Opinion & Analysis
Part 2: What constitutes a truly professional club fitting analysis?
Editor’s Note: In Part 1, Tom covered the basics of a professional club fitting analysis. It discussed a number of the boxes in the overall schematics chart shown below. In this story, Tom finishes discussing all of the various inputs that professional clubfitters need to know.
Now that you understand the goals of a professional club fitting — if you haven’t already, please read Part 1 — let’s dive into the specifics of how truly professional clubfitters help you find the best clubs for you.
Key Fitting Specifications
- Length
- Loft
- Face Angle
- Lie Angle
- Clubhead design
- Set Make Up
- Grip Size/Style
- Total Weight
- Swingweight/Club MOI
- Shaft Weight
- Shaft Flex
- Shaft Bend Profile
Within the clubhead design, there is also a subset of key head design elements that the club fitter must consider when offering a valid head model recommendation for the golfer – size, shape, sole design, offset, topline thickness, CG, MOI, face design, loft and face angle options/availability. These are the 12 key fitting specifications that each need to be determined for each club in the bag for each golfer.
Everything in the fitting analysis is done to give the club fitter the most information possible from which he can determine what each of these 12 key fitting specs should be for each club being fit to the golfer. Anything less than this approach falls short in offering the golfer the opportunity for the most game-improvement through proper fitting. Now let’s take a look at some of the information needed to conduct a professional fitting analysis, starting with the orange box on the left side of the chart (above) for the Technical Data Required.
Technical Data Required
- Shaft Weight Listings
- Shaft Clubhead Speed Ranges
- Shaft Bend Profile Measurements
- Hand/Finger Measurement Grip Size Chart
- Wrist-to-Floor vs. Length Chart
- Optimum Launch Parameter Chart
These elements represent the reference materials/information the club fitter may need to consult to combine with the golfer measurements, current equipment measurements and swing analysis to determine the 12 key fitting specifications for each club being fit.
Most shaft and component company catalogs reveal the weight of each of the shafts they sell. Some offer a swing speed range recommendation for the shafts they offer as well. Very few provide empirical bend profile stiffness design data to allow the club fitter to know precisely how any of the shafts definitively compare in their stiffness design that he may be considering for the golfer.
From whatever reliable sources possible, the club fitter should have a database of the weight, swing speed range and the comparative bend profile stiffness measurements for all shafts the clubfitter may consider in fitting the golfer. Such information is important to be able to predict shaft performance and shaft bending feel to offer a better overall shaft fitting result than simply a “here-try-this” approach to shaft fitting.
- Hand/Finger Measurement Grip Size Chart, Wrist-to-Floor Measurement for Length Chart
While the golfer has to have the final word on the right grip style and size based on his/her preference and comfort, the fitter can use a hand/middle finger measurement to offer a starting point only for the best grip size. Likewise, while specific golfer swing characteristics and golfer ability contribute the final determination of the proper club lengths, the clubfitter also needs a competent wrist-to-floor measurement chart to use as a starting point in the determination of club lengths for the golfer.
- Optimum Launch Parameter Chart
Once the clubfitter obtains the golfer’s launch angle, ball speed, clubhead speed and angle of attack with test clubs of known lofts and face angles, he will need reliable reference information that reveals what the optimum launch angle, ball speed and spin rate should be to determine the golfer’s best driver loft and the best shaft bend profile to result in the most optimal ball flight shape for best overall combination of carry and roll after landing.
Golfer Improvement Goals
- More Distance
- Better Accuracy
- Better Consistency
- Improved Trajectory
- Improved Feel
Changes in clubfitting specifications of golf clubs can only have a possible effect on game improvement in these five areas of performance. Knowledgeable clubfitters know which of the 12 key fitting specs have more of an effect on distance, accuracy, consistency, trajectory and the different aspects of the feel of the golf clubs. While all golfers may likely say they want to achieve all five of these game improvement goals from a professional fitting analysis, common sense and practicality says that the clubfitter has to interview the golfer and observe the golfer’s shot tendencies to determine which area of game improvement will bring the most benefit to the golfer’s overall performance and enjoyment. Once determined, this helps the club fitter focus on the specific fitting changes that can help achieve the most valuable game improvement.
Golfer and Equipment Analysis — Measurement and Observations
- Wrist-to-Floor Measurement
- Clubhead speed (Driver or 5 iron/6 iron)
- Hand/Middle Finger Dimensions
- Ball Speed/Launch Angle/Spin Rate
- Angle of Attack (real or calculated)
- Transition, Tempo, Release Evaluation
- Current Club Lofts, Lengths, Swing Weight, MOI, Face Angles, Shaft Weight
- Dynamic Lie Test
- Misdirection Tendency
- Average Shot Shape and Trajectory
There are a number of measurements and swing observations the fitter should perform to obtain certain key points of information, which will be combined with test club hitting analysis to determine the golfer’s best fitting specifications.
- Wrist-to-Floor Measurement, Hand and Finger Measurements
As stated, these measurements are simply to establish a starting point only for the eventual determination of the golfer’s best lengths and grip size. The final determination of these fitting elements requires more input from swing analysis and input from any acquired preferences the golfer may have.
- Clubhead Speed with the Driver/Middle iron. Ball Speed, Launch Angle, Spin Rate Observations
The golfer’s average clubhead speeds with the driver and a middle iron must be accurately measured to contribute information for helping to determine the driver loft, shaft swing speed ratings, loft gapping between wood, hybrid and iron heads. The most predominant launch angle, ball speed and spin rate need to be obtained from having the golfer hit shots with a driver/iron of absolute known loft at the actual point of impact on the face. To look at launch monitor outputs without knowing precisely the loft at the point of impact for the club used to reveal launch angle and spin renders upcoming fitting decisions to be less accurate.
- Dynamic Lie test with an iron of known loft and length
More recently, clubfitters will perform the dynamic lie test as the last procedure in the fitting after test clubs with each of the golfer’s final determined fitting specs are built. This way, the dynamic lie is added to what everything else being what it will be for the golfer’s final fitting specs. In addition, performing the dynamic lie test using the ink line on the back of the ball method has shown to offer more reliable lie fitting results than the impact tape on the sole method.
- Current Specific club Lofts, Lengths, Swing weight/MOI, Shaft Weight, Shaft Bend Profile, Etc
It can be helpful to know some of the key specs for a number of the golfer’s existing clubs so the club fitter can observe launch monitor outputs for the golfer with his existing clubs to form a baseline for performance observations. In other words, knowing the golfer’s results from specs that are absolutely known on his present clubs can help the club fitter know what specs may be OK and what needs to be different. This helps the club fitter apply a more specific focus on the investigation of the new specs required by the golfer.
- Misdirection, Mis-Hit Tendencies, Average Shot Shape and Trajectory
Both by interviewing the golfer as well as by observing his shot pattern during the warm-up ball striking phase of the fitting, the clubfitter has to learn what the golfer’s most predominant misdirection and miss hit tendencies are – low, high, fade, slice, straight, draw, thin, toe, heel, etc. Each predominant mishit or misdirection tendency begins to tell the experienced clubfitter what specs may or may not be correct for the golfer on his present equipment as well as what specs to focus on in the fitting to come up with the most improvement.
Paying close attention to the most predominant ball flight is a much better way to evaluate whether a golfer has a definite spin problem that may or may not be able to be addressed by fitting changes than to simply focus on the spin numbers coming off the launch monitor. In other words, if the golfer’s ball flight shape and trajectory with the driver is fine but the monitor reads the spin at 3000+, the clubfitter knows to ignore the spin number because the shot shape and trajectory is the key element.
Looking for more info? I thought you might be. Starting in January 2015, I will begin a 12-part series that outlines what goes into making the decision for each of the 12 key fitting specifications. Study the inputs in the Blue Boxes in the chart and early next month I’ll start explaining how the club fitter uses the inputs and other information to start making the decisions for each one of the 12 key fitting specs for the golfer.
Related
Part 1: What constitutes a truly professional club fitting analysis?
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Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.
Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.
But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.
To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.
Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.
If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.
In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.
Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.
While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.
So, what about grooves and face texture?
Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.
Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.
But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?
The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.
So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.
And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.
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Golf's Perfect Imperfections
Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Amazing Session with Performance Coach Savannah Meyer-Clement
In this week’s episode, we spent some time with performance coach Savannah Meyer-Clement who provides many useful insights that you’ll be able to implement on the golf course.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle
Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.
Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.
The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.
Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.
Past Winners at Harbour Town
- 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
- 2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
- 2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
- 2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
- 2019: CT Pan (-12)
- 2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
- 2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
- 2016: Branden Grace (-9)
- 2015: Jim Furyk (-18)
In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).
Key Stats For Harbour Town
Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
- Tom Hoge (+1.27)
- Corey Conners (+1.16)
- Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
- Cameron Young (+0.93)
Good Drive %
The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.
Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds
- Brice Garnett (88.8%)
- Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
- Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
- Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
- Sepp Straka (+85.1%)
Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs
Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.
SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:
- Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
- Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
- Brian Harman (+1.89)
- Sungjae Im (+1.58)
4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)
Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.
SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds
- Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
- Taylor Moore (+1.02)
- Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
- Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
- Andrew Putnam (+0.83)
5. Greens in Regulation %
The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.
Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:
- Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
- Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
- Corey Conners (+69.0%)
- Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
- Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)
6. Course History
Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.
Course History over past 24 rounds:
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
- Cam Davis (+2.05)
- J.T. Poston (+1.69)
- Justin Rose (+1.68)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)
The RBC Heritage Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)
- Shane Lowry
- Russell Henley
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Corey Conners
- Wyndham Clark
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Ludvig Aberg
2024 RBC Heritage Picks
Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)
With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.
Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).
Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.
Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)
I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.
The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.
Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)
Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.
Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.
Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)
Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.
In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.
Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.
Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)
When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.
Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.
Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.
Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)
This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.
Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.
Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.
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Hank
Jan 6, 2015 at 3:14 am
I find it funny that you talk about all these little factors. I know at the Nike Oven and TaylorMade Kingdom the technicians use very little technology and are able to fit the tour players without even using trackman, the trackman is just a visual to show the players numbers. Yes the TaylorMade Kingdom has a MAT-T to measure all the fine specs but that is geared more towards the average players.
Ben
Jan 5, 2015 at 9:30 pm
I went out to Titleist in Oceanside,CA and did the full fitting and it was well worth it. I got instant results, the ball flies dead straight with a perfect arc and my handicap went down to single digits. Of course you should get a fitting for clubs + lots of practice.
Tom Wishon
Jan 5, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Are all people who give lessons and teach the golf swing at the same level of knowledge, expertise and skill to identify the swing problems and get the golfer into the right direction of swing improvement? No they aren’t.
Same with clubfitters. I’ve written many times about this, warning golfers that if they want to go get custom fit, they need to do a good bit of investigation to find who in their area is competent and who isn’t. No different than finding a good mechanic for your car, good tradesperson for re-modeling or repairs around your house, good accountant for your business, etc.
I do the work I do to research Nth degree fitting technology in an effort to TEACH those who are in the field how to do it better. There has to be some place for those interested in being better clubfitters to gain the knowledge to improve their skills. That’s one of my roles within this side of the industry.
But as the old saying goes, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,” it’s the same way with what I research and write about. It’s there for those who want to learn and get more competent. Some have and do take advantage of what I teach and when they go put it into practice, they do become better fitters. But some who call themselves clubfitters do not. Hence the reason for golfers to perform adequate due diligence when seeking a competent fitter with whom to work.
Really good fitters who follow this methodology in their fitting analysis do exist and those golfers who have found them most certainly are pleased with the result. Sorry there are not more of them. But until the day comes when someone with my knowledge can open a school that offers the prospective fitter a 3-4 to month training curriculum, golfers are just going to have to do some real investigation to find a good fitter with whom to work.
No different than with a teaching pro when you want to take lessons.
leftright
Dec 31, 2014 at 11:09 pm
I saw a Wishon driver once cut open and the Ping was beside it cut open. If I cut open every manufacturers drivers people would play nothing but PING. I don’t even use a Ping driver but they have “by far” the best quality in the business. Titleist is okay but what do you expect for a set of irons costing 1100.00 that should sell for 700.00. Pings have more accurate lies and lofts, swing weights but Titleist insists on having it’s corporate headquarters in Massasshutes where the cost of living is high and Wally has to make millions a year. Titliest is perpetuating a fraud on the public and their drivers are the shortest in the business. Looking nice don’t cut it nowdays when a KMart special will go farther than a Titleist. Manufacturers, all except Ping sell the public junk, then the public goes out an buys a 400 dollar shaft that isn’t as long as the 5.00 chinese made special that they advertise as real when it isn’t. I challenge all manufacturers to show their stuff is as good as PGA tour stuff. Show it is accurate, well made and of good quality. Taylormade pretty much proved it selling heads for 400.00 because they were “tour” heads. Is it different Titanium, maybe the weight is golf plated or the CEO touched it? What a fraud, what a farce. Golf manufacturers have corrupted the game and sold the public a pig advertised as a princess.
Fred
Jan 3, 2015 at 2:05 am
Kudos to your rant. 100% agree. I appreciate Tom’s lengthy comments in the forums. But, I wish I could block his articles, so I never see them again.
Side note- what type of driver do you use?
leftright
Dec 31, 2014 at 10:56 pm
The computers lie. Trackman, Flightscope or whatever fraud they are using this week all lie. Take a demo out and hit it. In 5 swings you can tell if it is for you or not. Disregard the professional fitting BS, it is all a lie and has been proven a like by most. Tom is trying to help out fitters, pro’s, golf shop owners but don’t try that BS on me. The trackman has cost golfers’ many thousands of dollars and is not an accurate measurement of performance on the golf course. These guys are starting to sound like Congress and Obama, nothing but lies. Tom, I challenge you anytime, anyplace and will prove you wrong in multiple instances of the fitting process. Variables are just that and golf swings are not predictable, no more than the weather is. I recommend WRX tell Tom to go take a hike. Tom you have my email, I will bet your “any” amount of money I can prove you wrong. The trackman and it’s equivalents are the biggest fraud in golf, bar none.
Tom WIshon
Jan 6, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Have at it then, prove me wrong that proper fitting can’t help a very high percentage of golfers play to the best of their given ability. Don’t know how you plan to do that, but you must feel you have the proof to come charging at me like that. Ball’s in your court.
With regard to what you say about cutting driver heads open, I take it that you have actual experience in driver head design and production so that you really know what you are looking at and talking about? Somehow I wonder if you are looking at the inside of an investment cast titanium driver vs a 4-piece construction head and thinking that the 4-pc is deficient in some way?
Interesting that the vast, vast majority of driver heads today are being manufactured in the 4 pc construction. Been that way since the early 2000s. Cast titanium drivers are going by the wayside for several reasons not the least of which involve being able to do many more performance related things in the design with a 4pc than with a casting. Happy to outline them all if you want to know.
Don’t know why you want to bust my chops so much. All I do here is offer information that you can’t get anywhere else in the face of all the poor, misleading information that is out there concerning golf club performance for golfers who are as different as can be in their size, strength, athletic ability and swing characteristics.
simon
Jan 19, 2015 at 6:11 pm
do you think 4 piece construction is as good as a 2 piece construction on a driver?
bombtech golf claims 2 piece has more benefits than 4 piece with their grenade driver.
thanks for your thoughts.
simon
Jan 21, 2015 at 8:51 pm
hi Tom
still waiting for your insight to my above question ..thanks
Charles
Jan 19, 2015 at 11:15 am
leftright, I’m sorry to tell you that you are humongously wrong. Launch monitors are for golf the same as microscopes were for Biology. Launch monitors are very accurate and what you get indoors will likely get on the course. And by the way, club fitting is just like a tailored suit. Do you like bets? I bet that you hit a 2 hybrid with graphite R- flex shaft way better than a 2 iron forged blade with steel X-flex shaft. That’s club fitting. To find what makes you strike the ball better. If you play golf and buy clubs that is not fit for you, I bet you are having a hard time on the course. Open your mind, go find a skilled club fitter and get a set of clubs that fit your game, you will have much more fun on the course and play faster, the groups behind you will not have to wait you find your ball in the woods. In the end, you will thank me.
John
Dec 28, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Wow a lot of thoughts plus and minus. I play to a six handicap and am 53. I have had that 6 for about 35 years give or take a shot or two. I played a variety clubs over the years and here is what I know for me. I believe some simple fitting will take care of 90% of the golfers. I play 10.5 driver with a stiff shaft shortened to 44.5 inches. My irons are standard length bent 1 degree flat and (2 flat for Titleist). When it is time for new clubs, I demo them outside and pick what looks good to my eye, feels good, and looks right in the air. I also choose a ball and stick with it for the entire season.
Justin
Dec 28, 2014 at 10:22 am
I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum. I’ve seen people play to par with clubs bought off-the-rack, I’ve seen players play to par with fitted clubs. I’ve seen the opposites, as well.
The people I play with, the majority aren’t out there to maximize some ideal of their potential… they’re there to have fun. I catch myself thinking the same thing: how does one “optimize” their driver when hitting indoors, into a net, in a controlled climate, when golf’s played outdoors with uncontrollable climates? The swing you bring to the fitting may not be the one you have next week, or six months from now. Even the slightest change, be it ball position or tee height, has rendered that “optimized” ideal to moot.
Former USGA Tech Director Frank Thomas has a very interesting book, “Just Hit It”. In it, he states that “The Silver Scot” Tommy Armour had 12 sets of irons shipped to his local course; 6 were “R” flex shafts, the other 6 were “S” flex shafts. People would come to him asking about a proper set. He’d play a round with the person and at the end he’d “special order” a set just for them. He’d tell the person behind the counter to call the individual in a week to pick up his new set- even though it was already sitting in the back!
I guess the point is, there’s something to say about the psychology of golf. People see a $1000 shaft and think it’s the best thing since itself, or spend $1000 on a fitting and think they’re getting something extra special. I don’t want to make it sound like this is all snake oil, because it isn’t. I know from personal experience it isn’t. But is there a point of taking it too far?
Shaun
Dec 28, 2014 at 9:14 am
I flew out to Durango to be custom fit by a Wishon specialist earlier this year and have one word to describe my experience, “disappointing”. I believe there are a lot of aspects to custom fitting, however, I do not believe all fitters, even those who are allegedly the ‘top fitters’ and ‘approved fitters’ take into account all of the aspects outlined in these articles. Its one thing to write about something in theory, its another to actually practice what you preach. Not all golfers are naive. The concepts make sense in theory, but in my experience working with the Wishon brand and those who are suppose to be the best at fittings, these articles are dust in the wind when you actually spend the money to participate in one of those fittings.
Tom WIshon
Jan 6, 2015 at 1:03 pm
I’m sorry to hear that your experience with Don Greenwood at our R&D center was so disappointing to you. Did you voice that to him or to us when you realized your disappointment? I’d be interested to hear what was not up to your expectations because in all honesty, this would be the very first time that anyone who was fit at our facility was not happy with the outcome.
Rich
Dec 28, 2014 at 8:42 am
I’m not saying that custom fitting doesn’t matter but has anyone seen Mark Crossfields video on does shaft flex matter (in terms of the shot data)? He does a video with a friend of his that has a high swing speed compared to his (120mph vs 100mph speed from memory) and the numbers both of them get with the same driver head and both using an A flex shaft and then an x flex shaft. I think a few of you will be surprised. The numbers are very similar. It all comes down to feel and confidence really. Custom fitting can be useful to a point but I think like a lot of things in this day and age it is just made much more complicated than it really needs to be by people who want to keep themselves relevant or in a job. I’m not saying Crossfield is all knowing either but just take a look at the numbers. Cheers
Justin
Dec 28, 2014 at 10:00 am
Barney Adams, in a different WRX article, states that the old (and well-loved) PING Eye2’s all had X-flex shafts.
Rich
Dec 29, 2014 at 9:32 am
And as you say, we’re well loved by many. Custom fitting has it’s place but I don’t think it’s the be all and end all.
leftright
Dec 31, 2014 at 11:13 pm
Ping Eye 2’s came in 3 flexes with the ZZ lite shaft. You could also get them in the KT shaft which was heavier. These shafts were lightweight steel. Your comment is generic in that not all Ping Eye 2’s had x flex. I had a set of + Eye 2’s in ZZ lite and they were like a board but that was in 85 when I could swing 115 with the driver. I personally think the KT was the best shaft they ever made but it was pretty stiff.
mookie
Dec 30, 2014 at 8:54 am
well done rich,
i too saw that video by mark crossfield and really opened my eyes about shaft flex and
fitting in general
don granger
Dec 31, 2014 at 1:46 pm
My experience with Wishon fitting has been very beneficial Lowered my handicap 5 strokes..New irons and new driver..irons are terrific with feel and distance..Driver took more work went back for another fitting and ended up going down in loft with 1 degree closed face made all the difference…It is a rare drive that I slice and when I do it is not more than 25 yards off center..As I speak I am traveling to Palm Springs are for winter and another fitting to fine tune..used Marc Holcutt golf..he is patient and very willing to work with you on getting things right…
Rich
Dec 31, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Fair enough Don. I’m sure there are many out there who have had good experiences with Tom Wishon fitting and product and indeed other brands. I guess all I’m saying is that I think people are taking the fitting thing a little too far now and there’s a point at which it can paralyse your game with so much detail. As the saying goes, paralysis by analysis. Good golfing. Cheers.
Joe Johnson
Dec 28, 2014 at 1:13 am
Recommendations on a fitter in the Ann Arbor, MI area? Is miles of golf or Carl’s golf land up to par or best to look elsewhere? Thanks.
Alfredo Ospina
Dec 31, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Gary Cottrell at Golfers Advantage in Fenton is fantastic. Much better than a big box shop doing the fitting. Love the clubs he put together for me and learned a lot about clubs from him.
tarheel25661
Dec 27, 2014 at 11:17 am
I just went through a fitting like this, I found a golf digest top 100 club fitter in Waverly Oh , MCgolf custom Jim is great took his time collected the data and as we made changes you could see my patterns getting better and better if you have the extra cash its something that can add a great deal of confidence that you have the best equipment for you!
Largechris
Dec 27, 2014 at 5:39 am
I think fitting can benefit lots of handicap levels – good example is when I was watching a keen 25 year old at the range, obviously practicing properly, working hard at his game, but to my eye his clubs were clearly an inch short. He wasn’t unusually tall, that’s just how it was for him. With fitted clubs he would be doing ten times better.
For me, I’m lucky to have very ‘average’ measurements, height, arm length etc. so off the rack is pretty good. Most people are not average.
Taylor59
Dec 26, 2014 at 10:32 pm
Practice, who needs that? Just get some custom clubs.
HBL
Dec 26, 2014 at 6:08 pm
Tom – I enjoyed your article but, as others have mentioned, I’m not aware of a fitter that goes through what you talk about. I go to, what I believe to be, an accomplished fitter and even he does not go through all of your steps.
Fred
Dec 26, 2014 at 10:33 pm
Oh, but then you need to go to a Wishon certified fitter… Who sells his clubs… Hence, the duality of motives you will find in a Wishon article
HBL
Dec 28, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Let me tell you, the local Wishon “fitter” doesn’t go through a third of what the article discusses.
SB
Dec 27, 2014 at 8:34 am
A professional club fitter does not need to go through in detail all the steps that Tom lists. Someone who works as a professional club fitter needs to understand technology and physics of the golf swing. Someone who fits on an everyday basis can go through the process without the customer knowing what info he is recording and analyzing during the process. As a the customer, you need to answer questions honestly and simply hit balls.
If you go into the fitting with a negative attitude, chances are you won’t allow the fitter to do his job.
Shaun
Dec 28, 2014 at 9:17 am
The experience talked about does not happen.
chris
Dec 26, 2014 at 1:55 pm
So sticking and old white board x in my new Grenade and launching it 250 meters over our range fence on a cold day gets better with fitting…nah, golf is trial and error. Find what works and stick with it. I have a full closet of custom fit TM’s that I can’t hit out of my shadow. Complete and utter waste of money…
enrique
Dec 26, 2014 at 3:14 pm
I totally agree. While you want clubs that fits you in lie angle and flex, custom fitting to the “nth degree” has become an industry in an of itself. Eventually you have to get out there and golf your ball. I play best with off the rack clubs and I always have. Custom fitting takes a snapshot of a moment in time but quite often I adapt to my clubs. And play great golf this way.
It’s all voodoo – You don’t see GHIN indexes getting lower in the last 20 years with all this BS.
SB
Dec 27, 2014 at 8:40 am
Keep buying off the rack and THAT is the reason your handicap stays where it is. Saying it doesn’t matter what clubs they are and you will adapt to them is insane. That’s like saying a sprinter can adapt to a shoe that is 2 sizes too small. Most people who get properly fitted clubs combined with instruction are the ones whose handicaps go down.
People on these forums are so narrow-minded. Handicaps have stayed the same because less than 20% of all golfers take lessons. The problem is the cost of instruction as to why the 80% don’t bother visiting a PGA professional.
enrique
Dec 27, 2014 at 12:40 pm
30 years oaf golf nd my handicap is low single digit, son. I don’t buy clubs that are misfit like a sprinter buying shoes 2 sizes too small. Keep buying the PURE’ing and all the other BS the fitters like Tom WIshon sell you.
Justin
Dec 28, 2014 at 10:05 am
There’s arguments for and against it. How many rec-league softball players, for instance, do better with a bat that’s supposed to be “just right” for them? How many just go out, use whatever’s available, and have a good time?
Alvaro
Dec 26, 2014 at 4:47 pm
“Waste of money” You couldnt be more wrong. It actually saves you money in the long run. Now trial and error thats how good money gets wasted. How much have you spent on the equipment merry go round(maybe a closets full)? You may have found your needle in a hay stack, but that doesnt mean others should follow in your foot steps. Fitting may not be for everyone but a waste of money. I dont see it.
Charlie
Dec 26, 2014 at 5:02 pm
Hey Tom, how do I measure MOI on an OEM club in comparison to another OEM club? Each may claim high MOI, but which is better?
Tom Wishon
Jan 5, 2015 at 1:48 pm
The MOI you are referring to is the MOI of the head on its own, it’s ability to reduce twisting when impact occurs off center. This MOI can only be measured with the head off the shaft, using a very sophisticated piece of equipment to do that. Something that only a head designer or company engaged in their own design work or head production factory would have. Bottom line though is that when most all driver heads today range in volume from 440-460cc and when they are all in a narrow range of headweight to each other which they are, the difference in MOI is not that much.
Hence the only thing that tends to make one driver head stand out ahead of another in off center hit performance comes from the design of the face more than from the MOI of the head on its own. And here again, the consumer can’t know that in any way other than to go out and hit test the different heads over enough time that he experiences the off center hit feel and performance.
Randy
Dec 31, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Maybe trial and error means demoing the clubs. I have demoed clubs I thought I would like only to find they didn’t feel good or fly well. My last set of irons I bought were compared on a monitor against 5 others. I choose what felt and flew the best. My local Golf Galaxy also has lots of used drivers that can be demoed on the course so you can see if you like it. Basic fittings can make sense but most swings aren’t good enough for such a indepth approach.
Greg
Dec 26, 2014 at 5:03 pm
Everyone on here who is an advocate of fitting has not ever had a true fitting as Tom outlines. Even Club Champion, Cool Clubs, etc is not this thorough! It begs the question… What are you paying for?
Kelly
Dec 26, 2014 at 8:25 pm
I agree and I now play Wishon irons but I don’t really know where anyone can actually get a fitting like Tom describes.
Gorden
Dec 26, 2014 at 5:44 pm
100% Agree with Cris…Amature golfers over 10 handicap will NOT need anymore then a basic club fitting (Free is the most you should pay for a club fitting) Find a model you like (Ping, Wilson what ever) get a genral fitting and go out and play. If your a 10 or under, less then 20 years old and have money to spend on lots of lessons go ahead and pay a couple hundred to get fit and hope your instructors do not change your swing. My thoughts amature swings to the fitting, pro, top amature gets fit for the swing.
Brian
Dec 27, 2014 at 10:46 am
Most likely a result of being poorly fit. There are many people that make the claim of being a fitter but don’t have any actually fitting experience other than the fitting certificate that the OEM’s had out like candy after taking a 10 question test. When you interview a fitter you should look for the principles that Tom preaches up above. Make sure you find one that understands club performance and not what is one spiff that month.
Chuck
Dec 26, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Tom, this is a bit off topic but your writing at GolfWRX has inspired me to spend the cold season building myself a 43.50″ driver (an $89 ! Jetspeed head with a 106g Dynamic Gold SL shaft). This is my idea of fun in golf equipment. A $100 fairway-finding driver.
Tom
Dec 31, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Chuck, who cares? seriously…
Tom WIshon
Jan 6, 2015 at 3:33 pm
And that is one of the fun things about tinkering with clubs to be able to experiment anyway you want. It’s what got me started way back when !!