Golf Shaft Fitting: (is it Even Worth it?)

When you’re just getting started in golf, there are a lot of expenses to consider. One of them is club fitting, which is the process in which a professional recommends the ideal shaft, grip, and clubhead for you based on your swing.

But is golf shaft fitting really worth it? And how much does it usually cost?

If you’re on the fence about golf shaft fitting, you’ve come to the right place. In the following sections, we explain why golf shaft fitting is worth it and what you need to know about this service.

1. What is a Professional Golf Shaft Fitting Service?

When you opt for a professional golf shaft fitting service, you ask an expert to review your swing and your setup in order to select the best possible shaft for your game. In a club fitting, the fitter will also consider the best grips and club heads to complete your lineup.

While some people consider shaft fitting as a non-essential part of club selection, the reality is that it can make a big difference to your game.

After all, there are so many different shafts you can choose from, and every golfer is different, making it difficult to choose the most appropriate shaft for your game.

You can schedule a fitting with professional golf fitters who will help you choose the right shaft for your clubs before proceeding with the installation.

As such, it’s a good way to ensure that you get the most suitable clubs for your game.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about golf shaft fitting and why it could be a good option for you this golf season.

2. How Important is Golf Shaft Fitting?

Golf shaft fitting is extremely important, even though it’s not something that every player undertakes.* It’s so important because every shaft is made slightly differently, and there are things like launch angle, spin, torque, and flex to consider before making a choice.

For most recreational golfers, it’s extremely difficult to know which shaft is best suited to your game without any guidance.

In other words, choosing the correct shaft yourself is essentially guesswork, and opting for a fitting is the ideal way to ensure you get the correct shaft for your clubs.

During the club fitting process, you can also talk to the fitter about other aspects of your golf clubs, as well as the shafts, including the grips and club heads.

Ultimately, scheduling a fitting is really important if you want to know for sure that you’re playing a shaft that is suitable for your game, which can make a huge difference to your ball striking.

3. How Much Does a Golf Shaft Fitting Cost?

Golf shaft fitting typically costs around $100 to $200. For instance, leading fitter GolfTec charges $125 for club fitting, which is a great place to begin your research, given how good their service is.

It’s important to recognize that a golf club fitting involves more than just shaft recommendations, and it takes into account each of the components of your golf game.

Of course, the shaft is extremely important, but it’s not the only part of the club that contributes to your score.

When you have completed your fitting with a fitter like GolfTec, you can usually buy custom clubs based on the fitter’s recommendations.

If you don’t want to buy an entire set, you can opt for just the shafts that the fitter has recommended.

So, while it’s certainly a significant expense, we feel that shaft fitting is a really important part of the club selection process, more than justifying its cost.

4. Can You Get Fitted for Just a Shaft Only?

As mentioned, most golf fittings consider much more than just your shaft. Look at it this way – if you put the perfect shaft on the wrong clubhead and attach inappropriate grips, it won’t be much use to you!

Therefore, club fitters typically consider more than just the shaft when making their recommendations.

It could be that you currently have clubheads and grips that work well for your game, meaning that you only need suggestions about the ideal shaft to opt for.

If this is the case, you can mention it to the club fitter before they analyze your swing.

After all, the club fitting process is all about finding what’s right for your game, so if you don’t want club or grip recommendations, you don’t need to take them!

However, the fact that you’re usually required to pay for an entire fitting means that it’s worth taking the fitter’s advice on all of the component parts of your clubs.

5. What Club Types Should I Get Fitted for First?

Many people opt for the driver first, given the huge variation in driver shafts available and the fact that most people want to be able to hit the ball straighter and further off the tee.

But in reality, you spend most of your time with your irons and wedges in your hands on the golf course, so it makes more sense to invest in a club fitting for all of your irons.

You could get 4-PW fitted, and all of a sudden, you have the majority of your bag tailored to your swing type.

Perhaps next in line would be your fairways or hybrids, whichever you carry.

These clubs are becoming more and more popular, so it makes sense to attach a shaft that is well suited to your game.

Lastly, you could look at your putter shaft. Improving the shaft on your putter can improve your roll, as well as how your putts feel.

But if you have purchased a premium putter in recent times, it’s likely to come with an appropriate shaft affixed, which is why we would leave it until last.

6. Do Beginners Need a Golf Shaft Fitting?

Yes, any golfer can benefit from shaft fitting. After all, getting fitted means that you are measured for the right equipment, meaning that you will end up with appropriate golf clubs for your game.

Whether you’ve only ever hit some balls on the range or you play off a handicap of 2, getting fitted for the right shafts can make a hugely positive difference to your game.

However, if money is tight and you just want to get started without spending the big bucks, you certainly don’t need to be fitted for shafts.

Most game improvement clubs come with flexible graphite shafts that are forgiving, making them ideal for beginners.

So, if you’re a beginner, it’s entirely up to you if you go for a golf shaft fitting, but we’re sure that it will make a difference to your game if you do!

What Major US Golf Stores Offer Club Shaft Fitting?

Given the fact that fitting is a highly sought-after service for most golfers, the vast majority of US golf stores offer some form of club fitting. For instance, the hugely popular Club Champion chain of golf stores offers shaft fitting to players.***

At Club Champion, you can choose from more than 50,000 combinations, meaning that a fitter will almost certainly help you find the perfect shafts for your golf clubs, no matter your handicap.

Other retailers like Golf Galaxy and True Spec Golf offer golf club fitting services, so you are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to making your decision.

You can also get fitted for golf clubs at many local golf retailers and golf clubs, depending on what is available in your locale.

The fact of the matter is that there are so many options when it comes to arranging a golf club fitting, so you can schedule an appointment with a custom club fitter in your area.

What is an Online Golf Shaft Fitting Service?

In an online shaft fitting service, you typically need to input data relevant to your game, as well as some general information about your clubs and what you’re looking for.

While most people opt for in-person golf shaft fitting services, you can also get fitted for the right shafts online.

Online golf club fitting is much more convenient and means you don’t have to leave home in order to get the perfect shafts for your game.

As a result of the information that you provide, online fitters then get to work on making their recommendations.

This service is often included with some online retailers, so it’s certainly worth checking out.

Ultimately, whether you get fitted for clubs in person or online, it’s a great way to ensure that the shafts that you install on your clubs are well suited to your game.

Conclusion

It won’t have escaped your attention that the shaft is one of the most important parts of the golf club, and it can significantly influence the way you strike the ball.

So, with that in mind, getting fitted for a golf shaft is an excellent way to ensure that you make the right decision when buying new equipment, and it is likely to improve the way that you strike the ball as a result.

Sources:

1. https://mygolfspy.com/clubfitting-101/ *
2. https://www.golftec.com/golf-clubs/golf-club-fitting **
3. https://clubchampion.com ***