'Proper' Custom Fitting?

[johng]

I'm due to have a meeting tonight with a company who deal in full custom fitting.

They have said they will look at everyting I currently use, see if any changes or improvements can be made - without buying new.

Having sent them details of all my club spec's they already believe my driver shaft is way too long and that a shorter shaft may well help improve this area.

Hopefully this approach of looking at everything from, lie, length, flex, kick points, lofts, shot shape, swing, etc will provide better results than the noraml AG custom fit experience.

In fairness they have been at great pains to point out they would rather look to adjust my current clubs - if necessary - rather than sell new gear.

They supply Snake Eyes components if required.

Should be interesting.

anyone else tried this route of independent club makers rather than a golf retailer?

John.

 

[DMC]

I got my clubs fitted at AG,but i would be interested to see how this line of fitting compares,it could save all of us a lot of £££££

 

[AndrewG]

Whereabouts is it John - I'm in S. Wales too (Neath)

 

[johng]

Whereabouts is it John - I'm in S. Wales too (Neath)

They're based in Bridgend but I think will travel locally.

try:

www.glamorgancustomfitgolf.co.uk

 

[Ken_A]

www.glamorgancustomfitgolf.co.uk

Check out the prices!! How do they make money??

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What makes do they supply or are they purely a Snake Eyes outlet. I have to be fair and say I'd be torn between the expert fitting and a lack of choice over makes and models if they are a one make outfit. It sounds an interesting concept and you'll certainly get a much better and truer fit than most AG outlets.

 

[johng]

What makes do they supply or are they purely a Snake Eyes outlet. I have to be fair and say I'd be torn between the expert fitting and a lack of choice over makes and models if they are a one make outfit. It sounds an interesting concept and you'll certainly get a much better and truer fit than most AG outlets.

Snake Eyes only at the moment.

From my understanding, in some ways the actual club head is far less important than the rights shaft, length and grip. In reality how much difference is there between most modern irosn and driver heads anyway? (allowing for groups such as blades, OS, cavity back etc.)
Most drivers are at the COR limit and 460cc size, all made of titanium. The R+A set parameters for them to conform to after all.

Should be informative and I'll detail any developments as they occur.

John.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree to a certain extenet about the shaft, lofts and lie, grips et al probably being more important than the head itself but I'd just feel restricted only having a small number of heads to choose from. That said I've seen the snake eyes range and they aren't too bad at all. Maybe your way is better and less really is more in temrs of clubhead choice

 

[johng]

Ok so here's what happened:

Met Nick + Andy at a local driving range - after introductions they got me a basket of balls and a coffee and watched as i hit some balls to warm up.

Genreal talk about my current game and any specific problems I was experiencing.

They were keen to look at my current clubs and check they were performing at their optimum. So lie angle check completed, measurement of shaft length and grip thickness also completed. As we were at the range they were able to see the full ball flight and look at my alignmnet and ball flight, especially shot height and dispersion.

Overall they were more than happy with my current irons set up and could suggest no immediate changes that could benefit me. Only thing they said they would do is take my clubs away overnight and check the exact loft gaps are as they should be and also check the swing weights were all the same.

Next came the long clubs.

Straight away they suggested my current driver is overly long at 46", especially as i'm only 5'10". Having watched me hit some shots they got me another coffee - it was cold and raining after all They also noticed that as a result of the length i had gradually moved the ball position to above my left big toe - too far forward. This was helping to promote a flick at the ball and too high a ball flight.

They were able to check my swing speed and tempo as i swung to help look at shaft flex and swing characteristics. they also brought along 2 shorter drivers, 43", as comparisons.

Having swung the shorter driver it is easy to see how the benfits of the shorter shafts help with accuracy, ball flight and distance.

My 3 wood at just over 43" was possibly 1/4" longer than they'd like but it was decided that it was more than acceptable, especially as it is my favourite club anyway.

As a result they have agreed to shorten my driver to 44" and take it from there. They took the club last night and I will get it back this afternoon. Again they will watch me hit balls and if i'm not happy - or they think they can get it better they will alter the length again, and again and again. If after all this i feel i'm still not happy they will take the shaft back to it's original length and look at building a new driver with a different head and loft etc.

Now for the costs - last night cost £30. They brought the balls , £3 and two coffees for me £2. The changes to my driver is included in this fee as are the checks on my swingweights and loft, lie angles when i'm ready for them to have the clubs overnight.

They applied absolutely no pressure to buy anything and gave me as much information as i could handle over the technicalities of club manufacturing so that i could try and make an onformed choice.

So, I'll get my driver back this afternoon and we;ll go from there.

I have to say this is by far the most informative and accurate club fitting session i have ever experienced. But i'll have to wait and see what the results are like

sorry about the long read,

John.

 

[Smiffy]

Great post John, and it sounds like good advice with no hard selling involved.
I hope you get the results you are expecting from your shorter driver length, a lot of people have reported big benefits from having this alteration done.
Thanks for sharing
Rob

 

[GB72]

When I had my Orka driver fitted the advice given was very similar in that the club fitter was of the opinion that most modern drivers have shafts that are far too long. The longer shaft is fitted to help distance but it makes the club far more difficult to use accurately and consistantly. For that reason if I change my driver I always look for one with a 44 inch shaft and steer away from those like the Burner with 46 inch shafts fitted as standard.

 

[CrapHacker]

That's exactly the sort of treatment I'd be looking for.

Sounds fantastic.

I'll have to see if there's anyone round this way that does the same thing.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[Region3]

Very good read, and what sounds like a good service.

Fingers crossed it helps your game too

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think that is exactly how custom fitting should be. Check out the current set up and if there is no need to make changes why bother except for chasing a quick buck. I can see the logic in what they've said about the driver so it'll be interesting to see how you go when you get it back.

Good to hear of an outfit that put the needs of the customer first and not trying to make a sale