How to Test Your Clubs!

[+TourSpecGolfer]

I shouldnt have to explain this but i see so many people going the wrong direction in regards to club testing and fitting.

Guys are buying brand new sets of clubs ( Good for me! ) hitting the 6 iron or PW at the range and deciding if they make it into the bag based on that alone. That is the worse way to test clubs period due to many variables, one would be the type of swing you have on that day, the matt vs the turff, the clubs original specs, length, lie, shafts, grip size, etc..

If you guys are going to spend top dollar for the set and shipping, give it at the least 3 full 18 hole rounds on the course you know, In my case a set i want will always get the swing weight, lie angle, lofts, and shaft + flex sorted then 4 rounds of golf.

If not, your wasting your time and money. You could be learning about your swing, distance gaps and fitting specifications and doing it the proper way instead of not.

Ever wonder why the component guys are so happy with their clubs? its cause they get fitted and have their sets built to their swings, thats over 50% of performance. So why spend big bucks, hit the stock setup and sell it off?

I see many guys on forums who use i.e Tour Concepts 1/2" long at D3 yet they are testing irons with S200's 1/4" short at D1 saying its not a good set of irons or it didnt make the bag... see what im saying here? When im standing there watching they will wonder why they top the ball more often :tsg_smiley_laughatyou:

You will never get to know the clubs you purchased if you keep hitting them in a configuration you know isnt yours. Dont even bother buying them if this is the case.

In a couple of weeks TSG will be able to offer all shaft options for every Japanese brand, any specs also. We needed to do this as many of you gents only know how to buy new clubs not test them to better your game.

Sorry for the rant guys, its truth.

[Phillip Alexander]

Words of wisdom from the master.

I have tinkered with my irons for a long time, but a new set would have EXACTLY the same specs as the ones they are replacing.

[sfgolfer]

I can't emphasize enough the need to play several times with any new aquisition before adding it/dumping it. There's nothing that replicates having to set up, swing, and then watch a club's performance when actually on the course.

Plus the extra dozen strikes per club aren't going to influence the value of the set.

As to matching set ups with your current gamers, I - for one - am looking forward to (and a little worried about :tsg_smiley_embarrassed:) the new clubfitting options.

:tsg_smilie_money3:

[Vincenti]

My Word of Wisdom: KEEP THE BUSINESS RUNNING

The industry has to keep manufacturing and selling goods, that's why every product has to wear out and out of fashion. I am sure as in the car industry or light bulb industry people can make a longlasting clubs, but it's counterproductive to maintain our economy.

On one side I find it's silly keep changing the clubs, but on the macro economic side we have to thank such people :)

My advice, if you have a lot of money, keep changing the clubs to help the business running he he heh ....

[ramizuno13]

I shouldnt have to explain this but i see so many people going the wrong direction in regards to club testing and fitting.

Guys are buying brand new sets of clubs ( Good for me! ) hitting the 6 iron or PW at the range and deciding if they make it into the bag based on that alone. That is the worse way to test clubs period due to many variables, one would be the type of swing you have on that day, the matt vs the turff, the clubs original specs, length, lie, shafts, grip size, etc..

If you guys are going to spend top dollar for the set and shipping, give it at the least 3 full 18 hole rounds on the course you know, In my case a set i want will always get the swing weight, lie angle, lofts, and shaft + flex sorted then 4 rounds of golf.

If not, your wasting your time and money. You could be learning about your swing, distance gaps and fitting specifications and doing it the proper way instead of not.

Ever wonder why the component guys are so happy with their clubs? its cause they get fitted and have their sets built to their swings, thats over 50% of performance. So why spend big bucks, hit the stock setup and sell it off?

I see many guys on forums who use i.e Tour Concepts 1/2" long at D3 yet they are testing irons with S200's 1/4" short at D1 saying its not a good set of irons or it didnt make the bag... see what im saying here? When im standing there watching they will wonder why they top the ball more often :tsg_smiley_laughatyou:

You will never get to know the clubs you purchased if you keep hitting them in a configuration you know isnt yours. Dont even bother buying them if this is the case.

In a couple of weeks TSG will be able to offer all shaft options for every Japanese brand, any specs also. We needed to do this as many of you gents only know how to buy new clubs not test them to better your game.

Sorry for the rant guys, its truth.

Chris is 100% right. I've been saying this for 18 years+. For some reason, people buy clubs of the rack, and then can't figure out why they don't play as well as when they hit them in the net. I'm the clubfitter for one of the largest club manufacturers in the world and you wouldn't believe what I caome across. I'm going to throw some out there. Call it rules of fitting if you'd like.

1. Don't come to get fit if you're in the middle of taking lessons or making swing changes. What you get fit for may not be the same as when you are done with your adjustments.

2. Don't ask to be fitted if you know your swing is off. You're wasting our time.

3. No! We won't give you a discount. Period.

4. Please listen to what we ask you to do. There is a reason for it. We are the ones "Fitting You".

5. Too many more to list.

If you really want to get fit for certain brands of clubs in Southern California, contact Chris. He can give you some info.

Big Mack

[Henry]

great comments from everyone so far but let me throw my two cents in. My belief is you should not get club fitted based upon your swing characteristics as much as you should get fitted based upon your physical characteristics. Although shaft fitting may be different, I would want to be fitted based upon height, lenght of arms, etc. I would not want to be fitted based upon my swing. If I have a faulty swing, my personal view is I do not want to be compensated based upon a fault. My swing would never improve and if it did, my club fitting would be wrong. In general, I would rather be fitted based upon characteristics of a good solid swing as opposed to compensation for a bad swing.

[ajaykkr]

great comments from everyone so far but let me throw my two cents in. My belief is you should not get club fitted based upon your swing characteristics as much as you should get fitted based upon your physical characteristics. Although shaft fitting may be different, I would want to be fitted based upon height, lenght of arms, etc. I would not want to be fitted based upon my swing. If I have a faulty swing, my personal view is I do not want to be compensated based upon a fault. My swing would never improve and if it did, my club fitting would be wrong. In general, I would rather be fitted based upon characteristics of a good solid swing as opposed to compensation for a bad swing.

Agree fully...

The goal is to score really good and hit a high percentage of good shots during a round. just doesn't need to be the next round or the next few rounds.

I started golf two years back and the only reason I think my handicap is now down to 10 is that instead of hitting the callaway irons, I hit the mizuno blades. Sure, the 3 iron and 4 iron have made it to the bag only in the last month or so, but if I did not start with the MP 33, I would not have git here. Now, I alternate between the Tourstage X Blade 2 (the ones Chris did not like so much as he believed they are less forgiving than the old X Blades), the MP 33 and the Miura Blades and its my ability to hit a variety of shots with my iron thats defining my game.

I am now working on my driver (handicap could be a couple of strokes lower by using 3 wood, but again focusing on getting into play). I believe that if I can avoid hitting out of bounds from my usual 1-2 times (very narrow hazardous golf course) with my driver, then I get to the 5-6 range. Again, its not a question of hitting straight (I can do it 240 yard or so), but of been able to hit the draw or fade at will or hit on one side of the golf course.

If I had gone to a clubfitter when I started, I am sure he would have fit me for what I was then, a mix of tennis and cricket in my golf swing, rather than what I could become. If i go today, i will be fitted to the 10 handicapper that I am today, not the 5-6 I will be by next spring. Mr. ClubFitter, yes you know all about fitting for the current swing, but you fail when you have to fit for the potential.

Having said that, a club has to be tried over 10-12 rounds (not played continously with the same clubs) before one can say it works or not.

[ramizuno13]

If I had gone to a clubfitter when I started, I am sure he would have fit me for what I was then, a mix of tennis and cricket in my golf swing, rather than what I could become. If i go today, i will be fitted to the 10 handicapper that I am today, not the 5-6 I will be by next spring. Mr. ClubFitter, yes you know all about fitting for the current swing, but you fail when you have to fit for the potential.

Having said that, a club has to be tried over 10-12 rounds (not played continously with the same clubs) before one can say it works or not.

You can't fit for the potential. That's like asking for someone to sell you a car based on how many tickets they think you'll get. We can't see the fututre. This is the type of client I was talking about. If you can't hit the ball today, don't came and get fit today. We fit based on all the specs. Height, Arm lenght, Hand to floor, blah, blah, blah... And most importantly, the ball flight. The only true indicator of someones swing. How is your swing going to be in 10 rounds? Who knows! You don't, I don't, your instructor doesn't. Getting fit properly in the first place saves a lot of time and money for the customer. Why? Because, once you've been fit right, about the only thing that might change is the lie angle, unless some dramatic change is made to your game or physical nature. To think otherwise is wrong.

[ajaykkr]

You can't fit for the potential. That's like asking for someone to sell you a car based on how many tickets they think you'll get. We can't see the fututre. This is the type of client I was talking about. If you can't hit the ball today, don't came and get fit today. We fit based on all the specs. Height, Arm lenght, Hand to floor, blah, blah, blah... And most importantly, the ball flight. The only true indicator of someones swing. How is your swing going to be in 10 rounds? Who knows! You don't, I don't, your instructor doesn't. Getting fit properly in the first place saves a lot of time and money for the customer. Why? Because, once you've been fit right, about the only thing that might change is the lie angle, unless some dramatic change is made to your game or physical nature. To think otherwise is wrong.

and thats exactly why I think if one really wants to improve, go to a clubfitter when you are close to having most of your swing fixed (read low single digits) or when improvement is not a main goal anymore i.e. one plays very ocassionally and just wants to get the best score on those ocassions.

when i am in game improvement mode, i want to know when I hit a shot, it reflects my ability and I want feedback. Getting fit for a 2nd grade swing would allow me to make the most of 2nd grade swing but not my potential.

no offense, for golfers bent on improving, clubfitters are not much help until much much later

[Phillip Alexander]

Some interesting points here. Let me just say, my golf coach can fix my MP11s by spending twenty minutes fixing the bloke whose holding them.....

....and man are they great clubs after that

:tsg_smilie_confused: So far as the previous comment about the economy.....

.....the economy doesn't concern me so far as golf clubs!! (I know you were only joking)

My ho tendencies cover all components of the club i.e. shafts grips. I personally tend to buy based on looks, feel and new ideas. I don't think that happens every season but I still keep looking.

[ramizuno13]

and thats exactly why I think if one really wants to improve, go to a clubfitter when you are close to having most of your swing fixed (read low single digits) or when improvement is not a main goal anymore i.e. one plays very ocassionally and just wants to get the best score on those ocassions.

when i am in game improvement mode, i want to know when I hit a shot, it reflects my ability and I want feedback. Getting fit for a 2nd grade swing would allow me to make the most of 2nd grade swing but not my potential.

no offense, for golfers bent on improving, clubfitters are not much help until much much later

You really don't know you're validating my point. You can't improve if your fighting your clubs. If your clubs aren't fit right, then you can't generate a proper swing. Do you really think that clubs that are too short or long aren't going to effect your swing. Any Teacher worth His skills will tell you so. Are you trying to say that if your grip is wrong it doesn't effect your swing, no matter how good or bad you are. If you're trying to work on a draw, and the grip is to big, will it not effect your potenial. You're fighting the club. From a beginner to a pro, a fitting only enhances your game. How hard is it to hit the ball if the club is 1" to short. How many lessons will you take and how many hours will you practice, wasted, before someone tells you the problem is nothing more than your clubs are to short. All that time topping the ball or hitting dead right. And, most importantly, a fitting is free from the maufacturer. No cost to you! I'd rather fit a beginner who listens than a "pro" who knows it all, only for Him/Her to be proven wrong in a blind test. If you don't get fit because the fitter can't see the potential, then you'll never get fit. Remember, in golf, We are always trying to improve! Hence, We are alway keeping our eye on the "potential". If you can't see that, then you'll always be fighting your clubs and blaming them.

Edited October 7, 2006 by Big Mack