Do I Really Need to Get Fit for Golf Clubs?
If you’re just starting out playing the game of golf, you are most likely borrowing a set of clubs from a friend or family member. Perhaps you were gifted a budget set of clubs to use for your new hobby. Before too long, someone will mention or ask if you’ve ever been “fit for golf clubs.”
What does this mean? Do you really need to get fit for golf clubs to enjoy the game?
Let’s clear up a few things.
What the Heck is a Golf Club Fitting?
A golf club fitting is the process of seeking advice on the proper golf clubs to play for your skill level from a professional, certified golf club fitter.
This process usually entails traveling to a golf club fitting studio or golf course pro shop, meeting with the certified professional, and testing multiple golf club build options. The professional fitter will offer recommendations on different club options to try based on the shot characteristics you produce with each swing.
Modern golf club builds offer thousands of clubhead, golf shaft, weighting, forgiveness, and other combinations from which to choose. Trying to fit yourself to golf clubs, while possible, can be an extremely daunting task for any golfer. That’s where the keen eye and experience from a professional fitter can be helpful.
At the conclusion of your fitting, you will be provided a “profile” or “build sheet” that includes the golf club recommendations that fit your skill level best. Those golf clubs can then be purchased separately from the fitting studio, pro shop, or direct from the golf equipment manufacturer.
That Sounds Like a Lot of Work and Money
That’s because it is.
There is no sugarcoating this: golf club fittings do come at a hefty price tag for the majority of services available to you. This is due to the time, labor, materials, and shipping inherent within the club fitting process and the professionals who make it happen. Not only are you paying for the equipment itself, but for the expertise of a certified professional.
The final price of this process and resulting equipment options vary widely. However, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars or upwards of $1000 (or higher) depending on how many clubs you are getting fit for and the type of clubs you end up buying.
No Thanks, I’ll Just Buy My Own Clubs
You can definitely do that if you want. The majority of golfers will. But not so fast.
While the club fitting process can cost a ton of money and a good amount of time, there are undeniable benefits to getting fit at least once. I know this from firsthand experience.
A skilled fitting professional will use the latest technologies (like Trackman, Foresight, SkyTrak, or similar ball launch monitors) and have access to the best golf club options for your game. They will also identify tendencies in your shot data — such as shot dispersion, curvature, spin rates, and distance with each club — and recommend club build options to minimize “bad shots” while promoting more “good shots.”
The majority of golfers are unable to notice and/or understand these tendencies on their own, let alone while at the driving range or on the golf course. Furthermore, most golfers will not realize that their equipment might be the underlying problem as opposed to only their golf swing.
In fact, the worst thing a golfer can do is alter their swing to account for ill-fitting equipment. You’d be amazed how often golfers do that.
Oh. Ok. So I Should Probably Get Fit?
Yes, at least once in your playing career.
Think of it this way: would you purchase a car without test driving it first? Would you purchase a home without an inspection? Would you spend money on a new suit or dress without first trying it on?
If you consider the amount of money that golfers spend on new equipment, the fact that most do so without understanding if it’s the best for their skill level should terrify you.
Getting fit for golf clubs is an investment, but it might be the best thing you can do for your game outside of lessons.
