Just got my new CG Reds, questions about getting them fitted.

[RocktimusPryme]

So I just got my new irons in the mail yesterday. And it seems like the buzzword I continually read in magaines, as well as this board is fitting, fitting, fitting . So I think Im going to go get them fitted in the next couple of months, but I have a few questions.

1. My biggest worry with fitting has always been the fact that they supposedly tailor the clubs to fit your swing. Fine, but while I dont make dramatic changes anymore, I do still feel like a tweak little changes to my swing often. Would this make getting fitted counter-effective.

2. How much is the fitting actually done to match your swing and not just your size. Because Im just about as average sized as you can get. If I cant play standard length and lie somebody has their data misconstrued.

3. I dont want to go to a specific brand fitting place (theres a callaway center here) because I dont carry their clubs. I did find out that theres a Hot Stix center here though, whose name Ive seen in a few magazines so thats goood news. Does anyone have any experience with them?

4. Last but not least, price. Hot Stix website has a few different levels of fitting. The Premium Package is supposed to be $795, expensive, but not that bad. My question is this, that tells me how my clubs should be set up. but do I then have to go about buying new shafts and everything for all my clubs. Does that $800 quickly turn into a $2500 project?


Any feedback appreciated

[Righty to Lefty]

My first questions is that you must have bought them used or you should have been fitted for them as you bought them. At least a basic Length, shaft flex, and Lie angle fitting would have got you on your way and sufficed until you wanted to go into a more detailed fitting. Okay now my next comment is don't you buy new shoes as your foot grows? Well your swing is the same way. It is not likely that your length and lie angle will change that much unless you are young and still growing but the basic fitting for that can be done at golf galaxy for 25 bucks. My first set of clubs were fitted in a golf galaxy in about an hour and I was very pleased with those clubs. Can you play with clubs that aren't fit to you, YES. Can you play well with them, MAYBE. Can you play your best that you are capable of playing, NO. You don't need a Hot Stixx fitting unless your are just that into your game and feel that you must have your equipment optimized to the max but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if you have questions about whether or not to get fitted then you don't have any clue about what swingweight, shaft frequncy, loft, or how many wraps of grip tape you want under your left and right hand when building your grips while going through a Hot Stixx Fitting. Well I'm 6 ft 1 and I play standard length and lie because they actually fit me nearly perfect and I'm not average size so you don't know actually what your measurements are if you don't get them checked. Then there is a confidence factor standing over the ball knowing that your gear is properly fitted to you. You say it doesn't matter but oh it does. Get at least a basic fitting, your game will thank you!

[I KyotE I]

What does that basic fitting provide? is that just what is recomended? And for poster, doesn't it say what 800 bones will get you? Like stated if it goes down to swing weights, do you really need that unless you are makeing a good profit out of golf?

[RocktimusPryme]

My first questions is that you must have bought them used or you should have been fitted for them as you bought them. At least a basic Length, shaft flex, and Lie angle fitting would have got you on your way and sufficed until you wanted to go into a more detailed fitting. Okay now my next comment is don't you buy new shoes as your foot grows? Well your swing is the same way. It is not likely that your length and lie angle will change that much unless you are young and still growing but the basic fitting for that can be done at golf galaxy for 25 bucks. My first set of clubs were fitted in a golf galaxy in about an hour and I was very pleased with those clubs.

They are new off of ebay. Im 24 so Im not doing much growing anymore, Im 5'10 and average build. As far as how serious I am about my game, its the only hobby I have really so Im pretty serious. Ive been playing for a year and a half. If I only played twice a month for the next 6 months I would still avg. 100/rounds per year over those 2 years. And not really shy about spending money I just dont want to waste it. I never said I didnt think fitting would matter, I just want feedback on how much it matters, and if I should wait until Im extremely confident Im going to put the exact same swing on every shot for quite a while.

If my length and lie arent likely to need to be adjusted again once I have had it done, what else would I have to worry about changing aside from the shafts if my swing speeds up or slows down? Speaking relative to swing changes over time that is Hot Stixx offers the Premium package I mentioned for $800 is a complete outdoor evaluation. Your sand play, short game, mid irons. Down to what ball they think you should use. I guess you and a pro just go outside in a practice facility, and go at it all day. They have a mid-level one that's just basic swing analysis. Shaft Frequency tests, loft and lie adjustments, and a putter fitting for $475 And then they have individual fittings $200 for woods, $200 for irons/wedges, and $75 for your putter. Im going to assume the individual package isnt a single club, but all of your irons for example. As far as the shafts go, I guess they will tell me if they think I should switch shafts, and then its up to me to buy new ones if I so chose. But everything else is done on the spot.

[golf_junkie27]

That is really expensive for a fitting. I paid $250 for mine and got everything you mentioned.

Before you get fitted, you should write down everything that you want to be able to do. Hit certain irons, higher, for instance. Depending on the climate that you're used to playing in, the type of grip, matters. As does the size.

You've already purchased the clubs but work can be done to them. It does not have to be expensive. If you need to change just the grips and lie angles, that should not cost you more than $10, a club. The most changing shafts will cost you is roughly $35, installation included.

Lastly, a good fitter will have every type of ball, available. This way, you can see your results both as you play and on the launch monitor.

A fitting is well worth it. With most clubs, you can bend them +/-2* so I would not worry so much about any swing change.

[PiKapp23]

There are 2 types of fitting - static and dynamic. A static fitting is where they check your height, hand size, swing speed and maybe your swing on a strike board (for lie angle). Then they fit you based on those stats by matching them to a list that says if height is 'x', then club length should be 'y', etc. This is the type of fitting that you normally get at a retail golf/sporting goods store (and is often free when purchasing clubs). This is fine, except that your swing is not like anyone elses so these static fitting criteria may not apply to you. Additionally, they do not include all fitting categories. With that said, for most golfers this fitting is usually sufficient.

The second type of fitting is a 'dyanmic' fitting. This is a lot more comprehensive and goes into a lot more than the static fitting (including loft adjustments for distance gap management). Typically the fitters are not just following a list that says 'if x, then y'. They will be assessing your swing and attempting to fit clubs to your particular body, swing and tendencies. This process is usually quite a bit more expensive. Hot Stixx does this type of fitting. This type of fitting is usually the best thing to do when you are buying new clubs because they will attempt to fit a particular set of clubs to your needs. When you are having your current clubs fitted they are somewhat more limited as you may not have the right clubs for you to begin with based on their fitting.

If you're serious about your game then I think a complete dynamic fitting may be worthwhile if you want to spend the money. The clubs you purchased I believe are a 'cast' club instead of 'forged' so they can not be adjusted as much (if necessary), but usually they can still be adjusted +/- 1-2*, which should suffice in most cases.

I would love to go to Hot Stixx from some of the stuff I have read, but it's possible you might find another company that will do just as comprehensive a fitting as them for less cost. They do have a good national reputation, though (providing you are talking about the one in Scottsdale, AZ).