Club fitting as your game improves

[mjlamont]

If you get fitted for clubs as a high handicaper, wouldn’t you need to get the refitted as your game improves and your swing changes? Never been fitted before was just wondering how that works.

[cnosil]

29 minutes ago, mjlamont said:

If you get fitted for clubs as a high handicaper, wouldn’t you need to get the refitted as your game improves and your swing changes? Never been fitted before was just wondering how that works.

Fitting is about finding the shafts and heads that help optimize ball flight.  You may or may not need to get refit after improvement; depends on what has changed but most people probably don’t change enough to warrant new clubs.  If you are improving with the clubs that you have, you might want to stock with them since they are working.  

[GolfSpy_APH]

6 hours ago, mjlamont said:

If you get fitted for clubs as a high handicaper, wouldn’t you need to get the refitted as your game improves and your swing changes? Never been fitted before was just wondering how that works.

@cnosil basically summed it up. 

While you could, it doesn't necessarily have to be the case. Things that may require a new club fit (or shafts) would be increase swing speed or vast change in tempo. Growth would be another, however a good fitter should be able to recognize that a higher handicap will get better (hopefully) and account for that in a sense. 

Things that could be changed (depending on the club) without the need for new clubs entirely would be loft or lie angle. Best example I can give is myself where I went from a 2 up to a 2 flat with swing changes and improvement. This was done to my current set over a hour or two at the shop. Lengths can be adjusted with current sets as well, although I dont love extensions so feel free to research that. Same goes with grips, maybe that is something which looks to be updated or changes as part, but is simple to do on current setups. 

If you are a higher handicap with a good amount of speed already it is very likely a fitter will be able to get you into something that will work for as long as you like and when you get to a lower handicap it would be more of your choice to switch into something vs a requirement. 

Hope that helps a bit. 

[mjlamont]

Thanks for the insight. Makes sense.

[funkyjudge]

16 hours ago, mjlamont said:

If you get fitted for clubs as a high handicaper, wouldn’t you need to get the refitted as your game improves and your swing changes? Never been fitted before was just wondering how that works.

The key part of your question is “and your swing changes”. If there are not significant changes to your swing (e.g. swing path and plane, approach angle, etc.), plus clubhead speed/shaft loading, you may not need a new fitting. However, chances are pretty good that at least a couple of these factors will change as you improve. If this is the case, then a session with a qualified clubfitter will almost surely be beneficial for you.

[OKCPete]

It depends, but for me I would. As a high handicapper I got fitter with game improvement irons, Ping G425s, a couple years ago. When I started off with them my swing was pretty, pretty awful. But, I took a few lessons, hit the range, and play on weekends. And its gotten better, my game has gotten better, and my scores have gotten better over the past few seasons. When I am ready for a new set of irons, I'll be more of a mid handicapper. Yes, I'll go and get fitted. I won't be going for players irons, but also not full-on game improvements. I've my swing is much more consistent (and not quite so awful) and I've learned a lot about clubs and club technology. Why pick something off the internet without getting a few test drives first?