Got fit last week for custom clubs.

My two best options (best ball strike, distance, carry, spin, etc.) were the Mizuno M-15 or Titleist T100 5-GW.

The shop has been around for 30+ years and pretty much everyone in KC acknowledges they are the best place to get fit and have repairs done. They stand behind their work and warranty the work as long as you own the club (or repair/whatever).

His price for the clubs was ~ $30 per club more than if I ordered direct from the factory. They don't order from the factory, they order the parts and assemble the clubs for me in their shop. Then, after I have them for a few weeks they want me to come back and make sure lie-angle is good, shaft is correct, etc. Club is warrantied for life (bent or broken shaft, they fix it, no questions asked).

My local muni course can also order the clubs direct for me, and b/c I'm a resident and have a patron card ($40 for the year - get $5 off greens fees and 7-day advance tee times - more than paid for itself already), they will give me 10% off.

Shop basically said "completely understand if you go that route, just bring them to me so I can make sure they sent you what your ordered - no charge". He said he's seen more than one set of clubs come from the factory that were way off spec from what was ordered (like to long, wrong shaft, wrong lie-angle, wrong swing weight, etc.

It would be $1700 for the T100 from the shop, $1,360 from the local course.

he is right about not getting what you order from factory. The big names are the worst offenders, Callaway being especially terrible at zero QC for their direct order clubs. Mizuno is probably the best at checking what they pack up to ship, I have no idea about titleist. Very good idea to have all length, lie, loft and grip alignment checked when they arrive. That is a valuable service and very nice of the ship to agree to do it for free for you knowing you plan to purchase somewhere else.

Hard to not go for best price, especially given the delta, but you clearly see the value in what they offer, so you have to make a choice. I personally would order them cheaper, bring them to the shop to take advantage of their offer to check everything, and then pass them a $50 when they check it all out if everything is fine. Of course, if it isn't in spec, you will be paying them per club to bend or cut of regrip things to spec, and maybe that is why they offered.

Hanrahan said:

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you have failed to ask the chat a question.

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The new post window went haywire and I could not type any more, so I had to "post" and edit.

I Am A Critic said:

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Are you asking if you should pay a little more for the guy who helped identify your specs and will warranty his work or if you should screw that guy out of the work he's already done in order to save yourself a few bucks?

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I mean, I did PAY HIM to fit me in the irons, so I'm not screwing anyone. If I go back to get any checked, I'll be paying him again for 30-minutes on the sim ($50) to check lie-angle, etc.

agracer said:

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I Am A Critic said:

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Are you asking if you should pay a little more for the guy who helped identify your specs and will warranty his work or if you should screw that guy out of the work he's already done in order to save yourself a few bucks?

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I mean, I did PAY HIM to fit me in the irons, so I'm not screwing anyone. If I go back to get any checked, I'll be paying him again for 30-minutes on the sim ($50) to check lie-angle, etc.

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Yup. That is the way. And also what shaft has he fit you with? The club head is one thing. The shaft, in my experience, is infinitely more important. Don't take the stock shafts. Flex is important relative to club head speed. Don't know what age you are.

I have had to reinvest in clubs as I have aged. If you are in your 20s or 30s, swing away!. I have had to recalibrate in my 50s.

Manufacturers are notorious for sending new clubs that are slightly out of spec. A good customer club fitter will order them and check the specs, then bend them to the proper lie and angle.

Currently playing Titleist AP2 716 with AMT DG S300 130g shafts fit for 10 years ago. I'm 56yrs old.

He had me hit my current clubs and while I hit them OK, I explained that I have to really work hard to get good results (like be super aggressive with my swing, which when I get tired on the back 9 leads to poor results).

We went thru several shafts on the T100's as those are the closest to my current irons ( Stiff and regular flex - Nippon KBS, AMT, and one graphite shaft) and found the DG S300 105g worked the best (launch angle, spin decent, consistency, etc.). Really felt like I could take a nice relaxing smooth swing and get really good results. IIRC 7 iron was 81+mph and 113 mph ball speed 160ish yard carry (T100 7i is 33 degrees).

He then had me hit the T150, Mizuno M15, P-790, Calloway ???, and maybe the Mizuno JPX 925, all with that same shaft and I want to say he did try one other shaft at the end just to confirm.

I hit the T100 and M15 best and most consistent distance and dispersion, even on mis hits. I actually the M15 a little better, hit 120mph ball speed once but it's also 29 degrees loft).

DargelSkout said:

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Manufacturers are notorious for sending new clubs that are slightly out of spec. A good customer club fitter will order them and check the specs, then bend them to the proper lie and angle.

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The shop orders all the components separately and builds the club's custom for me and warranty for as long as I own them.

I would go the $1360 route...believe Titleist has a one year warranty and I don't think you are being disloyal to him. Just keep giving him business for other fittings, new grips, etc. I don't see a huge value in him putting everything together if he is going to check all the specs from the manufacturer. Maybe go through him for a driver whenever that is required. I feel like those have more issues that would necessitate a warranty claim.

agracer said:

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Currently playing Titleist AP2 716 with AMT DG S300 130g shafts fit for 10 years ago. I'm 56yrs old.

He had me hit my current clubs and while I hit them OK, I explained that I have to really work hard to get good results (like be super aggressive with my swing, which when I get tired on the back 9 leads to poor results).

We went thru several shafts on the T100's as those are the closest to my current irons ( Stiff and regular flex - Nippon KBS, AMT, and one graphite shaft) and found the DG S300 105g worked the best (launch angle, spin decent, consistency, etc.). Really felt like I could take a nice relaxing smooth swing and get really good results. IIRC 7 iron was 81+mph and 113 mph ball speed 160ish yard carry (T100 7i is 33 degrees).

He then had me hit the T150, Mizuno M15, P-790, Calloway ???, and maybe the Mizuno JPX 925, all with that same shaft and I want to say he did try one other shaft at the end just to confirm.

I hit the T100 and M15 best and most consistent distance and dispersion, even on mis hits. I actually the M15 a little better, hit 120mph ball speed once but it's also 29 degrees loft).

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Sounds like a very thorough fitting. Just expect your swing speed to decrease over time. Mine has already. I went to regular flex shafts. Can I be succesful with my other bag of M3s with stiff KBS shafts... yes. Its just a harder swing. Over time that sucks for me.

Then it will be time for new clubs!!!


Seriously though, could just get the T100s reshafted if that becomes an issue.

I'd opt to have that shop build them for you as they will make sure everything is right, or should.

I got fit for some new Mizuno's a couple years ago and since my boss was a former rep and still gets a discount, I got him to order them for me.

They came in with correct shafts & grips, but the length and lie was off. Nothing egregious, but would ahve been nice to have everything to spec.

98Ag99Grad said:

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An extra $340 is worth it for me when spending this much money in the first place. You know it will be built right and can go back there anytime for adjustments. Let the guy build it for you IMO.

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Yep. Easy decision for me.

If you use someone to do your fitting, you should buy your clubs from them. I don't think it's right to get fit and then go shop your fitting for a better price.

Yes, I understand that. I've gotten plenty of fittings. I know how they work. My opinion is if you're having someone do your fitting then you are also buying the clubs they fit from them.

cb1919 said:

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Yes, I understand that. I've gotten plenty of fittings. I know how they work. My opinion is if you're having someone do your fitting then you are also buying the clubs they fit from them.

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Respectfully disagree, sir. I do see value in using the fitter.

Pahdz said:

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Bought my clubs from the guy who did my fitting. Turns out what we started with and bought ended up being a miss, he's worked with me a ton, given me free lessons and let me take demos on out of town golf trips. All while reworking my irons and not charging me an extra cent for any of it.

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Like I said, there is some value there. I was fortunate to have a PGA golfer do that for me. Since those days, I have had a 2nd bag of clubs built for me at my cost. Most of that was good. Wedges I custom ordered a 2nd time at my cost. I may reshaft my driver now. The cost has been a large investment. I have done it all myself after playing and understanding my club head speed has gone down.

I don't want to add up my costs.

So, yeah, a fitter has value.

agracer said:

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I Am A Critic said:

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Are you asking if you should pay a little more for the guy who helped identify your specs and will warranty his work or if you should screw that guy out of the work he's already done in order to save yourself a few bucks?

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I mean, I did PAY HIM to fit me in the irons, so I'm not screwing anyone. If I go back to get any checked, I'll be paying him again for 30-minutes on the sim ($50) to check lie-angle, etc.

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If you paid the fee, why wouldn't you take the best deal?

$340 is $340 and I don't know anyone that just rolls down the window and throws $340 out the window.

If your loyalty to the fitter is strong and you just have a bunch of money laying around, buy from him. Otherwise, he's already given you an out.

It's not "throwing it out the window"

powerbelly said:

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It's not "throwing it out the window"

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Not following your thinking. He paid for the "fitting" - for $50, not really sure what he got, but he seems pleased with that service. The guy offered him a price on the clubs. The guy basically gave him an out to go elsewhere for the purchase. He can get a better deal with another relationship for ($340) less. In my house, that's money not well spent. Would you do the same for any other purchase - car, truck, boat, etc?

zephyr88 said:

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powerbelly said:

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It's not "throwing it out the window"

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Not following your thinking. He paid for the "fitting" - for $50, not really sure what he got, but he seems pleased with that service. The guy offered him a price on the clubs. The guy basically gave him an out to go elsewhere for the purchase. He can get a better deal with another relationship for ($340) less. In my house, that's money not well spent. Would you do the same for any other purchase - car, truck, boat, etc?

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The extra money insures they are the correct specs and done correctly, which is almost never the case in my experience when ordering clubs.

Yeah I think you're missing the point. If I had taken my specs from my fitting gone an ordered direct there is undoubtedly no way I'm getting the same post sale service that I've received including replacement shafts for free (on top of that the free lessons).

You certainly got a good kicker on your purchase. If that was a known part of the deal, the decision is easy. But not trusting the ordering process direct with the manufacturer is a bit much. What specs are you worried about being fictated by the manufacturer? The clubs heads will be real. The shafts will be marked - brand, flex, etc. the grips will be installed per your requests.

Based on the clubs you are getting you are a better golfer than me and probably more serious about staying on top of your game. I'd probably go with the fitter because of what he offers after purchase.

zephyr88 said:

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powerbelly said:

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It's not "throwing it out the window"

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Not following your thinking. He paid for the "fitting" - for $50, not really sure what he got, but he seems pleased with that service. The guy offered him a price on the clubs. The guy basically gave him an out to go elsewhere for the purchase. He can get a better deal with another relationship for ($340) less. In my house, that's money not well spent. Would you do the same for any other purchase - car, truck, boat, etc?

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$100..I posted above what was involved in the fitting. It was very thourough and they are rated top 100 fitters in the country for many years. They gave me half back on the purchase of the new irons.

Also, in case anyone else missed it, I ended up going with the place that fit me to buy the clubs.

The local course never got back to me on a final price (I was taking 10% off the Titleist price online) so I went with what I thought would be the best.

What's most important is that you are happy with your purchase.

Hit 'em well.

Really like the new Irons.

Got them last week but only been to the range with them (grass range) and got a lesson last Friday morning which went great. Striking the ball really well.

Played 9 tonight, 6 over par which include 2 x 3 putts and one put left at the edge of the cup. Only hit my driver twice (The t-boxed have been fried by the weather so half of them were pushed up to the fairway - hit my hybrid instead).

Really struck the irons great tonight. Hitting everything about a half club further than the old ones.

Went back and reread OPs question. There is a big difference between the fitter buying components and assembling and buying from the manufacturer.

For 2 reasons:

1. He is taking the risk that the clubs will be correct.
2. If there is any customization (shaft length, lie, loft, etc), you will be hard pressed to order and get correct clubs from the manufacturer.

Just my 0.02.