Serious golfers: Have you ever been custom "fitted" for a set of irons? Cool experience!

[MarathonMike]

FYI I'm a decent golfer usually scoring somewhere between 78 and 85. My problem has always been erratic iron play. So I finally decided to go to a golf store that specializes in custom fittings. This is how it went:

1. Met the guy for my session and he asked me what my iron play is like now and what my goals would be for the new set.
2. I hit a dozen or so 6 irons with my old set and he showed me the numbers. Ugh! C'mon man I hit it farther than that!
3. So with the baseline established, he pulled 4 different shafts and 4 different 6 iron heads and I hit a bunch of shots.
4. The difference in performance was astonishing! The worst club/shaft had the widest dispersion 40 feet, lowest clubhead speed, lowest height and least distance. The best club/shaft combo had a dispersion of 9 feet, 10 mph faster clubhead speed, highest height and most distance carry.
5. I also ordered shaft "puring" where they will orient the shaft and clubhead to the optimum angle for consistency.

I cant' wait to get them, it'll take a couple of weeks for them to be built.
I'd say if you love golf and can afford to spend the money on a fitting and iron set, I'd say go for it. It basically cost me about $500 bucks more than just buying a new set of irons.
Of course you can get fitted for your woods if that's what you want to upgrade.

 

[two_iron]

I build all my own clubs because I'm tall and need 1" extra length on the shafts. But other than that I don't put much stock in a 'fitting'. I choose shafts with the proper flex for me, and good feedback. Only forged heads for the irons (usually Mizunos).

I've always said Rory can beat most amateurs with a shovel and a toothbrush. I hope it works out for you. Whenever I have a bad round, I work on my footwork and hip turn - nothing above the waist. I find that my arms and shoulders are completely reflexive and respond perfectly if my lower body puts me in a position to deliver the club from the inside. Hit 'em straight!

 

[Hang on Sloopy]

I build all my own clubs because I'm tall and need 1" extra length on the shafts. But other than that I don't put much stock in a 'fitting'. I choose shafts with the proper flex for me, and good feedback. Only forged heads for the irons (usually Mizunos).

I've always said Rory can beat most amateurs with a shovel and a toothbrush. I hope it works out for you. Whenever I have a bad round, I work on my footwork and hip turn - nothing above the waist. I find that my arms and shoulders are completely reflexive and respond perfectly if my lower body puts me in a position to deliver the club from the inside. Hit 'em straight!

no......i found a set of callaway X12 irons....1-SW 30 yrs ago and never considered a new set...............they will be in my coffin when i head to the 19th hole

 

[two_iron]

no......i found a set of callaway X12 irons....1-SW 30 yrs ago and never considered a new set...............they will be in my coffin when i head to the 19th hole

Awesome. It's all about what you're comfortable with. You don't want the equipment to handicap your game but once you've found something you like, no reason the change. I still carry an M-2 driver I've had for at least 10 years.

 

[MarathonMike]

I build all my own clubs because I'm tall and need 1" extra length on the shafts. But other than that I don't put much stock in a 'fitting'. I choose shafts with the proper flex for me, and good feedback. Only forged heads for the irons (usually Mizunos).

I've always said Rory can beat most amateurs with a shovel and a toothbrush. I hope it works out for you. Whenever I have a bad round, I work on my footwork and hip turn - nothing above the waist. I find that my arms and shoulders are completely reflexive and respond perfectly if my lower body puts me in a position to deliver the club from the inside. Hit 'em straight!

I decided to try a custom fitting one time before I get too old for club optimization to even matter. It was very enlightening to see trakman data with the various heads and shafts. You sound like a very good golfer do you not believe in trakman analysis? That's cool if you can make your own clubs, not many have that skill I certainly don't.

 

[MarathonMike]

no......i found a set of callaway X12 irons....1-SW 30 yrs ago and never considered a new set...............they will be in my coffin when i head to the 19th hole

That's cool, I'm curious, what level golfer are you?

 

[DGS49]

The reason why I don't think "custom fitting" can benefit many golfers is because our swing changes from day to day, and sometimes even as a round of golf progresses. At 74 years old, my swing on #18 is significantly different from my swing is on the first tee box, or even #10. And the next day is a whole different ballgame. Unless your swing is consistent over time, custom fitting is a waste of money.

It can't hurt, I suppose, but unless your swing is consistent...

Editorially, I will say that unless your swing is ingrained in "muscle memory" it is crap. If you are swinging the club and thinking about your swing, you will never be any good. Your swing has to be fixed, and you have to be thinking about what you want the ball to do, and not your swing. Finally, muscle memory cannot occur after 16 years old. That train has left the station.

 

[MarathonMike]

The reason why I don't think "custom fitting" can benefit many golfers is because our swing changes from day to day, and sometimes even as a round of golf progresses. At 74 years old, my swing on #18 is significantly different from my swing is on the first tee box, or even #10. And the next day is a whole different ballgame. Unless your swing is consistent over time, custom fitting is a waste of money.

It can't hurt, I suppose, but unless your swing is consistent...

Editorially, I will say that unless your swing is ingrained in "muscle memory" it is crap. If you are swinging the club and thinking about your swing, you will never be any good. Your swing has to be fixed, and you have to be thinking about what you want the ball to do, and not your swing. Finally, muscle memory cannot occur after 16 years old. That train has left the station.

My son went to this same custom club business that I did last year. He is still learning the game and the specialist determined after working with him for an hour his swing was not consistent enough to benefit from custom clubs. You are correct, you need to be consistent enough for your data to show an improvement with customized equipment.

 

[Dadoalex]

FYI I'm a decent golfer usually scoring somewhere between 78 and 85. My problem has always been erratic iron play. So I finally decided to go to a golf store that specializes in custom fittings. This is how it went:

1. Met the guy for my session and he asked me what my iron play is like now and what my goals would be for the new set.
2. I hit a dozen or so 6 irons with my old set and he showed me the numbers. Ugh! C'mon man I hit it farther than that!
3. So with the baseline established, he pulled 4 different shafts and 4 different 6 iron heads and I hit a bunch of shots.
4. The difference in performance was astonishing! The worst club/shaft had the widest dispersion 40 feet, lowest clubhead speed, lowest height and least distance. The best club/shaft combo had a dispersion of 9 feet, 10 mph faster clubhead speed, highest height and most distance carry.
5. I also ordered shaft "puring" where they will orient the shaft and clubhead to the optimum angle for consistency.

I cant' wait to get them, it'll take a couple of weeks for them to be built.
I'd say if you love golf and can afford to spend the money on a fitting and iron set, I'd say go for it. It basically cost me about $500 bucks more than just buying a new set of irons.
Of course you can get fitted for your woods if that's what you want to upgrade.

Had a set built.
They were great. Not much extra distance but the control was easily 70% better.
Draw, fade, stop..all there.

Got rid of the 3-5 irons and replaced them with a 7 and 9 wood and multiple wedges.
Even in my prime I wasn't very long but these clubs really improved my game.

About this time I went down the nutty putting path.
I was screwing around on the green putting with an old persimmon driver. I found that on putts over 10 feet my putting accuracy was remarkably better with the driver. By placing the ball on my front foot I got plenty of top roll on my putts and even long puts could be rolled like tap-ins.

Then my stupid ex sold the damn club in a garage sale while I was out of town. The club was over 30 years old and I could not find a replacement. Stupid ex.

 

[MarathonMike]

Had a set built.
They were great. Not much extra distance but the control was easily 70% better.
Draw, fade, stop..all there.

Got rid of the 3-5 irons and replaced them with a 7 and 9 wood and multiple wedges.
Even in my prime I wasn't very long but these clubs really improved my game.

About this time I went down the nutty putting path.
I was screwing around on the green putting with an old persimmon driver. I found that on putts over 10 feet my putting accuracy was remarkably better with the driver. By placing the ball on my front foot I got plenty of top roll on my putts and even long puts could be rolled like tap-ins.

Then my stupid ex sold the damn club in a garage sale while I was out of town. The club was over 30 years old and I could not find a replacement. Stupid ex.

Good to hear, I'm anxiously awaiting my set to be delivered. I still have my old persimmon driver I used in the 70s I'm
going to try your putting experiment.

 

[Dadoalex]

Good to hear, I'm anxiously awaiting my set to be delivered. I still have my old persimmon driver I used in the 70s I'm
going to try your putting experiment.

Cool.
Ball just inside front foot.
Will cause the strike to occur on the upside of the swing
causing ball to roll rather than skid or skip
and
Relative to a standard putter the driver head is ENORMOUS
Very short strokes provide long rolls
Good luck.

 

[DGS49]

So, MarathonMike, you ordered your set of custom clubs on (or about) February 19th...WTF?

How are they working out? Was there a period when you were getting used to them, or were they good from the start.

All four of us USMBers who golf are dying to know.

 

[MarathonMike]

So, MarathonMike, you ordered your set of custom clubs on (or about) February 19th...WTF?

How are they working out? Was there a period when you were getting used to them, or were they good from the start.

All four of us USMBers who golf are dying to know.

Couldn't be happier with them! I am much more consistent with them and I get 5-8 yards more carry per club per Trackman. The coolest thing about the Launchers is when I hit them dead center they make a very distinctive click sound. If I miss the center it's more like a "thok" sound.

 

[tyroneweaver]

FYI I'm a decent golfer usually scoring somewhere between 78 and 85. My problem has always been erratic iron play. So I finally decided to go to a golf store that specializes in custom fittings. This is how it went:

1. Met the guy for my session and he asked me what my iron play is like now and what my goals would be for the new set.
2. I hit a dozen or so 6 irons with my old set and he showed me the numbers. Ugh! C'mon man I hit it farther than that!
3. So with the baseline established, he pulled 4 different shafts and 4 different 6 iron heads and I hit a bunch of shots.
4. The difference in performance was astonishing! The worst club/shaft had the widest dispersion 40 feet, lowest clubhead speed, lowest height and least distance. The best club/shaft combo had a dispersion of 9 feet, 10 mph faster clubhead speed, highest height and most distance carry.
5. I also ordered shaft "puring" where they will orient the shaft and clubhead to the optimum angle for consistency.

I cant' wait to get them, it'll take a couple of weeks for them to be built.
I'd say if you love golf and can afford to spend the money on a fitting and iron set, I'd say go for it. It basically cost me about $500 bucks more than just buying a new set of irons.
Of course you can get fitted for your woods if that's what you want to upgrade.

How old are you
when I turned 68 my game started to wain
then at 72 it went again
Now at 75 it's taken its biggest dive. I haven't hit my first 70's
I was always super competitive so it's been frustrating. The golfing gods are laughing

 

[MarathonMike]

How old are you
when I turned 68 my game started to wain
then at 72 it went again
Now at 75 it's taken its biggest dive. I haven't hit my first 70's
I was always super competitive so it's been frustrating. The golfing gods are laughing

Uh oh I'm 66. Yikes! I'm hoping I take after my Grandpa. He was a low handicap golfer into his 70s.

 

[Oddball]

FYI I'm a decent golfer usually scoring somewhere between 78 and 85. My problem has always been erratic iron play. So I finally decided to go to a golf store that specializes in custom fittings. This is how it went:

1. Met the guy for my session and he asked me what my iron play is like now and what my goals would be for the new set.
2. I hit a dozen or so 6 irons with my old set and he showed me the numbers. Ugh! C'mon man I hit it farther than that!
3. So with the baseline established, he pulled 4 different shafts and 4 different 6 iron heads and I hit a bunch of shots.
4. The difference in performance was astonishing! The worst club/shaft had the widest dispersion 40 feet, lowest clubhead speed, lowest height and least distance. The best club/shaft combo had a dispersion of 9 feet, 10 mph faster clubhead speed, highest height and most distance carry.
5. I also ordered shaft "puring" where they will orient the shaft and clubhead to the optimum angle for consistency.

I cant' wait to get them, it'll take a couple of weeks for them to be built.
I'd say if you love golf and can afford to spend the money on a fitting and iron set, I'd say go for it. It basically cost me about $500 bucks more than just buying a new set of irons.
Of course you can get fitted for your woods if that's what you want to upgrade.

My coach put a Mizuno JPX Hot Metal 7l in my hands last fall, and I'll not be playing my beloved Ping Eye 2s again unless it's on vintage club day.

The new clubs are matched to be played with the modern solid balls...Since nobody is making wound balls anymore (which my irons were built to hit), you're wasting 10-15 yards and a heap of accuracy playing the old irons....Still getting used to the way the ball acts around the greens with the new wickets.

Have no idea how the new silly numbering system came about, where a 4I has a loft about 2° less than my old 2l and you're carrying 4 "wedges", but there you have it.

I'll consider a pro fitting for a new driver and 4w, as the margins for error there are far less.

 

[MarathonMike]

you're wasting 10-15 yards and a heap of accuracy playing the old irons....

I don't think you read my post. The whole point was getting custom fit for a new set of irons and shafts which I did and they are working out great. Much better and consistent contact more GIR, and about a club less needed into greens.

 

[Oddball]

I don't think you read my post. The whole point was getting custom fit for a new set of irons and shafts which I did and they are working out great. Much better and consistent contact more GIR, and about a club less needed into greens.

Yeah I read it, just sharing my experience as an addition/contrast.

It's a "club less" because the modern lofts are more aggressive, not because they're necessarily longer....Though any newer irons will be a far better match for today's solid balls, over older ones.

 

[MarathonMike]

Yeah I read it, just sharing my experience as an addition/contrast.

It's a "club less" because the modern lofts are more aggressive, not because they're necessarily longer....Though any newer irons will be a far better match for today's solid balls, over older ones.

Question: Do you play steel or graphite shafts in your irons? I think I picked up the additional yardage in iron carry and distance going with graphite shafts.

 

[Oddball]

Question: Do you play steel or graphite shafts in your irons? I think I picked up the additional yardage in iron carry and distance going with graphite shafts.

Graphite, for the feel.