Club Champion Fitting Questions

[bonvivantva]

About 3 years ago I broke 90 twice, and decided to get serious about my golf game.  I was debating between lessons or a fitting as my first step and chose lessons thinking that I wasn't quite good enough to make a fitting worth it, and that new clubs probably wouldn't improve my game very much.  Lessons lead me down a rabbit hole of totally losing my swing and ability to enjoy golf.  I spent the last year shooting exclusively in the 100s, but the last 10 times or so I've been out I've shot in the mid-90s which was where I was before all this began.  My goal with lessons was originally to get consistent enough to justify a club fitting.  That goal was never realized but Club Champion offered free fittings a while back, so I signed up, and I have an appointment in July.

 

I did a lot of research on CC back in the day, and my dad and buddy have both used CC and been pretty happy with their experiences.  However, I imagine a lot has changed in those three years so I'm looking for advice.  My dad and friend both ended up buying the whole bag.  My dad is a single digit handicap though, and my buddy is 6'10 which kind of necessitates custom clubs.

 

I can afford to buy the whole bag, but at my current handicap (a still inflated 19), and given that I'm still taking lessons and my swing is changing, I'm not really inclined to go crazy.  I'm looking for best value advice, as well as your own experiences with CC and lessons learned.  I know I can ask the fitter to focus on shafts that are options through the manufacturer which could save some money overall.  And unless there is some kind of miracle during the iron fitting, I was thinking I'd just get whatever irons work best, in the suggested loft and lie, with a similarly weighted and flexed shaft from the manufacturers options.   Irons though are the part of my game I'm struggling with the most, so if I find something that helps I may go for it.

 

I have a new TS2 driver and it's a fairway finder.  I'm happy with it, but open to improvement.  My hybrid is probably at least 8 years old and I'm looking forward to upgrading.  I play CBX wedges and really like them.  I'll at least need new ones with new grooves, but I'd be surprised if I find something I like better than the CBX.  You never know.

 

I'd love to hear about your experiences with putters from CC.  My dad and friend both bought putters through CC, but neither game them.  My dad went back to his Scotty.  My buddy won a Spyder at a tournament and likes it better than his custom putter from CC.  Anyone have their CC putter work out?

[animalgolfs]

I'd spend the money on a outdoor track man session- to see where you're at with present equipment. 

 

Long as nothing is extremely out of ordinary- I'd them save all that CC fitting money & just go play - play until you can consistently break 80. Then you can be better benefited from CC pricing

[Stuart_G]

18 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

thinking that I wasn't quite good enough to make a fitting worth it,

 

Completely wrong but a very common misconception.   Mid and high-ish handicapers can potentially benefit more from a fitting than better players.   The better players 1) tend to automatically gravitate toward clubs that are a decent fit w/o the aid of fitter and 2) they are better able to compensate when hitting clubs that are not necessarily an ideal fit.

 

 

18 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

and that new clubs probably wouldn't improve my game very much. 

 

Really depends more on how bad a fit your old clubs might have been.   Which is hard to say before doing the actual fitting.

 

18 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

Lessons lead me down a rabbit hole of totally losing my swing and ability to enjoy golf.

 

Sorry to hear that.  Just like there are good fitters and bad fitters, there are good pros and bad pros.  I've seen plenty of both so understand where you're coming from.  But that's a topic for a different forum.

 

 

18 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

I did a lot of research on CC back in the day, and my dad and buddy have both used CC and been pretty happy with their experiences.  However, I imagine a lot has changed in those three years so I'm looking for advice. 

 

I don't think things have changed that much - general rep is still decent for fitting but horrible for price of actual clubs.   Although as with any chain store, the quality of the fitting can certainly vary a lot from location to location or even from individual to individual at a single location.   Best to research the specific fitters at your location instead of relying on a generalized recommendations of the chain.

 

 

18 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

 

I can afford to buy the whole bag, but at my current handicap (a still inflated 19), and given that I'm still taking lessons and my swing is changing, I'm not really inclined to go crazy.  I'm looking for best value advice, as well as your own experiences with CC and lessons learned. 

 

The vast majority of fitting specs will not change as you progress and get better - at least for quite a while.   At most, you may have to have the lie angles tweaked if you make significant improvements to your posture.   But what head or shaft or length might be a good fit will generally not change much as you get better.

 

But nothing wrong wanting to save money.   Not many are willing to pay that much and I don't blame them.   If you go in for the fitting, it's the specs that are important.   You have a LOT of options in where to get the clubs once you have those specs.   It really doesn't matter who builds the clubs for you.

 

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Stuart_G

[Club Champion]

Hi @bonvivantva – we're happy to hear you're considering a fitting with us and we'd love to have you in! Our fitters can work with any consistent swing and fit you into clubs that work with that swing. We have always said that if you're taking lessons simultaneously and your swing is going to change, you may want to wait to get fitted until your swing is in a place you're happy with it. 

 

But, if you'd still like to come in and test your data in our bays or maybe just focus on that putter, we'd still love to have you!

[bonvivantva]

2 minutes ago, animalgolfs said:

I'd spend the money on a outdoor track man session- to see where you're at with present equipment. 

 

Long as nothing is extremely out of ordinary- I'd them save all that CC fitting money & just go play - play until you can consistently break 80. Then you can be better benefited from CC pricing

Well that was more or less the original plan.  My first two instructors had trackman, and I can more or less tell you my numbers.  The first instructor helped me I think, but then he got hard to book and covid hit.  The second instructor is rated as a top instructor in my area, has worked with countless pros on a couple different tours, and he drastically changed my grip, backswing, and I lost all the athleticism in my swing.  I think he's a very skilled instructor, but I think hes probably better at improving good swings than fixing poor ones.

 

Another issue is that I need and want new clubs.  My irons are probably a decade old.  I broke my 6i and replaced it with a club off ebay that doesn't even have the same shaft.  It's time for new clubs.

[mjf34g]

All the above is good advice. Mine would only be this; depending on where you live there may be better options than CC. Fitting wise as with ALL fittings a lot depends on the fitter themselves. I know of one here in the Royal Oak facility that is good the rest questionable. There are two other great facilities around here who, IMHO, are light years better. My real problem with CC is their pricing model which to me is way off the charts.  The other issue is my personal belief that indoor fittings leave a lot to be desired vs fitting outdoors or indoors to out so as to see actual ball flight.  If you let members here, know where you reside, I'm sure you'd get a few other options 

[bonvivantva]

10 minutes ago, mjf34g said:

All the above is good advice. Mine would only be this; depending on where you live there may be better options than CC. Fitting wise as with ALL fittings a lot depends on the fitter themselves. I know of one here in the Royal Oak facility that is good the rest questionable. There are two other great facilities around here who, IMHO, are light years better. My real problem with CC is their pricing model which to me is way off the charts.  The other issue is my personal belief that indoor fittings leave a lot to be desired vs fitting outdoors or indoors to out so as to see actual ball flight.  If you let members here, know where you reside, I'm sure you'd get a few other options 

Thanks.  I'm pretty sure I posted about fitters in Northern Virginia.  As I recall, there is a place at Westfields a few people knew of but didn't have experience with.  I did find a place that does trackman fittings outdoors, but their selection is pretty limited.  I know three people that have used CC in the area and have been happy.  The pricing is my only hold up, but I've actually never bought clubs so maybe it balances out.  I got hand me down clubs from my first boss, and then from my dad after that.  I've bought one putter, my current driver because my old one cracked a shaft from old age, and that replacememnt 6i.  Never bought a full set before.  I think I've had 3, maybe 4 sets over 20 years.

Edited June 29, 2022 by bonvivantva

[larryd3]

I did a putter fitting at CC a couple years ago and it was a great experience.  Putter is still in the bag and has been a really good addition.  

[D0ch0l1d4y]

1 minute ago, bonvivantva said:

Thanks.  I'm pretty sure I posted about fitters in Northern Virginia.  As I recall, there is a place at Westfields a few people knew of but didn't have experience with.  I did find a place that does trackman fittings outdoors, but their selection is pretty limited.  I know three people that have used CC in the area and have been happy.  The pricing is my only hold up, but I've actually never bought clubs so maybe it balances out.  I got hand me down clubs from my first boss, and then from my dad after that.  I've bought one putter, my current driver because my old one cracked a shaft from old age, and that replacememnt 6i.  Never bought a full set before.

 

You said the fitting at CC was free and you are booked for July right? No harm at all going as long as that "free" doesn't require the purchase of anything post-fitting.

 

Do not buy clubs from CC. They will do the fitting and provide you with a recommendation and a build sheet. It'll likely include a specific company's iron shafts - make sure to test out everything they have - PX, True Temper, etc.

 

The reason I say don't buy anything from them is the pricing structure alluded to above. They charge for the full club, same as you could order from the manufacturer, and if the shaft you need is not the stock shaft (it won't be) then they charge you full retail for that shaft too. Not discounting the exchange of shafts, nor receiving the stock shaft. Then they charge something like $65 for the build of each club. My last fitting there, driver/woods fitting, ended up with my current heads as the best fit. Shaft was the newest Diamana PD - which was a $200 upgrade through Taylormade. So I could have ordered a brand new club with the recommended shaft for $600 or so (head was a model old, but still offered on TM site).  Just to order the shaft from them was $500+. Same for my 3w. Total bill for 2 shafts was $1,100+.  

 

I bought the driver shaft on BST here for $180.

[animalgolfs]

52 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

Well that was more or less the original plan.  My first two instructors had trackman, and I can more or less tell you my numbers.  The first instructor helped me I think, but then he got hard to book and covid hit.  The second instructor is rated as a top instructor in my area, has worked with countless pros on a couple different tours, and he drastically changed my grip, backswing, and I lost all the athleticism in my swing.  I think he's a very skilled instructor, but I think hes probably better at improving good swings than fixing poor ones.

 

Another issue is that I need and want new clubs.  My irons are probably a decade old.  I broke my 6i and replaced it with a club off ebay that doesn't even have the same shaft.  It's time for new clubs.

Then fitting is a must - in regards to new clubs. 

[Stuart_G]

1 hour ago, bonvivantva said:

Well that was more or less the original plan.  My first two instructors had trackman, and I can more or less tell you my numbers. 

 

Unfortunately the numbers alone - or at least the averages - isn't even close to the full story about how good a fit the equipment is - particularly with irons.   Fitting is more commonly about helping with consistency of the results and accuracy and shot shape control.  The numbers can be important but only in the context of how much the equipment is influencing the numbers vs those numbers being a consequence of your swing and mechanics.  Those are the types of thing a good fitter will try and help you figure out.

 

1 hour ago, bonvivantva said:

The first instructor helped me I think, but then he got hard to book and covid hit.  The second instructor is rated as a top instructor in my area, has worked with countless pros on a couple different tours, and he drastically changed my grip, backswing, and I lost all the athleticism in my swing.  I think he's a very skilled instructor, but I think hes probably better at improving good swings than fixing poor ones.

 

Possible - or maybe he's an instructor that's overly focused on a particular methodology that just doesn't work well with you.

 

1 hour ago, bonvivantva said:

Another issue is that I ... want new clubs. 

 

This is golfwrx - that by itself is all the justification you need around here 😉

Edited June 29, 2022 by Stuart_G

[D0ch0l1d4y]

5 minutes ago, larryd3 said:

I did a putter fitting at CC a couple years ago and it was a great experience.  Putter is still in the bag and has been a really good addition.  

 

I also did a putter fitting there (separate session) and it was revelatory for me. I had a bag full of putters I owned and wanted to pick the closest to perfect as I could get. I didn't have the type they recommended, but one was close and just needed loft/lie adjusted.

 

I mentioned I liked the feel of the graphite shaft in one of the putters I tried - and the fitter says order it today and I'll comp the fitting. I told him I'd have to sell some of the extra putters to fund it - and he comped the fitting anyway and said "if ya end up wanting one - come order from me". 

 

Never did, but it was a great experience.

[bonvivantva]

9 minutes ago, D0ch0l1d4y said:

Do not buy clubs from CC. They will do the fitting and provide you with a recommendation and a build sheet. It'll likely include a specific company's iron shafts - make sure to test out everything they have - PX, True Temper, etc.

 

The reason I say don't buy anything from them is the pricing structure alluded to above. They charge for the full club, same as you could order from the manufacturer, and if the shaft you need is not the stock shaft (it won't be) then they charge you full retail for that shaft too. Not discounting the exchange of shafts, nor receiving the stock shaft. Then they charge something like $65 for the build of each club.

 

When I looked into CC in detail 3 years ago, this seemed to be the most common advice.  At the time, I was leaning towards Mizuno hot metal irons, which had a ton of shaft options from the manufacturer at very reasonable prices.  It seemed crazy to have CC build what you could buy from the mizuno factory for more money.  Now I'm pretty open to anything, and given my current skill level, I'd imagine ordering whatever heads work best with similar shafts to what CC recommends in terms of flex and length would not have any significant difference to my game.

 

I'd bet money they'll put me into some SGI-GI head, maybe a stealth, rogue, hot metal, etc., 5.5-6 project x like shaft, with standard loft and lie.  That is to say, I'm not expecting anything too exotic.  I might get a few more yards, or some slightly better mishit results, but nothing spectacular.  But who knows, we'll see.  I'd imagine I could see some gains coming from my old hybrid.  10-20 yards would really be something.

[D0ch0l1d4y]

1 hour ago, bonvivantva said:

 

When I looked into CC in detail 3 years ago, this seemed to be the most common advice.  At the time, I was leaning towards Mizuno hot metal irons, which had a ton of shaft options from the manufacturer at very reasonable prices.  It seemed crazy to have CC build what you could buy from the mizuno factory for more money.  Now I'm pretty open to anything, and given my current skill level, I'd imagine ordering whatever heads work best with similar shafts to what CC recommends in terms of flex and length would not have any significant difference to my game.

 

I'd bet money they'll put me into some SGI-GI head, maybe a stealth, rogue, hot metal, etc., 5.5-6 project x like shaft, with standard loft and lie.  That is to say, I'm not expecting anything too exotic.  I might get a few more yards, or some slightly better mishit results, but nothing spectacular.  But who knows, we'll see.  I'd imagine I could see some gains coming from my old hybrid.  10-20 yards would really be something.

 

I'd bet a dollar you end up in some form of Oban iron shafts.

[ducky50]

I had a very good experience with CC here in Pittsburgh.  It was a learning experience and the my fitter was first rate the putter experience was good I wish it was a bigger putting area but I love my putter and the clubs I purchased.

[amace04]

2 hours ago, bonvivantva said:

About 3 years ago I broke 90 twice, and decided to get serious about my golf game.  I was debating between lessons or a fitting as my first step and chose lessons thinking that I wasn't quite good enough to make a fitting worth it, and that new clubs probably wouldn't improve my game very much.  

You don't need to be good to get fit, but lessons are always a good call.  If they can help you get a bit more consistent, then the fitting will pay off better.  The problem with getting fit if you suck with intention of improving, is that when you improve, the clubs might not still fit you.

 

Quote

Lessons lead me down a rabbit hole of totally losing my swing and ability to enjoy golf.  I spent the last year shooting exclusively in the 100s, but the last 10 times or so I've been out I've shot in the mid-90s which was where I was before all this began. 

That can happen.  If you've got some notable swing flaws that you've found a way to overcome, it can take a lot of commitment to change that.  It can be incredibly frustrating, and you'll find yourself reverting back to your old swing because it's what's comfortable to you.  Best advice I can offer, is just stick with it and commit to fixing your swing.  Put in the practice and the work, and eventually it'll come around (assuming of course the pro is good enough and giving good advice)

 

 

Quote

I can afford to buy the whole bag, but at my current handicap (a still inflated 19), and given that I'm still taking lessons and my swing is changing, I'm not really inclined to go crazy.  I'm looking for best value advice, as well as your own experiences with CC and lessons learned.  I know I can ask the fitter to focus on shafts that are options through the manufacturer which could save some money overall.  And unless there is some kind of miracle during the iron fitting, I was thinking I'd just get whatever irons work best, in the suggested loft and lie, with a similarly weighted and flexed shaft from the manufacturers options.   Irons though are the part of my game I'm struggling with the most, so if I find something that helps I may go for it.

 

I have a new TS2 driver and it's a fairway finder.  I'm happy with it, but open to improvement.  My hybrid is probably at least 8 years old and I'm looking forward to upgrading.  I play CBX wedges and really like them.  I'll at least need new ones with new grooves, but I'd be surprised if I find something I like better than the CBX.  You never know.

 

I'd focus on whatever part of your game needs the most work.  Some people swear by iron/wedge/putter since you hit those more, but a Driver is the most important club in your bag as a high handicap.   If you can't control your driver, penalty strokes will cost you way more than having a fit putter will ever help you.  If you're happy with certain clubs (ex. putter, wedges), don't feel that you need to buy new ones unless they're better.  Irons are probably the next most important for a fitting and added forgiveness can make a big difference.

I agree with you, that perhaps you don't need to really worry about a super custom fitting.  Try out a few different heads and some stock shafts and see what works.  If you're committed to continuing to improve, I wouldn't want to drop a ton of money on custom-fit clubs and then your swing changes and they're not optimal anymore.

 

[bonvivantva]

Thanks for all the putter responses.  Very helpful.  Hopefully my friends and family's experiences with their putters are outliers.

[bonvivantva]

1 minute ago, amace04 said:

f you've got some notable swing flaws that you've found a way to overcome, it can take a lot of commitment to change that.  It can be incredibly frustrating, and you'll find yourself reverting back to your old swing because it's what's comfortable to you.  Best advice I can offer, is just stick with it and commit to fixing your swing.  Put in the practice and the work, and eventually it'll come around (assuming of course the pro is good enough and giving good advice)

 

 

I gave my last instructor thousands of dollars, a year and a half, and I practiced at least 4 times a week.  We were not a good match it seems.

 

2 minutes ago, amace04 said:

I'd focus on whatever part of your game needs the most work.  Some people swear by iron/wedge/putter since you hit those more, but a Driver is the most important club in your bag as a high handicap.   If you can't control your driver, penalty strokes will cost you way more than having a fit putter will ever help you.  If you're happy with certain clubs (ex. putter, wedges), don't feel that you need to buy new ones unless they're better.  Irons are probably the next most important for a fitting and added forgiveness can make a big difference.

I agree with you, that perhaps you don't need to really worry about a super custom fitting.  Try out a few different heads and some stock shafts and see what works.  If you're committed to continuing to improve, I wouldn't want to drop a ton of money on custom-fit clubs and then your swing changes and they're not optimal anymore.

 

 

My driver is the only thing getting me through a round right now.  Honestly I've been driving it great.  I've been trying to get 160-180 out of my hybrid, and avoiding my irons whenever possible.  Anytime I have to hit an iron I feel like I'm taking a one shot penalty.  If I'm 150 out, I'll take my 7i, put it 130, and then chip on.  Clubbing up doesn't seem to help, but hopefully lessons eventually will.

[amace04]

6 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

 

I gave my last instructor thousands of dollars, a year and a half, and I practiced at least 4 times a week.  We were not a good match it seems.

 

 

That's unfortunate.  As someone else alluded to, sometimes some coaches just aren't a good fit.    

 

Quote

My driver is the only thing getting me through a round right now.  Honestly I've been driving it great.  I've been trying to get 160-180 out of my hybrid, and avoiding my irons whenever possible.  Anytime I have to hit an iron I feel like I'm taking a one shot penalty.  If I'm 150 out, I'll take my 7i, put it 130, and then chip on.  Clubbing up doesn't seem to help, but hopefully lessons eventually will.

 

THat's good.  In that case, sounds like an iron fitting would definitely help.  There's lots of little nuances to different irons that could help.  Lessons definitely sound like they're necessary, but maybe new sticks could help make it easier on you.

If you've got an inconsistent swing, fighting the swing alone is hard enough, why also fight the equipment?

[hurley999s]

Sometimes with putters, you’re simply not going to get the answer via a single fitting. Don’t look at it like their putter fittings were poor…you have to look at it, and club fitting in general as art and science. There isn’t a rigid formula you can put yourself into and you come out with exact fits. Plus, things change over time - could have fit into a particular blade, but mentally over time a mallet appeals to you more. Staring down at the ball and being comfortable with what you see is just as important. I know plenty of guys who putt lights out with putters that are awful fits for them (eg, toe balanced putter with a very straight back/through stroke) They’ve just been using them forever and they’re familiar. 
 

Overall just make sure you manage your expectations with the fitting. It’s part of the overall journey, not the magic key. Unless your current clubs are a completely awful fit, it’s about incremental improvements, not the solution to getting you back in the 80s overnight. 

Edited June 29, 2022 by hurley999s
Grammar clarity

[JCAG]

Before buying, compare your results with present versus suggested new. No gain, no sale.

[Cellis]

3 minutes ago, JCAG said:

Before buying, compare your results with present versus suggested new. No gain, no sale.

Could not agree more with this. I will also say, do not buy directly off numbers either. You need to buy something you like hitting at and looking at as well.

[Stuart_G]

1 hour ago, amace04 said:

 

If you've got an inconsistent swing, fighting the swing alone is hard enough, why also fight the equipment?

 

Agree.  That's really the main goal of any fitting.  To make sure the equipment isn't making things worse.

 

Although in this case we really don't know how much he's actually fighting the equipment vs himself.  So no telling how much potential for improvement there might be.

 

Also don't' confuse inconsistent results with an inconsistent swing - the two are not the same.  He likely has very consistent mechanics and therefore consistent swing faults.  That's much more common with the higher caps then truly having an inconsistent swing.

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Stuart_G

[bonvivantva]

36 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

 

Agree.  That's really the main goal of any fitting.  To make sure the equipment isn't making things worse.

 

Although in this case we really don't know how much he's actually fighting the equipment vs himself.  So no telling how much potential for improvement there might be.

 

Also don't' confuse inconsistent results with an inconsistent swing - the two are not the same.  He likely has very consistent mechanics and therefore consistent swing faults.  That's much more common with the higher caps then truly having an inconsistent swing.

 

 

I first took lessons because I had a consistent fault I could not fix.  A low left pully hook.  Since I started lessons I think I've been trying to change my swing constantly and as a result, I haven't had a very consistent swing/fault.  Just poor distance, poor contact, all manner of issues.  That one of the reasons I've put off getting new clubs for so long, but everything but my driver is old now.

[amace04]

39 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

 

Agree.  That's really the main goal of any fitting.  To make sure the equipment isn't making things worse.

 

Although in this case we really don't know how much he's actually fighting the equipment vs himself.  So no telling how much potential for improvement there might be.

 

Also don't' confuse inconsistent results with an inconsistent swing - the two are not the same.  He likely has very consistent mechanics and therefore consistent swing faults.  That's much more common with the higher caps then truly having an inconsistent swing.

 

 

That's fair.  But when I say "inconsistent swing", I'm more referring to the outcome than the actual swing.  I'm sure the actual swing is "somewhat" consistently delivering inconsistent results.

[dblinden]

Well, I had a putter "fitting" at CC. They handed me a SC Newport to try right off the bat. I made like 10 putts in a row and was told that's definitely the putter for me. No other putters were tried in comparison. (I'll just say that I knew a lot less then than I know now). Never putted well with this club after purchase. Changed the lie angle, grip, etc to get some legs with it but to no avail. Ultimately changed to a face balanced putter and this was a so-called game changer for me.  A pretty significant change from what I was sold.

 

I was naive and paid the price. In other words, a perfect customer for CC.

 

 

[WarEagleGolf]

I've had good experiences but do your homework.   I spent my first fitting really getting explanations of numbers, discussing what I was looking for, misses, issues when I 'struggled', sticking to feel and look to guide, not just straight numbers.  

 

I've had 3 times I've gone in an tried something new, and left with what I had.  Minor putter adjustments because I had the right type for my stroke, and off I went.  Tried to replace my driver/woods shafts multiple times to no avail.  

 

Yeah, the price of the build ain't cheap...but I had a KBS shaft snap and they handled, check loft/lie? C'mon in.  New driver or irons you want to try?  Sure...what you got not working?  Let's adjust...free regrips, and some trackman time when needed.  

 

But I had the same guy for multiple fittings and he was solid and got to know me pretty well.   There have been plenty of bad experiences all over - happens.  If you don't like what you see, don't understand what they are asking/selling/offering, kind of on you just as much as them.  

 

Do the homework, trackman has great information out there, this site is a virtual encyclopedia if you can soft through the occasional BS post..wait...nah.  

 

 

[cristphoto]

I've said it several times on these forums but it bears repeating. What has provided the best cost/benefit results for me over the years and several sets of clubs is going to manufacturers demo days.  Note: I've played golf for over 50 years, know my (usually reliable) swing and am still a single digit handicap. At demo days you are hitting outdoors so you can see the actual flight of the ball.  Several loft/lie/shaft options are available to hit so unless you are an extreme body type you should be able to find a decent fit. If you are a higher handicap golfer to me this is the better way to test versus being confused with a large choice of exotic shaft upgrades which might not be the logical choice. Club manufacturers today offer shaft options that are a good fit with their clubs over a wide range.  Plus usually there is no additional charge.  I have no experience with many of the club fitting businesses of today but have a real problem with "double charging" if a golfer opts for a different shaft.  When I get my specs from a demo day I order the clubs and usually in a couple weeks I get my clubs.  I find it odd that some of the fitters mentioned would order an assembled club from the manufacturer and then replace the shaft rather than simply order the correct fit to begin with.  What if you needed a club that was longer or shorter than stock?  Replacing that shaft and cutting to size would throw the weight off.  Same goes with lie angle. Would they order a standard lie and then bend it to the golfer's spec?  If you're told no, that they order the correct fit, then why would they not order the correct shaft also instead of going through the re-shaft (and higher pricing) process?  Would the same process hold true for buying a new car?  They order every car in black and when the customer says they want a red car the dealer repaints it and charges an additional $2000? 

[bonvivantva]

2 hours ago, cristphoto said:

I've said it several times on these forums but it bears repeating. What has provided the best cost/benefit results for me over the years and several sets of clubs is going to manufacturers demo days.  Note: I've played golf for over 50 years, know my (usually reliable) swing and am still a single digit handicap. At demo days you are hitting outdoors so you can see the actual flight of the ball.  Several loft/lie/shaft options are available to hit so unless you are an extreme body type you should be able to find a decent fit. If you are a higher handicap golfer to me this is the better way to test versus being confused with a large choice of exotic shaft upgrades which might not be the logical choice. Club manufacturers today offer shaft options that are a good fit with their clubs over a wide range.  Plus usually there is no additional charge.  I have no experience with many of the club fitting businesses of today but have a real problem with "double charging" if a golfer opts for a different shaft.  When I get my specs from a demo day I order the clubs and usually in a couple weeks I get my clubs.  I find it odd that some of the fitters mentioned would order an assembled club from the manufacturer and then replace the shaft rather than simply order the correct fit to begin with.  What if you needed a club that was longer or shorter than stock?  Replacing that shaft and cutting to size would throw the weight off.  Same goes with lie angle. Would they order a standard lie and then bend it to the golfer's spec?  If you're told no, that they order the correct fit, then why would they not order the correct shaft also instead of going through the re-shaft (and higher pricing) process?  Would the same process hold true for buying a new car?  They order every car in black and when the customer says they want a red car the dealer repaints it and charges an additional $2000? 

Thanks for the reply.  You've made a lot of really good points.

 

Unfortunately your demo day suggestion won't work for me.  I went to a Callaway demo day once at my local range once, but they had them set up on the mats.  My range has grass tees, but they're open on day a week for maybe 4-5 months a year.  I will try to keep my hears open for other local demo days, but unless I see one advertised at a course I play or something, I'm not sure how I'll be aware.

[phizzy30]

The fitting process from CC is usually worth it provided the fitter is competent.  However, I would just get the spec sheet after the fitting and go else where to actually purchase the clubs.  My cousin had a decent fitting at CC in Newport Beach and I went with him just to observe a few years back.  I am open to go to CC or Cool Clubs for putter fitting though as I feel as though the Newport 2 I have is decent but not perfect fit for me.