Q : How do you recognize a good fitter ?

[Oops!]

After having had some sobering first experiences with local fitters recently, I wonder how I can recognize a good, trustworthy fitter who doesn't just want to sell me new clubs, but who gives me the best possible and comprehensive advice so that when I do buy new clubs, I actually end up going home with the best clubs *for me*?

So far, I've had the impression that the fitters I met were rather bored and recommended standard clubs (e.g., advanced beginner + senior = Ping G730), even if they produced the worst results *by far* with the TrackMan (to be more precise: I had the best results with my old Ping G15, really closely followed by the i530 (!? ) and, way behind, the G440 and - even further behind - the G730).

That's why I need your help, please : What should I look for to find a good fitter ? What are “good” signs, and which ones are questionable, i.e., “bad” ?

 

[RichA]

After a few less than successful experiences, I’d like to know too.
The last one was pretty poor. I paid £50, said what I’d like to try and the first 4 iron-shaft combinations he built were all completely different to what I’d stated as my basic requirements of stiff graphite shaft, +0.5” and midsize grip.
That was after telling me before I had committed to the fitting that all obvious options were available in all shafts.
After several fittings, I feel I’d rather take my chances with a second hand set in my specs that I can return after 14 days if I don’t get on with them. Or go dtc.

 

[Imurg]

I think it's almost impossible to know until you've tried them.
Word of mouth is always a good thing but even then it's no guarantee

I suppose lots of choice is a good start, the right launch monitor ( Trackman or GCQuad), availability of proper balls similar to what you use...things like that
A pretty full diary doesn't look bad but, again, no guarantee..

 

[Burnsey]

Go to a manufacturer fitting centre, or one of their mobile days.

Yes, you're limited to certain clubs, but these firms do not employ bad fitters generally.

 

[Bratty]

It's a bit of luck but following word of mouth is is often a good idea.
Plus cheap is sometimes not a good sign, but not always.

A good fitter is one who listens, recognises what you need vs want and won't sell you the highest mark up / commission items.

Having had 3 fittings at Precision Golf, I'm happy to keep paying top dollar for them to do my fittings.

My club does some good demo days with EOMs, but there's a limited set of shafts and heads, which isn't always a problem, but I prefer the choice of club head and shaft at Precision Golf.

A friend went there for woods and was fit into a new driver, but they refused to sell him a 3 wood as they couldn't find him a better one than his own. They will not try and upsell or hard sell.

Plus they build them on site, so you get exactly what you've been fit for.