Is a fitting worth it if they can't provide the proper size or type of grip you play??

[jmkorting]

Just a general question to see what people's take on this is.  Question is if a fitting worth it if they only provide you 1 type of grip and 1 size of grip to swing with and you don't utilize the size or style of grip they provide?  Do you find that you don't swing your normal swing when this occurs?  If you don't swing your normal swing then is a fitting worth it?

 

Reason for this question is not everyone fits into a standard size grip, not everyone likes a firm grip.  I always find fittings in my city, and also in my state to all have standard size grips on all their clubs and they are also typically a grip that is on the firmer side.  Now I get it this is a more cost effective thing they do as they are trying to have grips with a size that the majority of people will fit into and style that is popular amongst the masses i.e. firmer grips like Golf Pride MCC.

 

But for me personally I don't fit into this standard mold.  I find if the grip is to small and firm then I don't swing the club as I normally would.  I make compensations in my swing.  I grip the club like I am strangling it, my hands don't feel comfortable what so ever, and I feel I don't get results from a fitting that I should.  This has lead me to believe that a fitting, for me personally, is not worth it if they can not do the fitting with the grip size and style that I like/game.

 

Now this may be foolish of me for many reasons, but I have done enough fittings to know that what I am given in a fitting bay in terms of grip size and style lends me to different results then when I swing a club that has my size and style of grip. 

 

Curious what other people's take on this is.  I understand everyone is different, but for those that don't fit into the standard mold of standard size grips and don't like firmer grips do you feel the same way I do?  Maybe I am crazy, but I just feel a fitting isn't worth it cause grips are what connect you to the club and if your hands aren't comfortable with the grip style and size then you are going to swing the club differently then if you have what makes you comfortable.  Which then can potentially lead you to a completely different result in the fitting.

[ShortGolfer]

Maybe you could find a fitter that is willing to swap grips for you.

It doesn't take very long to blow grips on and off with an air compressor.

 

It is like room modeling.  Some interior decorators won't tear up a room they just decorated and try over and over again until the customer likes it.

But, others will willingly go along as the cash keeps flowing.

Edited February 8 by ShortGolfer

[grochol17]

It really depends on how sensitive you are to the grip... for example, I have three different styles of grips on my clubs, but they are all built up to the same size (or at least close enough that I can't tell any differences), which works for me.  But I'm sure there are some people that would hate, for example, swinging a tour velvet if they are used to playing a tour velvet cord even if they are the exact same size. 

 

If you're worried that the grip will be wrong and your swing will be off, then you are someone that it matters to, so you should find a fitter than can accommodate your preferred grip or at least something similar to it.

[jmkorting]

Just now, ShortGolfer said:

Maybe you could find a fitter that is willing to swap grips for you.

It doesn't take very long to blow grips on and off with an air compressor.

They would have to have an air compressor and every place I have gone to dont have an air compressor.

I am not aware of any place in my town that does fittings and has an air compressor for grips and I would like to believe I have been to all of em worth going to.  I have also been to 2 different CC fitting centers (granted it's been a few years for those fittings) and they didn't have em.  Grips was a passing thought at the end of the fit. 

[jmkorting]

6 minutes ago, grochol17 said:

It really depends on how sensitive you are to the grip... for example, I have three different styles of grips on my clubs, but they are all built up to the same size (or at least close enough that I can't tell any differences), which works for me.  But I'm sure there are some people that would hate, for example, swinging a tour velvet if they are used to playing a tour velvet cord even if they are the exact same size. 

 

If you're worried that the grip will be wrong and your swing will be off, then you are someone that it matters to, so you should find a fitter than can accommodate your preferred grip or at least something similar to it.

 

I use a Winn Dri Tac 2.0 Oversized grip as my gamer.  Also have a couple Winn Dri Tac LT oversized grips on a few clubs.  This size and style of grip is on the complete different spectrum of grips when compared to a tour velvet for example or standard size grips.  Which tends to be what majority of places have in their clubs at fitting centers.

Yet to find a fitter here in my state that does air compressor services during a fit to change grips.  

[bnperrone]

I'd like to think that a fitting with all standard grips would at least help you narrow the options way down. If you then ask them to swap grips for one or two final contenders to be absolutely certain then I think you could get there. I'm pretty picky, but getting grips perfect won't take me from hating a club to having it be the best fit solution. It could, however, help me make a final decision and remove any final doubts.

[ShortGolfer]

I wasn't that great of a golfer when I did my fitting, so I have the fitter a ton of information about what I had found on my own and trusted his judgement.

As it was the beginning of the season he needed to extrapolate what he saw rather than just going by the numbers, which were pretty awful. 

He did a pretty good job.  The irons were spot on. 

I was able to use an inch longer driver shaft with less loft two months later, but nobody could have guessed that  based on how I was swinging during the fitting.

I bought a bunch of used clubs and tried all the grips that came with them.   My stock grip these days is a ladies Dri Tac.  Corded grips are the worst for me.

These days I can not only swap grips, but I can also swap iron shafts.

Edited February 8 by ShortGolfer

[Skrimpdelite]

I definitely have my preferred grips, right now being the MCC +4 Align, but I have no issues hitting clubs with different grips on them. As long as the material is tacky I'm usually good

[third-times-a-charm]

Any fitting that doesnt tailor grip, shaft length, and swing weight while you are swinging - is mostly trash.

[jmkorting]

1 hour ago, bnperrone said:

I'd like to think that a fitting with all standard grips would at least help you narrow the options way down. If you then ask them to swap grips for one or two final contenders to be absolutely certain then I think you could get there. I'm pretty picky, but getting grips perfect won't take me from hating a club to having it be the best fit solution. It could, however, help me make a final decision and remove any final doubts.

I would agree with this.  It defiantly does help in terms of what I like the feel of and what I don't and gets things more narrowed down  But in terms of numbers, which these days a lot of fitters go by, I think they can be skewed a little as the delivery of the club can be different if lets say there is a standard grip vs a jumbo grip on the club.  Maybe not when it comes to style, like firm vs soft, all though for me I could make an argument but that is just me personally.  But size can screw things defiantly in my opinion.

[jmkorting]

1 hour ago, ShortGolfer said:

I wasn't that great of a golfer when I did my fitting, so I have the fitter a ton of information about what I had found on my own and trusted his judgement.

As it was the beginning of the season he needed to extrapolate what he saw rather than just going by the numbers, which were pretty awful. 

He did a pretty good job.  The irons were spot on. 

I was able to use an inch longer driver shaft with less loft two months later, but nobody could have guessed that  based on how I was swinging during the fitting.

I bought a bunch of used clubs and tried all the grips that came with them.   My stock grip these days is a ladies Dri Tac.  Corded grips are the worst for me.

These days I can not only swap grips, but I can also swap iron shafts.

I wasn't a great golf, and by a lot of standards still not (lol), when I did my 1st fitting.  But like you what it did for me was let me know what works and what didn't.  Which allowed me to turn into the club junkie that I am today.  I know what generally works and what doesn't for me.  But as I have gotten older I have gotten slower and my body has changed and so has my swing.  I believe it is very near the time for a fitting again, but I debate if its worth it as none of them locally or within my state that I have been to before work with grips that are larger than standard.  I know of a few around the nation that do, but I am not at this point looking to travel to another state for a golf fitting.

[jmkorting]

22 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Any fitting that doesnt tailor grip, shaft length, and swing weight while you are swinging - is mostly trash.

I will agree w/ this 100% which is why I have a tough time with fittings in my state as ones I have experience with don't do all of these.  They may do 1 or maybe 2, but not all of them.

[jomatty]

2 hours ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Any fitting that doesnt tailor grip, shaft length, and swing weight while you are swinging - is mostly trash.

That basically means fitting are trash unless you can get to very specific places that do this sort of thing.  I don’t think many of us will find this without significant travel.  I can’t imagine one grip to another making that much of a difference.  Maybe if you play a jumbo grip or something but if you play standard or midsize, it just isn’t that big a deal imho.  We all have our preferences but it is hard for me to imagine a scratch golfer that may prefer standard tour velvets and couldn’t play to almost the exact handicap with a midsize or a cord or whatever.  Just my opinion…

[Pepperturbo]

To the OP... I have limited experience with fittings, 2.  None of them recently, as I fit myself.  That said, if I were using a fitter/club builder, and he couldn't provide all the necessary materials, I go elsewhere.   Professionals, have access to all materials, if they don't that IMO calls into question their level in the profession.  Course, this depends on the person's location, wallet and how much time he/she has.

 

The same is true regarding P-Car service.  If the company doesn't have the necessary computer hardware, software and specific tools and machines, I go elsewhere.  Having some, but not all the prerequisites, doesn't cut it.

[jmkorting]

13 minutes ago, jomatty said:

That basically means fitting are trash unless you can get to very specific places that do this sort of thing.  I don’t think many of us will find this without significant travel.  I can’t imagine one grip to another making that much of a difference.  Maybe if you play a jumbo grip or something but if you play standard or midsize, it just isn’t that big a deal imho.  We all have our preferences but it is hard for me to imagine a scratch golfer that may prefer standard tour velvets and couldn’t play to almost the exact handicap with a midsize or a cord or whatever.  Just my opinion…

I have large/wide hands, wide enough that I can literally almost tuck the tip of my fingers under the palm of my hand when I place my left hand around a standard grip.  So swinging a standard size grip during the a fitting is uncomfortable and I hate firm grips so add in that.

Definitely not a scratch golfer so maybe to one of them it doesn't matter but most people in the world of golf aren't scratch and I am curious if it matters to them.  Have they ever even thought about it during a fit or do they just not care.  Hell I am an odd ball in life so wouldn't surprise me I am a odd ball in the game of golf 😂😂😂

[grochol17]

4 hours ago, jmkorting said:

 

I use a Winn Dri Tac 2.0 Oversized grip as my gamer.  Also have a couple Winn Dri Tac LT oversized grips on a few clubs.  This size and style of grip is on the complete different spectrum of grips when compared to a tour velvet for example or standard size grips.  Which tends to be what majority of places have in their clubs at fitting centers.

Yet to find a fitter here in my state that does air compressor services during a fit to change grips.  

 

Yeah... if you're swinging oversized grips then standard are probably going to feel really weird to you and could make a mess of your swing during the fitting.  Your best bet is probably to talk to one of the nearby shops and see if there's some way they could accommodate you by putting oversized grips on at least a few shafts so you can test some things out.

[jomatty]

29 minutes ago, jmkorting said:

I have large/wide hands, wide enough that I can literally almost tuck the tip of my fingers under the palm of my hand when I place my left hand around a standard grip.  So swinging a standard size grip during the a fitting is uncomfortable and I hate firm grips so add in that.

Definitely not a scratch golfer so maybe to one of them it doesn't matter but most people in the world of golf aren't scratch and I am curious if it matters to them.  Have they ever even thought about it during a fit or do they just not care.  Hell I am an odd ball in life so wouldn't surprise me I am a odd ball in the game of golf 😂😂😂

Your situation definitely seems like one of the times it would matter.  What I disagree with is the idea that for most people it would matter that much.  The post I quoted just seemed very strongly worded.  For someone who uses jumbo grips or something I could see it mattering a lot.  Probably more than 95% of golfers use mid or standard though and I just can’t see it being a huge deal for them, except maybe in their heads…just my opinion and I could be wrong

[Stuart_G]

I actually have a bigger problem when the grips on the demo clubs/shafts are worn from too much use.

[NHenson815]

The weight differential between oversized and standard size grips is probably large enough to feel and could impact swing mechanics, even if comfort with smaller grips wasn’t an issue.  I’ve tinkered with all kinds of Tour Lock counter weights and even the lighter ones make a noticeable difference.  A lighter grip may make the club feel heavier, even if the overall total weight of the club is less (and vice versa).  

[st1800e]

10 hours ago, Stuart_G said:

I actually have a bigger problem when the grips on the demo clubs/shafts are worn from too much use.

And never washed.  

[AzRoger]

I have big hands and wear an XL glove, when using smaller grips my hands tend to get overactive. I've been fitted by Ping and Titleist manufacturer reps and at CC, I've never seen different grips offered, just isn't practical considering the number of combinations needed. From some of the responses it sounds like some fitters do provide this service, more details please.

[tarpon18]

Message me about speeder nx 70. You aren't able to receive messages 

[Bogey Fett]

Take a few rolls of tennis overgrip wrap and you can build up a standard grip to whatever size you want. 

[Shilgy]

5 minutes ago, Bogey Fett said:

Take a few rolls of tennis overgrip wrap and you can build up a standard grip to whatever size you want. 

Just found this thread and was thinking the same….there are a few types of tape that would do the trick but the tennis wrap is probably the easiest.

[WristySwing]

On 2/10/2023 at 10:38 PM, AzRoger said:

I have big hands and wear an XL glove, when using smaller grips my hands tend to get overactive. I've been fitted by Ping and Titleist manufacturer reps and at CC, I've never seen different grips offered, just isn't practical considering the number of combinations needed. From some of the responses it sounds like some fitters do provide this service, more details please.

 

Some fitting locations have air compressors that they can blow grips on or off really quickly.  The problem usually comes when a client is very sensitive to grip size and they just cannot hit anything without a certain grip.  It's rare, usually only happens 1-2X a year in my experience, but it makes the fitting difficult and go on longer than normal because you are constantly having to run to the back to blow grips on/off.  It further complicates the issue when they are very gung ho about a specific grip or wrapping style that is next to impossible to mimic.  I remember one person I had liked standard grips with something stupid like 6 full length and two additional on the bottom.  I said, what about midsize?  "No, that doesn't feel right"...uh huh...

[AzRoger]

1 hour ago, WristySwing said:

 

Some fitting locations have air compressors that they can blow grips on or off really quickly.  The problem usually comes when a client is very sensitive to grip size and they just cannot hit anything without a certain grip.  It's rare, usually only happens 1-2X a year in my experience, but it makes the fitting difficult and go on longer than normal because you are constantly having to run to the back to blow grips on/off.  It further complicates the issue when they are very gung ho about a specific grip or wrapping style that is next to impossible to mimic.  I remember one person I had liked standard grips with something stupid like 6 full length and two additional on the bottom.  I said, what about midsize?  "No, that doesn't feel right"...uh huh...

Most of us that that play with a non-standard size grip just accept before going into a fitting that there will only be one grip size. The tendency when using a smaller grip is that the hands will be more active, maybe release early. Sure, we can make some compensations in our swing to make contact but it's not optimal. I'm pretty sure when golf pros go in to test clubs the golf manufacturers already have their grips pre-built to their specs for a reason, but I accept it just isn't practical for them to do it for the rest of us.

Edited February 21 by AzRoger

[sfdoddsy]

For whatever reason, I am very sensitive to grips.

 

I've been playing midsize Aligns in my irons for a couple of years and credit them with helping my once consistent now occasional tendency to draw/hook/pull.

 

No fitter I've been to has Align grips, but I always ask for midsize at least.

 

I don't use them in my driver because I hit it straighter than my irons and want a consistent fraw.

 

However, I've been trying out driver/shaft combos recently. I ended up going back to my old Mavrik after flirting with (and finding no improvement with) the latest and greatest from TM, Titleist and Callaway.

 

I have a bunch of Callaway tipped shafts that I've had success with or been fitted to in the past (Trono, Hzrdus Smoke Black, Fuji Pro, Vylyn) and all exhibited my usual right to left tendency. 

 

One shaft that I've never actually tried before and forgot I owned was a glaring exception however. A Hzrdus IM10. On Trackman and on course my draw disappeared. Good shots went straight and my misses were right.

 

It is the lightest and least stiff of my shafts, so there is no logical reason for it to be right biased.

 

But then I realised it was the only one of the shafts with an Align grip. My left miss is usually caused by my grip causing a closed face. The Align reduces this tendency.

 

I've had numerous fittings over the years and I must admit that I am increasingly dubious about their merits on the course for someone of my decreasing skill level.

 

In spite of a bunch of different drivers and irons 'winning' a fitting, checking back I am getting pretty much identical numbers from my 2023 fitting as I did from 2016 fitting.

 

Getting fitted to the right grips, however, had an immediate and lasting effect.