how important is custom fitting?

[buying_my_toys]

So I receive these TM RAC OS as a gift last year. Took'em out of the box and started playing with them same day. Great clubs for a weekend golfer/range who consistently hits mid 90s and the odd 80s.

Now, I'm curious as to how important is custom fitting?
Will it elevate my game?
I dont believe RAC OS is a shot shaping club?
And if not when do i know when to switch to blades?

If needed - Any recommendations on club fitting pro shop in the mississauga area?

[TourIQ]

Very important and not all is created equal. The worst a club should play is the
day you unwrap it as new out-of-the box. Lots of hacks and few masters.

[buying_my_toys]

So am I able to go back to the shop and have it re-adjusted for lie etc....

Recommendations?

[goshawk]

Something to consider....new clubs out of the box generally have their lofts and lies pretty much dead on, but suppose you're not the average 5'10" male. If you're taller or shorter, you should have the lie adjusted to fit your stature. You may need to adjust your swing to compensate for a hook/slice generaged by that incorrect lie. Now you're swinging differently than you normally would, and that swing is going to be very inconsistent.

[TourIQ]

Something to consider....new clubs out of the box generally have their lofts and lies pretty much dead on.

For some manufacturers this means +/- 1 deree on either loft or lie:
Consider this for lie: 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43 [imagine the bad yardage gaps]
Do you want to play: 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44 [very consistent yardage gaps]

Now consider swingweight: Wilson Golf per their web site says D0 to D4 ...

[swaaain]

Having you clubs tailored to you is extremely important. Would you buy a suit off the rack?

You can have your clubs adjusted to you after purchase and it is not an issue. What Harry is refering to in his last post is that all OEM Maufactorers have a tolerance for varience in their Quality Control, this being typically +or- 1 Degree.

[golferboy]

Even a minor adjustment makes a huge difference. I bought a set of used Pings years ago....black dots, which is the std lie angle....went to Ping for a brief fitting, and they bent them 2* upright, and I was amazed at the change in ballflight...virtually no more balls out to the right....

[DavidY]

Doesn't one's golfing ability come into play? Both of my sets of irons are probably standard (loft, length and lie). Based on my wrist to ground measurement, the standard length of the 5 iron suits me. However, since I cannot break 100 or until I get a handicap, I don't think that custom fitting should be on my high priority list....at least until my golf swing becomes much more consistent. Comments?

Dave

[swaaain]

Even with a somewhat inconsistent swing, fitting can still make a difference. Fitting is not just lie angle adjustments, it also includes shaft flex, head type, grip size shaft lenght and shaft flex. All of these combined can and will definately affect your scoring ability, no matter your scoring ability.

Over time, your shaft flex needs may change as well as your lie angle but those can be adjusted again. My first set of lcubs that were fitted I was 3 deg upright and after swing changes I went down to Standard. I then hac my clubs readjusted to my new lie angle, nothing else needed to change.

And it all made a noticeable difference in my game.

Doesn't one's golfing ability come into play? Both of my sets of irons are probably standard (loft, length and lie). Based on my wrist to ground measurement, the standard length of the 5 iron suits me. However, since I cannot break 100 or until I get a handicap, I don't think that custom fitting should be on my high priority list....at least until my golf swing becomes much more consistent. Comments?

Dave

[The Troll]

I agree that fitting is important. Also, when you buy used clubs don't assume that they haven't been altered. Picked up a set of black dot Ping eye 2's as a backup set....just loved the shallow divot....thought I was a perfect black dot fit....turns out they had been flattened a degree or two.

After hard work I finally shallowed out my driver swing which didn't add to my distance, which was already pretty good, but did make me very accurate with very little sidespin. Suddenly my short irons went haywire....a two degree flattening of my Bridgestones fixed that problem.

[avidgolfer]

Fitting is very important. I've been hitting a lot better with my old set of irons after Swaaain measured me up and extended them 1/2" and ensured that the lie angles were proper for my height and arm length.

If you are not 5'8"~5'10", which I'm not, you should definitely get fitted. When you are spending hundreds~thousands on your golf equipment... I would think the small charge for a fitting is worth it to get the most out of your equipment.

[buying_my_toys]

Im totally sold...thanks for all the input. Off to the get my set fitted.

But where?

Any recommendations in the mississauga/oakville/brampton/milton area?:help:

[iyell4]

So am I able to go back to the shop and have it re-adjusted for lie etc....

Recommendations?

get'em blue-printed for u and shave half-a-dozen strokes off right oft the top.:)

[jjgowland]

Oakville Custom Club Fitting,
Joe Lavery, phone 905-825-5757
is located at Trafalgar Road and Dundas.
He's next to the CAA.
Behind the Longo's Grocery store.

Clarke's Golf, 18 Thompson Road, Milton,
From Trafalgar Road, go west, then north on Thompson.
North west corner of Main and Thompson
phone: 905-878-1818

[Louie]

I have never been fit before, so you guys are telling if I get fit my handicap will go down? That being said I have had my lies done twice the only thing I do is make sure my lofts are adjusted.

[Pingnut]

Im totally sold...thanks for all the input. Off to the get my set fitted.

But where?

Any recommendations in the mississauga/oakville/brampton/milton area?:help:

I know where you shouldn't go in Oakville. :hush:

Taylor Made has a great fitting facility in Vaughn you could visit them, although they are probably more geared to fitting people for new orders than adjusting peoples set's.

You could also give swaain our TGN Sponser a call.
He's a little further east, but we've heard nothing but great things about his work and customer service.

[swaaain]

Getting fitted for the proper shaft and lenth as well as grip size can definately help. The shaft will control your ball flight and tighten your dispersion, which will inturn help lower your scores.

[DubRepublic]

Best things I did for my game were going into the golf program and letting Swaaain take control of choosing and building my equipment.

Picking up my irons is like slipping on a custom made pair of shoes. They just feel right and perform so much better.

Custom fitting allows you to swing naturally and have your equipment work FOR you. Off the rack clubs make you swing around your club making you do more of the work. This is unnatural and inconsistent.

Imagine if shoes all came in one size. How well do you think they would feel and work if you they weren't the right size?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but aren't TM Rac OS irons almost impossible to fit and bend? They are a hard cast steel rather than a softer and moldable forged steel?

I shouldn't say it's impossible, just a lot harder and the hozel is more likely to stress and break because it is harder.

That's just the impression I had when I had a set.

[kimo62]

i think today's cast offerings are much more bendable than offerings from a few years back. I remember just three years ago a certain clubfitter I went to didn't want to touch cast for fear of breakage. Nowadays some of these cast clubs are more bendable the their forged counterparts. one that really comes to mind is the golfsmith P2....it has 10º of lie angle adjustment.:eeek: :omg:
Do that with a forging.:D

[The Bun]

Custom fitting is very important so long as you find a good fitter who actually will take the time to fit you properly. In the last year I've visited two fitters and they both are a poor excuse for a business. I intend to see Jeff this spring sometime, on Rockin Ronnies suggestion, and hope I will finally meet someone who will take the time to help. Be careful as there are a lot of bad deals out there.

-Bun-

[buying_my_toys]

so i get my clubs fitted fror my current swing. i take lessons and receive advice to change my plane swing and then what.......get my clubs re-fitted again?

if the CFO (Cheap Financial Officer) asks how much this is gonna cost - what i do i say?????

am i gonna take away from my baby getting new bootys? :( if thats the case then it would be a tough sale.

[Louie]

Fitting should be secondary to lessons. If you're not swinging well when you get fitted what a crush to the ego that would be. When you think you're going to have all the answers bam it sucks. Lessons I think before fitting in my humble opinion. No offence but nobody is going to tell what shaft to use thats a trial and error, length and grip size being the most important. Just to make it clear this is my opinionand it works for me.:D

[guitarman]

Fitting should be secondary to lessons. If you're not swinging well when you get fitted what a crush to the ego that would be. When you think you're going to have all the answers bam it sucks. Lessons I think before fitting in my humble opinion. No offence but nobody is going to tell what shaft to use thats a trial and error, length and grip size being the most important. Just to make it clear this is my opinionand it works for me.:D

I agree as far as atleast taking lessons to get the fundementals before fitting.

[Snipes5150]

I too have never been fitted before...but am interested - as recently just telling by going to the range, I've developed a bit of a slice that I used to not have with my old clubs. I'm just wondering what the costs involved are for fitting. How much are we talking for a)an inquiry: checking lofts/lies/lengths and telling whether they are right, or ok for me. b) altering the clubs?

[TourIQ]

I have never been fit before, so you guys are telling if I get fit my handicap will go down?

Fitting should be secondary to lessons.
Hi Mike

1. YES, but not all clubfitters and clubmakers are created equal. Many
hacks [like almost all professions] and a few Masters, so find a Master!
[I could calculate this model statistically, but haven't done it yet]

2. They compliment each other. Do together. Why would you want to take
lessons with ill-fitted equipment first? A competent fitter can also build you better /
more than you need, so you can grow into a better set as you improve your handicap.
[I've done this a lot with juniors, and they adjust very quickly ...]

[TourIQ]

Custom fitting is very important so long as you find a good fitter who actually will take the time to fit you properly. In the last year I've visited two fitters and they both are a poor excuse for a business. -Bun-

Hey Bun, it doesn't sound like your track record is very good
at picking talent! Where the other 2 shops referrals too?
I hope you don't strike out again and find what you desire!

get'em blue-printed for u and shave half-a-dozen strokes off right oft the top.:)

Read the new thread I just started:
Who benefits more? [Joe Hacker vs. Tour Pro]
http://www.torontogolfnuts.com/showpost.php?p=138297&postcount=1

[dekker]

In the good ol' days it was fairly easy to spot the lie on irons,because the soles were mostly flat. If you could barely slip a quarter under the toe you were OK,if it went in further you had to flatten it a bit and so on.
Divots were a good indicator of your dynamic lie, if you knew how to read them.
The rounder soles of modern irons give you more leeway but getting the lie right,will always make a favourable difference in the direction.

Loft is pretty well decided by the choice of club and though it is modestly adjustable,you should consider your swing speed because if it is slow,you don't want a strong lofted set.You'll never get them to carry very far.

[TourIQ]

Loft is pretty well decided by the choice of club and though it is modestly adjustable,you should consider your swing speed because if it is slow,you don't want a strong lofted set.You'll never get them to carry very far.

I never use swingspeed to determine if a set should be lofted strong or weak. Too many sets have their wedges messed up due to strong lofts.
Just replace the longer irons with easy to hit hybrids. I hate strong lofts.

[dekker]

I never use swingspeed to determine if a set should be lofted strong or weak. Too many sets have their wedges messed up due to strong lofts.
Just replace the longer irons with easy to hit hybrids. I hate strong lofts.
Exactly Harry why I think that you should look at lofts when you buy irons.
Sets are too strongly lofted for the average guy.At $100/club he has $200 in long irons that are useless to him and that he will replace with hybrids.
In effect he really has 6 irons(5-pw) he can hit reasonably well.The average bag includes hybrids and gap wedges which wouldn't be necessary with lower lofts across the board.
On top of that many carry a 60* wedge because they think they can hit a flop.
We seem to have accepted that 10+* drivers are a good thing and now we have to get back to the realization that a 31* 5iron is just a number and that it does not impede on your manhood.Just to make another related point,most of us are ok playing with softer balls too. :D

[TourIQ]

Exactly Harry why I think that you should look at lofts when you buy irons.
Sets are too strongly lofted for the average guy.At $100/club he has $200 in long irons that are useless to him and that he will replace with hybrids.
In effect he really has 6 irons(5-pw) he can hit reasonably well.The average bag includes hybrids and gap wedges which wouldn't be necessary with lower lofts across the board.
On top of that many carry a 60* wedge because they think they can hit a flop.
We seem to have accepted that 10+* drivers are a good thing and now we have to get back to the realization that a 31* 5iron is just a number and that it does not impede on your manhood.Just to make another related point,most of us are ok playing with softer balls too. :D

Right on dekker. My son with his + handicap doesn't even carry a 20* 3-iron and replaced it with a Nickent Genex 3DX 3/20 hybrid, so what chance do most leisure golfers have in hitting a 3 or 4 iron consistent enough to actually carry it in their bag ... almost nil! :rofl: He does have a 2 and 3 iron but this is reserved for range work, not the actual game.

Most guys should just buy an iron set 5 to PW and go from there. Since OEM don't want to sell a 6 piece set then custom fit from components is a viable option to consider. I don't even subscribe to the GW theory, and always go with a 40* 8-iron, a 44* 9-iron, then the 3 wedges 49, 54, and 59 :D

[Pingnut]

Exactly Harry why I think that you should look at lofts when you buy irons.
Sets are too strongly lofted for the average guy.At $100/club he has $200 in long irons that are useless to him and that he will replace with hybrids.
In effect he really has 6 irons(5-pw) he can hit reasonably well.The average bag includes hybrids and gap wedges which wouldn't be necessary with lower lofts across the board.
On top of that many carry a 60* wedge because they think they can hit a flop.
We seem to have accepted that 10+* drivers are a good thing and now we have to get back to the realization that a 31* 5iron is just a number and that it does not impede on your manhood.Just to make another related point,most of us are ok playing with softer balls too. :D

You make a good point about the set make-up and how most people would be better of without the 3 and 4 iron or some combination of the 5,4,3. Most manufacturers will let you order custom sets now with any combination of irons. You can order the 9,8,7,6 if you like.. The other advantage to custom ordering - even if's it is something minor like 1/4" +/- in length or 1* deferent lie angles - is that it's likely your clubs will be built here in Canada and not assembled at the factory. You should always get the store you buy from to check the specs though just in case.

[kimo62]

The only that bothers me about fitters is the fact that they assume everyone that's not a single digit or better handicap should use hybrids and woods. It's simply not the case.I play with hybrids and like them but I also play with 3 or 4 double digit handicappers that hit 2and 3 irons better than they hit any woods or hybrids. Now.....I do realize that MOST would benefit from them(woods and/or hybrids) but the assumption that handicaps should dictate what you carry in the long clubs is a little off base. Your swing should dictate that.... not your handicap.

You should hit what your confident with.

[TourIQ]

This is where the 'Player Interview' comes in via the fitter.
They first discuss the player strengths and what type of club they prefer to hit. What I discussed will not fit 100% of the players, this would be foolish to assume, but far to many hackers would benefit from either a 7-wood or a hybrid [generally speaking]. The Player Interview comes first.

[Louie]

The only that bothers me about fitters is the fact that they assume everyone that's not a single digit or better handicap should use hybrids and woods. It's simply not the case.I play with hybrids and like them but I also play with 3 or 4 double digit handicappers that hit 2and 3 irons better than they hit any woods or hybrids. Now.....I do realize that MOST would benefit from them(woods and/or hybrids) but the assumption that handicaps should dictate what you carry in the long clubs is a little off base. Your swing should dictate that.... not your handicap.

You should hit what your confident with.

I think it was in general most players would benefit from them not everyone. I'm a single digit handicap and love the look of the 2 and 3 iron in my set but i can hit the hybrid that much easier.

[Andru]

Doesn't one's golfing ability come into play? Both of my sets of irons are probably standard (loft, length and lie). Based on my wrist to ground measurement, the standard length of the 5 iron suits me. However, since I cannot break 100 or until I get a handicap, I don't think that custom fitting should be on my high priority list....at least until my golf swing becomes much more consistent. Comments?

Dave
Hey Dave
Get your lie angles adjusted. That's all you need for now. You can't learn to strike the ball correctly without proper lie angles.

I think it was in general most players would benefit from them not everyone. I'm a single digit handicap and love the look of the 2 and 3 iron in my set but i can hit the hybrid that much easier.

Hybrids are like cheating. Personally. I love seeing a guy with a 2 iron in his bag. Where you see an old school golfer I see $$

[DavidY]

Thanks for the kick in the rear, Swaaain and Andru. ;) I will be considering about getting my lie angles on my irons checked. Lofts too since one of my sets is forged.

Although I have been procastinating, I will be checking with a local fitter about shortening my drivers by a couple inches (45-46 to 43-44 based on my guessing) and likely increasing my grip sizes too (I typically wear a XL glove).

Dave

[kingplayer]

Almost without exception custom fitting will only pay dividends if the player is making the same swing all the time. Most beginners don't do this or their swing changes as they improve. Better to wait on custom fitting until one becomes very consistant.

[TourIQ]

Almost without exception custom fitting will only pay dividends if the player is making the same swing all the time. Most beginners don't do this or their swing changes as they improve. Better to wait on custom fitting until one becomes very consistant.

What handicap level is someone deemed to have a 'very consistent' swing?

[kingplayer]

What handicap level is someone deemed to have a 'very consistent' swing?

I wouldn't judge it by handicap but by fairly consistant ball flight. If a player hits one left then one right then one straight, one high one low and so on I would not consider that player consistant. A player has to be making a consistant swing to be able to reap the benefits of custom ftting.

[maryanne]

Recently we filmed "Kim Hughes" (ex Australian Cricket Captain )and Brad Hughes (Body Boarding Champion) Club fitting for a golfing television show hopefully going to air later this year.Both are social golfers. Kim is handicapped at 15 and Brad is handicapped at 18.Neither have ever had fitted clubs before.
These two video's may be helpful to you.
Steve Herbert from Royal Freemantle in WA Australia is the fitting specialist and is also fondly known as Australia's most passionate golfer, he lives and breathes golf 24/7

http://www.bogeystobirdies.com.au/icons/text.gif ac Kim Club Fitting ..> (http://www.bogeystobirdies.com.au/DVD/ac%20Kim%20Club%20Fitting%20627.wmv) 15-Feb-2007 10:04 12.2M

http://www.bogeystobirdies.com.au/icons/text.gif ae Brad Club Fitting..> (http://www.bogeystobirdies.com.au/DVD/ae%20Brad%20Club%20Fitting%20805.wmv) 15-Feb-2007 10:05 15.3M

Please be warned it is difficult to make club fitting entertaining television but these are very informative.