Best Club Fitter In Illinois

[davinsdad09]

Looking to get fitted for a new driver and 3 wood. Was wondering who is the best in Illinois from the wrxer's experiences? Thanks.

[CAThompsonGolf]

Where are you in Illinois? I recommend Golfsmith, but I have heard great things about Club Champion in Willowbrook. I had a great experience getting custom fit by a young man named Charlie at Golfsmith in Downers Grove. He was very knowledgeable and really knew what he was doing. Golfsmith offers free custom fitting with the purchase of a club. Club Champion charges $150 just to get in the door. I have attached a link where you can search for a Golfsmith Master Fitter in your area. I have been fit by PGA pros and I felt the Golfsmith experience was much better!

http://www.golfsmith.com/display?page=ps/custom-fit&scode=WEB419WKD

[wolffer25]

Club Champion in Willowbrook. They also have shops in Chicago, Northbrook, and across the country. Very experienced fitters and builders. Started as a small local shop and has grown in recent years. They carry every major OEM and most smaller companies as well. Huge shaft selection, 2 Trackman bays, a S.A.M. putting lab, and a simulator. They also carry Bettinardi putters, another local company (Tinley Park). Good luck!!

[DocHogan]

Your going to spend about a grand if you already have the driver and 3 wood at club champion. $175 for driver $175 or $150 three wood and it will be magic that the shaft recommended is the 300-400 dollar shaft per club.

[azam14]

Defiantly Club Champion those guys are great

[CAThompsonGolf]

Unless you want to test several super expensive after market shafts, Club Champion serves little purpose. I have heard these people will just recommend the most expensive shaft to everyone. Several club models from major OEM's this year feature awesome after market shafts already. It seems to me you would save several hundred dollars going to a local golf store. Golf is too expensive already! In general, the fitting process for a driver/3 wood is not as in-depth as an iron fitting. Several of my friends have left Club Champion very disappointed! My one friend got a $350 dollar OBAN shaft on an RBZ fairway wood from Club Champion and he is a 15 handicap who couldn't get it in the air. The fitter supposedly told him, "that is the best shaft for you!" I feel that an above average golfer (less than 10 handicap) can accomplish a solid fitting for woods by themselves on an above average simulator at a Golfsmith. A fitter can recommend a certain thing, but, in the end, it comes down to the individual golfer and what performs the best (results, looks, feel, sound, etc) with helpful guidance from the fitter along the way. Also, I do not believe Club Champion offers any sort of performance guarantee, which is an added bonus of buying from a Golfsmith, PGA Superstore, or Golf Galaxy. What happens when that $500+ dollar fairway wood doesn't perform on the course like it did in the Club Champion simulator? If you go to one of the stores I mentioned, you can try out the club for 30-90 days and get 100% merchandise credit if you don't like the club.

[atn86]

I've had nothing but terrific experiences at Club Champion. I also have a lot of buddies who share the same sentiment. Highly recommend them.

[Lukebadger]

Over the past 15 years, I have done business with the following custom fitters in the Chicago area:[list]
[*]Hot Stix Golf (flawed business model with traveling vans as fitters were also club builders--some mediocre)
[*]Top Golf (Matt Wood, unfortunately moved to Green Bay)
[*]Club Champion (Nick Sherburne in River North)
[*]Green Grass Clubfitting (Mark Pakarek)
[/list]
As long as you understand going in that you will be paying $100+ for any fitting and that fitter will almost always recommend a $100 to $250 graphite shaft for any of your non-iron clubs (regardless of your handicap), you will enjoy the experience. Just insist on working only with the most experienced fitter as fitting is still an "art" but becoming more of a "science" given all top fitters use Trackman to evaluate the technical specs of your ball flight, etc. Also, the best fitters will fit you with the best equipment for your swing (regardless of how good/bad it may be) without giving any free golf lessons. Only negative of Club Champion is they have no outdoor location to obtain realistic feedback from hitting balls off of real grass and viewing flight/direction of shots--especially hybrids and 3 & 5 woods.

Tips:[list]
[*]ask for terms of any "warranty" in writing to avoid any future disputes
[*]do not go into any fitting session with any preconceived ideas as to what brand club head or shaft you want to buy. Trust the fitter to determine that based on visually observable results (outside) and Trackman specs.
[/list]