Advice on fitting?

bd33 · June 12, 2012

Hey all - I need some advice on getting fit for clubs. I'm currently playing to an 8 handicap and just getting back into golf after taking a number of years off. At my prime I was a +2, but that was a little more than a decade ago. Anyway, I need new clubs and am getting frustrated with the fitting process. I went through a session with FlightScope X2 which gave me these numbers (averages):

Driver: 121 mph swing speed:172 mph ball speed: carry of 249

6 iron: 102 mph swing speed:139 mph ball speed: carry of 180

I know that I put a lot of spin on the ball, especially with the driver, as it will actually spin backwards in the fairway. As for my fitting sessions - I went to my local country club and was told they don't stock shafts for my swing speed and I should try a demo day. I went to demo days for Titleist and Mizuno and was essentially told the same thing. Both of the fitters said iron wise, I would need to hardstep the shafts, and some other custom stuff. That's fine in all, and I don't have a problem paying the money to do that. However, I'm not willing to guess and throw a lot of money at something I can't hit and see the results beforehand. So, is there any place I can go where I can actually take some swings with this equipment? I live in Central Pa. and willing to travel if need be.

My current clubs are (won these as part of a raffle):

driver: Callaway FT5 10 deg with Fujikura R shaft

wood: Callaway FT 15 deg and 19 deg with Fujikura R shafts

irons/wedges: Callaway X-24 R graphite shaft

Thanks for any suggestions.

**bhp1404** · June 13, 2012

What ever you do you have to get a steel shaft. Your swing speed is way too high for a graphite shaft, especially regular. I might be wrong but a carry of 180 doesnt seem like a lot for a 102 mph swing. I carry 170 with a 85 mph swing. Maybe the whip of the graphite shaft affected your ball striking. You definately need a Stiff or X-Stiff shaft.

Driver wise you should look at Ping i20. It is probably the best low spin driver on the market and you can get it in a Project X Black shaft, which is also low spin. Again you probably need a X-Stiff shaft.

I am not from Pa. but you should find a local golf shop. They usually have things that the big stores and clubs dont have.

**Mr3Wiggle** · June 13, 2012

Originally Posted by bd33

Hey all - I need some advice on getting fit for clubs. I'm currently playing to an 8 handicap and just getting back into golf after taking a number of years off. At my prime I was a +2, but that was a little more than a decade ago. Anyway, I need new clubs and am getting frustrated with the fitting process. I went through a session with FlightScope X2 which gave me these numbers (averages):

Driver: 121 mph swing speed:172 mph ball speed: carry of 249

6 iron: 102 mph swing speed:139 mph ball speed: carry of 180

I know that I put a lot of spin on the ball, especially with the driver, as it will actually spin backwards in the fairway. As for my fitting sessions - I went to my local country club and was told they don't stock shafts for my swing speed and I should try a demo day. I went to demo days for Titleist and Mizuno and was essentially told the same thing. Both of the fitters said iron wise, I would need to hardstep the shafts, and some other custom stuff. That's fine in all, and I don't have a problem paying the money to do that. However, I'm not willing to guess and throw a lot of money at something I can't hit and see the results beforehand. So, is there any place I can go where I can actually take some swings with this equipment? I live in Central Pa. and willing to travel if need be.

My current clubs are (won these as part of a raffle):

driver: Callaway FT5 10 deg with Fujikura R shaft

wood: Callaway FT 15 deg and 19 deg with Fujikura R shafts

irons/wedges: Callaway X-24 R graphite shaft

Thanks for any suggestions.

Wait. Titleist and Mizuno said they don't stock shafts for your swing speed?

**x129** · June 13, 2012

Both of them have shafts for that swing speed. Now if a guy at the demo day carries a shaft for a 1:1000 type swing speed is a different issue. And expecting to be able to test a hard stepped shaft is also pretty unlikely. Generally you hit the shafts and say I want it a little stiffer and they hard step it. Some places will have xStiff shafts for you to try but you are going to have to call around to find one. Call titleist and ask them where to go. Heck they probably would have set the demo day guy up with some shafts if they new. My limited experience has been they have been very accomadating. Just be prepared to learn the shaft you need costs 300 bucks. YMMV. As far as graphite in irons, they made graphite for any swing speed these days. But good luck finding a place to test that out.

As far as distances, his are pathetic for his club head speed. He should be looking at close to 30-50 yards more if he optimizes his launch conditions. I am guessing his irons have ballooning issues due too much spin but that is a guess.

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

Wait. Titleist and Mizuno said they don't stock shafts for your swing speed?

**Mr3Wiggle** · June 13, 2012

Originally Posted by x129

Both of them have shafts for that swing speed. Now if a guy at the demo day carries a shaft for a 1:1000 type swing speed is a different issue. And expecting to be able to test a hard stepped shaft is also pretty unlikely. Generally you hit the shafts and say I want it a little stiffer and they hard step it. Some places will have xStiff shafts for you to try but you are going to have to call around to find one. Call titleist and ask them where to go. Heck they probably would have set the demo day guy up with some shafts if they new. My limited experience has been they have been very accomadating. Just be prepared to learn the shaft you need costs 300 bucks. YMMV. As far as graphite in irons, they made graphite for any swing speed these days. But good luck finding a place to test that out.

As far as distances, his are pathetic for his club head speed. He should be looking at close to 30-50 yards more if he optimizes his launch conditions. I am guessing his irons have ballooning issues due too much spin but that is a guess.

It surprises me that two companies that are known for making clubs for serious golfers wouldn't stock a few xstiff shafts in their demo cart.

**LBlack14** · June 13, 2012

I suggest you probably don't listen to much advice here, but with that SS definitely get OFF the "R" flex shafts. I'm surprised you haven't snapped one yet.

bd33 · June 13, 2012

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

Wait. Titleist and Mizuno said they don't stock shafts for your swing speed?

Sorry, I should have been more clear. They said they do stock the shafts, but they didn't have the shafts in stock with them. They both had recommendations for me, but that's a blind leap of faith, I'm not willing to take - buying club/shaft combo that I can't hit.

bd33 · June 13, 2012

Originally Posted by x129

Both of them have shafts for that swing speed. Now if a guy at the demo day carries a shaft for a 1:1000 type swing speed is a different issue. And expecting to be able to test a hard stepped shaft is also pretty unlikely. Generally you hit the shafts and say I want it a little stiffer and they hard step it. Some places will have xStiff shafts for you to try but you are going to have to call around to find one. Call titleist and ask them where to go. Heck they probably would have set the demo day guy up with some shafts if they new. My limited experience has been they have been very accomadating. Just be prepared to learn the shaft you need costs 300 bucks. YMMV. As far as graphite in irons, they made graphite for any swing speed these days. But good luck finding a place to test that out.

As far as distances, his are pathetic for his club head speed. He should be looking at close to 30-50 yards more if he optimizes his launch conditions. I am guessing his irons have ballooning issues due too much spin but that is a guess.

Thanks for the info and I'll contact them directly. The only reason I'm playing with the clubs in the aforementioned post is because that's what I won at a raffle. I had been finished with golf for around 10 years and I've only played 4 rounds with the new clubs. The numbers I got on FlightScope were with the Callaway clubs. The stuff I hit at demo days definitely improved the ball flight and distances, but both guys said it was far from ideal. They made recommendations on what club/shaft combo's to get, but that is a blind leap of faith I'm hesitant to make. They both said for irons it was a hardstep x100. Neither had an x100 I could hit.

**x129** · June 14, 2012

What did you hit at the demo day? I would expect most places to have project x 6.0 or KBS stiff clubs which are probably a step down from what you want (unless you are freddie couples smooth loading the club) but they should be much closer to what you need. You are a fitters dream since they should be able to get you 20+ yards. Looks good in the promo material. If you want to spend a little money (2-40 bucks) you can probably get a 6 iron on ebay with the x100 (assuming you play roughly standard clubs) to get a feel for what the shaft is like.

Originally Posted by bd33

Thanks for the info and I'll contact them directly. The only reason I'm playing with the clubs in the aforementioned post is because that's what I won at a raffle. I had been finished with golf for around 10 years and I've only played 4 rounds with the new clubs. The numbers I got on FlightScope were with the Callaway clubs. The stuff I hit at demo days definitely improved the ball flight and distances, but both guys said it was far from ideal. They made recommendations on what club/shaft combo's to get, but that is a blind leap of faith I'm hesitant to make. They both said for irons it was a hardstep x100. Neither had an x100 I could hit.

**WUTiger** · June 14, 2012

About demo days...

They're great for testing out equipment, but not particularly good for getting actual custom fitting - too many people competing for the fitter's attention. Friday morning was nice, but once the weekend crowd hit at lunch time the lines got long.

At a recent event I went to, the fitting carts that allow you to swap out heads and shafts seemed to be geared to SGI and mid-GI irons. Your Player's and GI-bridge clubs were available with a full demo set (i.e., 4i-PW), with only a couple of shaft varieties.

Now, if you find a standard club that fits your swing as is - maybe you've tested it elsewhere first - this might be a go. I got a new adjustable driver - the tech helped me tweak the settings and I actually bought it on the spot.

If you don't want to buy right then, get a second fitting with full launch monitor and impact tape data.

bd33 · June 16, 2012

Originally Posted by x129

What did you hit at the demo day? I would expect most places to have project x 6.0 or KBS stiff clubs which are probably a step down from what you want (unless you are freddie couples smooth loading the club) but they should be much closer to what you need. You are a fitters dream since they should be able to get you 20+ yards. Looks good in the promo material. If you want to spend a little money (2-40 bucks) you can probably get a 6 iron on ebay with the x100 (assuming you play roughly standard clubs) to get a feel for what the shaft is like.

Iron wise I hit the MP69's from Mizuno with an S300 and the Titleist was the MB's with an S300. I was really looking for something that rivaled my old Titleist Tour irons (1995 ish). Both guys told me I would need an X100 hardstepped and the Mizuno guy said maybe a double hardstep. They each said their companies did that suff, just that they don't stock that kind of stuff for the demos.

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