Custom Fitting
Custom fitting is the individual adjustment of your golf clubs to your body measurements, swing and playing ability.
In a custom fitting, length, shaft, flex, lie angle, grip size and clubhead are matched to you. The basis is measuring your swing with a launch monitor, which makes ball flight, launch angle, spin and clubhead speed visible. Added to this are static measurements such as height and hand size. The result is a set that fits you, rather than the other way round. The term Clubfitting is often used synonymously, in German-speaking countries also Schlägerfitting.
In practice a fitting takes about one hour per club category. Example: you test three irons 7 with different shaft flexes. The monitor shows that with the stiffer shaft you hit the ball five metres higher and eight metres farther, because your swing speed matches it. Afterwards the lie angle is checked: if the toe of the club points upward at impact, the ball flies left and the lie is bent flatter.
There are two typical misconceptions. First: fitting is said to be only for very good players. The opposite is closer to the truth, because beginners and mid-handicappers benefit most from the right length and forgiveness. Second: fitted once, valid forever. Swing and body change, so a check every few years makes sense. Anyone starting fresh can also begin with an adjusted base and fine-tune later, instead of playing against their own swing for years with the wrong equipment.
FAQ
Is a custom fitting worthwhile for beginners too?
Yes, especially so. Beginners and players with a middle handicap in particular benefit most from the right club length and forgiving clubheads. With off-the-shelf equipment you otherwise spend years playing against your own swing instead of developing it.
What exactly happens during a custom fitting?
You hit balls into a launch monitor that measures ball flight, launch angle, spin and clubhead speed, and static measurements such as height and hand size are also taken. Based on the data, you test different combinations of length, shaft, flex, lie angle and grip size. Expect about one hour per club category.
Does a fitting apply once and forever?
No. Your swing and your body change with training, age and playing experience, so a check every few years makes sense. If you start freshly fitted, you can begin with an adjusted base and fine-tune later instead of buying a complete new set straight away.