Custom Fitting
What is True Custom Fitting?
There is so much misinformation about custom fitting.
Lots of retailers claim to offer custom fitting, but actually they are only offering an estimated static measurement.
True custom fitting simply cannot be achieved by filling in an online form, or by taking a few static measurements and then concluding you need clubs 1” longer than standard and 2* more upright. Firstly there is no standard length, lie or loft in golf – take a look at the table below:
Manufacturer |
Model |
Length |
Lie |
Loft |
Mizuno |
MP67 |
37.25 |
61 |
32 |
Ping |
S57 |
37.25 |
61.5 |
30.5 |
Titleist |
AP1 |
37.50 |
62.5 |
29 |
Callaway |
X-20 |
37.50 |
62 |
30 |
(measurements from a 6 iron)
No one club is the same specification:
- a Titleist is 1.5* more upright than a Mizuno
- a Ping 0.25” shorter than a Callaway
- And as for the lofts, it’s no wonder you’re a club shorter than your playing partner!
Also from this simple static fit how does it address the following:
- What stiffness (frequency) of shaft best suits you?
- What happens if "Stiff" is too stiff but "Regular" is too soft?
- What weight of shaft best suits you, to give you the best contact and flight?
- What balance point of shaft (i.e. where the weight is in the shaft) best suits your swing, tempo and release?
- What head design and sole grind is best suited to your swing and future development?
- What swingweight of club best suits you?( i.e. how heavy the head feels)
As you can see a simple 20 minute session cannot address these issues.
True custom fitting is working one-on-one with a trained custom club maker, building clubs to your exact specifications – If you need clubs between regular and stiff this isn’t a problem for a trained club maker.
The one-to-one club fitting process offered by Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club uses the advanced technology of Vector Launch Monitor and PGA Professionals trained by Titleist and TaylorMade to answer all the questions above. The fitting session is tailored to your requirements, and you will leave the Studio confident that you are giving your game the "best shot" at improvement - true value for money.
To find out more about a detailed custom fitting process, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you.
Taylor Made & Titleist Custom Fitting Systems
The Titleist FittingWorks SureFit System makes iron fitting easier, faster and more precise than ever. With 10 interchangeable heads and 15 shafts, the SureFit system offers 150 possible iron combinations to optimize performance for better players.
The easy-to-use SureFit system allows Titleist's network of expert fitters to select from a broad array of clubs to demonstrate which specifications work best for the golfer during an iron fitting.
Developed in close coordination with Titleist R&D and tested by expert fitters at the Titleist Performance Institute, SureFit interchangeable irons are designed to feel and perform like standard epoxied clubs.
By matching the cg locations, headweights and shaft flex properties of epoxied clubs, Titleist engineers have created interchangeable irons that produce mean launch angles within 0.1° and mean spin rates within 10 rpm of standard clubs.
Launch Monitors
Launch Monitor technology is a valuable diagnostic tool utilized while club fitting.
Launch monitors can assist with fitting drivers, fairways, utility clubs, irons, and wedges. Launch monitors allow for more precise diagnostics and help discover the yardage gaps between each club in your bag.
Iron Fitting
Titleist irons combine tour-proven design elements with your fitter's expertise to produce consistently accurate iron shots. During the iron fitting process, the fitter will determine which model and specifications best meet the individual golfer's needs to enable better scoring.
Step 1: Test baseline Conditions
The fitter will observe current ball flight tendencies, personal swing characteristics, and discuss your preferred ball flight, carry distances and ball-stopping performance expectations.
Step 2: Select the Proper Model
Titleist offers a variety of iron models to fit your game, with various profiles, offest, loft progression, and aesthetic propreties.
Here is an overview of our iron models and their unique features and benefits:
Step 3: Select the Iron Specifications
Length
The proper iron length will allow for ideal posture at address and will result in the most consistent on-center impact.
The length fitting process will begin by testing a standard length 6-iron with face impact tape. Depending on shot distribution, golf swing, posture and ball flight results, the player will continue testing 6 irons at various lengths until on-center impact marks have been achieved and ball striking optimized.
The most common 6-iron on the PGA Tour is 37.5" (standard) followed by ¼" over standard. This is the result of good posture at address and maintenance of proper posture during their swing.
There are circumstances where a player's swing does not allow for on-center impact marks, and the ideal length will be determined by one that encourages good posture and the most consistent ball strinking.
Lie Angle
Lie angle has a significant effect on a player's ball flight and is easily identified and diagnosed. When lie angle does not fit the player's swing correctly the ball flight will often force changes in their swing and the player can develop poor swing mechanics.
Lie angle is tested with impact tape and a lie board. The player will begin testing lie angle at 62.5° (standard) and hit shots off the lie board with both ball flight and impact marks evaluated.
R & D Test Results: Based on a 165 yard #6 iron shot.
| Lie angle 2° off equates to a shot 20 feet off target line | Lie angle 4° off equates to a shot 40 feet off target line |
Depending on the ball flight, testing will continue until the player's preferred ball flight is achieved with shots flying consistently at the target. When a player's swing does not allow for on-center lie marks a lie angle will be chosen that promotes the most accuracy or encourages preferred ball flight.
Step 4: Optimize Launch Conditions
Iron ball flight is largely based on the player's swing characteristics, which can be fine-tuned with varying head and shaft properties. Regardless of a player's individual trajectory, the selected irons should provide specific yardage gaps and ball stopping ability throughout the set.
Shaft Flex
Proper shaft flex allows the player to load the shaft properly and maximize energy transfer to the ball.
Quicker tempo swings generally require heavier shafts and firmer flexes, while smoother tempos may benefit from lighter weight shafts with softer flexes. Most players will benefit from softest flex that producess controllable and consistent ball flight.
Shaft Type
The shaft largely plays two roles – it impacts the golfer's feel during the swing and alters the ball flight due to properties such as flex point and weight. The ideal shaft type produces the player's preferred trajectory, feel and performance.
During the fitting process, players will test different shafts in search of the combination of properties that field the desired ball flight.
If not already completed, the fitter will determine the longest iron which produces a playable trajectory using Titleist Long Game Performance Charts. More and more PGA Tour players are removing long irons from their bag due to the performance benefits of utility clubs.
A playable trajectory is defined as a high launching trajectory that produces maximum carry distance with a descending angle that will allow the ball to stop on a green with control.
Grip
Proper grip size will produce less tension in hands and forearms, and facilitate proper release. Test different grips to arrive at the best size and preferred grip type (round or ribbed). Proper size will have fingertips slightly touching the palm in the player's left hand.
Step 5: Summarize
The fitter will review which clubs are selected and discuss their recommendation with the golfer so there is a clear understanding as to why each club specification was chosen.