Club fitting

[tye203]

Hello, I am new to the forum and would like to ask a couple of questions about golf club fitting. I have a nike vrs x set of irons my wife purchased for me and a nike covert 3 wood and driver. My only complaint is my 6-4 irons are too long. I'm 5,7 with an athletic build so I have to choke up on the club and often flub it. So I am looking to get a simple fitting with out going all out. The couple of pro shops charge between $175 and 150. Dicks charges $78 for the whole set. Is the quality different or is dicks a big box store willing to take a loss on that service? I have been told I have a sweeping swing which kills me sometimes because I'm not getting the loft which I need to work with a pro about. Any feedback is welcomed. Thanks

[Hardballs]

  tye203 said:

Hello, I am new to the forum and would like to ask a couple of questions about golf club fitting. I have a nike vrs x set of irons my wife purchased for me and a nike covert 3 wood and driver. My only complaint is my 6-4 irons are too long. I'm 5,7 with an athletic build so I have to choke up on the club and often flub it. So I am looking to get a simple fitting with out going all out. The couple of pro shops charge between $175 and 150. Dicks charges $78 for the whole set. Is the quality different or is dicks a big box store willing to take a loss on that service? I have been told I have a sweeping swing which kills me sometimes because I'm not getting the loft which I need to work with a pro about. Any feedback is welcomed. Thanks

They're meant to be long! They're you're long irons, a set of irons get progressively longer from 9 to 4, by the time you get to 6 you tend to notice it more and have to allow for it in your swing, I'd seriously recommend a lesson or two before a fitting! People (myself included) think you need to hit 4 & 5 irons faster and harder because they're supposed to go further, but it's not the case, the faster and harder you swing them, the less chance of hitting the ball well, the club head won't release as fast as the shorter irons because they have further to travel, so timing and tempo are most important! Try slowing them down a touch and pretend they're 8 irons until you start making better contact!

[tye203]

Thanks for the response. What are your thoughts in getting fitted? Or should I leave stock?

[tye203]

Also looking at a hybrid 4. I tested it at the local dicks and I hit it pretty well. 130-180 yards I want to get with a pro to work on my swing.

[Hardballs]

I swapped my 4i for a hybrid, kinda by accident but that's another story! Fitting is good, but it's better to get fitted once you have regular swing, I don't know how new you are to the game, but at the beginning lessons are pretty much always better spent money than equipment, if I was you, I would work on a consistent..ish swing and then get fitted, otherwise you'll get fitted to a swing that will probably change! Dont rush, work on ya swing, then get fitted! Mention this to your pro and see what he suggests!

[tye203]

I started playing this spring. I do want to get with a pro for a couple of lessons at some point. Maybe I should get fitted next year. My best score was a 44 at the orchard in Milford ct. It's a 9 hole course and par is a 32. I'm shooting between a 44-50 depending how well I hit my irons that day. Maybe I'll start off with hurt getting my driver and 3 wood fitted they are my most consistent clubs. 200-250 yards on my driver and 150-200 on my 3 wood off the tee. I really like the hybrid 4 maybe I can get one for Xmas. Lol

[Club Rat]

  tye203 said:

What are your thoughts in getting fitted?

There are two keys you should first check which are usually free services at most golf shops.

Simply go to a store and speak with a salesman, indicate you are interested in purchasing new clubs.

Mention any history of clubs would be interested in trying or have used or would like to try.

Ask them to measure you wrist from the floor for proper length (you can also do this at home with a yardstick)

This measurement is the basics to determine proper length of clubs.

(at your height you probably will be 1/2" to 1" shorter than standard length clubs) pending on your posture at club address.

Next, the salesman should ask you o hit a few shots using a "lie board"

This will indicate the proper lie of the club (you will most likely be a half degree flat) at your height.

Now you are ready to hit a few demo clubs.

Demo's are a wide variety of club models with various shaft length, shaft flex and manufacturers/brands.

This will give you the opportunity to determine which clubs feel the best (feel helps you determining proper club swing weight)

All that would be left would be selecting the choice of club.

They may allow you to take a demo home to use for a few days.

If you elect to pursue more specific conditions, then it's probably time to spend the bucks for a more detailed fitting.

Club Rat

[tye203]

@Club Rat I own a brand new nike set already I was looking to get those fitted to me or adjust. I think I may put it off till Xmas after I take a lesson or feel more consistent in my swing.

[Hardballs]

Also by shortening the club this will flatten the lie anyway, killing to birds with one stone, but best to let a pro look at you before chopping clubs!

[Club Rat]

  tye203 said:

@Club Rat

I own a brand new nike set already I was looking to get those fitted to me or adjust. I think I may put it off till Xmas after I take a lesson or feel more consistent in my swing.

OK, then the items you need to address are simply - "Club Length and Lie Angle"

Use the above methods I mentioned to check them.

Once you know the measurement of your "wrist to ground" then there is a standard chart which describes proper club length.

To check "lie angle" simply place masking tape on the sole of the club and take a practice swing on a thin piece of plywood (1/4" works best"

Then look at the sole to identify where the sole impact tears the tape. If it is centered then the lie is correct.

If you need adjustment, then golf shops will make adjustments, guessing $12-$15 per club.

You are stuck with swing weight, but can make "counter balance adjustments" or you would have to disassemble the club to add "powder weights" it the bottom of the shafts.

If you do not like the shafts, then you can have them replaced with other brands.

Using the guidelines I posted will help you select shaft brands using demos.

I am pretty sure most golf shops carry the Nike clubs with various shafts.

The fitting should have been done when you purchased the clubs.

Alterations after purchase is usually expensive.

It's your decision to weigh the cost to modify or start fresh and sell the set you have.

If you feel the 6-4 irons are too long, then testing them for length and lie would be the first items to address.

Then pursue necessary measures to make the corrections.

It was probably a very nice gesture for your wife to purchase you clubs as a gift.

I would suggest trying various clubs unless you know specifically the type of clubs you are wanting.

Club Rat

[tye203]

Yeah the irons was a Father's Day gift. I like them a lot and want to stick with nike. Yeah I'm going to let quest golf shop do the fitting. They fitted my putter which made a big difference. Probably do my driver and 3 wood first then the irons.