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Modern Golf: The Golf Equipment Promised Land

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Golfers have been told about (and ignored) the benefits of custom fitting for years, but just as the practice started to gain traction with average golfers a decade ago, new barricades popped up. The Internet simplified the club-purchasing process and golf equipment companies began developing apps to help golfers determine the best clubs for them.

I won’t disparage these tools or the golfers who use them, because until very recently I was one of the golfers who said no to custom fitting — but then I drove 90 minutes from my Western New York home to Modern Golf in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Call me foolish, frugal or proud. I was an off-the-rack guy, but now things have changed. After you read this piece, they might change for you.

Adios, rack. Arrivederci, online club grab. I want… No, I need to be custom fit.

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You could describe Modern Golf as a custom-fitting facility, but calling it the golf equipment Promised Land might get you closer to the truth. Inside its front doors is a reception area where Modern Golf sells its logoed merchandise and hard-to-find clubs: Japanese-made irons and wedges, tour-only putters, custom-made belt buckles, etc. On its own, it would be the coolest part of most North American golf retailers, but it only scratches the surface of what Modern Golf does.

World's Largest Demo Matrix

Step through the reception area and you’ll understand why some golfers make the international pilgrimage to have their clubs made at Modern Golf. To my left were hundreds of shafts in seemingly every flex, construction and weight. They lined a wall like modern art might show in a trendy apartment.

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Then I saw the Modern Golf build shop, which is separated from the open-concept room with clear glass walls that allow golfers to watch club builders make custom clubs one at a time from scratch.

“Make sure you take photos of us working,” was their only request.

It wasn’t difficult. During the four hours I spent there, they rarely took a break from sorting, weighing, measuring, cutting and gluing. Most golfers aren’t as excited to expose their swings so publicly, however, which is why Modern Golf’s five Trackman-equipped fitting bays can provide partial or total secrecy.

Blueprinting

Our Team
Above: The Blueprinting Station is the first step in a Modern Golf clubfitting. 

Modern Golf’s awe-inspiring layout will have you looking all around, but while you’re rubbernecking you might miss the Blueprinting Station. It’s one of the few inconspicuous spots at Modern Golf, but it might be one of the most important.

As I went into a hitting bay to warm up, my clubs were taken to the Blueprinting Station to be analyzed. All my clubs were measured — lofts, lies, lengths, swing weights, shaft frequencies and probably some other stuff I didn’t ask about.

“Are you having any issues with your 5 iron or 8 iron,” I was asked.

I was, but I assumed it was my swing. I’m a long-time golfer — a 48-year-old, 4-handicap — which means I hit have the ability to hit some very good shots and also some very bad ones. It turns out that those two irons were several swing weight points lighter than they the rest of my irons, which wasn’t helping.

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“Do you know that your driver is actually 10.5 degrees, not the 9.5 degrees that is printed on its sole?”

Heck no, I had no idea. I hadn’t bothered to check.

I found out that it’s rare for all lofts, lies and swing weights to be consistent off the rack, so even if you have been fit for custom clubs and then ordered them through a manufacturer, you might not have the specs you think you have. Without someone measuring each club and every variable, you can’t be sure.

When Fraser came back into the bay, he watched my swing and the corresponding Trackman numbers appear on the projector screen in front of me. They were decent, but not what Fraser wanted, so we began the process of testing different club head and shaft combinations. By the end of the morning session, we had worked our way through a hearty alphabet soup of top-shelf brands.

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Modern Golf offers wedge customization and grinding services. 

Modern Golf’s supply of demo clubs includes just about every current model of driver, fairway wood, hybrid, iron and wedge worth testing. Cleveland, Callaway, Mizuno, Nike, Ping, TaylorMade, Titleist – they’re all there, as well as brands such as Chikara, Epon and Miura that are harder to find. All of its demo clubs also built with an adjustable system that allows any club head to be tested with any shaft, so there’s no combination that I couldn’t try.

3 Private Fitting Bays

Being the newbie to custom fitting that I was, I opted to not ask Fraser what shafts and club heads were in my hands. I didn’t want to cloud my swings or my judgment with assumption that may or may not have been true, and I think that’s good advice for every golf. After all, I was in the operating room of a surgically-precise club fitter, a fellow who had been in the business since his late teens.

I’m not a fan of hitting balls into nets and walls, but as a northern golfer, dome time is a part of each winter. That said, I could certainly get used to playing a fair amount of cold-weather golf in one of the company’s spacious fitting bays. After every shot, I watched a surprisingly realistic depiction of my ball flight.

The Fitting

We started with the driver. With my Titleist 905R and 95 mph swing speed, I was carrying the ball 213 yards on a piercing trajectory that saw it roll out to about 250 yards, according to Trackman. I rarely get that much roll on the course.

A better fit? The 2014 Callaway Big Bertha with an Aldila Tour Rogue 125 MSI shaft. With it, Fraser helped me boost my carry distance to 235 yards – an improvement of more than 20 yards. I picked up distance on the ground, too. The new driver was rolling out to 255 yards.

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Listen closely, son… 20 yards of carry is a big, big deal. And according to Fraser, it’s pretty typical for golfers – especially those who have never been fit – to see such gains. I closed my eyes and began to envision those early-spring rounds over soft fairways, with tee balls that landed 20 yards farther down the fairway.

It should be noted that Ian is a heck of a golfer himself. He understands the swing intimately and explained in detail the effect of my rapidly closing club face on each shot. I was agreeable to a bit of swing advice and he made a suggestion on how to hold off the clubface through the strike. My subsequent shots began to reveal less low hook and more high draw – especially in my iron fitting. The pairing of a knowledgeable club fitter and a willing, flexible client made the session a success.

Staying in touch

OUR TECHNOLOGY

Within one day of my fitting, I received an email with a link to my customer file, which included all the information gathered during my fitting. That gave me easy access to my Trackman data, my Blueprint (old clubs and old specs), my Prescription (recommended new clubs and their specs), a quote for the new clubs, my SST PURE reports (more on that later) and order tracking information. Had a chose to do a Quintic Putter Fitting, which is Modern Golf’s high-speed camera-based putting system, I would have received that data.

I purchased the driver. For a frugal writer accustomed to free clubs arriving on his doorstep for review, that’s a lot. Had I ordered a new set of irons (which still isn’t out of the question), they would have been built with frequency-matched, parallel-tip shafts. If you don’t know what that means, it’s like having each iron shaft custom built to match an exact stiffness.

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The reason I’ve giving up my off-the-rack habit? Random acts of equipment-related weirdness will be forever eliminated. The quality checks a Modern Golf-built club goes through ensure that each one has the exact specifications on my Prescription, and the company offers free lifetime loft and lie adjustments. Modern Golf also adds an extra step to the build — each club is SST PURE’d, which aligns a shaft to its most consistent orientation. Essentially, my driver was coming out of a build shop that was as close as I’ll ever come to a tour van.

I’m no bean counter, but I can predict that your off-the-rack equipment habit will probably cost you more than a properly fit set of clubs. I also know that your predicted success increases exponentially when you put yourself in the hands of the Modern Golf experts. I know a number of golfers who love to shop for golf equipment, who love to brag about the latest find, the latest deal. For some of them, the thrill of the hunt is one of the many reasons they enjoy playing golf.

For me, the thrill of having a truly custom fit driver is even greater. Who knows? If the purse strings allow, I might come to know the flush of strolling the course with a complete set of custom-fit clubs. All I have to do is pay the toll, show my passport and head north to see if my specifications have changed.

Modern Golf has locations in Mississauga and Vancouver, and also has a mobile unit that visits clubs in the Greater Toronto area in the summer. A full fitting costs $400.A full fitting with Ian Fraser costs $500. 

Driver fittings, fairway wood/hybrid fittings, iron fittings and putter fittings can be purchased individually for $150. Modern Golf’s wedge fitting experience, which includes three custom-fit wedges and is done outdoors, costs $1000. 

Modern Golf’s “OEM Experience” launches in January. A full fitting ($200) allows golfers to choose any stock option offered by each manufacturer.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

94 Comments

94 Comments

  1. farmer

    Jan 15, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    You found a great facility and paid for the top guy. Unfortunately, the experience you had is not typical. I was given a fitting and driver by top 100 guy, Wishon certified, all the credentials. I’m 64 with a bad neck and a sketchy knee, was swinging about 85 mph, and he had only Adams drivers and ultimately put me in a TS flex in a $300.00 shaft. Fitting is all the rage on golf forums, but a good one remains a crap shoot.

  2. Whitey Nichols

    Dec 31, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Ron: Interesting article but I have gone a different route. To http://www.1irongolfcom . Their concept is to make all clubs THE SAME LENGTH based on a wrist to floor length ( mine was 36″ ) concept. Not very sophisticated, eh ? They are a great quality club. Have only used them in the dome but easy to get to handle. Ball position for every club is the same. Shorter ( 3, 4, 5, 6 irons ) irons are easy to adapt to. More distance and higher ball flight. As a 9 hcp I drive it straight, irons decent, chipping could be better and usually lose three strokes per round by bad putting. From 5 feet in I usually wait to hear my group say ” pick it up “. Don’t hear it that often. Am excited with this new concept and anxious to try it outside on real grass. Wouldn’t have a chance against your 3 hcp unless I could get maybe five a side from you. Until Spring these clubs are in the bag next to my chair along with the six putters I’m trying, to find one that works.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Jan 1, 2015 at 3:09 pm

      Thanks, Whitey. For those not in the know, Mr. Whitey (as my coaching comrades call him) was director of the Buffalo District Golf Association for an eternity, and now enjoys officiating as a USGA official at tournaments across the country.

      I think your URL web link is a bit off. Here’s the proper one: http://www.1irongolf.com/

      There is a current college golfer. Bryson Dechambeau, at Southern Methodist University, who employs this type of same-length shaft throughout the set. He is very successful and will make a run at the USA Walker Cup side this season.

      I wish you great success with this set of clubs. If that 9 drops a few strokes, I won’t have to give you anything the next time we play.

  3. Jm

    Dec 23, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    So you got fit into a $600+ driver and only gained 5 total yds? I agree 20 yds of carry is a good gain but i always look at total distance for the true story. 905R is a classicly well performimg and consistent driver. I wonder if you had a different loft 905 it would give you more carry. How did ballspeed and dispersion compare between the two?

    As long as you are happy that is truly all that matters. For me i have yet to hit a driver that outperforms my r7425 or my jetspeed. Even my fitters have said it is going to be hard to beat the numbers i get with those two drivers.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 24, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      Here’s the thing, Jm: I don’t know how many total yards I’ve gained. I’ll find that out when I get back on the course. What I know is that my ball flight and direction should have improved markedly. With the old drivers, I was compensating to keep it in play. If I let the shaft out to 95% of max, I would get as wild as drunken English teachers.

      Out of curiosity, which outperforms the other, the r7425 or the jetspeed?

      Happy holidays~Keep writing.

  4. Modern Golf

    Dec 23, 2014 at 1:20 am

    Firstly, let me thank you all for your comments and input on Ron’s article about Modern Golf. We haved observed from the sidelines with great interest at the different points of view that have been been offered.
    The truth is Ron’s experience was no different than the next person that visits Modern Golf.

    One gentleman in an earlier post suggested that it was no wonder the game was in decline with what we are offering at Modern Golf. Well let me share some feedback we have received from our annual customer survey. 93% of customers that have visited and subsequently purchased from Modern Golf say the their ENJOYMENT OF THE GAME HAS INCREASED since purchasing clubs from us. It is easy to see why when you learn that our customers have droped their handicaps by an average of 3.5 strokes this season. That is a demonstrable level of improvement and validates the existanace of companies like Modern Golf.

    We are also in the process of dealing with the sigma attached to Modern Golf regarding the cost involved. We want to ensure golfers with more modest budgets also have access to our services. In 2015 we will offer the Ultimate OEM Fitting for the more price conscious customer. This fitting will be half the price of our current full fitting fee, so it will be $200 rather than $400. The options available will be less comprehensive than our premium full fitting, we will be working within the guidlines of what each manufacturer offers as standard or within their upgrade shaft and grip offerings. The most improtant thing is that we are not comprimising the quality of the customer experience, we still fit with Trackman, using premium golf balls and we offer brand agnostic advice.

    Please feel free to ask me any other questions, i would be happy to answer.

    Ian Fraser
    Modern Golf

    Read more at http://www.golfwrx.com/251293/modern-golf-the-golf-equipment-promised-land/#hzJJ3gh6jMt6WtsK.99

    • Keith

      Dec 23, 2014 at 11:44 am

      I went to MG in the off-season between the ’13 and ’14 season for a full bag fitting. We ended up changing my driver and 3-wood and putting new shafts in all my irons. There was no pressure to purchase anything from there, simply recommendations based on the numbers that I put up during the fitting. In the case of the irons, I was getting slightly better numbers out of a set of Recoils / Ping S55’s instead of the shaft swap in my existing set, but there was an honest discussion about the cost vs. benefit and we both agreed that it wasn’t money well spent at that time. In 2014, I didn’t get out to practice once with the exception of the hour before my round. No lessons were taken. I played around the same rounds in 2014 as 2014. My handicap went from 13.3 to 7.9.

      Was the total cost of the process expensive? Yes, but I no longer have the urge to find the “next best thing” from the Classifieds or the Pro Shop. I have confidence in my game and that the equipment that I’m playing is optimized to my game and my swing. I’m excited for the 2015 season to improve on the gains from last year.

      • Ronald Montesano

        Dec 24, 2014 at 5:58 am

        The way my mind works, I can manage one club for 2015. It will be the driver. I want to see and feel a difference between it and my other previous drivers. I wish to avoid sensory overload, thinking “my driver does this and my metals do that. My hybrids go this way and my irons go that” and be so ecstatic that a room must be reserved for me.

        Truth be told, I am interested in the putting evaluator next. I can’t imagine any two club of more importance for a golfer. I need to putt twice to three times as many practice balls with a store-bought putter to be as comfortable as I am with a driver. It looks like an interesting 2015 is in store.

  5. TG

    Dec 22, 2014 at 5:58 am

    This is all well and good when you have hundreds of dollars to spend. However, when a lot of people are on a budget it’s hard not to turn to eBay and get a decent set and some woods for under $200.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 22, 2014 at 11:29 am

      TG,

      No argument there. Cobble together your clubs how best you can. For those who can afford (or sacrifice to afford) a personalized fitting, it’s worth investigating.

      Thanks for your comment. Please keep reading and commenting.

      Ron M.

    • Bruce Ferguson

      Dec 24, 2014 at 7:49 pm

      I agree, TG. When I bought clubs from eBay, though, I still did some “tweaking” by swing weighting, loft/lie confirmation or changes and sometimes shaft changes. Component retailers like Hireko and GolfWorks make it possible to build quality clubs on the cheap. Being 6’3″, there’s no way off the shelf clubs would fit my swing. You may be one of the lucky ones whose body size accommodates them. Having said that, if I had the spare cash, I WOULD be fitted Tom Wishon or Modern Golf. They would build equipment that would extract every ounce of performance from your abilities.

  6. Chris C

    Dec 20, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    A tad over the top promo for Modern which also can serve as a primer for those seeking to purchase their first set of “good” clubs. It appears that Modern offers the same comprehensive fitting experience that most experienced fitters can provide but they do so in an awe inspiring glitzy facility. That glitz is not free. Two things stood out. First, the author notes that Modern offers SST PURING. If Modern offers this as an extra charged cost, you should immediately be skeptical of anything they say. Any decent club builder automatically spines their shafts prior to installation. If Modern does not do it unless you pay an up charge, you should simply thank them and walk out. Paying extra to spine your shafts is akin to paying for extra rust protection at your local new car dealership. Second, $1K for three custom fit wedges??? I spent a good deal of time being fit for my Edel wedges and spent no where close to $1K. I love glitz and I would love to have have a Modern to visit during our long winter months but , if I was in the market for another custom built set of clubs, I would most likely be returning to my local fitters and builders.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 20, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Chris,

      Thank you for the frank commentary. In this case, functional comes across as glitzy. Nothing seemed overly-ambitious to me during my 4+ hours at the facility.

      In the north, extra rust protection never hurts!

    • Jeffery

      Jan 16, 2015 at 2:53 pm

      Agreed. The glitz is not free, and from what I understand they build the cost of SST puring into the total quote at the end of the day. On top of that, if you do you research there is absolutely no concrete evidence to suggest that “puring” does anything to improve performance. A good quality shaft has a high degree of radial consistency and does not require alignment. If it needs to be pured, it belongs in a dumpster, not your club.

  7. Skip

    Dec 19, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    So what was it about the Big Bertha that let you pickup 20 yards in carry? There isn’t enough launch info here but judging from your description:

    “With my Titleist 905R and 95 mph swing speed, I was carrying the ball 213 yards on a piercing trajectory that saw it roll out to about 250 yards”

    That sounds like a launch angle that is lower than optimal. Not enough loft, perhaps a negative angle of attack are possible causes for this and in hindsight, you’re probably better off with the “10.5” degrees of loft on your driver?

    At a swing speed of 95 mph, you’re pretty much swinging at the LPGA average and they basically average 220 yards of carry. You’re not too far off. If you’re indeed negative AoA through the ball, you probably could’ve gained those 20 yards and saved yourself a bunch of coin through a simple swing change.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 20, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      Skip,

      Those are persuasive points and they may intimate why folks go to a firm like Modern Golf; they wish to stick with the swing they have and fit a club or set to it. These folks might not have the time, passion or coordination to dedicate to incorporating a minor or radical swing/address position change, so the equipment purchase solves that problem.

      I am realistic about my game and, at age 50 (more or less) suspect that I will not grow physically stronger in the coming years. Technology will be my ally.

      If I were a younger, competitive golfer, I would benefit from an MG-style firm in a different way.

  8. RJ

    Dec 19, 2014 at 7:21 am

    First and foremost, Ron the article was a great read and very informative. Thank you for sharing your experience.
    Wow, I don’t mean to come off like an a** to those negative comments but here I go.
    As a long time club fitter, instructor, an pretty proficient player it amazes my how unwilling people are to read, listen and digest. All the author did was share with the masses, myself included about his experience at a place many have never heard of. Then it turns into a “witch hunt” on all that he didn’t do. At no point did he ask for your stats, SS, launch directions, amount of shaft lean pre and post impact. If he gained 20yds total at a 4hdcp. then a dangerous player he now becomes. Longer par 4’s and stretched par 5’s are easier hitting even 70% of FIR. Just based upon logic if all factors are the same then saving 3/4 of a stroke per side per round drops his overall hdcp a huge amount.
    Unfortunately, when golfer’s talk the negative is all that comes out. Taking golf lessons is your friend at all skill levels. The awful misconception that changing my swing
    will have an effect on ill fitted clubs that you don’t even know are wrong. Really! Who says that! Only golfers….
    Looking at Trackman and Flightscope data we are talking in minimal degree incremental changes. Good instructors change swing paths,face angles,angles of attack to minimize curvature. If you look and swing like Tim Herron I guarantee you will not walk away trying to replicate Jason Day’s action.(with a good instructor) But a willingness to practice the given new swing directions is the key. If you fade the ball great let’s just lessen the amount of it keeping up the centered contact minizing distance loss. Not the width wide fairway wipe and call it a “Power Fade”. That is not “Changing the Swing” it is making sure the student leaves with a clue of what the path and face are doing at impact.
    So if the newest Big Bertha driver is what works best for Ron. Except the fact that you will need a few more shots per side to get his lunch money. Keep writing Ron and I will keep reading.
    R.J. in AZ

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 19, 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Thanks, R.J.

      I’m Teflon Ron, so things bounce off me. I also like that folks can empty their souls in our reply fields. I hope they keep doing it.

      I also hope that by being transparent about my experience, I convince folks (or encourage, at the very least) to give something new a try.

      I’m glad you’ll keep reading, R.J. We’re fortunate to have you.

  9. Nick

    Dec 19, 2014 at 5:44 am

    Ron, great article; think i’m in love. I’ve been eyeing Modern Golf for awhile(also an incredible Instagram follow) but slightly hesitant. If I go up there,I know i’m buying everything. I don’t have your willpower. Hate to ask, but out of curiosity, after the fitting what were you looking at for filling the full prescription: driver, woods, irons, & wedges?

    Obviously options are different for everyone, but i think it’s useful to get an idea about what this adventure would cost all in. A range would be fine

    Thx

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 19, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      Hey, Nick.

      I wasn’t certain. If a shaft is too high-end, they recommend an alternative, so you don’t get “held hostage,” as has caused concern.

      Let me convey your curiosity about a range of costs to the guys at Modern Golf and we’ll see if we can get you those numbers.

      I think that someone should consider being fit for the driver and the putter. For the cost of those two clubs, you impact more shots at lesser cost.

      • Nick

        Dec 22, 2014 at 11:06 am

        Ron, many thanks for looking into it. Curious to see what you come up with.

        Nick

  10. John Frizzell

    Dec 18, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    Curious minds want more details….What changed so much in your launch conditions to get you that 20 more yards of carry?

    Simple as giving you a driver with more loft? not sure that is worth the expenditure.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 19, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      John, it’s difficult for me to say. It might have been the additional two degrees of loft, but remember that the shaft is the critical element in all equations. Since you don’t hit the ball directly with the shaft, it’s the club head that garners all the attention.

      • Skip

        Dec 19, 2014 at 5:21 pm

        I’m going to disagree here. As per Tom Wishon in an earlier WRX post (http://www.golfwrx.com/62891/the-practical-facts-about-spin-and-shaft-design/):

        “The No. 1 way to change the amount of spin and trajectory on a shot is to change the loft of the clubhead. No. 2 is to change the ball design. No. 3 is to change the shaft’s stiffness and/or tip stiffness design, but remember; a shaft that affect a change on spin only works for players with a later and later release.”

        So, I’m pretty sure it was the extra 2 degrees of loft.

        • John Frizzell

          Dec 23, 2014 at 8:32 am

          Totally agree Ron, the shaft has minimal effect on changing the launch monitor data readings. Those who think not don’t need to read up on it.

  11. jcorbran

    Dec 18, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    If only we had something similar this side of the bridge.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 9:17 pm

      Not enough of a concentration of golfers with financial resources to support it in B-N. T-O has what the USA side lacks.

  12. Your cousin

    Dec 18, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    Nice review Ron, never even heard of this place before but sounds like a winter trip I’ll have to take. BTW, I’ll play you at a 4 any day, haha

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 8:37 pm

      Being the second-best golfer in our family has its advantages, stick. You should definitely head up there. You may or may not want to drop my name, but it is a place you will enjoy.

      As far as the playing me at a 4, as long as I get to tin-cup you, game on!

  13. Todd

    Dec 18, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Am I missing something?

    A $400 fitting and then you got fitted into a driver with a $400 shaft upgrade? Not to mention the driver head you landed on is about 8 years worth of technology newer!

    And we wonder what’s killing the game?

    • Mike

      Dec 18, 2014 at 5:09 pm

      Yes, the $400 fitting fee covers the whole bag, not just the driver. Yes, paying ~$100 for a fitting, then another $800-900 for a new driver with custom shaft is a LOT of money. I’ve done the driver fitting with Modern Golf and if you can afford it, it’s worth it. They take the time to ensure that what you get is absolutely perfect, they guarantee their work, so you can come back if something isn’t quite right on the course. The custom shafts are unquestionably better than what you’ll find stock. Unless you radically change your swing (and frankly, you probably won’t), the custom shaft can be used in future driver heads if you choose to upgrade. It’s something that can be used effectively for years.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 6:07 pm

      My swing is different from yours and hers and his and theirs. I would think that you would be proud of the fact that I went old-school on the head. If I had gone latest-and-greatest, that would have supported the “killing the game” hypothesis, as it would have confirmed that latest-and-greatest is the only way to go.

  14. Amit

    Dec 18, 2014 at 11:58 am

    Well written article. Shines a light on a few of the reasons why there is a drastic decline in people taking up golf. As a new golfer (I started playing in April 2014), I followed the advice of getting at least basic fitting done before buying clubs. After spending 5 hours and $500 I still didn’t know what the length and lie I needed for the irons or the shafts I needed for the woods and irons or the grip size I needed. And I was fitted by 2 of the so called Top 100 Fitters in the Dallas area per one of the “esteemed” golf magazines. This information would be only provided to me if I bought clubs through the fitters. I would need to go back to them, aka spend more money, for the fitters to adjust the clubs if I used the Callaway gift cards I had. Well, if we spend money for a fitting, we should not be held hostage to buy the clubs that are distributed by the fitters. Only reason I am still playing golf is because Mr. Danny Le of UST Mamiya was kind enough to do a fitting on the UST Trackman and give me the information I needed to order the clubs. So my suggestion to beginners or high handicappers is to save your money, get a free fitting from a PGA Superstore and ask them to order per specs from the manufacturer. At least until the frauds are weeded out from these Top 100 lists.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      That is indeed a pseudo-horror story. I can’t say whether I would have been “held hostage” by Modern Golf had I not been writing a story, but I suspect I would not have been. A great number of top-shelf Buffalo amateurs go to Modern Golf, which speaks to their reliability in my estimation.

      • JMOTO

        Dec 18, 2014 at 3:36 pm

        I have been a customer of Modern Golf since they first opened, and have never been “held hostage”. After a full fitting, their recommendations are given to you with no pressure to purchase.

    • Teaj

      Dec 19, 2014 at 3:14 pm

      I agree on getting a basic fitting when you first start but that is where it should stop in my mind, until you can make a consistent swing it is near impossible to fit that person. Get your static specs to see what length shaft grip size and so on and maybe even put on the lie board if you can put a couple good swings together to make sure that lie is good but to go into a full fitting is a waist of time unless you are consistent because what you fit into right now could change in a couple of weeks, even more so if you are going to be taking lessons.

      that’s not to say that I am against a fitting, in fact I love it, if I could afford the custom fitting at modern golf which is a stones throw from me I would do it in a heartbeat. Modern golf is a tinker’ers dream and a tinker’er I am. The only thing that’s missing is if they were to show me how to do the more technical work (purring shafts) and let me put it all together…. ok I need a smoke.

      I would love to see what Modern would fit me into for a driver/putter and I guess why not irons too, when in roma right. If GolfWRX is going to do a draw for a fitting at Modern golf I would throw my hat in the ring for that and right a post if need be.

  15. juststeve

    Dec 18, 2014 at 10:55 am

    What would convince me is a meaningful improvement in your handicap next season. Please share what happens with us.

    Styeve

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 11:02 am

      Hey, Styeve/juststeve,

      I am known to be a straight driver. Most rounds, I find the fairway 10-14 times with the war club. If I can continue with that accuracy while adding the 10-15 yards, I’ll consider it a success.

      Regarding handicap, if I had the full set of clubs (as someone mentioned below) it might be more convincing.

      I’m interested in the putter fitting, but I’ll have to convince my editors!!

  16. Dana

    Dec 18, 2014 at 10:53 am

    First, I completely disagree with the comment above that Flightscope and Trackman are the most accurate. Indoors, where this fitting occurred, both have flaws. Foresight GC2 is the best choice indoors.

    I went through a reputable club fitter in Philly and was alarmed at how inexact the OEMs really are. In the set I walked in the door with my driver was marked at 9 degrees but when measured was actually a 13 degree. That is horrible. Where is the Quality Control in these OEMs? Within my iron shafts, which were all marked as Stiff, one actually tested out as a Regular and another as an Extra Stiff shaft. Again, where is the QC function.

    My fitting experience was eye-opening and I will never buy clubs off he rack again. Never.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 11:49 am

      Dana,

      I have my suspicions about Trackman and am curious about Foresight GC2. I’m going to look deeper into it.

      As far as your case of one Reg and one XStiff, remember that you are one case among tens of thousands. It’s possible that your iron set is the outlier, right? It also may be consistent with others. You should report that set to the OEM immediately, as it will benefit them and force their hand to consider addressing QC.

      • Scooter McGavin

        Dec 18, 2014 at 1:19 pm

        No offense, but I don’t think notifying the OEM is going to change anything with their quality control. Clubs being off in flex, lie, and loft are the norm for OEM’s – even custom ordered sets. When you custom order a set from Callawy, TMaG, or one of the other major brands (yes, even Titleist), with things like loft and lie, they can be up to 3* off in either direction. So even when you get a fitting from most stores, if they are having the clubs built by the manufacturer, they are going to be off. The best way to avoid that is to have clubs built in house by a highly qualified professional. Not the cheapest route, but that’s what you should expect if you want something custom.

      • P

        Dec 19, 2014 at 3:36 am

        Trackman only works indoors if the ball has been taped with dots on it for it to be able to see the correct spin on the ball as it takes off.
        Between the GC2, Flightscope and Trackman, they’re all fairly close in terms of being within a couple of yards of each other and a couple hundred spin.
        The other problem with fitting in most places is that people don’t get know what ball they’re using to begin with, so when they try different balls and see how they all spin and fly differently, they get confused even further.
        Most good, serious golfers who are shooting single digit handicaps or near scratch (if they are truly honest with their handicaps!), should be able to know how to do a fitting with different balls, but high handicappers have no idea. And all that most high handicappers want is more distance, anyways, and after they get that, they wonder why their balls still fly left and right, when they don’t consider that just hitting a little less distance but straighter, their whole game changes.

        If you’re serious about doing a fitting, make sure to do it with the current ball you’ve been playing the most. If you’re mixing it up with different balls all the time, good luck to you, you’ve got a long ways to go before you should even jump in to doing a proper fit, to be honest.

  17. RobG

    Dec 18, 2014 at 9:48 am

    I’ve gone through and replaced almost every club in my bag the last 5 years and I have never been custom fit. I’ll admit – though sheepishly – all of the clubs have come from golf town off the rack. However, I tried every stock OEM option they carry before I buy. I spend hours and hours vetting my driver, fairway wood, and hybrid before I purchased it. I’ll admit I rushed my iron purchase and I’m not 100% happy with it but at the end of the day they work well enough for me to enjoy my time on the course. My only regret about not getting custom fit is I have some strange yardage gaps that I’m sure would have been ironed out in the custom fitting process, but I have adapted my game accordingly. I’ll agree with the comment that you can get about 75% to 80% accurate with off the rack clubs, but it’s that extra 20%-25% and the piece of mind and confidence that comes along with it that goes a long way in knocking those few extra strokes off.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 10:50 am

      I would check my lofts and lies for the club that surround those strange yardage gaps. Clubs might be off or you might be able to bend them to close the gaps.

  18. Jason

    Dec 18, 2014 at 9:32 am

    Great article and I’m excited to see a company take on this mindset. It seems as if they’ve even covered the golfer who may be “scared” to get fit. The last thing a few of my friends want is for a swing/club guru to watch them hit a ball. I’ve tried to tell them that doing so will only help improve their game. Also, the wall of shafts has given me some new decorating ideas for my entertainment room. Thanks for sharing and update this whenever you get around to the irons.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 11:50 am

      Wow, the crew wants me to get those irons! I may have to start a “GoFundMe” as I have yet to strike it rich. I’ll keep you posted.

  19. Greg V

    Dec 18, 2014 at 9:29 am

    Great article, Ron! I’ve been to the Titleist facility outside New Bedford and the fitting was very helpful.

    Now, where can I get fit for hickories?

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 10:51 am

      I think you need Stewie from “Family Guy” to take you back in time to Old Tom Morris.

      • Greg V

        Dec 19, 2014 at 7:51 am

        Going that route, I’d visit Tom Stewart, Jack White, Ben Sayres or Charles Gibson.

  20. Spgolfer

    Dec 18, 2014 at 9:27 am

    Hi Ronald, first, congrats for the article and for that extra yards. Did you buy the Rogue 125 msi?, just curious as i have more or less the same ss as you, was it regular or stiff flex? Kind regards

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 10:53 am

      I’m one of those guys who uses regular-stiff irons and stiff-stiff hybrids and metals. I did go with the stiff flex.

  21. Chase Komaromi

    Dec 18, 2014 at 9:25 am

    I got fit at this same location last year. What an eye opening experience, I got fit for the whole bag, putter and all. I was there for about 5 hours but it’s worth every minute. The putter fitting is outstanding and everything else was awesome. They use Trackman so all data is accurate and they also compare your numbers to tour averages which is always fun. They were able to get me 8 yards carry on my irons and 13 yards with the driver which was unbelievable! The only thing I suggest about fitting is making sure you’re confident with your swing and if you are a 10+ handicap, just make sure you have a consistent side you miss on. It’s the fitters job to find club combinations that will work for you and your game. If you miss it both ways regularly, get some lessons first and then get fit.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 10:52 am

      Not just confident, but honest. You have to bare your soul to the fitter. Thanks for your 1st-person tale, Chase.

  22. Lance Williamson

    Dec 18, 2014 at 7:11 am

    Imo, if golf wants to “grow the game” club fitting will need to be much less expensive, time consuming & less hype. Golf club mfgr’s sell equipment they know is only for the “average Joe”? Some business model.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 7:22 am

      Lance,

      Thanks for the comment, but pardon the interruption. It seems you disparage the “average Joe” method. If that’s the case, you’re in line with this piece. However, if you’re going to be fit for clubs, wouldn’t you want someone to take her/his time to eliminate doubt/error?

      I don’t understand the “less hype” concern. What is being over-hyped and what would you suggest? The “less expensive” part I understand, but I don’t think it’s viable.

  23. Ian

    Dec 18, 2014 at 3:28 am

    Ronald what did your handicap come down by after the fitting?

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 5:34 am

      Hello, Ian.
      The fitting happened in mid-October of 2014.

      I’ve been able to purchase the driver and given our weather situation, the only action it has seen is the inside of a dome. That may be a good thing, as I’ve been able to adjust the hook/draw slider on the rear of the head for comfort and also the hosel alignment. I have it where I want it, so I just some cooperation from Mother Nature.

      My handicap is 4 and will take a good deal of effort on my part to lower. If I have the time this season, I expect to be a better driver of the ball. I’m well aware that those strokes for lower, single-digit handicaps come off in the chipping, pitching and putting zones.

      I’m also a traveling four, as I don’t play my home course all that much for score. I’m fortunate to play over a number of different courses around the eastern USA for a variety of reasons, so I suspect I’d drop to a 2.5 if I played my home course all the time.

      This experience taught me that we can probably get to 75 to 80 percent accurate by purchasing our own clubs. That final 25 to 20 percent is helpful to those who want to maximize improvement/awareness in their own game.

  24. Chris

    Dec 18, 2014 at 1:15 am

    so you write an article on custom fitting but don’t actually buy the full set? This is like reviewing a steak house but only eating the salad. Sell off a few of your “free” clubs and get the irons for free…then come back and finish the story!

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 18, 2014 at 5:37 am

      Preach, Chris! Any clubs I receive to review, I donate to The First Tee or other endeavors. I’m not in the business of selling them off.

      I’m also not about to establish a “GoFundMe” so I can buy the entire set.

      At this juncture, I want to work through the driver for a half-season in 2015, to be certain I’m completely on to something. My seven-figure income (two of those are to the right of the decimal point) might allow me to go all-in on the irons, if I’m fortunate.

      I’m glad that you are enthusiastic about me finishing the article. I’ll see what I can do. In the interim, keep reading and commenting.

  25. Chris

    Dec 18, 2014 at 12:38 am

    Awesome post! For great golf reviews check out this site I just found.

    http://www.golfreviewguy.com/

  26. DaddyCaddie

    Dec 17, 2014 at 11:48 pm

    Sounds amazing, is there a place in the Southeast that offer equivalent services? I know there is a Cool Clubs in Atlanta but haven’t heard anything about that location.

    • Jason

      Dec 18, 2014 at 9:28 am

      If you’re in the Southeast, I’d highly recommend Dana Upshaw of Dana Golf in Warner Robins, GA. He’s a highly acclaimed club fitter, multiple club maker of the year awards, who knows more about the golf swing that humanly possible. He can get you any mix of equipment you’d like to try. I initially got fit for a Ping i15 from him and, coupled with a couple of swing fixes, lost my low left hook, like our writer here, and got back a high draw with around 15 extra yards of carry. You won’t be disappointed.

    • Matt

      Dec 18, 2014 at 4:39 pm

      Club Champion is in Sandy Springs. Go see Rob or Todd.

  27. Charlly Pak

    Dec 17, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    I’ve experienced Hotstix several years prior and they did great fitting. I know that Cool Clubs is an entity derived from the original Hotstix people so without a doubt, they do great work as well.

    I personally have found and experienced that every high end club fitter does great work but I’ve found that Pure Performance does it just a little bit better than the rest to claim the top title as the best.

    Just my experience, but the owner does amazing work where touring pros trust his workmanship over tour van builders.

  28. Josh

    Dec 17, 2014 at 10:24 pm

    reading this article, I completely agree that a fitting works wonders and think that the cost is reasonable considering the time and technology that it takes the fitter. What keeps me from doing it is the improvement factor that I trust will at some point happen in my game. I’m a 7 handicap who practices and is constantly trying to master the classic moves in my swing that I currently fall short on, for instance creating more lag, increasing my swing speed, improving path to face…etc. what happens if I get fit tomorrow for my current swing and then keep improving my swing over the next few months/years? Do I need to re-fit my swing? If so…will I be wasting all of the money I just spent on fitting and new custom clubs? I’m not saying I’m working on a swing overhaul…but I’ve never been in a point in my golf swing where I’m totally satisfied and just plan to swing the same way for the next several years….someone with knowledge please address this concern so I can finally justify getting custom fit!!!

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 17, 2014 at 10:56 pm

      I get that. You should continue to do what you feel is correct. If you hit a wall, get fit. I once got fit the old school way, on a day where I was swinging poorly. I explained this to the guy, but he didn’t seem to care. As you can imagine, the clubs didn’t work too well.

    • John

      Dec 18, 2014 at 1:17 am

      Thats a terrible idea. You shouldn’t learn to drive in a car with misaligned steering or bald tyres. It’s the same here. The fact that they build the clubs is the key. I’ve had a similar fitting in Ireland (company called Foregolf). It will seriously increase your rate of improvement as it did for me especially if you practice a lot. If you grove a swing with ill fitting clubs it won’t be a good swing.

    • Scooter McGavin

      Dec 18, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      I think this is one of the reasons that only highly skilled golfers (which I am not, btw) should spend their money on very in-depth fittings. That way they will at least have a consistent swing to work with, and they will generally be able to get something out of it. I think for beginning or intermediate golfers, a static fitting should suffice while they learn to swing. I am a professional musician, and I wouldn’t dream of having one of my beginning students get in-depth custom fittings for expensive equipment (instruments). Not to be insensitive, but they are going to sound like beginners on whatever equipment you put them on. I think that like music, you should only get custom fit for clubs when you are advanced enough to feel like your equipment is holding you back in some way. And as for your swing being different than what you got fit for, I think at your level, you should be able to make small adjustments to the clubs to achieve what you need, unless you completely overhaul your swing. Okay, I’ve typed enough.

      • Regis

        Dec 18, 2014 at 4:40 pm

        I agree Scooter. I’ve been playing 50 years , take lessons, practice and never got lower than a 9 which is fine. I’ve been static fit a number of times and do my own club work. I never really know if a club/shaft is going to work until I’ve played it for most of a season and I think Trackman and the other systems are great but only to a point. I’d love to get a full blown fitting with in house build but I wouldn’t expect too drastic an improvement.

  29. Ben

    Dec 17, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Are there any fitting places like that in Texas?

    • John

      Dec 17, 2014 at 10:14 pm

      Yes,Club Champion in Houston. They fit me for a full bag back in October top notch group of guys

    • Bill Brasky

      Dec 18, 2014 at 2:48 am

      Cool Clubs has a location in Lewisville

      • Kevin

        Dec 18, 2014 at 11:29 am

        I went to Cool Clubs in Lewisville for a full bag fitting… My recommendation would be if you’re going to invest in an all out club fitting experience then go to the HQ in AZ. I just didn’t think the selection or process was as good as it would have been if I would have gone to the HQ. Needless to say I was somewhat disappointed after investing a lot in the process.

    • Matt

      Dec 18, 2014 at 4:41 pm

      Club Champion is also in Dallas (Plano), not just Houston.

  30. Ben

    Dec 17, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Cool Clubs. Scottsdale, Arizona. I went a year ago for irons and have just recently finished my entire set. Well worth the $$$

  31. Golfraven

    Dec 17, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    wow, golfers and fitters paradise. Would love to have that space in my back yard – dream

  32. other paul

    Dec 17, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    I think the reason a lot of golfers dont get fit is the up front cost and we all wonder “if i fit fine into stuff off the rack and all my carry distances are nicely spaced, why get fit?”
    i have tried clubs with varying lies and lengths thanks to friends that have been fit, so I don’t feel the need to spend extra to not learn any thing new and buy the same clubs. I also understand i am in a minority. I have friends that play standard (if you can call it that) length clubs and they should be playing clubs 1″ longer.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 17, 2014 at 10:57 pm

      How do you know you will learn nothing new?

      • other paul

        Dec 19, 2014 at 12:00 am

        Cause I am almost as good as you at golf ????

        Just kidding. I have a $200/month golf budget. Keeps my wife from shooting me. Keeps peace in the home.

  33. Nolanski

    Dec 17, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    How do these fitters cater to the golfers who prefer shorter driver shafts? Do they just have shorter ones laying around for me to test? Or do I test out standard length shafts and they know what trimming will do to the shaft and subsequently my ball flight? And then I just shell out $500 and trust their calculations are right before I get finished product? I’ve been teeing off with a 43.5″ 3 wood and I’m ready to get a driver custom fit with a similar shaft length.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 17, 2014 at 10:59 pm

      Free country, right? Both of them (Canada and USA) actually. In the piece, you’ll see that I indicated complete trust on my part. If you can’t commit 100%, you’ll always question the sincerity of your quest and the validity of your evaluator.

      You should find a local fitter, lay out your concerns, and listen to what she/he relays. Then, make a decision.

      • Nolanksi

        Dec 18, 2014 at 8:58 am

        I found one in SE Michigan called Miles of Golf. They have shorter driver shafts for me to try. They said they fit more people in the 43-44″ range than the standard 45.5″ range. Awesome.

  34. GolfFan

    Dec 17, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    I just went through this process at 2nd Swing in Minneapolis, Minnesota and it was eye opening.

    Same swing and metrics (face angle, etc.), completely different results with different heads and shafts.

    What did I end up with given my 105-108mpg swing?

    A last year model Big Bertha Alpha head (worked better than the newest one) with a Fujikura Speeder x-stiff that had a TWO degree dispersion on 5 shots averaging 283 yards. Just wow. Most other head/ shaft combos had 18-20 yard dispersions. This fitting got me better results and actually saved me money (I was going to buy the latest model of something).

    I was hesitant to spend 2 hours getting fit – now I know why any golfer really looking to make sure their equipment is best suited for them NEEDS to get custom fit.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 17, 2014 at 11:00 pm

      “I know I’m preaching to the choir, but even the choir needs to rehearse!” Michael Eric Dyson, People of Color Conference, 2014

      My new, favorite quote.

    • Pat

      Dec 18, 2014 at 8:42 am

      Launch monitor must’ve been juiced. No way that your total distance was 283 with your ss. LM must’ve been set to 20,000 ft. elevation. LM also exaggerates roll out. Trackman and Flightscope are the only 2 launch monitors proven to be the most accurate.

      • Ronald Montesano

        Dec 18, 2014 at 9:06 am

        I disagree. I swing about 10 mph slower than his speed and I’m in that 250-255 range.

        You say “Trackman and Flightscope are the only 2 launch monitors proven to be most accurate.” Why don’t we find out which LM he was on? My guess is, it’s one of the two.

        • Pat

          Dec 18, 2014 at 12:01 pm

          It’s a proven fact that Trackman and Flightscope are the most accurate launch monitors on the market. Why do you think tour pros rely on those. Those are the 2 launch monitors I rely on when I go get fit for clubs. Luckily, I don’t have to pay the bs user fee whether I buy clubs from my guy. Cool Clubs in Irvine is a nice facility which I went to for one of my buddy’s fittings and they wanted 500 bucks for an entire bag fitting whether he bought clubs or not. Absolutely ridiculous.

      • Scott

        Dec 18, 2014 at 9:54 am

        Here’s a chart showing that his numbers are not that far off. Sounds perfectly reasonable.

        http://www.golfwrx.com/64715/carry-distance-vs-swing-speed-chart/

      • bradford

        Dec 18, 2014 at 10:03 am

        Silly thing to say, Pat. My SS is in the 99-103 range and I hit the 283 mark frequently–and that’s laser verified, not some algorithm that only works for some swing types. Nothing truly replicates real golf.

        • Pat

          Dec 18, 2014 at 12:04 pm

          Bradford, I know how swing speed correlates with distance. A 100mph swing is not going to produce consistent 280 yard drives. You have to factor in wind, elevation and slope. In real life, the ball doesn’t hop and roll out 40 yards every single time you tee it up. Besides, roll out is bonus. Total carry is the more important number and trust me, you are not carrying the ball 280 with a 100mph swing.

          • other paul

            Dec 19, 2014 at 12:07 am

            I swing just over 100mph and I carry 265 (average measured, swinging up helps) and I roll out to 275 with ease. Give me a hard fairway and a good tail wind and I have hit it 340. Drove a par 4 (320 yards) with a 40km tail wind and rolled off the back into a bunker a couple times as well.

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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