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Proud Member of AGCP
(Level 10 Certified & Qualified Clubfitter)

FAQ's are at the bottom of the page - but before you get to that, there is some important stuff you should read first.  This is an important page, I'm sorry that it's kinda long and wordy, but it is important.  Please grab a coffee or a soda and commence the reading.

You're here because you're considering custom fitted golf clubs.  So why should you consider custom clubs as opposed to the big name off-the-rack OEM brands?  Well, maybe a better question would be WHY NOT???  As the late Ben Hogan said "With quality clubs, a player of any skill level can improve the quality of his game".  Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bash the OEM's, they have done many good things for the game of golf - research & development for one, and yes some very good technological advances have resulted from this R&D (occasionally mixed in with a small dose of snake oil).  The technological advances have come so fast in the golf industry, that they have nearly used it all up.  They do not have much more technology that they can tap into in order to make golf clubs perform better.  Only 15 or 20 years back, a company would release a new model of driver every 3 or 4 years - these days it's pretty much one each year, and sometimes two in the same year!  We may be seeing even more "bling", "gimmick", and "snake oil" hype being promoted by the OEM's in the coming years.  Yes, all of the latest technology in golf is great, however it isn't worth a pound of poop if it is not applied correctly, or if it's used in the wrong application.  There is NO way that all of this wonderful technology can be thrown into a new model (driver, hybrid, or iron) that will benefit everybody (the intended user of mass produced clubs), since each and every golfer has his/her own special requirements that will benefit him/her.  Some of the technology they put into the mass produced clubs made for "everybody" can actually HURT certain golfers...... yup, it's true.  "The average 18-hole score for the average golfer remains at about 100, as it has for decades, according to the National Golf Foundation, an industry research-and-consulting service."  With all of these mass produced golf clubs full of the latest "technological advances" that have been sold over the last 30++ years (and millions of 'em too), why is it that the average golf score for hackers like you and me has NOT IMPROVED in the last 30++ years?????  On the other hand, if technology is applied scientifically, correctly, and in the right application (via true custom fitting) - positive results will be realized.  Yes, when applied correctly science has a lot to do with how and why clubs behave the way they do.

Some common sense video information about custom clubs.

I strongly urge you to take a few minutes of your time to click on the video links below - each video will open in a new window.  Tom Wishon (one of the world's most gifted minds in custom clubmaking and club design) shares some common sense insight on golf clubs, and why it is so important to get fitted for your clubs.  Each video is approximately 4-5 minutes long, and I'm sure you'll find each one VERY informative - well worth the price of admission (it's FREE) - all you have to invest is a few minutes of your time to hear some good ol' fashioned common sense talk about golf clubs.

“Custom Fit vs. Standard”
Click here to watch this video - will open in a new window.

“What does Custom Fitting do for Golfers?”
Click here to watch this video - it will open in a new window.

“The Facts of Life about the Golf Equipment Industry”
Click here to watch this video - it will open in a new window.

“The Basic Elements of Professional Shaft Fitting”
Click here to watch this video - it will open in a new window.

These short videos are brilliant (my humble opinion of course - hey, I'm a clubfitter, call me biased).  Mr. Wishon presents some common sense facts about the way it is with golf clubs.  Are custom fitted clubs really necessary?  Kinda gets ya thinkin' don't it????

Before you read on, I strongly encourage you to;

Download Tom Wishon's "12 Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game"
(A VERY informative look into various "myths" about golf clubs)

In PowerPoint format     or     In .pdf format

It's FREE, and this ought to clear up some of the myths that are out there with regards to golf clubs.

Read the "12 myths" very closely, and pay attention to what is said - that small document is FULL of great knowledge and wisdom.  In case you didn't know, Tom Wishon is the only designer from the custom clubmaking segment of the golf industry whose clubhead designs have been used to win on the PGA Tour and in Ryder Cup competition.  He has designed and custom built the golf clubs used in competition by Scott Verplank, Bruce Lietzke, Ben Crenshaw, as well as the last set of clubs played by Payne Stewart before his tragic departure from the game in 1999.  "I completely respect the work that the large golf equipment companies pursue in their quality and R&D, but my 30 plus years in golf club research has proven that the best set of golf clubs any golfer will ever buy will be a set of true custom made clubs, fit and built by a professional clubmaker using the very best quality and performing clubhead, shaft and grip designs.”....Tom Wishon.

Gooder Custom Golf Clubs are NOT built 100,000 at a time, to the same "one size fits all" specifications (this is how the OEM’s build clubs).  Our custom clubs are hand made ONE at a time, to YOUR specifications.  Our finished product is NOT “one size fits all”, rather our finished product IS “YOUR CLUBS FIT YOU”.

Don’t mistake a large advertising budget for absolute top-notch quality – this applies to golf clubs also.  How many TV commercials do you see for Rolls Royce automobiles?

There is one thing that is very consistent with the big name OEM's - These companies are generally publicly traded (stock markets), they receive pressure from, and have an obligation to their stock holders to produce more sales, and an all important profit.  Every year, the big OEM's each bank on selling their "latest technology" (or snake oil hype in some cases) - and lots of it - like about 600,000+ drivers, and 200,000+ sets of irons each year.  These OEM's all have "Staff" players on their payrolls - yes, players are paid big $$$$ to play "Brand X" drivers, "Brand Y" irons, and "Brand Z" hybrids, wedges, etc.  They hire these players to endorse their products, wear their hats, and make public appearances on their behalf - all in the name of selling more product.  They sell more product, so they can produce more clubs, so they can pay the "staffers" to endorse them, so they can sell more product....you get the picture.  Somewhere between 60%-70% of the price you pay for the big name OEM clubs goes back to advertising (kinda sounds like they've put themselves into a bit of a trap).  Just keep in mind that every time you purchase one of these snazzy big name drivers or iron sets off-the-rack (which by the way are more than likely NOT the right club for you), you're contributing to Phil's retirement fund, and Tiger's alimony fund (pretty expensive "transgressions" eh?).  Something else to consider - do you really think the big name driver you buy off-the-rack is the same one that your favorite PGA golfer swings???  NOT A CHANCE!!!!  Tom Wishon said it best in his book ("The Search For The Perfect Golf Club"), it went something like this "Tiger's club and it's off-the-rack likeness have about as much in common as a new Monte Carlo you buy from GM compared to Jeff Gordon's NASCAR Monte Carlo".  The name is the same, but that's where the similarities end. 

Have you ever been into a sporting goods store and seen their selection of baseball bats?  They have darn near every length, weight, handle diameter imaginable in stock - why is that?  Maybe it's because everybody swings the bat differently - some need a heavier bat, some need a shorter bat, some need a small-diameter handle, etc.  Ever looked at golf clubs in a sporting goods store - "Brand X" offers this year's iron in steel or graphite, and regular or stiff flex.  That is the extent of your "commercially convenient" fitting - sometimes if you're lucky, you can "special order" a mass-produced set that is +1/2" just in case you're tall, and that's about it.  A true custom fit club will be right in every aspect (and there are many) for you.  Numerous variables are considered with a proper custom fit, such as the swing - swing speed, swing tempo, transition, release point - and the clubs themselves - loft angle, lie angle, offset, material and composition, shaft material, shaft flex (and flex profile - VERY IMPORTANT), shaft torque, shaft weight, shaft orientation (spine alignment), grip size, grip weight, grip material and style, club swingweight, club total weight, set make-up, and more.

Did you know that NO STANDARD exists for shaft flex in the golf industry?  What the hell is "regular" flex anyway????  One brand's "R" (for regular flex) might be the equivalent of another brand's "L" (ladies flex), or another brand's "S" (stiff flex).  I have seen OEM shafts that were marked "S", and at best were at the stronger end of "L" - I have proved that with my frequency analyzer.  Recently I re-shafted a high end expensive OEM set of irons that were marked "S" - in actuality they were nearly a 3X (triple stiff) shaft - as measured on the frequency analyzer.  So do you really know what you're getting with an OEM shaft?  Can you please define what "Regular" or "Stiff" flex really means????  Probably not, because currently in the golf industry those definitions do not exist.  In the custom clubfitting world, we actually do have a proven, reliable, scientific, repeatable measurement system for identifying shaft flex and flex profiles.  We (custom fitters) can match a golf shaft exactly to all elements of your golf swing, where OEM's cannot do this.  There is much more to shaft selection requirements than just swing speed.

Have you ever had a nice suit hand made by a tailor?  If the proper measurements were taken, and the suit was made correctly, it will fit you perfectly compared to an off-the-rack suit.  Now, give that suit to your neighbor (who is 3" shorter than you, and weights 30 pounds more), tell him to wear your suit to a wedding and look his best - it ain't gonna happen 'cuz he's either going to look like he's swimming in it, or he'll look like he's been stuffed into it like a sausage!  The big OEM's make one club to fit everybody (aka "standard"), which is a misnomer, 'cuz no two bodies are exactly the same, and no two swings are identical either.  You can't expect all of these different bodies and different swings to use the same club successfully now can you?  Just to show you how every golfer in the world fits the "standard" - since I have been tinkering with golf clubs, I have not built two identical sets of clubs yet, nor do I expect I ever will.  Some may have had the same head/shaft combination, but they were built to a different MOI value (to match the particular golfer).

Fitting is about acquiring data and understanding characteristics of your golf swing - and how they relate to your swing path, face angle at impact, consistency, and FEEL.  Weight, shaft material, length, and flex can all have an effect on how a particular club works when in your hands.

Custom fitted clubs will ensure that you get clubs that are fitted and made for YOU, they will be consistent from club to club.  Having clubs that are more consistent will help you to have a more consistent and repeatable golf swing.  Good golf is consistent golf.  This will lead to better golf shots for YOU, better scores, and more enjoyment from the game.

We believe it is easier to fit the equipment to the golfer than force the golfer to adapt to the equipment - the golfer will find it easier to excel at the game and improve when the equipment is made to work with their swing and athleticism. 

You do not see most of our boutique brands advertised a lot on TV, or in golf magazines, or tossed about by golf pros who get paid to promote them.  Nor do you see a lot of advertising for the most exotic cars in the world like Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and others.  Mostly they rely on their industry leading excellence to bring customers to them - they do not do a lot of high profile advertising.  Regardless, many of our proprietary brands are designed by some of the industry’s best designers and manufactured in many of the same foundries the nationally advertised brands are manufactured - sometimes with even more exacting standards. 

The first step to better golf is to get fitted for the correct equipment to enhance the performance of the equipment.  The Fitting comes first.  You can’t buy the equipment then get it fitted; you get the fitting, and then buy the equipment to match your needs.  Be it a nationally advertised brand name or one of our proprietary boutique designs, we have access to nearly every major shaft brand and grip brand to enhance the performance of you new set.  We will also be able to build it to the most exacting specifications you can get, a finished product that isn’t available anywhere else. 

We know that a 5’ 4” golfer cannot use the same equipment as a 6’ 8” golfer, nor is it likely that a 16 year old can use the same equipment as a 61 year old.  Just as a tennis player has their racquet custom balanced and weighted, and a baseball player has the right size handle and barrel on his bat along with custom weighting, as do hockey players have custom sticks, a golfer needs the correct weight and balance point as well as length and flex for their golf clubs.

Unfortunately for golfers, a set of golf clubs requires a much larger investment than a single racquet, bat, or hockey stick, and the leading golf manufacturers only make a limited selection of sizes, weights and lengths to put on the shelf for you to buy.  They do have custom options but only a few additional options for length, swing weight, shaft or grip, and that is only for special orders.  Some companies actually send the special orders out to a private shop because they can’t do the custom work in their assembly plant. 

We have high quality boutique brand heads that are every bit as good, and in some cases even better than the well known one size fits all clubs you buy in a typical golf store.  We also have a choice of a wide range of the best shafts on the market, and not just the ones that are mass produced for general consumption under a contract from one of the highly advertised brands to keep the price down.

My membership in the Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP) enables me to exchange ideas daily with some of the best clubfitters in the world, members know through our shared collective experience what works and what doesn’t work.  We know what shafts will perform well for what type golfers.  We know what heads produce the advertised claims and which do not.  We know who is telling the real truth in their advertising and who is telling you what you want hear and backing it up with only half truths. 

For those who have been playing golf since the 1960s think about all the claims that have been made in the past 50 years by the golf industry….. everything is “new, improved, and our BEST model ever!!!”  All of these wonderful discoveries and enhancements to golf clubs are designed to make golfers hit the ball farther, straighter, and play better golf.  Fantastic, now mix in all of the “latest technology” they use and we should all be on tour shooting the round of our lives each and every time we tee it up on #1 hole.  Consider that every year someone claims to have a new discovery that will make you hit the ball 10 yards farther off the tee.  Think about it for a moment - if it were only 1 or 2 yards more per year, that would be 50 to 100 additional yards more.  So, ask yourself if the average golfer who used to hit the ball 250 yards off the tee is really hitting the ball 350 yards off the tees or not and then think about 10 yards a year times 50 years and ask if the average golfer is hitting the ball an additional 500 yards off the tee.  If the advertising claims were true, golfers today would be hitting 750 yard tee shots on average, and everybody from 16 to 61 and 5’4” to 6” using the same clubs more or less.

With all of these “wonderful discoveries” and “technological advances” that have magically appeared year after year for the last 50+ years (to help golfers become longer, straighter, and play better), could someone out there please tell me why the average golf score for average golfers like you and me has NOT IMPROVED by even one measly stroke in 50 years????? 

 I will not promise that when you come to Gooder Golf for your new clubs you’ll hit the ball 300+ yards, that you’re going to drop 10 strokes from your handicap, that you’re going to hit every green in regulation, that you’re going to sink every putt you look at.  However, I can tell you that by utilizing some science, common sense, a launch monitor, impact labels, high-def video, and some awesome fitting equipment/gear (and a li'l bit of experience) - I’ve helped turn 9-handicap golfers into 6-handicap golfers, 18-handicap golfers into 13-handicap golfers, 22 handicap golfers into 17-handicap golfers, and even a 2-handicap golfer into a +0.7 handicap (yup, better than scratch).  Once we have completed your fitting, I am confident that you'll be a believer too.  It is not uncommon for me to receive feedback from customers like;

• I hit the ball farther
• I hit more fairways
• I hit more greens
• I hit it closer to the pin
• I strike the ball better
• I am more consistent
• My average score is lower
• My handicap is lower
• I got my first hole in one
• I love my clubs
• I just shot the best round of my life
• Number of smiles per round is up

 I love feedback from my customers, and like to stay in contact with them – you are not forgotten after your purchase.  I’m here for the long term, and so are my clubs.  If you feel that something with your clubs isn’t right – I will make it right.  You are spending your hard-earned money on quality golf clubs, I want you to feel like got your money’s worth.  I will take them apart again, re-weight them….whatever it takes to make ‘em right.  Aside from my family and close friends, my passion is fitting/building golf clubs, and playing the awesome game of golf.  My goal is to fit and build the best possible clubs FOR YOU, help you play better golf, and hopefully you’ll enjoy this awesome game as much as I do.  Now on to the FAQ's.

Frequently asked questions;

I just bought a set of Callaways, Nikes, Pings, etc. and I want to get you to fit them for me. Can you do that?
The answer is Yes and No.  This is a tricky one - I get asked this question more and more each season.  Remember - the fitting comes first.  Please do not buy equipment and then attempt to get it fitted - get the fitting first, then purchase the proper equipment that suits your needs.  In situations like this, the clubs are harder to fit than if we were to start from scratch with a clean slate.  You don't buy a suit from a retail store, and then take it to your tailor and say "can you fix this and make it fit me"..... The proper way is to go see your tailor first, let him gather the measurements and information he requires, and let him put his knowledge and experience to work making you a finely crafted suit, 'cuz it's going to fit you the best.  Don't just buy a snazzy off-the-rack set of clubs because they were on sale for a price you couldn't refuse, thinking that you can get them "fit" after the fact (they could be the completely wrong design for you).  If you wear a size 11 shoe, are you going to purchase a set of size 7's just because they were on sale????? The size 7's are gonna need a lot of alterations in order to make 'em fit you in any possible way at all (if at all).  We can check loft & lie angles of your new off-the-rack clubs, but that's about the extent we can go to unless you're prepared to have your clubs disassembled and re-shafted.  Keep in mind that due to certain head designs and metal compositions that some irons cannot be bent for loft & lie adjustment or breakage can result.  To make the clubs properly fit you, a re-shaft will be required - a proper fitting club not only considers length, but shaft material, shaft weight, shaft flex, shaft bend profile, head weight, weight distribution, total club weight, club swingweight or MOI, it's the only way to get the right combination of all these elements into your hands.  I have no way of testing your existing clubhead with other shafts (for length, shaft weight, flex, etc.) to find the most consistent and best performing combination - this is where retro-fitting can become tricky.  ALL of my fitting shafts are interchangeable with any one of my fitting heads.  We can perform a dynamic lie fitting on each club in the set of irons and adjust them individually to your golf swing.  If you're prepared to spend the money to have the shafts from your new off-the-rack clubs removed and replaced with different shafts, yes we can retrofit your set to your specifications and very likely make them a lot better than they are, but they are still not totally custom fitted to you in the truest sense.

In custom fitting, we do not pre-determine what head or shaft or grip you will end up with - we can't, 'cuz we don't know which ones you NEED yet.  We measure and test your swing, you will hit various clubs with various shafts (length, weight, flex, etc).  Through this testing we will determine the head design, shaft configuration, weight, lofts, length, flex, and set make up that is best suited for you.  We will not know these variables until we have completed the testing.  It is best to be fitted prior to making any purchase and you will have a better set of clubs.  If you bought clubs first, keep in mind that short of loft & lie checking/adjusting, a re-shaft will be required to make 'em as right as they can be.  We can’t guarantee the results will be as good as doing it right from scratch, but we can help to make them better than what you started with.  If you want your existing set retro-fitted, please keep in mind that; (1) first off you must really love the heads - retro-fitting can get expensive as it is more labor intensive than starting a new set from scratch, even more expensive if we are working with "special" designs such as bore-through heads.  (2) The head design you currently own MUST be a correct match to your swing characteristics and the state of your game (IE a 20-handicap player trying to play the game with blade style irons = VERY WRONG), otherwise you are spending your hard earned money in the wrong places, in which case I will refuse the job.

That's some long-winded and repetitive babble on retro-fitting - but it's my job to be clear and up-front on the details involved.

What happens after the fitting?
After the fitting we know the specifics for your ideal club or set of clubs.  You have the option of having your existing clubs retrofitted to meet your specifications as close as possible, or buying a club or set of clubs custom made to those exact specifications.

Does the fitting fee include the golf clubs?
No.  The modest fitting fee helps to cover the time and expertise of the fitter, also the high-tech equipment required for swing data acquisition, video and computer swing analysis (this specialized equipment is worth several thousand dollars).  Any clubs you purchase or any retrofitting of your existing clubs will be a separate charge.

How much are your custom clubs?
This is probably the question I get asked the most often, but can be a tricky question to answer.  My response to that question is "I want to buy a new car, how much will it cost me? "  There is quite a price difference between a bottom of the line economy model "puddle jumper", and a brand spankin' new luxury Rolls Royce - they are both "cars", but there is a rather significant difference between the two.  Do you see what I mean?  Custom ANYTHING costs money.  Much of the cost for custom clubs depends greatly on which heads/shafts/grips are used.  Most custom club prices are comparable to other quality top of the line golf equipment you might purchase in any golf store or pro shop across the country - a set of irons can range from $800.00 right up to $3000.00+++.  There are soooo many variables - how many woods, what wood shafts, how many hybrids, what hybrid shafts, how many irons, what iron heads, what iron shafts, how many wedges, what wedge head, what wedge shaft, what grips????  Depending on the heads and shafts used, some are a little less and some are a little more - but what a bargain they are - far better fit and far better constructed for you than anything else on the market.  The bitterness of POOR QUALITY will linger on long after the sweetness of LOW PRICE is gone.

Once I have the information from my fitting, can I buy clubs fit for me at my local golf store or pro shop?
Possibly, but VERY unlikely.  Our process usually fits you to a variable you might call sub flexes between the typical flexes you will find in a golf store or pro shop.  If you happen to land on the exact flex the golf store or pro shop sells you may be able to purchase your clubs there if the length and weight is also a match for you too.  Our fitting process will find the best length, flex, weight and swingweight/MOI value for your swing and few golf stores or pro shops are capable of having their clubs made to the exact specifications you might need.  For example: You might need a 43.5 inch Driver with a D-2 swingweight and a 80 gram shaft with a particular flex profile not available from the companies they sell.  They only offer 45 or 45.5 inch drivers with 2 or 3 shaft selections and their flexes may not match up to your ideal flex.  They cannot order a 43.5 inch driver with a D-2 swingweight because all of the heads for their drivers are manufactured to be assembled at 45 or 45.5 inches.

I’ve heard that custom clubs do not have the re-sell value that the clubs I buy in golf stores or pro shops have, is that true?
This probably is true.  Your clubs are fit for you just as a fine custom fit suit is - it is not likely you would find someone to match you exactly any more than you might find someone who will be a perfect fit for your custom made suit.  Also, most people hit their custom clubs so much better there should be no need to resell them unless you make a dramatic change in your swing or ability.  Our customers are generally more interested in playing better golf and enjoying the game more than buying and selling clubs.  If you are buying clubs for an investment, custom clubs are probably not what you want - you are far better off with a commodity product like the major name brands that everyone is aware of.

OK, suppose I fit pretty close to Store bought clubs and they are on sale, why shouldn’t I save some money and buy these clubs?
If your purpose is to save money you probably should not waste your time getting fitted at all, these days custom ANYTHING is expensive and requires an investment in time and money.  You can ask your local Pro to recommend something close for you.  Our fittings are very precise and we spend a lot of time testing for exactly the right specifications for you clubs - it is a time consuming and an expensive process.  Why would you spend that much time and that much money and waste it away on as set of clubs that do not fit?

Can I go to see a PGA Professional for my next set of custom clubs?
Yes you can, but it would probably be better to see the PGA professional for your swing problems and see a qualified clubfitter for your club fitting.  A PGA professional is a "Swing Professional" and a good clubfitter is a “Fitting Professional”.  We have training in fitting and building custom golf equipment, we understand that shaft frequencies, shaft torque, head lofts and all of the critical engineering specifications that go into the menu to come up with a perfect set of clubs for you.

I have heard a lot about "Frequency Matched" clubs; Is that something that will help me?
"Frequency Matched" is a special process of measuring shaft flex.  Yes, this process improves the set tremendously for most golfers.  We go to great lengths to measure, test and optimize the way shafts are installed in all clubs.

Loft and Lie Angle Adjustments - Is it important for my game, and how often should I get them checked?
Loft angles should be set to achieve a proper distance gap between each club in the set so the golfer can best judge which club is needed for a particular distance from the target.  If the lofts on your clubs are maladjusted you will have problems judging which clubs to use at different distances from the pin.  Lie angle determines direction of the ball at impact - if your lie angles are improperly adjusted you may get varying results from what you think is a good shot.  It is probably a good idea for most of us to get this checked at least once a year.

I have been reading a lot about graphite shafts in irons; are they as consistent as steel shafts?
The answer is YES!  The improvements in graphite shaft production and quality control has been dramatic over the past dozen years.  In the early days of graphite shafts, they were very inconsistent, whereas today shaft designers can achieve bend profiles they want (soft or firm in the tip, mid-section, or butt) and virtually to the degree they want.  Graphite shafts used to be installed for their weight savings only - it wasn't until recently that heavier graphite shafts have become available for people whose swings require heavier shafts.  Graphite shafts today are anywhere from 45 grams in weight to up to 125 grams in weight.

How long does your fitting take?
The typical fitting (irons and woods together) will average between 2.5 - 4 hours in length (sometimes even more).  I've heard some big-box retail stores claim they can fit you in 15 minutes or so, I don't know how thorough that could be - I'm not sure you can quite cover ALL the details in 15 minutes.

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