SVB
Challenge Tour Pro
Folks,
Just thought I'd report back. Recently I had a great time at Ping going through a full bag fitting. (Not sure why it is called that as we didn't even discuss the bag, anyway, I digress).
Had a relaxing start, great looking club and even a pretty looking range.
Bucket of balls on the club bays to warm up, then through to the fitting centre. A GREAT toy shop, every club, every spec - wow!
Made to feel very comfortable by my fitter, couple more warm up balls (now with AD333 rather than range balls) and then on to fitting.
Did 'static' fit as start point, essentially wrist to floor & height combined to set an approximate initial lie. This was then refined by hitting some balls with club stickered up and examining strike marks on sole. I ended up one step further upright bases on strike pattern and what I said felt 'right'.
*******(Lots of reference to 'what does it feel like' throughout process, I was nervous about this initially as I thought my swing greater variable than the odd 1/2* but it really did feel defferent. Emphasis was computer will give numbers but it must feel right for you and therefore numbers are interesting aid to judgement but not the be all and end all.)*******
Then go stuck into hitting 7 iron in new lie with variety of shafts. (I asked to start with i25 as had hit G25 at own club and knew I preferred i25 + hit them just as well). Very interesting effect of different shaft on ball flight / spin etc. Discussion over whether I played and typically windy course, as one shaft launched higher with more spin that would have been great on still day but not ideal on windy course). Also tried some aftermarket shafts but made it worse for me.
Then did driver, heart said i25, head said G25. Trackman and looking down the range both confirmed head won. Sod!
Then looked at iron / hy / fw mix. I had been struggling with longer irons so tried 5h and couldn't miss with it + gap to 6i bob on. 4h only gave me an extra 8 yds or so (nice point here, fitter reflected I could have both but if it where his cash he'd only bother with one or the other as could easily 'flex' swing to give this small distance gap. Really interesting bit was 5w / 17* h (roughly 2i) test. On paper should have been similar performance but in reality, slightly shorter shaft in 17* h made all the difference and the numbers backed this up.
Tried 3w, hit well of the peg but poor of the deck. Fitter recommended I stick with the Titleist in the bag as couldn't really demonstrate any great improvement to me (limited by me I hasten to add).
Then had a wedge chat. Ended up with a set PW / UW but a tour spec 54* SW. Logic was PW / UW tend to be full shots hence set wedges are a little more forgiving, SW touch / feel shots so tour spec works well. (also, SW slightly flatter lie as not a full swing hence shaft doesn't load in same way hence back to static lie fit for that - interesting).
So, sorry for long post but a really excellent experience and given cost involved of new bats, I now have the confidence they will be right.
Only thing I would change, if I lived closer I'd do fitting over two sessions as it was tiring towards the end.
Hope that is helpful for anyone considering fitting, and Qs, post below and I'll try to answer if I can.
Simon
Just thought I'd report back. Recently I had a great time at Ping going through a full bag fitting. (Not sure why it is called that as we didn't even discuss the bag, anyway, I digress).
Had a relaxing start, great looking club and even a pretty looking range.
Bucket of balls on the club bays to warm up, then through to the fitting centre. A GREAT toy shop, every club, every spec - wow!
Made to feel very comfortable by my fitter, couple more warm up balls (now with AD333 rather than range balls) and then on to fitting.
Did 'static' fit as start point, essentially wrist to floor & height combined to set an approximate initial lie. This was then refined by hitting some balls with club stickered up and examining strike marks on sole. I ended up one step further upright bases on strike pattern and what I said felt 'right'.
*******(Lots of reference to 'what does it feel like' throughout process, I was nervous about this initially as I thought my swing greater variable than the odd 1/2* but it really did feel defferent. Emphasis was computer will give numbers but it must feel right for you and therefore numbers are interesting aid to judgement but not the be all and end all.)*******
Then go stuck into hitting 7 iron in new lie with variety of shafts. (I asked to start with i25 as had hit G25 at own club and knew I preferred i25 + hit them just as well). Very interesting effect of different shaft on ball flight / spin etc. Discussion over whether I played and typically windy course, as one shaft launched higher with more spin that would have been great on still day but not ideal on windy course). Also tried some aftermarket shafts but made it worse for me.
Then did driver, heart said i25, head said G25. Trackman and looking down the range both confirmed head won. Sod!
Then looked at iron / hy / fw mix. I had been struggling with longer irons so tried 5h and couldn't miss with it + gap to 6i bob on. 4h only gave me an extra 8 yds or so (nice point here, fitter reflected I could have both but if it where his cash he'd only bother with one or the other as could easily 'flex' swing to give this small distance gap. Really interesting bit was 5w / 17* h (roughly 2i) test. On paper should have been similar performance but in reality, slightly shorter shaft in 17* h made all the difference and the numbers backed this up.
Tried 3w, hit well of the peg but poor of the deck. Fitter recommended I stick with the Titleist in the bag as couldn't really demonstrate any great improvement to me (limited by me I hasten to add).
Then had a wedge chat. Ended up with a set PW / UW but a tour spec 54* SW. Logic was PW / UW tend to be full shots hence set wedges are a little more forgiving, SW touch / feel shots so tour spec works well. (also, SW slightly flatter lie as not a full swing hence shaft doesn't load in same way hence back to static lie fit for that - interesting).
So, sorry for long post but a really excellent experience and given cost involved of new bats, I now have the confidence they will be right.
Only thing I would change, if I lived closer I'd do fitting over two sessions as it was tiring towards the end.
Hope that is helpful for anyone considering fitting, and Qs, post below and I'll try to answer if I can.
Simon
