Is Shaft Fitting Overrated?

[Qwerty]

Does anyone else think we're getting to the point where were relying too much on numbers facts and figures to do our thinking for us?


I totally agree and understand the importance of the right lie angle and length of shaft and I've had a number of fittings over the years, some good some useless, and now I've made my mind up that in future I'd be quite happy just to stand on a range, trying out head and shaft combos then making up my own mind based on the shots I'm hitting, ball flight, distance, and just how the club feels in my hands.




Ill happily put myself in the hands of a fitter when it comes to shaft length and lie angle etc but I honestly don't think I need numbers facts and figures or a fitter to tell me what shaft is best for me, I think my own eyes can make that decision.




Just my opinion..

 

[PhilTheFragger]

These days there are so many different shaft options available that I think it is really usefull to get on a machine
whack a few balls around and come up with a number of options that suit you

You would narrow down the options to a few then concentrate on these few,discarding ones that done feel right etc
until you are left with 2 or 3 to choose from

From that point onwards, its totally down to feel, but dont discount the number machines as they help you arrive at this point

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

If money was available I'd get fitted for everything. I was fitted for my irons but I think my swing has changed so it would be interested to see my stats compared to last April

 

[Qwerty]

These days there are so many different shaft options available that I think it is really usefull to get on a machine
whack a few balls around and come up with a number of options that suit you

You would narrow down the options to a few then concentrate on these few,discarding ones that done feel right etc
until you are left with 2 or 3 to choose from

From that point onwards, its totally down to feel, but dont discount the number machines as they help you arrive at this point

To be honest Phil I've had a couple of bad experiences with driver fittings, one being where I was recommended a stiff Kaili shaft for a 910 d2 by a well respected fitter because it was giving by far the best numbers. It was never right for me from day one, but i put myself in the hands of the fitter a basically let him make up my mind for me.

This must happen a hell of a lot, especially with Golfers who are just starting out.

 

[fundy]

Having just had a fitting (irons and wedges) I personally have to disagree but one thing I think that maybe critical to our differing is the quality of the fitter and his knowledge/experience and hence getting the right product.

From my fitting there was a fairly big difference between the best and worst shafts I tried (and they were all similar anyway), I personally dont intend to buy again in the future without going through the process, that said I dont expect to have be buying again for quite a long time at all!

I do think that better golfers with a more consistent swing will get most from a fitting, thats not to say that anyone wouldnt benefit though

 

[garyinderry]

i made a post in the mizuno iron fitting thread, which basicaly said, you should trust the numbers to give you an idea of what shafts to try then its a case of sod the numbers and go with the one that feels right!

 

[Alex1975]

Custom fitted shafts is really important if you are buying clubs. However clubs are about 3% of a golfers performance and that is the key. No shaft will fix any fault but the right shaft may help you work effectively to work on a fault.

 

[thecraw]

Custom fitted shafts is really important if you are buying clubs. However clubs are about 3% of a golfers performance and that is the key. No shaft will fix any fault but the right shaft may help you work effectively to work on a fault.

Its only important if your not hoodwinked by the fitter. Through trial and error and knowing that I need a low launching and low spin shaft I've found a shaft that works far better than one I spent £300 on with a well respected fitter.

I will agree that club fitting has a place and is a very useful tool however its certainly not the be all and end all when it comes to getting it correct.

 

[Alex1975]

There are gains to be made if it is done correctly and ground to be lost if its not...

 

[Junior]

I think its important to try as much as you can before you buy and also if possible, do it over a number of visits to the range, as I know for a fact i don't swing the same from one day to the next.

I think an impartial experts advice is beneficial and its the expert who should review the trackman data to recommend some clubs for you to try. I like the sound of the Orka guy that Fundy and GB have been too, there is a guy in Warrington at Tour X golf thats top draw too.

 

[Qwerty]

I think its important to try as much as you can before you buy and also if possible, do it over a number of visits to the range, as I know for a fact i don't swing the same from one day to the next. .

Definately. I really don't think a 1hr time slot is enough time to go through a selection of shafts and make the right decision. You might get lucky but I'd rather take my time over a number of visits trying out different clubs/shafts,
rather than paying for a 1hr fitting and making a decision on the day.

 

[fundy]

Definately. I really don't think a 1hr time slot is enough time to go through a selection of shafts and make the right decision. You might get lucky but I'd rather take my time over a number of visits trying out different clubs/shafts,
rather than paying for a 1hr fitting and making a decision on the day.

Just as a guide qwerty my initial iron fitting took somewhere in the region of 2 and 1/2 hrs, if I had been limited to an hour theres is pretty much 0 chance I would have bought. And that was having had previous discussion with the fitter about me and my golf so he wasnt starting cold which saves some of the initial time too. Like everything in life these days, the quality of so called similar services or goods can be very very different

 

[Qwerty]

Just as a guide qwerty my initial iron fitting took somewhere in the region of 2 and 1/2 hrs, if I had been limited to an hour theres is pretty much 0 chance I would have bought. And that was having had previous discussion with the fitter about me and my golf so he wasnt starting cold which saves some of the initial time too. Like everything in life these days, the quality of so called similar services or goods can be very very different

Ive got to say Fundy, the more I hear about Orka the impressed I become.

From the stunning clubs they're manufacturing, to charitable work they do and also donating 10% of profits to good causes.
Theyre defiantly standing out at a time when most companies are cutting corners and costs at every opportunity.

Ill definately be looking into them when I'm due for new irons.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would rather try a number of shafts use the numbers to narrow it down to two or three that are in the ball park and then go on feel. Any fitter can only go so far and each player knows his own "feel" when he knows he's middled it. That is when using the numbers and your own "feel" makes the final decision

 

[MGL]

Just as a guide qwerty my initial iron fitting took somewhere in the region of 2 and 1/2 hrs, if I had been limited to an hour theres is pretty much 0 chance I would have bought. And that was having had previous discussion with the fitter about me and my golf so he wasnt starting cold which saves some of the initial time too. Like everything in life these days, the quality of so called similar services or goods can be very very different

The answer is simple - if any fitter says he can sort you out in an hour, then say "thanks very much" and find a proper one elsewhere.

 

[MadAdey]

I do know where you are coming from mate as I wonder how much people waste on getting exotic shafts because of a machine giving you some figures. People will spend an extra £200 on a set of irons to get some exotic shafts, to do a job, that to be honest a good old fashioned set of TT Dynamic Gold could do.

Like most club golfers our swing can change from day to day, so what may be perfect on launch monitor one day may not be the best the next day. I do think it is important to get the lie and length correct and to get say a low launching shaft if you have a naturally high ball flight. But of the people that have spent a lot of money to get exotic shafts in their irons, would they actually notice a difference with a standard set of shafts?

 

[Alex1975]

TT DG are a very heavy shaft, people think its a vanilla option but it just is not. It also in the main cost no more or less to pick your shaft, for sure not £200. Now wood shafts yes, they are usually uncharged.

It's funny what people state as fact....

 

[MGL]

I do know where you are coming from mate as I wonder how much people waste on getting exotic shafts because of a machine giving you some figures. People will spend an extra £200 on a set of irons to get some exotic shafts, to do a job, that to be honest a good old fashioned set of TT Dynamic Gold could do.

Like most club golfers our swing can change from day to day, so what may be perfect on launch monitor one day may not be the best the next day. I do think it is important to get the lie and length correct and to get say a low launching shaft if you have a naturally high ball flight. But of the people that have spent a lot of money to get exotic shafts in their irons, would they actually notice a difference with a standard set of shafts?

Personally, I think that your comments about the TT DG shaft are about as short sighted as they can get. I do not think for one second that custom fitting is a panacea to all problems for a golfer. FWIW, my view is that it has to go hand in hand with professional lessons, good practice and playing rounds.

You do not have to be fitted with 'exotic' shafts to see an improvement but to say that everyone would benefit from just using TT DG is quite clearly wrong.

 

[MadAdey]

Personally, I think that your comments about the TT DG shaft are about as short sighted as they can get. I do not think for one second that custom fitting is a panacea to all problems for a golfer. FWIW, my view is that it has to go hand in hand with professional lessons, good practice and playing rounds.

You do not have to be fitted with 'exotic' shafts to see an improvement but to say that everyone would benefit from just using TT DG is quite clearly wrong.

to be honest I think you need to get the ability to read a post and understand it! You are a golfer that believes spending a fortune on custom fitting can make you a better golfer then that is your choice, I am just expressing my opinion.

If you actually decided to read the post rather than the first line and jump all over it,you would see that I say that people do benefit from custom fitting. By getting a shaft that is the correct length, flex and provides a flight that suits them is important. But the fine tuning that these machines give is to me a waste of time for most club golfers. How many people on here could go and get fitted on 3 consecutive and produce a set of figures that would tell them to take this exact shaft each time?

I know that a heavy shaft promoting a lower ball flight is best for me. Do I need to go on a fitting bay and pay someone £50 for the benefit of them telling me that is what I need? If I had a go on a launch monitor it may tell me to take a shaft that will cost me a £100 upgrade on my irons, or I tell you what I will stick with a shaft that is standard fit on clubs and save the money.

One last point..... how many people on here had very low handicaps when all you did was choose the flex and your pro would then make a quick lie and length check before ordering your clubs?

 

[JT77]

I think it can depend on several things, the fitter being one, but also the consistancy of the swing and the conditions of the fitting.
I believe that you can get a good idea of what you need to look for as in stiff, reg etc but only trial and error over time will surely let you know if its right.
I did the fitting last year for the mag at ag in belfast and it was a great thing to win, but i still have a second set of irons, that i currently use more as i prefer them at present. over the last year, i have used px 6.0 rifle, kbs stiff and dgs300, and to be honest I can hit them all equally well or equally poorly on any given day.
The mizuno optifit thing had me at x100, kbs x or 6.0 px, i believe last year or the year before, luke donald came out the same, but opted for the s300 as they worked for him and he preferred them.
As some have said, i would imagine a good fitter would be able to help you find what works, not just what the numbers say.