I recently took one of my students for a full bag fitting at our local PGA TOUR Superstore in Altamonte Springs, FL. In doing so, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to do a professional PGA TOUR Superstore Club Fitting review.
Our PGA TOUR Superstore full bag fitting was an amazing experience for us. Our fitter, Charles Moore, was a master fitter with over 20 years of experience. He used high-end technology like the Trackman Launch Monitor and SAMPuttLab putting analysis tools and software to diagnose any issues.
The three-hour session ran through all of the clubs in Lincoln’s bag. Charles started with irons, followed by Lincoln’s putter, wedges, and finally with his woods and driver. The time flew by, and the insights we learned will surely help Lincoln going forward.
After a 3-hour fitting, a few things we learned were:
- Change Lincoln’s 7-iron to a more upright degree to tighten his shot distribution.
- Shorten his driver to gain more control off the tee.
- Minor tweaks were made to his wedge lofts, gapping, and bounce.
- The putter was looking good.
I’ve been a golf instructor for 27 years and have been certified by the PGA for 15 years, and this is my first full bag fitting. After this experience, I’m convinced that a proper fitting is something all serious golfers need to do.
The only drawback could be the cost. Individual club fittings start at $40 to $50, while a full bag fitting at PGA Tour Superstore costs $99 to $300 (check your local PGATSS stores pricing). The more expensive fittings use more premium technology to analyze your swing.
If you spend hundreds or thousands on golf equipment and hours at the range or course, I think most golfers will consider this a solid investment. But please read on to decide for yourself, and at the end, I dive into the specific costs.
This review will include:
- Pros & Cons
- Verdict
- Iron Fitting
- Putter Fitting
- Wedge Fitting
- Driver and Woods Fitting
- PGA TOUR Superstore Costs
- Can a Club Fitting Improve Your Game?
- Benefits of a PGA TOUR Superstore
PGA TOUR Superstore Club Fitting Review
A PGA TOUR Superstore club fitting uses readings from technology such as Trackman and SAM PuttLab to recommend the best way to improve issues with your game.
That was exactly what our Studio Fitter, Charles, did as we went through the fitting, starting with Lincoln’s irons and then moving on to his putter, wedges, woods, and driver.
Here is a quick bit about our Studio Fitter: Charles is originally from Gainesville, Florida. It was clear he had a true passion for golf. In talking with him, we found out he began his golf journey at 7, and today, at age 45, he is still just as passionate. He originally got his start in the golf industry in 1995, where he worked as a caddy, and then moved into the retail space in 1999, working for a store in Myrtle Beach. Charles has been a master fitter for over 20 years after becoming certified through major golf vendors, including Callaway, Taylormade, PING, and Titleist.
Check this out: 7 Reasons For Golfers To Shop At PGA TOUR Superstore
Pros & Cons of a PGA TOUR Superstore Fitting
I was thoroughly impressed with the Studio Full Bag Fitting at the PGA TOUR Superstore, and I know that my student Lincoln was also. The following are the positives and negatives we both took from the experience.
Pros
- It can help you get a good understanding of your swing tendencies
- It can help you see where your equipment is helping you
- It can help you see where your equipment is hurting you
- It can instantly help you improve your game with equipment modifications
Cons
- A fitting is not a cure-all for an ailing game, but a compliment to lessons as well as practice
- It could be considered too expensive for some (I’ll cover the full costs below)
PGA Superstore Club Fitting: Verdict
Lincoln and I will remember the Studio Full Bag fitting at the PGA TOUR Superstore in Altamonte Springs, FL, for years. Our fitter, Charles, shared his decades of experience and sincerely wanted to help Lincoln reach his full potential.
Additionally, all the various reports from tools like Trackman and SAMPuttLab provide a great deal of valuable information after the fitting. As a coach, that information is great for me to go through with my students after a fitting session and when we are at our next session together.
I would absolutely recommend it to anyone to go through a fitting, even if it’s not a full-bag fitting.
Lincoln will work with a 7-iron with a more upright degree to help balance his contact on the face. After looking through the SAMPuttLab reports, it was good to see that his putting and putter were right on. His wedges also looked good, with some minor suggestions to change the gapping or the distance between clubs. He could also tweak the widget lofts and bounce.
The driver fitting takes the most time, and Charles had some expert insight to share. He noticed Lincoln’s driver was too long, and this is a common problem for many golfers. He cut down his driver right there, which should immediately save Lincoln some strokes.
I’ll go into more detail as I cover each club and what was looked at and share some pictures.
“It was cool to learn about different aspects of equipment and how it can affect your game. It was very helpful and helped coach and I make some good decisions about equipment changes I should make to help further the work we are doing together. It’s crazy that only a degree or two of lie angle can make such a big difference.
Getting a fitting can help a golfer in many ways, and it might be a good idea to consider getting one done.”
~ Lincoln Nascimento [My student who received the fitting]
Iron Fitting
In our club fitting, Charles had Lincoln warm up and get loose in the hitting bay. After that, Lincoln hit several 7-irons to get some baseline numbers from Trackman. Key areas that were looked at included:
- Where on the clubface strikes were made at impact
- The path Lincoln was swinging as he approached the ball at impact
- Whether his clubface was square, open, or closed at impact
- His spin rate on shots
- His overall shot dispersion
Once these baseline readings were made, Charles measured the lie angle of Lincoln’s 7-iron and its length. These factors often play a key role in the patterns a golfer shows in their shots.
Lincoln’s irons were pretty close to the standards for the club brand he plays.
Result: With all the information gathered, Lincoln hit a second 7-iron that was more upright than the standard. This significantly helped balance out where on the face he was making contact with the ball and tightened up his shot distribution.
Putter Fitting
Next up was the putter fitting stage of the session. The Science and Motion, or SAM PuttLab, was used in this area. This awesome technology helps take a deep dive into the dynamics of golfers’ putting and how their path and face react at impact.
Putting is very much an individual thing and is as much a feel and comfort thing as anything else. If a golfer can consistently deliver the putter face squarely into the ball at impact, then how they accomplish that does not matter. What you are looking for with poor putters is issues with face control at impact and things like distance control.
Lincoln’s putting is consistent regarding how his face comes into the ball at impact. While there were some suggestions for putters to try, we were both pleased with how his baseline numbers looked.
Result: No changes were made to his putter.
More from Golf Span: The Best Online Golf Stores – As Good As In Person?
Wedge Fitting
Following the putter fitting, Charles worked with Lincoln on his wedges. With a wedge fitting, like with the irons, the fitter looks first to see a player’s tendencies.
Charles had Lincoln hit several full swing, half swing, and open face lob shots with each of his wedges. Things that are being looked at with the wedges include:
- The bounce on each wedge
- The grind on each wedge
- Gapping a player has between wedges
- Club length, shaft type, and grip
Result: Based on the findings of Lincoln’s tendencies and performance with his current wedges, some suggestions were made to slightly modify his gapping, lofts, and ever so slight changes to his bounces.
Driver and Wood Fitting
The final stage of Lincoln’s full bag fitting focused on his woods and driver. Most of the time spent in this area was focused on his driver.
Once again, the process is pretty much the same as was the case with the irons and wedges. Lincoln started by getting warmed up and then proceeded to get into capturing data with his current driver.
Again, a baseline is set to see his tendencies, and then the actual fitting or suggesting of changes is made.
Key Takeaway: The biggest insight with this portion of the fitting was the massive difference between the length of a driver on the PGA TOUR vs. what the average amateur carries in their bag. The PGA TOUR average driver length is 44.75”, compared to the average amateur’s driver clocking in at 45.5” to 46.5”.
Charles quickly pointed out that most drivers are simply too long for the average golfer, which is a big reason why control is such an issue.
Result: Lincoln and I agreed, and he chopped his driver down to help gain more control off the tee.
PGA Superstore Club Fitting: Costs
Now, this may sound great, but what is the cost of a PGA TOUR Superstore Club Fitting? Well, types and pricing may vary depending on the store location. The following is pricing at my local store in Altamonte Springs, FL.
At stores using technology like the Trackman and SAMPuttLab, most individual club fittings range between $49 and $99. The Full Bag Fittings cost $300.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- A 25-minute performance evaluation for any club: $49
- A fairway, hybrid, or wedge fitting: $59
- A driver, iron, or putter fitting: $99
- A Studio Full Bag Fitting (3 hours): $300
At stores that don’t use as expensive technology, you’ll pay around $40 for an individual club fitting. The Full Bag Fittings cost $99.
Club Fittings to Consider:
Our fitter, Charles, walked us through a prioritized list of clubs you should get a fitting for if you couldn’t afford a full bag fitting or just need help with one or two clubs.
- Putter
- Irons
- Wedges
- Driver
Each store has varying options and prices, so check the offerings and prices at your local store. You can book a reservation now if you’re ready.
Can A Club Fitting Improve Your Game?
I always believed that combining regular golf instruction and club fitting could pay big dividends to any golfer. After going through a full-bag three-hour fitting session at the PGA TOUR Superstore, I am now convinced that a proper fitting is something that all serious golfers need to do.
Golf equipment off the shelf or purchased online is not one-size-fits-all.
- Having clubs that are too long, too heavy, or don’t have the right lie angle can absolutely cost you strokes.
- Having a toe-hang putter, when you are better off with a face-balanced one, can cost you strokes.
- Having wedges with improper gapping or an incorrect bounce can also cost you strokes.
Getting a proper fitting done can truly help your game.
“Regardless of your level of play, getting custom-fit golf clubs offers some key advantages. From drivers to putters, it’s important that each club in the bag adds to a player’s skills while compensating for their tendencies. It is far better to improve your game using golf clubs that match your swing characteristics and don’t impede your improvement.”
Alyssa Hockenbury, General Manager of PGA TOUR Superstore in Altamonte Springs, FL
Read on: What Does A Golf Club Fitting Cost And Is It Worth It?
The Benefits of a PGA TOUR Superstore
The PGA TOUR Superstore brand is owned and operated by Arthur Blank. In addition to the PGA TOUR Superstores, Blank is also the co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC.
Founded in 2003, the PGA TOUR Superstore is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently has 76 locations throughout the United States. Florida has the most locations with 10, followed by Texas with nine, and California and Illinois with six locations each.
In addition to being one of the country’s largest “big box” golf stores, offering a massive selection of golf equipment, apparel, and more, PGTSS offers other great services and benefits, including:
- Trade-Ins
- Club Repair
- Fitting Services
- Numerous Lesson Programs and Packages
- In-Store Special Events
- Indoor Practice Bays
- Indoor Putting Greens
- Online Buying Guides
- Gift Cards
- Rewards Membership Program
- Tennis & Pickleball Needs
- An Online Store with a Money-Back Guarantee
Check this out: How To Buy Golf Clubs: 10 Tips
FAQ
Are PGA Tour Superstore Launch Monitors Accurate?
PGA TOUR Superstore uses varies types of high-quality launch monitors by Trackman and Foresight GC2s. Both are premium launch monitors professional golfers use to track and improve their swing. Trackman is the leader in the launch monitor sector of the game. The data from the Trackman monitors at the PGA TOUR Superstore are very accurate.
Does Home Depot Own PGA Tour Superstore?
PGA TOUR Superstore is owned and operated by Arthur Blank, the co-founder of Home Depot. Blank is also the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC.
Do PGA Tour Superstore Employees Make Commissions?
Employees of the PGA TOUR Superstore do not make commissions. Sales associates won’t try to pressure you for a sale to make a commission. Glassdoor.com says they make between $40 and $63K annually regardless. Indeed.com states Retail Sales Associates make around $14 per hour.
Can You Try Out Irons at the PGA Tour Superstore?
You can try out a large selection of irons and other clubs at the PGA TOUR Superstore. The best way to truly see what clubs may be best for you is to get a fitting while there. If you are buying clubs, you can get a basic fitting for free as the associate helps you find the right clubs.
Are Fittings Free at the PGA Tour Superstore?
You can get free fittings at PGA TOUR Superstores if you are buying clubs from them. A rep will let you test out the equipment in the hitting bays and help you find the right clubs to fit your swing tendencies. But it won’t be as in-depth as a full-bag club fitting. Pricing varies by location, but you can review the prices at your local PGATSS and book a reservation online.
Final Thoughts
I hope this PGA TOUR Superstore Club Fitting review has proven helpful for you. It is crazy to me, after 27 years working in the golf business and the last 15 years as a PGA Professional, that I have never watched a full bag fitting in its entirety.
When I left the fitting my student Lincoln went through at the PGA TOUR Superstore, my appreciation for the work club fitters do to help people enjoy the game more grew by leaps and bounds. I sincerely appreciated my experience at the PGATSS and know my student also gained a great deal from it.
If you have been on the fence about getting professionally fit for golf equipment, I will say this… don’t hesitate any longer, as a fitting can be what your game has been looking for.
Brendon is Class A PGA Professional and founded Little Linksters, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. He won 25+ prestigious industry honors, including the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award. He graduated from the PGA of America Management Program and has a handicap index of 7.8.
He has played golf for over 40 years and currently plays twice a month at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club near Sorrento, Florida. He loves Srixon clubs and plays a ZX5 driver with Z 585 irons. He's written over 60 articles on GolfSpan and specializes in sharing tips to improve your golf game. You can connect with Brendon at LinkedIn, X, IG, FB, his website, or BrendonElliott@pga.com.
- Best score: 69
- Favorite driver: Srixon ZX5
- Favorite ball: Srixon Z Star
- Favorite food at the turn: Turkey and cheese on white
