Used Clubs/Fitting Method

[LocoPatrick]

I think I’m getting close to the limit of what I can do with my $20.00 garage sale Walmart special golf clubs. I’ve gotten my score below 50 for 9 holes (Haven’t had time to get out to 18 holes and see if I can break the magic 100). I would like to get used clubs so that I can save some cash, but I want them to fit me also. Here is what I am planning. Please let me know if you think I should do this differently.

My home course has Ping, Callaway, Taylor Made, and Nike clubs available for demo, so I am going to start giving those a try to see what I like. I’m 5’10”, pretty much average, so the demo clubs should match fairly close for length and lie, correct?

Once I decide on a brand and model, I will go to a professional fitter and get recommendations for length, lie, shaft type, etc. Once I have that information, I can narrow my search for used clubs to those that fit those parameters. After I purchase the clubs, I can have them tweaked so that they fit me.

When you are being fitted, the fitter will charge per club, correct? Since being fitted for every single club would be pricey, should I narrow the fitting down to two or three clubs?

For instance, if I am fitted for the seven or eight iron, can the data from that can be extrapolated for the remaining irons?

Should I get fitted for the driver, and the data from that can be extrapolated to a fairway wood and hybrid?

Are there any flaws in the methods I am pursuing?

[seagullplayer]

Loco, you might check out the "efit" on this site.

http://www.gigagolf.com/irons_listing.jsp

May give you an idea on what you are looking for in a used club.

I plan to buy my next set from them, very soon.

[thefootwedge]

The PGA Tour Superstores will fit you for free and they have a huge selections of used clubs. They will only charge you about $25 on top of the price to change the loft and lie angle.

If you want to get an idea of what might fit you before you go, have a look on golfclubshaftreview.com. They have some great charts to help you out.

Failing the PGA store, Try Golfsmiths but I'm not sure on their costs.

Good luck

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by LocoPatrick

When you are being fitted, the fitter will charge per club, correct? Since being fitted for every single club would be pricey, should I narrow the fitting down to two or three clubs?

For instance, if I am fitted for the seven or eight iron, can the data from that can be extrapolated for the remaining irons?

Should I get fitted for the driver, and the data from that can be extrapolated to a fairway wood and hybrid?

Are there any flaws in the methods I am pursuing?

This is negotiable. If it's a used set chances are the fitter will have you hit a couple of clubs, and check the lie angle using impact tape on the sole. From there, the fitter can go to the manufacturer specification sheet. This has the factory ideal loft, lie and shaft length for that particular model of irons.

If the 5i and 7i tests show you need 1* flat in lie, the fitter can make sure that all the irons are 1* flat from factory specs. You might as well get the loft checked to make sure your irons are all 3* or 4* apart in loft.  For example, if your 7i is supposed to be 34* and your 8i 38*,  but the actual lofts are 35* and 37*, you'll only get 7 yards difference between the two clubs... and maybe 12 yards between 6i and 7i.

Some shops charge $5 a club for loft and lie check... others might have a flat rate, or include it in cost of fitting. This depends partly on how bad they want to move the used clubs back out the door.

For the longer clubs (Driver, etc.), it's best to get them fitted individually. Even if they're all from the same model, the lie angles will vary because of differing shaft lengths.

[LocoPatrick]

Thanks for the suggestions. I wasn't necessarily limiting myself to used clubs at a golf shop. If, for instance, I decide that I like the Ping irons the best, then I would have the fitter try me out on some Ping irons to determine which shaft length and shaft flex would be recommended.

Then I could take that information and look on ebay or craigslist to find clubs for that length and flex, buy them, and then have them tweaked for loft and lie. I could hold out until a good deal came along.