THE TEE BOX
CUSTOM FITTING
LEARN FIRST THEN GET FIT FOR YOUR GAME…
Custom fitting has become the norm when it comes to buying golf clubs, but that doesn’t
mean that golfer should be rushing for this option, especially those who are new to
the game.
Many golfers have been drawn into the marketing of custom fitting, heard stories of
game changing transformations and immediately gone out to purchase new clubs only to
be disappointed when they don’t take 5 shots off their next round.
It may be hard to believe but as a trained custom fitter and club builder I am not a fan of
every player getting clubs fitted to suit their immediate personal needs. It’s my belief that
if a player holds a handicap of more than 14, he/she should not get custom fitted for clubs,
instead they should instead invest that money on a program of lessons to improve their
swings and understand their abilities.
Why? Well the answer is simple and logical. A golfer who has a handicap of 14 or more
does not have the level of consistency within their game to benefit from a set of fitted
clubs. The purpose of tailoring a product to your specific needs is to build a range that will
“compensate” for a golfers habits: their body shape, strength and height to name a few.
The game of golf is a game
of fractions and consistency, if you
are not consistent with your swing
then the fractions that
need to be measured will be
constantly changing.
Furthermore, golfers as a breed can be easily sold too, not because we are stupid but
because we are forever chasing perfection and in order to get as close as we can we
forget the basics, buy into the latest hype and only believe statistics and the analysis of a
computer system.
For those of you that are single figure golfers, custom fitting can be and should be used
as a tool to guide you along the correct path to choosing the best clubs to suit your swing.
However you should insist on being allowed to try the clubs in a surrounding where you
can see the ball flight and compare this to the clubs that you currently play with or the
clubs you are tempted to purchase.
For those of you that are new to the game, just be patient. If you have money set aside to
invest in golf then invest it in yourself. Learn the mechanics of the game, learn about your
swing with a professional. Once you have achieved your goals and the fractions become
smaller and more consistent, then it’s time to get fitted.
6 YOURCADDY | ISSUE 01