Is it worth a high handicapper getting fitted/knowing their stats?

[G1BB0]

The reason I ask is after buying more clubs in 1 year than RickG buys in a month (just) I havent got a clue what shafts/driver loft etc actually suits me!

Dont get me wrong I am happy to an extent with my clubs but the reason I have chopped and changed is because I bought bargains on a whim and just used them without actually knowing if they were suited to me.

So, is it worth it even if it at least shows that my current set is spot on or totally wrong or, as a 28 handicapper, I am not consistant enough to even warrant going near a trackman etc?

Whats your thoughts?

I have man flu at the mo so have spent the last 3 days on the sofa and reading way to much golf stuff and I hate the G10's so considering going for something less chunky so thats part of the reason for asking

 

[chris661]

Can I be brutally honest here and say learn to hit what you have, get down a bit with the handicap THEN worry about all the other stuff. Golf is a simple game and I feel you are getting all worked up over stuff tha you shouldn't be.
But on the other hand what do I know?

 

[Andy808]

I would say it's worth it what ever your handicap as they will fit you for the right shafts, lie and pitch.
If I had the money I would definately get fitted for a set of clubs.

 

[G1BB0]

Chris, I totally agree, it was meant as a sort of general question but I worded it from a personal perspective.

The reason was I hit my yonex hybrid great yet it was a stiff shaft, my nike vr's went like stink again stiff shafts, my pings have regular and I hit the woods/hybrid fine albeit not long, my titleist irons had nspro 100 shafts and although had a cavity were not super chunky GI yet I hit them much better than the nike & ping GI irons I have had since.

Just made me wonder thats all

 

[chris661]

You've changed clubs, what, 3 times in the last year? Thats mental. Keep what you have for a least a year playing and practicing loads THEN have a look at changing.

 

[G1BB0]

the driver, fairway, wedges, putter and hybrid are staying

the G10 ugly fat bird irons are gonna go!

 

[Andy808]

Have you had your club pro watch your swing and advise you on the best set from what you have at the moment to at least give you something to work from.
With modern club and shaft designs it's becoming more important than ever to at least get something in the ball park for your swing rather than just jogging on with somethingthat may never wuit you and put you off the game all together.

 

[garyinderry]

the G10 ugly fat bird irons are gonna go!

:rofl: ^



have you still got those nike irons? get them back out.

 

[full_throttle]

if you started with stiff and were hitting them half decent the wrong thing to do was change to regular, don't worry about what the clubs look like just how they work

 

[bobmac]

Gibbo. I'd stick with regular shafts and standard loft and lie for the time being.
I understand what you say about the G10 irons being chunky so if I were you I'd be looking around for a second hand set of say, Mizuno MP 52s or something similar.
Phone around the local pro shops in your area and explain that you're after a mid range set of irons with a thin top edge, second hand that you can hit on the range and see what they have to offer.
Then do your homework.....trawl ebay/golf bidder and see what they have and check their prices. Then when you find a set you like, you'll be armed with the info on costs etc.

 

[Smiffy]

Gibbo. I'd stick with regular shafts and standard loft and lie for the time being.

I would echo Bob's suggestion G1BBO. Unless your friends have said you swing "stupidly" fast, then a regular shaft should be ok for you as "should" standard loft and lie. You are not over 6' tall or under 5' short so "Mr Average" clubs should suit you fine to be honest.
We are all guily of overcomplicating this game sometimes, and you can fill your head with all sorts of ideas.
Custom fitting at the moment won't benefit you I don't think.
I play off 13 and my swing is all over the place. One day I feel I am swinging well, other times (mostly) you'd think I'd never picked a club up in my life.
My swing can change dramatically between the tee and green on the same hole, so which one of the 3 or more (if it's a par 4) or 4 or more (if it's a par 5) do you pick to base custom fitting on?????
Regular shafts, standard loft and lie and just get out there and hit it. It will come. Eventually. And when your swing gets repeatable time in time out, then go for custom fitting.
And junk your clubs a year later 'cos they're crap!

 

[SGC001]

I would recommend buying the Wishon book the search for the perfect club, it'll give you the info to make up your own mind. It'd cost you around £15 and tbh I'd recommend it for anyone buying equipment.

 

[Hooker]

Gibbo, know you have fallen out of love with your G10.

But give them a chance as despite their looks they really are a good club. Very forgiving and lovely flight.

I did the same as you and got my mizunos because of their looks. They are ok if you are swinging well but if you are having a off day they will punish you badly and you won't score well.

They are nowhere near as forgiving as the pings though.

 

[Smiffy]

Gibbo, know you have fallen out of love with your G10's.
But give them a chance as despite their looks they really are a good club. Very forgiving and lovely flight.

That's what I was thinking. G10's despite their looks (I don't mind them actually) would be the ideal club for your standard of play.
I'd save the Mizzies until I got down to mid teens personally.
Off 28 you need all the "help" you can get, and the Pings have this in bucketloads.

 

[G1BB0]

Bob, as always you make complete sense. I am going to get a set of titleist 775's again with the nspro 100 shafts.

I was more consistent with them and loved the look at address, I will keep the pings anyway as my lad will use them. I was a bit annoyed last night and over analysing as being laid up for the last 4 days has driven me stir crazy

 

[tallpaul]

In reply to your original question, I firmly believe it is very important for any golfer to know that the club in their hand is the right one for the shot they are about to hit (whether you are able to make that shot is another question).

I was extremely fortunate to win the PYB challenge and get fitted for every club in the bag. I was very close to pulling the trigger on paying for a custom-fit just prior to hearing that I'd won. At that point, despite being fully aware that my technique left much to be desired, doubts over the suitability of my irons had crept in.

Being in a position now of knowing that a poor shot is solely due to my technique is, oddly, very reassuring. It's one less thing to think about and makes me take ownership of the shot, rather than looking for an excuse as to why it didn't go where I wanted it to.

 

[CrapHacker18]

In the nicest possible way.....

You're mad!!!



I tried playing with a set of Titleist irons when I started again after 15 years away, because that's what I had before.

But then the local pro put a GI Benross iron in my hand which went higher, straighter, and I hit them more consistantly.

Now I know Ping irons are fugly, but there are plenty of GI irons which are a much better compromise than the Titleists.

Flog the G10s, buy a set of Benross, and buy me a pint with the profit.....



Oh, and btw, that pro could give me good enough feedback on my swing speed and set up just by looking - he didn't need a computer to tell my swing was medium, and my height is average, so at that point a set of regular shafts at standard set up was fine. He said that when I get nearer single figures (No hope of that ever happening) then I could start thinking of going on the machines to get proper figures.

 

[G1BB0]

cheers Paul, thats sort of the point I was trying to justify (in my own head). Whilst I wouldnt but custom fitted irons it would be interesting to know my swing speeds for shaft choices.

Have you found a big change since being custom fitted or is it more a more positive mental approach. afterall you have a great looking set of clubs now

 

[CrapHacker18]

... or is it more a more positive mental approach.

I think that's the point.

If you have someone you trust that is qualified to give you an honest opinion, then you can be happy that it's the idiot at the top end of the irons that needs to be upgraded.

Custom fitting is useless anyway, unless you can trust the judgement of the person pressing the buttons on the machines. Ask anyone who has been to AG at Shoreham.

If you trust your pro enough to give you lessons, then ask his opinion, and I bet he'll be right. If you don't trust him enough for that, maybe you should change your pro...

 

[tallpaul]

Have you found a big change since being custom fitted or is it more a more positive mental approach. afterall you have a great looking set of clubs now

The Putter was the revolutionary change for me. I absolutely love the short stick now, I look forward to getting on the green just so I can use it.

Paul Ashwell has changed my swing quite radically, so I've lost that point of reference to my old clubs. My initial reaction, when I first got the irons, was that they were more forgiving; I was hitting the odd shot that I was sure would be miles off target and was suprised to see it more or less on track. I'm also roughly a club longer with them than my old ones (even before the swing changes).