In recent years, good and bad players alike have rushed to the store to buy the latest top driver because the man on television told them it would make them hit 30 yards longer. Usually disappointment would follow, as their scores remained the same. Fortunately, today's advances in club-fitting technology have meant that golfers are now able to reap the benefits of clubs tailor made to suit their swings-- good, bad or ugly--by observing and recording certain measurements that are specifically designed to help you.
Analysis
A thorough club fitting will begin with an analysis of the equipment that you already use. The club fitter will carry out basic checks that will include loft angles, lie angles, shaft length and grip size. Having carried out the manual checks, you will then hit shots on a simulator so the fitter can obtain data such as your swing speed, ball speed, angle of attack, spin rates and more. From these numbers, the fitter is able to work out what clubs would suit your swing.
Testing
Having gained knowledge of your swing through observing the data derived from the simulator, the club fitter will then ask you to hit shots with different clubs to see the differences in performance. He has chosen these clubs based on the data generated from the simulator (reference 4). If, for example, the spin rates on your driver were too high, he would select a driver for you to try with a lower spinning shaft. Though the system involves trial and error, the trials are anything but random.
Benefits
Having been custom fitted, there is no doubt in your mind about your clubs. You can play with the confidence of knowing you have the best tools for quality golf. You will hit the ball farther off the tee because you will have a driver with a shaft fit for your swing speed and strength, a head with optimal spin rates, and a perfect grip size (reference 2). You can hit your irons (and inevitably more greens) without worrying that they are too long or that the lofts are wrong.
Misconceptions
Many people still believe that fitting is for the elite, that because they aren't top-quality golfers, the fitting process is something that would be wasted on them. The reality is quite the opposite. If a golfer in the 1980s didn't hit the ball high enough to stop it on a green, he would change his swing, perhaps through lessons. Today, a proper fitting can create a higher flight with the same swing. Club fitting can actually benefit a lesser golfer more than a top golfer who likely swings the club technically better. (references 3 and 5)
Cost
The cost will vary depending on site and level of fitting, but basic adjustments of lie angles, grips and lofts will be relatively inexpensive. Rebuilding your clubs to new specifications, such as replacement shafts, can become expensive and often people prefer to simply buy a new set. If this is the case, you can now go ahead and order clubs that you know are going to help your game. You're better off paying a fraction more to be custom fit than to potentially waste money on a new set of clubs that aren't right for you.
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