Can any clubs be fitted?

[Raging Beard]

As a newbie to golf, I didn't want to spend out a lot of money so bought an off the shelf set for £200 (Fazer CTR20).

Having had a few lessons I now stand much closer and taller at address, and get much better and more consistent strikes because of it.

At address though, the grooves on the face are pointing slightly down at the toe, and I can see a slight shadow on the heel meaning it must be raised slightly.

Is this an issue and if so how much? Should they ideally be parallel to the ground or slightly up at the toe.

Lastly, if this is wrong, could I have these clubs adjusted despite being cheapies? I have seen vids where the fitters literally put them in a device and bend.

[Hatchman]

Yes, loft and lies can be slightly adjusted on most clubs (irons).   Proper fitting starts with questions like this but kind of boils down to correct assessment of the clubs set loft, lie, length, etc.  Stance.  Good questions.  I have my clubs checked and adjusted, if needed, periodically.

[Raging Beard]

Ok thank you. I know many places do free fitting when you buy clubs. I imagine getting it done now would cost as much as my clubs probably lol

[Hatchman]

It might suprise you that you can get clubs adjusted for not too much cost.  I even had my http://bettinardi.com/ B series putter adjusted for $10 at a retail store by a fitter.  Club fitter does my irons, this store did my putter, they had the tool in the putting area when I stopped by one day.  

[Blackjack Don]

Only forged, not cast, right? Can a cast iron with a graphite shaft be adjusted?

[Raging Beard]

Mine are cheap so must be cast, I don't expect much can be done.

I'd be interested in buying one club fitted, say a 7 iron, and just see if it makes any difference.

[Hatchman]

1 hour ago, Blackjack Don said:

Only forged, not cast, right? Can a cast iron with a graphite shaft be adjusted?

Yes, the actual cast material once identified for that club, at the hozel can be bent.  There are lots of references out there to check.  They do not by themselves return to manufacture set position as some have reported FWIW.

48 minutes ago, Raging Beard said:

Mine are cheap so must be cast, I don't expect much can be done.

I'd be interested in buying one club fitted, say a 7 iron, and just see if it makes any difference.

Still may be able to be worked.  However, I'd take a look at where you make contact with the ball on the club face and its loft angle, and contact with and along the clubs lie angle.  Your swing mechanics and golf shaft also play a big part.  Have you ever checked your club contact points using tape or maybe see where and how evenly mat burns transfer to the bottom if you hit a range?  Are you toe or hozel heavy, for example?  Still could be swing...

[JonMA1]

22 hours ago, Hatchman said:

Yes, the actual cast material once identified for that club, at the hozel can be bent.  There are lots of references out there to check.  They do not by themselves return to manufacture set position as some have reported FWIW.

Right. My Mizuno irons are cast and the lie can be adjusted up to 2°. The shop I bought them from was hesitant to bend them the 1° that was needed. The forged version could be adjusted up to 4°, if memory serves. 

That's good to know about the angles not going back to the original position. I'd read the opposite (on the internet).

[Blackjack Don]

I have a set of Ping i/3 irons which I will not part with. They hit the ball better than I do. I love 'em and have no interest in new clubs. I'll see who can help me fit them, when I get my swing where I want it.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 12/24/2016 at 4:04 AM, Raging Beard said:

As a newbie to golf, I didn't want to spend out a lot of money so bought an off the shelf set for £200 (Fazer CTR20).

Having had a few lessons I now stand much closer and taller at address, and get much better and more consistent strikes because of it.

At address though, the grooves on the face are pointing slightly down at the toe, and I can see a slight shadow on the heel meaning it must be raised slightly.

Is this an issue and if so how much? Should they ideally be parallel to the ground or slightly up at the toe.

Lastly, if this is wrong, could I have these clubs adjusted despite being cheapies? I have seen vids where the fitters literally put them in a device and bend.

The grooves should be parallel to the sole of the club. The ground really has nothing to do with it. From the "look" you are describing it sounds like your irons have too shallow of a lie angle. This makes sense since you said that you are now standing closer to the ball and more upright, and so you are now standing the club up on it's toe.

If you can find someone who does this work, take a club in and ask them how much? This doesn't cost you anything. Maybe there are a few folks around and you can find one that fits your budget. The fitter will put impact sensitive tape on the sole of your irons, EACH iron in turn if it's a really good job, and have you make some swings on a "lie board". The impact leaves a mark on the tape showing where the club hit the board, and tells the fitter how much to bend it.

And don't worry that cast clubs can only be bent 2 degrees. 2 degrees is nothing to sneeze at. I remember reading a story where John Daly was at a club manufacturer's fitting center to hit some new clubs he was going to play. He liked them well enough, but they weren't quite "right". He sent the irons back in to be bent a half a degree flatter. One half of one degree! The technician brought the clubs back out and Daly started hitting again. Of course he was smoking most everything out of sight, but when he got to the short irons he told the technician, "You know, amateurs would be amazed at how much of a difference a half a degree can make!"

 

 

[graham57]

I play with a set of Titleist 690 MB blades, which I love, although they're not really suited to my handicap (but iron shots are not my "problem zone"). I found another set in nearly new condition on ebay and bought them with the intention of having them re-shafted and fitted one day. I don't know if clubfitters will turn up their nose when asked to fit old clubs, or whether they are primarily interested in selling a new set when someone wants clubs fitted, but I will try to find someone who understands where I'm coming from and won't charge me an arm and a leg.

[saevel25]

On 12/24/2016 at 4:04 AM, Raging Beard said:

As a newbie to golf, I didn't want to spend out a lot of money so bought an off the shelf set for £200 (Fazer CTR20).

Having had a few lessons I now stand much closer and taller at address, and get much better and more consistent strikes because of it.

It depends on the club. If the club is not forged and has a chrome finish then bending them that many degrees could destroy the club. Every club is adjustable to a certain extent. Some more-so than others. 

[jamo]

You can bend cast irons, it's just tricker and riskier. Probably even more so for cheaper ones.