Is custom fitting golf irons really necessary?

Question

I am going to buy new irons for this golf season. I am wondering if getting them custom fit is really necessary. I found the set that I would like to buy, but found them used at the same store for $100 dollars cheaper. How important is getting your clubs custom fit?

Answer 1

Poorly fit clubs can make the ball go too high, too low, to the right or to the left, and/or make you more generally inconsistent. Is it worth saving $100 to be less accurate and less consistent? It's not to me. I don't know about where you live, but here you're only going to get 2 rounds of golf for $100, and in most places you'll still probably only get 3 rounds or so. So if you skip two or three rounds, the extra cost is covered.

And don't listen to these idiots saying you don't need fitted if "you're of average height." Two players that are the EXACT same height will often need differently fitted clubs. Different players have different sized hands, different swing speeds, and different setups.

So is fitting clubs necessary? Not if you always want to shoot worse than your potential, be perpetually more inconsistent than you should be, and hinder your growth as a player for as long as you own the clubs. And that's not just regarding top players. Bad players benefit from fitted clubs MORE than top pros.

Here's a cheaper way to get "fitted" if you want to save some money. Go to a store that sells Ping clubs, and go through their fitting process. It's free and fairly quick. Get your stats printed out, tell them you'll be back some other time to buy the clubs, then find a used set (of Pings obviously) with the same or similar setup.

Answer 2

Custom fitting is mostly overrated unless you are unusually short or tall.  The importance of equipment is very over inflated by most golfers.  I'm sure I will get thumbs down for saying that but as a golf professional, this is what I see.

Answer 3

Custom fitting will benefit you if you are at the top of your game. Otherwise, you are right to go with the money saving option.

Answer 4

If you're average size, no.  The idea is that you have a full range to choke up or down the grip for better accuracy.  If you're not a pro and don't have a handicap below 5, off the shelf clubs will server the purpose just as well.

Answer 5

Pull your head out, pflem.  "Custom fitting" it only a recent fad, and if it costs too much, it's not worth it.  Consider this... If you want to compare a house bowling ball to off-the-rack clubs, why don't you compare a bowling alley to a golf course?  Because all bowling alleys are basically the same, and lies on a golf course are inherently different from shot to shot.  

I thinks it all comes from those tools who love to spout about how their irons are bent 3* strong and c**p like that.

Answer 6

by you asking this question i am assuming that you are a mid to high handicapper, so assuming that my answer is until you have a repeatable swing for the most part do not buy new clubs at all, spend the money on lessons, then when you do have a repeatable swing get fitted clubs by people that know what they are doing, not generally from your local shop, professional club fitters society is a good start, they have members everywhere.

all in all fitted clubs will make you hit straighter shots(marginally) and make better contact with the ball, but it will not fix a wicked slice or duck hook or bad mechanics

Answer 7

I agree with vdrive.  Unless you play like Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson (if you did you wouldn't have to ask the question) you don't need fitted clubs unless you're very tall or very short.  I'd suggest that you find a golf store that has a computerized hitting area and try different clubs.  Buy the ones that are within your budged and that you like.  Even hitting off a mat into a net will give you an idea of the feel and whether you like the clubs.   If you have the extra bucks to spend put it into the best quality clubs you can afford.

Answer 8

Put it this way. Have you ever been bowling with a house ball? Have you ever rented ice/roller skates? If the answer is yes then that should be enough said.

Sure you can still play with off the rack clubs and do well with them to boot. However, custom fitted anything is better. It feels better and plays better. This is a key element in the game of golf (and other sports).

If you go with the used set of clubs, I would at least have them regripped for your hands. It's not that expensive to do and you will really appreciate having done it.

Answer 9

Golfmakers have several sizes for the average guy (5'9 to 6'1) and several for the slightly taller and shorter.  

If you do not fit into this category then you may benefit from custom fitting.

I improved my game by 30 yards last weekend just by correcting my stance.

If you are looking for improvement, better equipment is a good idea, but custom fitting may not be your best option.