Golf Club Fitting (Carlsbad or Joe Kwok)

Georgewang · July 30, 2018

Hi all, I am a weekend warrior bogey golfer. I am 40 now, but in the past 20 years I would play about an average of 4 times. I now have a lot more time and freedom, so I have been playing golf just about everyday (range most days and course once a week), and have also been taking lessons. This has been going on for about a month. I am seeing some slight improvements in confidence, putting and short game, but of course I am still struggling with hitting it consistently on the fairways with my driver and irons. Currently, I am playing with 10 year old Game Improvement Irons and a 15 year old driver. These were all bought off the rack with no fitting.

Anyway, since I have more time to devote to the game (I am hooked), I want to upgrade my equipment. I was thinking Carlsbad, TPI or Joe Kwok, as I am in California and travel a lot between northern and southern California. I am leaning towards Carlsbad because of their wide range of clubs, but I am intrigued about the posts I have read about Joe Kwok. However, my impression is that I am not good enough to go to him. TPI seems like an interesting experience, but again I would be limited to just Titleist clubs.

Can any of you make recs? I have researched posts on all places (all of which are good), but I don't see any posts discussing comparisons between these places. FYI - I need to do a full bag fitting. For my putter, I am pretty dead set on getting a SC fitted at the SC putter studio in SD. Also, cost is not an issue for me as long as it is not wasted.

Thanks!

Georgewang · July 30, 2018

Hi all, I am a weekend warrior bogey golfer. I am 40 now, but in the past 20 years I would play about an average of 4 times. I now have a lot more time and freedom, so I have been playing golf just about everyday (range most days and course once a week), and have also been taking lessons. This has been going on for about a month. I am seeing some slight improvements in confidence, putting and short game, but of course I am still struggling with hitting it consistently on the fairways with my driver and irons. Currently, I am playing with 10 year old Game Improvement Irons and a 15 year old driver. These were all bought off the rack with no fitting.

Anyway, since I have more time to devote to the game (I am hooked), I want to upgrade my equipment. I was thinking Carlsbad, TPI or Joe Kwok, as I am in California and travel a lot between northern and southern California. I am leaning towards Carlsbad because of their wide range of clubs, but I am intrigued about the posts I have read about Joe Kwok. However, my impression is that I am not good enough to go to him. TPI seems like an interesting experience, but again I would be limited to just Titleist clubs.

Can any of you make recs? I have researched posts on all places (all of which are good), but I don't see any posts discussing comparisons between these places. FYI - I need to do a full bag fitting. For my putter, I am pretty dead set on getting a SC fitted at the SC putter studio in SD. Also, cost is not an issue for me as long as it is not wasted.

Thanks!

4rheel · July 30, 2018

Definitely go see Joe. He will give you a more personal and in depth fitting with plenty of great advice.

Macklessdaddy · July 30, 2018

My opinion keep getting lessons and when you can break 90 on the regular then shell out all that dough. Many guys tout fittings fittings fittings but getting fit won't help you if you have plenty of fats thins shanks and so forth. Now if you're extremely short or tall and you are playing standard clubs then you at least want the length and lie correct. Now if that money is burning a hole in your pocket then......... spend it

Georgewang · July 30, 2018

My opinion keep getting lessons and when you can break 90 on the regular then shell out all that dough. Many guys tout fittings fittings fittings but getting fit won't help you if you have plenty of fats thins shanks and so forth. Now if you're extremely short or tall and you are playing standard clubs then you at least want the length and lie correct. Now if that money is burning a hole in your pocket then......... spend it

Thanks. I would say I am already breaking 90 consistently. I don't really hit them fat/thin; mostly just pushing it too much or hooking it, with the occasional slice when I dont come from the inside enough. Most of it is due to too much of a backswing and not enough shoulder turn and too much hip turn.

I guess I am leaning towards Carlsbad so I can test some Ping clubs....I really like the g400 driver...

monkeyboy · July 30, 2018

My 2 cents = I went to a 'top' clubfitter when I was a mid to low 90s players, was a waste of money. For what he charged, I could have gotten 'as good' results at an OK clubfitter. Maybe it was just him, but I got an air that I was wasting his time.

Now - If I had a very consistent swing, I would have likely benefited more from the more expensive/more experienced fitter route. Just my opinion though.

I will say that getting fit earlier for my putter made a significant difference.

Georgewang · July 30, 2018

My 2 cents = I went to a 'top' clubfitter when I was a mid to low 90s players, was a waste of money. For what he charged, I could have gotten 'as good' results at an OK clubfitter. Maybe it was just him, but I got an air that I was wasting his time.

Now - If I had a very consistent swing, I would have likely benefited more from the more expensive/more experienced fitter route. Just my opinion though.

I will say that getting fit earlier for my putter made a significant difference.

Thx! That what I was thinking....which is why I am bit hesitant to go to Joe first, as opposed to going to Carlsbad.... I get the feeling that after seeing Joe, I will be buying a lot of custom gear and a much higher cost...

Carolina Golfer 2 · July 30, 2018

My opinion keep getting lessons and when you can break 90 on the regular then shell out all that dough. Many guys tout fittings fittings fittings but getting fit won't help you if you have plenty of fats thins shanks and so forth. Now if you're extremely short or tall and you are playing standard clubs then you at least want the length and lie correct. Now if that money is burning a hole in your pocket then......... spend it

Thanks. I would say I am already breaking 90 consistently. I don't really hit them fat/thin; mostly just pushing it too much or hooking it, with the occasional slice when I dont come from the inside enough. Most of it is due to too much of a backswing and not enough shoulder turn and too much hip turn.

I guess I am leaning towards Carlsbad so I can test some Ping clubs....I really like the g400 driver...

FYI. PING is in AZ not Carlsbad. But either way the G400 driver is the best I've played on years and paired with the right shaft, it's a game changer.

Georgewang · July 30, 2018

My opinion keep getting lessons and when you can break 90 on the regular then shell out all that dough. Many guys tout fittings fittings fittings but getting fit won't help you if you have plenty of fats thins shanks and so forth. Now if you're extremely short or tall and you are playing standard clubs then you at least want the length and lie correct. Now if that money is burning a hole in your pocket then......... spend it

Thanks. I would say I am already breaking 90 consistently. I don't really hit them fat/thin; mostly just pushing it too much or hooking it, with the occasional slice when I dont come from the inside enough. Most of it is due to too much of a backswing and not enough shoulder turn and too much hip turn.

I guess I am leaning towards Carlsbad so I can test some Ping clubs....I really like the g400 driver...
FYI. PING is in AZ not Carlsbad. But either way the G400 driver is the best I've played on years and paired with the right shaft, it's a game changer.

I meant Carlsbad to get fitted with a set of clubs that COULD include Ping. Joe does not fit Ping clubs from what I understand. Obviously, TPI does not fit anything other than Titleist.

Galanga · July 30, 2018

Joe Kwok. Can't imagine anyone fitting someone better. I went to him for wedges through driver. The only thing I have messed with is driver - went Tensei Pro Orange 70 rather than the Tensei Pro White 60 he fitted me into - he was dang close, and got me into the type of shaft I wanted in the driver. Everything else worked well from day one. Plus, he is a good dude to chew the fat on golf gear and fitting.