rickg
Money List Winner
ORKA..... :thup:
Where to go to get custom fitted
- Thread starter woody69
- Start date
nil1121
Head Pro
how do you book a fitting at the MIzuno fitting centre. Do you have to go thro a Mizuno supplier ?
woody69
Journeyman Pro
So I decided to bite the bullet and booked a session at Precision Golf. The guy who took the session was quite knowledgeable, but I couldn't help walking away feeling a little hard down by and I'm not sure I got value for money.
The session started with him taking a few measurements of my existing clubs and I then hit a few with my 6 iron to record some stats within trackman. He pointed out the issue I have is my swing path is in to out and due to my low angle of attack my flight is quite low.
He said I could try some lighter shafts to see if that helped, although I only hit about 5 balls before he said lighter wasn't helping, so it was back to clubs with the same shaft as I currently have.
We then discussed heads and due to the low ball flight my swing produces he recommended strengthening the loft to help get it up in the air. He said the carry would be higher although roll would be less and total distance about the same. He said because of the issues with my swing and my high handicap he would recommend forged heads as they could be adjusted as I improve. There was only 3 types with this and the one I preferred the look of out of them was the Mizuno JPX (I think)
We also talked about grips and he suggested a slightly thicker grip than I currently had on.
The total session was about 1.5 hours long and the quote for a set of 5 to PW came back at around £800, which I said I would think about.... and to be honest it is highly unlikely I will bother.
So why do I feel a little hard done by? I just felt like a) the cost of £125 for the session was a little high for what I got from it, but perhaps that is down to my expectations. b) I felt a little bullied into taking the forged heads. I thought I would have a massive choice, but it felt like he said, your current irons are about the right weight for you, you just need a thicker grip and a club with a little more loft to help get the ball in the air. I guess I would have been happy to pay something for the session, say £50-£60, but it was expensive for what it was, also considering it's indoors and you're not actually seeing the ball flight but relying on trackman. Plus you don't actually hit the complete club... there is a suggested head, with a suggested shaft, with a suggest grip, but you don't get to hit that. I appreciate the would be difficult to achieve though. I also only hit a 6 iron. There was no discussion about any other club.
Perhaps I was just disappointed because I didn't walk out after paying for a new set of shiney clubs and I'm "stuck" with my existing set for my holiday to Scotland in a few weeks
The session started with him taking a few measurements of my existing clubs and I then hit a few with my 6 iron to record some stats within trackman. He pointed out the issue I have is my swing path is in to out and due to my low angle of attack my flight is quite low.
He said I could try some lighter shafts to see if that helped, although I only hit about 5 balls before he said lighter wasn't helping, so it was back to clubs with the same shaft as I currently have.
We then discussed heads and due to the low ball flight my swing produces he recommended strengthening the loft to help get it up in the air. He said the carry would be higher although roll would be less and total distance about the same. He said because of the issues with my swing and my high handicap he would recommend forged heads as they could be adjusted as I improve. There was only 3 types with this and the one I preferred the look of out of them was the Mizuno JPX (I think)
We also talked about grips and he suggested a slightly thicker grip than I currently had on.
The total session was about 1.5 hours long and the quote for a set of 5 to PW came back at around £800, which I said I would think about.... and to be honest it is highly unlikely I will bother.
So why do I feel a little hard done by? I just felt like a) the cost of £125 for the session was a little high for what I got from it, but perhaps that is down to my expectations. b) I felt a little bullied into taking the forged heads. I thought I would have a massive choice, but it felt like he said, your current irons are about the right weight for you, you just need a thicker grip and a club with a little more loft to help get the ball in the air. I guess I would have been happy to pay something for the session, say £50-£60, but it was expensive for what it was, also considering it's indoors and you're not actually seeing the ball flight but relying on trackman. Plus you don't actually hit the complete club... there is a suggested head, with a suggested shaft, with a suggest grip, but you don't get to hit that. I appreciate the would be difficult to achieve though. I also only hit a 6 iron. There was no discussion about any other club.
Perhaps I was just disappointed because I didn't walk out after paying for a new set of shiney clubs and I'm "stuck" with my existing set for my holiday to Scotland in a few weeks
WJHack
Hacker
So I decided to bite the bullet and booked a session at Precision Golf. The guy who took the session was quite knowledgeable, but I couldn't help walking away feeling a little hard down by and I'm not sure I got value for money.
The session started with him taking a few measurements of my existing clubs and I then hit a few with my 6 iron to record some stats within trackman. He pointed out the issue I have is my swing path is in to out and due to my low angle of attack my flight is quite low.
He said I could try some lighter shafts to see if that helped, although I only hit about 5 balls before he said lighter wasn't helping, so it was back to clubs with the same shaft as I currently have.
We then discussed heads and due to the low ball flight my swing produces he recommended strengthening the loft to help get it up in the air. He said the carry would be higher although roll would be less and total distance about the same. He said because of the issues with my swing and my high handicap he would recommend forged heads as they could be adjusted as I improve. There was only 3 types with this and the one I preferred the look of out of them was the Mizuno JPX (I think)
We also talked about grips and he suggested a slightly thicker grip than I currently had on.
The total session was about 1.5 hours long and the quote for a set of 5 to PW came back at around £800, which I said I would think about.... and to be honest it is highly unlikely I will bother.
So why do I feel a little hard done by? I just felt like a) the cost of £125 for the session was a little high for what I got from it, but perhaps that is down to my expectations. b) I felt a little bullied into taking the forged heads. I thought I would have a massive choice, but it felt like he said, your current irons are about the right weight for you, you just need a thicker grip and a club with a little more loft to help get the ball in the air. I guess I would have been happy to pay something for the session, say £50-£60, but it was expensive for what it was, also considering it's indoors and you're not actually seeing the ball flight but relying on trackman. Plus you don't actually hit the complete club... there is a suggested head, with a suggested shaft, with a suggest grip, but you don't get to hit that. I appreciate the would be difficult to achieve though. I also only hit a 6 iron. There was no discussion about any other club.
Perhaps I was just disappointed because I didn't walk out after paying for a new set of shiney clubs and I'm "stuck" with my existing set for my holiday to Scotland in a few weeks
Hi Woody,
Sorry to hear it didn't quite go as well as you hoped for, however at least you now have some idea and figures for when/if you go for another fitting elsewhere.
I had my session at DG on Friday and spent the best part of three hours hitting different clubs.
Being on a range the first thing was to get 100 balls from the dispenser - (£5 - they topped up when I ran out though). The chap then watched me hit a few shots with my 7 iron to warm up, then got the mizuno swing DNA gizmo to get my swing speed (averaged 87mph with the 6 iron) which he said put me well into stiff shaft territory. It was then demo time, he thought my swing initially was good enough not to require GI irons (soon proved him wrong lol!) Tried irons from Adams, JL and Mizuno it seemed like they were keener to push the JL stuff. tried both cast (really didn't like these) and forged heads got on really well with the JL forged and forged Mizunos but wasn't consistent.
As I wasn't quite happy he got the Mizuno JPX EZ forged out. 7 iron was as straight and consistent as I hoped for and after a few shots I was hitting the Mizuno 4 as well as the JL hybrid.
Once I was happy we went through the setting the lie of the clubs - ended up taking 1 degree flatter to help with my in to out flight.
Whilst the irons were being sorted I tried some drivers out, ended up with Mizuno JPX 9.5 driver on the stock 60g stiff shaft and the 3W to match - I found these the easiest to hit straight so was pleased.
Apologies if I am waffling on - to summarise then, Mizuno JPX EZ Forged 4-PW + JPX 825 D and 3W all fitted for £800.
Overall I felt pleased with the service, I think a bit more attention to my swing / game could have been paid but I suppose I wasn't technically paying for a lesson - this was also tempered by the fact it was on a range so was relatively easy to judge how I was hitting and made it easier for myself to make decisions about each club rather than be pointed by computer stats / simulation.
From my limited experience then... go somewhere you can hit out onto a range, made me feel much more comfortable about making the decisions.
Allanxyz
Head Pro
Just use this link...
http://golf.mizunoeurope.com/store/fitting-centres-details.php
Or go to the mizuno.eu website > Golf > Fitting Centres
Book your appointment on-line... like I say you can either get your clubs from the proshop at the golf course where the centre is located (Burhill I think), or order online or give your results to a local retailer (fitting details will be emailed to you).
njc1973
Head Pro
I can recommend the fitting at the Belfry spent 1.5 hours trying out loads of different clubs and settings (that was just for a driver & 3 wood) for £50 with the money taken off any order that was placed, at no time was there any pressure to order clubs and I tried 6-7 different manufacturers.
The fitting used a launch monitor for the figures and you hit the balls on the range so you could see the flight, the fitter seemed to know what he was on about and I ended up with clubsthat lowered my ball flight and reduced the spin which was exactly what I asked for.
The fitting used a launch monitor for the figures and you hit the balls on the range so you could see the flight, the fitter seemed to know what he was on about and I ended up with clubsthat lowered my ball flight and reduced the spin which was exactly what I asked for.
talksalot81
Club Champion
Woody69, I certainly understand your feelings. For that sort of money, I would have wanted to hit the actual club and to see the ball fly. In the absence of that, I would have hoped for a good deal on clubs.
I have only ever been fit on one occasion and was left a bit cold on the experience. It was a manufacturers fitting day and I only had half an hour so only so much was possible but I came out having only hit one head and was fitted into a shaft which seemed wrong (I hit the ball into the heavens and was recommended a mid kick shaft). A quick look at irons and I was recommended a lightweight shaft which was really to help with a swing fault which the fitter knew I was working on.
I have only ever been fit on one occasion and was left a bit cold on the experience. It was a manufacturers fitting day and I only had half an hour so only so much was possible but I came out having only hit one head and was fitted into a shaft which seemed wrong (I hit the ball into the heavens and was recommended a mid kick shaft). A quick look at irons and I was recommended a lightweight shaft which was really to help with a swing fault which the fitter knew I was working on.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Mixed feelings on this oneSo I decided to bite the bullet and booked a session at Precision Golf. The guy who took the session was quite knowledgeable, but I couldn't help walking away feeling a little hard down by and I'm not sure I got value for money.
.
.
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Perhaps I was just disappointed because I didn't walk out after paying for a new set of shiney clubs and I'm "stuck" with my existing set for my holiday to Scotland in a few weeks
Disappointed, but not altogether surprised, to here you felt 'a little hard done by'. Simon and James have pitched their services at the 'higher' end of the market.
On the positive side, you have found out that your existing clubs are reasonably well suited to you and they've probably been adjusted to all match - something DG used to do for free.
I actually think that going to a 'top of the range' place is a bit of a waste of money for a high handicapper, as they will only be able to make the same assessment as a decent 'lower level' fitter - whether the current clubs are a 'reasonable fit' or not. It's only from mid-low Cat 3 and down that proper fitting makes a real difference imo. That said, ensuring Loft, Lie and Swing weight are properly to spec and matched to you can make a huge difference - I certainly found that out. Pros used to do this a part of their role, but have tended to 'specialise' into playing, teaching, shop or fitting.
Hitting into a net, with a Trackman, or other LM, providing the numbers, has never bothered me, though I can understand those who prefer to see the flight. Using range balls for fitting purposes is pointless though!!
Fitting is often a swings and roundabout process and, like selecting Pros, it's often a case of getting lucky with the choices. In this case, I believe you just made an expensive choice.
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rickg
Money List Winner
Woody, if you want a comparison, drop me a PM and I'll send you Alex's details from ORKA. He is based in Milton Keynes.
You will get around 1-2 hours hitting a variety of heads and shafts - Cost £0
You will be given tips from a PGA pro who is also a qualified club fitter - Cost £0
You will be under no pressure whatsoever to buy any clubs
You will pay no where near as much as you would if you went to DG, AG etc etc
You will come away knowing more about your swing than you did when you went in
You will be entertained :lol:
IF you decide to go ahead, you will wait approx 1 week before receiving your clubs
You will go for another 1hr fitting session to see how the clubs handle, any tweaks will be made on the spot -cost £0
You will get clubs that have been custom built for you and shafts spine aligned - cost £0
You will probably be offered a 45 minute gap analysis check after a few weeks - cost £0
You will probably be offered an end of season loft and lie check and any adjustments will be made cost -£0
You will enter into a lifelong relationship with a guy who will go overboard to make sure you are happy with your purchase -cost £0
Disclaimer....He doesn't give this service to everyone, only to people he likes, so if you are a knob then you might have to pay more.... :whoo:
He only does ORKA, but they are good..... :thup:
You will get around 1-2 hours hitting a variety of heads and shafts - Cost £0
You will be given tips from a PGA pro who is also a qualified club fitter - Cost £0
You will be under no pressure whatsoever to buy any clubs
You will pay no where near as much as you would if you went to DG, AG etc etc
You will come away knowing more about your swing than you did when you went in
You will be entertained :lol:
IF you decide to go ahead, you will wait approx 1 week before receiving your clubs
You will go for another 1hr fitting session to see how the clubs handle, any tweaks will be made on the spot -cost £0
You will get clubs that have been custom built for you and shafts spine aligned - cost £0
You will probably be offered a 45 minute gap analysis check after a few weeks - cost £0
You will probably be offered an end of season loft and lie check and any adjustments will be made cost -£0
You will enter into a lifelong relationship with a guy who will go overboard to make sure you are happy with your purchase -cost £0
Disclaimer....He doesn't give this service to everyone, only to people he likes, so if you are a knob then you might have to pay more.... :whoo:
He only does ORKA, but they are good..... :thup:
G1BB0
Money List Winner
rickg
Money List Winner
so how come he fitted you then Rick or did you have to pay an extra premium
Ouch!!! I normally wait until the group ahead is out if range before hitting, but I may make an exception at Woburn on Friday..
G1BB0
Money List Winner
hehe, I will have to make sure I am just out of range then
rickg
Money List Winner
hehe, I will have to make sure I am just out of range then
180 yards should do it....... :rofl:
Thought I'd get that in as someone else was bound to!!!
Ethan
Money List Winner
PG is a pretty busy place with lots of repeat custom, so it must be doing something right. My personal experiences there have been very good and I have found Simon and James to be very helpful and offer good advice without heavy selling, and to also offer good after service including adjustments when needed.
It is possible to be underwhelmed when you go and they do not suggest radical changes or super-exotic shafts and heads. But better for someone to say that your current clubs are a decent fit already than to sell you a set of the latest Samurai steel heads with the latest Unobtanium shafts. I have had the experience there of Simon telling me that new shafts might improve the numbers, but not enough to be worth the money. That was good advice.
The PG business model is to separate the fitting and the sale, so that you don't get a "free" fitting but are certain to be sold a set of irons after. You get your fitting and are free to buy, not buy or buy someplace else. I very much doubt the guys at DG or AG often say to people that their current clubs are fine and they can't really improve on them. Their business model is very much focussed on shifting kit. Not sure about the chap at Orka.
It is possible to be underwhelmed when you go and they do not suggest radical changes or super-exotic shafts and heads. But better for someone to say that your current clubs are a decent fit already than to sell you a set of the latest Samurai steel heads with the latest Unobtanium shafts. I have had the experience there of Simon telling me that new shafts might improve the numbers, but not enough to be worth the money. That was good advice.
The PG business model is to separate the fitting and the sale, so that you don't get a "free" fitting but are certain to be sold a set of irons after. You get your fitting and are free to buy, not buy or buy someplace else. I very much doubt the guys at DG or AG often say to people that their current clubs are fine and they can't really improve on them. Their business model is very much focussed on shifting kit. Not sure about the chap at Orka.
woody69
Journeyman Pro
Thanks for the offer and recommendation Rick. Unfortunately Milton Keynes is a little further than I really want to travel, although I thought ORKA had fitting centres all over? As far as I can tell they have one in Swindon? I assume it would be the same model as you described in terms of a fitting?
I certainly wasn't suggesting they did anything wrong. I just felt a little underwhelmed and thought the price for the "fitting" was a little steep. Like I said, during the session he essentially said the weight on my shafts was pretty spot on for me and improvements could be made with the heads in terms of loft/forgiveness and the grip. He even suggested they reuse my shafts to keep cost down, which may have been a viable option if I didn't want to sell my existing clubs. I just felt though he made a few snap decisions based on 1 or 2 swings of the club (of which a few were quite poor as I was starting to tire!). I think it was more my expectation rather than the service offered. The total cost of the clubs was also a little more than I was expecting for some reason.
LIG
Q-School Graduate
Could it be that he based his advice on your poor swings so as to minimise the efect of your "bad" shots? After all, what good is a fitting if he fits you based on only your best swings? Just my 2p.
RobertB
Assistant Pro
woody - that seems a harsh experience - I would have though more places would discount / refund on basis of order. Makes my experience, for those over in Ireland, seem a bargain. £125 just seems a bit steep. But maybe they have a clientele? Though I agree with a comment that you've got to be honest with yourself and be able to hit a few consecutive identical shots to get most as a minimum.
If you are still interested I still rate Andrea Timms at Pachesham. I got 4 hours fitting for £90 but I did make my purchase too.
GB72
Money List Winner
rickg
Money List Winner
They have authorised/ approved fitting centres all over, but these centres also fit other makes. You wouldn't get the same deal and pricing that you would get through Alex via a personal recommendation, ie mates rates.
