Questions about being fitted for clubs

[elwood1451]

Hello everyone.  I am new here and may be asking a question that has been answered before, so bear with me.

I turn 55 this year and decided to be fitted for a new set of irons for the first time.  I am currently playing with a set of Wilson Fat Shafts that are probably ten years old.  I played about twice a week while in my 40's, had a lull in playing around 50, and have been bitten by the bug again.

I'm finding the process a little bit confusing.  Golf Digest recently had an article that contained their recommendation of the one hundred best club fitters.  I started doing some research on the fitters listed closest to me (in Ohio).  Some of the ones I checked are club builders that make clubs specifically for you.  The equipment they use (such as Wishon) are names I am unfamiliar with.  Some of the fitters use launch monitors and computers only, and no balls are actually hit outside.  This seems to run contrary to some of the opinions I have read, stating nothing takes the place of watching to true flight of the ball.  Some of the fitters are getting bad reviews on the web, advising the fitter seemed to push a certain manufacturer during the process.

To add to the confusion, I called a teaching pro I casually know in Myrtle Beach.  His recommendation is to come down to the Callaway Performance Center and be fitted.  I went to their web site, and their fitting is done inside using launch monitors and computers.

Enough rambling.  Here are my questions.

Does is matter if the fitter uses computers and does not have you actually hit balls on the range.  Can this be done properly indoors?

Is the fitter that builds his own clubs any better or worse than the one who carries brand name products?

Am I cheating myself by going to a fitter such as the Callaway Performance Center?  In other words, I love their equipment, but would a club by a different manufacturer maybe be better suited?

Any recommendations and experiences (good or bad)  are appreciated.  Looking forward to talking golf.

[Kobey]

Good questions.  I am pretty much in the same boat.  I was pretty much set on getting some Taylormade irons since that is what my driver and woods are but now I'm open to other brands as well.  I plan on trying different brands to see which would be the best for me.  Since this will probably be the last set of clubs I will ever buy for myself, I want them to be something I am completely happy with, not just in performance but looks as well.  Then again, for a high handicapper, if there is a brand you like, they will probably have a club that you will like.  But it doesn't hurt to check out other manufacturers to see if you might fall in love with something else.

[snofrog]

I went to a golf galaxy and was unsure about what brand iron I was going to get . the pro there was insistant that I try every iron in the store for comparison . the pings I ended up with were way down on my list of clubs I wanted until I hit them side by side clubs I thought I had intrest in . then we got down to fitting . I cant say what other places would do but I felt after trying everything in there that I at least wouldnt have buyers remorse

[R11driver]

Launch monitors and computers are fine. Just make sure you get what works best for you. Don't let them push "numbers" like spin rate, launch angle, etc. There "are" norms, but get the clubs that give you the best distance/consistency/performance. As an example, I just bought a new set of irons. I had several in mind but wanted to try them out and see how they performed. I went to a local Golf Town store and got on their launch monitor. Tried several models including the Razor x tour, and Razor X tour forged. Diablo tour. Cleveland CG 16 tour, and Taylor Made tour preferred CB forged irons. It came down to a choice between the Cleveland CG16's and Taylor Made CB forged. I was getting equal distance and performance on the launch monitor between these two where the other clubs were an average 5 yards shorter EVEN THOUGH they had better "numbers". I ended up the the CB forged because they were on sale. I've used them a couple of times and they are AWESOME.

[WUTiger]

I'll make comments inside the quote box, in blue...

Originally Posted by elwood1451

Hello everyone.  I am new here and may be asking a question that has been answered before, so bear with me.

I turn 55 this year and decided to be fitted for a new set of irons for the first time.  I am currently playing with a set of Wilson Fat Shafts that are probably ten years old.  I played about twice a week while in my 40's, had a lull in playing around 50, and have been bitten by the bug again.

I'm finding the process a little bit confusing. ...

Does is matter if the fitter uses computers and does not have you actually hit balls on the range.  Can this be done properly indoors?

The computerized fittings give you the average of several data points on each model of club you try. You can use this data to compare the clubs on performance issues, such as shot height, backspin, clubhead speed, etc. A launch monitor can also chart your swing characteristics. A good clubfitter will have you hit your current clubs to establish baseline data for the fitting sessions.

Is the fitter that builds his own clubs any better or worse than the one who carries brand name products?

I played for 14 years with a set of Ping Eye2 clones. The irons were custom fit for me - 2 degrees flat - which cut down on me hooking and pulling iron shots. If you go with component clubs, try to find out how durable they are. I payed an extra $5 a club for the harder steel of this particular head model. It was worth it - a few times  when I hit a rock with an iron, the iron usually won. Others I knew who got less costly heads had clubs "wear out" after a few seasons. Also, shafts are half the iron, the "engine of the club." My clones has first-line TT Dynalite Gold stiff shafts.

One part-time clubmakers I met down in Oklahoma had outfitted dozens of successful golfers with his component iron sets and woods.  Get "references" before  you line up with an independent.

Am I cheating myself by going to a fitter such as the Callaway Performance Center?  In other words, I love their equipment, but would a club by a different manufacturer maybe be better suited?

I switched from stiff to regular shafts in 2009, and one of the biggest challenges I faced was selecting from among a bumper crop of superb iron models from different manufacturers. I bought Callaway X20s and had decent luck, and soon switched to X20 Tours which have better feel. But, I'm sure I could play quite well with Cle CG16 Tours or Titleist AP1s - as long as they had the proper shaft.

Going back to computerized fittings, very often you'll end up with two or three club models which have about equal performance data. You end up making your choice by which one feels and looks the best - the one that gives you the most confidence. Selecting golf clubs is part art and part science - use info from both camps to make your choice.