5 TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT CLUB FITTING

[@banjoe7533]

Really appreciate your videos. Advice is very practical and honest.

[@matts3979]

This is wonderful. I now feel more confident on how to prepare for the fitting.

[@petegalindez9961]

As always, great advice! I did a fitting at Club Champion last summer, and it was a disaster…I’m pretty knowledgeable about golf clubs, but I hadn’t played in over a year due to hip issues…got a replacement and decided to get fitted…my bad: doing it too soon after surgery. I could swing a club, but I hadn’t really felt my swing, and I had no stamina. I did go in with some ideas of what I wanted, but I really only researched heads and knew next to nothing about how much the shaft matters…While nothing felt great by the end, I chalked it up to just not getting my groove back yet, and we picked a set of irons/shafts based on the Trackman data…long story short, they never felt good…they performed fairly well with great forgiveness (Titleist T200s), but I was hitting a lot of thin shots and never consistent…After 4 months of misery, I decided to visit my local Golf Galaxy and had them put different shafts into a T200 head…after a half dozen visits or so (I’d hit a few dozen, take notes and leave, and do more research), I narrowed it down to two shafts…Project X LZ 6.0 or AMT White S300 shafts…both are significantly heavier (and cheaper) than the LA Golf Tour AXS 85R shafts they fitted/sold me…AND, found I hit the T100S irons much better too…so, I ordered just the 9-GW T100S to test them out with the Project X LZ shafts, and had the AMT White shaft inserted into my 9 iron T200. the Project X in the T100S were awesome…I ordered the rest of the set…so, will be selling the T200s with the LA Golf shafts…just too light for me overall…even though the swing weight on them is D3 compared to D1 in the T100S irons I ordered…

[@randyryser672]

Great advice. Recent fitting went well and all five tips were dealt with. Excellent fiitter; and after two days of thought and fund raising i bought the very best clubs for my situation. Lastly, when I left the fitting I eas so tired it was hard to drive. Excellent video. Thank you.

[@captainsnake7406]

Have my fitting today, glad I watched this.

[@EFGMC]

Check out my other fitting video too!

[@floydhewitson3527]

you cant beat a good honest approach well done. Fitters answer this Gents x 5 key questions and you will have a very good fitting process. cheers

[@mjes51]

Your tips are very good. As you said they go beyond what is already out there and they were well thought out and very valuable. I intend to use them.

[@EFGMC]

Glad they helped. Thanks for watching.

[@nicholasricchiuto8923]

AJ, I have to commend you and say thank you so much for all the pertinent information. I am a golf junkie, and a workshop rat (mechanical engineer) by trade. . I have invested 1000’s of hours on my game (biomechanics, swing training) I have always lacked an understanding of how the equipment and those variables can influence power, consistency, etc. Regular 6’ 175lb guy, so I have always bought clubs off the rack. As a self proclaimed tinkerer, I cannot wait to really dive in and design my perfect set. I’ll let someone professional bend the lofts and lies for now, but you have taught me so much in a short period of time. I have dealt with the artistry of swinging the club, I am looking forward to digging into the mechanical variables next. I have to say, you have the very best channel on KZbin relating to all of those subjects. You are the pioneer channel for people like me looking to understand better the science of the club fitter. I thank you very much for that! Keep up the fantastic work. I will bend those lofts and lies myself in my garage one day. Baby steps. Thanks again AJ. Keep the great content rolling! -Nick R

[@EFGMC]

Thank you sir. I appreciate your support!

[@terrorfactoryfilms]

This is a great video, thank you so much for the information! I had a terrible fitting experience last season and didn't follow ANY of your tips. It was my first fitting ever, and I was completely overwhelmed. Upgrading a set of irons that I'd been playing since 1988 (Tommy Armour 845s SilverScot), as well as other clubs in the bag dating aback to mid-2000s. So yeah, full bag fitting and I had NO idea what I was doing. Basically just bought whatever the fitter told me to, and to be honest he was kind of a pompous jerk. Anyway...I ended up trading in the iron set, and looking for another driver fitting this summer. So yes, this was a very helpful video, thank you!

[@EFGMC]

Hopefully it helps next time around. There are good fitters out there, but just like any field, some are less than great. The more knowledge you go into a fitting with, the greater your chance of success. Thanks for watching!

[@63Baggies]

@@EFGMC I'd like a club fitter to 'Hot Rod' my existing clubs for someone of my size to develop a neautral swing with decent distance gaps between wedges, irons and woods. I don't really want to be a new set of irons as I love the equipment I have...can't sell it - too old - don't want to enter the arms race egged on by someone who just wants to sell me a new set. Is that something you do?

[@txpatriot7044]

Don't show up drunk? I was trying to simulate my typical golf day. LOL

[@Da.Onus.Burger.618]

😂😂😂😂💯

[@bobalino]

😆

[@phill8504]

Thanks for the advice. I am playing more golf now than I have in at least 10 years. My game is very streaky and inconsistent, but I am working on it at the range. I have a older set of mizuno forged CB, 36 degree loft on my 7 iron😊😊, so if I was getting fit, it would be for stronger lofted clubs (30-32). I guess what I am trying to say, I don’t have a way to determine, how much my mishits could be improved by technology, bad swing/alignment issues , or club fitting to my build.

[@EFGMC]

I would not focus ever on distance. I really just care about how small the circle is you can draw around all your shots, the bad and the good. And how consistently you make contact!

[@phill8504]

@@EFGMC Thank you again for your advice. I have my driver, pretty much lined out using your advice, knowing where I should hit it, foot power, lead tape choked down ~1 inch. I could do the same with my irons, and play a few rounds, to see how that affects my consistency.

[@wallstreetoneil]

Here's my list: 1) go to a range with your current clubs, get warmed up, and then hit 5 shots with every iron and record your carry distances, shot shape, and peak height with each club (try and find where your first mid/long iron is no longer flying as high as you hit a 8/7 iron - all this data is CRITICAL for a good fitter - especially note if there is a last iron where your shot shape stops being consistent - maybe a lie angle adjustment will help when your new clubs are fit 2) You can do #1 on mats to figure out carry distances, shot shapes and peak heights - BUT, you also need to hit a grass range and figure out how YOU deliver the club through the dirt - what do your divots look like (look very closely and look at the shape of them and tell your fitter) - how you go through the dirt/grass and the steepness or shallowness that you come into impact is CRITICAL for picking a club sole design to help you. People think that wider soles are more forgiving - that can be 100% completely false if that sole design doesn't work for you - this detail is incredibly important for a good fitter 3) know your current club specs exactly - go on to the manufacturer's website and find exact specs (loft and lie) for your current set. This may be all new information that you have never thought about - but this is the time to educate yourself. What is the exact loft of your PW, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 - it's just useful information to build your own knowledge so you are more educated. If your 7 iron is 34-degrees, how far do YOU carry it? Is YOUR 6 iron 31-degrees, and is this the last iron you can get enough height to hold a green? All of these details are incredibly important to help the fitter determine the last best iron you should hit, what is the next best iron/hybrid/wood to move into, etc, etc - you NEED this information. 4) Set Construction. Given where you play and your skill level with the long and short clubs in your bag, can you get away with a PW that might be 45-degrees, that if it was bent to 47/48-degrees, that you could then fit into a 54, bent to 53, & 58 bent to 59-degree wedges because you are a golfer that wants a 22-degree 4-hybrid, a 19-degree 3_hybrid or 21-degree 7wood, and a 5wood + 3wood & Driver. If you are about to drop a few thousand on new clubs, really, really try and figure out if you want more help on the long end, or more help on the short end of the bag - and if the answer is short end, are you actually good enough to hit all these different lofted wedges

[@benasselin4363]

This is amazing information, getting these down can make a club fitting enjoyable rather than stressful and ultimately walk out frusted👍🏻

[@dunbarcustomsound]

Thanks so much for this feedback. It gave words to so many things I’ve been thinking but didn’t even know how to say as an amateur/recreational golfer. I’m really good with my short clubs (mostly because I played par three courses and never played traditional courses ) but I suck at hitting hybrids, Woods and the driver especially.

[@davidsmith812]

What is a reasonable fee to pay to have your present clubs (which you like!) fit to your swing? LOVE your videos! They are so sensible and most informative. Thanks for all you do!

[@EFGMC]

Good question but tricky to answer. I would think around $100 for the fitting portion. The alterations would depend on what needed to be done (ie something simple like larger grips vs. full reshaft of set). The fitting portion I would really recommend doing as much as possible yourself. Some lead tape and a can of foot spray powder and you can find out a lot about what works for you.

[@stephenmoore8716]

I have a fitting booked for May 12th at Titleist. I'm wondering if I have limited myself by excluding other brands? I chose the location because of our Club Professional where I am the Assistant Superintendent. Thanks for the list, I hope I can get enough swings in before my fitting. We just started cutting grass today where we are.

[@EFGMC]

Titleist has plenty of good offerings. Are you doing irons, woods, wedges?

[@stephenmoore8716]

@@EFGMC long irons/hybrid woods driver. Its a 2 hour fitting. I plan to replace my gap wedge to driver over the next year

[@EFGMC]

@@stephenmoore8716 Personally I think the best stuff Titleist makes is the woods and wedges so I think just having a single brand fitting is okay, assuming you like them personally. Everyone I know with the drivers, love them and keep them.

[@stephenmoore8716]

@@EFGMC thank you

[@bradolson3510]

I got fitted for a driver and I love it! Can I just buy the same brand iron shafts for my irons and make them work?

[@brad2boy804]

I have a question because I seen a lot of video where they try out new club brand and different shaft but can I get my current club fitted that I have or I have to get a new one

[@EFGMC]

No, you can totally take the irons you have and retro fit them. At my new shop, I will be doing shaft fittings, which is what you're describing. New grips, loft and lie adjustments, and it's like a new set of clubs!

[@paytonk1154]

Any thoughts on PXG? Thanks.

[@EFGMC]

I think they are solid irons. Have not hit them but worked on numerous sets. I think if you like Ping, you will likely enjoy PXG as well.

[@63Baggies]

I'd like a club fitter to 'Hot Rod' my existing clubs for someone of my size to develop a neautral swing with decent distance gaps between wedges, irons and woods. I don't really want to be a new set of irons as I love the equipment I have...can't sell it - too old - don't want to enter the egged on by someone who just wants to sell me a new set. Is that something you do?

[@EFGMC]

I consult on things like that. Looking at upgrading shafts in some cases, loft/lie adjustments, different tweaks.

[@richardherman7483]

Just had an iron fitting on Saturday. This is exactly what we did. Tried some other brands but my current gamer was the best. Changing shafts and lie angles. Playing Callaway Apex 21s

[@sethrooney4417]

Thanks

[@nocturnalmayhem0]

so how do you get fitted for one length irons? lol i love my cobra f9 OL but i find the pw and gw almost impossible to hit good like i chunk them so horribly but i love the 5 and 6 iron as they hit like my 7i . the 8 and 9 are iffy but if i hit them pure theyre spot on. Maybe OL is just a gimmick who knows lol

[@EFGMC]

Just cut down the 8,9,PW an inch and try them that way. I think one length is only good on paper but if you can have 2 distinct lengths, I think it can work.

[@migelikali7265]

Hello AJ, I'm getting ready for a full bag fitting... how do I find you ? where are you located ? I'm in northern Utah, are you very far from me ?

[@EFGMC]

Unfortunately, I'm in Atlanta, GA.

[@johnthyden4446]

It seems to me the first things that should be checked are the static measurements, such as length, lie, grip size before you go into dynamic measurements such as flex, weight, shaft material.

[@stevenjenkins3882]

10-4

[@mjes51]

AJ, got a question after viewing. the video. Is it a possibility that if I was interested in buying one length irons, let's say 7 thru 5 iron, you could buy any set of irons on the market, cut down the 6 & 5i to the 7i length and with weights or whatever is available to a club maker adjust the 6 & 5i to match the other irons in the set in regards to what was fitted for them? Another way to ask, if I was fitted for and liked the let's say Ping G425 irons and wanted the 7i 6i and 5i to all be the 7i length, would that be possible for a club maker or you would say that it wasn't because of design and intent or any other reason. Enjoy your videos. Keep up the great job.

[@EFGMC]

The short answer is yes you can. However it would require numerous alterations to make it perform correctly in many cases. Would need to adjust the head weights to be consistent. Would need to decide if you want the same shaft in all or use different shafts based on head. Would need to adjust lie angle. Might need to adjust lofts to get the gapping right. So it can be done and you could just cut them down and see what happens, but very likely would need additional modifications. Also something like a Ping head will be extremely difficult to adjust for lie and loft just fyi.

[@mjes51]

@@EFGMC Thank for the reply. The reason I asked is that I am interested in the concept of the OL irons but not sure if it would be too hard for me at my age to adjust especially the higher numbered irons and wedges. I guess if I decide to go with OL I could just go with the manufacturers that put in the time and study like Cobra.

[@EFGMC]

@@mjes51 Another option would be a hybrid set where you go with a 1/4 inch length progression instead of single length. I built a set like this and it made the long irons and short irons a little more reasonable than everything one length.

[@mjes51]

@@EFGMC I currently play the Cleveland HB Launchers that I bought a few years back. I like them. They gave me more confidence hitting my irons and were very forgiving. When I get my complete bag fitting in the Spring they will be a good benchmark to try and beat. I am hoping with all the new equipment out there I can buy some improvement along with working on my swing.

[@kymstock1852]

@@mjes51 I read your question and thought I might be able to assist you by sharing my experience. I have been using SL irons for four years . I was new to golf at age 63 and thought SL might be quicker to master. I have tried Cobra f7 and F9 5-GW , but eventually swapped to a graphite shafted Milford Golf SL-7 available in OZ/NZ. ( think Pin Hawk) that were weaker lofted. Now I am using Hybrids 19,25,29 degrees then my 7 i ( 33 degree) -LW all SL-7. I have also used the HB Launchers and think they are good too. What about trying HB Launchers 4? ( or a 7 wood) - through to 7 iron ( 30 degree) , then PinHawks 33-GW ( or through to SW/LW if you want). The Pin Hawks are relatively cheap and if you don't like them , easy to move on. The main advantage of SL irons is that you have a wide band of approach distance that every swing/ ball position is the same. My shots inside 130 yards are a strength in my game.

[@jimgift8107]

I have a shaft question. I played my best golf with R flx speed step 80 XR callaway irons. I've switched to Ping G410 irons with SR flex graphite shafts. I'm finding that I continue to hook the ball too much with these making it hard to hold any greens. Will switching back to light weight steel shafts help to reduce my hooking?

[@EFGMC]

Hard to say for sure as you are dealing with more than one variable (steel v graphite, light v heavier, Callaway v Ping). In general a more flexible or lighter shaft will increase the chance of hooking it, but not always. It sounds like that could be your case. I would also look at the swing weight and just see if they are different. Pings are often lighter swing weight which could also be causing the miss.

[@jimgift8107]

@@EFGMC thanks, I'm going to try different shafts and club heads during a fitting to see if it makes any difference.

[@rickchrist4736]

@@EFGMC What about a flatter lie angle?

[@seanpeacock5595]

#4 is the best. Walk away, cool off, think about what you saw.

[@EFGMC]

Exactly. Don't get wrapped up in buyer frenzy.

[@JJ-lm4pg]

Especially true if you haven't practiced or played during the off season. I always recommend a short follow-up session to validate the fit.

[@chrisw9445]

Happy I subbed keep it up 👍

[@tylerfj24]

some things you talk about are demo days.. if you walk into a fitting and want to hit 80g and 130g and in between. the fitter is gonna get pissed. let him fit you..

[@EFGMC]

Disagree. Heard enough bad stories to know that a person needs to guide or in some cases lead their own fitting and not rely on the fitter. Not to mention as the customer, if you want to hit 130g x flex and follow it with 60g light flex, that's your choice. Not saying it's a good idea necessarily but still your choice.

[@invisiblegraveyard4742]

Don't show up drunk. Whew. Got it.

[@EFGMC]

It's good advice for many areas of life!

[@invisiblegraveyard4742]

@@EFGMC does it make sense to get fitted for a driver if you have a 2 way miss? thanks!

[@EFGMC]

@@invisiblegraveyard4742 A better fit driver may help lessen the 2 way miss or may be able to cancel out one of the miss directions. Could be helpful, I would just go into it with realistic expectations about how much the club can really do.

[@invisiblegraveyard4742]

@@EFGMC thanks!

[@andrewmccullough9334]

Could somebody advise me on how to pull the putter head off a single bend shaft? Know it's not relevant to AJs video but it's driving me up the wall 😡

[@EFGMC]

Heat and twist. Same as any other steel shaft club.

[@andrewmccullough9334]

@@EFGMC where do u apply the heat, at the base of the shaft or bottom of the head ?

[@EFGMC]

@@andrewmccullough9334 That will depend on the putter. Does it use a stem to connect the shaft or is it a hole bored into the head. What brand and model?

[@andrewmccullough9334]

@@EFGMC it's a bore into the head Taylormade Corza Ghost mallet

[@EFGMC]

@@andrewmccullough9334 I would use a heat gun, not a torch and heat up the heel portion of the head trying to stay away from the insert. Other option if you are getting rid of the shaft, you can cut it an inch or so from the head, heat up a metal rod with a torch, then insert the rod into the shaft and soften the epoxy from the inside. Then you use some pliers to pull the shaft piece out. I would try first method first though.

[@MegaTubescreamer]

wasting words and waffling too much is not helping, be direct and tell people what they wanted to know