Depends! It might help you reduce 1-2 shots off of your handicap, but it will not make a 20 handicap golfer into a 10 handicap or even a 6 handicap golfer into a scratch golfer. The bottom line is that the best way to get better is to invest the time into working on your game.
When you start to add up the cost of golf clubs, you might be blown away by the total cost. Let’s consider the total cost:
- New Driver = $500
- New Irons = $1000
- Wedges = $300
- Putter = $150
- Fairway Woods (2) = $400
- Hybrid = $200
- Golf Bag = $200
Total = $2750
Add some custom fitting sessions and you can easily exceed $3000 for a completely new set of golf clubs along with a new bag.
There are two camps when it comes to custom club fitting.
- I am already spending a ton of money, I might as well get custom fitted.
- Until my game gets better, I doubt that custom fitted clubs are going to make a difference.
So, let’s jump right into where we stand on this entire topic.
Does club fitting really help? Should I get fitted?
If you really want to take your game to the next level and ensure you have the right clubs, then yes!
The extra money to get custom fitted is not going to do miracles for your game.
What will make a difference?
We do believe that spending money on a quality driver, irons, wedges and a putter will make a difference. Using the $500 complete set from the local big box score is going to leave you struggling due to poor quality of equipment.
Or the golfer that uses the 20 year old golf clubs that their dad passed down to them or found in a garage sale is going to struggle. The newer technology and advancements that happen every 5-10 years will make a difference. It will make it easier to hit the ball higher and further even without custom fitting.
The bottom line is to make sure you have quality clubs. You can trust in the manufactures like Taylor Made, Callaway, Titleist, and Cobra. Check out and research a middle to high end level in each of their offerings in the market.
Benefits of Custom Club Fitting
- Confidence that you have the right clubs
- The right shaft in the driver
- The right wedges for your game
Benefit #1: Confidence that you have the right clubs
Golf is often a lot about confidence in your game. If you can stand on the tee box and have 100% confidence that you have the right driver for your swing, this may lead to better results. A lack of confidence over any shot can lead to bad results. Being able to fully commit to a shot is vital to your overall success. If custom fitted golf clubs help you have this confidence, then the extra money is worth it for your game!
Benefit #2: The right shaft in the driver
The wrong shaft in a driver can be a disaster. If you swing 105 miles per hour and have a regular shaft, you are going to struggle. In the reverse, if you are hitting a stiff shaft and you have lost speed and now only swing your driver 85 miles per hour, you are losing distance. Ensuring you have the best driver shaft for your game is vital.
Some people are able to know which shafts work for them by testing out different shafts at the store or one that their friend might be hitting, but be specific in what shaft is in your driver.
Benefit #3: The right wedges for your game
Did you know that 60% of the shots in the game of club happen inside of 100 yards? Getting the right number of wedges based on your game and your swing speed is important. Also, a quality club fitter can recommend what gaps you need in your wedges. Can you handle a 6 degree loft gap between your wedges and play with a 48, 54 and 60? Or do you need a 48, 52, 56 and 60?
One area often overlooked in wedges is the right amount of bounce. Once again, a quality club fitter might take into account your swing and the course conditions on the courses you most frequently play.
Cost saving strategies when buying golf clubs?
There are two main strategies if you are on a strict budget. The first one is to buy pre-owned irons. Oftentimes, you can save 20-50% off the original MSRP. Another option is to buy brand new, but get last year’s model once the newest models hit the market.
Strategy #1: Buying Pre-Owned
We appreciate the option to buy irons that are 1-3 years old. Places like Callaway Pre-Owned will put a new set of grips on every club that they sell. You can get a quality set of irons for sometimes up to half the price from the brand new cost. This was the route I went with my Titleist 714’s. I was able to save 40% and they have been wonderful.
Another great option is for putters pre-owned. They will still perform at a high level and helps you build up multiple putters that you can use depending on your current feel within your game.
I wouldn’t recommend this approach with the driver or wedges. Some people mistreat their driver and you might not know exactly what you are getting. Also, wedges wear down quickly and should be the club most frequently replaced in your bag.
Strategy #2: Buying Last Year’s Model
Golf manufacturers come out with new options frequently. Keeping an eye out for last year’s model with the driver is one way to save money for sure. You can expect to save $100-$200 on the driver and can often find quality discounts on irons, fairway woods and wedges.
You can save some quality money by looking for clearance sales.
How to get better at golf without lessons (11 Tips)
Beyond the New Golf Clubs: Truly Improving Your Game!
Most golfers are looking for ways to get better. They often turn to new clubs as one option. Whether you are getting custom fitted or buying off the shelf, new clubs can only help you so much. The best way to get better fast is to practice and then practice some more.
We would recommend the following:
- Learn how to keep your driver in play
- Increase your swing speed
- Get really good at the short game
Go ahead and assess your game on the following 3 key fundamentals
3 Key Fundamentals
- The first fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing. The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
- The second fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over-curving past the target.
- The third fundamental is the golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course. This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.
Which area needs the greatest amount of work? We have a drill below for each of the three fundamentals above. We also believe greatly in spending quality time ont he short game for the quickest route to game improvement.
First Fundamental Drill
Low Point Control Drill
- Take some yard paint and patina a 1-2 yard long line.
- Setup with 55% of your weight on your front side.
- Try to hit the target side of the line and see how many times out of 10 you can do this successfully!
- Repeat this drill every day for a month, tracking your progress and your ability to to this successfully in trials of ten.
- You may need to start with half swing and progress to full swings.
If you are struggling, put more weight forward and work on keep your head still to help control the low point in the swing.
Learn about ball flight laws and change your game forever!
Second Fundamental Drill
Stock Shot Drill
- Set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
- If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 2-3 feet right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
- Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target. Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
- The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.
Third Fundamental Drill
Increase Swing Speed
I spent many years wondering how I can increase my swing speed. When I was playing junior golf, we weren’t fortunate enough to have some of the training aids and knowledge that is now available. Smart people have studied the golf swing and have created training aids and protocols to help all golfers increase their distance!
At around the same time, the statistics from the PGA Tour have become more clear and the importance of speed is acknowledged by many to be a key to being the best on the PGA Tour.
Within the past several years, there have been several products hit the market to make speed gains possible. While many people for many years waited for the latest driver to come out to gain an additional 5-10 yards, you can now do this even with your current clubs.
Did you know that with the SuperSpeed Training System you can gain 5-8% increase in swing speed as early as the first training session? This would allow you to gain somewhere between 10 and 30 yards depending on your current swing speed.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
The SuperSpeed Training System is based on three different swing speed sticks all weighing at different weights. There is a green club that is 10% lighter than the average driver, the blue club which is 5% lighter and the red club which is actually 5% heavier!
Following their prescribed protocols the golfer completes the training every other day. The total time to complete most of their protocols is between 10-15 minutes. Most people can find the time to make this happen. The golfer will also need a swing radar to measure their progress.
The science behind the SuperSpeed Training System is based on overspeed training. Overspeed training has been around for several decades now and has been used by olympic athletics in the sport of Track and Field.
The science behind this overspeed training is based on the premise that your brain will only allow your body to move as fast as it feels it can stop safely! So, you get to work and swing the clubs as fast as possible, retraining your brain to allow you to swing your driver faster.
For more permanent results, the golfer should continue these training protocols for several months. The initial 5-8% is great and can become more permanent with the right length of training. The golfer can expect to continue to break down barriers every several months at a 1-2% increase.
My own experience has been an increase of 7-10 miles per hour on average from between 98-101 all the way up to 106-109. My goal is to hit the PGA Tour average of 113 mph in the coming months. I will continue to train every other day and watch in amazement as I am hitting drivers longer now than ever before!
Phil Mickelson (a senior golfer now) has been known to increase his swing speed in the past year or so and is close to 120 miles per hour in his swing speed. There are potential results for golfers of all ability levels and age!
Check the current price on SuperSpeed Golf System, here!
| Original Swing Speed | After 4-6 Weeks | New Carry Distance | Total Distance |
| 95 | 102 | 245 | 265 |
| 100 | 108 | 259 | 279 |
| 105 | 113 | 271 | 291 |
| 110 | 118 | 283 | 303 |
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.