Which is the better way to improve at golf: lessons or custom-fit clubs?

As the adage goes, “A bad workman blames his tools.” Whether he or she blames them or not is sort of by the by, I always think. Perhaps the saying would better read, “A bad workman is a bad workman regardless of their tools.” If you want to improve at anything in life, you must put in a little graft. Quick fixes are rarely substantial and seldom enduring.

When you’re struggling with your game, it’s convenient to think, “I can fix this through procurement.” And custom fitting will be of immediate benefit to any golfer who hasn’t experienced it before, whatever technical golfing issues they’re battling.

But a custom fitter can only work with what they have in front of them. If you have a major swing flaw that’s either endemic or has crept into your game, the custom fitter will deliver equipment solutions to counter that fault.

They may provide a degree of relief from the problem, but they won’t solve it. If anything, custom fitting could encourage a problem to become more extreme over time, as it accommodates the failing.

A trained PGA professional can take one look at a golfer’s set-up and action and quickly determine strengths and weaknesses. A simple change to the grip or positioning of the ball could be revelatory. Rarely will an instructor attempt a total overhaul of the swing as, for most of us, our fundamental actions are uniquely ingrained. But a subtle tweak of the takeaway, a gentle closing of the clubface, a suggestion of tempo change or even a tip on tactics – these can help us get better.

If you want to improve your golf, you should seek guidance from a professional instructor. Custom-fit clubs may mask the flaws in your game, but they will not fix them. Only an expert eye and a little hard work can do that.

Custom-fit clubs

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Lessons are, of course, a good idea – certainly early on when they can set you on the right path and iron out fundamental flaws before they become ingrained. I wish I‘d had more lessons as a fledgling golfer.

But for more established players, custom fitting can be an easier route to tangible gains. Why? Well, each swing has its own DNA, and once established, it’s unbelievably hard to shift too far from its basic natural mechanics.

You can have lessons galore and really put in the hours and your best friends will barely notice anything different, even if you feel it’s poles apart from your old swing. You probably need the determination, motivation, time and money of the 1980s Nick Faldo to develop an improved swing that looks radically different to the old one.

Golf clubs, on the other hand, can be purchased in an instant, and the level of adjustability on offer now, coupled with ever-more-advanced custom-fitting techniques, means many golfers really could find something to mitigate their most destructive tendencies. Drivers can be set up to iron out undesirable flight shapes; iron shafts and heads can help you either get the ball up or keep it down; wedges can be tailor-made to how you swing them and where you mostly play; and putters can be built to fit your stance and stroke.

Last year, I had my first full Ping fitting for years as I knew I would have neither the time nor inclination to work on my many flaws while still being able to enjoy playing. I’ve picked up 15 yards off the tee through all but eliminating the high-right shot and got my putting stats down a fraction. Those two factors alone have paved the way to one or two slightly better rounds without ever giving my swing itself a conscious thought.