Driver Custom fitting- a cautionary tale

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scottyfan

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I just had a new driver custom fitted by a premium manufacturer. One key element never discussed is driver length. Most modern drivers are longer than the average length played on the PGA tour(44.5 inches) Further it is impossible to shorten them significantly with the stock shafts as adequate swing weight cannot be achieved.
As sold at manufacturers length this club affects my swing (Negative angle of attack to the ball and more out to in path. Generally more difficult to achieve consistent on centre hit with resultant loss of distance) In addition to add insult to injury the club was way off swing weight spec when built to their standard length.
To their credit the company in question have rebuilt the club and at small aditional cost provided a new head individually selected to be at the top end of the weight tollerence together with a heavier shaft. This has got the club under 45 inches at a respectable swingweight.

I know quality costs but I would urge all manufacturers of premium drivers to ensure when they custom fit they fit not only for loft and shaft flex but also length suitable for the golfer. These clubs sell mainly in excess of £250 so proper fitting should be a given.

Any self respecting clubmaker goes to great lengths to ensure that driver length is properly fitted and the vast proportion of drivers they build do not exceed 44.5 inches.
After all if the tour pros cannot play 45 plus drivers what chance A.Tyro?
 
Hi,
The manufacturer is not important. All the major companies are doing this. Currently 45.5 inches appears to be the morm.
The problem is that without a hosel weight port in the head you cannot add sufficient tip weight and shaft sucessfully for shorter length with certainty. I contacted the particular manufacturer in the states and the response was that with the standard ahaft they could not guarantee D2 swingweight at 44.5 inches.
 
Hi, I'm off 17 a relative tyro who after assessment is working on a game improvement plan to get down to 12.
Hence I'm trying to get more consistency into my driving amongst other things. I'm not expecting a new club to provide a miracle cure more a sound equipment platform suited to me as I work to improve.
 
Hi,
The manufacturer is not important. All the major companies are doing this. Currently 45.5 inches appears to be the morm.
The problem is that without a hosel weight port in the head you cannot add sufficient tip weight and shaft sucessfully for shorter length with certainty. I contacted the particular manufacturer in the states and the response was that with the standard ahaft they could not guarantee D2 swingweight at 44.5 inches.
Click to expand...

So how do they manage to give Tour Pros the length, swingweight and anything else they want for their driver (and any other clubs) from the back of a van then?
 
What is the difference between holding it 1" down the grip, and cutting 1" off? Surely the swing weight will be similarly affected, and some weight will need to be added to the head?
 
If the swing is good enough, the very, very slight change in swing weight wouldn't be noticeable unless you are swinging the club the same on every single swing.
Maybe at 17 h/cap, your'e getting too involved with the technical aspects of the game. If you came to me for a lesson, I would concentrate on improving the swing and worrying less about the technical issues of the shaft.
I teach kids who dont have a clue about swing weights and actual weights and they play a great game.
I'm not trying to be critical, in fact I applaud you for trying to get fitted with a suitable driver, I'm just giving you my honest opinion for what it's worth.
Just go out and enjoy it.
P.S. have you been custom fitted for a putter?
 
The same way they fixed my driver. The companies produce thousands of heads They have a weight tollerance in production. For a head of say 200 grams you could have weights ranging from 194 to 206. They go through them and check weights selecting heads for the tour van best suited to specs ( length /swing weight/shafts/ grips) of the players. They also use tip weights and other techiques to add weight inside the head. Info gathered from articles by prominent clubfitters / designers.
 
Sure that is an option. So why not make all the irons longer do away alltogether with custom fitting and lets just all grip down an appropriate amount.
These clubs cost more each than a budget set of irons.
Its like going for a £250 suit and being told ok the sleeves are a bit long on you so when you wear just turn them up.
 
bobmac - can you explain to me whats involved with putter fittings please.
Click to expand...
There are several things to consider when fitting a putter.
A well stocked pro would set you up on the Sam putting computer system which examines your stroke. (or Tomi)
This shows the length of swing, angle of attack, swing path, loft of face at impact, swing speed etc etc. From that the pro should ask you questions about preffered weight of putter, smooth face or soft insert,length of shaft, low or high hands, arm stroke or wristey stroke.
From that he should be able to advise you on the length of the putter, the loft of the face, the lie of the head, the type of insert, the thickness of the grip and perhaps lastly and more recently whether you would like weights placaed in the shaft to give a more balanced distribution of weight.
Hope that helps and doesn't confuse .
 
Sure that is an option. So why not make all the irons longer do away alltogether with custom fitting and lets just all grip down an appropriate amount.
These clubs cost more each than a budget set of irons.
Its like going for a £250 suit and being told ok the sleeves are a bit long on you so when you wear just turn them up.
Click to expand...

Lets overreact!
 
I think with the trend from major manufacturers to produce 45+ inch drivers for the general public (the pro debate is different as they are virtually all tailor-made these days to factor loft, lie swing weight, length etc) it is inevitable that unless you can go for a C/F fitting and have the shaft and swingweight adapted this will become the industry norm.

Consequently the choices are : a) grip it conventionally (not at the very end) and trust your swing to produce the goods or b) grip down a few inches for added control.

The question about gripping down is a good one, but if you look at it in the same way as playing a gripped down punchshot with a mid or long iron, the fact that you are holding the iron lower down doesn't stop you playing a restricted punch. Whilst I don't advocate playing any form of punch with a driver, the fact that you are holding it lower down won't make any difference to the swing weight for the everyday golfer.
 
The same way they fixed my driver. The companies produce thousands of heads They have a weight tollerance in production. For a head of say 200 grams you could have weights ranging from 194 to 206. They go through them and check weights selecting heads for the tour van best suited to specs ( length /swing weight/shafts/ grips) of the players. They also use tip weights and other techiques to add weight inside the head. Info gathered from articles by prominent clubfitters / designers.
Click to expand...

So what you're saying is you only got offered your CF with a standard shaft, rather than a shorter or longer one then?

So if you wanted a shorter shaft, why didn't you ask for it when you went - I am sure they could have found you something...

I'll ask again what manufacturer was it as I know at least one that offers different length shafts by way of a 'quick fit' system.....
 
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