True Spec or Club Champion
Today I review the two best golf-fitting options: True Spec and Club Champion. Golf Aficionado has done multiple fittings with True Spec, all completed by different staff members. You can check out Matt’s experience here and Rob’s experience here. In both articles’ Cliff note version, Rob and Matt walked away satisfied.
I also wanted to talk about Club Champion. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit a new Club Champion location in Sanford, FL, and get fitted for a driver. While I didn’t publish an article on the experience, I did walk away impressed with that fitting experience.
My True Spec Experience
In July, I had the opportunity to get fitted by True Spec. A little about my game, I’m a four-handicap heading off to start my freshman season at Walla Walla University. My current golf bag consists of PXG 311p gen2 irons, TaylorMade M2 3-wood, and 4-hybrid finished with a TaylorMade Sim 2 Max Driver. Before starting my career as a college golfer, I wanted to do a complete bag fitting, and our friends at True Spec were happy to host.
Know Your Fitter
Since the staff of Golf Aficionado previously worked with True Spec, I knew what to expect, but I also wanted to take full advantage of the fitting and work with one of the best fitters in the world. Having done my research, I landed on Kevin O’Connell and the True Spec Golf location at Pine Needles in Pinehurst, North Carolina. I knew I would be playing in the US Kids Teen World Championship in July and booked an appointment with Kevin before the tournament started later that week.
Don’t Be Biased
I went into the fitting as everyone should, 100% equipment unbiased. Honestly, I don’t care what club or shaft I use. I want what works best for my game. If you come into a fitting with a particular brand or model in mind, chances are you will not get the most out of your fitting, so leave the name brands at the door and come in with an open mind.
From the start, Kevin and I clicked and were instantly on the same page. We started with my existing 6-iron as the baseline. Once I had hit enough shots to register a good baseline of what we were working with, we moved on to trying a variety of irons and shaft combinations. My PXG irons are currently set up with Aerotech SteelFiber shafts.
As we went through different configurations, shafts, club heads, etc. I tried not to take notice of what brand we were using. They always say curiosity killed the cat, and I believe curiosity can kill the fitting experience. I focused on the look-at address and the feel through the swing to make contact with the ball. For the bulk of the fitting process, we worked through the different combinations inside the hitting bay, hitting on a mat while striking balls out of the bay and down the range. As we honed in on a combination we liked, we moved outside to hit balls from the grass to validate the results.
Throughout the process, Kevin was needling me for feedback asking how things felt and making adjustments based on my feedback and Trackman numbers. We worked together like a fine-oiled machine when we got into the woods. Before I knew it, our time had flown by, and with the help of Kevin and a Trackman to confirm all the results, I walked out, knowing it was time for a new set of clubs.
Long Lead Times and Big Bucks
Since the fitting, I received my new clubs about a week ago. There was a delay in receiving the clubs, and everyone seemed to have extended lead times. Blame COVID. Everyone else does. I ended up with all TaylorMade equipment being recommended. I’m switching my PXG irons out for a new set of TaylorMade P790s, they felt like butter, and I gained a little distance, and the shot grouping was slightly better. The significant changes came with the woods. I struggled with a 15-yard gap between my 5-iron and hybrid. If I got stuck with 165 yards, I would be short or long, and you know how that goes. Take a little off the hybrid, or try to gas the 5-iron. Neither option worked with consistency.
I ended up ditching my 3-wood and replacing it with a 5-wood that I hit just as far and found more forgiving. We included a 2nd hybrid that closed that nasty gap, and now I should have no trouble when I face that daunting 165-yard approach shot. I’m replacing my SIM 2 MAX with a new 9-degree Stealth.
After completing the fitting process with True Spec, I had no doubt that the prescription we came up with was 100% tailored to my game and would help me perform my best in college. Going through the fitting process and buying new equipment is a MAJOR investment. I don’t want to understate that. The MSRP for going through the fitting and replacing my entire bag (No Putter) was well over $3,500. Nobody ever accused golf of being a cheap sport, but many people are blown away by the sticker shock, primarily when they work with a fitter like True Spec or Club Champion.
The prices are typically driven up during the wood fittings. Having done fittings at both True Spec and Club Champion, the recommendation is always for an up-charge shaft. I’m not saying the shafts aren’t worth the price increase, but it drives the price considerably. You can ask your fitter to provide a similar stock shaft option based on what they fit you for, but who wants to go thru a fitting, settle on the best equipment then downgrade?
True Spec Vs. Club Champion
Comparing the True Spec fitting experience to Club Champion, they are both excellent options. I recommend both over any fitting you would have at a local sporting goods store such as Dick’s Sporting Goods or PGA Tour Superstore. Club Champion spends more on advertising and has 100+ locations across the country. Based on your location, Club Champion will probably be your closest option. They also regularly run promotions, which you can capitalize on to save a few dollars if you keep an eye out.
True Spec is more boutique and has 30+ locations across the country, but there is something to be said about quality over quantity. As mentioned in Rob’s article, True Spec has partnered with some great resorts and teaching professionals to open locations at high-end golf destinations such as Pine Needles, host of the 2022 Women’s US Open. I chose the Pine Needles location primarily based on all the positive feedback about Kevin and the fact it fit in well with my tournament schedule.
Follow These Rules for a Successful Fitting
Rule #1, have an open mind. Rule #2, set a big budget, like $4,000+. Rule #3, research the fitters at that location and make sure they have someone you have total confidence with. Once you check off those three boxes, then choose the location that works best for you. True Spec has a lot of great destinations, and if you live near a location or plan to travel to a location as I did, go for it. Otherwise, feel confident that both Club Champion and True Spec can provide you with a high-level fitting experience.