Custom fit equipment

Do most of you guys buy your equipment custom fitted or off the shelf?

Quite a few on here have been custom fitted at The Belfry. Myself I don't bother.

I managed to attain scratch just by buying them off the rack in a Pro shop, so have never seen the need. I pick it up, swing it and if it feels right then I buy it. I am able to play with anything in the iron ranges. The woods have got me beat at the moment but my brain and my body are fighting for supremacy and the body is winning at the moment.

Well, Will, I did try that a few months ago at my local driving range and ended up with a Ping G10 with a soft regular shaft as I am now 72 and I still cannot get off the tee.

I was also talked into a Taylor made burner 19deg rescue. I hit it twice and it has been in the boot of my car ever since. The reason, it goes not further than an iron and is certainly not so easy to control. This of course could be down to a very poor wood swing that I possess.

Are you a Pro, Will, I see you come from Gloucester. Which club.

I am now a member at Sherfield Oaks, Nr Basingstoke, part of the Crown Gold Network. I don't suppose your father was a pro by the name of Chris Smith.

Fitted for my irons, wedges putter and hybrid.  Self-fitted for woods by trying lots of different types, then various shafts (and lofts for driver) until I found what worked best.  I'm a standard length shaft (35" putter), one wrap of tape on the grips (short fingers), 1* flat on the lie.  Shafts are semi-stiff in irons (5.0 rifles), stiff in the hybrid, regular in the woods (although with a 93mph driver head speed I would benefit from something a little stiffer).

Hybrids should be swung like a mid-iron John as opposed to a wood, maybe even a touch further back in the stance.  I have the same hybrid as you (same loft, stiff shaft) and on it's day can be a great club.  I agree it's difficult to work, but I usually hit mine straight or with a slight draw.  If I want to work the ball, I get a 4 iron out instead. 

Chris, I am sure that you hit your hybrid well, in fact you probably hit every club better than me at the moment.

I do understand the principle of these hybrids bu cannot see what it can do better than my irons, after all I am quite capable of hitting a three iron still, even my 1 iron if I decide to stick it in the bag.

Will, I do remember the tour you mentioned playing at Sherfield and I watched a few of them fire off the first tee.

I was really impressed as almost everyone hit an iron and still knocked it past the corner for an easy short iron to the green. Us lesser mortals find this a very tough hole to start with.

I suppose you are making a living now by giving lessons at the driving range. It is always a pity when dreams are not realised  but sometimes we have to accept that we are just not good enough.

When I bought my last set of clubs I had them custom fitted and it was at no extra charge.

Yes I can tell the difference between my new clubs and my old set.

Well worth having it done.

Russ