Ever Had a Club Fitting You Regretted?

[Neilds]

That’s the sad part of fitting.

Thirty years ago I had a go and as with everything, wanted the best. Local pro set me up with some copper Ping blades. Over a grand back then. Couldn't have it a medicine ball with them.

Chucked them in a cupboard and did the same - never bothered playing.

The process is much better now, but there’s always the fact it can be a sales session.

I’d never recommend a new player to be fitted. There’s too much which will change in the early days and enough off the shelf gear available.

I think one of the big problems is what people perceive as fitting to be. Most times what people call a fitting is actually just trying different clubs in fairly standard set ups. Might try a few different makes and models but that is as far as it goes. This works for a lot of people but is not a fitting in the more specific term.

 

[Hobbit]

Flippin’ it, the best fitting I had was down at Gainsborough with Ping. The guy literally bashed the clubs with a rubber mallet to get the lie right. Various shaft lengths were tried, along with whatever number iron I wanted to try. I can’t remember how long it took but Imdo remember being knackered at the end of it.

 

[seochris]

Yes definitely.
About 18 months ago I went for a fitting which I paid for and was fitted with a set of Ping i525. Lovely heads but the shaft he recommended was the Ping Alta CB graphite in a stiff but soft stepped twice and a green spot and power lofts (1.5* strong)
Initially they were ok but soon after I found them increasingly difficult to hit and get a decent strike. I just don’t have the swing speed for those. They cost me £1300.
I was also stupid enough to order the exact same spec in Spain for the set I would leave there…..another €1500!
Kept persevering with them and just could not get them to work so in frustration I just bought a set of bog standard Srixon zx5 ii… regular KBS lite shafts of eBay…worked great.
I put my trust in the fitter and it was a leap of faith which fell flat and was an extremely expensive mistake so now very careful about who I go to for a fitting with.
Needless to say that the irons are up for sale if anyone is interested!
Liked the srixons so much that I thought I would go and get properly fitted. Went to American Golf and got fitted with some Srixon zx i4 with Helium soft regular shafts , standard lie and +1 degree of loft which is a bit different to the Pings! Very happy with them at the moment.

 

[kp17]

I did yeah, maybe 10 years ago I was spraying driver everywhere, not much has changed to be honest but I was at a range in Bishopbriggs just outside of Glasgow and got talking to one of the pro’s and he was raving about this Callaway driver that was just out, the sales head firmly on probably watching my drives go sideways, talked me into having a shot, I did actually hit a few good ones, he was adjusting and playing about with the head, this will be great for you etc. Anyway long story short I left I think 3/400 quid lighter with a new callaway that lasted a couple month I think and my old driver was back in the bag and someone on eBay got bargain of the year

 

[Burnsey]

I did yeah, maybe 10 years ago I was spraying driver everywhere, not much has changed to be honest but I was at a range in Bishopbriggs just outside of Glasgow and got talking to one of the pro’s and he was raving about this Callaway driver that was just out, the sales head firmly on probably watching my drives go sideways, talked me into having a shot, I did actually hit a few good ones, he was adjusting and playing about with the head, this will be great for you etc. Anyway long story short I left I think 3/400 quid lighter with a new callaway that lasted a couple month I think and my old driver was back in the bag and someone on eBay got bargain of the year

To be fair, wiggling one drivers head settings and hitting a few balls down the range isn't a fitting.

But, struggling with my driver, I once went into an away pro shop before a match and they had just stocked a 'hot' driver. They said I could try and banged half a dozen balls down their practice range, part exchanged my current club and when I got to the course I couldn't hit a ball to save my life.

Cost me £100 to swap back after the round

 

[shagster]

Not sure regret is the right word, because I learned a very valuable lesson.
I had been playing with old Ping G10s which I bought online, not fitted.
Then I had a set of Orka irons custom built. Everything just so - shafts, lofts, lie angles.
My performance with the Orkas is pretty much exactly the same as it was with the Pings.

Moral of the story: 99% of how you hit the ball is determined by the player's level of skill (or lack thereof), not the equipment.

i like orka, stunning club

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

I got a 3 wood a few years ago which is just taking up a space in my bag really, I can’t trust it. The shaft is too heavy and I can’t generate much spin.

The thing is, when I stand on the range and take a few shots, I start to get into a rhythm with it. It goes absolutely miles, arguably a bigger carry than my driver… But mid round when I used it, it just sucks.

 

[Oops!]

As I wrote here some time ago :

I bought my first set of clubs - W 1-3-5, I 3-SW - more than 30 years ago based solely on price (I was a student!): they were – including the bag! – extremely discounted (at the time just 500 German marks, i.e. approx. £220 at today's exchange rate), and I got on surprisingly well with them. After a bit of practice, I played rounds of 100 on a par 72 course. As I was told much later, I shouldn't have been able to play with them at all because they were professional clubs (“blades”) that were completely unsuitable for a beginner like me.

Due to lack of time, I unfortunately sold them at some point - a big mistake that I regret to this day!

After a long break, I started playing golf again some time ago and bought the set of clubs described in the signature secondhand. However, since I was unable to return to my previous level despite training, I wanted to rule out the possibility that my poor performance was due to the equipment.

What can I say? Your “fitting” experiences correspond 100% with mine: a waste of time and money!

Although I had made this intention clear from the outset, it was obvious that the fitter was only interested in selling me new clubs. However, since I was (even) less comfortable with the clubs he handed me than with my own, the fitter (!) offered to end the fitting early after three-quarters of the time had elapsed.

I admit: it was a unique experience, and I cannot and will not rule out the possibility that other fitters work differently (better!).

Nevertheless, I have decided *for myself* that I will leave the equipment alone for now and rely on myself, my swing, my “feel,” and above all, my pro. The “chemistry” is right with him, and I have no doubt that my money is better invested with him!

 

[Burnsey]

I'll follow up from a recent fitting...

My teaching pro suggested I drop my 6 iron, as it wasn't really carrying much further than my 7 iron and height was an issue. I really didn't want to lose it.

Went for a fitting and ended up not just keeping my 6 iron, but getting back into a 5 iron.

Went back to the pro once I collected my new clubs and completed a gapping session and he was in agreement, they worked well, really well.

Played first round yesterday and shot the score of my life lol.

Now I need to start playing with the two hybrids currently in the bag. The 5 iron puts one out and the 4 hybrid might need a loft tweak, or dropping altogether.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Flippin’ it, the best fitting I had was down at Gainsborough with Ping. The guy literally bashed the clubs with a rubber mallet to get the lie right. Various shaft lengths were tried, along with whatever number iron I wanted to try. I can’t remember how long it took but Imdo remember being knackered at the end of it.

Went there yesterday.

Hitting well over 100 full shots in 1hr 30mins was knackering. I was expecting this and remembered my neoprene javelin thrower's lumbar support.

Driver Recommendation
G440 LST Driver Loft 10.5°
Shaft Alta CB Blue 50. Flex Stiff 55g
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
Comments Swingweight D4
Hosel Position Std
Weight Position Neutral
Length Men's Standard (46")

Fairways Recommendation G440 MAX Fairway. Clubs: 4-wood 17° and 7-wood 21°.
Shaft Alta CB Blue 65 stiff.
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
4-wood in Hosel Position Standard
Comments ** 7 Wood in -- Hosel Position**

Hybrids & Crossovers Recommendation
G440 Hybrid Clubs
4 Hybrid 23°
Shaft Alta CB Blue 70 stiff
Men's Standard Length
Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
Hosel Position Standard

Irons Recommendation
i530 Irons
Clubs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, UW
Shaft UST Recoil Dart. Regular flex,
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")

Pretty much as I expected apart from graphite shafts for the irons. Felt great though.
Irons are 22° for the 5 and 47° for the UW.
I will probably go for 52° and 58° wedges.

That will be 9 irons with lofts very similar to my 1960s and 1970s vintage sets 3-SW.
Wonderful.

Undecided about the possible £2,500+ outlay !!!

I have enough pro-shop credit for the driver.
Got to spend it on summat.

 

[Neilds]

Went there yesterday.

Hitting well over 100 full shots in 1hr 30mins was knackering. I was expecting this and remembered my neoprene javelin thrower's lumbar support.

Driver Recommendation
G440 LST Driver Loft 10.5°
Shaft Alta CB Blue 50. Flex Stiff 55g
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
Comments Swingweight D4
Hosel Position Std
Weight Position Neutral
Length Men's Standard (46")

Fairways Recommendation G440 MAX Fairway Clubs 4 and 7
Shaft Alta CB Blue 65
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
4-wood in Hosel Position Standard
Comments ** 7 Wood in -- Hosel Position**

Hybrids & Crossovers Recommendation
G440 Hybrid Clubs
4 Hybrid 23°
Shaft Alta CB Blue 70 stiff
Men's Standard Length
Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
Hosel Position Standard

Irons Recommendation
i530 Irons
Clubs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, UW
Shaft UST Recoil Dart. Regular flex,
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")

Pretty much as I expected apart from graphite shafts for the irons. Felt great though.
Irons are 22° for the 5 and 47° for the UW.
I will probably go for 52° and 58° wedges.

That will be 9 irons with lofts very similar to my 1960s and 1970s vintage sets 3-SW.
Wonderful.

Undecided about the possible £2,500+ outlay !!!

I have enough pro-shop credit for the driver.
Got to spend it on summat.

Are driver lengths increasing now to improve 'distance'? When did 46" become standard? Thought it was usually around 45 - 45.75".

 

[Orikoru]

Driver Recommendation
G440 LST Driver Loft 10.5°
Shaft Alta CB Blue 50. Flex Stiff 55g
Grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet. Grip Size Gold (+1/32")
Comments Swingweight D4
Hosel Position Std
Weight Position Neutral
Length Men's Standard (46")

Undecided about the possible £2,500+ outlay !!!

I have enough pro-shop credit for the driver.
Got to spend it on summat.

Did you compare the distance to your current (some old Cobra thing as I recall)? Surely it was quite a bit longer?

 

[Voyager EMH]

Did you compare the distance to your current (some old Cobra thing as I recall)? Surely it was quite a bit longer?

Surely it was quite a little bit longer. Is true.

But who knows what a change of shaft in my 2005 Cobra F Speed 10.5 regular might do for me.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Are driver lengths increasing now to improve 'distance'? When did 46" become standard? Thought it was usually around 45 - 45.75".

Don't ask me, I haven't been paying close attention in the last 20 years.