So I’ve been fitting for Callaway Golf for almost a year and a half now.
I never thought I would be enjoying it as much as I have. It’s an adult playground for me, and every time I step into a fitting with a player, it’s a new learning experience.
I’m fortunate to work with Julien Munoz, our Master Fitter here in Vegas. Julien has been such a valuable asset for me. He’s helping me understand the process of properly fitting players, which goes so far beyond what most golfers think. No two players are alike, and Julien has really helped me be better at what I’m doing. I just wanted to give Julien some love; his knowledge is remarkable, and I can only hope to be as good as him at it one day!
Getting fit can be an adventure.
I’ve seen so many different types of players in the last year and a half, from the serious golfers who play to a +4 to the weekend warrior who’s never sniffed a round in the 90s. Regardless of your skill sets, there are some things every player should consider before they head into their fittings
1. Get there early
Showing up early is not only appreciated by the fitting team, but it also gives you time to get loose and warm up for what’s about to take place. For Callaway, we offer either an hour block for a complete fitting or a half-hour block for a single or a few clubs. That time can fly by, so getting loose and warm is an effective way to be prepared and make sure all of your time with your fitting is not wasted on getting ready.
2. Bring your clubs
This is one of our biggest pet peeves. Whether you love or hate your current setup, we like to see what you are currently gaming and what you are comfortable swinging. It also allows us to compare what we are fitting you to, versus what you are currently playing. By no means are fitters perfect, and more often than not, a golfer is playing a club they love, but it’s in a configuration we wouldn’t have chosen. As much information as possible about your game would be helpful. So make sure you bring your clubs.
3. If you’re hurting or injured, cancel your fitting
This happens so often it’s shocking. You need to be able to swing a club and swing a golf club like you’re playing a round of golf. If you can only swing at 40% of your normal swing, you are not going to benefit from a fitting. Not only is it wasting your time, but it’s also wasting the fitter’s time and could cause someone to miss a fitting because the event is already booked up.
4. Don’t play golf or take a lesson before your fitting
So many players show up to a fitting after getting off the course. While most think this is a great way to show up to a fitting because you’re loose, the truth is, you’re tired. Golf is a taxing sport. It takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, and regardless of how athletic you are, you will be tired; stepping into a fitting and swinging even more after playing is not an effective way to get fit. For some players, this works, but from what I’ve seen, it’s never a good thing.
The same goes for getting a lesson. Way too many thoughts would be in your head if you walked into a fitting after a lesson. Keep these two types of golf separate. We’ll thank you, and your coach will thank you as well.
Something else on this, if you just played the worst round of your life, you’re not going to be in the right headspace to get fit. On the flip side, if you just played the best round of your life, you’re going to question every swing and every decision the fitter makes because you just played fantastically with your current setup.
If you can, play golf after your fitting, or schedule it for another day.
5. Understand the difference between Carry and Total distance
If there was one data point we could eliminate from launch monitor data, it’s Total Distance. We couldn’t care less about how far you hit the ball in total distance. We only care about your carry distance. So many golfers will say, “I hit my 7-iron around 170,” then they see on the launch monitor that carry is 150 and instantly think the machine is broken. The only time total distance comes into play is if you are competing in Long Drive.
6. Be open to playing something different
If you come into a fitting and are dead set on playing a specific club, you may be hindering your chances at playing better golf. This is especially true with the driver. When that “Spy” website comes out with the “Best New Driver,” so many golfers show up for their fittings with the mindset that THAT is the club they need, when reality is an entirely different version.
7. Keep your friends, parents, husbands, and coaches at home, or in the restaurant
There is nothing worse than an umbrella spouse, parent, or coach. It’s distracting for the fitter and the player getting fit, and the experience never goes how we want it to.
These people are essential in your life, but for a fitting, they need to be as far away from you as possible. Your focus should be on hitting the golf ball with your current swing and what you are playing with. Coaches present during a fitting can dramatically hinder that. We’d recommend meeting up with your coach afterwards to talk about the fitting, not during.
Parents, the same goes for you. Let us work with your kids. They are going to swing a lot more freely and feel more comfortable if you are not standing right behind them during the fitting,
8. A fitting is NOT a lesson
We’re there to help you enjoy the game with the equipment you’re playing, not teach you how to swing. Now, I will say we are human, and if you ask us for some advice, there’s a really good chance we will chat you up about it, but please keep in mind, unless your fitter is a PGA Certified Instructor, the advice we share is coming from that of a fitter, not a coach.
There is a MASSIVE difference between a coach and a fitter. That is why I still have a swing coach (Shout-out to Tim Flotte) and why I still learn from him daily. If you come to a fitting looking for swing advice, you’ll be barking up the wrong tree. Our goal with a fitting is to ensure the equipment you play with is best suited to your swing, so you can get the most joy out of this incredibly difficult game.
One last thing on this, if you are in the midst of a swing change, wait to get fit. This is where your coach can come in very handy. They’ll know the right time to schedule a fitting.
A lot of this list seems negative.
But please understand, we want to make the experience of getting fit as enjoyable as possible. Most of our players who get fit leave with a pleasant experience. For those who do not, there is a good chance that one of the items listed above was at play.
Do yourself a favor and take the fitting seriously, and we promise you’ll have a blast. A fitting can be so much fun, and such a learning experience for not only the player but also the fitter, and that is all we want. I can’t speak for every manufacturer, but at Callaway, we are not commissioned fitters. We get paid whether you buy a complete set of new clubs or you leave with nothing. We get our joy seeing smiles on the faces of the players who get fit and see a dramatic shift in their ball flight or carry numbers. And that happens a lot!
UPDATE: I had to add one more thing after getting some feedback from some of my fitting friends.
9. Don’t treat your fitting like a range session
Don’t think of your fitting event as a range session where you’re just raking balls and smashing. Take your time between shots. Take a breather now and then. We can fit someone off of three good ball strikes, believe it or not. We don’t need a 90-ball smash session to get a player dialed in. Use the time effectively and make sure you’re putting forth your best effort to swing as efficiently as you can.