Callaway Custom Golf Clubs

The Callaway company is responding to the trend toward custom golf club fitting with a variety of options for golfers looking to get the best fit for their individual characteristics, such as size, swing, and athletic ability. One can easily spend around $1,500 or more for a complete set of Callaway clubs, so it behooves the golfer to at least know he is getting a set that is the correct fit. Otherwise that money will be essentially wasted and the golfer won’t get the most he can out of his game and his new clubs.

Callaway Performance Centers
The most sophisticated way to obtain Callaway custom golf clubs is to visit one of their six Callaway Performance Centers. The problem with this is that there are only six of these in the world. They are located at the Callaway headquarters location in Carlsbad, CA in the U.S., and the other five locations are in Seoul, Korea; Surrey, England; Victoria, Australia; Ontario, Canada; and near Tokyo, Japan. I spoke to a Callaway representative in California, and she told me that a fitting session would cost $150, but there are credits given if you purchase clubs, and the price includes a few giveaways. It is best to schedule your fitting appointment as far in advance as possible..

Callaway uses what they call CPAS, or the Callaway Performance Analysis System. The equipment will measure your clubhead speed, ball speed, backspin, side spin, launch angle, and side angle. The system also analyzes your clubhead path and attack angle, and then the proper lie angle, grip size, shaft type, shaft flex, shaft material, and club lengths you need can be determined. You then can demo various club configurations with what they call the OptiFit system. This system, designed by Callaway engineers, allows the golfer to interchange different Callaway clubheads and shafts to verify what the CPAS data has produced. The golfer leaves the Callaway custom golf club fitting session with a list of specifications from which he can order his set of clubs, or no doubt the company can place the order there. Golfers can be fitted to drivers and woods, irons, or both. The above is a thorough custom fitting session and is representative of what an independent (that is, non-Callaway affiliated) and certified custom club maker would do. Exceptions to this might be final lie angle adjustments after a set of custom clubs is made by some custom club makers, and more emphasis on matching MOI, for example. The drawback is that one must make a special trip to the Callaway location, and as stated earlier, there are only six of these. An alternative would be to find a certified custom club maker in your area. He can do a similar fitting and ether tell you which Callaway components to order or make you a set of custom clubs.

Authorized Performance Centers
In the U.S. there are six Callaway authorized performance centers which can provide fittings for Callaway custom golf clubs. These centers are not staffed by Callaway employees, but they are run by individuals trained by the company. They use the same systems and technical tools, including the CPAS equipment, and you will leave the session with a set of specifications to order your Callaway clubs. Presumably the Center can also order the clubs for you. The six locations in the US are as follows: 2 locations in Las Vegas; Indian Wells, CA; King of Prussia, PA; Neshanic Station, N.J.; and in New York City. One Las Vegas location told me a fitting session would cost $50 and would last one hour. Again, there are credits if one purchases a set of clubs after the fitting. These appointments should be scheduled at least a couple of weeks in advance.

Other Callaway Custom Golf Club Options
Callaway has demo vans that make appearances throughout the country which are manned by Callaway employees. Golfers can demo various clubs and ask questions. The same sort of thing can occur on what Callaway calls Demo Days. Their web site offers the ability to see the demo schedule and locations for upcoming events. Some, but not all, Callaway retailers have the OptiFit interchangeable demo kit available. As described above, this lets golfers sample different head and shaft combinations of drivers and irons. These options can help golfers, but they are no substitute for a custom fitting by a certified professional. If you are not approaching your club buying decisions by at least knowing your swing speed and knowing your wrist to floor length, you are not even on the right track. If you are a serious golfer and a Calloway devotee, it would behoove you to schedule a fitting session at one the the locations mentioned above. Take some time during a stay in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, or New York City for example to have this done.