A club fitter assists golfers in establishing consistency in their technique and choosing the proper gear. If you'd like to become a professional club fitter, the Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals, or AGCP, requires you to obtain the proper training and pass a series of certification levels.
Full Answer
What is a golf club fitter and how does it work?
You'll begin by hitting your current clubs to establish a baseline, then the Fitter will provide new combinations of club heads and shafts to test and dial in to provide the most consistent and accurate wedges for your game. This is the most comprehensive golf club fitting available, and not for the faint of heart.
What can you learn at a golf fitting?
You can adjust the lie of your club from a square position to either more open or closed. One of the most amazing things you’ll learn about at a fitting is also the most obvious -- the importance of a properly fitted set.
Is a professional fitting worth it for your golf game?
They say that once their golf game starts to improve they’ll invest in a professional fitting, but it’s not worth it yet.
How do I find the right fitter for me?
Third, and maybe most important, find the fitter who is asking and listening more than he or she is selling. The right-fitting clubs don’t always require a purchase, but they do require someone dedicated to your best interests. Facilities listed alphabetically by city within each state, independent shops followed by national chains.
What does a golf fitter do?
The fitting process is similar for a putter: fitters observe a golfer's putting performance, paying close attention to the face angles and ball roll characteristics of each putt.
Is golf club fitting worth it?
Is it worth getting custom fit golf clubs? The simple answer is yes, it's definitely worth getting custom fit golf clubs. If you were to look at the back of a typical set of off the shelf clubs, they would usually have various markings on them as well as loft and lie angles.
What makes a good golf fitter?
Great fitters with great reputations and proper knowledge have long lists, even waiting lists, of golfers waiting to see them. The biggest sign of a great fitter is a long list of repeat customers.
How do you become a PGA fitter?
Master Fitter TrainingComplete the Austad Golf Custom Fitting Education.Pass the written fitting exam.Pass the "Experiential" fitting exam with a current Master Club Fitter.Pass the Online Fitting Education for Titleist, Ping, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Cobra and Srixon annually.More items...
Should beginner golfers get fitted?
Beginner golfers should get fitted for golf clubs because they have the most to gain from playing the right clubs for them. All golfers adapt their swing to their clubs so if beginners choose clubs which are not well suited to them they will immediately form bad habits that become hard to break.
How long does a golf fitting take?
In terms of what to expect, Grabowy said that fitting a player for a full set of clubs will take about two and a half hours and include "educating" a player about his or her needs. The fitting process also remains pretty much the same for woods, irons and wedges.
What do golf fitters look at?
With every individual golf swing, there are two fundamental factors to consider: The centeredness of the strike on the clubface. The dynamic face angle of the clubface at impact (raw face angle + lie angle)
Do you have to buy clubs after a fitting?
Usually, the cost of the fitting is subtracted from the cost of the clubs if you buy them. If you don't like any of the clubs you try, then don't buy anything. You will likely have to pay a moderate fee for the fitting, but the results are yours to keep.
Do I bring my clubs to a club fitting?
Because the first step of the fitting process is to establish a baseline from your current performance level, make sure to bring the following: Your current club or set of clubs.
How much does it cost to get golf clubs fitted?
On average it costs between $250 and $600 to get a full bag of golf clubs fitted. Driver only fittings typically cost from $50 to $175 as do 'irons' fittings. Wood/Hybrid and wedge custom fittings can be cheaper at $40 to $150 but golf club fitters will often 'refund' fitting costs if you buy clubs afterwards.
Should you get golf lessons or club fitting first?
If you really want to improve, there's a lot of value in properly fitted equipment before, during and after any swing changes you make from golf lessons. So if you've been wondering whether you need lessons before fitted clubs, it's not necessary. The combination of both is really the best way to shoot lower scores.
When should you get fitted for golf clubs?
Regular golfers should get fitted for clubs every 5 years. Wedges & forged irons need checked every 2 years due to extra wear & tear but fitted putters last a lifetime. Drivers are worth checking with fitters every 5 years for better options but gains vs. costs need to be assessed at each fitting.
How much does a fitted set of golf clubs cost?
If you want to get your entire bag fitted, the average cost will be $275. If you want to get an individual club fitted (driver, wood, irons, wedges, putter), it'll cost you somewhere around $100 each. So, if you wanted to get your irons and wedges fitted, here is what you'd spend: All irons: $100.
What Is A Golf Club Fitting?
Tim Briand from TrueSpec Golf describes a club fitting as the process that helps us determine which clubs will help us optimize our performance.
What Happens At A Golf Club Fitting?
A golf fitting professional analyzes the full spectrum of your game to identify the best clubs to help maximize your performance.
What Are The Advantages Of Getting Fitted For Golf Clubs?
Once you have been fitted for clubs, you will have a clearer idea of the shaft material, flex, and weight that promotes your preferred launch and ball flight.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Getting Fitted For Golf Clubs?
There are very few downsides to this exercise, but the main roadblock for most golfers is the golf club fitting cost.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Your Golf Clubs Fitted?
The actual fitting is the affordable part of the process. The average golf club fitting cost will run you between $100 and $200. That fee is just for the fitting professional to analyze your current setup and suggest the best path forward.
How Much Do Fitted Golf Clubs Cost?
The answer to how much do fitted golf clubs cost is not as simple as the golf club fitting cost. The total price for fitted golf clubs will vary depending on the brand of clubs, shaft, grip, and club heads that you and your fitted decide are best suited to your game.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a better understanding of the process. You can make a better-informed decision on whether you want to proceed and fork out the $100 to $200 fees for the golf club fitting cost. As we found out, there are more benefits to getting fitted than there are cons.
What is brand agnostic fitting?
Many custom club fitting companies offer what is known as brand agnostic fitting, meaning they do not just specialize in one club manufacturer. Instead, they have hundreds of shafts and clubheads from various brands.
What is the most important factor in golf club distance?
And as we know, clubhead speed is one of the most important factors for distance. Also, with fitted golf clubs, you’ll find it much easier to make consistent contact with the “sweet spot” of the club. Quality contact is essential to maximizing your distance.
Why does shaft weight matter?
Shaft Weight. Regardless of your ability or handicap, the weight of the shaft matters because it determines the total weight of the club. One of the main goals behind custom fitting is that you get a golf club in which the total weight matches your swing tempo. This helps with timing and improves consistency.
What is the best thing to do with a brand agnostic fitter?
Going with a brand agnostic fitter instead of your local pro shop or golf store is the best thing to do. Most pro shops or golf stores have some kind of relationship with specific club manufacturers. This usually means they are provided with incentives to sell a certain amount of a particular manufacturer’s inventory.
Why do you need a one year buffer before fitting a golf club?
This is likely because it leads to more consistent strikes with much less effort.
What happens if your shaft is too light?
If your club shaft is too light, you’re going to struggle to stay in control during the swing. Too heavy, and you’re going to need to put in extra effort and will likely sacrifice balance and clubhead speed. Shaft weight also plays an important role in determining the “feel” of the club throughout the swing.
Why is the shaft important in golf?
The shaft is essential for the consistent performance of the golf club. Many experts would even argue it’s the most important part of the club. In fact, one club-fitter compares the club shaft to the transmission of a car. “The shaft is similar to the transmission of a car.
What is the lie angle on iron fittings?
Lie angle is one of the most important specs to get right in an iron fitting. If it’s off, you’ll have a much harder time with accuracy and hitting more greens. Historically, lie angle has been measured by reading divot patterns or using sole tape and a lie board to mark strike point being centered, toe, or heel down.
Why is it important to choose the right golf shaft?
Choosing the proper shaft is a hugely important part of the fitting process. The shaft will greatly influence the feel of your irons, not to mention the launch, spin, landing angle, and distance of your golf shots. Also, there are no standards in ...
Who is Greg Gibson?
Greg Gibson is a Staff Golf Professional, Certified Clubfitter, Instructor, and Trackman Specialist at Golf Headquarters in Louisville, KY. He previously served as General Manager, Director of Golf, and Head Golf Professional at Shelbyville Country Club. To make an appointment with Greg contact the GHQ Louisville staff at 502-245-8600
Do upright clubs go left or right?
Upright clubs tend to go more left…. Bending them upright might give a cleaner divot but would make his misses even further to the left. Not a good move as a fitter. Incidentally, when the face is closed, the toe is lower, the lie board was giving him a false impression of his club’s lie angle at impact.
How long does it take to fit a golf club?
In terms of what to expect, Grabowy said that fitting a player for a full set of clubs will take about two and a half hours and include "educating" a player about his or her needs. The fitting process also remains pretty much the same for woods, irons and wedges.
Why is club fitting so difficult?
Challenges often arise with club fitting because of preconceived notions that customers have. Those who pursue professional club fitting need to approach the process with an open mind and not let their expectations -- or egos in some cases -- interfere.
Who is Ed Grabowy?
Grabowy is certified as an Advanced Professional "Class A" Clubmaker by the Professional Clubmaker's Society and a Professional Clubmaker by the Golf Clubmaker's Association.
Where does Chris Wallace live?
He lives with his wife in Pinehurst, N.C.
What is an AP2 iron?
The AP2 irons are, “advanced performance, multi-material irons that offer playability, the traditional solid feel of a forged iron and contemporary yet classic looks for the skilled to highly skilled golfer. AP2 irons are technically advanced blades that provide increased forgiveness without sacrificing shot workability while combining traditional blade length and sole width with a more efficient multi-material weight distribution.”
What is Surefit Tour Hosel?
That means that your club can be independently adjusted to precisely fit your game with the help of a special wrench. You can adjust the lie of your club from a square position to either more open or closed.
How many balls does a 52 degree wedge hit?
We quickly found the right shaft, bounce and grind for the 52-degree wedge after hitting about 10 balls. But, before the fitting was completely over, it was time to put the 56- and 60-degree wedges to the test for a ball fitting.
Is a CB iron forgiving?
Unlike most traditional blades, however, the CB Forged irons are much more forgiving. There’s a small cavity on the clubs and with a slightly wider, filler sole, it’s easier to be aggressive through the ground. I certainly don’t consider myself a highly skilled player.
What happens if your fitter is closely connected to a few brands?
If your fitter is closely connected to a few brands and doesn’t have a diverse club matrix, it’s going to negatively affect your session.
Do fitters use launch monitors?
Some fitters have old-school tendencies, but nearly every one of them relies on a launch monitor in some form or fashion these days. If a launch monitor isn’t in the cards, consider an alternative fitting option.
Who is Jonathan Wall?
Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour.
What clubs should I use for Sones?
Sones recommends beginning students start with just a few clubs that fit correctly. For example, you can start with just a sand wedge, a pitching wedge, a 7-iron and a driver. This gives you a few proper tools to learn with. Once you get a few clubs or a full set that’s in the right wheelhouse for your skill level, physical size and budget, ...
Why is it important to get fit for beginners?
“It’s very important that beginners get fit because we develop our swings around the gear we use without even realizing it ,” Briand says.
What happens if a golf club is too short?
If a club is too short, too long, too light, too heavy, the lie angle is completely wrong, the club itself is the wrong design, or any of a number of factors are off , you could be setting yourself up for failure. The game-improvement irons on the left will be much more forgiving and enjoyable for beginners than the blade irons on the right.
Is Briand Sones a golfer?
Even though Briand is a club fitter and Sones is an instructor, both experts agreed that learning the game using poorly fit equipment is a huge hinderance on both improvement and enjoyment. “Some golfers believe they have to get to a certain level to get fit, but that’s a wrong perception,” Sones said. “Using the wrong clubs for you can negatively ...
How to set yourself up to play golf?
In conclusion, here are the recommended steps to take in order to set yourself up to to play great golf and enjoy the game for years to come: 1. Get a basic club consultation from an expert. 2. Make the proper alterations to your current set, or purchase a budget-friendly starter set (anywhere from 1-14 clubs) 3.
Will my swing patterns change?
It is likely that your swing patterns will change after a number of lessons. Your angle of attack may change, your method of releasing the club could shift, and you will (hopefully) gain some speed and strength, too.
Does Daniel Berger use cavity back irons?
Daniel Berger uses cavity-back irons from 2011! Many amateur golfers of varying skill levels stunt the improvement of their games by believing they’re “ not good enough ” to get a club fitting. They say that once their golf game starts to improve they’ll invest in a professional fitting, but it’s not worth it yet.
