How much benefit can club fitting really give to a mid or high handicap?

Follow Thread

By Jeoffrey B

  • 0 Likes
  • 12 Replies
  1. Jeoffrey B

    Jeoffrey B
    riverside, CA

    3 years ago I picked up the game of golf and purchased a set of AP1s which I got fitted for (bent flat 2 deg).  I purchased my other clubs (Driver, FW,  Hybrid, wedges, putter) separately which were not fitted.  I Have the same irons and wedges but since then I've picked up a 913D and 913F.

    I've improved since I started playing the game.  My avg is 86 the best i've shot is 83 far from the high 90s and 100+ scores when i first started.  Still there is much inconsistency at my level.  How do you club fit a person like that? Will club fitting really benefit an individual with an inconsistent swing?  I can understand how a low handicapper or a pro who have a solid swing may benefit from club fitting but individuals like myself... ehh I'm a little skeptical.

  2. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Jeoffrey - especially with the woods, you can improve your consistency if fitted for the best shaft for you. I was able to rescue a 913D that a box retailer sold me as what I needed (and coincidently was in stock..) by working through the 915 shafts with a fitter at an Advanced Fitting Center. Had I simply bought a shaft online, I would have not have chosen the shaft we settled on. Gaining distance and a good dispersion pattern set up my second shot better. You're right in that clubs alone won't get you to a single digit handicap, but having a relationship with a fitter that can also work with you on improving your ball striking with the right clubs will be important to move your handicap.
  3. Double Bogey

    Double Bogey
    Priceville, AL

    Jeoff-

    I thought this way as well.  I was fit for my previous clubs (albeit badly fit) and I assumed that it would be impossible to fit me for clubs as no two swings of mine were/are the same.  I was hacking it around with scores near or over 100.  I took a few lessons with my old clubs and while no two swings were the same, they at least produced roughly the same path and clubface angle (open/closed). 

    Here is where a good fitter will help.  Not only will they be able to help you decide on which clubs are "right" for you, but enlighten you on what is WRONG for you.  Getting fit for my AP1s was a fantastic experience and I also feel as if I got a "free" lesson.  I am not saying that I have a much better swing now, not even close... I still have my flaws.  What I do have now is confidence that what I am playing with will perform as long as I put the right swing on. 

    Lastly, from what I have seen, what is the harm in getting fitted?  Most of the time the fitting fee is waived if you buy clubs from the fitter.  So why not use an experts opinion?

  4. Andre G

    Andre G
    Glen Allen, VA

    Well, it's already evident that you have invested in some very good gear. Without the benefit of having seen you in play, I would hazard that it's not the "swing" that is inconsistent, it's ball contact or at best ball flight.

    I can say that I have benefitted from a club fitting after spending time with a certified Titleist fitter. It was for a driver and fairway club. This session allowed the fitter to zero in on the best shaft and flex for me, as well as setting up the club head adjustments so the I virtually eliminated one side of the golf course off the tee. This has been a huge factor. My distance had not increased, but my confidence AND consistency certainly has.

    In short, based on the gear in your bag, invested in a good fitting and your game can only get better.

  5. wormburner

    wormburner
    hawaii

    Jeoffrey,

    First, congratulations for your competitiveness.  Most people (I think) dream of shooting consistent mid 80s.  Your equipment line-up looks really great.

    I think and this is just an opinion, that as you get better (and it goes for others too) fine tuning comes into play.  By this I mean we all need to spend more time on the range for one, use course management to know the course, know what club to pick, zero in, putt really well, get out of the sand in one stroke, or stay out of it entirely in a round.

    This is a whacky game, that's why we all love it!  Some days everything clicks and you can't do anything wrong.  Some days you can't do anything right..

    To me, the more you have a consistent swing the better off you are.  To get a consistent swing, most people got to practice. Baseball players have batting practice before each game majority of the time.  So that being that said, maybe its time to recheck your swing and your fitting.

     Finally, if everything is on, maybe its a little one hour lesson that might help you to break that 80 syndrome.  I'm truly a believer of getting fitted now.  I wish I knew this forty years ago when I first learned this game, bending and tweaking was just a thought.

    Good luck

  6. A little personal story. My good friend has an inconsistent swing.  He wondered if spending the money for a fitting would really be worth it. He decided to go ahead with the fitting anyway.  To his surprise, as well as having a good fitter who gained his trust, my friend benefited from being fit. The fitter was able to discern his needs from what he saw in my friend's swing. He put him in the proper clubs for his abilities. And the result is a confident golfer...even if his swing still needs improvement (but don't we all).

    Get the right fitter and it can go very well for you.

    Paul

  7. John M

    John M
    Asheville, North Carolina

    Military

    Getting fitted saves you time and money by avoiding getting sucked into the fads. But, I would also strongly suggest that instead of buying the new wonder club, take some lessons. Good luck

  8. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military
    In all honesty, a good fitter will tell you to swing in balance, and finish on your left side (for a right-hander). That is really the only way, in my opinion, to get an accurate lie angle reading. Club head speed is the main shaft criteria, but a good fitter has knowledge in swing mechanics and can often help with swing improvement. So, I'd say yes, fitting can be beneficial in the long run.
  9. For me, the most important benefit is getting the right shaft (steel or graphite, proper flex, etc.)

    Second most important benefit for certain people is shaft length. some people need shorter clubs, some need longer clubs.

    Lie angle can be fitted later in the future when the person has a more consistent swing. not before.

  10. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    Some good advice in the previous posts. Most of us everyday amateurs have swing flaws. I'll just add that maybe a few sessions with a good PGA teaching pro will help some. Those guy's make their living analyzing every swing imaginable and giving players a path to improvement. I have two pro's that I go to, one in Alabama in the winter and one in West Virginia in the summer. My pro in Alabama uses video a lot to help in showing me where in the my swing problems are coming from. I also like to do Trackman sessions which both of my pro's review. Hope you find yourself playing in the 70's by fall...
  11. Jeoffrey B

    Jeoffrey B
    riverside, CA

    Thanks for the great input guys I really appreciate it! I will definitely be looking into some instruction ... and I think it's time for some new clubs and a legit fitting session in Oceanside!! Just gonna have to break the news to the wife we won't be going to Europe next year.. anyone gotta a room their renting out?!!  Thanks again fellas!

  12. Will E

    Will E
    Cuyahoga Falls, OH

    Jeoffrey,

    I was attending a Titleist fitting at my club last night and this topic was posed by another gentleman who was contemplating getting fit. He told the fitter..."I don't want to get fit right now as I am not swing well". The fitter argued that when you are struggling is the best time to get fit. The only way to play good golf is to be consistent. To me, that means trying to tighten the dispersion on the bad shots.

    People with low handicaps / Pros can usually make tiny adjustments to their swing to account for any spec change made to their equipment. I remember seeing a fitting video with a Tour Pro and the person performing the fitting had to keep reminding the Pro to "Make your swing, we will change the club to match the move you want to put on the ball." People with high handicaps can have a hard enough time putting the same swing on the ball let alone to try to account for compensations they need to make in order to maximize the equipment.

    I can say from personal experiences that properly performed club fittings will improve your game. I saw my handicap drop 7-8 shots after I got fit for irons and woods on Trackman.

    I hope this eases some of your concerns and helps you play better golf in the future.

    Fairways & Greens,

    Will

  13. steve b

    steve b
    edmond, OK

    Jeoffrey,

      I teach about a thousand lessons per year and am an advanced fitter for Titleist so I can speak to both sides -- swing changes or fitting.  Here's what you should consider -- what are your goals and how much time can you commit to your game.  If your answer is I don't play much, I don't like to practice and I am not going to take lessons…. then get fitted now.  A good fitter can work around your swing flaws to SOME extent.  If , on the other hand you want to commit some time, take some lessons and play or practice a couple times per week, then work on your swing a bit then get fitted.  You don't have to get your swing perfect just to the point that you may hit 5 out of 10 shots you are  pleased with, for example.  The really bad swing that come over the top, hit down steep and slice are very difficult to get an accurate fit. But if you are not too bad in those areas then you can be fit.

      Check around and find a good professional that can address both sides, make sure they work outdoors ( not inside on a mat into a net) and they take a  long term interest in your game, not just trying to sell you something.

    good luck
    Steve BAll 

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up