The Results are in!

[Kona Golf]

FEBRUARY 2011 Golf Magazine reports the results of their independent club fitting study.

10 golfers

15.8 average handicap with old clubs

13.7 average handicap with new custom fitted clubs.

[Fredk]

Re: The Results are in!

Did anybody NOT improve or did all 10 show some level of improvement?

[HacknSlash]

Re: The Results are in!

Hmmm well not trying to knock getting a fitted set vs off the shelf - but would you consider this a big improvement?

Not having tracked a handicap I would not know how much a swing of 2 strokes on average is - and other things going on in their games might account for a couple strokes as much as anything.

[TourIQ]

Re: The Results are in!

15.8 average handicap with old clubs.
13.7 average handicap with new custom fitted clubs.

If fitted correctly with the right components, I always knew a person could buy a better game
The old saying, 'its not the Indian its the arrow' needs to be changed to, 'its the indian and the arrow'.

[storm]

Re: The Results are in!

I think everyone can agree proper fitting will improve everyone to a certain degree. You may not go from a 16 to a 2, but I would think most would see an increase in not only confidence but consistency as well. Just by hitting 2 more fairways in a round or putting them ping high on that par 3 could save you a few strokes in itself.

[LowPost42]

Re: The Results are in!

If fitted correctly with the right components, I always knew a person could buy a better game
The old saying, 'its not the Indian its the arrow' needs to be changed to, 'its the indian and the arrow'.

Well suited arrows leave all the blame squarely on the Indian.

[SW20 MR2]

Re: The Results are in!

How was the study done? Were the same clubs used before and after?

If they took the hcp before and then gave them new clubs, you could make the argument done that they got better simply by playing and improving. I'd like to see what happens if you give the old clubs back to them, now with lower hcps, and then see what the results are. They would theoretically get worse, though I'd doubt it.

I'm not saying that fitted clubs are bad, but I just kinda doubt that it's just a matter of fitting.

[storm]

Re: The Results are in!

How was the study done? Were the same clubs used before and after?

If they took the hcp before and then gave them new clubs, you could make the argument done that they got better simply by playing and improving. I'd like to see what happens if you give the old clubs back to them, now with lower hcps, and then see what the results are. They would theoretically get worse, though I'd doubt it.

I'm not saying that fitted clubs are bad, but I just kinda doubt that it's just a matter of fitting.

Wouldn't that kind of go against the point of getting fitted for them? Many, many people play the wrong shafts in the wrong flexes. That alone is a cause for a few strokes IMO.

[Shake99]

Re: The Results are in!

Did anybody NOT improve or did all 10 show some level of improvement?

3 of the 10 were the same 2@14 one @15. Half of the players in the article were fit for drivers and 1/2 for irons 2 of the 3 that stayed the same were fit for driver.

One went from 12 to 9 and one 8 to 5 both are significant moves in the factor more so than a 20 to 16 .

They also cite a survey of 6000 golfers and 76% of new custom fit buyers compare to 61% of other buyers stated they had improved.

Bottom line it will still depend on the fitter.

[storm]

Re: The Results are in!

I had my irons frequencied, lofts and lies adjusted accordingly and I can say it has made a huge difference. There is no guessing as to where the iron is going to go as long as a decent swing is made.

[par72]

Re: The Results are in!

I had my irons frequencied, lofts and lies adjusted accordingly and I can say it has made a huge difference. There is no guessing as to where the iron is going to go as long as a decent swing is made.

Funny, I havent done any of that stuff yet when I make a good swing there is no guessing where my irons will go.

Guess jack and arnie were really lucky or really good guessers.

[SW20 MR2]

Re: The Results are in!

Sorry, I meant same heads. If I was a 20 hcp and played with blades, you could "fit" me with an an off-the-rack set of shovels, and I'll likely see improvement.

I think the true test would be to have the people go back to their original equipment and see the results.

Wouldn't that kind of go against the point of getting fitted for them? Many, many people play the wrong shafts in the wrong flexes. That alone is a cause for a few strokes IMO.