Forgive me for being grouchy English major but If these 3 words are so important perhaps we should use them correctly.
Go get FITTED!
I could probably use some support from any other curmudgeons(sp?). Don't be bashful.
Club Fitting for Beginner Golfers
Go get FITTED!
I could probably use some support from any other curmudgeons(sp?). Don't be bashful.
Join date....Feb 2016. and this is your first post! Glad this brought you out of the hedges.
No. Get a cheap used set and play for a year. Maybe get some lessons. Then get fitted. Game will be bery different after first yr
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DG_1234
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Truth !
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- #55
Depends who you ask.
There's two threads about this right now haha. Obviously a debated topic. I'm in the camp of you gotta self evaluate where you are with whatever it is you are getting fitted in. If you're trying to get fitted on a your worst gameplay ,to try to bandage swing flaws, I'm in the camp that is a total waste of money. If you're slicing on your driver somewhat consistently...don't get fitted as just one example.
It just depends though where your weaknesses are as a "beginner". I've grasped putting from the very beginning, so I probably should have gotten a putter fitting REALLY early on. Instead I've gotten fittings on Driver and Irons which are the weak part of my game, and 3 short months later my swing is COMPLETELY different. There's just very little chance that the fitting has held true. I'm 100% sure I'd go in today and get completely different results.
It's just a tough question to answer because I think it depends on what type of person you are. Are you constantly trying to adjust your swing? Are you gonna take lessons and practice what was learned? I say don't get fit yet. Are just going out to have beers with buddies and are totally fine hacking it up around the 100's for now? You're not gonna spend time on the range actually practicing anything? I say get fit in that case.
It just depends though where your weaknesses are as a "beginner". I've grasped putting from the very beginning, so I probably should have gotten a putter fitting REALLY early on. Instead I've gotten fittings on Driver and Irons which are the weak part of my game, and 3 short months later my swing is COMPLETELY different. There's just very little chance that the fitting has held true. I'm 100% sure I'd go in today and get completely different results.
It's just a tough question to answer because I think it depends on what type of person you are. Are you constantly trying to adjust your swing? Are you gonna take lessons and practice what was learned? I say don't get fit yet. Are just going out to have beers with buddies and are totally fine hacking it up around the 100's for now? You're not gonna spend time on the range actually practicing anything? I say get fit in that case.
As somebody who has had a couple of full fittings over the last 6-7 years or so, I definitely see the value in it. But (and I saw this through the fittings I did) your recommendations WILL change as your swing changes. As a matter of fact, I'm getting a re-check / fit on my irons next month, which were custom fit 5 years ago, for exactly this reason. My swing doesn't change nearly as much as a beginner's will as they take lessons, so it's probably unreasonable to expect any fitted gear for a beginner to stick around for a super long time. Let's be honest, even for really good players, we succumb to new and shiny more often than we probably should!
Ideally, as others have said, you could use the fitting results to make sure at least length, lie and shaft flex are correct and get a used/box set modified accordingly. I know this is something that is offered, and I encourage any beginners I meet to do that as soon as they have a semi consistent swing
Ideally, as others have said, you could use the fitting results to make sure at least length, lie and shaft flex are correct and get a used/box set modified accordingly. I know this is something that is offered, and I encourage any beginners I meet to do that as soon as they have a semi consistent swing
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Thanks for reading
jjgreenwood
Member
An interesting subject, but a difficult one to accept. Fitted clubs are very expensive and it appears to me that plenty of Golfers play to a decent standard without having fitted clubs.
Rick and Guy on their podcast have broached this subject several times and point out that the average handicap in Golf hasn't changed in the last 10 years - so how has fitting benefitted the game if this is the case. Presumably, if it was so important to performance then the average handicap would have reduced.
I can understand how it can be important if you are very tall or shorter than average, but if you fit into Mr/Mrs Average then I do wonder what you gain vs buying clubs off the shelf - often then same clubs for a much cheaper price.
Or is it now the case that much like some cars, the "base" clubs are inferior versions of the "proper" fitted clubs. I can think of several cars that have an options list with a lot of items that really should be standard.
Like most sports eventually, I guess you will become so proficient in Golf that getting fitted properly will give you the edge to push the game forward a few more steps, much like diet, fitness, practice, gadgets etc etc.
As a beginner I can't see how I would get any value out of fitted clubs, I wouldn't know what I was buying, I wouldn't know if the guy selling me the fitted clubs was giving me the right advice, I wouldn't understand the value. What I do know is that they would cost roughly 25%-50% more than equivalent spec direct to consumer/new old stock clubs if I shop hard.
My other worry is that if I decided my game had got to the stage where I needed to buy a different set of clubs to give me the edge - if I'd bought a bespoke set in the first place then selling them would be an issue as they would not be standard so now I'm looking for someone with exactly the same requirements as me to buy them. Clearly, this would be a concern for buyers of these "custom" clubs.
Rick and Guy on their podcast have broached this subject several times and point out that the average handicap in Golf hasn't changed in the last 10 years - so how has fitting benefitted the game if this is the case. Presumably, if it was so important to performance then the average handicap would have reduced.
I can understand how it can be important if you are very tall or shorter than average, but if you fit into Mr/Mrs Average then I do wonder what you gain vs buying clubs off the shelf - often then same clubs for a much cheaper price.
Or is it now the case that much like some cars, the "base" clubs are inferior versions of the "proper" fitted clubs. I can think of several cars that have an options list with a lot of items that really should be standard.
Like most sports eventually, I guess you will become so proficient in Golf that getting fitted properly will give you the edge to push the game forward a few more steps, much like diet, fitness, practice, gadgets etc etc.
As a beginner I can't see how I would get any value out of fitted clubs, I wouldn't know what I was buying, I wouldn't know if the guy selling me the fitted clubs was giving me the right advice, I wouldn't understand the value. What I do know is that they would cost roughly 25%-50% more than equivalent spec direct to consumer/new old stock clubs if I shop hard.
My other worry is that if I decided my game had got to the stage where I needed to buy a different set of clubs to give me the edge - if I'd bought a bespoke set in the first place then selling them would be an issue as they would not be standard so now I'm looking for someone with exactly the same requirements as me to buy them. Clearly, this would be a concern for buyers of these "custom" clubs.
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- #60
They are incorrect. It’s commonly made argument, but according to the USGA not accurate.
jjgreenwood
Member
The "technical advancements" in equipment are what inhibit individual improvement.
One of my instructors (a Top 100) says the biggest challenge to teaching new golfers is "stock" equipment that is too long and too upright. So, yes, fitting is key, but tell that to someone who may have dropped $1000 on the best clubs, only to be told in a lesson that they don't fit.
In addition to length and lie, I believe fitting doesn't pay enough attention to grip size. Modern "standard" grip sizes are stupid. I play a mix of larger grips (my irons at 1/8" over; woods are Jumbomax MD at +5/16" over). Last weekend, at the range, I watched the guy in the next stall really struggling. We were both the same height, age, and build. Main difference: His hands were huge and he was in stock standard grips. We got to chatting and I let him try a few of my clubs with Jumbomax grips. He was so happy! He said he didn't have to squeeze or grip anywhere near as hard. He told his son in the next stall to tell "mom" he wanted Jumbomax grips for Father's Day!
In my opinion, if fitting beginners is relevant, it needs to include length, lie and grip size.
One of my instructors (a Top 100) says the biggest challenge to teaching new golfers is "stock" equipment that is too long and too upright. So, yes, fitting is key, but tell that to someone who may have dropped $1000 on the best clubs, only to be told in a lesson that they don't fit.
In addition to length and lie, I believe fitting doesn't pay enough attention to grip size. Modern "standard" grip sizes are stupid. I play a mix of larger grips (my irons at 1/8" over; woods are Jumbomax MD at +5/16" over). Last weekend, at the range, I watched the guy in the next stall really struggling. We were both the same height, age, and build. Main difference: His hands were huge and he was in stock standard grips. We got to chatting and I let him try a few of my clubs with Jumbomax grips. He was so happy! He said he didn't have to squeeze or grip anywhere near as hard. He told his son in the next stall to tell "mom" he wanted Jumbomax grips for Father's Day!
In my opinion, if fitting beginners is relevant, it needs to include length, lie and grip size.
catman
Member
Golfing is like fishing, what bait is the best. I still play blades well. But I'm going for a fitting in a couple of weeks to see how hot she is..
I looked up e-fitting for my height, arm length, hand size, etc. and then bought inexpensive customized clubs and molded my swing to those specifications. I am really glad that I did not get fit in my first year, my swing has gone through drastic changes multiple times where I do not even look like the same person swinging a club anymore.
Sometimes I don’t look like the same person swinging a club from one swing to the next!
I need to go through a good fitting. I am sure what i am playing isnt the best for me. I was fit (not great) several years ago and felt it was helpful. I am curious wjat i could find out at a better fitting.