Custom Fitting Experience

There are no up charge and up charge shafts. My clubs shafts are in the No category so irons, a 1drive - 1 fairway, and 2 hybrids would be about $26-2700. Unless he is adding the firing fee to the clubs, looks like the driver shaft might be $325 extra. Possibly. You may want a breakdown. Then the choice of a “close enough “ No up charge shaft. Was the fitting fee extra? Being a Top 100 usually translates to a higher fitting fee. TPI would about $600 for the bag.

Hello Don Thanks for your reply. Yes, the fitting fee was $450 & is the regions most respected fitter. The shaft upgrades alone for Driver-hybrid are a $350, each complete AP3 iron is $263/ea. Ouch! He'll order it all in, build them on-site to perfection with a lifetime satisfaction but man it'll run me some $$$ for this peace of mind. Agree, I might have to revisit for a "close enough" option, but just seeking all TT Members advice. Much Appreciation!

As best I can tell, apparently none of the shafts are in the matrix from Titleist. Hence the substantial upcharge for the shafts. You will indeed have absolutely custom clubs. My bag has no upcharge shafts (other than black AP3s all in for $185 each) and is about $3500 to replace all new Titleist through the SC putter.
There must have been some expectation between you and the fitter, or the fitter should have explained he doesn't fit clubs complete with factory-certified shafts from the vendors. He only builds custom clubs in his shop.
Looks like your options are like a Mercedes SLC for $54,000 or get the hand-built AMG engine version for $68,000. But you'd get to 55 mph 0.3 seconds faster than me.

I went this week to GOLFTEC for a fitting (was fitted for AP3 irons). The fitting fee was waived because I purchased the clubs through GOLFTEC. The price was the same as advertised in the magazines and online stores. Now, where I am, GOLFTEC is doing a 20% off fitting special in the month of March as well, but still I didn’t need to pay for the actually fitting since I purchased the irons through them...I’m not sure if this helps you or not. This stuff can add up for sure, but we all must really love this game to put ourselves through this!

In addition, I went through a similar experience with a Master Fitter for PXG for comparisons sake. Loved the feel of their irons and was striking them effortlessly. Just can't be that guy toting a flashy PXG branded bag around that screams, "look at me!" I prefer to go with Titleist, however the PXG rep offered an entire full bag package for $5,000 with custom fit shaft upgrades, cart bag and a players hat. Makes one have to consider with the uncharges I'm experiencing topping me out over $6,000 for Titleist. Suggestions please.

That seems about right. Prices on clubs are increasing. If you're buying an entirely new set of clubs, they definitely are not as cheap as they used to be. Depending on upcharge shafts, on each club, it can go up $80-$200 a club.

That's a high price driver. What shaft was in it?

Thanks Gents...please advice...I realize

TS3 Driver: $499.99, Shaft: PFC EX PX Even Flow Blue 55 6.0 $360, Lamkin Grip $16 = $875.99
TS3 3 & 5 Wood: $299.99 Same shaft as above $350, Grip $16 = $675.99 X 2= $1,351.98
818 H1 Hybrid: $279.99, Shaft: similar EvenFlow Blue $190, Grip $16 = $485.95
718 AP# Irons: $162.99 Shaft: PFC EX Rifle $85, Grip: $16 = $263.99/each
Wedges Same shaft at $250.99/each

Hi I want to fit my TS2 Driver with a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ R2 Shaft. Can you advice me how to trim the Shaft ie. how much TIp trim would be required.

COLORADO?

Go to a Titleist fitting. Fly if necessary, Stay with the non upgrade options.
Upgrade driver only if necessary
Driver$500
3 W$300
5W-$300
Hybrid$250
Irons- $1500
3xWedges $150

$3000

Ts3 for $875? I hope not. I'm getting fitted next week.

There are many options for N/C shafts in addition to the 4 shafts (multiple flexes each) listed as "stock". Custom fittings don't have to include an up-charge shaft. The fitter can work with you to keep the driver at the base price.

I appreciate all the feedback. Getting dialed in is the main objective. Let's organize a Team Titleist fitting for those who are interested in complete full bag purchases. I'll gladly fly out for the experience and comfort knowing I made a wise choice but more importantly I am professionally fit to my specifics. Any thoughts/comments from TT?

Titleist does offer a fairly exotic experience for fitting. By tying together business trips, I've been to both Manchester Lane and TPI, Pushing 70, I couldn't do a whole bag at TPI - it's like a 3 hour range session w/o beer. Not enough Aleve for that. But you get the same fitters as the pro's and it is one on one attention for the full allotted time. The number of shaft combinations available behind you is mind-boggling.
Titleist Thursdays are also well done, but a bag would require multiple 30 minute sessions. As a mid-handicapper with an ever-changing stroke, they have matched me well with irons and hybrids. I have enough short-comings that exotic build will not likely change my handicap. But the whole point of being custom fit is coming out with the confidence of what you believe are the best set of clubs to make you the most successful at a price point you can afford.

Personally, I think you’re getting gouged. I’ve been through at least 6 fittings for clubs and if the “Exotics” choices are selected by the fitter for EVERY club, they’re just building-in “pad” and profit. With all of the stock iron shafts that Titleist offers, I’d be willing to bet you can get equal performance from those options. Driver? Yeah, I can see an upgraded shaft there, but not $350. PXG only charges $250 for the latest upgraded shafts!
Anyway, I wouldn’t buy from that person. Titleist will build your clubs to spec, so there’s ZERO need to have someone re-do them and charge you for it. Fitting might be too-botch, but that fitter is not being very honest. Nah. You can get it all for $3,000.

Paul Thanks for your feedback. The Fitter is often quoted in Golf Digest as one of the nation's Top Fitters, that's why I went to him over the larger chain fitters. I'd like to see the Titleist shaft comparisons to what I was fit in. Perhaps a flight out to their fitting facility is necessary. Not sure I'd do a local course van fitting unless proven otherwise.

I don’t doubt that they’re very good, but you shouldn’t pay through the nose JUST because they’re in GD... Ive done fittings with some top fitters in the South, highly recognized, and never had them hit me with such high charges. Don’t discount other fitters just because they don’t make GD. Unless you’re buying PXG, you shouldn’t be paying this much. I agree with the comment about grips being $16! That’s outrageous. There’s no way they put grips on any differently, or in a way that would cost that much. Well, unless they’re sprinkling gold on them! Ha!
Anyway, it sounds like you’re convinced that the reputation makes it worth the cost. I can just tell you that $2,000 more in the build isn’t gonna be even noticed by you. Save the dough and order directly through Titleist.

$16 for grips!!! That alone makes me suspect of this person. If you order them built to spec directly from Titleist, they come with grips! I agree with Paul, that there has been some major up-sell here to pad profit. I have done 2 full bag fittings at Oceanside and was never fit into upcharged shafts. They were able to get my numbers where they needed to be both times with stock options. Then I ordered the clubs directly from Titleist and they showed up 2 weeks later, well for well under $3,000.

Value doesn't have to be directly related to price. A custom builder offers a perceived value above the base cost of a Titleist club. For me, a bionic body at any price would be a better value than any custom built club.

BTW, Golf Pride MCC 4+ grips are an upcharge that is usually $10 over Tour Velvet. Not all grips are stock at N/C.

Thanks for all the feedback men. I've sent in an email inquiring why and his response was that their "build process" is dramatically different than any "custom" build from Titleist. Not sure how much different this could possibly be, perhaps getting the weight correct for all clubs to match? Any "builders' out there with experience. Sorry to drag this on, but simply want to be more knowledgeable.

I think you are correct in seeking opinions. This seems a bit much for the clubs. I understand the profit on these clubs but to charge you $450 for the fitting session alone (even if he is the regions best fitter) that's a bit much in my opinion. Good luck whatever road you decide to go down.

There are some fully custom fitters out there that work very differently than the traditional process.

What they do, is custom fit you based on either their experience or their software and will always fit you into a different shaft that may be perfect for you, but....

They order the clubs from Titleist, which you pay in full for.

Then, they dismantle the clubs, and rebuild them to the specs that you were fitted for and charge you for those shafts and grips as well as well as the building costs. they sometimes do some testing on the shafts to make sure they are facing the ideal direction and stuff like that, but with modern materials, not sure how much that matters and there is a lot of controversy around it.

So, bottom line, is that you are buying new clubs from Titleist and then immediately having someone rebuild them with new parts and that someone is likely also keeping those brand new shafts to sell to someone else.

If you don't care about the money, then they may be the best clubs you've ever had, but you may get just as good clubs for half the price directly from a Titleist fitter.

Personally, I'm debating having my next fitting done the way you did, but if I do, I will tell them in advance that I plan on sticking with Titleist and to show me a comparison between something that Titleist provides vs their main recommendation that does not.

Best of luck!