Toys for older boys

Most of the club manufacturers now offer custom fitting of one sort or another - and it's free. Which has to be a plus when it comes to selling the concept.

For the purposes of this article, three were tried: Ping, who were founded on the customfitting principle; Callaway, the market leader and Mizuno, makers of the most commonlyused irons on the professional tours world wide.

There are similarities between all three. All use PGA-qualified professionals for fitting, and the aim is the same: get the lie, loft, shaft length and flex, grip and type of club head right. And a lot of their customers are in the 13-18 handicap range.

There are, of course, a few well outside that mark, and into the complete beginner area, but representatives of all three were very tactful indeed about the approach to such: they can be fitted, of course, but it is generally more helpful to steer them towards lessons.

But there is a down side. It is a lot of fun to spend an hour or two swinging a variety of golf clubs under the eye of a professional, discussing your game, and firmly convinced that your unique physique means that those standard clubs of yours are what's holding you back. Unfortunately, it ain't necessarily so . . . and you might just have to face the fact that, to be honest, the problem is the workman, not the tools.

As my own club pro, Dean Wingrove at Wimbledon Park, had warned me: "A lot of players can be disappointed - they go and do the fitting, and find that they just need standard clubs. That's what standard means, after all. Those clubs suit most players."

So, armed with several years of Wingrove lessons, including the recent grip change he cheerfully forced on me after the humiliating walking off the course after losing five balls in four holes episode, and a 13 handicap, I took my moderately up-tempo swing (high flight, tendency to fade ... a bit like my drinking skills) to the club specialists.

The results are in the boxes below, and I did indeed have a result - while most of my requirements are, indeed, average, all three recommended a change to steel shafts, with a couple of other tweaks.

When you are pining for a new set of toys, it's really helpful having an objective - well, ish - opinion to back you up.

And let's face it, it's fun. Hitting balls as the super fast camera flashes, testing the very latest gear on offer, talking about your game for a good reason other than boring people in the bar ... and all for free.

Well worth it.

Callaway
Ping
Mizuno