Is it worth it?

I am quite happy with my equipment but of course I am always looking to improve my game. Is it really worth paying money on one of these computer fitting sessions. I am a bit worried all they will want me to do is buy a new set of stuff off them.

hi miffin
not sure what you mean by computer fitting sessions?
but i can assure you that having custom made clubs can make a massive diffference to your game.
i gained distance and accuracy when i got my set fitted and with it a ton of confidence

Well, the guy told me that this computer plots your carry, the angle at which the club face strikes the ball, tragectory, where abouts you strike, toe or heal etc. and they can tell the lie you need for your clubs what shaft you need etc. Speed of swing. The look of my clubs gives me confidence. I do not want to lose that by being talked into a different set of clubs. I don't know if they could alter my own clubs. I bet they don't give a money back guarantee of improvement though. Did your fitter do that?

Hi Miffin,

It seems as though you're talking about a launch monitor session. It's worth it to see what your numbers are with your equipment. Now, no computer in the world is going to tell you what shaft you need. By all static numbers, I should be hitting an R flex shaft in my irons. Instead, I'm hitting X+ and loving it. I'm so intrigued by this that I just shafted up an Integra Quadratic with an Aggressive Frenzy XXXX (yep, 4X). It feels pretty firm to waggle. I'm in Florida next week, so I'll see how she does against my mainstay driver.

Obviously most outfits with a launch monitor are there to show you how to optimize your equipment. I just bought one myself - so that I can optimize my equipment (and make some money optimizing others). However, any decent fitter will also tell you if your gear is suited to you. Beware the guy that tries to lower spin rates by a couple hundred RPM, or tries to talk you into R+ if you're hitting R flex.

Don't get me wrong: They'd be right to say that you'll get more performance dropping spin and stiffening your clubs (in my example). But you don't seem to be in a mindset to get the perfect set - just one that's close enough to play with.

So go and get your numbers run - at least you'll have them, and have a starting reference point for if you DO decide to change your gear.

Now, you say the look of your clubs gives you confidence. You mean the heads? Or the shafts? Or the grip? Or the ferrule (do you have the really cool kind with the clear rings?)

If your flex is totally wrong in your clubs, you can keep the heads and reshaft. But there may be a head design out there that can better suit your swing as well.

The bottom line is that they can recommend whatever they like. You still have to choose to part with your cash.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

My session started by the fitter taking my WTF measurement and then measuring my hand to determine grip size.
then he handed me 4 0r 5 6 irons of differing lengths that had impact tape on them. i hit them all and then he checked which one i was hitting on or nearest the sweet spot.
once we found that out he had me hitting off a polycarbonate lie board to determine the lie.
i told him i liked a medium ball flight so that took care of the loft and finally he checked my swing speed so he could recommend some shafts.
all in all took about an hour to complete.
got my clubs a week later and they were perfect
i got 5i-sw for less than £300. bargain to me

__________________
cheers slats
"Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle"

Thanks for replies. I am going tomorrow so will post what happens.

I went for the fitting. The result is that my irons are half inch too short, the lie angle is only about 1 degree out. I am using graphite shafts but my swing speed is bordering going to metal shafts. All in all not too far out, so I have to decide whether to bother with this or not. My driver on the other hand was miles out for me. It is an Adams Redline Quad 430cc. Very similar to the Taylor Made R7. The head is OK but the stiff Prolaunch Blue shaft is not for me. They wanted £70 to change it to a regular shaft which I thought was too much. So if anyone wants to do a deal with this club in the UK, it is almost brand new with the weight tool and instruction manual and head cover. Any thoughts on the irons would be appreciated.

Just a few Q's, now that you've reported back.

What makes it so that you're "bordering on steel"?

Lengthening your irons 1/2" will have the dynamic effect of making your iron lie 1° more upright - so you may kill two birds with one stone, there.

As for £70 to change out your shaft (I think this is roughly $140 CAD): What shaft did they want to put into the head? How did they determine that the shaft was no good, but the head was OK?

It's always interesting to me to see how other people fit.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Here we go:- My iron swing speed averaged around 75mph, or a fraction below. He told me that over 75mph would be better with steel shafts. That is another good point you made. He stated that the lie was nearly 2 degrees out so lengthening the shaft would account for 1 but that still left it 1 out. My driver swing was bordering on 90mph, a bit below. So I would struggle with the stiff shaft that is in it. The launch angle was quite good so he thought the head would be ok. They wanted to put in a similar shaft (Graphalloy) but in regular. Hope that helps and thanks for the interest.
Brian

Hi Brian,

Going to steel would lessen the torque. If you like the overall weight of your clubs, an ultralight steel shaft could keep your swingweights close.

As for your driver, I'm not convinced that 90mph needs a softer shaft. Don't get me wrong - if you came into my shop with a sub-90 driver SS, I'd likely recommend an R flex as well, using a textbook fitting. However, I'm currently experimenting with ridiculously stiff shafts (for personal interest and to possibly debunk myth) - and you may be OK with your current setup - especially if your launch numbers are OK. A softer flex may increase spin, and too much spin will actually have you losing distance.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

You want to be able to swing the club with a soft grip and relaxed arms. If the clubs too stiff, you may have to try to hard to flex the shaft. With too stiff a shaft, you theoretically would tend to go right (not flexing enough) or pulling it (i.e. coming over the top to flex it) . The worst thats going to happen with too soft a shaft is a bit of a hook. In addition, too stiff a shaft can cause soreness over time. At 75 mph swing speed, I certainly wouldn't go above regular flex.

To my way of thinking computer generated swing information is a plus for the golfer being fitted. However, it is just a starting point. The final analysis of how accurate the fitting is should be made on the golf course under actual playing conditions. Ball flights on a screen, are ok, and so are rubber mats at the driving range. But they won't beat the feed back recieved when playing a friendly nassau under actual playing conditions. GJS