clubfitters in the dallas area?

I'm looking to get fit for specs for a driver. I was thinking about going to the Hank Haney fitting center in Lewisville. But I also was searching on the internet and found a supposedly top 100 ranked clubfitter in Euless at a place called The Golf Station. I of course know about the big retail outlets such as PGA Superstore etc, which are also an option if they do a good job.

Are there any other options or reccomendations I should be aware of in or near the DFW when it comes to club fitting? What should I expect from a fitting?

The Golf Station in Euless is listed on the Tom Wishon Golf Technology Clubmaker locator. Since Wishon doesn't list just "anyone", it's a pretty good indication of their clubfitting ability. I'd recommend staying away for retail outlets with respect to clubfitting. There are very few qualified custom clubfitters in retail outlets. Retail outlets are primarily sales motivated and you'll rarely find anyone who has any real clubfitting accreditation.

At the Hank Haney place in Lewisville there is Cool Clubs. They are certified by all the major club makers and they measure everything and will set you up and give you all your specs and give you multiple options. I am going to use them for my new clubs at the end of the year.
www.coolclubs.com

Ok, so I just got back from a driver fitting with CoolClubs at Haney's place in Lewisville. I sent an email to The Golf Station with some questions, but they never got back with me so I just went with CoolClubs.

I will say that I will never buy another golf club without getting fit, probably not even a putter. The experience was great, informative, and the guy helping me out was very helpful. It was not awkard at all.

I am currently playing a Ping G5 10.5 with regular flex shaft. I explained that a good drive for me was only about 230 with plenty below that, and once or twice a round I crank one out to 250. But I hit lots of drives around 200 as well. I also explained that I have a high ball flight and get no or little roll.

First, I warmed up a little. Then, he got me on the trackman system with my Ping G5. My average was 212 yds! The longest was 246. I had an average swing speed of 100. He seemed most concerned with my spin rate, which was 6126. I had a smash factor of 1.4, launch angle 15.5, and ball speed of 140. There's lots of other numbers he gave me too such as club path, vertical and horizontal swing plane, dynamic loft, and a few more.

He reccomended a lower loft and stiffer shaft. So we tried a TaylorMade R9 SuperTri 8.5 with stiff shaft, and a Ping G15 9.0 with stiff shaft. I hit the TM 8.5 the best and had my average distance up to 250! The longest were 270. The TM driver decreased my spin rate to 4067, smash factor increased to 1.5, and launch angle lowered to 13.5. Swing speed stayed about the same, around 100. I was not trying to kill it, I was just taking nice firm brisk swings, but nothing outside my limits, just a normal swing. The 8.5 TM also was much tighter in dispersion. I didn't hit the Ping that great and was actually slicing it some.

He ended up reccomending the TM R9 8.5 degree driver, and a Titleist 909D3 8.5. The shaft reccomendation was a Fujikura Motore F1 65 stiff (torque 3.3, Dr1? - 6.1). A Ping Rapture V2 was also reccomended, but in 9 degree.

So now my dilemmia is that I'm not really all that partial to TaylorMade. I'd like to get the 909D3, but it is a 440cc head rather than 460 cc head. He said the D3 was a good fit for me and a good head, but not as good performing as the TM. I'm not really sure though as I never even hit it. I would rather play Titleist than TaylorMade, and I can't find any Pings Raptures in 8.5 degrees. Will I really notice much of a difference between a 460cc vs a 440cc driver? Thanks.

smash factor of 1.5 average? that would mean you have mechanically the most perfect swing possible. even pro's don't swing at 1.5 smash factor.

As for 460cc vs 440cc, it depends, I tend to like smaller heads, thus my FT Tour...for me, smaller heads give me much better control of my shots but for some, it can be harder to hit and perhaps not as forgiving...

but if you hit it well, why not? I'd recheck on that smash factor though...i'm gonna go as far as to say 1.5 smash factor is impossible.

The exact number for smash factor is actually 1.47. I just rounded up. I don't know anything about most of these numbers or clubfitting, so didn't think that extra .03 would be a big difference. But yes, 1.47 smash factor to be exact.

It sounds like you should try a fitter that is partial to Titleist. The Golf Center at the Highlands has a well stocked Titleist cart if you want to take them for a spin. It is one of my homes.
Russ

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