Blog: Weary but enthused after custom-fitting sessions with Ping, TaylorMade, Adams, Callaway and Titleist
We’re fast-approaching the stage where we can’t imagine hitting shots without a Trackman on hand.
Welcome to the Premier Inn, Chessington, where James and I are recuperating with a hard-earned pot of tea following a long but rewarding day.
It began with a 4:55am alarm call (it should have been 4:45 but I couldn’t bear to type that number in) and a long drive down to Wentworth, where TaylorMade and Adams have their fantastic fitting facilities.
By half past 10 we were under the wing of TaylorMade’s Liam McDougall and working our way through the new range. Both of us loved the R15 driver and Aeroburner fairways – which are seriously hot – not to mention the lively RSi irons.
Then afternoon we moved into the next bay and the Adams Second Shot centre.
The best bit about this for me was the opportunity to dial in fairway woods and hybrids, which is a part of the set too often neglected while we wrestle with new drivers and sets of irons.
It allows you to establish even gaps between clubs and also to work out what job you want each club to do. For example, I was looking for a powerful, low-flighting 3 wood for tee shots in windy conditions but a high-flying 5 wood to complement this, for when I’m looking to find – and hold – a green from distance.
The aim of the whole exercise is to get ourselves custom-fit specs from all the leading brands ahead of our testing season beginning next month.
It began with Benross and Lynx last week, then to Gainsborough – on the day that Ping were launching their new G30 LS Tec driver, Glide wedges and Cadence TR putters.
James got some great numbers off the G30 irons, and moved smoothly into the wood range of the same name. I can see these taking some removing from his bag this season.
What we’re finding out is that everyone has a slightly different take on custom fitting and that each range of clubs has different properties, that work best with different shafts.
There’s no doubt that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a fitting. Some fitters work exclusively with the numbers from launch monitors while others are more concerned with what their expert eye can see.
It also depends on what you as an individual want. Would you prefer to be guided by the fitter through the entire process and trust their knowledge and experience?
Or would you rather it was a more feel-based session, where you are offering feedback on what the clubs look and feel like, and how they fly to your eye?
I guess the latter is more the old-fashioned way while the former is more heavily reliant on technology.
There’s no doubt that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a fitting.
Quite apart from using expert advice, the clubs perform incredibly differently which means being able to hit them before committing to buying is a must.
We’ve hit hundreds of balls during our fitting marathon so far.
And don’t forget, with launch monitors (sometimes cruelly) tracking our every move there’s nowhere to hide. You have to give every shot your full attention.
From Wentworth it was on to Callaway for a look at all their new gear followed by a trip to to Silvermere to hit Yonex’s latest product.
Friday, we were at St Ives to see the full Titleist range and then on to the PGA Show in Orlando to get a few more specs from some manufactures.
We’re confident that the results of all these fitting sessions will be better, more meaningful equipment tests in NCG during the months ahead. Make sure you don’t miss them if you want impartial and honest buying advice.
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