Getting Fit - Your Thoughts

[AGutierrez7 118]

Basically what I am after is if getting a club fitting is actually worth it. I am still a bit skeptical only because I believe my game is not good enough to be properly fit. Currently, I do not think I am consistent enough to be fit. This is partly due to inadequate practice but I keep hearing the whole "learning how to ride a bike that does not fit you" analogy, so I am wondering if there is any merit to that. I probably need to go and receive lessons before I decide to be fitted. I guess I just wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on the whole fitting process and if you notice any drastic changes in your golf games. Thanks everyone!

[GolfSpy Stroker 9,904]

Not sure who told you that but if you are truly a 16 handicap then I don't see any way that a fitting won't help. That's about the point in which you can start to see it make a true difference.

Someone that shoots in the 100s maybe not, but now that you're in the mid-teens it seems a good time.

Besides - it's fun as heck!

[dlow206 3,342]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy Stroker said:

Not sure who told you that but if you are truly a 16 handicap then I don't see any way that a fitting won't help. That's about the point in which you can start to see it make a true difference.

Someone that shoots in the 100s maybe not, but now that you're in the mid-teens it seems a good time.

Besides - it's fun as heck!

I shoot in the low 100s and the fitting was worthwhile still.

[ChitownM2 171]

If you are consistent enough to be a 16 handicap then your game is definitely consistent enough to get fitted. 

Getting some lessons first also probably couldn't hurt. You may not realize it, but there is a strong chance that what you perceive as inconsistency is all related to a few swing flaws and not just you doing something randomly different each time you hit a bad shot. Put another way, there may be some consistency to your bad shots even if the results of those bad shots are all different. 

I think a big part of improving at golf is trying to be objective about yourself. In all likelihood, you could drop 4 more shots off of your handicap and still not feel as consistent as you want, but reality is you'd probably be better than 75% of the golfers out there at a 12 handicap. You're a prime candidate to get fitted IMO.

Edited August 7 by ChitownM2

[EEZurg 39]

I'm in the same boat here.....when I'm swinging well....love my irons, why change them.  When I'm putting well, putters great.  My question would be....for going down the fitting road, where should one start?  Seems to me.....driver fitting would be a logical/best start.  Seems shaft would be most critical here.....decent drive, get the ball in play.  So if a "whole bag" fitting is out, where does one begin?

[Tom the Golf Nut 1,142]

1 hour ago, EEZurg said:

I'm in the same boat here.....when I'm swinging well....love my irons, why change them.  When I'm putting well, putters great.  My question would be....for going down the fitting road, where should one start?  Seems to me.....driver fitting would be a logical/best start.  Seems shaft would be most critical here.....decent drive, get the ball in play.  So if a "whole bag" fitting is out, where does one begin?

I started with the driver. If you can keep your drives in play you will have a lot more opportunities to dial in the irons you currently have. Then I would go for the iron fitting. My biggest reduction in handicap came from being in the center of the fairway. Everyone is different, but my drives needed some distance and to find the center of the fairway more often allowing me to go for the green with the irons.

[PMookie 11,016]

20 hours ago, AGutierrez7 said:

Basically what I am after is if getting a club fitting is actually worth it. I am still a bit skeptical only because I believe my game is not good enough to be properly fit. Currently, I do not think I am consistent enough to be fit. This is partly due to inadequate practice but I keep hearing the whole "learning how to ride a bike that does not fit you" analogy, so I am wondering if there is any merit to that. I probably need to go and receive lessons before I decide to be fitted. I guess I just wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on the whole fitting process and if you notice any drastic changes in your golf games. Thanks everyone!

You need to consider that playing ill-fitting clubs may be a big culprit in the level of golf you’re playing............

[aerospace_ray 550]

I will be the first to admit I have gone back and forth regarding how I feel about fitting vs not fitted subject. Today I strongly believe and am a proponent for proper custom club fittings. I have invested a great deal of time learning fitting methodologies, testing and doing basic fittings.

There was a time I had opinion/thoughts such as "at the end of the day, it's the swing you put on the ball" and "many people have never had lessons and/or fittings and still shoot par scores and better".  An analogy a friend of mine always use to tell me was "there are many "homemade" and unique swings that produce high and low scores but we know there is some correlation with various fundamentals and good - consistent scoring--their clubs may or may not be fitted.

I would suggest that ill-fitted clubs cause one to manipulate their swing to achieve the goal of trying to hit the ball straighter to the hole. In other words you learn to work with what you have (a club that might not really fit you) and figure out how to hit it how you want. Suppose there is nothing wrong with that, maybe not the most efficient way to get the job done but history and many golfers that do this have proven it can be done.

Conversely many have probably never improved and may have even quit the game possibly due to ill fitted clubs. So all that to say IMO it really depends on your talent, ability to execute your shots with or without a fitted set of clubs. Some believe in it, others don't. I do believe in it and my experience is I am more consistent when my clubs fit. 

[tony@CIC 15,317]

1 minute ago, aerospace_ray said:

 

Conversely many have probably never improved and may have even quit the game possibly due to ill fitted clubs. So all that to say IMO it really depends on your talent, ability to execute your shots with or without a fitted set of clubs. Some believe in it, others don't. I do believe in it and my experience is I am more consistent when my clubs fit. 

I agree - but I'd also add it depends on what your objective is. If it's just to go out and have fun 6 or 8 times a year then OTR clubs will probably work. On the other hand, like many of us here, we're constantly looking to improve and the fitting is just another part of the equation to getting better. 

[Rchang 141]

Also a good fitter will help you identify where it is your swing and strike vs the club. They should be checking your original clubs to see how you hit them. 

[jaskanski 1,142]

As others have mentioned, fitting is a numbers game - not about the LM data (which does form a part of it) but purely about percentages.

A fittied club will have a greater percentage of a better result - regardless of your swing. In fact, it's because of your swing that the fitted club makes perfect sense. It simply reduces the chances (or percentages) of a poor result than a club that is statistically less likely to provide a positive result, because it has not been matched to your physical or dynamic needs. It's that simple.

Once you get your head around that simple premise, your playing ability will improve as a result, because you will have the confidence to believe your clubs are not the root cause of your own ability.

[SlowNLow 174]

The comcept of fitting is great, I just don't know where to go or who does it well in my area.  I've had one putter fitting which came out ok, and one driver fitting which was terrible. Im not going back to that place, btw, one of Golf Digest top 100 clubfitters.

Edited August 9 by SlowNLow

[AGutierrez7 118]

On 8/7/2020 at 2:04 PM, GolfSpy Stroker said:

Not sure who told you that but if you are truly a 16 handicap then I don't see any way that a fitting won't help. That's about the point in which you can start to see it make a true difference.

Someone that shoots in the 100s maybe not, but now that you're in the mid-teens it seems a good time.

Besides - it's fun as heck!

Currently playing off a 15.7, shooting high 80s to low 90s currently. So maybe lessons first then club fitting might be the approach I take. Also if it's fun, I'm all for it! 

On 8/7/2020 at 5:23 PM, ChitownM2 said:

If you are consistent enough to be a 16 handicap then your game is definitely consistent enough to get fitted. 

Getting some lessons first also probably couldn't hurt. You may not realize it, but there is a strong chance that what you perceive as inconsistency is all related to a few swing flaws and not just you doing something randomly different each time you hit a bad shot. Put another way, there may be some consistency to your bad shots even if the results of those bad shots are all different. 

I think a big part of improving at golf is trying to be objective about yourself. In all likelihood, you could drop 4 more shots off of your handicap and still not feel as consistent as you want, but reality is you'd probably be better than 75% of the golfers out there at a 12 handicap. You're a prime candidate to get fitted IMO.

Definitely will start with lessons first to assess my swing flaws. I know I currently struggle with coming over the top which produces that borderline slice. So I figure if I can remedy that swing flaw I would probably be more inclined to get fit. 

[AGutierrez7 118]

On 8/7/2020 at 7:35 PM, EEZurg said:

I'm in the same boat here.....when I'm swinging well....love my irons, why change them.  When I'm putting well, putters great.  My question would be....for going down the fitting road, where should one start?  Seems to me.....driver fitting would be a logical/best start.  Seems shaft would be most critical here.....decent drive, get the ball in play.  So if a "whole bag" fitting is out, where does one begin?

I would assume starting with the driver is a good idea. That's probably what I am going to start with (or 3 wood, my other tee club).

On 8/8/2020 at 10:16 AM, PMookie said:

You need to consider that playing ill-fitting clubs may be a big culprit in the level of golf you’re playing............

That's exactly my other thought. Sometimes out on the course I feel like I put a good swing on the club but the result doesn't match. So that leads to me thinking that it sometimes IS the club and not me. 

[McGolf 251]

Keep in mind a fitting is not just about clubs. 

its about fitting clubs and your swing. A fitter is or should be knowledgeable about the golf swing and can possibly talk to swing flaws that could be messing with your consistency. 

The fitter could recommend gear that can also add to the category.  As previously identified. The swing can be impacted by the gear. Weight length flex etc. If nothing else it will bring a peace of mind one way or other. 

[EEZurg 39]

Did you see this topic:

It's a great review of a fitting.  Seems to me....they fixed his lie, length of club, and flex which I can see all helping.  What I didn't like was the fitter choosing an exotic/expensive shaft....that would have bummed me out.  All things to be prepared for and address when getting fitted.  Learning a lot here.....thanks all

[HardcoreLooper 4,634]

On 8/7/2020 at 1:51 PM, AGutierrez7 said:

Basically what I am after is if getting a club fitting is actually worth it. I am still a bit skeptical only because I believe my game is not good enough to be properly fit. Currently, I do not think I am consistent enough to be fit. This is partly due to inadequate practice but I keep hearing the whole "learning how to ride a bike that does not fit you" analogy, so I am wondering if there is any merit to that. I probably need to go and receive lessons before I decide to be fitted. I guess I just wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on the whole fitting process and if you notice any drastic changes in your golf games. Thanks everyone!

We don't know that much about you and your game.  You could be a 16 that hits it like an 8 and chips/putts like a 30.  Or you could chip and putt like an 8 and hit it like a 30.  We also don't know if your clubs are drastically too long or short, heavy or light, stiff or flexible, etc.  There's a chance that your current clubs fit.  Not a good chance, but a chance.  

Lessons are always a good idea.  And a decent teacher should be able to tell you whether your clubs are drastically ill-fitting or just a little bit off.

What I wouldn't do is wait until your swing is perfect before being fitted.

 

On 8/9/2020 at 7:43 PM, SlowNLow said:

The comcept of fitting is great, I just don't know where to go or who does it well in my area.  I've had one putter fitting which came out ok, and one driver fitting which was terrible. Im not going back to that place, btw, one of Golf Digest top 100 clubfitters.

Let us know where you live, and there's a good chance that we can recommend a good fitter near you.  

[BMart519 296]

Usually biggest gains will be from a driver fitting unless your current club just happens to be a good fit followed by putter due to the amount you use these clubs and how quickly they can gain you a larger number of strokes with no swing changes. Irons/wedge fitting would be after that unless you have physical characteristics that are far from average: extremely long or short arms with average height or extremely tall or short. 

I'm a similar handicap range as yourself and a driver fitting gained me 10-20 yards with improved dispersion by going to a heavier shaft with a lower lofted head to reduce spin. 

Edited August 19 by BMart519

[SlowNLow 174]

22 hours ago, HardcoreLooper said:

We don't know that much about you and your game.  You could be a 16 that hits it like an 8 and chips/putts like a 30.  Or you could chip and putt like an 8 and hit it like a 30.  We also don't know if your clubs are drastically too long or short, heavy or light, stiff or flexible, etc.  There's a chance that your current clubs fit.  Not a good chance, but a chance.  

Lessons are always a good idea.  And a decent teacher should be able to tell you whether your clubs are drastically ill-fitting or just a little bit off.

What I wouldn't do is wait until your swing is perfect before being fitted.

 

Let us know where you live, and there's a good chance that we can recommend a good fitter near you.  

Thats the least I could do, I live just north of Rochester, MI,  USA

Thanks.

And if you guys know of a good trainer for golf, i need that really bad.

Edited August 20 by SlowNLow

[revkev 21,584]

I'm in the same boat here.....when I'm swinging well....love my irons, why change them.  When I'm putting well, putters great.  My question would be....for going down the fitting road, where should one start?  Seems to me.....driver fitting would be a logical/best start.  Seems shaft would be most critical here.....decent drive, get the ball in play.  So if a "whole bag" fitting is out, where does one begin?

Driver or putter - probably driver but if you are able do both


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