Nike Fitting

[lobthewedge]

Just back from the range where Nike were in doing a demo day with fitting sessions. I decided to try out and get fitted for the new VR Pro Combo irons - some sexy looking clubs may I tell you, and a dream to hit.

Never been fitted before, but what I had seemed fairly basic, no computer screens with fancy graphics or anything, just the gizmo that measures clubhead speed, ball speed and a separate test of lie angle.

The fitter seemed a good guy and was not affiliated with the shop. He seemed genuinely interested in what worked well, what felt good, looked good to him and at no time pushed for a sale.

Bearing in mind I have always bought off the shelf, is this what a normal session entails or could I do better with a more indepth analysis?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends. Some demo days have a proper Trackman (or similar) where you usually have to pre-book and sometime pay. Others will rely on a less sophisitcated bit of kit and the expertise of the fitter. It sounds like this guy was pretty hot and the Pro Combo do look a nice set especially the bladed short irons. The only downside would be that they don't usually carry too many shaft options other than different flex and so there is always a feeling of is this really the right one for me and so at the end of the day do you want to go for the proper C/F fit or are you happy with how you hit them tonight

 

[Ethan]

That is better than nothing, but you shouldn't find it too difficult to find someplace with a launch monitor, which will also give launch angle, spin rates, clubhead swingpath and so on. Some machines simulate (i.e. estimate based on initial measures) when you hit into a net, and other places with full ranges track the actual ball in the air.

 

[Losttheplot]

Great choice of clubs, they're a fantastic set and you'll really like them.

 

[lobthewedge]

The only downside would be that they don't usually carry too many shaft options other than different flex and so there is always a feeling of is this really the right one for me and so at the end of the day do you want to go for the proper C/F fit or are you happy with how you hit them tonight

Again, probably looking for some advice here.

I've been using regular shafts straight off the shelf and have always thought I needed to go stiff, based on what I know my bad shots are. I made a point of not telling the guy this, so he had a blank canvas to build from.

After a few warm up shots he tried me with DG S300's but also let me have a go of other shafts as a comparison, including some Project X. I already saw/felt a huge improvement from my normal R300's, so am not really sure what greater advantage I could gain from trying even more shafts?

 

[ademac]

I'm no expert but I recon you're doing just fine with your sticks brought "off the shelf"!!
I really dont want to open a can of worms here but this just strengthens my beliefs that custom fitting is probably just a big con!!!

 

[sweatysock41]

I'm no expert but I recon you're doing just fine with your sticks brought "off the shelf"!!
I really dont want to open a can of worms here but this just strengthens my beliefs that custom fitting is probably just a big con!!!

I have to disagree with the big con statement. It may be you feel he doesn't need it given his low handicap but don't we all try to improve and make sure we have the correct kit to do it.

If you are custom fitted to your swing and your swing doesn't change then you may not notice the differences lessons and swing changes make when being custom fitted.

If however like me you had an upright out to in swing and was fitted around that with upright irons, then you had lessons and your swing became flatter and more in to out you would notice the difference using a less upright club. I did from experience - not hard sell.

 

[ademac]

yeh ok, "big con" wasnt the best choice of phrase! Of cousre its good to have the correct equipment but when I hear about "spin rates this and swing speeds that" and all the other gumff that goes with it I just think its going a bit too far, this bloke has been buying clubs off the shelf and he plays off 4, he probably hasnt filled his head with spin rates etc and it has helped him?

 

[sweatysock41]

Custom fit doesn't necessarily mean trackman etc. For me there's nothing better than seeing a ball fly at the range - as long as they are decent balls. The best custom fit I had was with a Ping technician - yes they had all the gizmo's but what convinced me was the old mark on the papers and watching the ball fly.
As an aircraft engineer I understand what they are talking about with spin rates and the effect it has on the pressure acting on the ball etc so perhaps I'm not as sceptical about them as some.

 

[lobthewedge]

I'm no expert but I recon you're doing just fine with your sticks brought "off the shelf"!!
I really dont want to open a can of worms here but this just strengthens my beliefs that custom fitting is probably just a big con!!!

I think it is useful for gaining yourself a simple blueprint or at least a guide to what equipment would suit the basics in your game -ie length, lie, swing speed.

However, I agree that it is probably an area you can get lost in by over analysing, especially when money is tight and there is pressure to make a good choice. When do you draw a line and say thats the club/shaft for me?

 

[ademac]

I do definitely take back the "big con" remark as talking about the strike tape and seeing the ball fly would certainly convince me that my clubs were better suited to me. TBH I've never really been that technologically minded and I guess thats why launch monitors and stuf dont really appeal to me.