Went to get fitted for new set at GolfGalaxy

[BigEd]

I was looking for a new set of clubs and Golf Galaxy has Tm rac OS2's for clearence so I decided to go with them.

So I go thru the club fitting test and I'm 6'4" with 38" wrist to floor and my club speed is 109-111 mph which called for 1 up and 4 degree and stiff shaft. So then I started swinging the club and the fitter got all confused and said something wasn't right. I swung on a black mat, which felt awkward, and then they looked at the tape.Then he calls his manager over and I take a few more swings and his manager is confused and said that isn't the right fit for me. The 25 year-old manager then proceeds to tell me to take a lesson with the instore pro.

I told him my swing is fine and I have no complaints with my irons... we then basically argued back and forth and eventually I just left the store and told them they lost a sale.

I'm not exactly sure what my handicap is but in all my rounds this year I have shot between a 84 thru 90.

What do you all think? Should I take a lesson or go get refitted somewhere else?

[FAHooGolfs]

GolfGalaxy is supposed to have licensed club fitters in their store so I'm not sure really what the problem was.

If you shoot usually between 84 and 90, you're probably somewhere in the 12 handicap range, maybe 11.

There's nothing wrong with taking lessons, they'll definitely help you get better, but I would definitely recommend getting fitted before you buy a set of irons.

[BigEd]

Sorry I just signed up and I didn't edit the handicap thing on my profile.


The manager held a black piece of plastic about 1.5 ft over the ball and told me to take my normal swing but it felt really uncomfortable not seeeing what I was swinging at and all the swings were off. When I swung with nothing over the ball blocking my view, marks were consistent.

All the marks were consistent just to the right of the center or between the center and the edge of the head.

Yes, 1 inch over and 4 deg. upright.

He couldn't understand why I couldn't hit the ball without seeing it... the guy was a know-it-all punk IMHO.

[rodneylips]

Hello, I am new to the site. Do you guys reccomend getting fitted when purchasing a new driver? I have had a Ping Driver for about 5 years now and I need a new one but I have never been fitted for any club before. Would any of you reccomend the new Ping G5?

[BigEd]

If they were going to block your view why not blindfold you. I honestly have never seen that done before in a club fit. They may have been trying to get you to swing thru rather than hit at the ball.

Who knows what he was trying to do. And yes, they were near the toe. I think everything was off because I felt clostraphobic hitting in that small cage off a black piece of plastic.

The guy really pissed me off. He even said that my club speed in reality isn't 110 MPH because I was swinging too hard in the simulator to see if I could hit my drive farther. When he asked how far my drives were and I said 300 yds, as what registered on the sim., he laughed. I think I'm just going to go to the other Golf Galaxy in my town where my buddy got fitted, forget about this incident, and try there. He said he had good results. This may sounds stupid and conceited but I don't want a damn lesson to change my swing. I'm happy with in and I've been playing awesome all summer. I'm not looking to join the damn tour.The reason why I'm getting new clubs is me and my dad share a set and it has become difficult because we are both playing 2, sometimes 3, times a week. I never thought this process would be so frustrating.

[iacas]

I never thought this process would be so frustrating.

It shouldn't be. You got a jackass for a fitter. I know it may not sound happy now, but I recommend finding someone else to fit you.

[DDBowdoin]

cant agree more... ******* fitter, if you want to feel a little more secuirty search your favorite manufacturers and look for their demo/fitting days so you can get fitted by a company tech rep

[Rafcin]

Hello, I am new to the site. Do you guys reccomend getting fitted when purchasing a new driver? I have had a Ping Driver for about 5 years now and I need a new one but I have never been fitted for any club before. Would any of you reccomend the new Ping G5?

Driver fitting is a bit easier than irons, most players will do fine with stanard length and lie is (to the best of my knowledge) not adjustable... However - to find a proper shaft (bend-characteristics and stiffness) and optimal face loft to maximize distance with reduced spin - is very important. All you need is a launch monitor and a professional fitter (reading this thread I'd recommend Golfsmith

)

[slimeberry]

Golf Galaxy is a joke!!! Sorry. I have shopped there several times. I have a good friend who is a club repairer at one, and he is good. He is also, unfortunatley, the exception, not the rule.

They typically have one "PGA" Manager on staff, a few guys who are pretty good @ club repair, reshafting, etc, but the guys on the sales floor are high school and college aged kids. No offense to that age group, as there are many out there that could kick my ass on the course.

The screens are rigged. I went in to one to hit the G5 when it was first released. The screen said my AVERAGE drive was 340 yds. Now come on... I have hit some pretty long drives in the few years I have been playing, but there is NO WAY my AVERAGE drive is 340. It's a gimic to pump you up about the club you are hitting.

Go to your local pro shop @ your home track. Everyone assumes that because it is a "golf warehouse" w/ HUGE amounts of inventory, that they are cheaper. Let me give you an example...

Cobra F Speed
Golf Galaxy - $299.00 / My club - $259.00

Titleist Voky Spin Milled 60.o
Golf Galaxy - $109.00 / My club - $89.00

Etc, etc, etc...

Your pro will take you out on the range to hit balls off of the deck, off of a board, and off of a tee. He / She will put tape on the face and sole to check what your lie angle and shaft length should be, etc. I have never seen anyone use something to block your sight of the ball, but thats just me. The shop might have to order your set / club, but it's worth waiting 7 to 10 days, because you know it will be right. Most golfers are not standard, off the rack, specs when it comes to irons and wedges anyway.

I think that hitting off of a mat is fine for indoor golf, but, no matter what Golf Galaxy says, you can't see the ball flight on a screen like you can on the range. Plus, you feel like you are in an underground bunker waiting for the bomb to go off. I hate hitting in a simulator.

Plus, you have a personal relationship w/ the guys at your home track. Why not support them. Give them your business. Why give Golf Galaxy your money so they can put another mom and pop golf shop out of business when you can give it to your course. In turn, your money helps pay for course improvements and maintenace. You can see and enjoy your money come full circle. If more people supported local business I think communities in general would be better off.

[gas_can]

Big Ed,

There's a saying in the biz that the fitting you get is only as good as the person doing it. The problem with "Walmarts" of the golf world is that you never know who's going to do your fitting.

In the Houston area, Golfsmith has some VERY knowledgeable guys working at one store and complete idiots working at the other two. It's a crap shoot with these stores. Stick to local guys who will work one on one with you and have a good reputation.

What part of the country are you in? Hopefully someone will be able to chime in.

As far as fitting goes. Quite a a few people, including myself, hit golf clubs differently indoors than outdoors. From your description of "claustrophobia" I imagine you're one as well. Do yourself a favor and get fit outside off of grass where you can see the ball flight in person.

Three cardinal rules of fitting:

1. Length affects contact on the face and should be estabilished first, swing the longest club you can make consistent contact in the center
2. Lie affects direction and should be done next. Some peole swing their long irons differently than the ir short irons, so fit EACH club individually. Yes, it's just as important to get your sand and lob wedges fit for lie as well as your irons.
3. Length and lie are interrelated. 1/2" changes in length = 1* changes in lie.

If any of that is confusing, or if you have any more questions, please ask away and I'll try and answer them.

[BigEd]

Gas_can this is a great response, thanks. I'm in St. Louis and I've been looking/contacting professional fitters the past few days.

As far as fitting goes. Quite a a few people, including myself, hit golf clubs differently indoors than outdoors. From your description of "claustrophobia" I imagine you're one as well. Do yourself a favor and get fit outside off of grass where you can see the ball flight in person.

I think this is totally true in my case.

Only really prob I have with my irons in the teebox. 2 out of 3 times I hook them... I think its all in my head really. I have the same prob at the range of the mat... I can't hit a damn iron to save my life! I played a quick 9 today and on the 2 par 3's I hooked my irons of the tee but the rest of the day in the fairway and rough I was sticking my irons right on the pin. I have came to a conclusion that if I need to spend an extra few hundred bucks but a fitter who actually listens and helps me, I'm going to do it. Whats a few hundred bux? Maybe a couple rounds... I totally felt uncomfortable with the whole GG situation and embrassed to the point where the ******* made me feel like I shouldn't even be golfing. I guess I need to find a fitter that won't try to give me lessons on the spot, realizes that I'm happy with my current game, and can fit me for my inconsistencies. Never again will I do Walmart bunker fitting and now I will steer all my acquaintences from it. This forum has really helped alot! Ed

[rodneylips]

Driver fitting is a bit easier than irons, most players will do fine with stanard length and lie is (to the best of my knowledge) not adjustable... However - to find a proper shaft (bend-characteristics and stiffness) and optimal face loft to maximize distance with reduced spin - is very important. All you need is a launch monitor and a professional fitter (reading this thread I'd recommend Golfsmith

Thank you for your advice Rafcin. I am a self taught golfer and I swing pretty hard. I just want to make sure that I get the right shaft for my swing. I will get a stiff shaft if it is reccomended but I don't want it if I don't need it.

Have you heard any good things about the G5 by Ping?

[DDBowdoin]

whats your normal swing speed , and by normal I mean on the tee looking down a fairway, not swining at 110% at a range?

[xy31]

Just to look at this from a different angle.

I think you should take a lesson from a good pro somewhere just to make sure your swing is ok. I have seen some pretty messed up swings in many "regular" golfers. You can actually get quite a low handicap with a "bad" swing. The problem is 1. at some point you will not be able to improve your HC anymore because it really is the wrong swing and 2. some of the bad swings really mess up your spine and when you get older you won't be able to play anymore at all b/c you messed up your back with your swing.

It is absolutely possible that everything is fine and the GG dude was just an idiot, but not having seen your swing, it is also possible that there was a grain of truth in his recomendation.

[Wood]

The problem is 1. at some point you will not be able to improve your HC anymore because it really is the wrong swing

Like Jim Furyk?

[gas_can]

Just to look at this from a different angle.

xy31, A clubfitter's sole job is to maximize a golfers performance using all means of technology, no matter what their swing dynamics. If a brand new golfer comes to me and wants to buy a set of clubs, I will fit them, advise them to take a lesson and then strongly advise them to come back and see me once they do. If I were fitting a golfer who has been plaing for 20 years with a horrible over the top move who consistently shoots in the low 90's and high 80's, I'd still do my best to fit him working with what he has. I'm not a teacher, I am a clubfitter.

[aquacooled]

xy31,

Thank God someone said it.. As a clubmaker our jobs are to fit or make club to fit our customer and their swings not to teach them a new swing.