New Clubs? Forged/ Cast/ Game Improvement/ Combo/ Offset irons and fitting?

[ChrisWev]

Hi I'm in the UK and will be looking to get a new set of clubs fitted soon, basically I've got a few quieries if anyone can help.

My set of clubs were bought from static measurements (Ping G20, Black Dot, Aqua grip, Regular shafts), measuring hand to floor, height and grip size etc. I never hit them or checked them on a lie board before purchasing (I would have been too nervous to do this as I was awful). G20 driver is 10.5 in regular, same as hybrid. G25 3W is stiff (I think) and I probably deliver this consistently straighter than any club and will be keeping this.

I've noticed the lie of some of my irons seem very toe high, especially the PW etc, I couldn't get into a decent stance to have the club sat how it should be (v slightly toe up?, not level), and I do hit about 50% starting left, I've messed with grip and even the weak grip ones can start left etc. I now understand that this can be down to lie angle but as my clubs are cast they aren't as easily altered?

Anyway, rather than mess around with my old clubs I want to get fit (dynamically as well as statically) for something more modern and and with lofts, lies, shaft flex that will actually suit me (for at least a year or so till I can hopefully get to low double digits). My driver swing speed on last check (a while ago) was about 105mph. With this in mind I'm guessing I will likely be in the stiff range for all my clubs and this may slightly explain why there is a lot of variance (other than what I'm doing wrong) with my irons.

I kind of liked the forgiveness of the cavity backs and beginner clubs but they have always launched high for me, and I'm not mad on the look of the offset.

So after my rambling, would the following suit as a starting point (I wan't a bit of background before going to the fitter, when I find one):

105mph driver S/S (on last check 6 month ago)

Is it worth going for forged (for later adjustment if necessary), softer feel might be nice too

Don't think I wan't much offset as I've never struggled hitting it high or squaring the face, don't really like the look of offset either

Think I might need stiffer shafts

I don't want blades as I'm nowhere near good enough to hit them

Does anyone know of what recent clubs may suit the above (and my level)?

Is it worth trying a new shaft in my current driver or basically just looking at a newer model?

I'm not that fussed on cost if it's going to help

Do any of the UK guys know a good fitting place, preferably in the north, that are not tied to one manufacturer?

I've checked a few of the other threads and nothing recent seems to answer my questions, so hopefully not repeating anything here.

[billchao]

If you're going to get most or all of your bag replaced, go for a dynamic fitting with a good launch monitor. Try a bunch of different clubs and settings, shafts, etc. and get the ones that perform the best. Because you're planning on spending a lot of money on equipment, it's worth investing in a tour-like clubfitting.

[BubblesUSMC]

exactly go get fit... and take your time doing it.  It really shouldn't cost much more if you are even just doing a set of irons.

I play a mixed set.

One brand for my wedges

Blades for my short-mid irons

slight cavity for longer irons

hybrid

etc. etc.

The cool thing about fitting is you can change the style, make, model, whatever fits YOU the best as fitted clubs are ordered individually!  (if your shop says otherwise, find a different shop because if my tiny little family owned golf school can do that they they should be able too as well!)

Good luck and have fun... getting fit is cool experience for your first time!

[ChrisWev]

Yeah I'm definitely going to get custom fit, just want an idea of what irons there are available forged (more so for being able to adjust in the future if need be) and with less offset too, but not blades. Not sure if there's anything else to consider, I just want to be tooled up before I go for the fitting.

I'm pretty set on going:

1. New Driver (although may stick with current one for now)
2. Keep 3W (if it's right for me, it seems it)
3. New 3/4 Hybrid (although may stick with current one for now)
4. I'm not sure whether to get a 4i or just carry my 64
5. New 5i
6. New 6i
7. New 7i
8. New 8i
9. New 9i
10. New PW
11. New Cleveland RTX 2.0 50
12. New Cleveland RTX 2.0 55
13. New Cleveland RTX 2.0 60
14. Keep my Odyssey Putter

Obviously the wedges may differ in lofts but there's a cracking offer on them at the minute and they get good reviews, but I can stick with my current ones for the time being, but that's the range I want to cover (depending on gaps from the PW etc)

I was initially (a few weeks  ago before I realised forged are more adjustable) considering Ping G30, Nike Pro Combo (not sure if I'm good enough for these), Callaway XR. I don't know much about Taylormade as they have a billion clubs. Dont' know about Titleist or Mizuno either.

I would probably want to stick to one of the more common manufacturers in case I've got any issues etc.

[mando235]

The fitting process should be where you're deciding what you want/need. Hit with a lot of stuff. First work out what kind of shaft you need. Simply going in thinking you need a stiff flex based on your swing speed is wrong. Especially given each manufacturer has a different idea of what stuff flex is. You need to work out what length and shaft bend profile you need along with weight and even shaft material. Once you've got the engine (shaft) sorted out then move onto what kind of club heads you need. Nothing should be decided before you've hit with it Unless you know exactly what you need from a previous fitting

[ChrisWev]

Yeah you're probably right, I just don't want to be steered down the short path with best immediate results, but I can explain that too the fitter. I'm more interested in something that I'm going to get better with. Saying that, it's not like Rory couldn't get par with Ping G-Max.

[utrinqueparatus]

Chris, here my two pennyworth.

It may sound like sacrilege on this site but suggest that you go to www.golfwrx.com. In the site search put in the name Tom Wishon. There are a huge number of articles there from him. He trully is regarded as the the guru with regard to club fitting in the States. Yes, I will admit that as a small bespoke manufacturer he does push his own agenda a bit but the principles of what he has to say are 100% on the button. Also you might care to take a look at his website and read his articles on fitting that are there; www.wishongolf.com

If nothing else this will give you hours of education through the ever shortening afternoons as we head into autumn.

By the way I play Mizuno Irons, Callaway Fairway Woods and a Wishon Driver. I am not a total Wishon acolyte.

Good luck

Clarkie

[Shorty]

It may sound like sacrilege on this site but suggest that you go to www.golfwrx.com. In the site search put in the name Tom Wishon.

Do the same on this site and you'll find just as many references to Tom Wishon.

Why would you direct someone elsewhere when the same information is here?

I note your post count, BTW.

[ChrisWev]

Thanks, I'll look him up on both sites, I'm sure the information will be valuable, even though I'm in the UK.

I think I've found a club fitter from the Golf Monthly forum (more of a UK forum) who gets great reviews, only 40 miles away too.

Does anyone know how much normal new "non forged" golf clubs can be bent (lie)? The reason I ask is I've got a lot of faults with my swing which may be effecting my lie delivery, so I wouldn't want to get fitted, my lie change and then I need new clubs again.

Some might say don't buy until you iron (pardon the pun) out your flaws, but if that was the case I would still be playing some 20 year old wilsons when I get to single digits.

[ChrisWev]

Wow, there is A LOT of good info there (that is way above my level of understanding), but I quite liked this section:

For example, let’s say we have three golfers, each with a 100 mph clubhead speed.

• Golfer No. 1 has a short, three-quarter length backswing with a fast, forceful transition and an aggressive downswing.
• Golfer No. 2 has a normal backswing length with some sense of transition force and downswing aggressiveness but not nearly as much as Golfer No. 1.
• Golfer No. 3 has a smooth, rhythmic, almost passive transition and tempo that identifies him as far more of a “swinger” than a “hitter.”

For basic fitting, Golfer No. 2 would be advised to look among shafts that have a 95-to-105 mph swing speed rating because his swing characteristics are putting an average amount of bending force on the shaft for his 100 mph clubhead speed.

Golfer No. 1 (strong/forceful transition and tempo) would be advised to look among shafts that would have a 100-to-110mph swing speed rating because his swing characteristics are “loading” the shaft more from him putting an ABOVE average amount of bending force on the shaft for his 100 mph clubhead speed.

And Golfer No. 3 (smooth, passive transition and tempo) should choose from shafts that have a 90-to-100mph swing speed rating because his swing characteristics are “loading” the shaft much less for his speed and put a BELOW average amount of bending force on the shaft for his 100 mph clubhead speed.

Well I certainly wouldn't consider myself "Golfer No 3", although I wish I as! I'm more of the un-listed "Golfer No. 4", over-swings and then goes at it quite aggressively!

Quite looking forward to putting these to the test.

A think all the examples commonly use the swing speed of the driver and this was me (edited it to pack it together) last year when I was smashing it in the heel (don't seem to have any GC2 data from anything more recent as my pro isn't the best at sending me it). Ping G20 stock regular shaft at 10.5.

I would guess I'm swinging slightly faster now and probably hitting closer to middle (half of the time anyway), I feel quite agressive so I'm guessing I'll end up in the 100-110mph shaft range, but we'll see when I put it to the test.

It's just a case of do I go now or do I wait till I'm swinging better, but there is always going to be something which needs fixing I suppose.