What does it mean to have clubs fitted for you?

Question

I was looking into buying clubs and I started asking about what a set includes. i.e. drivers, woods, irons, wedges, and putters. But then I noticed people were talking about getting clubs fitted for you. What does that mean? Does it have to do with length 'n stuff? Also, do degrees really matter because when you look at specs of clubs, they also mention degrees. Wouldn't all irons have the same degrees? I mean a 6 iron from one company would have the same degree from another company.

Answer 1

Just like clothes, you can purchase off the rack or have them specially tailored for you.

One thing you should do regardless of how you purchase the clubs is to have the proper grips for your hands. Some people have large hands and some small. One grip does not fit all. If your grips are too small then your fingers are going to run into your hands. Too large of grips means you aren't gripping the club correctly either.

For best control, get the right grips for your hands.

Answer 2

Fitted clubs - usually about distance to the ground from your wrists.  Taller people generally need longer clubs and vice versa.  However if you are tall but also have long arms, then when you are in your stance its highly possible that standard length clubs will be fine.  Most serious retailers will have a club fitting chart (like a height chart) on the wall and will measure you to determine if standard clubs are okay or if they need to be fitted (modified).

The degrees do change by manufacturer and it is best to get clubs to suit your game and swing.  If you always hit low shots your wrists may be in front of the ball, and you may want more loft, so get higher degrees.  If you hate height because the ball is caught in the wind, get less loft.

Good luck.

Answer 3

The level or detail of the fitting is up to you.  Some retailers, like Ping dealers, take a set series of measurements, and have you swat a few balls with clubs of different lies.  Fittings this simple are usually free, or at least included in the price of the clubs.

Other retailers will put you on a swing monitor to determine clubhead speed, launch angles, kick points, etc., a much more involvced and expensive process.  

There are no published standards regarding club lofts.  There are some fairly common of ranges that say a six iron will fall into, but nowadays most manufacturers will list the club specs on their websites.  

The loft angle can be custom fitted to your choice also, and if you get forged clubs, the loft angle can be tweaked by a local repair guy or at most driving ranges.  Most cast clubs cannot be tweaked or bent, due to the crystalline structure of the metal.

Answer 4

If your arms are short or long in proportion to the rest of your body it will help to have your clubs longer or shorter.  Also if you have a naturally flat or upright swing plane the lie of your clubs could be changed to fit you better.  These things may allow you to strike the ball more solidly with less contortion.  The lofts are standard from one manufacturer to another, but if you want to change your ball flight to higher or lower you could have the lofts customized as well.

Answer 5

There are certainly different degrees of customization, but at the minimum, a clubfitting should include finding the right lie angle, shaft length, grip, and shaft (not just flex) for you individually. The best combination of these aspects will vary from player to player, and any clubfitter worth a salt will address all of them.

Selecting clubs that YOU hit well and are comfortable with is also an important part of the process. That is why you shouldn't pick a set based solely on what your buddy uses, or what everyone on the internet's favorite clubs are. You have to hit everything you can, and work with a competent fitter to determine which will produce the best results.

Just for fun, go to ping.com and the website for Rifle shafts. Do the online fitting at ping.com to get an idea of what kinds of things a clubfitter is going to look for, and at Rifle's site you can see the variety of shafts available depending on your swing speed, playing style, and desired ball flight.

Also, do NOT listen to anyone who tells you not to get fit just because you're a beginner (If that's the case, you didn't say). Clubfitting is for every golfer, and actually helps poor golfers more than pros. If you've got the budget for premium clubs and are serious about the game, you should absolutely get fitted regardless of your ability level.

Answer 6

club length, lie angle, and shaft flex are measured.  you can get grip size fit, if you want, as well.

alot of clubs today (with some exceptions) are about the same degree-wise (PW=45 deg., 3I= 20 deg., etc.) some have slight differences, especially around the PW, but that's up to you.  all things equal, a 20* 3I will fly slightly farther than a 21* 3I.  you could say it just comes down to what brand you want and how much you wanna pay.

Answer 7

Getting fitted for clubs will do wonders for your game.  When they fit you for clubs it means that they take measurements from the end of your wrist to the floor.  this determines the length of the shaft you need.  Then they will measure your hands to see how big of grips that you need compared to your hands.  Then they will hook you up to a swing analaysis machine and check your swing speed.  this determines the flex need and also the shaft material that would suit your swing speed the best.  Also you will need to hit a peice of tape attached to the bottom of your club. When you swing it will make a mark on that peice of tape showing which part of the sole hits the ground the most.  This determines your lie angle.  It can either be more flat or upright. These tests are generally for iron and wedge fitting.  For driver fitting they would look at the swing analyisis software to determine the shaft, grip, and loft of woods you need.  Other than that, that is pretty much it.  I recently was fitted with a set of titleist irons and i absolutley love them.  They just feel comfortable when i set up and swing.

Answer 8

Companys, or stores will specifically alter length, loft, or other specs for your body or swing speed.  Some irons are designed to stop your slice, or draw.  There are many things companies can do to fix your swing, but it all depends on how much your willing to spend.

Answer 9

it all depends on your hight and your swing.

Answer 10

There are golfers that swear by getting their clubs "fitted" for them. This can mean the shaft length,club loft, shaft type (regular, flex, senior), grip type, etc.

I think this makes a "good" golfer better, but doesn't really help most duffers, except for their confidence for a little while.