Now I'm thoroughly confused!

[kleraudio]

I thought talking to PGA pros would clear up the confusion, but its made it worse!!

To start, I am 6'3" in golf shoes.

So I went to Golfsmith first, and asked the assistant store manager (he came up and asked if i needed help) what length iron I need. He grabbed a meter stick and told me I need an extra 1/2". Took him all of 5 seconds to tell me that....

So I tell him Im looking to hit the mizuno mx 200's. He goes on to tell me Mizuno's standard is (I forgot now) but its 3/4" inch short of "standard" so I'd need a 3/4" boost in length on that one...

Then he takes me to the Taylor made burner irons and said they already come 1/2" over standard which is why they are perfect for me. And he basically had me hit the burners and kept pushing the burners on me.....

Now Im wondering if I'm really a half inch longer or if he just wanted to sell me the burners....

He was a great guy though, he gave me a brand new 6 iron burner iron for free, to keep! And take to the course and hit with, to see if I like it....

So I went to Dicks and asked their pro if I need a longer length iron, he only looked at me and said "yes"..... You need one inch longer....... and thats it.... He stayed with me and showed me the board you hit off to check lie... I hit the 2 degrees toward the toe on the one inch long club, and 1 degree toward the toe on the standard length.....

So IM REALLY confused, as their is no standard length, what does getting a half inch longer really mean, when there is no standard...

Oh and shafts, thats another thread......

Thanks a ton for reading this, any insight is greatly appreciated!

Jim

[iacas]

You need a dynamic fitting with someone who watches you hit balls on the range. Go visit a club with a pro who can fit you into clubs. Ideally choose one with a fitting cart containing the clubs you want to buy (Titleist, Ping, whatever) just so you're looking down at a club you want to look at, but from there he can tell you REALLY what you need.

Dynamic fitting is the only way to go. You got static fitting - measurement of wrist-to-floor or something. How you set up to the golf ball can change that by two inches, easily.

[oregongolfguy]

Exactly what he said......you need to find someone, preferably a experienced PGA PRO who is also a experienced club fitter. And have him fit you outside on a range. To me it doesn't matter the brand he uses....only the fit, then you can take your exact specs and get whatever you want....

[jamo]

you need to be fitted first for the length, and the lie because changing the length will change the lie.

Also, standard just means that length and lie fit a "standard" body type. For example, if a Burner 5 iron is 40 in standard and has a 60* lie angle (made up numbers) and an MX 200 5 iron is 39 in standard, it will have something like a 62* lie angle (once again, made up). They change the lie based on the specific length of the iron, and call that "standard," but they all fit an overarching standard.

[kleraudio]

So if I get a dynamic fitting outdoors, and he says OK your a half inch longer, what does that mean if every company has their own "standard"??

1/2 long in one club may be only 1/4 in another...... I'd like to order my clubs online, or get them used if at all possible, but 1/2" long basically wont help me because 1/2" long is different for every company....Oh and if you lenghten do you need to change lie all the time, or can you just keep that the same?

Thanks a lot, very confused!

Jim

[iacas]

Even if every company has their own standards, a 38" 6I at 64° is 36" at 64°.

[kleraudio]

right, but do they fit you for each company? I guess thats what Im trying to ask in a messed up way...

I mean, will I know when Im done that im 1/2" long for cobra, 3/4" long and 1* up for Mizuno, standard length for taylormade but 2*up, you know what Im saying??

Thanks!

Jim

[Golfaway]

If you want the MX-200s, check online for the nearest Mizuno fitting centre. They should have everything done.

[kleraudio]

So get fitted for the clubs that I want then? Thats basically the chain of events...

Pick an iron set that you want, then get fitted by someone *for that set*, then order irons...?

Jim

[clearwaterms]

So get fitted for the clubs that I want then? Thats basically the chain of events...

yes, that is correct.

[kleraudio]

Beautiful, thanks! Where are you in Chicago by the way?

Oh and most fitters will fit me for clubs I already have right? Like if I buy a set on ebay, I can take em in and get fitted for them with no problems?


Jim

[clearwaterms]

Beautiful, thanks! Where are you in Chicago by the way?

Westchester, which is one town east of Oak Brook.

[kleraudio]

Cool I grew up in Des Plaines, moved to Glenview, and now Ive been in Tampa for the past 4 years......

Golf year round... Im not gonna be moving back anytime soon!

Jim

[clearwaterms]

Cool I grew up in Des Plaines, moved to Glenview, and now Ive been in Tampa for the past 4 years......

nice - My uncle was a police officer in Glenview for 20 something years. Nice town.

[tjy355]

A real clubfitter won't give you a spec like "1 degree upright" or "1/2" longer."

He will give you a spec like:
5 iron: Length: 37.75" ; Lie: 60.75 deg

You then compare that to the Manufacturer's spec and order +/- from that maker's "standard."

Also, most likely the people you spoke to at Golfsmith and Dicks were not PGA Pros, they were golf club salesmen.