Where to go to get custom fitted

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woody69

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Where is the best place to go to get custom fitted for some new irons? I'm a little wary of somewhere like American Golf as I fear they may have sales targets to meet and push a certain type of club.

Where would you go to get proper custom fitted? I guess I could try direct at the manufacturer fitting centres, but I don't know how different brands would affect my poor shots more or less than the others. Does such a place exist? i.e. multiple brands with no brand loyalty/sales targets and purely based on the golfer being fitted?

I live in Wiltshire and work in London
 
Not sure I can help too much... my only two fitting experiences so far.

One, for a driver, was at Hambrook golf range in Bristol (top of the M32)... so not too far away I guess. They have all the main brands and launch monitors etc. You also get to hit out into a range rather than a screen... however the range balls have been "shortened" so they don't fly over the back of the range... was an ok experience... not much to compare against and would have liked more time... there is a cost which then gets taken off the the clubs if you decide to buy.

Other than that I had a fitting session at Mizuno (near Gatwick airport) for Irons... ok, you're only trying Mizuno but really enjoyed the experience... 50 quid and you get a free cap and polo... plus some vouchers for the golf course. No pressure to buy whatsoever as the guy who does the fitting doesn't sell the clubs... you then go to the pro-shop and they give you a quote... but you can walk away and then just call them back if you want to make the order. Liked the swing DNA and the process was fun... for 50 quid thought it was a good experience... although rightly or wrongly I wanted Mizuno clubs so it was the best option for me.
 
My last driver I got via an indoor fitting - this time was outside with good balls and flightscope. Just so, so very different. If you are going to spend money you'll usually get fitting refunded and if you are spending a few quid you might as well make the effort to get a decent fitting. I could feel and see significant difference in data as lie we went standard, +1 and then +2. Also being able to 'see' the ball's actual flight is reassuring.
 
a bit will depend on the budget and type of fitting you want, you can find a top end independant fitter precision golf at egham and homer rated his expierience a pacesham very good too,
 
I have had my irons custom fitted twice now, once by a local pro and the second time by the mizuno dna system (and I don't use mizuno irons). I must say that the mizuno system for me was the best as since I have had them refitted using the data that came from using this system I have improved consistency across all my irons. But in the end it will depend on you and what you find more comfortable, best advice I suppose is go along to somewhere that will do the fitting for free like American golf and if your not comfortable with the service at the end of it just don't buy any clubs and try something else
 
I went to an American golf and tried a few different irons. Then decided which I preferred and went to the manufactures fitting centre. This happened to be Callaway @ Chessington about 2 hours away but well worth it.
 
Canary_Yellow said:
My old man got custom fitted for a full set of clubs at this place this time last year:

http://www.tonyvalentine.com/acatalog/Corsham_Store.html

He says they were excellent and I gather they are competitively priced too.

I think the fitting is hitting into a net using a computer, rather than outdoor range, not sure how important that is to you.
Click to expand...

There is actually a Tony Valentine in Swindon, which is close to me and I have been there before to get "fitted" for a driver, but I don't think it was really a "fitting". He literally gave me half a dozen different drivers and I hit them and he gave feedback on the trackman output. There was no discussion around changing any of the components and it was literally just picking what was best out of the selected clubs that was a "best fit" for me. Plus the shop assistant seemed a little lacking in knowledge, so not really what I am after... adding it's still a shop with sales targets etc.

pbrown7582 said:
a bit will depend on the budget and type of fitting you want, you can find a top end independant fitter precision golf at egham and homer rated his expierience a pacesham very good too,
Click to expand...

I had thought about precision golf, but noticed a fitting costs £120 for 1.5 hours. Has anyone had any experience of that? Is it worth paying that much?
 
where I was done, Foyle golf centre derry, it was 40 quid for approx 1.5-2hrs session (I had two over consecutive days) and refunded if purchase made, as i said on another thread Pro even threw in a couple of swing tips. Bargain.
 
You could try the Belfry. I've been there twice. Once for a set of irons and once for a driver.

They have all the top manufacturers on site so you can try pretty much any club\shaft combination and if you order then you don't pay for the fitting.
 
Fitting options:

1. Big store (AG, DG etc). In my personal opinion, not the best choice, although some branches are better than others.

Likely to have a decent stock available, but suspicion they may steer you to that stock or to brands with best margins.

2. Manufacturer. Best if you know you want that brand. Available for Mizuno, Callaway, Titleist, Cleveland, Ping and probably others.

Downside usually only one national fitting centre, mostly in south east apart from Ping (Lincs).

3. High end independent. Someone like Precision Golf. These guys cost more but have a lot of options and fitting kit. This is the luxury option but well worth it.

Again, geography may be an issue. PG is in Surrey.

4. Pro shop. There is a spectrum from small local pro with a few fitting carts up to The Belfry which has a high tech set up and a number of major brands to choose from. There may be a charge at these places, but usually credited against purchase.

5. Component fitters. These guys fit brands such as Snake Eyes or Dynacraft. Good kit but if you want a familiar brand, probably not for you.

Remember fitting is a bit like seeing a hospital specialist. You will get the best diagnosis and treatment if you give a true and accurate story and are realistic in your expectations.
 
Last edited:
Ethan said:
Fitting options:

1. Big store (AG, DG etc). In my personal opinion, not the best choice, although some branches are better than others.

Likely to have a decent stock available, but suspicion they may steer you to that stock or to brands with best margins.

2. Manufacturer. Best if you know you want that brand. Available for Mizuno, Callaway, Titleist, Cleveland, Ping and probably others.

Downside usually only one national fitting centre, mostly in south east apart from Ping (Lincs).

3. High end independent. Someone like Precision Golf. These guys cost more but have a lot of options and fitting kit. This is the luxury option but well worth it.

Again, geography may be an issue. PG is in Surrey.

4. Pro shop. There is a spectrum from small local pro with a few fitting carts up to The Belfry which has a high tech set up and a number of major brands to choose from. There may be a charge at these places, but usually credited against purchase.

5. Component fitters. These guys fit brands such as Snake Eyes or Dynacraft. Good kit but if you want a familiar brand, probably not for you.

Remember fitting is a bit like seeing a hospital specialist. You will get the best diagnosis and treatment if you give a true and accurate story and are realistic in your expectations.
Click to expand...

What is the difference between these and the major brands? How come we don't see the pro's using these? Are they that bad, or does it simply come down to marketing?
 
woody69 said:
What is the difference between these and the major brands? How come we don't see the pro's using these? Are they that bad, or does it simply come down to marketing?
Click to expand...

Money! Pro's are paid well to use the kit as well as getting them gratis
 
Hi Woody,

I have the same predicament at the moment and am looking at my options (there seems so many!).

I have decided on getting my first one done at DG. I chose this simply for the fact that my nearest one has a range that I can physically hit and see the flight from club to club. They have also told me to bring along my current stuff to hit as well. I currently have no brand alliance yet as I really don't know yet what will suit me, I have figured that because they have so many different brands I will find one which ticks all the boxes!

I am going along with an open mind and will most certainly not be feeling under pressure to buy one brand or another. I will report back how it went over the weekend and may be able to offer some more constructive advice
 
RobertB said:
where I was done, Foyle golf centre derry, it was 40 quid for approx 1.5-2hrs session (I had two over consecutive days) and refunded if purchase made, as i said on another thread Pro even threw in a couple of swing tips. Bargain.
Click to expand...


that's my home course back in the emerald isle!


did you manage to fit in a game while you were there? where do you normally play? :)
 
WJHack said:
Hi Woody,

I am going along with an open mind and will most certainly not be feeling under pressure to buy one brand or another. I will report back how it went over the weekend and may be able to offer some more constructive advice
Click to expand...

Cheers Hack, I appreciate that.
 
garyinderry said:
that's my home course back in the emerald isle!


did you manage to fit in a game while you were there? where do you normally play? :)
Click to expand...

Garry - haven't had a round on the course - just been quite frequent to range when I'm in NW this summer. It's a great set-up; good range, par 3 course and 18 holer. Similar to Blackwood which I used to frequent when it opened in 90's.

I'm currently unattached, as I've come back serious to game after a period of 6-7 years where work etc was dominating time and I could only get 2-3 rounds a year (plus a few if I was back on Hebridean island I'm from in summer). I handed back my membership at Dunmurry about 3 years ago as I was just not using it and someone else could have done more. From 2001-4'ish I played inter club Ulster Cup with the club (7 person team, singles matchplay 10 hcp min. - with teams made up of bandits of 10.1 etc as it was played off scratch).

Over summer enthusiasm got re-kindled by rounds at NorthWest (fantastic value at €25 / round) and some forays to places such as Port Salon. Also has some rounds with work colleagues at Fort William.. So I decided I need to get serious again, one thing leads to another, and one day weather forecast was pretty bad I ended up back a Foyle got a fitting, back for a 2nd ended up with the bag below and am loving them...
 
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