Ping fitting experience

I had a very enlightning iron fitting experience. I had not had a complete Ping iron fitting in a good number of years.
About me: 5'10", 165 lbs, and have loss some of my speed,distance and raised my hdcp in recent years, playing i15 irons right now. Iron game is my strength with my miss being a pull. I was playing between a 12 & a 14 at my home course last year.
Went to a certified fitter I've dealt with for ten years with the idea of trying the S56 Pings.
We talked for a while about my observations regarding my game last year and then did a quick static fitting that put me in the same black standard as I've always played.
Then came the launch moniter, lie board, impact tape, and adjustments.
After a couple hours I came away with the following:
My pulls, when they creep in are from over active hands.
I'm letting the clubhead get slightly in front of my hands at impact - work on trapping the ball like I used to.
3* upright & +1/2" was recommended.
Although I can play regular or stiff shafts, stiff shafts are a better fit.
The KBS Tour shaft is as smooth a shaft as I can remember hitting with incredible feel.
Go figure, in my wildest dreams I would not have come up with this combination but once decided we went back and forth up and down the lie angles with the added 1/2" and it always balanced out at these specs.

I  can understand the upright lie angle even though it goes against my misses. I'm sure we discussed it but I can't figure out why we are adding the 1/2"???

As is normal, doubts are creeping in as I prepare to order this set.

Any input would be appreciated!

Buying golf clubs is something I would compare to buying a car; you are making a purchase that is a long-term investment in most cases and so you had better make sure it is the right purchase for your needs. Having said that I have been fitted before and am about to get it done again. Since my last fitting I have definitely changed (aged) and my swing has got to be slower. Because I am about to turn 50 and my wife wants to buy me new irons for the big five-o, I am going to get fitted again. I already have a really good idea of what my needs are but sort of want professional verification.

In your case if there are ANY doubts, get a second opinion. Or better yet ask of you can take the potential club to the range. In my case the shop took my CC info and let me walk out with a demo 6 iron. Off I went to my range where I could really get a feel for how it hit and I was able to compare the proposed new 6 to my old one. This was some 10 years ago when I got fitted last time around but I already asked the shop doing this fitting and am already satisfied that they will once again allow me to really take it for a test drive, pun intended.

I bought some face tape so that I could really see where I was making contact, warmed up, and went about hitting the new 6. After two large buckets of balls I was "sold"; I had added about 5 to 10 yards from my old 6 iron and the power draw was dead on. I pulled the trigger and ordered that original set that very day.

I have often told my fellow golfing friends that getting fitted is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. For the better part of two hours you have the undivided attention of a golf pro whose sole purpose for that moment is to help improve your game by putting new technology to work for you. Between the photos, and contact tape, and the other factors measured it was an incredible experience. Some 5 rounds after the purchase I had dropped my cap into the single digits and never looked back. And that, afterall, is THE main reason that we amateurs get fitted; to play the game we love better.

Hope this helps!

I actually went back and had two other pros check the results, both came up with 3* upright & no extra length. I then went to the person who knows my swing best and discussed the results.

What we decided is over the long winter the only practice I've had is putting inside. I putt with a more upright posture and my hands held quite high at address. I had carried this setup to the irons when I got fitted causing me to stand too upright and roll my wrists going back coming over the top in the downswing causing a toe down effect. I hit a few into the net dropping my hands down into their normal position at address and got back to my normal swing. We adjusted a 6 iron to .75* upright and went outside in the cold for some real life ballflight.

The moral of the story is I ordered standard length, .75* upright and now have complete confidence.

If doubt creeps in - check & recheck until you are sure. Make sure you bring your normal swing to the fitting!

i have my clients swing every club on the lie board because there are inconsistencies in the clubs and your swing that can require different lie angles than just saying all of them are .75* upright from some "standard" or even from one test club.  i've often found that two clubs may require the same lie angle.  you can check them yourself.

Got refitted again and pulled the trigger on some Callaway X-24 Hot Irons. I cannot believe the difference! The only negative is the poor quality of the black finish; after just a few hits it had worn completely off on both the soles and faces. This does not affect the playability whatsoever.

I ended up with some odd results but noone could possibly argue with the measurements when they see the scores I am shooting now. I have had them for one month now and have shot the three lowest rounds of my life with them! (78, 76, and 74 - with my first 9 under par!)

If only more golfers realized just how much getting fitted could positively affect their game. And let's face it; if you are playing better you enjoy it more.

By the way, for those who were wondering "Why the X-24 set?"

Simple...

I looked at the Ping irons and simply did not like how they looked at setup. Way too different than what I was used to. My game wasn't really ready to completely and totally get away from Game Improvement irons and the prices on a new set of the 24's made them an unbeatable bargain. What has surprised me the most is the distance. 8 to 12 yards further consistently and they still come in high and soft so holding the greens isn't hard.

That was interesting reading,,thanks,, I'm sixty six, play off a nine handicap and I'm heading for my first set of fitted clubs before the new season starts. I was curious about other golfers experiences regarding fitting,, your post was excellent.

buteman.

Your getting more distance because the X2's are between 3° and 4° weaker lofts.

for example the 5 iron is 23° compared to I25's 5 iron which is 27°.