Antiquated to Updated: The Evolution of Club Fitting

By: Cassandra Bausch

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.

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.

Member Benefit: | Club Champion

Golfers of All Skill Levels See Improvement with Custom Fitting

Club Champion fitters create instant success

With advances in golf club technology, most golfers could easily hit the ball farther and more accurately. Yet golfers of all skill levels still struggle with distance, consistency and other elements of the game that could be tightened up with a custom club fitting like the ones offered at Club Champion.

A Golf Digest study found that eight out of nine custom fit golfers lowered their score by as much as six strokes per round and added up to 21 yards off the tee after a Club Champion fitting. Even more impressive, higher handicap golfers saw the most improvement, dispelling the idea that only scratch golfers are “good enough” to be fitted.

“It never ceases to amaze me that golfers buy clubs off the shelf and assume they’re right for them. Whether you’re a great golfer or a casual one, getting a custom club fitting is one of the quickest ways to improve your game,” says world-renowned instructor and Club Champion brand ambassador David Leadbetter.

The nation’s #1 premium fitter, Club Champion delivers a Tour-quality fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots, with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate. Their approach is unbiased; no specific vendor is promoted. The only goal is to find the best combination of components to lower your scores.

The company has a unique coupling system that allows them to combine any head and shaft together, so golfers hit the precise combination to be custom built for them. Club Champion is the only fitter to offer 45,000+ interchangeable head and shaft combinations on-site at all of their national locations. The equipment available for demo is far more expansive than what’s offered at competitive companies, and the variety allows the master fitter to find exactly the right combination to complement a golfer’s swing. Those golfers don’t have to wait to test the suggested clubs – they get to hit the exact club that will be custom built for them.

“The proof is in the results,” says Florida resident Dave Greer. “The fitting process was amazing. The fitter first identified the proper shaft and then found the right head. With each combination, I was able to see the improved results statistically laid out on screen. I picked up 10-20 yards in distance. It’s worth every penny spent just to see the looks on your playing partners’ faces when they see the results of your changes.” Club Champion stores nationwide are offering a FREE fitting for a limited time: fitting costs are waived with an equipment purchase of $500 or more. Terms apply; please call (888) 340-7820 or visit clubchampiongolf.com for more information.