Club Fitting Process at Champagne’s

Apr 22

This is what to expect at a Club Fitting with Paul Champagne and what to bring when you come to see me.

Most importantly, you need to bring all your clubs, even if you’re just fitting your irons, woods, or hybrids, as I may want to reference something else in the bag. You should also bring your glove, athletic shoes or golf shoes, comfortable clothes, and a water bottle. You’ll be taking lots of swings, so a snack might help although I provide refreshments at my fitting.

It’s also recommended to bring a budget and a general idea of the goals you’d like to achieve with your golf game.

What should my expectations be?

Every golfer who gets fitted by Paul Champagne can expect to try a variety of options. They should also expect to get an in-depth look at their game using My Swing Caddie or Full Swing Simulators. Some fitting types are very specific, like a wedge fitting, so those golfers should expect to learn much about that particular part of their game. Expecting to improve distance, dispersion/accuracy, comfort, and overall performance is reasonable. It’s not uncommon for me to find another 15+ yards off the tee for you. It’s reasonable to expect a lower score once the fitted clubs arrive since my customers see an average improvement of five strokes per round. It’s important to voice your expectations so I can let you know what’s reasonable.

What you should NOT expect is a lesson. I may give a tip or two, but I am looking to meet your goals through equipment that matches your natural swing as opposed to tweaking that natural swing.

What is this process going to include from start to finish?

I will greet you and ask you to answer a questionnaire.
I will start the appointment with a sit-down to discuss your game, goals, and any budget caps you’d like to set. After this, you’re encouraged to stretch and warm up.
Then you’ll move into the fitting bay, where you’ll warm up and set baseline data with your existing set. I want to see your stock distances and other metrics to know what numbers to beat.
Here comes the fun part — the testing! We will start with a Static Fit, taking a look at everything from standard measurements and length to profile.
Once I start the Dynamic part of the fitting, I will start by placing Lie Angle tape on the club's sole, having you take repetitive swings so I can record data and review the status of your swing. I will continue the process with impact tape on the face of the club, also recording data and swing. Face shape, loft, and the look-at-address will play into the final decision. What I am really looking for will be on-screen: and data. I can see your improvements in real-time using Full Swing or My Swing Caddie, and the numbers are recorded so I can review the data after the fitting.
Once we have all the data recorded, I’ll talk about grips. Size, material, and even color will be decided so I can optimize your connection to the club.
At this point, I will show you the recommended clubs and the costs and discuss any additional services that might make sense for you. If you’re retrofitting your existing set, I’ll talk to you about the process of breaking down and rebuilding those clubs with the new components I found during the fitting.
Purchase of equipment is not required. You’re welcome to take your specs and Full Swing data home. If you choose to have your clubs hand-built to the tightest tolerances in the industry by me, your order will be placed, and I will update you via email as the clubs progress through the building process.

Will I need to get fitted for all new clubs, or will some/all of my current ones be rebuilt?

No one needs to buy any equipment after a Paul Champagne fitting. We can fit your existing set, which may be as simple as adjusting lofts or require some updated shafts and grips. We can also upgrade some clubs and not others — just because you’re fitted for a full bag does not mean you need to take the plunge on 14 new clubs at once. If you know you’ll get the most use out of a fitted driver + putter, start with those and update the rest of the bag over time. You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to the investment you make in your game; I’m here to guide you to the equipment that’ll help you achieve your goals.

What will I learn about my golf swing and game (from my perspective)?

A lot! Since a fitting is not a lesson, you’ll focus on the equipment and how it impacts your success on the course. You’ll learn your stock distances, what sort of shaft profile makes the most sense for your swing speed, what loft/lie makes sense for your attack angle, your smash factor, your spin rate, what swing weight helps you swing effortlessly, and so much more.

It’s also important to ask questions during your fitting. If you want to address something precisely (i.e., spin rate with your wedges), talk to me about your experiences on the course and ask as many questions as needed to understand. The data provides most of the answers, but it’s crucial that you understand how those numbers translate to on-course results.

What will happen now?

If you get your clubs through me, the next step is to have me build them. Once they are built, I will verify the accuracy of the measurements before you pick them up and start shooting your best scores. If, for some reason, you aren’t seeing the same results on the course that you saw in the fitting session, I will work with you to ensure that you get what you came to me for. Additionally, it’s essential to maintain your club specs — I offer free loft/lie adjustments for the lifetime of the club when you build through me. You can also regrip through me to ensure your best performance for every round.

Will I need a follow-up to my fitting? How often should I get fit?

Aside from updating your lofts/lies and regripping, you will not need to check back with me for your newly fitted clubs until it’s time for a new fitting. Fitting frequency depends entirely on your individual circumstances — if you’re wearing out your wedge grooves every season, you should be fitted for new wedges that frequently. If you only play casually and are properly storing and protecting your clubs, you can easily get a few years out of your fitted set. New club technology launches every year, so there’s always something new to test, but you should plan to be fitted as frequently as it makes sense for your game.