Clubs first or fitting first?

[cadets1902]

I am being fitted for irons.  I am a high handicapper transitioning from my starter clubs that I have learned to play with to a new set of irons.  I will likely be purchasing a later model set that is affordable, but still gives me better quality than the ones I have now.

Should I have one or two models picked out prior to being fitted, then get all the specifications from the fitting applied to those clubs?  Or should I go into the fitting blind and let the fitter recommend both the correct fitting and the club model?

[Lihu]

Welcome to this site.

I can only say that if you have a current instructor, let him or her work with you on a set of clubs. It will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

[Supreme Golf]

In our opinion, it's personal preference... (assuming you are sticking with a game improvement iron)

Find someone you like and go with the set you feel you hit the best!

Which 2 sets do you have in mind going into the fitting?

[MiniBlueDragon]

If you go in with preconceptions of clubs you like you'll likely give yourself reasons why they're preferable even though they may not be. I know this through personal experience when I went to a Mizuno DNA fitting and had the idea that I liked the MP-59's which Luke Donald was playing at the time, although that wasn't the reason I liked them. I then got fitted and the suggested club at the time was the JPX 800 to suit my 22 CONGU handicap. I persuaded myself that I would practice longer, more often and be better off with the 59's as they'd punish me more for bad mechanics so I ended up with those, albeit with correctly fitted shafts.

After a year I decided they were far too punishing and I traded them in for some JPX 825 Pro's which were far more suited to my skill level and practice regime.

I'd approach it by telling an experienced fitter about your game, about your practice sessions and about manufacturers you do/don't like the look of and let them make suggestions to you.

[cadets1902]

I don't have a preference as I have only played with one brand.  I'm wondering if I should do research prior to the fitting.  Something along the lines of best iron set for under $500?

I guess my concern is this:  Once I am fitted and know what length/stiffness/lie I need, how will I know which brand to use?  Ideally, there will be multiple choices that already meet my specifications, and I can go through each brand with my measurements.  But what if that is not the case?

[jmanbooyaa]

Knowing your price point should be all you need going in. Let the fitter figure out the rest.

[cooke119]

Ditto the above, have a pro recommend a set of clubs but based upon your likes and dislikes, i.e., you may like the looks of Pings, or TaylorMade, Cobra, etc. There are so many clubs to try, go out and try them. See which ones you like then talk to the pro. Pros and cons to all clubs.

[MiniBlueDragon]

You'll get a feeling for which of the "suitable" sets you prefer. It could be how they look at address, it could be that they feel more balanced as you swing them, it could be that you can feel where the clubhead is a little better throughout the swing, it could be that the technology on one set makes you feel more confident with them or even something as silly as the sound when you hit them. You'll know. :)

[WUTiger]

  cadets1902 said:

... Should I have one or two models picked out prior to being fitted, then get all the specifications from the fitting applied to those clubs?  Or should I go into the fitting blind and let the fitter recommend both the correct fitting and the club model?

Getting new irons involves a two-step process. You can't transfer a fitting from one set to another:

1. Check out different irons you think you would like, and then narrow it down to two (or maybe three).
2. Compare your finalists on the launch monitor, and then make your choice.

  Lihu said:

Welcome to this site.

I can only say that if you have a current instructor, let him or her work with you on a set of clubs. It will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

If you have a pro you work with, ask him to help you.

[Bird E3]

You can have a head in mind, but def get fitted for the right shaft.

[TheDIYGolfer]

I was once in your shoes, and I definitely put some thought into the clubs that I bought.  It is important that you are knowledgeable before you go into your fitting.  I think that all too often, we go to a certified "fitter," and up unhappy in the end because we were promised so much and received so little in return.  So I am going to go over a few things to be aware of before making a decision or purchase.

First, the fitter will probably have his/her opinions about which clubhead and which shaft are the best.  Make sure that you have a couple clubheads and shafts in mind before going.  If the fitter suggests something that you haven't got on your list, DO NOT let them persuade you that you should try it.  As far as clubheads go, I am not sure how advanced you are, or how advanced you want to become, but you should definitely take these two things into consideration.  If you want to become a better ballstriker (iron player), you will need something as close to forged irons as you can get.  I personally wouldn't recommend blades, unless the set is a mix of blades and cavities.  If you don't really care to get much better, there are plenty of cavity back options for you, but personally, I don't like the look of them or the feel.  If you do choose to get a cavity back, try and find something that is a mix between forged and cavities.  I know that the Callaway X-forged are a great option, although I don't know if these are in your price range..

As far as shafts go, I would go with one of these three brands- Dynamic gold, project x, or KBS.  Personally, I think dynamic gold is the way to go.  I have tried all three, and although the KBS and Project x may increase your distance, I personally don't enjoy the way a perfectly struck shot feels with them.  The DG's are so pure at impact, and are your cheapest option.

I think that what you should focus on in the fitting is getting the correct length of clubs, and the right feel.  I can't tell you how important length is with irons.  I generally tend to like longer clubs, because it generally promotes good posture, but obviously stay within reason.  They might measure your wrist to the floor, and go based on a chart with length.  If they suggest standard length for you, I would go with 1/4" extra.  I don't think you'll regret this, but if you are weary about this, just go with what they say.

Next up on the list is lie boards:  This may be one of the most irritating things to me when I go to a fitting.  They put you on a lie board, tell you to swing, and then recommend what lie you should be playing with.  Let me just note, that nearly 100% of great ballstrikers are on the flat side when it comes to lies.  If your fitter suggests that you should play 2 degrees upright, I would highly suggest you tell them standard is the highest you will go.  My preference is 3 degrees flat.  There are a few reasons for this.  First, you must realize that upright lie angles promote steeper swings, and I don't think steep swings get much accomplished for us.  Second, I have had an experience with this already, and am speaking from it.  I went in and got fitted for irons, and was told I needed 2 degrees upright for the lie angles.  I played with these irons for a year, and it was by far my worst ballstriking year ever, and my swing become a hot mess (steep, incorrect divots, etc.).  I decided to just go for some flatter lie angles, and went from 2 upright to 2 flat.  Of course at first, it was extremely awkward swinging them, but after a few weeks of practice, I noticed myself striking the ball a lot better, and my swing was improving on its own.  Moral of the story: flat lie angles! For you, I would recommend staying at standard, or 1 degree flat regardless of what the lie board says.

Swingweight: although this may not make a ton of sense, it is extremely important in my opinion.  It is basically a measurement of how heavy the clubhead "feels."  I don't want to get too into this, but for this, I would never go below D2 for the irons.  If you have a quick tempo, D2 or D3 would be good, but if you have a slower tempo, D4 or D5 would be a good option.  My philosophy on this is if you cant feel the club at the top of the backswing, how are you going to bring it back square at impact?  My clubs are D7 although this would be considered extreme these days.

Ok so I have covered the majority of the things that you will encounter in an iron fitting, but here is another option that you could explore if you don't want to spend a ton of money.

You could always buy a set of irons on ebay, buy the shaft of your choice on golfworks, and then have your local golf store assemble your clubs based on the specs that you want.  Just an option- the important specs would be length, lie, swingweight, and grip size.

IN SUMMARY:  I know this is a lot to take in, and you may not even be that interested in getting that perfect set of irons.  But something you should always remember is that a club fitter is just another person who was trained and hired to read launch monitors and lie boards.  Although you might stumble across a great clubfitter that can truly help you, the majority of the time, your own opinion matters the most.  Keep all this in mind, and you will be just fine!