Should You Get Fitted Or Just Buy New Irons? What I’d Tell Any Golfer After Going Through It

Last year, I went through three different fittings: driver, irons and wedges.

They were all worthwhile. I learned something from each one and I’m happy with the equipment I ended up with.

But if you asked me which one I’d recommend first, it’s irons.

I’ve been playing golf for more than 30 years and every time I’ve gone through an iron fitting, it’s made a noticeable difference in my game. Here’s why.

You hit more iron shots than you think

Yes, the putter gets used the most. But if we’re talking about full swings, irons are where most of your round happens.

Approach shots, layups, recovery shots, par-3s—you’re constantly relying on them. And they have to do a lot.

I need to be able to flight them down or hit them high depending on the situation. I need to trust where the ball is starting and how it’s going to land. I want distance but I also need control.

That’s a tough combination to get right if the clubs don’t match your swing.

Iron shafts are a different animal

For me, one of the biggest reasons iron fitting is worth it is the number of shaft options.

With a driver, there are a lot of options but I know it will be graphite and it’s pretty quick to figure out the proper flex and then we dial in the rest.

Irons are different.

Now you’re deciding between steel and graphite, then weight, flex, launch profile and feel. It adds up fast and it’s not easy to sort out on your own. It might not even stay consistent throughout the entire set.

Even if you understand the basics, it’s hard to know what really works without seeing the numbers and feeling the differences side by side.

It’s gapping, too

Gapping was part of the process for me when I had my iron fitting last year.

I play the Titleist T250 but I carry a T350 5-iron. That combination gives me better spacing at the top of the bag without sacrificing control in the scoring clubs. That’s not something I would have figured out on my own or if I had hit just a few 6-irons at a test facility and decided on what I thought was best.

Iron gapping is important and it’s more than loft. Speed, spin and launch all play into it.

Let’s talk about cost

I get it. Cost matters.

The last set of irons I had made it into the bag because I found a good deal. They weren’t a fit for my game and I felt it. I had to learn to adapt and make them work.

Here’s my advice.

At some point, pay for a proper iron fitting. Get the data. Ask questions. Take pictures. Get a printout.

Then use that information however you want. If that leads you to a brand-new set, great. If it leads you to a three-year-old model with the right shaft and specs at half the price, that works, too.

It’s not about spending more. It’s about finding something that fits so you’re not fighting your equipment every time you play.

Final thoughts

If you’re deciding whether to get fitted before buying irons, I’d do it.

You could probably convince me to put a driver, fairway wood or hybrid in the bag without a fitting. Irons are just different. They influence too many shots and require too much precision to guess your way through it. In an ideal world, get fitted for every club in your bag.

Next on my list? A putter fitting.

I’ve had the same putter in the bag for 20 years. Feels like it might be time.