Do you buy off RACK or always get fitted?

[Nixhex524]

This is not to knock fitters at all, I think there is a real need for them at a certain level. I just find it interesting that while we talk about growing the game, things like "full fittings" become a necessity to some. In an already expensive game, I think when people now hear this is an important part of "being good at golf" it's a turnoff to those who want to get into the game. Why put so much emphasis on it? Again, I am in no way saying it won't be beneficial, but to most who are getting into the game or already playing, I just think it's not that important unless they are swinging 110 with their grandmas ladies hand me downs. Nsxguy makes a lot of great points IMO.. I think people can adjust to their equipment, so without a somewhat repetitive swing, why bother with a fitting. A set of fitted clubs is not going to make a difference... OTR will suffice in MOST cases.

 

Think of the entirety of the golf industry's messaging. Forget WRX. There is a very minuscule group of fitters and others who advocate for it. And I have never heard any of them say a full fitting is a necessity or a prerequisite to someone entering the game.

 

Fitting costs are variable and unknown to 90% of established golfers. The notion of fitting isn't turning anyone away from the game.

 

I think you're reaching quite a bit. Someone who wants to get into golf and walks into a PGA SS could very easily get dissuaded the moment he sees a $799 set of clubs.

 

It's not that its a prerequisite to getting into the game but it's just another cost/hurdle potential golfers may feel they have to face. Golf magazines, Youtube, PGA commercials all talk about seeing a PGA professional to get fit. The message is "to really get the potential out of your game, you have to make sure your clubs are fit to you" and OTR often doesn't seem to fall into that category. So you may be right that $799 can turn people away, sure... especially when they think they are buying something that "won't fit them" and they expect added costs which could double, maybe triple once fit. I just think its a bad message to send and perpetuates the idea that this game is too expensive for the normal person to get into.

 

Fitting and fitters are not a scam, I personally believe it's better for the more accomplished players really taking it seriously... the rest of us (most) could play OTR setups and really not be hurt by it too much in reality, if at all.

[ctmason_98]

I recognize you have your belief here. But again I think you’re reaching.

 

You brought it up as something that might turn people away. So is better messaging just to say that get a set of clubs and see if you like the game? Isn’t that what most of us DID?

 

The notion that people would enjoy the game, purchase clubs and ostensibly pay for greens fees and related costs...then they hear about getting fit and say, “Ah to heck with it,” and stop playing? That’s absurd.

 

Do you know people this has happened to? Do you know people who have said “I want to play golf but man it’s expensive. It’s not the hundreds on equipment and money to practice, lessons, and play, that’s fine. But getting fit too?!?!? That’s a bridge too far.”

 

If you can find people turned away from the game because of the potential cost of getting fit. I would love to talk to them and understand their thought process.

 

 

[Buzzkill]

Off the rack (40 years) and fitted once - no difference for me!

[Howard_Jones]

Off the rack (40 years) and fitted once - no difference for me!

 

Then let me ask, what clubs was fitted, and what level of fitting was it? (please describe)

What did you play at the time, and what equipment was advised as replacement`?

[bluedot]

I recognize you have your belief here. But again I think you're reaching.

 

You brought it up as something that might turn people away. So is better messaging just to say that get a set of clubs and see if you like the game? Isn't that what most of us DID?

 

The notion that people would enjoy the game, purchase clubs and ostensibly pay for greens fees and related costs...then they hear about getting fit and say, "Ah to heck with it," and stop playing? That's absurd.

 

Do you know people this has happened to? Do you know people who have said "I want to play golf but man it's expensive. It's not the hundreds on equipment and money to practice, lessons, and play, that's fine. But getting fit too?!?!? That's a bridge too far."

 

If you can find people turned away from the game because of the potential cost of getting fit. I would love to talk to them and understand their thought process.

 

Agreed; good post.

 

And I'd add this: I haven't had a club in my bag for many, many years (other than some of the putters) that was NOT fitted, and I've gotten to work with some GREAT club fitters during that time. If I added up all of the money I've spent in fitting fees over the last 25 years, it wouldn't come close to the cost of driver, or even a greens fee at a Top 100 golf course. For the 14 clubs in my bag at THIS MOMENT, all of which are fitted, I didn't spend even one dollar in fitting fees; the fitting was rolled into the purchase price of the clubs.

 

The idea that getting properly fit clubs is costly above the cost of the clubs themselves is a fiction, comparable to saying "I don't have a wrist watch because a Rolex costs $30k."

[dubbelbogey]

After thinking about this some more, I guess it depends on what we're calling "fitted". I think it's well worth it to have a basic lie angle check (and adjustment, if needed) and same for length starting with normal fitting charts and verified, again, with lie angle checks. Driver loft check on a monitor, too. That should be a relatively inexpensive, relatively quick process. It'll get a typical golfer well within the ballpark of "correct" clubs to the point where they don't have to worry that they got something that totally inappropriate and they can go concentrate on their game.

 

That said, I'll even go so far as to say that players of reasonably normal size, strength and body proportions (which is the majority) will do OK with no fitting other than eyeballing the player for size & asking how far they hit their typical shots so you can choose a flex and driver loft. Optimal? No, but probably not too far out of whack, either.

 

What bothers me is where fitting has gone as a sales tactic. It's now so often being pushed as part of "packages" of things these days. Lessons with fitting. Simulator time with fitting. Multi-hour, multi-day. Fittings with follow-up fittings. All surrounded by walls hanging hundreds of shafts and shelves lined with clubheads as if they were Rolex watches. I hate this.

 

I have no problem with in-depth fitting for those wanting it - sort of like a tailor made suit. A tailor made suit will undoubtedly fit better, look nicer and make the owner feel proud to own one. But most folks can do pretty well with OTR and a bit of adjustment done here and there.

[deadsolid...shank]

Off the rack (or standard LLL since I usually buy used) irons and then have them bent one degree down. I’ve never been officially fitted, but the lie angle adjustment was based on the recommendation of the pro/club guy I played with ina regular basis who knows my game pretty well.

 

Driver has mainly been a trial and error process.

[Buzzkill]

Off the rack (40 years) and fitted once - no difference for me!

 

Then let me ask, what clubs was fitted, and what level of fitting was it? (please describe)

What did you play at the time, and what equipment was advised as replacement`?

Fitting was for Mizuno 900 tour irons (by the way great clubs) which lasted 90 minutes. I wanted to try some recoil 95s but fitting recommended some LZ graphites. Tried them for a week, pulled them and put in TTXP 95s which I knew would work and they did.