Being optimally fit for a Ping Driver in the UK

[jay65]

Before I really get into this, I would like to make a couple of things perfectly clear from the start.

 

This thread is primarily aimed at UK/European buyers. However, anyone from across the pond is more than welcome to participate, but on the understanding that this thread is relevant, perhaps, only to Europe. Just wanted to make that clear before any US guys/gals get too far into it, then realize its not relevant to them.

 

Secondly, although it could be construed by some, as a somewhat negative thread, my only aim is to do my level best to make things better for the Golfers it is aimed at. I don't mean to offend or make anyone angry, that's not my desire at all.

 

This thread begins its life in the UK, and aiming to be fit for a Ping Driver. Now, I think anyone in the UK who uses this thread is fully aware of Pings' National Fitting Centre at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire.

 

I have contacted some of the bods in Customer affairs, purely to find out what kind of Custom shaft options were available at Pings' National Fitting Centre, as I didn't want to book ahead without knowing this information first.

 

I was told by Ping that they do not use any Custom shafts at their National Fitting Centre, and only 'fit' Customers from their Stock shafts. For two reasons, the first is that, their Custom shaft offering only fit a small minority of Golfers, and secondly this makes it 'not financially viable' for them to fit from any Custom shafts at all.

 

For a company that was at the forefront of Custom Fitting I was shocked by their narrow approach to Fitting.

 

My argument, has been two fold. One, that to stock their Fitting Centre with every single shaft on their Custom option List, for Drivers/Fairways, would only cost them £20,000, and this would stock one of their Demo Vans too. Every single shaft offering for £20,000, a drop in the ocean of their turnover. 1 Trackman at their Fitting Centre costs more than this.

 

Secondly, they have said that these Custom shafts only account for a tiny amount of Golfers. Ok, well how would they possibly know that, if they don't have them to try and be fit from in the first place? This statement is pure conjecture on their part.

 

I desperately want Golfers in the UK and elsewhere for that matter, to have choice, and be perfectly sure that they are optimally fit. Not just fit into the best shaft an OEM has available.

 

For Ping at a National Fitting Centre to have their G25 Driver/Fairway woods that can only be fitted from One stock shaft is bordering on the absurd to extol the virtues of Custom Fitting.

 

Titleist, TM, Callaway all offer a decent selection of Custom Shafts at their National Fitting Centres in the UK, yet Ping see it as not financially viable, and that all Golfers who go to Gainsborough can be fit from one shaft option? Come on guys at Ping, this is totally unacceptable.

 

I'm hoping that there may be somebody from Ping on here, who will listen, and have the influence to realize that this antiquated excuse for a fitting process cannot go on, and has to be change for the good of both the Golfer and Pings reputation in the Marketplace.

 

I have now heard all the arguments and excuses, and not one of them holds any water. So Ping Europe, can we please have a proper fitting process, that includes a fair selection of Custom shafts at your National Fitting Centre, because to be blunt, at the moment, it's a bit of an embarrassment quite frankly.