If you are striking the ball well, then club fitting can work wonders. If you are inconsistent or just hitting it poorly then start with lessons. Let me explain.
Club fitting adjustments are up to 4 degrees today in lie angle or sleeve adjustments. Say you come in with an out in swing of 15 degrees and an open face of 5 degrees and an ill fitted off the rack purchased set.
If we wanted to fix this slice by giving you a draw biased head shape, set to the most closed face setting, either 4 upright or set the sleeve higher, and a shaft flex that matches your speed and we say that the 4 degree improvement helps both path and face… (this is just for illustration purposes)
you would still be swinging 11 out in with a 1 degree open face, which is a 12 degree curve, then we have maxed out all we can do with the club and you will want to fix the swing to achieve a straighter, better flight.
but if you come in with a 3 degree out in swing and a 1 degree open face, then we can see some impressive results with fitting, because now we might see a face to path ratio closer to 0 degrees which is a straight flight.
when it comes to more distance, hitting it solid is number one to increase ball speed, so optimal head shape, loft, flex etc can make a huge difference but you have to hit it to see it. I find that at least every 5 years amateurs might see significant gains. If you switch more frequently it is because you can afford it and it is your hobby and you like spending money on this.
by the way the pros switch out their wedges the most, every two weeks apparently. This is unsustainable for amateurs, but it often is the last replaced club.
Not getting fit is like buying an expensive suit without trying it on. The only set that is right for you is the one fit for you. Out of 100 golfers, only about 5 will walk out without any type of adjustment.
not all fitters are equal, most are honest and understand the job is to recommend and educate, not just make a quota. Just ask for the most experienced one and you will enjoy the process.
I am a Certified PGA Pro and a Master Club Fitter with 30+ years experience and make it a point to educate myself annually to offer the most up to date fittings, which includes systems like GEARS and Launch monitors etc.
