Golf club fitting: How to get the most out of the process

Golf Club fitting is a big step – here’s how to get the most benefit from the process.

It’s time for a golf club fitting. You’ve made the big decision. You’re going to permanently relegate those hand-me-down, or borrowed clubs to the basement.

You’re excited to get a new set of sticks just for you.  But if you’ve never been fitted for clubs, you’re going to naturally be curious about what to expect from the golf club fitting process. You might even be a little anxious.

You may not have made it quite to that point yet.  If not, this will give you some background.

What should you expect? How should you prepare? You’re buying a service, so do your part to get the maximum benefit from your fitting.

Do Your Homework

• After making the decision to get fitted, a quick online search will help you identify club fitters in your area.  Sometimes your local course can do it, and sometimes they can’t.  Either way, they can give some recommendations.
• If you want to be fitted by a female, keep in mind that there are far fewer certified female fitters than male, so you may have to driver further or wait longer to get an appointment.
• Narrow your options down to three or so, then call and ask about pricing.  Some will have one price just for a fitting, and a different price (often free) if you also purchase clubs there. The range is fairly wide, from about $50 to about $200 – but remember, cheap isn’t always best.
• Ask if the fitting will be done indoors or outdoors, and what kind of launch monitor, such as Trackman or some other, will be used.  I much prefer doing a fitting outdoors, but everyone is different, and if it’s cold or rainy, then obviously outdoors becomes more problematic.
• Make your decision and your appointment.

Day Of The Appointment

• Dress as you would if you were going to play: golf outfit, pack your shoes, and so forth.
• Take your full set of clubs.  You won’t need them, but the fitter may want to see what you have been playing, so have them with you.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes early and let the staff know you’re there.  Ask for some range balls to hit to loosen up, but limit it to a few dozen.  You will be hitting a lot of balls during the fitting, so don’t wear yourself out before you get started!

The Golf Club Fitting Itself

Don’t Stress About It!  

The golf professional doing your fitting has undoubtedly seen better, and almost as certainly has seen worse golfers than you.  He/she isn’t there to judge you or your swing, just to help you find the best set of clubs.  If you are stressed and tense during the session, you won’t have good swings, or good readings for the pro to review.

It’s easier said than done, but just as on the course, the more relaxed you are, the better the results will be.

Shafts and Clubheads

The fitter will have a number of different shafts and club heads from different manufacturers.   You will have several combinations created to see how they feel to you and how well you hit them.  Ever had an eye exam?  “Which is better, A…or B…?”  It’s like that.

Launch Monitors, Speed, Spin Rates, Oh My

He/she may not be watching you very much, but don’t take it personally.  They are watching the launch monitor and looking at your ball speed, club speed, spin rate, and a lot of other metrics to help narrow down the combination that works best for you (and it’s another reason to not be stressed since much of the time they aren’t even looking at your swing).

The Ah Ha Moment!

Wait for this! You’ll enjoy it when it comes!

At some point, it’s likely that you’re going to like the way a certain combination works.  One will just “feel” better and more comfortable to you.  That’s your club!

Measurements

Then, the fitter will get your height, arm length, length from fingertips to ground, and other measurements in order to get the right length of shaft and other vital information that he or she needs to “fit” you to your new clubs.

UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 04: The shafts, club head, and wrench of Callaway Golf Co.’s new adjustable club, called the iMix, are displayed at the Callaway headquarters in Carlsbad, California, U.S., on Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. As of Jan. 1, golfers are allowed to adjust club heads and shafts on their drivers before a round, a change that has led some manufacturers to design clubs with interchangeable parts. Callaway’s iMix will cost as much as $1,400 for one driver head and three shafts, about triple the cost of a top-of-the-line driver. (Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A Few Weeks Later . . .

You will receive a call that your clubs have arrived.  Or, if you’re already arranged it this way, they will show up on your doorstep.

That’s all there is to it!  Now enjoy your new sticks. Go hit ’em long and straight.