Retrofitting Existing Golf Equipment
Not so long ago, custom fitting was viewed as something reserved for elite amateurs or professionals, and like many players, I followed the old-fashioned approach: walk into a golf shop, pick a major OEM brand that looked good, choose the flex I thought I needed, pay for it, and be out the door in fifteen minutes.
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Then came the disappointment. I’d take those brand-new clubs to the range only to discover they performed no better than the set I already had, and in some cases, noticeably worse. The feel at impact was off, the ball didn’t fly as far, and my accuracy suffered. My old clubs were more consistent simply because they were better matched to my swing. I assumed the new set must be “too much club” for me or somehow above my paygrade, so back to the store they went and I returned to my previous set.
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In reality, the problem with those off-the-rack clubs likely stemmed from one or more of the following issues:
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Improper clubhead design for my skill level
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Inconsistencies in clubhead tolerances i.e., incorrect weight progression, loft and lie angles
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Ill-fitting shaft weight, flex, and/or EI profile
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Improper or poorly matched swingweights
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Playing lengths that weren’t appropriate for physical characteristics and swing
When just one of these factors is wrong, performance suffers. When several are wrong, as is often the case with mass-produced clubs, it can make a brand-new set feel worse than the clubs you were trying to replace.
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Through my years of custom fitting, retro-fitting and repairing golf clubs, I’ve learned firsthand that even the best OEM manufacturers struggle with consistency from one club to the next. While major brands invest heavily in engineering, materials, and marketing, the reality is that their mass-production environment introduces inconsistencies in specification tolerances that can affect performance in noticeable ways.
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One of the most common issues is variance in clubhead weight. A properly engineered iron set typically follows a 7-gram progression from one head to the next. When that progression isn’t maintained, something I’ve encountered more often than most golfers would imagine, swingweight matching becomes impossible unless proper clubhead weights throughout the set are properly adjusted. A heavier-than-expected 7-iron or a lighter-than-intended 9-iron can drastically alter feel, timing, and overall consistency.
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Another frequent problem is loft and lie inconsistency. Individual OEM clubheads can leave the foundry several degrees off from their stated design specifications. A lie angle that’s 1 or 2° too upright or flat, or a loft that’s 1 or 2° stronger or weaker than intended, may seem insignificant to the novice player, but these variations create real-world problems. Even small discrepancies can lead to inconsistent yardage gaps, unintended directional bias, and unpredictable ball flights from club to club.
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OEM clubs excel with respect to design and materials, but precision design specs at the individual club level isn’t always guaranteed.
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This is where retro-fitting truly shines. Instead of forcing your swing to adapt to factory-machined tolerances, I adjust the equipment to match your swing.
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My retro-fitting process includes:
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Verifying and correcting loft/lie angles to ensure proper gapping and directional control
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Evaluating and adjusting clubhead weight to rebuild the correct progression
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Achieving consistent swingweights or MOI values throughout the set
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Matching shaft weight, flex, and EI profile to your tempo, timing, and release pattern through Launch Monitor evaluation
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Checking playing length and grip sizing to support comfort and repeatability
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The result is a set of clubs that performs as a unified system, not a collection of mismatched parts.
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Remember...mass produced golf clubs are built for the masses, custom built and retro-fitted golf clubs are built for you!
​Custom fitting isn’t just for elite players. When done correctly, even through retro-fitting, it’s one of the fastest, most affordable ways to improve your ball striking, confidence, and overall enjoyment of the game.​​​​​​​
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