Club fittings
Upgrading Your Golf Equipment: What You Need to Know
You’ve been playing for a year or two, your handicap has dropped to 18, and you’ve joined a club. You're now fully invested in playing every week. Naturally, at this stage, many golfers start thinking about upgrading their equipment.
Replacing an entire set can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Many golfers upgrade gradually, often starting with a new driver after trying a friend’s and noticing an instant improvement. Iron sets tend to last longer, especially if fitted correctly, while wedges are swapped out more frequently due to groove wear. Fairway woods usually stay in the bag for years if they perform well, and once a player finds the right putter, it can stick around for life—though some enjoy collecting and experimenting with different models.
Before You Upgrade: Consider Your Golf Ball
Before diving into club upgrades, it’s worth looking at the golf ball you’re using. Playing with a consistent ball can make a big difference in performance and feel. Your swing characteristics—launch angle, spin, and ball speed—play a role in determining the right fit for you.
Many manufacturers, like Titleist, offer ball fitting days where you can test different models under professional guidance. I highly recommend attending one if possible. Visit Titleist.com and sign up for Team Titleist to gain access to local fitting events and possibly score some promotional goodies.
The Importance of Club Fitting
If you're serious about improving, getting fitted for clubs is essential. Your local PGA professional or a certified club fitter at a golf shop or driving range can guide you through the process. Many fittings are free, and they allow you to compare different clubs objectively.
After a session, you’ll receive your club specifications, which helps narrow down the selection process when buying new gear. A good fitting is based on performance, not marketing hype.
Driver & Fairway Wood Fitting
When fitting a driver or fairway wood, the fitter will evaluate:
- Loft & Shaft Combination – Finding the optimal mix for distance and accuracy.
- Shaft Options – Modern clubs offer numerous shaft choices, affecting launch and spin.
- Adjustability – Most modern drivers allow for loft, weight, and face angle adjustments, but once set correctly, you likely won’t need to tweak them unless your swing changes.
Understanding Shafts
Choosing the right shaft is just as important as selecting the clubhead. Here are key shaft characteristics to consider:
- Weight – Ranges from 40g–90g. Most amateurs fit best with 50g–65g shafts for optimal swing speed.
- Flex – Affects energy transfer; getting the right stiffness is critical.
- Torque – Determines how much the shaft twists. Higher torque helps slicers; lower torque helps stronger players with hook tendencies.
- Kick Point – Impacts ball flight. Low kick helps launch higher, mid for mid-flight, and high keeps launch lower.
While understanding these factors is useful, a good fitter will dial them in based on real-time shot data.
Iron & Hybrid Fitting
For iron sets, the fitter will determine:
- Shaft Type & Flex – Similar considerations as woods.
- Length & Lie Angle – Ensuring the clubs fit your posture and swing path.
- Iron Set Composition – Many golfers don’t need irons lower than a 5-iron due to launch and landing angles. Hybrids or lofted fairway woods often replace long irons, while skilled ball-strikers may prefer traditional 3 or 4-irons.
If your swing changes significantly after buying irons, a club fitter can adjust the lie angles using a loft and lie machine. It’s worth checking every so often to make sure they’re still correct.
Key Takeaways ⛳️
✅ Find a Good Fitter & Support Their Business – A knowledgeable fitter makes all the difference.
✅ Fittings Are Not Golf Lessons – Don’t expect swing tips during a fitting. The fitter is there to analyze and optimize your equipment, not fix your technique.
✅ Mixed Brands Are Fine – Professionals are often paid to use one brand, but if they could, many would mix and match for performance.
✅ Grip Size Matters – A properly fitted grip enhances control and comfort.
✅ Forged vs. Cast Clubs – There’s a myth that forged clubs feel softer or perform better. For example, Vokey wedges (used widely on tour) are cast, yet they feel great and are more durable than some forged models. Performance should always take priority over aesthetics.
✅ Consider brands that offer Club Fitting options
✅ Use Blades, But Should You? – Bladed irons look great, but unless you’re an exceptional ball-striker, they will make your game harder, not better. Think of it like driving a Formula 1 car—fun to imagine but impractical for most!
Final Thought
A good fitter will never pressure you into buying something that doesn’t improve your game. They provide data-backed recommendations, but ultimately, the decision is yours. When upgrading, focus on performance over preference—it will make a lasting difference in your game.
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