Should I Get a Club Fitting?

Club fitting is such a hot topic in golf. Even more recently as the amount of first-time golfer was 3.3 million in 2022. This broke the previous record in 2000 which was 2.4 million. And yes, this was when Tiger Woods was at the height of his popularity.

With the slew of new golfers hitting the course, the attention on how to get better has risen drastically. We know this to be true just from the sheer volume of YouTube tutorials available.

One of the biggest questions golfers have, is if it is worth it to get a club fitting. I’ve spent the last few days researching what goes into a club fitting and what experts like Rick Shiels and GolfGuru think about club fitting.

WHAT IS CLUB FITTING?

Firstly, what is a golf club fitting? Club fitting is where a golf expert analyses your tendencies with every club and offers changes in things like; club length, lie angle, weight, technology, etc. What this will do is make your golf clubs the most suitable for your swing. The reason for this is that everybody swings differently. Your standard stock set takes the averages into account.

Club fitting will take place in a facility on a launch monitor. Better known as a Golf Simulator. You will take turns using different clubs and recording things like ball speed, club head speed, attack angle, etc. The club fitter will note these things and provide you with different clubs to see what makes these statistics better.

WHO NEEDS CLUB FITTING?

The only group of golfers that 100% need fitting regardless of skill are those whose body is out of the average range. Let’s say you are 6.5ft tall or 4.9ft short, the standard out-of-the-box clubs will never be the right size for you. A fitting will allow for each club shaft to be the appropriate size for you. Spending your time swinging drastically oversized or undersized clubs will do more harm than good when you are first learning.

If you are around the average size, and you’ve just started getting into golf, a fitting will most likely not make you any better. You will first need to learn how to play and consistently hit the ball well before you should ever consider getting a fitting. Before that you should consider getting newer clubs (if you have an older set) or getting a lesson.

WHAT EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY

If you are a more seasoned golfer, club fitting may seem like the answer to getting better. Even though it can be helpful there are a lot of things that experts like Rick Shiels and Guy Charnock dislike about the fitting process and deem it not very useful.

For starters, club fitting takes place in a controlled environment. You are set up in a golf simulator where you hit off a mat. Anybody who has played simulator golf knows that it doesn’t emulate the course very accurately. Therefore, the statistics recorded by the club fitter may be inaccurate. Leading to getting the wrong clubs. However, if your club fitter is worth their salt, they should already know what to take into consideration. But it goes even further.

When you are getting a club fitting, you stand alone with a club fitter, and it maybe the first time you’ve had someone that close to you while swinging. This can affect your swing and may make you nervous. You may not be swinging like you normally do.

Another factor is that you don’t have the same risk of swinging too fast or too slow. You just swing again if you hit a bad shot. You may also hit 50 balls while you are there. When you play golf, usually you’ll putt a little before your round and head off to the first tee.

When you’re swinging your 45^th 7-iron shot, you’re a lot more comfortable than if you found the fairway and you have 150 into a back pin with water in the way and bunkers left to right. Add in the fact you’re hitting off of a mat with a lot of forgiveness, you’re not emulating your true swing.

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF CLUB FITTING

The best advice I got from GolfGuru is to get fitted when you are regularly getting lessons or working with a coach. Most coaches will be able to help you build your swing and then suggest the best changes to your clubs as they will understand exactly what you need.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE SETTING AN APPOINTMENT

If you’re ready to go through with your cub fitting, there are a few things you should do beforehand.

1. Do your homework; know which type of clubs or certain shaft stiffness you want to test.
2. Call ahead to see what clubs they have available to test.
3. Confirm pricing ahead of time.

The escalating interest in golf, marked by a significant influx of new players, has intensified discussions about club fitting. While recognizing its undeniable value for golfers with non-average body dimensions, I question the immediate necessity of club fitting for beginners. Suggesting a focus on fundamental skills first. For experienced golfers, potential benefits are acknowledged, yet concerns are raised about the controlled environment of simulators and the psychological impact on one’s swing during fitting sessions.

The experts recommend combining club fitting with regular lessons to ensure alignment with evolving techniques. Ultimately, preparation is key for those considering club fitting, with advice encompassing research, checking available test clubs, and confirming pricing in advance for a more informed and effective experience. Hope this helps your decision!