to buy or not to buy that is the question

[connor]

Off to AG tomorrow with a mate who wants new irons after not long coming back to golf and had his for donkies. Now im having a dilemma ive been struggling with the big dog recently and considering sacking it off for a higher loft to help battle the slice. But with the exeter fitting comp coming up im thinking about holding out just incase haha.
Failing that i might see about changin the 3wood and hybrids and getting a matching set up. Obviously all done with HIDs approval :mmm:

Does proper fitting cost money? or is it best to just hit them and see what i like? Might ask them about going on the trackman thing to test what kind of spin rating im pumping out

 

[Evesdad]

I went from 10* to 11.5* and the difference was amazing alot higher obv but alot straighter. My fir stats have shot up still have the odd slice but that's the operater error!

 

[Oddsocks]

See my review on my ag fitting, it was awesome and a real eye opener to how close two clubs could be, the changes I saw on the track man would not have been visual on the range. Even if they do charge fitting, I'm sure you could negotiate the fitting fee back if you buy

 

[Imurg]

. But with the exeter fitting comp coming up im thinking about holding out just incase haha.

The way they did it last year was a Driver fitting here, a fairway fitting there, irons somewhere else, putters at another - as they did drivers last week I doubt they'll be doing them again this year.
Could be wrong but that's the way it was last time.

 

[ScienceBoy]

If you do also make sure you get a shaft fitting, the right shaft will help reduce slices too. I only started drawing my tee shots after i got a shaft that was stiffer shaft.

Before that I sliced like nobodies business as my shaft was too whippy. The shaft I have is designed for the better senopr but also suits mid handicap younger men in some situations.

 

[connor]

The way they did it last year was a Driver fitting here, a fairway fitting there, irons somewhere else, putters at another - as they did drivers last week I doubt they'll be doing them again this year.
Could be wrong but that's the way it was last time.

im happy with my irons and putter ah well.
How would i go about getting measured for a shaft is it the same principal as a a club fitting? I know all i did with my irons was hitting a strike board but kind of had my mind set on them before i brought them. Might just speak to them and chat about what im having and see what they suggest

 

[Oddsocks]

I thought a shaft that was too weak would draw and too stuff would cut?

 

[Imurg]

I thought a shaft that was too weak would draw and too stuff would cut?

Probably but not necessarily

 

[duncan mackie]

Does proper fitting cost money?

many posts on these forums, and elsewhere, would suggest that the fastest way to loose money is to purchase without a proper fitting..........

 

[connor]

many posts on these forums, and elsewhere, would suggest that the fastest way to loose money is to purchase without a proper fitting..........

by proper fitting i mean the whole shebang what oddsocks had the other day. As in would it be like £10 or more like £50

 

[ScienceBoy]

Not always at a cost. Usually its a small cost like £7, others its more like £20 but if you buy they take it off your clubs.

Always worth asking if you can have the latter, never shy away from haggling! They want to sell and you want to buy so you have the power! The worst thing is they can say no, they will not hate you for trying!

 

[ScienceBoy]

I thought a shaft that was too weak would draw and too stuff would cut?

Depends on your swing and how the old shaft kicks through, mine was so whippy and my swing was so fast it remained open until after contact. The stiffer shaft with a whippy tip meant it kicked at the right time. Even with a shorter shaft my distance went up as did my accurary.

Infact my very first shot in anger with it was a 260 yard draw down the middle of our 1st

 

[DaveM]

No a soft shaft can slice as well as hook. If it is to soft the head will lag behind at impact. So leaving the face open. So a slice. Mind you the next shot could hook.

 

[Dave B]

Connor I've tried several driver and shaft combinations over the last year with different lofts, shafts and flexes. To be honest I have found no magic formula and after reading an article in one of the golf monthly's on shaft fittings my conclusion was that although the shaft is very important unless you have the skill factor to fully exploit the shaft there was little to choose between them.

Don't get me wrong, as mid to high handicap player the correct combination could add yards to your drives however after scrutinising the results I'm not sure that you will get the magic 20 - 30 yds some manufacturers claim.

Many people claim that a professional fitting is the way to go however I know some people who have had professional fittings which have not reaped the benefits many seem to think are guaranteed. There is a truth in the fact that a club is only as good as a swing however at the end of the day you have to be happy with the equipment you use.

If a professional fitting will give you more confidence that the club is the correct club, go for it however if like many golfers you don't want to pay the earth, try a few discounted clubs from last years range and buy one that you are happy with.

 

[SocketRocket]

I think most people play with too little loft on their drivers, it's a macho thing .You know, if you hit a 9 deg driver you are a good golfer, if you hit a 12+ then you are not. I think most golfers would get better performance with more loft using modern golf balls.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I think the best loft is 10.5

Thats what I have and I could outdrive my pro! (did twice in one 7 hole playing lesson)

If you averaged my fairway drives they would be around 260. My longest was 374 and in the club championships I hit one drive 290 yrds INTO the wind!

I got fitted for my driver shaft, it made a MASSIVE difference, I would not have dropped from 15 to 12 in 6 months without it.

11.5 is good for higher handicappers but 10.5 will do.

I would only go lower if my drives ballooned with 10.5 which they don't.

 

[moogie]

I think the best loft is 10.5

Thats what I have and I could outdrive my pro! (did twice in one 7 hole playing lesson)

If you averaged my fairway drives they would be around 260. My longest was 374 and in the club championships I hit one drive 290 yrds INTO the wind!

I got fitted for my driver shaft, it made a MASSIVE difference, I would not have dropped from 15 to 12 in 6 months without it.

WOW...........374 yards .....!!!.........12 H/Cap
And 290 yds INTO the Wind........

I take it u DONT chip and putt Too well then...........

 

[Andy]

I take it u DONT chip and putt Too well then...........

Haha

 

[ScienceBoy]

WOW...........374 yards .....!!!.........12 H/Cap
And 290 yds INTO the Wind........

I take it u DONT chip and putt Too well then...........

I was an improving golfer at the time, I think what let me down the most was course management and green reading, I would hit a great shot but not to the right place and end up in a bunker or misread a putt by miles. I think my chipping and bunker play were the worst parts of my game but I did not realise what I was doing wrong and it steadily got worse and worse. It has been covered in the GM mag over the winter and mentioned by Bob Vokey in his piece too! I now know NOT to put my hands miles forward.

My putting was good actually thanks to my V-Easy, I just never got close enough to the hole to convert more birdies. I had a habbit for a while of lipping out for 2-3 birdies a round! I missed 5 in one day at blackmoor on the lip! If ONLY I could read greens!

One thing to note was that I was only a member of a club for a total of 17 months and in that time I got a handicap of 17, dropped it to 15 in a year then down to 12 in a summer.

I had played golf before that when I was 14/15 for two summers but then took a break for A levels and University (totaling 7 years) where I played only 3 rounds a year at most and never practiced.

 

[connor]

Mines a 10 so Will prob have a look. About to go jus waitin for my lift