Looking for some advice

[Lumlum]

So I finally decided (whilst watching the Players yesterday) that it was time to get some properly fitted clubs. I went into the nearby Golf Galaxy and picked up a copy of their GolfWorks catalogue and mentally managed to 800 bucks on a new setup, I then remembered GTO and decided I would check in with y'all before physically spending half a month's rent.

This is what I went for:

Maltby CT250 Professional Driver (http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp...124_A_cn_E_672)
Maltby CT250 Maximum MOI 3 Wood (http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp...16_A_cn_E_2005)
Maltby MFH 3 Hybrid (http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp...125_A_cn_E_669)
Maltby KE4 Tour Adjustable Weight Irons 4i - 9i (http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp...066_A_cn_E_671)
Maltby M Series Black Ion Wedges 48* 53* 56/8* 60/6* (http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp...066_A_cn_E_671)

For the irons and wedges I was thinking about the Dynamic Gold S300 or X100 without sensicore. I am not sure if I want the S or the X (I guess that is where fitting comes in). My 7i is currently a 155-160yd club, and I am also 6'5" and I assume that if you make a club longer than standard the stiffness is reduced, is that correct? Is sensicore worth it or is it a personal preference thing?

For the driver, fairway and hybrid I was gonna go with some Maltby proprietary shafts, don't really know if this is a good idea or not?

I was told by the guy in the Golf Galaxy that they would build the clubs for 10 bucks or so each, is this a good deal? Will I get a better made club if I go to a local PCS fitter? I don't know how detailed the Golf Galaxy fitting process is, or whether they do things such as spining or frequency matching?

What do you think of the Maltby heads? Can I get better quality products eg Wishon, SMT, Ashton for similar prices if I shop around?

Sorry for all of the questions, and thanks in advance for your help.

[LowPost42]

Re: Looking for some advice

All good heads.

I might suggest looking at the CT250 Flight Control instead of the Professional - more coin, but just a fantastic head.

Depending on what you're using your PW and GW/AW for will dictate whether they're M series or KE4's. If you're using them for full swing shots all or most of the time, get the KE4's. If you're using them for half swings and touch shots most of the time, match them to your wedges. The only difference between the KE4's and the KE4 Tours is offset and a little sole width.

I love the dark finish on the M series - and it's a good wedge to boot.

Now, SMT can offer all the same stuff, but your driver will cost more (unless you consider the Flight Control), and the SMT irons and wedges generate more spin (milled faces).

Wishon is another outstanding choice, of course, but tend to be a touch pricier.


As for the $10 assembly; you're getting the Asian assembly job. In other words, you're getting the same assembly job that they do in Asia for the OEMs: Trim to lengths, glue and stick. Granted, in the GW $10 deal, they say they'll build to your specs... so in theory you could get a helluva deal by asking for all sorts of great specs that would force a decent job - like calling for a specific freq slope built around a 5 iron target, and specific loft and lie requirements. Fantastic deal if they'll do it for only $10.

Better built by a PCS'er? I would certainly hope so. More expensive? Most likely.

Your fitter should make a shaft decision for you, based on swing speed and your height. But at 6'5", I think you should be finding your closest registered True Length Technology fitter, and having them build the set.

[Lumlum]

Re: Looking for some advice

Thanks for your speedy reply!

I went back to the GolfWorks website and the Flight Control has been reduced to 39.99 so I am gonna go ahead and order me one of them! I was actually referring to the $10 build fee charged by the GolfWorks people in the Golf Gallaxy rather than the online option. How do you think they would perform in comparison to a PCSer?

Is there anywhere I can search for a TrueLengthTechnology fitter, or do I just ring them up and ask?

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Looking for some advice

Just my $0.02 worth. If you are going to get fitted, my advice is to try and find a local club builder, who is also a 'qualified" club fitter. This will help if adjustments in your swing, and/or equipment are required later on. If no one "qualified" is near by, then you might want see if a short road trip on your part is a viable option. If you are being fitted, while hitting off a synthetic mat, then check the quality of the mat. Those hard ones are useless imho, as they masked swing problems. Also ask your club fitter/builder if he/she will allow you to pay for, and have one club made, per your specs, and then take it to a "real grass" driving range to see how it plays under those conditions. (Of course if you fitter/builder has real turf available during your fitting, this is the way to go) If they decline your request for this one club try out, you might want to re-think your choice of fitter/builder. A poor fitting, and a set of ill fitted clubs is to much money to waste on a charlatain. GJS

[Lumlum]

Re: Looking for some advice

Thanks for the input.

In the end I went by the local Golf Galaxy and spoke to their club builder, who seemed fairly knowledgeable, however they do not offer any form of spine alignment, frequency matching, or MOI matching. However, they did have a set of the KE4s and a set of the MTFs (forged) made up and I had a hit of both and absolutely loved the way the forged irons felt so ended up ordering them instead of the KE4s.

I then found my local PCS club fitter who decided that I need 3deg upright, 1" over length, midsize grip and stiff flex shafts. We decided on the Dynamic Gold SL shafts for the irons and wedges and Maltby shafts for the woods and hybrid, with Winn DSi grips all round.

The heads and shafts etc should arrive tomorrow and he said it normally takes him a couple of days to get them finished. I can't wait to try them out.

The next step will be to get a few lessons to really polish my swing.

How much of a difference to the ball flight will moving the weights within the Flight Control make?

Thanks for all the help.

[Golfbald]

Re: Looking for some advice

Lumlum where is local for you. I am fitting a high school student 6'5". Maybe I can help.

GB

[Lumlum]

Re: Looking for some advice

I'm in Dallas.

Thanks for the offer, but I am pretty happy with my current fitter.

One question for you fitters and builders out there: should I insist on him building me a test club to see how I like his work? What sort of comeback does the customer have if I am not happy with the clubs he builds?

[LowPost42]

Re: Looking for some advice

How in the world did I lose this one?

You can go to www.truelengthtechnology.com and click on the registry link to find a TLT fitter.

Totally pay to get a demo club done up. That way, if you don't like it, you've only paid for a demo.

[Golfbald]

Re: Looking for some advice

I would build 2 test clubs one with an x100 and one with a s300 or s400. The weight of the heads can be tweaked (Wishons have weight ports, others are done up the shaft), length of the shaft, get you on a launch monitor look at your numbers and give you a feel for the clubs. I would let you switch those clubs out for a few rounds to decide what you want before you make a major purchase you would have to live with for a while.

I look at it this way, driver's are interchangable - irons are personal.

If he balks at this, just tell him you are committed to buy a set but you want it to be the right set. It's your game, right.

GB