Do driver fittings work?

[Boomy]

For example, roughly, how many shots for a 15 handicapper at the extremes : random 'wrong' driver he picked of the shelf, best no-cost limit from the best club fitter in the land ?

For me at the time, a 16 handicapper, getting fitted for a Ping G400 driver saved me about 6-8 shots a round by keeping the ball in play more/in less trouble compared to the second hand Titleist I bought ‘off the shelf’ My handicap tumbled as a result.

 

[phillarrow]

To the handicap golfer, little or none. Yes, launch angle and the likes will change somewhat. But they are not what make him a middle handicap golfer. It is his bad, shots, slices that no club in the world can save, the miss hit, and so on. There is no clear link meaningful link between those changes that a club flex or face loft tweak and the effect on someones score. If that is not there, then all the technology in the world, no matter how innovative or scientifically impressive or expensive, can have no effect.

You're having a discussion that is not the purpose of the thread, or the questions I posed in my first few posts.

I've never asked if a driver fitting will definitely lower my scores. I asked if it is possible that a correctly fitted driver can help to improve carry distance because some of the stuff I've seen and read about it suggests that there might be big gains out there and I wanted people's actual experiences to see if they'd any real world truth in it.

 

[SimonC]

what kind of distance gain did you get You say it was huge between the 2 shafts

I said there was a huge difference in dispersion not distance. I hit the Tensei all over the place and the Ventus was much straighter. But I did gain around 4mph in ball speed as it enabled me to find the center of the face more often which resulted in around 10 extra yards. To me 10 yards is a lot especially when it's in the fairway more often than the other shaft would be.

 

[Boomy]

Not at all. Have some scientific background, and most interested in technology. Maybe that is what makes me question some of the claims, explicit or implicit, on this topic. New technology, does not mean, successful technology.

Of course some of the claims will be utter tosh (I don’t need a scientific background to understand that) BUT getting fundamental set ups correct for an individual can help them - lie angles, shaft flex, shaft type, shaft length, swing weights even… You keep moving the goalposts about the impact to handicap golfers - might a fitting not benefit a 54 handicapper versus a 16 handicapper - possibly not… then again being fitted from the start may actually improve progress. Even if the actual technology and fit spec just makes a golfer feel more confident, which in turn helps them score better then it has worked. Stop being a blanket naysayer.

 

[phillarrow]

This!!!!!

So you think that shaft flex matters. And that it's good to have it fitted by the pros who work with the company who make the clubs. But you think that "the fitting benefits are a myth". You've literally had a fitting to find the right shaft?! ?
If you really think that it's all a myth, why did you have the shaft checked by mizuno?

Also, what you've opted for is the best one out of 3/4 shafts. Given that there's zero standardisation in shaft flex, you are simply going down the route of "that'll do" rather than "this one works best for me"... and then arguing your viewpoint black and blue?! ?‍

 

[SimonC]

For example, roughly, how many shots for a 15 handicapper at the extremes : random 'wrong' driver he picked of the shelf, best no-cost limit from the best club fitter in the land ?

Number of shots, I honestly don't know but it could be a fair few.
Watch this video it'll give you an example of what the difference between a poorly fit to well fit driver is.

 

[pokerjoke]

You're having a discussion that is not the purpose of the thread, or the questions I posed in my first few posts.

I've never asked if a driver fitting will definitely lower my scores. I asked if it is possible that a correctly fitted driver can help to improve carry distance because some of the stuff I've seen and read about it suggests that there might be big gains out there and I wanted people's actual experiences to see if they'd any real world truth in it.

I’d say a proper fitting could easily help you improve carry distance and dispersion.
It would help with confidence that you have got the right fitting for you.
I myself have just gained 20-30 yards extra distance.
1. I’m getting stronger
2. I’m getting fitter and doing more stretching.
3. I’ve just bought a new driver off Market place with no fitting,it’s producing a draw,sometimes a hook compared to the fades and straight ones with my old driver.
The answer is probably everyone is different,so it comes down to what’s best for you.

 

[garyinderry]

Number of shots, I honestly don't know but it could be a fair few.
Watch this video it'll give you an example of what the difference between a poorly fit to well fit driver is.

That's a fairly extreme example there. It's hard to believe that someone who plays off 3 or 4 wouldn't have the gumption to look for a driver with more loft for starters when hes not even carrying it much more than 200 yards. Especially whens hes swinging it at 109mph.

 

[SimonC]

That's a fairly extreme example there. It's hard to believe that someone who plays off 3 or 4 wouldn't have the gumption to look for a driver with more loft for starters when hes not even carrying it much more than 200 yards. Especially whens hes swinging it at 109mph.

I know this isn't the norm, I only posted it because Backsticks asked the difference between an extremely bad fit driver to a best fit which this demonstrates very well.

 

[garyinderry]

I know this isn't the norm, I only posted it because Backsticks asked the difference between an extremely bad fit driver to a best fit which this demonstrates very well.

I've seen this in action. When me and liverbirdie got mizuno jpx 850 drivers off golf monthly and mizuno. We met at a range to look at numbers on flightscope.
I had mucked about with it mid week and worked out lowering the loft to 8 was giving me the best results.
We mixed the drivers up at one point and LB was hitting my one. He was barely getting it in the air. He was starting to get worried. We realised what happened and had a chuckle about it.

Turns out he was hitting it 4 degrees down on average. I was about 5 up.

The driver head could be moved from 7.5 to 11.5

 

[SteveW86]

New driver arrived today following a fitting at Precision Golf at the end of last year. Booking the fitting was a bit impulsive after a last minute slot opened up as I can hit driver well but it can be a bit erratic.

“Old” driver was a Callaway big Bertha fusion, in the last few weeks it has been working very well so I was a bit nervous about the new one arriving ?.

Just got back from the range with the new one (TSi2) and was very happy as I left. The new shaft is lighter and shorter, but I am consistently hitting the new club longer and straighter. With the shorter shaft I felt like I could go after it with confidence, something which I could never do with the old one.

So, although only 1 range session in the new club definitely feels like a step up from the old one. All we need now is some decent weather to go and try it on the course.

 

[Pin-seeker]

If you hit more fairways then yes,if not then no ?

 

[Brechin balata]

I said there was a huge difference in dispersion not distance. I hit the Tensei all over the place and the Ventus was much straighter. But I did gain around 4mph in ball speed as it enabled me to find the center of the face more often which resulted in around 10 extra yards. To me 10 yards is a lot especially when it's in the fairway more often than the other shaft would be.

In the fairway will always give you much more roll out so defo go with that??

 

[SimonC]

In the fairway will always give you much more roll out so defo go with that??

That was the extra carry distance without the extra run you get from being in the fairway. If only I could hit the fairway more often, Shotscope has me at 45% for 2021 which isn't the best. Hopefully my swing changes will make a difference this year.

 

[Brechin balata]

I’d had a few last night and seemed to have annoyed a few long serving posters. As pin seeker says even if you an extra 30 yards away from the middle of the fairway. It’s better than knee deep hacking it out

 

[Brechin balata]

Anyway I got fitted by 3 different people who all recommend the same shaft. Took about 15 mins if that at each place.

 

[bobmac]

It's a bit like getting a made to measure suit, it will fit on the day you were measured.