What first-lessons or custom fit?

[groundskeeperwilly]

Which of the above do the GM forumites think should be done first?

The 2 main schools of though I have heard are:
1) Get custom fitted first. The clubs will fit your body better and therefore you'll be starting with the best chance of producing good swings and then when you do go to have lessons the Pro can work on physical issues rather than try to combat ill fitted clubs.
2) Get lessons first to develop you skills and control. Then upgrade to custom fitted equipment to get the best out of your lesson learned skills!

Any thoughts?

 

[sandmagnet]

lessons 1st in my book on this I have had a few now but my swing is changing bit by bit . if I got fitted irons and my swing changes that would make my irons wrong for me would it not?

 

[virtuocity]

Lessons
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Lessons
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Lessons
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Consistent swing
Custom Fit

 

[ScienceBoy]

999/1000 lessons first.

Unless you are more than a foot or so either side of 5'10 a standard club length to begin with is fine.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

For me its simple. Get lessons and get the basics right and learn to swing with a modicum of consistency. No point getting a fit if you are all over the shop or you then proceed to have lessons and the pro changes the angle of attack for arguments sake which would have an impact on any adjustments to lie angle the fitter might have made.

 

[lyden]

I did it the second way lessons first and I love the clubs, although I have already out grown the shaft's. Just replaced my driver shaft with x-stiff low spin low launch and its been a revelation, also got r300s in my irons and should have gone with project x`s.

 

[Foxholer]

999/1000 lessons first.

Unless you are more than a foot or so either side of 5'10 a standard club length to begin with is fine.

This - though maybe 4 or 5 inches rather than a foot!

A Pro can measure you up for Ping stats - or you can 'do it yourself' with an online guide on the Ping site..

 

[deanobillquay]

Lessons first....I'm living proof of that. 4 months after being custom fitted I was advised to change my shafts as they were too stiff.

Definitely lessons first, without a doubt.

And when you do get fitted, go to more than one club fitter and compare the results.

 

[garyinderry]

this is not a bad question. its kind of chicken or the egg.

for example..

my brothers mate plays off 24 and the main reason he lacks consistency is the fact he has the toe miles in the air when he addresses the ball. he could get custom fit and he would no doubt get his irons bent 3 or 4 degrees flat. he would probably hit the ball much better with his clubs like this.

on the other hand, he could get a lesson or two and the pro would no doubt change his posture and im sure he wouldn't have the toe so wildly in the air.


both fix the problem to a certain degree. its up to you to decide which is best!

 

[Birchy]

Anybody who says custom fitting before lessons works at American golf. FACT

 

[groundskeeperwilly]

this is not a bad question. its kind of chicken or the egg.

for example..

my brothers mate plays off 24 and the main reason he lacks consistency is the fact he has the toe miles in the air when he addresses the ball. he could get custom fit and he would no doubt get his irons bent 3 or 4 degrees flat. he would probably hit the ball much better with his clubs like this.

on the other hand, he could get a lesson or two and the pro would no doubt change his posture and im sure he wouldn't have the toe so wildly in the air.


both fix the problem to a certain degree. its up to you to decide which is best!

This is similar to the issue which sparked the debate. The guy I was talking with is 6ft 3 so a bit outside 'normal' height range and a beginner with potential. He was told (not sure by who) that he'd need custom clubs to realise his potential....

 

[Siren]

Lessons
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Lessons
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Lessons
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Consistent swing
Custom Fit

Best bit of advice you will ever get.

Why custom fit a set of irons to a swing that will change when you get lessons?

 

[Tiger]

This is similar to the issue which sparked the debate. The guy I was talking with is 6ft 3 so a bit outside 'normal' height range and a beginner with potential. He was told (not sure by who) that he'd need custom clubs to realise his potential....

I'm just shy of 6'4" and was custom fit very early. I can't hit off the shelf irons they are too flat and too short. I don't think the two things are mutually exclusive. I suggest your mate finds a good teaching pro to learn the fundamentals and at his first lesson gets static fit. He could then look for some Ping G series irons on used Ping. Problem solved

 

[ger147]

I also got custom fitted early doors. The 1st lesson I ever had, the pro told me to by all means go and seek a 2nd/3rd opinion and take your time deciding, but my existing clubs were too short for me. I did and they all said the same - clubs too short.

My custom fit irons & wedges are all 1" longer than standard.

 

[londonlewis]

Which of the above do the GM forumites think should be done first?

The 2 main schools of though I have heard are:
1) Get custom fitted first. The clubs will fit your body better and therefore you'll be starting with the best chance of producing good swings and then when you do go to have lessons the Pro can work on physical issues rather than try to combat ill fitted clubs.
2) Get lessons first to develop you skills and control. Then upgrade to custom fitted equipment to get the best out of your lesson learned skills!

Any thoughts?

Agree with virtuosity - lessons first, then custom fitting.
There is a strong possibility that your teaching pro will change your swing slightly.
No good having custom fit clubs if they custom fit your old swing!

 

[North Mimms]

my brothers mate plays off 24 and the main reason he lacks consistency is the fact he has the toe miles in the air when he addresses the ball. he could get custom fit and he would no doubt get his irons bent 3 or 4 degrees flat. he would probably hit the ball much better with his clubs like this.

on the other hand, he could get a lesson or two and the pro would no doubt change his posture and im sure he wouldn't have the toe so wildly in the air.

If brother's mate gets custom fitted to sort out his toe up problem, that's really two wrongs not quite making a right.

Lessons first to get the fundementals right and only then consider custom fitting unless you are way outside average height.

One reason I have never had a custom fitting is that my swing is so variable

 

[Tiger]

A lot of people replying to this thread as if custom fitting is
- the preserve of the low handicap
- is all about exotic shafts
- costs a lot of money

Let's take cricket as an example. There are different size cricket bats and even when you are an adult you choose between long handle and short handle. I'm tall so used to use a long handle bat. Now I could have been coached by Graham Gooch on a weekly basis but if I used a short handled bat I'd be bowled by a yorker far too often. A static fitting is no different. What's the point of lessons if the clubs are too small or flat. You'll engrain bad habits. I guess all the lessons people are normal height. The OP relates to someone who is 6'3"...

 

[Khamelion]

Lessons first, get the pro to iron out any bad habbits ou have, groove in a good consistant swing, practice like mad, then 6 months or so down the line get fitted, by the same pro if possible, as he'll know you better having taught you and then reap the benefits of your newly fitted clubs.

 

[One Planer]

My advice would be to speak to a pro on both counts.

He/she will advise if your irons/woods will have a negative effect on your swing.

Based on what is said you then choose the path that you feel will help you improve at the best rate.

If he/she says they are completely wrong, it may be best to get clubs either new, or bent to spec, then begin lessons.

If he/she says they are fine as is and will have no detrimental effects, book a series of lessons and then C/F when those either break or, quite simply, want some new irons.


Either way, speak to a pro first :thup:

 

[Pin-seeker]

My advice would be to speak to a pro on both counts.

He/she will advise if your irons/woods will have a negative effect on your swing.

Based on what is said you then choose the path that you feel will help you improve at the best rate.

If he/she says they are completely wrong, it may be best to get clubs either new, or bent to spec, then begin lessons.

If he/she says they are fine as is and will have no detrimental effects, book a series of lessons and then C/F when those either break or, quite simply, want some new irons.


Either way, speak to a pro first :thup:

Spot on:thup: