Robster59
Tour Rookie
Understandable but as I say, I was in the same mind set till I saw the benefits a high quality graphite shaft gave me, and then I was sold.Only age related vanity!
Ok, I liked the 7 iron!
- Thread starter IanM
- Start date
KenL
Tour Rookie
I would think the perception of graphite shafts is an increase in distance and an increase in dispersion.
Robster59
Tour Rookie
That is the perception. The reality for me was a lighter shaft, a slight increase in distance but most importantly for me, a much tighter dispersion and greater accuracy. The world has moved on greatly from the original whippy graphite shafts.
TigerTime
Well-known member
TigerTime
Well-known member
The 7 iron only fitting is useful as a presentative club because it's not hard to launch and not too short. Many players hit it consistently enough to gather data. OEMs tpyically shift demo iron heads as 6 or 7 irons which is easier for fitters to manage in retail settings. However there are limitations for this - it won't show gapping, won't reveal launch/spin issues with long irons or wedges and doesn't confirm set progression across irons.
You are much better off going to places that use multiple irons for fittings such as SGGT or Precision Golf. Can you launch a 4 iron high enough with enough spin to stop on a green? If not they'll recommend a hybrid of fairway instead. Some players hit a 4 iron further than a 5 iron but with less carry due to launch conditions, you can't catch this or other issues in a 7 only fitting.
It's also important for gapping consistency. You'd hit 6 and 9/PW etc to confirm yardage gapping and that there is no big jump in loft or spin drop offs across the set. Shaft load is another thing to consider - just because that shaft feels perfect in your 7 iron it might be too stiff in your 4/5 or launch too low in your wedges. You might even end up in a combo set of heads/shafts of some kind - but you'd be absolutely dialled in.
The best fitters will start with 6 or 7 to find ideal shaft and head, then test long irons to check launch and spin windows, then short irons and/or wedges to check distance control and flight windows. Adjust loft and lies based on your strike pattern. Build a full gapping map etc.
As an example, a friend went to three different places recently as he was looking for new irons. He went to Club Champion in Glasgow, who only had 6 iron heads and tried to upsell him exotic shafts. Never checked grips, lie angles or anything like that. Pure retail greed.
He then went to his club pro - but he only had 7 irons. He settled on a head and shaft combo but was looking for confirmation so booked in at SGGT.
They went through the whole process with him in different heads. Instead of 4 he will have a hybrid. His 5 and 6 irons are in the more forgiving head of the range, so easier to launch for him. His 7-PW are in the less forgiving head but he can launch them easily and spin them to stay on greens. The yardage gapping matches up despite the combo set. The next thing was to tie in wedges and longer hybrids/fairways. He went back for a comprehensive wedge fitting which had all the heads, grinds you can imagine, on actual grass. Those then matched his gapping at the bottom end of the bag. He is booked in for the longer clubs now too. Costly yes, but when I've played with him since he got his irons they are doing exactly what he wanted on the course.
I'd avoid one head only fittings based on all of the above - although I do appreciate like I said they have a usefulness in a retail, sales focused environment.
You are much better off going to places that use multiple irons for fittings such as SGGT or Precision Golf. Can you launch a 4 iron high enough with enough spin to stop on a green? If not they'll recommend a hybrid of fairway instead. Some players hit a 4 iron further than a 5 iron but with less carry due to launch conditions, you can't catch this or other issues in a 7 only fitting.
It's also important for gapping consistency. You'd hit 6 and 9/PW etc to confirm yardage gapping and that there is no big jump in loft or spin drop offs across the set. Shaft load is another thing to consider - just because that shaft feels perfect in your 7 iron it might be too stiff in your 4/5 or launch too low in your wedges. You might even end up in a combo set of heads/shafts of some kind - but you'd be absolutely dialled in.
The best fitters will start with 6 or 7 to find ideal shaft and head, then test long irons to check launch and spin windows, then short irons and/or wedges to check distance control and flight windows. Adjust loft and lies based on your strike pattern. Build a full gapping map etc.
As an example, a friend went to three different places recently as he was looking for new irons. He went to Club Champion in Glasgow, who only had 6 iron heads and tried to upsell him exotic shafts. Never checked grips, lie angles or anything like that. Pure retail greed.
He then went to his club pro - but he only had 7 irons. He settled on a head and shaft combo but was looking for confirmation so booked in at SGGT.
They went through the whole process with him in different heads. Instead of 4 he will have a hybrid. His 5 and 6 irons are in the more forgiving head of the range, so easier to launch for him. His 7-PW are in the less forgiving head but he can launch them easily and spin them to stay on greens. The yardage gapping matches up despite the combo set. The next thing was to tie in wedges and longer hybrids/fairways. He went back for a comprehensive wedge fitting which had all the heads, grinds you can imagine, on actual grass. Those then matched his gapping at the bottom end of the bag. He is booked in for the longer clubs now too. Costly yes, but when I've played with him since he got his irons they are doing exactly what he wanted on the course.
I'd avoid one head only fittings based on all of the above - although I do appreciate like I said they have a usefulness in a retail, sales focused environment.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Bang on..
The problem is that these fitters are well spaced out and the travel can add to the cost which may be already on the high side of "bloody hell"
Not condemning the fitters, I think they have a right to charge for the service, but with many sets of irons costing well over a grand its hard to justify another 100/150 or whatever to try the other irons. A full bag fit at Precision is £345 .....you get 3 hours of their time but it's a lot of cash to add to the total
And if you only play 20/30 times a year it may not be cost effective.
You pays yer money etc etc.....
TigerTime
Well-known member
Can't speak for others but at SGGT there is no fee if you purchase the clubs. If you don't purchase the clubs you pay the fitting fee, which is only right IMO.
