Fitting - is it worth it?

[Hobbit]

You are missing my point I think. Lots of data, sure. But no data with a proven link to performance.
The technology is undoubtedly sophisticated. The array of numbers on screens large. The lingo, jargon, and hardcore club tech buzzwords almost cultlike for the initiated. And certainly, fun for some.
But none of that makes the case :
Fitting=>better performance.
It might give comfort to someone spending 500 on a new driver that they have gone through a technological and scientific process to optimise that purchase for them. And so feel better about it. And even feel that it performs well for them and so they were correct to be fitted. But that in no way confirms objectively, fitting as being worth anything.

A very brief example of numbers….

I’ll assume you know what a high spin rate does to a golf ball because of the dimples and the aerodynamics involved.

High spin rate, ball balloons up = lost yards. Not ideal with a driver. Choose a driver/shaft that keeps the spin rate below 2000rpm, whilst still giving you the optimal launch angle. But how do you find out what spin rate you’re generating? Go and get fitted.

I really like the look of Mizuno blades but whenever I’ve been for a fitting for them it doesn’t matter what shaft goes in them I can’t get the spin rate down low enough to stop the ball ballooning up. Give me a set of Titliest blades, which are my second choice, and I get the optimal spin rate/ball flight. How do I know that? Because I’ve been for fittings.

It could be argued that a high spin rate with the short irons gives you a drop and stop result. Looks great but whereas you might get 120-130yds with the optimal ball flight and spin following a fitting, you might only get 100yds if you hit the ball with excessive spin. You feel like you’re really going after the ball but can’t quite figure out why the ball is going nowhere. It’s because the spin rate is too high and the ball is ballooning. And you get that data from a fitting.

 

[Backsticks]

Surely if you hit 20 drives with your driver and 3 were out of bounds right, then 20 drives with the new driver and none of them went right, you can extrapolate that that data will show an improved performance on the course? Because you won't be chipping out trees or taking three off the tee as much.

The answer to the question is of course, yes. But the question is the archetypal question of the smoke and mirrors of fitting. It is posed with an inbuilt bias and presumption of the outcome - that one driver will hit 3 balls out of bounds and the new one will not. It is no more than saying a driver that hits fewer ball out of bound will hit more in play. From the obvious and correct, 'yes' answer, to your question, it does not follow that fitting is worthwhile. But it does mislead some to thinking it follows.

 

[Orikoru]

The answer to the question is of course, yes. But the question is the archetypal question of the smoke and mirrors of fitting. It is posed with an inbuilt bias and presumption of the outcome - that one driver will hit 3 balls out of bounds and the new one will not. It is no more than saying a driver that hits fewer ball out of bound will hit more in play. From the obvious and correct, 'yes' answer, to your question, it does not follow that fitting is worthwhile. But it does mislead some to thinking it follows.

You've completely lost me with your Yodaisms there I'm afraid.

To my mind, finding out which driver goes straightest and furthest is always worthwhile, and putting into play will absolutely save me shots. No doubt in my mind.

 

[Backache]

I am not really sure how fitting is more smoke and mirrors than say lessons.
Neither have been proven in a formal study to work. Empirically both appear to have benefitted some users though not every user.

 

[cunnini]

for me the benefit of fitting:-

- hitting all the possibly relevant models AND my existing driver over an hour or so, looking at data from Trackman all in similar conditions in that hour, making a decision that's more informed and is also 'feel' based. Similar when i had irons fitting

 

[Neilds]

What amazes me reading this thread is the amount of people who said the fitter/fitting was rubbish but still went with their recommendation and bought the clubs.

 

[Voyager EMH]

I've never gone through a fitting process for a driver, but a friend who has told me that it is like getting married.

"You try out a few, but only from what is available.
You pick the one that you think suits you best and make that commitment.
Then six months later when you see what your mate has got, you fancy that one might be better."

 

[PJ87]

What amazes me reading this thread is the amount of people who said the fitter/fitting was rubbish but still went with their recommendation and bought the clubs.

Na my personal favourite is getting fit, then changing the setting because you know better than the professionals

 

[PJ87]

@Neilds no wait I can top it

My mate got custom fit for a putter £400 for this odyssey thing

Laser fit. Very in depth

They said stop changing putters give this one a season

This was 2 months ago

It went out the bag 2 weeks ago for another new one

Back in Tuesday.. he 3 putted say twice ... And said it's gone

We had lightning greens and 35 mph guests ... Yeah the putter made the putts miss

 

[Orikoru]

Na my personal favourite is getting fit, then changing the setting because you know better than the professionals

My mate did EXACTLY that. Got fitted for G425 SFT. In the fitting they had him at 9°. Soon as he come out he adjusts it up to 12° because "more loft is more forgiving" and he balloons every drive up into the sky. Wind absolutely murders his drives.

 

[PJ87]

My mate did EXACTLY that. Got fitted for G425 SFT. In the fitting they had him at 9°. Soon as he come out he adjusts it up to 12° because "more loft is more forgiving" and he balloons every drive up into the sky. Wind absolutely murders his drives.

Same mate as mentioned in the putters is a club changer. Every week is something

Had a driving iron. Brilliant off the tee. It's gone now

Had a 7 wood he carried past my longest drive... He sold it

He was fitted for a titliest tsr3 2

First round he goes off the course and changes the grip

Now it's gone and he's back in his g430

 

[Deleted member 30522]

You've completely lost me with your Yodaisms there I'm afraid.

To my mind, finding out which driver goes straightest and furthest is always worthwhile, and putting into play will absolutely save me shots. No doubt in my mind.

As you say, gobbledygook, he's had his "no data" rubbished, so now we've got some imaginary "inbuilt bias", I have no clue what he's refering to there, but it makes no sense

I wonder why the pros get fitted and have fitting fans at every tour event, must be smoke and mirrors and inbuilt bias I suppose

 

[timd77]

I enjoy the fitting process and trying different clubs and seeing what works and to that end my club pro is very good at letting me have a go with the latest releases. I always try and go to fitting sessions when the manufacturers come to the club as they tend to have more options to work with. Would I get another fit? Possible depending on who it was with, and what I was getting fitted for. At the moment I am not interested in changing the bag but as I get older I am thinking of moving to graphite shafts and a more player friendly head but that is a way off yet so it'll be interesting to see what is out there at the time.

With the club fittings days, do you have to be in the market for some new clubs or can you go along, get some advice and leave? We’ve had a few at my club but I’ve never gone along because I could never afford brand new clubs.

 

[Backsticks]

As you say, gobbledygook, he's had his "no data" rubbished, so now we've got some imaginary "inbuilt bias", I have no clue what he's refering to there, but it makes no sense

I wonder why the pros get fitted and have fitting fans at every tour event, must be smoke and mirrors and inbuilt bias I suppose

Maybe I can clarify. The posed question is essentially would you prefer a club that puts three balls out of bounds, or one that doesnt. The answer is of course no. But the connection that is not made, but is implicit and misleading in the question, is whether the two cases posed, are real. i.e. that there is a club config that will put 3 ob, and a club that will not.
On 'data'. A lot of measurements, numbers, and values are fine - IF - that data correlates to actual golf performance, and arent just figures no more relevant than random ones plucked from the air.
The club fitting smoke and mirrors works, because the vast majority of its customers are not scientific.

 

[Imurg]

Conversational Gonads.......

 

[clubchamp98]

With the club fittings days, do you have to be in the market for some new clubs or can you go along, get some advice and leave? We’ve had a few at my club but I’ve never gone along because I could never afford brand new clubs.

You can just go and try them see if you like them.
There is usually no obligation to buy!
Its basically advertising.

 

[Deleted member 30522]

Maybe I can clarify. The posed question is essentially would you prefer a club that puts three balls out of bounds, or one that doesnt. The answer is of course no.

 

[Deleted member 30522]

But the connection that is not made, but is implicit and misleading in the question, is whether the two cases posed, are real. i.e. that there is a club config that will put 3 ob, and a club that will not.
On 'data'. A lot of measurements, numbers, and values are fine - IF - that data correlates to actual golf performance, and arent just figures no more relevant than random ones plucked from the air.
The club fitting smoke and mirrors works, because the vast majority of its customers are not scientific.

You've already admitted that you don't realise that the data being mined is relevant to performance, a club producing more side-spin will push the ball more offline, so there's your "3 balls OOB" scenario, versus one that has less side-spin that will keep the ball straighter.

Back spin, you don't think that data is relevant? You should really stop, you have not got a clue what you are talking about here

 

[PJ87]

You've already admitted that you don't realise that the data being mined is relevant to performance, a club producing more side-spin will push the ball more offline, so there's your "3 balls OOB" scenario, versus one that has less side-spin that will keep the ball straighter.

Back spin, you don't think that data is relevant? You should really stop, you have not got a clue what you are talking about here

As I said I didn't realise how much my back spin was killing my drives

Before a good one would spin within the numbers but good ones were once a round

Now good ones are every few holes which is nice

 

[Backsticks]

You've already admitted that you don't realise that the data being mined is relevant to performance, a club producing more side-spin will push the ball more offline, so there's your "3 balls OOB" scenario, versus one that has less side-spin that will keep the ball straighter.

But it isnt. It is a question of magnitude. Many people believe what you are saying, and thus believe fitting is worth it. But it has no scientific basis. People are mesmerised by the numbers, but the number in themselves do not affect the golfing result. I dont think I can be clearer - but that so many miss this point, is the very reason they swallow the fitting delusion.