| Custom golf clubs are anything from a single club to a | | | | the club, are made by a very few companies, but |
| full set of woods, irons and putter which have been | | | | normally China, Bangladesh, Japan, etc. None of the |
| custom specified and assembled just for you. They | | | | big names make their own shafts, the majority fitting |
| may work for somebody else and other people will | | | | True Temper shafts, sometimes branded with their |
| probably love your custom built golf clubs, but they | | | | own name but never manufactured by them.Now |
| are yours.To make an analogy that most of you will | | | | when you pick up the magazines or discount shop |
| be familiar with we will compare buying a new set of | | | | offers are you looking for what suits you best or, |
| golf clubs to buying a new suit or dress, there are | | | | more likely, the same clubs you thought Tiger or |
| three ways you can go about this;Option 1 - You go | | | | Vijay or Ernie or Annika were winning with last |
| to a clothes shop and browse around until you see | | | | weekend?This is a good time to dispel a widely held |
| something fashionable and then buy it and hope it fits | | | | belief, the only similarity between the clubs you can |
| you OK and is comfortable. That is the normal way | | | | buy and the clubs winning major pro tournaments is |
| most people buy their golf clubs.Option 2 - You can | | | | the branding. These pro golfers are paid anything up |
| go to the same shops and try a few different | | | | to seven figure sums of money to use these brands, |
| designs, maybe even mix and match top and bottom | | | | they and their coaches specify every head, shaft and |
| of the outfit, and eventually you will get something | | | | grip that makes up that set and somebody has to |
| that fits OK but you may need to have altered, | | | | pay for that. So when you buy your set of Z43 |
| within the leeway the existing clothing gives on sizes | | | | Super Pingaway irons you are paying for the |
| and lengths and quite a lot of people will get a | | | | components, the plush headquarters and the massive |
| reasonable fit. This is very similar to custom fitting | | | | advertising and endorsements that made you notice |
| your new golf clubs, you are still limited to the small | | | | them in the first place.A good custom club builder will |
| number of shafts and flexes that that manufacturer | | | | use components made from at least as good raw |
| provides and most will only extend or reduce by 1/2" | | | | materials as the big boys, often from the same |
| and at the most 2 degrees loft and lie. The shaft | | | | factories to produce the heads, they offer the same |
| flexes will only be those stamped on the side of the | | | | shafts and grips AND take the same sort of time to |
| shaft and are different for every shaft manufacturer, | | | | analyse your game and physique as those top pros |
| very rarely are these actually measured and you | | | | get, but because they don't pay for the names on |
| better match one of the five or six flexes available. | | | | their components, that set of clubs, designed just for |
| For a lot of people that just isn't enough, and this can | | | | you, is an affordable possibility.Again a good |
| still take many weeks.Option 3 - If you wanted | | | | clubmaker, and there are bad ones as in any walk of |
| something that would last a long time and fitted really | | | | life, will be more concerned about the results of your |
| well from day one you would go to a bespoke | | | | fitting than you spending money.There are many |
| outfitters, they would take all your measurements, | | | | ways of fitting but during the fitting ask your |
| find out exactly what you wanted the item for, how | | | | clubmaker what they think of your game, does it |
| often it would be used, etc. This would cost a | | | | match with your and your friends impressions of |
| relative fortune but gives great results every time. | | | | your shot shape and distance or are they just telling |
| This is the same as custom club building, but the | | | | you things to make you sepnd money. If it doesn't |
| good news is, unlike the clothing market this is | | | | meet expectations can they justify their statements |
| normally less expensive, and rarely more expensive, | | | | without resorting to technobabble?The best part |
| than the first option. So how does that work?Well, | | | | about about custom building should be when you go |
| almost all golf club heads, with very few exceptions - | | | | back to your clubmaker and tell them "I've just shot |
| if any - are made in the far east, mainly China. We | | | | my lowest ever score" or "I've just won my first |
| believe that all heads are made there but several of | | | | ever competition" or "I've just hit my best ever |
| the big manufacturers just will not give a straight | | | | shot" or, and my favourite, "That's the most I've |
| answer, try them!Shafts, the most important part of | | | | enjoyed a game of golf for years". |