Fitting: Which One Should I Do?

[chspeed]

I'm going to buy new clubs. Today, I hit a few different clubs to get a feel, and have settled on a model that I like.

The place I went to offers two types of fittings:

1. Standard fitting with a standard launch monitor. About 20-30 minutes, choosing right shaft. $75, which gets applied to clubs you buy.

2. Full fitting, with trackman, etc, 1.5 hours. $175, but not applied to clubs you buy.

What would you do? Short of running for the hills.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, chspeed said:

I'm going to buy new clubs. Today, I hit a few different clubs to get a feel, and have settled on a model that I like.

The place I went to offers two types of fittings:

1. Standard fitting with a standard launch monitor. About 20-30 minutes, choosing right shaft. $75, which gets applied to clubs you buy.

2. Full fitting, with trackman, etc, 1.5 hours. $175, but not applied to clubs you buy.

What would you do? Short of running for the hills.

What is a “standard launch monitor”?  What information does it NOT provide that Trackman does?

[chspeed]

1 minute ago, David in FL said:

What is a “standard launch monitor”?  What information does it NOT provide that Trackman does?

Not sure. The guy said the readings are more accurate with the Trackman, which I believe because when I was hitting in the bay today, I had some 185 yd 7 irons. Which is not possible. I think the biggest difference is probably the amount of time they spend with you.

Edited February 20, 2019 by chspeed

[Slim_Pivot]

To me, it would depend if I was def getting new things. If im upgrading and going to spend $1000. What’s an extra 75? In that case, I’d go with the trackman. 

Im anxious to see what the top guys on here say. I’m getting close to upgrading my equipment.

[David in FL]

1 minute ago, chspeed said:

Not sure. The guy said the readings are more accurate with the Trackman, which I believe because when I was hitting in the bay today, I had some 185 yd 7 irons. Which is not possible. I think the biggest difference is probably the amount of time they spend with you.

Inaccurate may be worse than no information at all.

Ultimately, $175 difference is a relatively small price to get it right, when compared to the total price of new clubs, across the number of years that you’ll ultimately have them...

[chspeed]

6 minutes ago, Slim_Pivot said:

To me, it would depend if I was def getting new things. If im upgrading and going to spend $1000. What’s an extra 75? In that case, I’d go with the trackman. 

 

It's a $175 difference. The $75 one is "free" assuming I buy equipment from them.

[Cantankerish]

Chspeed, they have what you want and I do not see that you have any choice.  If I were you I would ignore the free option and just acknowledge that you are paying the $175.  If you do not, you will always question your club purchase in annoying ways like when you blade a flop out of the sand or something.  Peace of mind is worth a lot.

[chspeed]

1 hour ago, Cantankerish said:

like when you blade a flop out of the sand or something.

Blade a bunker shot? Me??? Never! 😜

[ChetlovesMer]

First question, what are you buying? Are you getting a set of irons? Irons and Driver? Irons, Driver, Fairway woods, wedges? A full bag fitting for $175 may be a pretty deal. 

Second question, are there other options out there? I wanted a driver and had a few options available and ended up choosing a place, a little further away, that does a driver fitting for $125/$40 which means they charge $125 for the fitting or $40 if you end up purchasing through them. Incidentally, they charge $250/$80 for a full bag fitting. Anyway, that cost is supposed to include 75 minutes of trackman. I ended up spending 2 hours on it. The fitting was half fitting and half lesson. I learned a ton about my swing as well as got fit for a new driver.  

I think good fitting is like a lesson. 

 

[chspeed]

36 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

First question, what are you buying? Are you getting a set of irons? Irons and Driver? Irons, Driver, Fairway woods, wedges? A full bag fitting for $175 may be a pretty deal. 

 

A set of irons.

36 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Second question, are there other options out there? 

I'm sure. But in NYC, everything has a price. I can go somewhere out of the city, but then I spend all day doing it, pay for tolls, gas, and sit in traffic.

38 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I think good fitting is like a lesson.

Eh. I'm picky about who I take advice from.

[Typhoon92]

Not real comfortable with either.  Is this guy any good?   Any reviews or recommendations from anyone u know?  Forget the first one, that's a waste.  I'm surprised on the Trackman one that none of it gets applied to purchase.  Places I've inquired about there is always something.

 

[ChetlovesMer]

2 minutes ago, chspeed said:

A set of irons.

I'm sure. But in NYC, everything has a price. I can go somewhere out of the city, but then I spend all day doing it, pay for tolls, gas, and sit in traffic.

Eh. I'm picky about who I take advice from.

Well, opinions are like @$$holes everyone has one. … most people think other people's stink.

My opinion, based on your answers is just get the free fitting. 

You already know which irons you want. You aren't looking for a lesson. Save your cash for a lesson from a person you trust. 

Again, just my opinion. 

Do let us know how it turns out.

[chspeed]

12 minutes ago, Typhoon92 said:

Not real comfortable with either.  Is this guy any good?   Any reviews or recommendations from anyone u know?  Forget the first one, that's a waste.  I'm surprised on the Trackman one that none of it gets applied to purchase.  Places I've inquired about there is always something.

 

Yeah, I know - would be nice if they at least took part of that cost off. No idea about who it is, just some guy in a store. Thanks though - I just wish there were more options here.

[billchao]

6 hours ago, chspeed said:

Not sure. The guy said the readings are more accurate with the Trackman, which I believe because when I was hitting in the bay today, I had some 185 yd 7 irons. Which is not possible. I think the biggest difference is probably the amount of time they spend with you.

If the information is inaccurate, the fitting is worthless. These are irons - accuracy matters.

As @David in FL already mentioned, the cost is relatively small over the lifetime of the set, assuming you're not constantly buying a new set of irons all the time.

[dennyjones]

8 hours ago, Typhoon92 said:

I'm surprised on the Trackman one that none of it gets applied to purchase.  Places I've inquired about there is always something.

Most will but Club Champion charges for the fittings and it isn't applied to the purchase of clubs.   

 

I agree with @billchao,  spend the extra and you won't have any regrets. 

[cooke119]

What irons have you settled on?

I purchased a set of Ping irons years ago and the fitting came for free. Again, you're not there for a lesson, (I don't believe), rather just a good fitting.

Are you buying out of a Pro Shop or a Dicks Sporting Goods? A good Pro shop is more likely to give you better advise then Dicks, (I don't think Dicks uses Trackman either).

Are you looking for steel or graphite shafts? Will you be looking to try different shafts or use the shafts that come with the set, (beside looking at Stiff, Regular, or Senior shafts)?

[chspeed]

Just for an update, I'm going in tomorrow for the full fitting. I'm going to bring my current irons too, so I can compare the new clubs and see if there is a difference in feel, mishits, etc.

3 hours ago, cooke119 said:

What irons have you settled on?

It's not final, but I really liked the look and feel of the Mizuno JP-919 forged. Might mix them up, getting some lower irons the 919-hot metal. I'll wait and see what the numbers show. I currently only go to a 5-iron anyway and then switch to hybrids.

3 hours ago, cooke119 said:

Are you buying out of a Pro Shop or a Dicks Sporting Goods? A good Pro shop is more likely to give you better advise then Dicks, (I don't think Dicks uses Trackman either). 

It's a golf retail store, but a relatively high-end one. There used to be a Golfsmith in the city but it's gone.

3 hours ago, cooke119 said:

Are you looking for steel or graphite shafts? Will you be looking to try different shafts or use the shafts that come with the set, (beside looking at Stiff, Regular, or Senior shafts)?

Part of the fitting (hopefully) is determining what shafts are best for my swing. I don't have any preconceived ideas. I play a stiff shaft now, but I'll take senior shafts if they have better results!

[dennyjones]

3 hours ago, chspeed said:

Just for an update, I'm going in tomorrow for the full fitting. I'm going to bring my current irons too, so I can compare the new clubs and see if there is a difference in feel, mishits, etc.

Absolutely.   If you don't have a comparison of your current clubs vs what's best, it's not a good fitting.

The fitter should try different shafts and different club heads.    I realize you have your heart set on Mizuno and they are a good club but don't discount what the numbers show.    Go with what works best for you.

 

Keep us informed.