McGuirks Custom Fitting

SM746

I am currently planning to upgrade my OLD set and will be getting a custom fitted set this time. I have been on here before and got advice on the different prices I got which was good. One final question before I purchase and it is as follows, is there a difference between the custom fitting McGuirks (or any golf shop or club pro for that matter) offer as opposed to somewhere like Foregolf? I am sure that them all being authorised custom fitters for certain brands means they meet the same quality standards for whatever golf company it is??

BoardsMember

I went to foregolf and was very impressed with them. I have often been in mcguirks shops and have yet to be impressed, often more staff than people and still no service, too busy chatting to each other.

SM746

yeah i know what you mean with McGuirks. Im trying to think along the line of fitting only. Would getting a new set fitted by McGuirks (and like I said any shop or club pro) be different to Foregolf in the quality of equipment I would get. The range I am looking at has seen me get quoted €2200, €1700 and €1300. McGuirks were cheapest so I would obviously buy and get fitted there if I was not losing out on quality. They are all authorised custom fitters for the company I am looking at

f22

What brand?

SM746

f22 wrote: »

What brand?

Ping i15

worm_tongue

SM746 wrote: »

yeah i know what you mean with McGuirks. Im trying to think along the line of fitting only. Would getting a new set fitted by McGuirks (and like I said any shop or club pro) be different to Foregolf in the quality of equipment I would get. The range I am looking at has seen me get quoted €2200, €1700 and €1300. McGuirks were cheapest so I would obviously buy and get fitted there if I was not losing out on quality. They are all authorised custom fitters for the company I am looking at

If you are planning on spending that kind of cash get yourself down to Foregolf asap.

SM746

worm_tongue wrote: »

If you are planning on spending that kind of cash get yourself down to Foregolf asap.

I would rather not spend more than €1500 to be honest. I might stretch to the €1700 because I know the fitter and he is top quality. Yeah I would rather go to foregolf but at the same time if they are all authorised Ping custom fitters surely the quality of the fitting has to be the same no? I have had Ping all my life and followed their new products and I know how awkward they are and I am pretty sure they would make McGuirks a custom fitter specialist if the quality was not the same as Foregolf

Trampas

Are you getting the same shafts in each place?

L.O.F.T

Allot of my posts are pro ForeGolf and I genuinely have no connection to them only that I have been custom fitted and was delighted. One major difference between McGuirks and Foregolf is,

http://www.foregolf.ie/gca.php

worm_tongue

SM746 wrote: »

I would rather not spend more than €1500 to be honest. I might stretch to the €1700 because I know the fitter and he is top quality. Yeah I would rather go to foregolf but at the same time if they are all authorised Ping custom fitters surely the quality of the fitting has to be the same no? I have had Ping all my life and followed their new products and I know how awkward they are and I am pretty sure they would make McGuirks a custom fitter specialist if the quality was not the same as Foregolf

I have never been fitted for clubs at McGuirks so I not really in a position to say. However I know foregolf won world cup maker of the year 2010 so maybe that might influence your decision. I know it certainly encouraged myself and a number of my pal's to go to Foregolf.

SM746

Trampas wrote: »

Are you getting the same shafts in each place?

I have not actually called into either retailer yet to go through specs but I did assume that was were the bulk of the diff was so itl be interesting when I do get into the finer details.

SM746

worm_tongue wrote: »

I have never been fitted for clubs at McGuirks so I not really in a position to say. However I know foregolf won world cup maker of the year 2010 so maybe that might influence your decision. I know it certainly encouraged myself and a number of my pal's to go to Foregolf.

yeah to follow on from what L.O.F.T said above they do look a classy operation and I will probably plump for them in the end. I have researched them a lot and the feedback is 90% positive which can only be a good thing

worm_tongue

SM746 wrote: »

yeah to follow on from what L.O.F.T said above they do look a classy operation and I will probably plump for them in the end. I have researched them a lot and the feedback is 90% positive which can only be a good thing

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

SM746

worm_tongue wrote: »

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

cheers

waterville72

Firstly I have to say i.m.o. that custom fitting is based on the theory of designing clubs around a specific technique in order to maximise distance and accuracy. If that technique changes from day to day and swing to swing then we would need as many different sets as techniques. Or if the technique was going to change dramatically with coaching again the existing set would in theory not be suitable. I think its important not to overstate the importance of fitting. The real gains are to be had in technique.
That said the fact that you have decided on the model means that there are only five specs to be determined. Shaft Flex, Shaft Model, Shaft Length, Grip thickness and Lie Angle.
There are basically two ways to fit Ping.. statically and dynamically.
A static fit for grip thickness would have the fitter measure the hand length and the length of the longest finger and use a chart to determine the grip size. A dynamic fit will have the golfer try the different grips and based on feel and shot analysis a grip will be chosen.
A good fitter will use a combination of both static and dynamic measurements.
Pings fitting method revolves around the theory that the Golfer chooses each specification himself and that the fitter just guides him through the process.
Im my experience where it can break down is where you have a fitter who is not experienced enough to recognise a very unorthodox technique and compromise.
For example lets say you are currently using standard length clubs,play off 9 ,hit it reasonably straight and are 5'8" tall.
On an impact board you come out 4 degrees upright. If you were to get a 4 deg up set you would miss a lot of shots to the left for quite a while. Reason being that you have been compensating with your own set by probably aiming left of target to allow for the face which is pointing right of where it seems( playing flat). A good fitter has the craft to be able to explain this fact and compromise on the specs so as to allow you to choose the right spec.
I have taken the Ping Fitting Course both online and in person and believe me those "Authorised Ping Fitting Centre" certs are easy enough to get and dont identify the difference between good intelligent fitters and the rest.
Theres no doubt the lad in Fore knows what he is talking about. I personally wouldnt pay 900 extra for what he knows as there are plenty others out there who can fit properly.
As I said above "the real gains are to be had in technique". Hope that helps.

f22

I have to agree, fitting wise Foregolf is your only choice, you don't have to buy from them directly though. Get your specs and if McGuirks are cheapest order from them, they will be assembled by Ping themselves exactly to your specifications.

SM746

f22 wrote: »

I have to agree, fitting wise Foregolf is your only choice, you don't have to buy from them directly though. Get your specs and if McGuirks are cheapest order from them, they will be assembled by Ping themselves exactly to your specifications.

pretty sure foregolf do not throw out the specs. im assuming its a way to get you to buy from them

f22

SM746 wrote: »

pretty sure foregolf do not throw out the specs. im assuming its a way to get you to buy from them

Not necessarily true, a mate of mine got his about three weeks ago for a 910 D2

SM746

f22 wrote: »

Not necessarily true, a mate of mine got his about three weeks ago for a 910 D2

thats good to know thanks. and he defo did not buy of them?

aster99

They give shaft details, but nothing specific like lie, length, etc

You only get the detailed specs after you have bought from them