Iron fitting - pick the "right" shaft or head first?

[JCAG]

If an OEM fitting system, then clubhead selection will be limited. This does not mean their clubhead is the best for you.

[ChipNRun]

An OEM system will have multiple iron models / clubheads available. For a better golfer, Titleist would offer the 620 MB, 620 CB, plus T100, T100S, T200 and (maybe?) T300.

As I recall, one of the T-series irons got him the turf interaction he needed, and tweaking of the shafts got him into the trajectory, distance and spin windows he wanted.

And don't forget about shafts - half the golf club!!

As for the best irons? Get real. Most of the OEMs make at least one model of irons I could play well, as long as I was fitted for the right shaft.

About 60+ models of irons are afoot in current production. Do you have time to hit all 60 and find the best one?

 

[hack2489]

I'm surprised by the results, comments, in here so far. I'm no expert. (27 capper now playing to low teens)

I did a full bag fitting in early 2017, first official fitting. Prior to then my clubs were as recommended by my golf coach at the time and was 10 years earlier.

The 2017 fitting process was with an independent who has all brands etc. using actual flight onto range with premium balls plus trackman data. Process was:

- shaft selection session. This covered irons, driver and FW. They used the Mizuno shaft optimiser to narrow down the selection. Comparison to current clubs showed massive difference.

- next session a few days later was iron head selection. I was open to all brands. They gave me GI type heads given my swing and game at the time, but used the same shaft as recommended from the shaft selection.

- the iron head process narrowed down to 3, one a stand out for me in feel, look etc. They didn't discuss any trackman data with me until the final 3. We looked at data, and it confirmed my feel. We then tried a few different shafts to test impacts on numbers. Recommended shaft ended up being correct. Lie angles etc were tweaked to get best outcomes.

- week later I went back and had a dynamic fit with the new irons. All clubs hit, distance gapped and lie angles checked and tweaked.

- went back a week later and did the driver and FW head selection using same process as used for irons. Again, week later, dynamic fit with actual clubs.

- then we did wedges about a week later,. This was both a lesson and fitting combined over about a three hours.

- then again another session for putter fitting and lesson. This was about an hour process.

For all that, they charged $80 per fitting session which was refunded / offset off the purchase price of clubs if ordered through them. I bought everything through them but checked local retail shops etc to know RRP and sale prices etc. The fitter price was 10% cheaper than local sale prices on same clubs including the cost of fitting.

By comparison, a mate just did a fitting at Cool clubs. Totally different process. All done in one day, 5 hour session. He was exhausted.

They started with driver, testing head and shaft combinations and data off trackman. Then did FW and irons. Was a process of trial and error using heads and shafts in similar specs. Wedges were done in a half hour outdoor session. He didn't do putter fitting.

From what I've experienced, my fitter, fitting process was WAY more thorough and beneficial. Mates happy with his though too, but he's never had one before either.

I would do my fitters process again over any other. Yes, it takes time, but allows rest time and I think better outcome. YMMV.