say the Ping fitting centre. Main downside of demo days is the limitation of time the fitter will be able to provide unless you time it right & go when its quiet, so the fitter can give his full attention. The other advantage of Demo days, is that often you will be able to take advantage of promotional deals...

Horses for courses, really. Take your pick. Depends whether you know what brand you want & if that brand is stocked at your club or a club near where the pro can fit you. If not then you will need to look further afield.

Oh & don't be tempted by online fitting, this is when it can be a case of rubbish in, rubbish out. Though at least you wont have some spotty oik trying to fob you off with something you don't want.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I've had a couple of custom fittings at the Belfry (irons & fairways woods, Driver & Putter)

The way they work is to see how you use your current clubs, analyse the data and yours & their observations & suggest posible choices based on £ and preference.

Then you hit a load more balls with each club, they make amendments accordingly & then you decide if you like one and then you either buy it or take away your stats for someone else.

When I was fitted for my Driver I hit 7 different basic clubs, narrowed it down to 3 heads, then narrowed down the right shaft. It took a while but I ended up with a sexy looking, easy to hit club which I'm more than happy with.

 

[Smiffy]

Hopefully this will give you an idea on what to expect (or certainly in Mizuno's case)....

http://golf.mizunoeurope.com/videos/?art...deo_walkthrough

HTH
Rob

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In an ideal world in order of preference I would say

1) Go to Ping, Cally, Mizuno C/F fitting centres or the Belfry etc and go for as many different options as possible.

2) Demo days - lets you get your speed, launch angle and other swing facets measured and a chance to try the latest clubs in a variety of specs

3)AG or similar - a large variety of clubs but maybe limited to a bay in astore on a basic launch monitor and with staff not well trained and after shifting highest commission gear.

If you are prepared to travel somewhere that offers several maufacturers like the Belfry then it is probably the best option as you get individual attention and a true C/F experience. If not I guess the answer is to narrow your search to a particular make and utilise their nearest full C/F facility

 

[HarryMonk]

Thanks guys,

now scouring the web for custom fitting centres down here on the coast, they are few and far between it would seem, anyone down in my neck of the woods know of any close by?

 

[Alex_narey]

Harry, the one thing I can say is that Custom-fitting is definitely the way forward if you are looking for ways to improve your game in the long-term (which we all are, of course). Look out for the Irons supplement in the forthcoming issue of Golf Monthly, or read here...

http://tinyurl.com/ck6hs9

Best
Alex

 

[DCB]

harry,

Whilst it would be ideal to go along to a National Fitting centre, there are bound to be pros at some of the courses near to you that can do a proper fitting on their practice tee. Don't discount this as a possibility especially if it is too far to travel to a "Big" fitting centre.

The 1st set of clubs I ever had fitted were fitted on the work done by my local pro down our 1st fairway! Played with them for a good few years and came dowm from 16-10 with them.

Last two sets were fitted by a local fitting pro, before Mizuno had opened its Scottish centre at Cumbernauld (now moved to Glasgow).

Best of luck whatever you do.

 

[HarryMonk]

Alex thanks for that it's a good read and I must admit I like the G10's just a five hour drive to get to ping is a bit of an issue.

Might try Mizuno, it is around two hours but worth it.

Still looking and might try a few local pros just to see what they can offer.

 

[Smiffy]

Still looking and might try a few local pros just to see what they can offer.

The pro at Sedlescombe GC can custom fit you for either Titleist, Ping or Mizuno clubs. He has the necessary training and equipment to do this, but because the Mizzy fitting centre is only just over an hour away from me and is free, I've decided to go this route instead.
Certainly don't discount your local pro regarding the fitting process Harry...I would personally prefer this route to a fitting session at AG (or similar). As Homer says, AG are more likely to try to get you to buy something with a massive mark up attached to them.
My appointment is for this Sunday, I will let you know how I get on mate....

 

[andiritchie]

I got my irons fitted by my teaching pro

They are fantastic,he knows my game and what i want from my irons,its hard to explain to someone who i dont know,iam quite fussy with ball flight

We did it over a few sessions using over 50 clubs,this was before the fancy Titleist fitting carts

I get free yearly loft and lie checks on my irons and wedges which is nice,good service and he probally knows i will come back again when my irons get a little tired

Support your local pro

 

[Canfordhacker]

Harry - I was fitted for and got my Pings at East Dorset. They price matched too, which meant I got a good price and to support a local pro. I believe Ferndown Forest also fit for Pings. Not sure about other makes.

 

[haplesshacker]

HarryMonk.

East Horton do CF on Ping, TM, Mizuno, and Cally I think. You might want to take a look next week, unless of course you want some shiny new bats sooner.

 

[HarryMonk]

Now Happless, I was thinking maybe I should sort myself out before next week but another week wont hurt.

We have a Demo day for Yonex Tuesday night, so I might pop to that not sure they have much that I will be interested in though?

 

[Smiffy]

Had a great time up at Mizuno's fitting centre yesterday afternoon. Very constructive and although I wasn't hitting the ball very well (I hate range mats!!) some interesting things came out of it and I now know what my choice of clubs will be.
I tried both sets again (MP52's and MX200's) and as I suspected, the figures I got off the 200 were better. I certainly strike those a lot cleaner. Also it was discovered that my current graphite shafts were imparting an awful lot of back and side spin on the ball which was calmed down significantly by going back to steel. We settled on the Nippon NS Pro 950 GH regular shaft which was shown to give me 10 yards more carry over the 6 iron I am playing at the moment with a lot less spin and this was at a swingspeed of 4mph LESS! It was also decided that I need my irons 1 degree flat, because as I suspected I was making contact with the strike board nearer the heel of the club.
So that's what I am going for 4-PW with the addition of the matching 50 and 55 degree wedges.
I have emailed an online Mizzy retailer who promised to do the best deal to see how much it is going to cost me, and once I have heard back will give my club pro the chance to either price match or come close. If he is up to £50.00 dearer I will buy from him, but if it's much more than that then I will order them off the 'net.
As I say, a very good day out and I would recommend going to them and it is totally free, and I got a nice couple of freebies too!!
Rob