So let's get to the bottom line up front: if you have the chance to experience the Titleist Tour fitting - do it! From the moment you drive on the lot, this is something special.
When you check in and go to the locker room - there is you locker. With your name on it. After changing, you and your fitter go to the range - carrying a shag bag of Pro V or V1X balls. Then the fun begins.
My fitter was Dino. He had the patience of a saint, and the skill of Michelangelo. I was scheduled for a full set fitting - irons, hybrid, fairway, driver and wedges. My only requirement was he couldn't change the iron heads because I just got my AP2's in August.
Using the Trackman, and more importantly his experience and ears (yes, ears), we started through my bag. He wanted to know my normal shot pattern, where I missed, and what I wanted for an ideal shot. After a while he came to the conclusion I was spinning the ball too much with my irons. We adjusted the set 1* strong (2* for the 4 & 5 irons) on the spot - but he wasn't finished. My shots just didn't SOUND right. More shots, with Dino flipping out X's and me acting like a pro (with a very challenged swing). Finally, he adjusted the clubs to 1* up and the sound changed. For the better. It was awesome.
On to the hybrid. A much tougher fit. We tried multiple shafts, lofts, settings with varying results. He was happy with my hybrid, but thought we needed to find about 5 more years to be REALLY happy. Finally we had a shaft/loft combination we liked - but had to get the SOUND right. When we did, it was awesome.
Next the 3-wood. I have problems getting the ball airborne from the fairway. We worked our way thru multiple combinations before landing on 16.5* and 1/2 short for the shaft. Even shorter, he increased my carry distance by 6 yards. Better yet - even the "misses" we're going farther than my other club.
Then the real reason I was there - the driver. It was something out of a Titleist commercial. I hit my driver, and the first shot was as good as I could possible hit it. Dino said it didn't spin enough so it was falling out of the sky at around 230 yards. He handed me a 10*5 degree D2 set to B2 and said try this. The first shot resulted in a spontaneous "Holy Sh*t" on my part. The drive was shot from a cannon, straight, high, and 25 yards past my best. We were in business! No more changes needed, Rougue Black 60 is the ticket.
Ended the days with wedges. It was like being at the eye doctor. What do you like better wedge #1 or wedge #2? Wedge 2 or wedge 3? Wedge 3 or wedge 1? Essentially it was the chance to try every bounce combination and discuss the "why" and "what" as it pertained to my normal conditions.
Just a bit of trivia: the balls used for full shots are only hit once a day. The balls used for the wedges can be hit up to 3 or so times a day and get scuffed more. Go figure.
In the end, Dino recommended no changes to my wedges. He bent the lie to 1* upright like the irons. No changes were made to the irons either.
Here is the takeaway. You can get fit on a simulator or even on a range, but at TPI you are hitting the same balls you normally play, under the watchful eye of a real expert. I seriously doubt a local shop is going to get into the fitting to the level of the sound the club makes. Dino's skills way outclassed my swing, but he was the most patient person I have ever seen. Good shots, bad shots, a bit of teaching, bit of philosophy, and a whole-lot of knowledge. We discussed balls, grips, shafts, swings, ball-speed, smash factor, and never once was he put off by my endless questions.
When I asked about myriad of shaft options on the carts behind him, he said it was actually pretty easy. First, are you a high or low ball hitter? That cuts the options by 50%. Then it is just a matter of finding a shaft that maximized player's output. Sounds simple - right. It was amazing - he handed me clubs, and I hit them, sight unseen. He nodded, made note, changed things, and we finally reached a point where he said "that's the one" - and it was.
Really wish I could have spent the entire day out there. I was like a kid in a candy store. One thing for sure, there will be no more buying a club off the rack - Oceanside is just 6 hours away, and I will definitely make the trip again before I put another club in the bag.
Just for comparison, I am 55 y/o, SS (driver) of 94, and play off a 5 handicap. We settled on the 915D2' Rogue Black 60, stiff, set to B2 (for all woods/hybrid). The 3 wood is 915F 16.5*, 1/2" short, Rogue Black 60, stiff. Hybrid is 915H, 18*, Rogue Black 85, stiff.