When do "fitted" clubs become useful?

[CheltenhamHacker]

Just a question I've been pondering. Obviously I'm still relatively new to the game, and I'm playing with a hand me down set of clubs that seem to be doing alright.

I've seen many people mention that getting a fitted set of clubs is useful, but in my head, this wouldn't apply until my game is significantly more consistent.

Those who have been fitted/want to get fitted/don't want to get fitted, what are your thoughts? Did you get them too early, and regret it as your swing changed a lot, or did you leave it too late and found that when you got them, you wished you got them months or years before? Or are you someone who thinks it is a complete waste of time for anyone who isn't a scratch golfer....

In my head, I consider fitting along the lines of the Ping service I have seen advertised with the different angle of club head, or different length shaft maybe.

 

[car.crash]

I've only been playing for around a year and I use ping black dots. On the ping chart I should be using silvers with a inch longer in length.
I am going to see a club fitter next week. I was quoted £40 to have them done which is cheap for what you get.
If I was only a degree off then I wouldn't bother but I really don't feel comfortable playing these.

I work in the gun trade and appreciate the help a gun fitting can have on how well you shoot so for me I assume it would be similar in golf. However I may be very wrong but either way I'm still going to have them adjusted.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

When I started playing I don't know if they even did CF. But, what I did was keep playing my old/rubbish clubs until I got my handicap down to a decent level.
It was my fault and not the club that caused me to be a high handicapper so if I used Howson Derby's or Mizzy blades or Cally GI clubs I still didn't swing it right.
Once I got down to 15 handicap I bought some good clubs, again not CF'd as I'm not sure there was such a thing.
Since returning to the game I have been CF'd as my swing is pretty good I thought it best to get the best clubs to match them. I'm quite tall (6.1) but with comparatively short arms, so have my irons set up 1/2 inch long and 2 degrees upright.
I did this now as I see those small margins as being more important than when as a kid I was growing and didn't have a consistent enough swing.

 

[chellie]

I'm a relative newbie here as well and so far seem to be OK with my secondhand clubs. Am going to check with my Pro that the putter is the best for me though. Plus I know that he won't try and flog me one if mine is OK.

 

[Mungoscorner]

When I started playing I don't know if they even did CF. But, what I did was keep playing my old/rubbish clubs until I got my handicap down to a decent level.
It was my fault and not the club that caused me to be a high handicapper so if I used Howson Derby's or Mizzy blades or Cally GI clubs I still didn't swing it right.
Once I got down to 15 handicap I bought some good clubs, again not CF'd as I'm not sure there was such a thing.
Since returning to the game I have been CF'd as my swing is pretty good I thought it best to get the best clubs to match them. I'm quite tall (6.1) but with comparatively short arms, so have my irons set up 1/2 inch long and 2 degrees upright.
I did this now as I see those small margins as being more important than when as a kid I was growing and didn't have a consistent enough swing.

Good post.:thup:

 

[jimbob.someroo]

I work in the gun trade and appreciate the help a gun fitting can have ...

Possibly the coolest start to a sentence there's been on here!

I have to say I have been so much more confident since I was lucky enough to get fitted for mine. Although my old irons were still good clubs, the assurance I've got from knowing these are suited for me has undoubtedly helped my game.

It really depends on how 'not right' your current ones are as to whether or not you need to rush out and get fitted. If they're a good few degrees and inches out, then there's certainly an argument that they're effecting the way you hit the ball. If not then maybe it's a luxury that's not needed when lessons would suffice.

As to your swing changing - I may be well out on this but the clubs will be generally tailored to your height / build and swing speed which might not change all that much over the next couple of years. If you've got the pennies to, I'd go for it :thup:

 

[Val]

I work in the gun trade and appreciate the help a gun fitting can have on how well you shoot so for me I assume it would be similar in golf. However I may be very wrong but either way I'm still going to have them adjusted.

Similar but in shooting the margins are a lot smaller.

For example, bore sighting a rifle prior to zeroing will have an effect that many people don't realise.

 

[SRLongball]

I have just got my Nike pro combos custom fitted. From my local store. I have always been very much into buying second hand for golf clubs, right from when I started at a 20 h/c. And just make it work.

These Irons are 1/2 inch longer and 2 degrees upright with 2 layers extra tape under the grips. All assessed from trackman flights and tape on boards. Potentially some of it is subconscious but I find the sweetspot is a lot easier to find even when hitting it fat or thin its still there or there abouts, I put this down to the fact that on impact the club is coming down in line with my swing. Turf interaction is good and my divots have been noticeably better with CF over standard off the shelf.

However I think the main reason for custom fit is a confidence thing that the 9 iron you are holding is made for you and your swing. Thats me anyway.

SRL

 

[Hacker Khan]

Depends on what the hand me down set is like really. Of course a lot, if not most of it is down to your swing and technique, and getting fitted will not instantly change your scores that much. But it may be the case that your current set is costing you a few shots a round due to it not being very forgiving, not the best shaft for your swing speed shaft, wrong length of shaft based on your height etc etc. And if you get fitted then you will have a set that is more suited to your physical shape and current game.

Yes of course your swing will not be consistent enough to say that the fitting set up you get is the best set up for every shot you play. Much like the majority of amateurs. But it may be the case that you will get more help and assistance on a lot more shots than you get now from the increased 'forgiveness' club head itself and the fact that the length of the shaft is optimal for your height. Plus any loft and lie improvements. And you can then concentrate on the more important side which is your technique and swing.

 

[full_throttle]

I decided to get a c/f because I was in the position to be able to afford new clubs. It took a few weeks with the new sticks to get used to them but it has helped my game. A couple of lessons to iron out the flaws and the new sticks have seen my handicap move in the right direction.

I now feel more confident regardless of which club I'm holding. Only the other week I couldn't ht my 52* for toffee, but I stayed with it knowing it was the right club, the results speak for themselves.

Handicap at April 1st 22.6, handicap today 18.7

 

[Pin-seeker]

I have just got my Nike pro combos custom fitted. From my local store. I have always been very much into buying second hand for golf clubs, right from when I started at a 20 h/c. And just make it work.

These Irons are 1/2 inch longer and 2 degrees upright with 2 layers extra tape under the grips. All assessed from trackman flights and tape on boards. Potentially some of it is subconscious but I find the sweetspot is a lot easier to find even when hitting it fat or thin its still there or there abouts, I put this down to the fact that on impact the club is coming down in line with my swing. Turf interaction is good and my divots have been noticeably better with CF over standard off the shelf.

However I think the main reason for custom fit is a confidence thing that the 9 iron you are holding is made for you and your swing. Thats me anyway.

SRL

How you getting on with the Nike Combos? Awesome looking club:thup:

 

[Big D 88]

In response to the OP, i cannot stress how much a c/f will improve your 'all-round' game.

Im not saying it improves your swing to a new level, or makes your hit 20yds further, or helps you make more putts from within 20ft

But what it does it makes you address every shot , be it a drive, a wedge, a putt , with the confidence of a tour pro!

I found out during a c/f that the clubs i used to play with were too long for my short ass body, and that as a result i was addressing most shots slightly incorrectly.

Scoring wise, my pb was 98 around my local course. I played my first ever round with the new clubs and did the back 9 in 43. (OK the front 9 was pants but i guess that was the bedding in period!)

I think that c/f, whatever the h/c of the player, will improve any amatuer!

Goodluck if you get c/f and let us all know how you get on

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Depends how consistent your swing is and whether you plan to change it significantly with lessons. If the answer is fairly and no then I guess you could get fitted at any time. Personally I'd be looking at a set of lessons and getting my game improving first but thats just my approach

 

[car.crash]

I'm all for improving the game with lessons but why not do it with a club that fits.
You wouldn't run in shoes a size to small would you?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I'm all for improving the game with lessons but why not do it with a club that fits.
You wouldn't run in shoes a size to small would you?

No, but hitting clubs that haven't been custom fit doesn't hurt!

 

[G1BB0]

I was custom fit in march via a GM Comp for a full set (see sig ), immediately my driving has improved ten fold, the hybrids are a joy but my iron play went down the pan! it took until 2 weeks ago for them to work as in my head I felt they were too light and was also trying to gain the extra yards I was seeing @ the fitting by trying to smash them

Now I am hitting the ball better than ever and hope to see the h/c come down. It has to anyway to catch that Full_Throttle and his Orkaness lol.

I would say for driver definitely as I tried a plethora of shafts before we found the right one and the differences really do show from one to another. irons I think unless your 6ft+ or vertically challenged then stock may well do for the majority. I have had reg/stiff, cavity, super chunky and some bladier and in all honesty hit them all ok. the only change made from the fitting was 1 degree flat, not sure if it makes a massive difference as 1 degree is sod all imho.

Like any hobby its a case of buy what you can afford and if that means being able to get custom fit then go for it.

You only live once :thup:

 

[MadAdey]

LIke GIBBO said unless you are very tall then you may be ok with stock clubs. I personally struggle with stock clubs due to my height and wrist to floor measurement. I have got 1" long and 1 degree up on mine. Even if you are a beginer I think you can still benefit from custom fitting, just so that that the length and lie angle are correct for you, otherwise you may not be able to have a good posture and setup. It is maybe worth asking your pro to have a look at your clubs you have and see if they need any tweeking as he will probably be able to adjust them for you. Then when you start to get a more consistent swing go get fitted for a shiny new set.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

As to your swing changing - I may be well out on this but the clubs will be generally tailored to your height / build and swing speed which might not change all that much over the next couple of years. If you've got the pennies to, I'd go for it :thup:

That was my thoughts when I got fitted. Also, Mizuno did fitting for free, so why wouldn't I take advantage of it?

 

[Pin-seeker]

Agree with last couple of posts,if you're getting new irons then might aswell get custom fit. Just don't expect miracles. But it could give you more confidence knowing the clubs are set up right for you. Good luck with it mate.

 

[Jumboross]

I have just had the full Ping experience at their HQ in Gainsborough. I am tall (6'5") and thought my existing clubs had been fitted for me - they hadn't, they were standard lie and length - long story. Anyway I need my clubs 4.5' upright and an inch longer than standard apparently. My bad shot is off the toe, a weak fade. This was all about the lie angle, they demonstrated this with strike tape. Whole thing was a revelation So for me, yes CF is definitely worth while. But I also think that for a relatively low cost (or no cost if you're buying new sticks anyway) you have the invaluable knowledge that they do fit you. So if there are any bad shots you know it's you and your swing, not the equipment.