Lesson and Custom Fitting and Clubs - Chicken and Egg

[turtleback]

So I have a son-in-law that I really like, and he plays.  Not great, averages 100-110 on a normal course.  For his birthday I got him a series of 5 lessons (he's never had lessons before) from a well-regarded local pro.  He hasn't started them yet.  For Christmas I am getting him a fitting and clubs from a local clubmaker with credentials and equipment out the wazoo:

 

Quote

Certified FlightScope Professional
KBS Custom Fitting Certificate.
GCA 2009 – 2010 Wyoming Clubmaker of the Year
AGCP Certified Level 10
Golf Clubmakers Association (GCA)
Golfsmith “Advanced Clubmaking, Fitting, & Repair”
Golfsmith “Complete Clubmaker” Training
OptimalFlight 2010 Certified

• FlightScope® 3D Doppler Tracking Golf Radar
• Mitchell Loft and Lie Bending Machine
• Auditor Frequency Analyzer
• Auditor MOI Club Scale
• Digital Swingweight Scale
• Shaft Extractor
• Pro Spine Tool
• Shop and Fitting Area

And following the fitting I will be having the clubmaker make him 13 clubs (he already has a putter he really likes and putting is one of the better parts of his game).  I'll let the clubmaker and him work out how many 'woods', how many and which hybrids, how many and which irons, and how many and which wedges.  Other than paying I don't want to inject myself into the process.

So my question for the board is which should happen first, the fitting/building of the clubs or the lessons?  I can see arguments on both sides and I just thought this would be a good place from which to get some input.  Thoughts?

Edited 2 hours ago by turtleback

[dennyjones]

Lessons.   I asked Erik this once and he said a good player could shoot a good score with less-than-adequate clubs.