Why aren't you getting fit?

[Awsi Dooger]

I simply don't trust them to care enough, in a small window of time that is often merely part of their path to punching out. I was in a major golf shop today. The clubfitter was incredibly knowledgeable, and shared some interesting anecdotes, but he failed to ask 2 or 3 basic questions that had a direct bearing on my reshafting. I had to go back and tell him, after I literally was out the door before remembering the topics had not come up. He said, "Oh yeah, you're right, I better write that down."

When I walked out the door and then came back in, after being gone literally 10 seconds, a salesman welcomed me, as if he'd never seen me before. He had no clue he'd robotically said the same thing to me about 45 minutes earlier. High volume stores like that give no impression it's personal touch. You need to get very lucky.

More than 15 years ago I was fitted for grips at a mega golf store in Las Vegas. A young kid quickly looked at my left hand on a club and said I needed standard. My hands aren't close to standard. I'm 6-4 and generally about 200 pounds. I'm lefthanded in everything but golf so my left hand is larger than my right hand, and larger than typical for a righty golfer of my frame. Subsequently I've had many clubfitters chuckle that I was fitted for standard. It's always midsize to oversize, depending on the type of grip. That initial botched fitting left me skeptical of golf fitting in general.

I sample the threads, here and elsewhere, posters who love to rave about their new sticks and precise fitting. Let's face it, when you've put down time and significant money toward a specific goal, you want encouragement that it was worthwhile, sharper than the crowd. Meanwhile, I play several times per week with guys who've gone through that, often multiple times. Their faults are repeated with fancy clubs, slightly different looking than last year's. I'm not buying it. Reminds me of car salesmen who insist you need a new vehicle every three years. I couldn't have laughed harder at the equipment editor of a major golf magazine a few months ago, literally begging everyone to get new drivers every two years, and mocking pro am celebs who were playing with clubs from earlier this decade. I checked the cover. It was no annual equipment issue. No kidding.

[st0wgolf08]

This is a very good point. The selection is based on a couple of shots, if you make the smallest change in your swing, or even a big one, wouldn't that render the fitting useless? If you are Tiger Woods and can change the clubs from day to day and your swing doesn't change that much at a time, I see the point of fitting, but for an amateur that hasn't enabled a consistent swing yet, I don't find it necessary.

Well I certainly have a consistent swing, just if I see possible improvement, I will always gain go for it, whether it be distance or accuracy.

[IcemanYVR]

This is a very good point. The selection is based on a couple of shots, if you make the smallest change in your swing, or even a big one, wouldn't that render the fitting useless?

Golf is about returning the clubface square at impact. There are literally 1000's of ways to do that. (different swing planes, paths, etc...) I don't think that making changes in the swing will have that much impact on a set of clubs that is fit correctly.

My thoughts only, if someone has proof otherwise, would love to read about it...

[Zeph]

Is there any proof that fitting does help? If so, does it depend on handicap?

I thought fitting was to fit the clubs to your body and your swing. If you change the swing, how can you be sure the fitting is still optimal? The thing I agree on is that fitting to make changes for your height, hand size etc. can be useful, still, for someone average, where you don't have to change much, I don't see the big gain from it.

[iacas]

To answer some questions... two things that stood out to me in talking with a master clubfitter from a number of years ago:

1) Dynamic fittings - hitting balls outside in normal weather - is pretty much a must. You're better off sticking with the specs you have than doing a dynamic fitting most of the time, because at least you'll keep your consistency.

In other words, try to get a dynamic fitting.

2) Fitting is different for different clubs. Some people swing their metal woods (lighter flex) but hit with their irons (stiffer flex). Get fit for all clubs, not just "once."

In other words, get fit for your driver. Your 3W. Your hybrid. Your irons. Your wedges. And your putter... separately. Sounds like a pain, but fortunately...

3) Your swing dynamics rarely change throughout your life unless, to use his example, you have an accident or something that changes you physically - i.e. you bang up your knee, you get back surgery, whatever. He said that if you're at all consistent enough to get fit (roughly 18 handicap or better), your swing dynamics will rarely change throughout your life, even if you become a +2 handicap. He's fit a few hundred people 20 years apart or more, and 20 strokes apart or more, and they require no changes or, occasionally, a very small change only.

The last one surprised me. Maybe it's more a comment on people's habits than anything else, but the guy's a mini legend and people travel four hours to be fit by him, so I take his word for it.

[Ken Smith]

The publication "Golf Shop Operations" reported last year that 33 golf club companies offered some type of formal custom clubfitting system, including many of the industry's leading OEM manufacturers. More recently, "Golf Digest's" online poll disclosed that nearly 90% of those surveyed believe that they would play better with custom-fit clubs, but only 33% of those same respondents have ever been fitted. All of this suggests that custom-fitting has achieved national acceptance, and a tremendous market exists for custom-fit clubs. To meet this demand, these same OEM manufacturers have begun marketing custom-fit clubs as one of their areas of expertise. But, with a little smoke and mirrors routine, they deliver nothing more than another production-line set of clubs. Rather than getting away from their financially-profitable, production-line methods, and producing truly custom-fit clubs, the major OEM's continue to push clubhead design as the answer to our performance problems. They continue to change them each and every year and tell us that this year's model will improve our game even more than last year's. Now, there is a lot to be said for the improved designs, but it is not the answer. They have been designing clubs USGA limits for years. I, like you, feel that every golfer should be professionally fit prior to purchasing clubs of the rack.

[flopdarock]

To answer some questions... two things that stood out to me in talking with a master clubfitter from a number of years ago:

everyone always asks why i play stiff irons and reg flex woods... the statement in bold is the reason... i have a vague clue on why this happens and im taking lessons to sling my woods around faster... but in the mean time... what i have in my set up fits me for now

[Chief Broom]

Why aren't you getting fit?

Cost and finding an able and accomplished fitter in my area.

I'd like to go the getting properly fit route for my next set of clubs. I see this as a worthwhile investment, but as that implies doing so isn't the best way to save money when buying clubs.

[Pat007]

I would definitely get fit for my next set. However, it's pretty expensive to get fit and I buy most my clubs off of eBay anyway. In addition, because I'm still in high school, I'm still growing and my swing is still changing. I don't want to shell out the money now for something that won't fit me two years from now.

9 times out of 10, fitting is included in the price...won't cost you anything

[TN94z]

From the fitters that I have been contacting, if you buy clubs from them as a result of the fitting, then it is free of charge. If you don't buy clubs from them, then the average rate I have been seeing is 50.00. That is not that expensive for something that can be so important to your game. That was the price for a fitting from woods to putter.

One question I do have for you guys is this: Will there be much difference between a fitting done using Vector or Tracman as compared to a fitting done hitting on the range?

[Pat007]

What I would find interesting is to have 3-4 identical sets with different lie and loft and play around with all of them over a year to see if there was any difference.

That's why companies like Titleist have fitting carts with interchangeable heads and shafts. You can hit the same head with different shafts, side-by-side, etc.

[Chief Broom]

9 times out of 10, fitting is included in the price...won't cost you anything

True, but you're paying full retail. Depending on what route you take (buying used, discounted, etc.) you can buy the "same" club for easily half that price.

[TN94z]

My local shop just told me that a complete fitting is 25.00. Buy your clubs half off and then get fitted for 25.00. Can't beat that.