Antiquated to Updated: The evolution of club fitting

If you were to define a “golf club fitting”, your definition would likely vary from that of your playing partner, your father or even the local pro you use for lessons. You may have been fitted at your club a decade ago for your current set, while …

If you were to define a “golf club fitting”, your definition would likely vary from that of your playing partner, your father or even the local pro you use for lessons. You may have been fitted at your club a decade ago for your current set, while your playing partner might swear by their futuristic swing analysis session. In an industry with simultaneously so many innovations and so many traditions, it can be hard to know when modernization is truly the best option for your game.

Take golf equipment, for example. Each year, manufacturers release a new model touting faster ball speeds, longer carries, more accurate shots. From a sales perspective, this makes complete sense but from a practical standpoint, is there evidence to support the claim that new equals better?

“In short, the answer is yes,” said Nick Sherburne, master fitter and founder of Club Champion, the nation’s #1 custom club fitter. “We’re in a unique position since we see every model from every brand. Independent club tests back the claims and so do our informal findings.”

The principle is the same with club fitting: if your father’s iteration of a fitting found better equipment options, does that mean a modern version of Dad’s fitting can really give you an even greater competitive advantage?

Sherburne is so sure that the answer is yes that his brand is offering 50% off their custom club fittings to prove it. This winter special — 50% off all fitting types with a $500 equipment purchase — is active from November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021. Those seeking out a putter fitting are only required to purchase a new putter for the 50% fitting discount to apply.

(courtesy of Club Champion)

At any price, the insight and edge a golfer gains after a fitting is priceless. Club Champion uses technology every step of the way, from TrackMan swing analysis during a club fitting, Science & Motion’s PuttLab to optimize the putter, to PUREing machines that orient each shaft optimally into each clubhead during the build process. The mentality is show-not-tell: let the golfer see the improvement in real-time because the data doesn’t lie.

A Golf Digest study found that eight out of nine custom-fit golfers lowered their scores by as much as six strokes per round and added an average of 21 yards off the tee. That same study found over 13 yards extra distance with fitted irons. And that doesn’t even address the improvement in control and overall accuracy found with a fitted set.

“What we do is both an art and a science,” said Sherburne. “Every level of golfer can see massive improvement with a club fitting when they’re willing to embrace a modern fitting process — even if it looks a little different than it did back in the day.”

In short, this is not your father’s club fitting, and thank goodness for that.

For more information or to book your Club Champion fitting, call (888) 340-7820 or visit clubchampiongolf.com/golfweek.

(courtesy of Club Champion)