If you’re serious about dialing in your game and getting the most out of each shot, it may be time to consider getting a golf club fitting.
Picking up the perfect set of clubs explicitly tailored to your swing can significantly impact performance — no matter your skill level.
In this post, we will go over all there is to know about finding that ideal fit for superior results: from understanding cost estimates and other important factors. Nothing beats taking every step towards improving your precision. So let’s get started with demystifying how golf club fittings work today!
What Is a Golf Club Fitting?
Golf club fitting is a process designed to help golfers find their ideal set of clubs that will help them improve their game and maximize their performance on the course.
During this process, professional fitters measure various elements to determine what clubs best suit each golfer. These elements include:
- Swing speed
- Hand size
- Body type
- Swing path
These factors allow them to select clubs with suitable shafts and lie angles tailored to each player’s needs.
A qualified professional will examine the length of your arms and legs and any physical limitations or injuries you may have. They’ll also review your grip strength and swing speed to determine which clubs are best suited for your game.
Once all the data is collected, they’ll help you select a set of clubs based on what they learned about your playing style during the fitting session.
Do You Really Need To Get Fitted for Golf Clubs?
The answer depends greatly on your level of experience with golfing. For more mature players who have been playing for some time, getting fitted for golf clubs is essential to consistently improve your game and progress with better results.
Beginners don’t necessarily need to get fitted immediately because they likely won’t benefit from it yet. They’re still learning how to play appropriately without custom-fitted equipment or advanced technology in their bag.
Beginner sets come with everything needed to start playing. And someone just starting likely will see little benefit of having custom-fitted clubs since their swing is still regularly changing during this period.
As beginner players become more experienced and their swings become more consistent, they may consider getting fit for custom-made clubs.
However, if you decide to take advantage of getting fitted early on in your journey as a beginner golfer, then make sure that it’s done by an experienced professional so that they can guide you through the process correctly.
The Cost of Fitting Golf Clubs
If you’re a serious golfer with enough experience or someone who wants to get more out of their game, then getting fitted for your golf clubs is an excellent investment.
The cost of fitting golf clubs can vary depending on what type of fitting you’re looking for and who you decide to go with as your fitter.
Here are some golf-fitting stores to start shopping around.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
This is where I recently did my fitting when I upgraded from my Cobra F-Max irons to the Mizuno JPX-923 Hot Metal Pros. Before even going into the store, I was determined that I was going to get a set of Ping irons, but this is the reason for getting fitted!
I did hit the Ping G425 irons during my session, and I hit them well. In fact, I hit them pretty much the same as I hit the Mizuno’s. However, the Mizuno irons just felt better each and every time I hit a ball.
The iron fitting fee was $49.99 at the location I went to, but the fee is waived with the purchase of an iron set.
Golf Town
Not surprisingly, Golf Town offers some of the most competitive prices for golf club fitting.
An iron fit is only $59.99, and a full bag fit is just $99.99.
Plus, if you purchase any product over $549 at Golf Town, they will give you a free iron or full bag fit.
3D Golf
3D Golf offers a club fitting at $150 for drivers alone and a complete fit for $250. This is pricier than some alternatives but still within reason if you want to be professionally fitted in an indoor environment.
Joel Saunders Golf
Saunders Golf has a reputation among golfers as one of the best places to get fitted for golf clubs.
Their services come with a heftier price tag, though. Expect to pay around $415 for their comprehensive fittings process, which covers all 14 clubs in your bag, plus extra shafts and grips if needed.
But don’t let this high price tag scare you off. They offer some of the best advice on club fitting, so it’s well worth it.
Club Champion
Club Champion is another popular option for getting fitted for golf clubs, with prices ranging from around $400 to $600 depending on what type of fitting service you opt for.
GolfTec
Another popular choice among players looking to get professionally fitted is GolfTec which offers both iron ($95) and full bag ($250) fitting services.
However, these prices do not include additional shafts or grip selection, so make sure to factor these costs into your budget if required!
Puetz Golf
Puetz Golf offers iron fittings at a flat rate of just $49.99 with no additional charges for other services like shaft extensions or length modifications.
Plus, if you purchase a set of clubs from them afterward, they waive the fee altogether!
Why Beginners and High Handicappers Don’t Need Fitted Golf Clubs… Yet
But don’t jump to get fitted because beginners and high handicappers don’t necessarily need to get fitted immediately.
Here are some reasons why you may want to hold back for now.
Huge Cost of Fitting Golf Clubs
Fitted clubs can cost up to three times more than your average off-the-rack set, so the cost-effectiveness of getting them at this stage in your golfing career may not make sense.
As a beginner or high handicapper, you won’t get enough out of them to justify the additional cost. It’s recommended that you play with standard clubs until you shoot in the low 80s before considering a fitting.
Insufficient Knowledge of Your Own Game
When it comes to fitting yourself for golf clubs, it’s essential to understand what works best for your game. That means knowing several factors, including:
- What length shafts fit your height and build
- What type of head loft matches your swing speed
- Which kind of grip fits best in your hands
This level of knowledge requires a reasonable amount of time spent learning about the game and analyzing one’s swing mechanics — something most beginners or high handicappers don’t have yet due to their lack of experience.
Lack of Dedication To Practice and Improve
Most fittings occur in person at the driving range or on the course, with the fitter watching how shots come off the clubface and making adjustments accordingly.
It goes without saying that if you aren’t dedicated enough to practice regularly and improve your swing mechanics over time, having custom-fitted clubs won’t help much either way.
Sure, they might look better than regular store-bought sets — but wouldn’t it be better to spend those funds elsewhere?
Difficulty in Translating Fittings Into Improved Performance on the Course
Simply put, new players don’t have enough experience playing golf to accurately determine whether their newly fitted clubs are helping or hindering their performance on the course.
For example, you hit two shots with different drivers one after another and can’t tell which ball went farther. How do you know if that extra money spent on having them fitted was worth it?
It takes time to develop enough skills on the course so that even novice players can notice minor changes. It is wise to only invest heavily in custom fittings once you can confirm they will improve performance on the course better than an off-the-rack set could do alone.
Unnecessary Complications for Beginners and High Handicappers
Lastly (and perhaps most importantly), fitted golf clubs can complicate things for beginners and high handicappers who are just trying to learn how to play the game properly without having too many distractions. While having custom-fitted clubs might make them look like pros out on the course, chances are they’ll still struggle with fundamentals like grip pressure and alignment.
This could lead them down a path filled with even more confusion than if they had gone with regular store-bought sets instead!
When all is said and done — sometimes simplicity is vital… especially when starting!
I Bought a Golf Club. Can I Still Fit It?
Absolutely! You can still fit a golf club even after purchasing it.
However, it’s important to note that if budget is an issue for you or you’re just starting golfing, we highly recommend buying older clubs from someone else.
You might not get as good of quality with them compared to newer models, but chances are high that a professional golfer has already used it and tailored it to their skill level. This way, all the modifications have been made by someone with expertise.
Not only will this allow you to save money, but it will also reduce any risk of buying an ill-fitted club immediately.
Follow High Golf Handicap for More Golfing Resources
All things considered, getting fitted for golf clubs is ultimately a personal decision. If you’re starting out or on a budget, you don’t necessarily need custom-fitted clubs.
However, knowing what works best for your game is always wise so that you can make an informed decision when the time comes.
It might seem like an expensive investment upfront, but having adequately fitted clubs could be the difference between making steady improvements and staying stuck at your current handicap level!
By considering all these points and the average cost to get fitted for golf clubs, you should now have enough information to determine whether this is a worthwhile investment for your golf game.
For more resources on golfing Handicaps and improving your game follow High Golf Handicap today!
