Buying from a fitter vs other retail (TGW, DD, OEM)

[futurebearmd]

Don’t know if this should go here or “Deal or No Deal” but my question is this…

 

I got fitted at TrueSpec Boston (shout out to Cody for the great fit) and got quoted ~ $2800 for:
 

1.  combo set of Srixon MK II ZX5 (4-6)/ZX7 (7-PW) with TT TI DG S400s and Tour Velvet +4

 

2. Vokey SM9s (50, 56, 60) with the same shafts and grips. 
 

The head price is what it is but the shafts are $80 each and the grips are $13. When I go to Srixons site, TGW, or wherever, the TI shaft is only $25 upcharge and the grips are about $4-5 each. 
 

Now, I do get a free gapping session if I order my clubs through TrueSpec. But I can’t decide if there is that much value (~$600 difference total for the irons and wedges between TrueSpec and other sites) to justify going through TrueSpec. 
 

Any advice as far as who to order from? Will the build be that much better through TrueSpec to justify the price difference? Thanks for any help y’all can provide. 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2023 by futurebearmd

[North Butte]

11 minutes ago, futurebearmd said:

Don’t know if this should go here or “Deal or No Deal” but my question is this…

 

I got fitted at TrueSpec Boston (shout out to Cody for the great fit) and got quoted ~ $2800 for:
 

1.  combo set of Srixon MK II ZX5 (4-6)/ZX7 (7-PW) with TT TI DG S400s and Tour Velvet +4

 

2. Vokey SM9s (50, 56, 60) with the same shafts and grips. 
 

The head price is what it is but the shafts are $80 each and the grips are $13. When I go to Srixons site, TGW, or wherever, the TI shaft is only $25 upcharge and the grips are about $4-5 each. 
 

Now, I do get a free gapping session if I order my clubs through TrueSpec. But I can’t decide if there is that much value (~$600 difference total for the irons and wedges between TrueSpec and other sites) to justify going through TrueSpec. 
 

Any advice as far as who to order from? Will the build be that much better through TrueSpec to justify the price difference? Thanks for any help y’all can provide. 

 

 

For me, there's not remotely $600 value added by sourcing those clubs through TrueSpec. It's a mug's game IMO but lots of people enjoy spending extra money (in many cases far, far more than $600) to have one of these outfits do their thing. If you're asking the question, it's probably best to just take their spec sheet and order the clubs directly from the OEM. 

[eric61]

For what it’s worth, those shafts are $17.50 and the grips are $4 through Carl’s Golfland. Not a chance in the world I’d pay TrueSpec’s price at that difference.

[hammergolf]

You paid them for the fitting, fair enough. But now they want to skin you for readily available shafts and grips. No chance I would buy those from them. 

[mantan]

Ultimately you paid for the fitting, so it's not like Cody wasn't paid for his services. 

 

But beyond that you have to determine if it's worth the additional cost to have them build it. On the plus side, you know the specs will be bang on.  And they need to build in some margin in their to cover their costs. I wish it was just a 'flat build fee' rather than quoting prices that make you feel gouged.

 

A $300 build fee is mentally easier to process than being given inflated component costs.

 

 

[bnperrone]

You can get the clubs with an impeccable build and a careful gapping session for so much less than what they’re quoting that I wouldn’t even consider using True Spec. Besides, what even guarantees their build quality? The worst club making I ever had came from a guy who shortly after moved to work for CC. 

[bekgolf]

4 hours ago, futurebearmd said:

Don’t know if this should go here or “Deal or No Deal” but my question is this…

 

I got fitted at TrueSpec Boston (shout out to Cody for the great fit) and got quoted ~ $2800 for:
 

1.  combo set of Srixon MK II ZX5 (4-6)/ZX7 (7-PW) with TT TI DG S400s and Tour Velvet +4

 

2. Vokey SM9s (50, 56, 60) with the same shafts and grips. 
 

The head price is what it is but the shafts are $80 each and the grips are $13. When I go to Srixons site, TGW, or wherever, the TI shaft is only $25 upcharge and the grips are about $4-5 each. 
 

Now, I do get a free gapping session if I order my clubs through TrueSpec. But I can’t decide if there is that much value (~$600 difference total for the irons and wedges between TrueSpec and other sites) to justify going through TrueSpec. 
 

Any advice as far as who to order from? Will the build be that much better through TrueSpec to justify the price difference? Thanks for any help y’all can provide. 

 

 

 

I just went to the Srixon web site to build out those irons.  S300 shafts (lots of options from other makers but no S400) +3 wraps (they don't offer +4 but you can get the grips uninstalled in the box).  $1200.  I'm sure you could order the Vokeys direct too.

 

I'm wondering why they speced you with a shaft and wrap option that isn't available to order direct from Srixon?  Maybe it's legit but my spidey senses say otherwise.

[North Butte]

13 minutes ago, bekgolf said:

I just went to the Srixon web site to build out those irons.  S300 shafts (lots of options from other makers but no S400) +3 wraps (they don't offer +4 but you can get the grips uninstalled in the box).  $1200.  I'm sure you could order the Vokeys direct too.

I took his mention of "Tour Velvet +4" to mean the model of grip Golf Pride calls "Tour Velvet Plus 4". Not 4 extra wraps on a normal Tour Velvet. 

[EKB]

Ditto to all responses.  I’ve had two fittings over the last few years and neither pushed the up-charges.  
 

That said, fittings can be be tiring (warming up, hitting a bunch of different combos, etc).  Eventually I hit the law of diminishing returns and had to make the call on the best fit to that point.

 

If you have the chance to borrow/rent/play multiple sets prior to your fitting, you’ll efficiently narrow down the options prior to your fitting.  YMMV

[Anthony26]

Based on the price,  I think you're getting shafted.... Really the clubs retail at $1740'ish (irons + wedges) 
I'd just pay the fitting fee and buy the set elsewhere with the shafts you felt best with.

Edited June 5, 2023 by Anthony26

[HarborMike]

17 hours ago, futurebearmd said:

Don’t know if this should go here or “Deal or No Deal” but my question is this…

 

I got fitted at TrueSpec Boston (shout out to Cody for the great fit) and got quoted ~ $2800 for:
 

1.  combo set of Srixon MK II ZX5 (4-6)/ZX7 (7-PW) with TT TI DG S400s and Tour Velvet +4

 

2. Vokey SM9s (50, 56, 60) with the same shafts and grips. 
 

The head price is what it is but the shafts are $80 each and the grips are $13. When I go to Srixons site, TGW, or wherever, the TI shaft is only $25 upcharge and the grips are about $4-5 each. 
 

Now, I do get a free gapping session if I order my clubs through TrueSpec. But I can’t decide if there is that much value (~$600 difference total for the irons and wedges between TrueSpec and other sites) to justify going through TrueSpec. 
 

Any advice as far as who to order from? Will the build be that much better through TrueSpec to justify the price difference? Thanks for any help y’all can provide. 

 

 

Echoing what most posters have already said here, but sounds like you can just order direct from OEM and save a ton of cash and time. If build quality is a concern, I would suggest

 

1. take your clubs once they are shipped to a local golf repair/builder and have them QA your clubs to include checking lie, loft, and lengths. If they are not up to par, you can just have them fix/adjust for a small fee or send them back to the OEM (unfortunately anything from OEM you would have to repeat the cycle again). 

 

2. buy your clubs from a reputable local dealer who has equipment and a builder or repair person in house to do the same things as called out above. They’ll likely QA and fix for free or they’ll work directly with the OEM on your behalf.
 

For what it’s worth, I find anything from Titleist is pretty spot on in my experience. Can’t speak for Srixon since I’ve never bought or owned anything Srixon. 

[2Down]

An $80 bottle of wine will be perceived as better than a $20 bottle.  
Wonder if that perception works in clubs? 🏌🏻‍♂️
of course. But since you have the specs and can beat the price I think you might qualify as an experienced shopper. 
 

 

[me05501]

Essentially you're paying more than full retail for two complete sets of shafts but they're only delivering the installed set. 

 

What a racket. 

[Jeff58]

Just my experience…

 

I use TrueSpec for fitting. At least at our location, they are the best there is. The only other comparable was going directly to Titleist.

 

I don’t have them build the clubs. While they will absolutely go beyond what you will get from most anywhere else, the cost isn’t worth it.

 

If you order wedges from Vokey, regardless of the shaft or other configuration details, it’s extremely likely that the appropriate swing weigh, length, lie, etc. will be very close to spec.

 

If you order from Srixon, they will make no attempt whatsoever to bring the build into spec for swing weight, and any manipulation of loft and lie pretty much appears to be random. I play Srixon irons and would buy them again, but only through a shop that can and will ensure that the delivered product meets expectations. Going through a shop in this manner shouldn’t cost you any more than ordering directly.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

Depends on the expertise of the club builder.

[futurebearmd]

I actually just got a great quote from Discount Dans for both the irons and the wedges so will likely go through them.   And will the money I'll save, I'll just take the irons to a local shop to check loft and lie and swingweight as it's only $50 at a reputable place. Thanks all. 

Edited June 5, 2023 by futurebearmd

[mantan]

1 hour ago, Jeff58 said:

Just my experience…

 

I use TrueSpec for fitting. At least at our location, they are the best there is. The only other comparable was going directly to Titleist.

 

I don’t have them build the clubs. While they will absolutely go beyond what you will get from most anywhere else, the cost isn’t worth it.

 

If you order wedges from Vokey, regardless of the shaft or other configuration details, it’s extremely likely that the appropriate swing weigh, length, lie, etc. will be very close to spec.

 

If you order from Srixon, they will make no attempt whatsoever to bring the build into spec for swing weight, and any manipulation of loft and lie pretty much appears to be random. I play Srixon irons and would buy them again, but only through a shop that can and will ensure that the delivered product meets expectations. Going through a shop in this manner shouldn’t cost you any more than ordering directly.

Bang on.  I love Srixon, but they are behind the times in regards to custom swingweights.  They are more ‘you get what you get and don’t throw a fit’ on custom orders. 

[futurebearmd]

Thanks for heads up. I’m good with a little lead tape

[Abh159]

2 hours ago, 2Down said:

An $80 bottle of wine will be perceived as better than a $20 bottle.  
Wonder if that perception works in clubs? 🏌🏻‍♂️
of course. But since you have the specs and can beat the price I think you might qualify as an experienced shopper. 
 

 

 

I get what you're trying to say, but in this case it's the same exact bottle of wine only it costs $80 at one store and $20 at another.

 

One isn't "better" than the other other it's only more expensive.

 

Not quite the same as comparing two separate products at two separate prices.

 

Edited June 5, 2023 by Abh159

[caniac6]

You can buy a new driver for $600.

[futurebearmd]

5 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

You can buy a new driver for $600.

Yup. That's what I told the missus. 

[tipperi]

Others have nailed it. If you’re concerned about the lack of quality from an OEM build (which is valid) I’d get a quote from Will Peoples/Peoples Golf who’s build work IMO is as good as anyone’s. Not to mention their customer service and communication pummels most in the industry. For some the extra money is piece of mind that it’s to spec. 

 

 

[eric61]

22 hours ago, mantan said:

I wish it was just a 'flat build fee' rather than quoting prices that make you feel gouged.

 

A $300 build fee is mentally easier to process than being given inflated component costs.

 

 

I agree with this so much. 
 

I understand fitters/builders need to make a profit. It costs money to have shaft walls, GCQuads/Trackmans, employees to pay, facilities to maintain. I get that. 
 

I’d feel so much better about paying them an extra $300 or whatever if it was just called a build fee. When they try to charge outrageous prices for shafts and grips when I know exactly what those components really cost, it makes me feel like they’re trying to take advantage of me — as opposed to me paying them for their services and expertise.

 

Maybe it all evens out in the end, but consumers’ perception matters, too.

[Mobert19]

6 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

Just my experience…

 

I use TrueSpec for fitting. At least at our location, they are the best there is. The only other comparable was going directly to Titleist.

 

I don’t have them build the clubs. While they will absolutely go beyond what you will get from most anywhere else, the cost isn’t worth it.

 

If you order wedges from Vokey, regardless of the shaft or other configuration details, it’s extremely likely that the appropriate swing weigh, length, lie, etc. will be very close to spec.

 

If you order from Srixon, they will make no attempt whatsoever to bring the build into spec for swing weight, and any manipulation of loft and lie pretty much appears to be random. I play Srixon irons and would buy them again, but only through a shop that can and will ensure that the delivered product meets expectations. Going through a shop in this manner shouldn’t cost you any more than ordering directly.

Agree on Srixon. I just had them taken for a loft/lie check and was asked if I bought them second hand because the specs were all over the place. Lofts wrong, some lies flat, some upright. You get the drift. 

[Cactus Jack]

10 hours ago, Is Golf Fun or Work said:

Depends on the expertise of the club builder.

 

This. 

 

I just got back from a golf trip to Toronto. I played some great courses (highly recommend the TPC), but the highlight was spending the day with Ian at TXG. We did a full bag fitting, and it was awesome. The guy is obsessed with his craft.

 

I purchased all new gear, which totaled more than I paid for my first three cars combined 🙂 . Could I have pieced together a similar set for thousands less? Of course. However, it's cool to meet the guys who will build my clubs, and to support an ambitious small business. 

[EKB]

22 hours ago, Cactus Jack said:

 

This. 

 

I just got back from a golf trip to Toronto. I played some great courses (highly recommend the TPC), but the highlight was spending the day with Ian at TXG. We did a full bag fitting, and it was awesome. The guy is obsessed with his craft.

 

I purchased all new gear, which totaled more than I paid for my first three cars combined 🙂 . Could I have pieced together a similar set for thousands less? Of course. However, it's cool to meet the guys who will build my clubs, and to support an ambitious small business. 

That's awesome!  They seem like very likable guys who are obsessed with getting it right.  I would go for a full bag fitting from them as well if I was in their neck of the woods.  Enjoy!