Oceanside Fitting - Amazing Experience

Follow Thread

By Gordon B

  • 0 Likes
  • 18 Replies
  1. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    So let's get to the bottom line up front: if you have the chance to experience the Titleist Tour fitting - do it! From the moment you drive on the lot, this is something special. When you check in and go to the locker room - there is you locker. With your name on it. After changing, you and your fitter go to the range - carrying a shag bag of Pro V or V1X balls. Then the fun begins. My fitter was Dino. He had the patience of a saint, and the skill of Michelangelo. I was scheduled for a full set fitting - irons, hybrid, fairway, driver and wedges. My only requirement was he couldn't change the iron heads because I just got my AP2's in August. Using the Trackman, and more importantly his experience and ears (yes, ears), we started through my bag. He wanted to know my normal shot pattern, where I missed, and what I wanted for an ideal shot. After a while he came to the conclusion I was spinning the ball too much with my irons. We adjusted the set 1* strong (2* for the 4 & 5 irons) on the spot - but he wasn't finished. My shots just didn't SOUND right. More shots, with Dino flipping out X's and me acting like a pro (with a very challenged swing). Finally, he adjusted the clubs to 1* up and the sound changed. For the better. It was awesome. On to the hybrid. A much tougher fit. We tried multiple shafts, lofts, settings with varying results. He was happy with my hybrid, but thought we needed to find about 5 more years to be REALLY happy. Finally we had a shaft/loft combination we liked - but had to get the SOUND right. When we did, it was awesome. Next the 3-wood. I have problems getting the ball airborne from the fairway. We worked our way thru multiple combinations before landing on 16.5* and 1/2 short for the shaft. Even shorter, he increased my carry distance by 6 yards. Better yet - even the "misses" we're going farther than my other club. Then the real reason I was there - the driver. It was something out of a Titleist commercial. I hit my driver, and the first shot was as good as I could possible hit it. Dino said it didn't spin enough so it was falling out of the sky at around 230 yards. He handed me a 10*5 degree D2 set to B2 and said try this. The first shot resulted in a spontaneous "Holy Sh*t" on my part. The drive was shot from a cannon, straight, high, and 25 yards past my best. We were in business! No more changes needed, Rougue Black 60 is the ticket. Ended the days with wedges. It was like being at the eye doctor. What do you like better wedge #1 or wedge #2? Wedge 2 or wedge 3? Wedge 3 or wedge 1? Essentially it was the chance to try every bounce combination and discuss the "why" and "what" as it pertained to my normal conditions. Just a bit of trivia: the balls used for full shots are only hit once a day. The balls used for the wedges can be hit up to 3 or so times a day and get scuffed more. Go figure. In the end, Dino recommended no changes to my wedges. He bent the lie to 1* upright like the irons. No changes were made to the irons either. Here is the takeaway. You can get fit on a simulator or even on a range, but at TPI you are hitting the same balls you normally play, under the watchful eye of a real expert. I seriously doubt a local shop is going to get into the fitting to the level of the sound the club makes. Dino's skills way outclassed my swing, but he was the most patient person I have ever seen. Good shots, bad shots, a bit of teaching, bit of philosophy, and a whole-lot of knowledge. We discussed balls, grips, shafts, swings, ball-speed, smash factor, and never once was he put off by my endless questions. When I asked about myriad of shaft options on the carts behind him, he said it was actually pretty easy. First, are you a high or low ball hitter? That cuts the options by 50%. Then it is just a matter of finding a shaft that maximized player's output. Sounds simple - right. It was amazing - he handed me clubs, and I hit them, sight unseen. He nodded, made note, changed things, and we finally reached a point where he said "that's the one" - and it was. Really wish I could have spent the entire day out there. I was like a kid in a candy store. One thing for sure, there will be no more buying a club off the rack - Oceanside is just 6 hours away, and I will definitely make the trip again before I put another club in the bag. Just for comparison, I am 55 y/o, SS (driver) of 94, and play off a 5 handicap. We settled on the 915D2' Rogue Black 60, stiff, set to B2 (for all woods/hybrid). The 3 wood is 915F 16.5*, 1/2" short, Rogue Black 60, stiff. Hybrid is 915H, 18*, Rogue Black 85, stiff.
  2. Chris  M

    Chris M
    78260, TX

    Gordon,

    Thank you for the full review of your experience. Sounds incredible! Definitely on my bucket list. Can't imagine having the added confidence of a tour fitting in your bag! 

  3. David

    David
    Tacoma, WA

    Is it difficult to schedule and what is the cost?
  4. David S said:

    Is it difficult to schedule and what is the cost?

     

    Pretty easy to schedule by contacting Titleist, the cost is about $200 per area (woods, irons/hybrids and/or wedges) or $500 for all three last time I checked. 

    I am fortunate to have done this a couple of times and it is worth the small cost.

    There is no credits towards anything the cost is a straight fitting fee.

    Chris

  5. Richard H

    Richard H
    Grand Prairie, TX

    Definitely on my bucket list as well. Good review!

  6. Jared L

    Jared L
    Klamath Falls, OR

    Thank you for the detailed review.

    I have been to a Titleist Advanced Fitting Centre for a complete fitting, however doing it with Titleist I assume would be a much better experience and probably result in better performance.

    Definitely something I would love to do some day. 

  7. Dwayne N

    Dwayne N
    Island, KY

    That sounds so good, I am a sixty mile drive to the Mississippi river two minutes from no where USA but one day I hope to make the trip to a TPI fitting center I am all titleist putter to driver but fit at a golf store with a teen age kid on a simulator so I am always wondering what my game would be if I was professionally fit. It has to be awesome. Great Story thanks for sharing.

  8. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Dwayne N said:

    That sounds so good, I am a sixty mile drive to the Mississippi river two minutes from no where USA but one day I hope to make the trip to a TPI fitting center I am all titleist putter to driver but fit at a golf store with a teen age kid on a simulator so I am always wondering what my game would be if I was professionally fit. It has to be awesome. Great Story thanks for sharing.

    LOL, in my own experience - not good, fortunately they were less expensive than Titleist and those have all been replaced. If you check http://www.titleist.com/events/ you can find a demo day and compare a couple of yours with the demo models (not enough time for a full fitting) to see if the kid/simulator was close. There are some dates for AR and KY. A Tour Van fitting is pretty darn good as well as an option to going coastal if you want to get some serious advice. There is a central US unit that may come close to you at some point.
  9. Brent Wells

    Brent Wells
    El Paso, TX

    Military

    Thanks for sharing with TT!  I am hoping to make it out there during the summer.

     

    Brent

  10. Chris P

    Chris P
    Katy, TX

    Thanks for sharing the experience.  Definitely towards the top of my Bucket List.

  11. Greg T

    Greg T
    Casper, WY

    Sounds like you had a great time!  I was fitted in December at the Oceanside facility.  Robert was my fitter and my golfing buddy had Dino.  Truly one of the best golf experiences an amateur golfer can have.  The Titleist guys are the best.  Total first class treatment and their expertise is unmatched.  Toughest part is waiting for the new equipment to arrive so you can try it out.

  12. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    You are so correct-the waiting is the hardest part!
  13. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    Good stuff Gordon and thanks for sharing the experience..  Sounds amazing!!!  It's now on my bucket list....

  14. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    Problem is, I now have no excuses for poor play. ;)
  15. William T

    William T
    Rochester, NY

    sounds like you had a blast, i hope that one i day i can make it out to oceanside for a full fitting!

  16. dennis n

    dennis n
    San Diego, CA

    Military

    What a dream come true, that's my kind of fantasy camp and when you wake up you've got a bag full of toys to boot.

  17. Chuck H

    Chuck H
    Victorville, CA

    I already have Titleist clubs that I love.  I hate the shafts tho. Would it be worth being fit for shafts over there? I am also in the market for a hybrid. I have hit the 915H with the 90g Whiteboard in it. That thing is a monster. However, I am looking for monstrous consistency. How would that work exactly with the fitting if you have your own clubs already?

  18. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    I am sure they would customize the event to your needs - but a call to Andy Dobson would give you the answer from the source.  I know when I went, I told my fitter I was open to anything but changing the heads in my irons.  He went with what I gave him...

  19. Chris B

    Chris B
    Monroe, LA

    Excellent review - I have to find the time to do this.....one day.....one day!

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up