How to Get Fit for Golf Clubs

There’s something to be said for having the right equipment for the job.

In golf, this concept is very prevalent. Maybe more so than just about any other major sport. In football and basketball, other than the equipment you wear, there isn’t much individualization. In baseball, players have certain bats they like to use, but in golf, there is a ton of personalized equipment.

If you’ve been playing golf for a while and have moved past the beginner level (How to Choose Golf Clubs for Beginners), it might be time to get some custom-fitted golf clubs.

For me, I got my first set of golf clubs around my sophomore year of high school. I continued to use those same clubs for over 10 years. Do you know what happens from about the age of 15 to 25? You grow… a lot!

The clubs I was using at the age of 15 were no longer good for me at the age of 25. Like most people, my coordination, manual dexterity, strength, height, and overall size changed significantly.

In this post, I want to share with you the “how” to get fitted for golf clubs. When you decide to pull the trigger and get fitted for golf clubs, below are some questions you need to ask or consider before buying

How to Custom Fit Golf Clubs

Although getting fitted for golf clubs requires some time and effort, the end result can be very rewarding. Some golfers see immediate results once they switch from off-the-shelf clubs for beginners to custom fit golf clubs. Consider these eleven questions before buying:

1. What’s the price of club fitting? If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know that affordability is a big thing for me. Don’t be shy about asking how much it cost to get fitted for clubs. Shops can charge a wide range and you want to make sure you’re staying within your budget…at least I do.
2. What shaft length do I need? Beginner clubs are great for when you’re still growing and learning about golf. But if you’ve become serious about it, you’re probably at an age where not much more growth is going to happen. Additionally, golfers have different postures, stances, and arm lengths. Having the proper length will make a big difference.
3. What kind of shaft should I have? Most golfers should use clubs with regular flex. Don’t let your ego convince you that you’ve got a monster 160 mph swing, so you need a stiff shaft. This will only hurt your game unless you’re naturally this strong and capable. Clubs come in a variety of shafts, so learn how fast your club speed is, and choose wisely.
4. What lie angle do I need? The general rule of thumb is, the closer you stand to the ball, the more upright your club needs to be. As you stand further from the ball at the address the lie angle of your clubs should be flatter.
5. What grip size do I need? The bigger your hands are, the bigger your grip should be. If you have a tendency to slice the ball (which is very common), a smaller grip might help. And on the flip side, if you tend to hook the ball, a bigger grip might help.
6. What material for the grips? Leather is the most expensive and the hardest to maintain, and it’s really for low handicappers. This isn’t to say, you need to automatically bypass leather grips. A beginner might be wise to use an all rubber grip. If you play often, you might have to change them up, but if you find golf doesn’t fit you, you’re not out a bunch of money. Cord is another popular golf grip material. Figure out which one suits you best and grab it. Do you play with a glove, or do your hands tend to get sweaty (Best Golf Grips for Sweaty Hands)? These are questions that can influence what kind of grip material would work best for you.
7. What kind of irons should I buy? Golf manufactures have irons for every golf swing out there. The type of irons you get will depend on what kind of golfer you are. If you’re a beginner to an intermediate golfer, a cavity-backed iron might be best.
8. Graphite or steel shafts? Steel shafts are usually cheaper, while any other shaft will cost a bit more. Ideally, you want to test out both kinds of shafts and see how they compare. In general, you want the lightest shaft you can swing with the most control.
9. What type of putter should I use? Again, in the last few years, there has been a tremendous amount of new tech-related to putters (Best Putter for Bad Putters). Probably because your putter is the most used club in the bag and can really make or break your score. Between long putters, belly putters, putters for straight swings and putters for arc swings, try a bunch out and pick the one that will provide the most birdies.
10. Try before you buy? As you can see there are several variables with all the different clubs. If possible see if you can demo some of the clubs you’re interested in purchasing. Most shops will let you test drive the clubs in hopes of getting a sale, so make sure you’re getting the clubs you want.

Conclusion of Getting Fitted for Golf Clubs

This list isn’t meant to be an all-inclusive list, but it should provide you a start with what kinds of things you need to be thinking about before buying custom fitted golf clubs. Buying custom fitted golf clubs will put a little dent into your pocket so you want to make sure you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck. The last thing you want is to walk away with any kind of post-purchase dissonance or the wrong clubs.