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While munching on Skittles in the early morning hours (the breakfast of champions?), I found myself reflecting on a conversation I had with a golfer I was paired with yesterday. He said "I never had a fitting; I just buy clubs I think I'll like or that I've heard are good." Honestly, I don't know why this statement surprised me. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this from a golfer, and this one is very fit, has a great swing, and absolutely smashes a golf ball. But like everyone, there is room to improve, just imagine if his clubs fit him. (He is in standard length and lie clubs and 6’5”.) I play a lot of golf and meet many interesting people, and quite a few have never had a fitting. In my opinion, fittings are essential for any golfer. Getting fit for irons is just as important as getting fit for a putter and driver. Let’s discuss why fittings are so valuable.
For now, we’ll address “club fitting” as a general discussion point. A fitting sets the player’s standard for proper length, lie, loft, and shaft stiffness.  Standard length clubs aren’t for everyone. Basic wrist-to-floor length and height measurements can get a player in the “ballpark” for length, but everyone has their own unique swing. For example, Standard length would be for someone who is 5’11" tall with a wrist-to-floor measurement of 35 ½ inches. This data would result in the ability to go to any golf store and buy a set of clubs off the rack. 

If only it were that easy! Clubs off the rack from most manufacturers should have a similar length, loft, and lie. But just because a player is at standard length doesn’t mean the lie angle or loft is standard for that player. Lie angles can change based on swing type, shaft type (graphite or steel), and shaft stiffness.

 If you think considering all these factors doesn’t make buying clubs complicated, let’s dig deeper into shaft stiffness. Shaft stiffness isn’t an exact science and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Stiffness is categorized into several types, from tour extra stiff to senior and lady flexes. Each manufacturer has its own parameters, which can vary greatly. Some companies even have their own measurements of stiffness like the dot system.

Still not complicated enough? There’s more: torque, weight, bend point, and balance. Manufacturers are continually advancing technology, adding even more variables to consider. But let’s stick with the basics for now.  Sidebar: I believe the most important part of the golf club is the shaft. Getting the correct shaft is a game changer. Yes, I said it. It’s the most important part of the club. Selecting the proper shaft is crucial and often overlooked in club purchases.  
Swing weight is also important and can be determined through a fitting. Subjectively, swing weight is how the club feels when you swing it. Objectively, swing weight can be measured on a scale from A0 to F9, with A0 being the lightest and F9 the heaviest. Adding or subtracting length, changing lie, shaft weight, club head weight, and different grip sizes and types can all affect swing weight.

You thought we covered all the basics? Nope, we didn't discuss loft. I almost forgot to talk about loft. Loft varies based on the manufacturer and the type of clubs purchased. There are several types of clubs: game improvement, super game improvement, player distance, cavity back, tour cavity back, and muscle back (blades). Lofts can differ based on these club types; for instance, a player-distance club might have a stronger loft than a muscle-back club. Loft can also be affected by lie. A flatter lie will produce a higher loft. Yep, lots of variables.

The player may get lucky by purchasing their clubs off the rack that have the correct length, lie, loft, and shaft, but that is not realistic for most golfers. Paying upwards of $1,500 for a set of high-end irons without knowing how they are going to play is really a crapshoot. If you are a risk taker you could throw all caution to the wind and purchase the standard irons.  But I would be remiss if I did not warn you against making such a large purchase based on standard parameters. While some golfers can play with clubs right off the rack, most committed golfers can't. I’ll use my personal experience as an example as to why you should spend the time and money to have a fitting. I am not standard, I am unique. All golfers are. The manufacturer makes standard clubs by using data. Here is what the manufacturer knows: clubs are manufactured with the data that results from various golfers' measurements. Here is what I know (after my fitting): for irons, my length is one-half inch over standard and my lie is two to three degrees flat (based on what shaft I am using). My driver measurements are very different from my irons. The driver needs to be one inch under standard length and upright in lie. Loft is usually one to two degrees strong, based on my flat lie and iron head type. The club I am using drives (see what I did there?) the measurements.  Swing weight for my irons is different and heavier than my driver and woods, lighter than my hybrids and similar to my wedges. Golfers also have preferences. I prefer shafts that are rifled steel extra stiff for irons, graphite stiff for hybrids and woods, and steel stepped stiff for my wedges. I wouldn’t know my specs without a fitting.  For a driver, the correct fitting improves your smash factor, angle of attack, and launch angle, resulting in longer, more consistent drives. For a putter, getting fit for the length and lie of your putter to match your putting stroke will improve feel, distance control, and accuracy. Still not complicated enough? The aforementioned measurements are exactly what I need...for now, but swings evolve over time.
Getting a $100 dollar fitting from an unbiased professional fitter will save you money in the end. Knowing your data provides you with a plethora of purchasing opportunities. This includes, but is not limited to the direct-to-customer companies that keep popping up. It has been my experience that these companies make quality clubs for a very reasonable price.
In summary, if your clubs are fitted to you, you will hit the ball better. What do I mean by "better"? A fitting looks at your data to improve accuracy and distance control.  Distance control includes learning the “gapping” of your clubs. Gapping is the distance from one club to the next; for instance, if your 8 iron goes 160 yards, your 7 iron goes 170 yards, and so on, you can make a more informed club selection. 
A fitting is not just for irons and drivers; it is also important for wedges and will tell you what bounce is better suited for THE UNIQUE YOU. It will also help you decide what loft wedges are right for your style of play. 
A fitting is for your individual swing and makes you more confident in your swing. It provides you with valuable information about club specs and design and make you a more informed golfer. A fitting makes your golf score better. Most importantly, a fitting provides for A BETTER BIRDIE HUNT!