Do most people fit in off the rack clubs?

**Happy Dragon** · September 8, 2009

Before I got fitted for irons, I was really excited to learn something about my swing and seeing what equipment tweaks can be made to help my game.

At the end of the session, I was kind of disappointed that I was fitted into the exact same set that can be found off the rack and I was out an additional $100 for the fitting. I'm assuming this happens quite a bit. The club manufacturers and golf shops must know this already as they produce and stock accordingly.

Anyone have a similar experience?

**Replay** · September 8, 2009

I went to get fit and received the same results.

I think most people will find they conform to off-the-rack clubs...since manufacturers must make them according to the average male specifications.

This will no doubt benefit you in future, since when you decide to upgrade your clubs you won't have to wait for custom clubs to be made and delivered.

I wouldn't see the $100 as a complete waste...although it was definitely on the high side. I know places where fitting is much cheaper...and at my driving range, as long as you buy the clubs from them you don't have to pay for fitting, and they normally throw in a discount too!

The fact that you have been fitted will only give you confidence that you club measurements are perfect for you...whether you need them custom made or the rack is what you need - you aim surely must have been to know for certain what is suitable!

**LBlack14** · September 8, 2009

I'm curious as to who did your fittings?

**WUTiger** · September 8, 2009

Depends on what you mean by off the rack . Make sure you use this term properly.

I played for 20 years with MacGregor MT irons which I hooked frequently once the season really got going - when your score should start dropping. Years later, I went to a golf shop, got fitted, and found that I needed irons with a 2-degree flat lie. On my MT irons, the heel would catch sometimes and cause the clubface to close - resulting in a pull or hook. The 2-degree flat lie helped the clubface impact squarely on the ball, with no heel catch.

I got fitted for some 2-degree flat component clubs - Ping Eye-2 clones by Pro Tour with TT Dynalite stiff shafts - and played them for 14 years. I benefitted from custom clubs. I got new clubs this winter - basically going from stiff to regular shafts and catching up with technology.

Along the way I had rebuilt my swing - crouching less at address and somewhat more upright - and I am back to normal lie clubs. I play the X20 irons, normal lie with the Uniflex shaft; this shaft supposedly works OK for about 80% of male golfers, according to Callaway marketing blurbs. These fit me well, at least for the short run and getting used again to basically regular flex shafts. As my swing improves, however, a "custom" shaft combo might work better.

Back to off the rack . OTR from clothing assumes that they made 100,000 suits all the same size and cut and don't do much except put in the hem line for the suit purchaser. Otherwise, everybody gets the same thing. Now if you are buying a Slazenger or Maxfli boxed set - nothing wrong with them, great beginner's clubs - your off-the-rack analogy might hold.

But if you're talking about competitor clubs like Titleist, Ping, and Callaway, off-the-rack is not an appropriate description.
The fitting kits from the different club companies allow club fitters to put together a dozen different heads, head lies, and a dozen shaft combinations. Or, if they don't have the elaborate fitting kits, they will pick a 6- or 7-iron from their sets and let you hit it.

At the shop I frequent, they will have Callaway X22 and X22 iron sets on the shelf with different shaft types and flexes. You test out the different recipes to see which one works best for you.
So, off the rack is not a proper description for buying competive-player golf clubs. You check out several semi-custom sets the shop has on hand, and get one of them.

You play a lot of Titleist, including the 695CB irons. For the price you would play, the fitting was probably worth it. One things fittings prevent is a club recipe which will hurt your game .

Hope this helps. If you just avoid the wrong clubs, that's a big step.

**enis750** · September 8, 2009

I have always played OTR clubs
never understood the whole "fitting" session
I am tall too, standing at 6'1" and getting fitted never even crossed my mind

I understand being fitted for shafts and understanding why you would need a stiff over s a Reg. etc..
but i am willing to bet 100% of handicapper's over 9 or so cant tell the difference
If you put 3 clubs in their hands, one standard, and the other two, whatever, 2º upright or whatever - they would not be able to tell the difference

I am also willing to bet a lot of lower single digits could hardley tell the difference and if they could, they could also make a slight adjustment to play w them

dont waste your money people, do some research on the good ol intranet (like the SANDTRAP), go hit some balls into a launch monitor and figure it out for FREE!!

**DavidFehertysBike** · September 8, 2009

I think for the average guy 5'7 to 6'0, off the rack clubs should fit most those players in regards to lenth. Lie angles might have to get adjusted because its a more individual thing.

**verse214** · September 8, 2009

It also depends on what you mean by "fitted" -- I don't consider a fitting to be if you goto any old Golf Galaxy or Golfsmith and they just have you hit off a lie board and then take your measurements.

When I started playing last year, the guy who i bought my Miz's from told me just to get off the rack since I was a noob, so I did. about 8 months into golf I ended up getting them bent 1* up at the suggestion of my pro who I was taking lessons with and I did.

After having played for almost a year now, i'm going to head into Novogolf this weekend where they have a Trackman and get a real, thorough fitting.

I believe that a "real fitting" is composed of hitting a bunch of different manufacturer's clubs with different head and shaft combinations with a pro watching you. After you determine which head, shaft combo works best, then they you should have to hit off the lie board, etc. - i've heard that the lie board will not always tell the truth too. Think about it - if the ball is going right every time but you're hitting the lie board as if you should be 0* (flat) - chances are you do need to get them bent upright but it may take a pro's eyes to see that both the clubs and your swing need fixing.

I'm going to get my first real fitting this weeked and I'll let you know how it goes...

I don't think anyone should really get "fit" at a big retailer or a place that only takes your measurements and has you hit off a lie board unless they're a beginner... your swing is going to change and your club needs will change as well. Regardless - everyone should try and go get a real fitting unless you're just starting golf... This is from personal experience over the past year.

**Happy Dragon** · September 8, 2009

I got fitted inside with a lie board, impact tape, and a weird gadget that measured my 6 iron swing speed and tempo. To me, the most important element in a set is the shafts, followed by the lie and then the aesthetics of the clubhead. If you're going with a steel shaft, your main the choices are between PX and DG in whatever stiffness you need. The fitting didn't seem to be as exotic or sexy as I thought it was going to be, but at least I have confirmation for the future.

One of the posters mentioned getting fit on a Trackman. Most golf shop don't have one, but I hear those things are awesome! Anyone have experience with that?

**gmanuel25** · September 8, 2009

It also depends on what you mean by "fitted" -- I don't consider a fitting to be if you goto any old Golf Galaxy or Golfsmith and they just have you hit off a lie board and then take your measurements.

If one of these big box stores tries to charge you for this "fitting" in addition to the price of the clubs......go somewhere else!

**Shindig** · September 8, 2009

I got fitted inside with a lie board, impact tape, and a weird gadget that measured my 6 iron swing speed and tempo. To me, the most important element in a set is the shafts, followed by the lie and then the aesthetics of the clubhead. If you're going with a steel shaft, your main the choices are between PX and DG in whatever stiffness you need. The fitting didn't seem to be as exotic or sexy as I thought it was going to be, but at least I have confirmation for the future.

Who fit you, and what were his qualifications? When I got my irons, Mizuno fit me for free. My friend bought Ping clubs, same result. Others on this board have had this experience with Callaway, Taylormade, Cobra, and Titleist. On the other hand, I know people who have paid for a fitting at a Golfsmith - or worse, a generic sporting goods store. And they end up finding out that the set on the rack is best for them. Now, I once went for a "premium" fitting - Max Out Golf - and, wouldn't you know it, the most expensive stuff they sold was the best for me (and for everyone else I've met who went to their Los Angeles location). In short, what are the qualifications and motives for the person fitting you? Never get fit by a salesman or retailer is the lesson I (and others) learned. When I had decided that I wanted Mizuno irons, though, Mizuno wanted to make sure that the people with their clubs hit them well - good advertising. That guy hits his clubs well: what are they?

**quantim0** · September 8, 2009

I'm going to get fitted for new irons at a local range. They have a good reputation and have the big sets of clubs from all the major companies to find what best combo shaft/lenght/lie etc fit for you. They told me it typically takes 90 minutes to get everything worked out.

It's $50 and if you buy the clubs from them, they deduct the $50 from the cost of the clubs. They also match price to major golf places like golfsmith and edwin watts.

**Shindig** · September 8, 2009

I'm going to get fitted for new irons at a local range. They have a good reputation and have the big sets of clubs from all the major companies to find what best combo shaft/lenght/lie etc fit for you. They told me it typically takes 90 minutes to get everything worked out.

And you get to hit them on that range, too, and see ball flight and so on? That may be one of the best fittings I've heard of. And it's practically free - actually, it is free - if you're already planning to buy the clubs from them - and for the same price, why not? Sweet!

**golf_junkie27** · September 8, 2009

There's a difference between a static fitting, what most stores provide and a dynamic fitting, what a clubfitter provides. There is so much that goes into the latter.

Example: a clubfitter realizes that not all shafts are flexed the same, that they may not even weigh what they are listed and realize that a Stiff in a Dynamic Gold is not going to be the same as a KBS Tour shaft. They also realize that shaft and head combinations will produce a certain type of ball flight, spin rate, etc. Inclusive, they take great detail in things like swingweight. They fully realize that how you swing a club and how you're able to load it depends on this factor. Moreover, and possibly most important, is a good fitter will make ball recommendations based upon clubs and swingspeed. The last thing anyone should do is recommend a high end ball for someone with a 80MPH driver swing speed. Yet, it happens every day.

How many times have you gone into a big box store and heard/seen one of their "golf professionals" take the time to explain this? I know I hardly ever have.

**Happy Dragon** · September 9, 2009

Seems like a decent decision is to get a set that's forged with a classic, timeless design (small forged cavity back or blade) and bend them as your swing and needs change. Shafts are replaceable, albeit not cheap.

I guess this is true if you don't need a lot of game improvement features in your set. I really don't think technology has done much in the last 10-20 years with good-player-oriented clubs. People in this market a looking for the same minimal offset, clean lines, thin topline, smaller club head, etc.

**sp33d** · September 9, 2009

I've been fitted by 3 diffrent places, all said the same thing. the clubs are perfect for you. off the rack mizuno's

maelkoth · September 10, 2009

I bought off the rack mizuno irons labeled as Men's Regular graphite shafts. Took them to a club fitter who tested the shafts and discovered that they were actually Women's shafts. Find the clubs you like, then have them fitted.

**Happy Dragon** · September 10, 2009

I bought off the rack mizuno irons labeled as Men's Regular graphite shafts. Took them to a club fitter who tested the shafts and discovered that they were actually Women's shafts. Find the clubs you like, then have them fitted.

Did you hit them well at the store? If so, I wouldn't change them regardless of being men's, women's, senior's, midget's, underling's, hobbit's, leper's, etc.

maelkoth · September 10, 2009

I didn't change shafts. I did have to "baby" the club while swinging though.

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