'I was fit at the driving range out of a fitting cart!' 'I was fit at the local retailer hitting into their net on the simulator!' 'I was fit at a friend's house that asked me how far I hit a 7 iron and measured my wrist!'
Well, this may sound familiar to just about all of you. Truthfully, none of these constitutes a truly complete and thorough fitting. Myth #5 regards just what is a fitting.
As is the case with most things in life, there are a number of options. Just look at the automated car wash at the local gas retailer. As you drive up you're inundated with option #1, #2, #3, and so forth. Each option in the hierarchy offers another service in addition to the previous option. If you picked #1, you could truthfully say that you had a car wash. But, what about the guy who picked option #7 with the 3 stage wax, clear coat protectant, under carriage wash, wheel shine, RainX treatment, and so forth. If you got a car wash, then he must have gotten a car laundering. The same is true for fittings. While none of the items mentioned earlier are not a form of fitting to a degree, they are certainly no option #7. So, then, fittings can come in different degrees. Let's take a look at these.
Option 1: Hitting some balls at a driving range or demo day with clubs provided by a vendor. You can be fitted as long as it's one of the clubs that they make and it's in stock.
Option 2: Hitting clubs while being monitored by a launch monitor. Not bad but again, your options are only the clubs that they have to hit and are in stock.
Option 3: Similar to #2 but there is a fitting cart involved. The problem here is that the selection is extremely limited again to what the particular company offers and it may not be what's best for you.
Option 4: Swing a club in front of a 'speed checking' device, have your wrist to floor measured, have you address a ball and slip a piece of paper under the toe to get your lie angle. Not good at all!
Option 5: This is what I call the multiple choice option. Participate in a multi-vendor demo day at a range where you can hit and compare all the clubs side by side. The problem is that you, again, only have the options of what they offer as to shafts, setup, and specs, and they just don't fit the majority of the players. You can however pickup some very nice 'trinkets' and stuff from all the vendors.
Option 6: You meet a professional club maker that interviews you, takes the time to find out about your game and tendencies, takes static measurements, and electronic measurements then presents you with plausible options.
Option 7: This is the deluxe car wash! All the things in #6 but now we get into what is the right MOI, lie angle, length, set makeup, weight/torque/kick of shaft, what is the best frequency for you, what is the correct frequency differential between clubs, what is the best length differential between clubs, what grip composition and size is best, puring the shafts, frequency matching the shafts, MOI matching the set, and checking your current set to see what their specs are like. It doesn't get any better than this!
If you are thinking about getting a fitting, you now have the information to help you determine just what a professional fitting is truly. If you are going to take the time and invest in the process, go ahead and pick option #7. It will pay off in the long run and you'll be much happier with the end results and product.
That wraps up the PPGS MYTH BUSTER series and I have enjoyed your comments and communicating with you all as usual. Thanks again for all your support of the PPGS and those involved. Keep it vertical.
J. Lynn Griffin, Master Fitter/Builder & PPGS Instructor
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