Confessions of a golf club fitter

Is everything always as it seems in the customfitting bay? We ask someone in the know how you can avoid some of the more unscrupulous practices

Going for a custom fitting for a brand new set of clubs is one of the most exciting things a golfer can do. The prospect of being expertly guided into the best irons or the best driver to improve your game is surely one to relish and, in the main, reality matches expectation. There are many excellent club fitters out there providing a brilliant service.

Manufacturers pride themselves on helping you to improve your game via their equipment to garner as many brand-loyal fans as possible. This is why they offer so many compelling options which, if fitted correctly, can offer incredibly high levels of performance and, in turn, lead to very happy golfers.

However, while far from widespread, things are not always as they seem in the customfitting bay. As in everyday life, unscrupulous individuals may be manipulating you out of your hard-earned money. We spoke anonymously to a custom fitter who has seen some of these methods first-hand. If nothing else, bringing these underhand tactics to your attention will hopefully make you a little more diligent in your next club fitting. Here’s what he told us...

MONEY TALKS

“I once hired a guy in his early 30s with lots of experience as a custom fitter to join our team at a very high-profile and reputable venue. Once we had conducted some training, covering elements such as our various launch monitors, welcome procedures and ordering processes, the day came for his first appointment. Just prior to heading into the session, he turned to me and said, ‘What do we need to sell today?’ This was met with a fairly blank expression from me and answered with, ‘Whatever works best for the player, obviously!’