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Indoor vs. outdoor fitting: Which one is better?
Indoor vs. outdoor club fittings are one of the most highly contested arguments among golfers. All things being equal, both should yield the same results although the experiences are vastly different.
Whichever option you choose, you can be assured that both fitting types offer the ability to confirm results and ensure a proper fit, thanks to the advancement of club and ball tracking systems like Foresight’s GC Quad and TrackMan.
We have compiled a comparison of some of the biggest differences to help you figure out which option is best for you.
A controlled environment
From a customer perspective, being able to hit shots in a controlled environment offers the best opportunity to eliminate variables and quickly get down to finding out which clubs will offer the best results. This is especially helpful in climates where being outdoors in extreme heat or cold will have a huge effect on a golfers performance. Another plus for golfers is every amenity is within reach, from bathrooms to snacks, allowing you to focus on the experience and making good swings.
On the business side of things, having an indoor facility means fitters don’t have to rely on nice weather to be able to do fittings and allows them to operate a consistent schedule to meet the needs of golfers year-round.
In my opinion, the best of both worlds is a facility that offers the ability to hit from inside a controlled environment to an outdoor range, but that requires a lot of property and isn’t a viable option, especially in urban areas.
Hitting off mats vs. grass
This is the component that creates the most discussion when comparing indoor to outdoor fittings.
Depending on the golfer and the type of mat used there can be some variance in data, especially when it comes to shots hit fat (hitting the ground before the ball). In that situation, a mat is much more forgiving than real grass, but a good fitter can still go through the process, analyze data, and help the golfer find the best club combo.
Moral of the story would be the mat CAN play a role, firm mats will cause the ball to launch lower and spin higher due to lower strike location. Softer Mats will do the opposite launch higher with less spin. Therefore with some due diligence a very similar surface can be found.
– Ian Fraser, Founder TXG
Mat quality plays a big role in this argument, but as demonstrated below by the team at TXG a great quality mat offers identical results to real grass
.
Ball flight vs. screen
When it comes to seeing ball flight vs. a representation on a screen it comes down to the individual golfer. Be rest assured that when using properly calibrated technology the differences in clubs being represented inside will be exactly the same outside since any launch monitor is simply interpreting the data it collects.
From a golfer’s perspective, it can take some getting used to if you have never gone through an indoor fitting before, and seeing ball flight can be a confidence booster. On the other side of the coin, having conducted fitting both inside and outside I will attest that when working in a situation where a golfer can see ball flight, whether hitting off a mat or not, fittings generally go a little quicker since its easier to confirm results.
What about wedges?
Beyond mats vs. grass, the next big debate topic is wedges.
There are a number of ways to conduct wedge fittings and for highly skilled players to truly figure out what will work best, I believe it is vital to conduct them outside. The difficult part is replicating the course conditions of where the golfer generally plays but through the interview and fitting process, a highly skilled fitter can make adjustments for the player.
For what I would call the vast majority of golfers, hitting shots inside using a launch monitor as well as going through the process with a skilled fitter can still result is a great wedge fitting. The most important part of this process like with any fitting is being completely honest with yourself and your fitter about your strengths and weaknesses.
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Morning 9: Tiger’s Monday practice round | Brooks, Sergio switch putters | Masters eclipse glasses
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7 PGA TOUR courses you need to play
Golf is a unique sport in that you can play where the pros play and make golf history of your own. Nothing in golf can compare to playing a world-renowned course and following in the footsteps of the game’s best golfers. The feeling is incomparable, and it’s one we think more golfers should experience!
To get you started, here are our picks of the best PGA TOUR courses you can (and should!) play:
PGA Tour courses you can (and should) play
- Pebble Beach
- TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course
- Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill
- Torrey Pines – South
- Harbour Town
- PGA National – Champion
- Innisbrook Resort – Copperhead
Pebble Beach Golf Links (AT&T Pro-Am, U.S. Open, PGA Championship)
One of the most recognizable golf courses in the world, Pebble Beach Golf Links is the definition of a bucket golf course. Golfers will play iconic holes like the par-3 7th to the stunning par-5 18th. Enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean as you play amongst the clifftop fairways and make memories that will last a lifetime when you play this PGA TOUR and major championship course.
TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course (THE PLAYERS Championship)
Home to arguably the most famous par 3 in golf, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is a top bucket-list course designed by Pete and Alice Dye. A challenging layout awaits that will test all facets of your game, especially shot shaping and course management. Subtle elevation changes, undulating greens, and unique bunkering add a degree of difficulty that stump even the best players in the world. Not to mention one of the best finishing stretches in golf with the long par-5 16th, the iconic 17th hole island green, and the testy par-4 18th.
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational)
A course fit for “The King” is what you will experience when you visit Orlando and play Bay Hill’s Championship Course. This classic Florida layout offers generous landing areas off the tee with few trees, but bunkers guard the greens and large ponds will make you rethink your shot choices. The course is only available for members and guests staying at The Lodge, so a stay is required to play this stunning course. But with year-round sunshine and pristine course conditions, it is never a bad time to visit Bay Hill!
Torrey Pines – South (Farmers Insurance Open, U.S. Open)
Another California clifftop course that should be on your bucket list is the South Course at Torrey Pines. Located just north of San Diego, this annual PGA TOUR stop has also hosted two U.S. Opens, which adds to the allure of the property. Narrow fairways and tall rough combined with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and the California coastline make for an unforgettable round of golf. Large bunkers and elevation changes add to the challenge of the course, but the moderately sized greens offer golfers some respite. Who would’ve thought that a municipal course could be so exciting?
Most recognized by the famous red and white striped lighthouse behind the 18th green, Harbour Town is the brainchild of Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. While the course is relatively short for a PGA TOUR event, the challenging design offsets length for accuracy with the narrow fairways framed by overhanging trees making it a shot makers course. A majority of the course winds through the wooded and sandy terrain before looping back towards the coastline with the final two finishing holes playing along the water.
PGA National – Champion Course (Honda Classic, Ryder Cup, PGA Championship)
With the prominent golf tournaments this course has held, it is hard to leave it off the list. A fantastic Jack Nicklaus design, the Champions Course at PGA National is also home to a famous stretch of golf holes called “The Bear Trap.” The fairways and greens are player-friendly while the bunkers and water hazards are the course’s biggest defense. You will enjoy a 5-star experience and feel like a professional when you visit PGA National’s Champion Course.
Innisbrook Resort – Copperhead Course (Valspar Championship)
One of the more under-the-radar courses on Tour, the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort still offers a challenge even to the pros. Designed by Lawrence Packard, the course, while not heavily wooded, requires accuracy with tight fairways, strategically placed bunkers, especially around the greens, and a decent amount of water hazards that come into play. As you head towards the clubhouse, you will encounter “The Snake Pit;” a collection of the most difficult finishing holes on the PGA TOUR.
There you have it, GolfWRXers. Have you played any of these PGA TOUR tracks? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments.
Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission.
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Tour Rundown: 4 straight for Nelly | Bhatia outlasts McCarthy
A week of southern USA golf with a gambler’s flair, concluded on Sunday. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the national Drive, Chip, and Putt finals were celebrated in Augusta, Georgia. The LPGA offered its version of the OK Corral with the annual match-play event in Las Vegas. The Korn Ferry Tour gathered in Savannah, Georgia, for the Club Car Championship. Finally, the PGA Tour offered a final opportunity to qualify for this week’s Masters tournament, at the Texas Open.
In order to run something down, you have to be faster. Luckily for me, I took typing in school. Let’s run down a bunch of events this week, beginning in Augusta.
Augusta National Women’s Amateur: Woad wins
The ANWA begins play each year with 36 holes at Champions Retreat golf club, north of Augusta and adjacent to the Savannah river. A cut is made, and the finalists move to the storied Augusta National golf club two days later, for the third round. On Friday, every golfer in the field has the opportunity to play a practice round at ANGC, cut made or not. It’s a nice touch that sweetens the week for golfers like Carolina Lopez-Chacarra, who has missed the cut by one shot, each of the last two years.
Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad is currently the most successful contestant in ANWA history. The LSU all-america golfer has thrice finished inside the top three at Augusta National. This year, she posted minus-four to claim solo third position. Ahead of her was Bailey Shoemaker, a former New Yorker who now lives in Florida, and is bound for the University of Southern California. Shoemaker posted six birdies against zero bogies on day three, for a dream score of 66. She moved from one-under par to the top of the leader board, at seven deep.
As the golfers with leads began to lose their way, Shoemaker’s position looked better by the minute. Even the overnight leader, Lottie Woad of England and Florida State University, began to stumble. Her bogey at the par-five 13th dropped her two shots behind Shoemaker. It was then that magic returned to the National. Woad secured a birdie with a 15-feet putt at the long 15th, to move within one of the leader. After a par at the 16th, Woad faced the uphill climb of the final two holes.
At 17, Woad ripped a long drive up fairway center, then finessed a wedge to 15 feet, and holed the putt for a three. At the home hole, she was long with her approach, and faced a downhill putt from … you guessed it, just about 15 feet for the victory. As the putt turned left, into the center of the hole, the magnitude of what Woad had done began to sink in. Three-under par over the closing four holes takes a special something, and all Bailey Shoemaker could do, was smile and acknowledge Woad’s work.
The winning moment for Lottie Woad.#ANWAGolf pic.twitter.com/bedGPJ4wRQ
— Augusta National Women’s Amateur (@anwagolf) April 6, 2024
PGA Tour @ Texas Open: AB takes down DMC for second Tour title
It’s a good thing that Akshay Bhatia was paired with Denny McCarthy on day four, else he might not have believed what transpired. There was AB, with a four-shot advantage after 54 holes, targeting a second triumph and a Masters invitation. There was McCarthy, attempting to break through for his own, maiden Tour title. After nine holes on Sunday, the lead had swelled to six shots. At that point, the Silver Streak rolled into town.
Bhatia played a decent back nine, overcoming a bogey at ten with three other birdies. And he got annihilated by McCarthy. The 2015 Porter Cup champion made but one par on the inward half, at the 11th. He wrote “birdie” on the other eight holes, closed in 28 (eight under for the nine) and tied Bhatia at 20-under par. Rory McIlroy probably felt good about his 66, which moved him to third position, but he could only claim the “A” Flight on this day. He was nine shots back of the playoff.
As for the playoff, it was an anticlimax. Moments after making birdie at the par-five closer, McCarthy could not repeat his sucess. Despite a celebratory shoulder injury, Bhatia did make four, and the tournament and Masters invitation were his.
An update on Akshay Bhatia’s shoulder injury. https://t.co/iYKkZXlTKc pic.twitter.com/U08UYGHmiX
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 7, 2024
LPGA @ T-Mobile Match Play: No JK; NK has four straight
If it looks like stroke play, and smells like stroke play, it just might be match play. The LPGA took a page from the Western Amateur script this year. Three rounds of stroke play took place from Wednesday to Friday, as the field was trimmed to 65, and then to 8. The great eight then went head to head to decide who moved on and who went home. Four golfers tied for the eighth position, and three holes later, Moriya Jutanugarn had defeated Yuka Saso, Brooke Henderson, and Hae Ran Ryu for the right to move into match play.
Leona Maguire had been the queen of Shadow Creek, site of the event, and she preserved that royal title with a 4 & 3 win over Jutanugarn in round one of knockout play. Joining her in the semifinals were Sei Young Kim (6 & 5 over Rose Zhang), Narin An (1 up over Minami Katsu) and Nelly Korda (3 & 2 over Angel Yin.) The penultimate round saw Maguire (3 &2) and Korda (4 & 3) emerge triumphant, creating a dream conclusion pitting two of the top young talents.
Proponents of match play point to the elimination of all other competitors save the one. Medal-play aficionados reply by saying shoot a number and let the chips and putts fall where they may. On this day, Leona Maguire posted plus-two through the fifteen holes of the match, while Nelly Korda played the sequence in three below par, It doesn’t matter which style of competition you prefer. A five-shot difference tells you all that you need to know, about who played better that day.
On the occasion of her fourth consecutive victory on the LPGA circuit, Nelly Korda is the best player of this day, this week, this month. What a run.
Nelly is NOT messing around on 15 ???? pic.twitter.com/CZILDIECjJ
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 8, 2024
Korn Ferry Tour @ Club Car Championship: Fisk takes risk and wins in Savannah
Philip Knowles and Kevin Roy each had thoughts on a first-time win on the KFT this week, but their hopes and dreams were postponed. Knowles dropped back from 1st to 3rd with a final-round 71. He tied John Pak and Max McGreevey at 12-deep, two shots behind the first-place tie. Roy posted 72 and finished one shot farther back, in a tie for sixth at minus-eleven. The spotlit stage for overtime was occupied by Rob Oppenheim and Steven Fisk. Fisk closed with 68, moving up two shots in the process. Oppenheim went one better, finishing off a day-four 67 with a jittery 36 on the inward half.
Oppenheim turned in 31 shots on Sunday, and looked for all the world to be on his way to a convincing victory. Nerves and jitters got in the way, and he matched bogeys and birdies on the way home for minus-14. In the playoff, Steven Fisk was able to negotiate par from the final hole at The Landings, and it was enough to earn the title. Oppenheim’s bogey-six relegated him to a coveted, but frustrating, second-place finish. And for those not in the know, it was Fisk who earned the breakthrough, initial victory on the KFT.
It doesn’t get more clutch than this ?
Georgia local Steven Fisk chips it within inches to make a tap-in birdie on his last and join Rob Oppenheim at the top of the leaderboard. pic.twitter.com/gGF1ZD5f54
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 7, 2024
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Jay
Sep 30, 2020 at 10:35 am
As a former full-time fitter I firmly believe there is no problem with fitting indoors, but you MUST verify what you’re seeing indoors with some final testing outdoors. Players deliver the club differently and have different speed indoors vs/ out and even on-course compared to on the range. A good fitter is aware of these differences and will factor it all in (including the impact of the mat vs. grass) during the process.
joro
Sep 30, 2020 at 10:30 am
Outdoors! Sure, indoors is good but Golf is not played in a controlled environment. Outdoors on grass is the only way to see what the results are. You can hit all kinds of shots into the wind, downwind, etc and see the actual results. That is my opinion as a teacher and fitter for 30 years.
Butch Taylor
Sep 30, 2020 at 10:07 am
I am very suspicious of golf fitting results! I generally hit the driver that they want to sell me 15 – 20 yards longer during the fitting than my current gamer – that gain never materializes in the real world! I have been fitted by specialty fitters, PGA pros, big box stores, etc. I no longer trust any of them!
Richard Gula
Sep 30, 2020 at 9:53 am
NEVER get fit for forged irons solely on mats. Impossible to get true feel of the irons designed to impact turf and ball, not just the ball.