Not your typical fitting question

[Granata13]

I am wondering if it is worth it to go get and iron fitting?  Specifically for a new shaft. 

 

I know everyone asks that but here is the back story. I am a former club pro and was in staff with Ping for years.  When I first was on staff with Ping, 2006, I went through a full fitting with the rep at Miles of Golf. I have used those specs for every set of Pings (i5, S56, ie1) i have had since then. Orange dot, standard length, Dynamic Gold S300. At the beginning of the year I got a new set of irons, Ping i210 with Power Spec lofts. I ordered them to the specs like I always have

 

This year I have been playing very well. My handicap has dropped to the lowest it’s ever been, +1.6 but my irons are the weak part of my game. I hit it high and normally hit a slight draw, I have no problem controlling trajectory.  Where I do struggle is cutting the ball and my miss is left. It seems the ball is turning left and starting left more than it has in the past. 

 

A couple other things have me wondering if I should have gotten fit this year. 

 

1- I was struggling with my wedges, especially control trajectory. I switched  the shafts out to an 8 iron DG x100 (8iron spinner trick).  It worked GREAT!

 

 So now I am wondering if there is a better shaft for my irons.  Not for distance but for better control / dispersion. 

 

2- I noticed that my wear marks are from center to slightly heel side of center (especially on the short irons). In the past it’s always been center to slightly toe side of center. 

 

I realize this normally a length issue but they are the same length as my previous set of irons. 

 

3- There are a lot more shaft options than there was when I first got fit in 2006. 

 

So with that all being said. Is it worth it to go through a fitting to try and get a tighter dispersion? Would a new shaft help tighten up the dispersion? It did in my wedges but not sure if irons would be different.

[cnosil]

Whether it is worth it or not is entirely up to you.  You seem to have doubts about your clubs and their fit so why wouldn't you at least go try to see if something might be better.

 

[Granata13]

I wouldn’t say doubts but more nit picking about them. Just wondering if there is something else I could have done to be better. 

[THEZIPR23]

It’s worth a shot. There is a lot more technology and a lot of different shafts that weren’t there in 2006. I play with a guy who at 53 has owned 2 sets of irons. Same specs from high school. He gets it around fine at a scratch but I have no doubt that going through a fitting would improve that. 

[revkev]

I wouldn’t say doubts but more nit picking about them. Just wondering if there is something else I could have done to be better. 

You won’t know unless you do it and now that you’ve asked about it “out loud” you’ve down the seeds of doubt.

Sometimes the best fitting is the one that says - “you’re good to go with what you have.”



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[edingc]

Miles of Golf is still a fantastic fitter, or so I've heard, so I don't see the harm in going to get fit again. Worst case you're out $100/$175 depending on the fitting level you choose. 

What's the peace of mind worth to you? Confidence is king. If you're standing 175 out and you're questioning the shaft and it's impact on your swing, it's just asking for troubles. 

[Granata13]

So a rainy day here in northern Michigan led to a road trip and I stopped by Club Champion and went through a full fitting. I will keep this short. 

1- I hit a lot of different heads but my ping i210 was the best. Mizuno was close but I am staying with my pings. 

2-  my lie angle should be another degree flatter. It didn’t cure the lefts, it’s more Indian than arrow, but it helped. 

3- and most interesting to me. I was able to hit a bunch of shafts in the Ping i210. We actually started with shafts and then worked on finding a head, which like I said above ended up being my pings. Steelfiber 110 was the easy winner. From the first swings ball speed went up, smash factor went up and of course I hit it further with tighter dispersion. I did keep going back and trying my irons and I could get those numbers to match the steelfiber but it wasn’t nearly as consistent. With the steelfiber it was just easier to maintain speed and hit it straighter. 

I am definitely going to try the steelfiber but going to start with my 5 iron and see how it performs on the course before I reshaft the whole set.

[Granata13]

Anyone have a review of the Steelfiber 110?

[RickyBobby_PR]

10 hours ago, Granata13 said:

Anyone have a review of the Steelfiber 110?

They are a love em or hate em shaft. To me they feel harsh and I’ve seen others talk about the butt stiffness and not liking the feel.

iirc higher swing speed golfers tend to like them as a graphite option. 

[revkev]

I game steel fibers as does Plaid Jacket both lighter weight than the 110’s.

But I believe you are a stronger player than we are. I know each of us was fit for ours and love them. When i went for a recent fitting my fitter saw me hit two shots with 7 iron and told me to keep my wallet in my pocket. No need to change.

Let us know how you like them




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[Granata13]

On 9/7/2019 at 9:11 PM, revkev said:

I game steel fibers as does Plaid Jacket both lighter weight than the 110’s.

But I believe you are a stronger player than we are. I know each of us was fit for ours and love them. When i went for a recent fitting my fitter saw me hit two shots with 7 iron and told me to keep my wallet in my pocket. No need to change.

Let us know how you like them




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I have one shaft on its way to try in the “real world”. I loved it during the fitting, so much so that it only took a couple swings and i told the fitter how much i liked it and numbers confirmed it. I have also learned my lesson on how things can be great during a fitting but not so great when you get it on the course. So I will reshaft one iron befor I commit

[revkev]

Granata any thoughts on that shaft now that you’ve tried it for a bit?

I was on the range yesterday with one of our pros - he’s in his early 70’s - played most of his career on the European Tour but did log a couple of seasons on the PGA. He’s had a ton of health issues but still hits balls and plays a few holes 3 or 4 days a week.

He just put aerotech i80’s in his irons and loves them.


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[perseveringgolfer]

I just watched an interesting WITB by Jon Rham done a few days ago.

He said he never had a fitting until he won a college tournament and even then he's used the same Driver shaft since college and the same iron shafts (Project X 6.5) since he started playing seriously.

He can adapt to anything and just tried a few clubs and shafts and stuck with what felt right regardless of numbers.

I can relate to that as no doubt you can. Go with what 'feels' right will never be a bad decision in golf.