where should I get fitted?

Here is my story:
I used to play golf at least once a week for 3 years straight. In that time I was using some old hand-me-down Wilson blades and some metal shafted drivers. I then quit the game (moved away from my golfing buddies) and didn't pick the clubs up for about 4 years. I recently got the itch and I've been working with a local PGA pro teacher for the last month. He's worked with me to fix some small glitches, provided some great input, and really helped me with my driver swings. He's stated that I have a decent swing, but I just need some practice and he really thinks that I need to purchase some up-to-date equipment and get fitted. He says my height and tendancy to hit off the toe are two big indicators that I'm way to tall for my clubs (I'm 6'3" with a 38" wrist to floor measurement.)

The Pro I've been working with uses Pings. The Pro shop he works at only stocks Pings and Callaways. It's pretty obvious that he's going to fit me with Pings, but as he's been watching an honing my swing I figure he'd be the best to fit me. The Ping Demo van is also going to be visiting the Pro shop on October 8.
I've also got a Golf Galaxy near me where the staffed PGA pro has offered to fit me. I think the benefit here is that they won't just fit me with Pings, they'll fit me with the set of irons that fit me best as they sell just about everything. The downside is they haven't been watching my swing for a month as my pro has and they might not fit me perfectly.

So, knowing all that do I:
1. Get fit by my Pro?
2. Wait for the Ping Demo/Fitting van?
3. Get fit at my local Golf Galaxy?

Thanks for all your help guys! I'd really appreciate any help before I sink $1k into a new set of clubs!

I lean toward Golf Galaxy for two reasons:

1. If you are going to spend big bucks for new clubs, you absolutely should not be "forced" into a given brand for any reason. You should buy the clubs that feel best to you and that you hit well. 2. It is basically irrelevant that the Golf Galaxy pro has not been watching your swing for a month. He will fit you based on your height/reach, swing speed, ball speed and spin, and adjust lie angle based on where you make contact on the face of the club (toe vs. heel). Once you find the "just right" set of clubs and they fit properly, you can work with any instructor you want on swing mechanics. You would have to make some pretty major changes in your swing before the clubs no longer fit.

thanks for the tips Larry!

One more question... I've been shopping around...I'm obviously looking to spend as little as possible. I've heard good things about Adams clubs. Are the GT3 irons any good? Can the heads be bent to the lie angle I need, if needed? (I'm pretty sure they can be lenghtened) I'd like to get in as cheaply as possible, but not if the clubs I buy cannot be tailored to my game and specifications.

Don't misunderstand, I'm willing to spend whatever it takes to get the right clubs for me, but I also want to make sure that I'm not just buying the name stamped on the clubs.

Thanks again for the help!

I do not have any knowledge about the GT3 irons specifically, but having worked in golf retail briefly a few years ago, I do know that Adams Golf offers great value. They are one of the most reasonably priced "name brands" out there. I personally bought an Adams Ovation 3-wood a few years ago after unsuccesfully trying several brands.

Again, however, none of this means a thing if you don't hit the clubs well, but they are certainly worth putting on your list of possibilities.

Any club can be appropriately lengthened or bent to the proper lie angle according to your club fitter's specifications (who will also determine whether you should be in either graphite or steel shaft, regular or stiff flex). Getting fitted before you buy the clubs is the most desirable. Then everything you need can be done at the factory thus preserving the manufacturer's warranty.

This, of course, means you are ordering custom clubs rather than buying off the rack and while that is a bit more expensive, you were going to spend that money anyway, right?

But I keep coming back to my central point which is that if you took a six or seven iron of four or five different manufacturers and hit a half bucket of balls, one or two models would stand out as just "feeling right". That's the model you want to buy -- even though it hasn't been fitted to you yet!

Good luck!

Excellent. Thanks for the tips. No, I'm not afraid of spending a little more to get what suits me best. I was not aware that the clubs would be custom ordered. Golf galaxy has a club shop that adjusts clubs, so I just assumed that they simply bent them while I waited and I took them home that night. Obviously it doesn't matter, but I made the wrong assumption.

I'll be sure to try out several different models as well. That is great advice as well. I know golf galaxy carries all the manufacturers, and most of the models from each manufacturer as well. I'd better block out a few hours to hit all those! Thanks again for all the tips. I think I'm going to pick my new clubs this week!