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Questions & Answers
Responses from PGA/LPGA Teachers on FINDaLESSON.com                                                                                 << BACK
From Fred Bond, golfer:
Why would an entry level or novice player not benefit from equipment that 
was fitted to them? Would that not be like someone trying to learn to play a 
musical instrument that was not tuned?
PGA/LPGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL RESPONSES:
Arizona
"Fred Bond--your question about fitted golf equipment is a good one and your analogy scores a 10 by me. If our clubs are improper for our physical characteristics and swing style we will more than likely be out of tune with the club face at impact. Tall people may have short arms and short people may have long arms, swings planes can vary from very flat to very upright, to slow or fast swing speeds, some golfers are extremely strong while others quite weak. Therefore the lie angle and shaft flex are extremely important and should match a golfers swing style and speed. Equipment that does not fit the student will require the student to fit the club. He or she will begin to compensate with swing flaws to make the ball go straighter and before you know it you've learned some bad habits." 
- Allyson Carter, Teaching Professional
Arizona
"Fred all players will benefit from clubs that are fitted to them. Remember that your local pro can help you to see if your present clubs fit you. I have found that fitted clubs will help any player, but remember the fitting has to match your swing, and you must repeat your swing."
- Dan Dersam, Teaching Professional
California
"Fred: A novice player would benefit from properly fitted equipment as they will not be forced to make any kinds of compensations for ill-fitting clubs. It is difficult enough to learn the swing without having added problems. The things that can be fit to a novice are length, shaft flex, and grip size. Lie angle will come later as the swing becomes more consistent." - Kati Biszantz, Teaching Professional
California
"A novice would receive some benefit by using a custom fitted set. But the main problem is that a proper fit will change as your playing ability improves. Properly fit clubs take into account club head speed and shaft deflection that is related to the club head speed. A beginner is at the low end of their potential club head speed. Their body and muscular structure needs to develop what I call "golf sense" in order to swing the club and strike the ball with some level of increasing club head speed through the hitting area and developing the feel of a crisp striking of the ball. Beginners usually see very little difference in distance between the different clubs because of this lack of "golf sense". Therefore, a properly fit set of clubs will change soon and they would be in need of a different 'fit'. For the beginner, the most important needs are proper length (usually standard) works, proper grip size (easily adjustable) with a quality grip, a relatively soft shaft (helps to develop feel), and a lie of the club that is relatively close (easily adjustable). The worst is usually the kids or wife using hubbies hand me downs, or using grandpa's set from 30 years ago." - Barry Brumfield, Teaching Professional

California
"I highly recommend custom fitted equipment for beginners. If your equipment doesn't fit you properly, it will be more difficult to learn a correct swing. You will be constantly trying to compensate for your equipment. If cost is an issue, find a custom club fitter who will make you 3-5 clubs to get started. The cost should be between $40-70 a club. As you improve and want more clubs, you can add them 
one or two at a time. Good luck.." - Hunt Cairns, Teaching Professional
California
"Club fitting and using the proper equipment is essential and is considered a basic fundamental in teaching. A player's equipment should be suited to their physical characteristics such as which are drawn from their balanced set up. The 4 steps to a proper fitting are as follows: 1. Static measurement - players are measured in height, wrist to floor measurement, hand size, and longest finger size. These measurements are then used to produce a generic starting point for club length. 2. Dynamic swing test - the players then hit shots from a impact board, or lie board with tape on the sole of the club. The impact marks made on the tape are then evaluated. Marks off center are either more toward the heel or toward the toe. Both have dramatically different effects on ball flight. 3. Ball flight analysis - the player now hits shots from the turf and ball flight is evaluated for height and direction. Appropriate lie angle and shaft flex testing follows. The clubface position at impact is crucial to controlling ball flight. 4. Long term monitoring - as players develop and improve, many times they will work out of a fitting. Is not uncommon for players to get re-fit after years of improvement. To answer your question, it is imperative to have properly fit equipment. So go see your teaching pro and ask him to give you an equipment analysis to see if your clubs are right for you." - Mike Davis, Teaching Professional
California
"Properly fit equipment is a great asset. I would recommend a beginner or novice to be fitted only after they have hit many balls and played once or twice. Why? Make sure they enjoy the game and want to pursue it as a regular hobby. Many people are out to sell golf clubs ie: fittings in order to make money. Is the instructor interested in the player's interest in the game and most importantly it is more damaging to mask mechanical flaws or fundamental errors by fitting someone to clubs to compensate for the swings. Create solid fundamentals and once the beginner is making solid contact with the ball 5 or 6 out of ten times with a short iron and they express an interest in pursuing the game then I would recommend getting equipment to suit them. P.S. I could still learn where my fingers need to be on the chords of a guitar - the fundamentals - and then later learn how to play a song that sounds good." 
- Paul Holtby, Teaching Professional
California
"Any player, entry level to tour player will benefit from correctly fitted equipment. The best custom fitted equipment is built by Henry-Griffitts. I suggest you visit the web site at www.henry-griffitts.com and find the name of a fitter near you. I'm located in Palm Beach, Florida and would love to meet with you if you are anywhere near that area." - David Mutton, Teaching Professional
California
"There is no question that equipment should fit the golfer especially a new golfer. You wouldn't wear shoes that were 2 sizes too small, but for some reason new golfers will use another's equipment. The key with a custom fit club is that it will be the proper length, proper shaft flex, and have the correct size grip. You don't even have to buy a full set of clubs, start with 5 clubs. You will enjoy the game a lot more and hopefully will continue to play the game of a life time!" 
- Linda Ramirez, Teaching Professional
California
"Well yes it would, however a novice players swing will change throughout their development. I would suggest looking at a custom fit set of clubs after the player has got their set up all squared away. This assures a proper fitting session." - Matthew Reel, Teaching Professional
California
"An entry level or novice player is mainly concerned with basics. Basics meaning correct grip, hitting the golf ball straight and preparing for the golf course (by learning the proper etiquette and rules). Going out to shoot 67 or 69 or even breaking a score of 100 is not a realistic goal for beginners. Sophisticated club fitting would not be needed at this early learning stage because the beginner has to obtain knowledge, first! Having clubs fitted to them at an early stage would be more like a musician getting ready to play for a well-known orchestra. The musician has the best equipment, the best looks and hundreds of fans to play in front of but no knowledge of how to perform." 
- David Ruvolo, Teaching Professional
California
"An entry level player could benefit from properly fit clubs, but a player needs to get to a point where they are making solid contact with the ball on a consistent basis. Club fitting takes ball flight into consideration to achieve a properly fit set, so it is important to have a somewhat consistent
shot pattern. Plus, as an entry level player advances his/her clubs will need to be adjusted as they develop some consistency." - Troy Sprister, Teaching Professional

California
"Clubs are fit to a person's body as well as a swing. If you haven't got a swing yet - what would you fit the clubs to? If you have a different swing every time, should you have twenty or thirty sets of clubs? If so, how do you know what swing is next? Get some lessons and talk to your PGA golf pro. He will surely send you in the right direction." - David Stephens, Teaching Professional
California
"There are some definite concerns with custom fit clubs even for the novice or beginning level player. Diameter of grips and length of equipment they should play can be done immediately. The shaft flex also can be determined because we will have built in athletic tendencies that a qualified club fitter can use to determine shaft flex. The only concern would be lie angle. That is the last thing that we use. We can get a good idea with hits of the lie board. That is the only thing that may need to be adjusted as the player improves." - Robert Veroulis, Teaching Professional
California
"All players of the game benefit. Imagine trying to learn to walk in a pair of shoes that do not fit. What would your gait be like? Same for golf. The sooner the better, getting into clubs that fit you. Some things in your game may change, but certain things will not, such as your height, and generally strength. So yes, get clubs that fit you asap." - Mardell Wilkins, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Dear Mr. Bond: An entry level or novice player would benefit from clubs fit for them. Although you can learn to play with any club, if you have clubs with the correct grip size and shaft flex, you will learn at a faster pace and enjoy the game more." - Mike Clayton, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Unlike a piano, a novice golfer will not repeat the same motion with each swing. A piano is a fixed object and will sound the same note no matter which hand, foot, arm, shoulder, etc., is applying the force. A golf swing is an ever-changing motion and is subject to many variations. In my opinion, a student should have equipment that is balanced and consistent throughout the set. After that he/she should develop a swing that is at least somewhat repeating prior to being custom fit. Custom fit equipment is a very important component in reaching your potential. Completely enjoying this wonderful game is a lifelong journey." - Lane Creech, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Fred: Thanks for the question. I believe that there are benefits to having fitted golf clubs regardless of level of play. However... as a player improves his level of play the club fitting becomes even more of a benefit. Even a beginner should be fit with clubs that are correct in length and grip size. Lie angle would be a "guess" but could easily be adjusted once the player has a swinging motion developed and consistently gets the ball airborne. Having clubs properly fit for length and grip size will make it easier for the player to learn correct posture and grip. Keeping this in mind, a player can improve more quickly with proper fundamentals. Shaft flex is another area that would start as a guess based on the individual's athletic ability, strength, flexibility and perhaps age. As a player improves the swing speed will often increase. Therefore, a shaft is not a permanent part of the club and could be upgraded as the player improves in ability. In conclusion, Fred I agree with you. A player learning with ill fitted clubs is like playing an out of tune instrument or walking in shoes that are not the right size. A player's ability to learn and improve at a quicker pace are enhanced when the golf clubs are fit to that individual." 
- Jennifer Cully, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Although fitted equipment would not hurt or hinder your progress, it may just be a waste of money. Dynamic fitting has really only become popular in the past ten years for the general public, even though professionals have used it for decades. Once you learn to play and find your natural swing fitted equipment could produce huge rewards. Learn first to swing the club efficiently, then worry more about ball flight." - Mike Dopslaff, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Fred , there are many arguments pro and con. I personally feel after a few lessons I would have you on the proper path, then new clubs. The other side of the coin ,is once you learn to hit the ball, your swing will change as well as the lie of the club so why buy clubs that will not fit your new swing. Hope I helped." - Chip Ebert, Teaching Professional
Florida
"You are correct. Having properly fit clubs are extremely important. That is why the best playing in the world have their clubs constantly checked and fit to their specs." 
- Jess Frank, Teaching Professional
Florida
"An entry level player WILL benefit from equipment specially fitted to them, however it is similar to buying designer shoes for a growing child. While the designer shoes will look and feel great, the child will soon grow out of them and will need another fit. In the same way, if you get expertly fitted clubs for your novice swing as you use these clubs you will do well and enjoy success. But soon you will (for example) increase your swing speed - or improve in some other way and now your clubs become less than the perfect fit. Worse yet, you may not realize that your skill level has surpassed your equipment and instead begin changing your swing to fit the clubs! That is why I suggest that novice golfers buy "middle of the road" equipment - good, but maybe not the absolute top of the line - while their swings are in development and later on buy better equipment as their swing stabilizes." 
- Nell Frewin-Hays, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Dear Fred: it would not make a great effect because the first priority for beginner is to have the fundamentals (grip, stance, ball position), next priority is to have motion back and thru. So even if the clubs were not fitted to you perfect they will serve as a decent prerequisite for starting out. However, clubs that are fitted for you are better." - John Gorgone, Teaching Professional
Florida
"I would make sure that the new golfer had the right length of club and basic shaft but it is hard to custom fit a brand new beginner due to inconsistent swing and swing speeds. The shafts now are set up for speed. However the length of the club is critical especially when it is a women player. They seem to get set up in ladies clubs no matter how tall they are or how athletic. You can't judge anyone on their athletic ability because it may be different with their swings. I also suggest the player that they should hold off on clubs until they are for sure that they will like the game...keep investment low and then purchase a decent set of clubs once they determine that they like it and have some what of a swing. That is why they need to start with a professional, lessons and use rental clubs first."
- Mary Hafeman, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Fred: An entry level or novice player needs appropriate equipment. Example. A lady player should learn with ladies clubs. Club fitting is necessary for someone that has a developed, consistent swing. In club fitting we measure how fast you swing & lie angle...(where the clubs grounds out at impact, etc.) If you are a new player, the results of these 'tests' may not be accurate or may change as you develop good swing technique. To summarize, the swing you start with may not be the one you keep!" 
- Linda Mandros, Teaching Professional
FRANCE
"The answer is easy. As you start, we do not know what kind of swing you will develop. The best clubs that money can buy may not be good for you. As we teach, we see what is starting to happen. Down the road the PGA Pro you work with will advise you on clubs. Warm regards." 
- Daniel Raleigh, Teaching Professional
Illinois
"Fred: I couldn't agree with you more. A novice player would benefit from fitted equipment just as much as advanced golfers if not more. It reminds me of a friend who wanted to take up running and train for a marathon. He used his regular old tennis shoes to start training in. After several weeks, his feet and knees were extremely sore, but he thought it was just part of the training process. He did purchase new running shoes, but it didn't seem to alleviate much of the pain to his knees and feet. Two months later he was in great pain so he visited a doctor. The doctor identified the problem and prescribed custom fit orthodics and extra padded shoes to absorb the shock. Training after this point was much easier and he could continue towards his goal of running a marathon. He was close to quitting running all together because he thought it was his body that was unfit when in reality it was his equipment (shoes). He went on to run his first marathon and finish." - Ryan Graff, Teaching Professional

Illinois
"Dear Fred: Ideally all golfers would want to learn to play with equipment that fits them. About 60% of golfers fit-out to standard equipment. Choosing the right equipment should be based on a players commitment to the game. Those who play infrequently don't need the most expensive equipment unless money is no object. In most cases, people outspend their ability level and buy things that cost much but add little to saving strokes. Unfortunately, the possibility of identifying exactly what you need is not possible until after you learn some basic fundamental aspects of the swing. 

Physical characteristics are only part of fitting golfers for clubs. Hand size, body type, distance hands are from ground etc. only reveal physical information. To measure and fit a swing properly one must also measure dynamic motion which takes places only during the swing. Strength, age, flexibility, coordination, current swing flaws, etc. can only be measured by swinging and could give false positives when fitting prior to lessons. In other words, the clubs that fit you now may not fit you after you take lessons and correct various things in the swing. Secondly, if you progress in the game and improve, you may find that down the road a few years you will have outgrown the set. Customization of equipment should be done with an eye to the future. 

Therefore, I always recommend to students to take lessons first. Try many different manufacturers and club characteristics with the help of you professional. In about 30 to 60 days you will be ready to be fit for equipment. Keep in mind where you think you will be in your game in two to three years and purchase accordingly. Hope this helps." - Rick Johnson, Teaching Professional
Indiana
"A beginning golfer might go through extensive swing changes in the first few months. The cost of custom clubs could be very expensive if you are trying to swing based on the club specs, as opposed to having club specs based on your swing." - Gary Focken, Teaching Professional
Indiana
"That's a good question, Fred. An entry level or novice player generally will not set up the same on every shot. Trying to fit them properly is difficult for this reason. One time it may appear they need a standard length and lie, but the next swing might show the need for a shorter club or a flatter lie angle. Generally I will tell my beginning students to take a few lessons so that they develop a sound and repetitive set up. Once this is developed clubs can be fit to them that are going to help their game. In the mean time I supply them with clubs that I feel would likely be close to the clubs that they will be fitted to." - Christine Lovrine, Teaching Professional
Indiana
"Fred: My first question would be, to what degree does the phrase "not benefit" mean? My personal opinion is that fitted equipment does help us all in the long run. It doesn't guarantee good results every time. Fitted equipment in the big picture of things might minimize your "misses" to some extent. For example, if you hook the ball badly sometimes, fitted equipment might not necessarily take away the hook, it might only make it hook less. Have your swing evaluated in regard to what your major swing flaw may be? Work on that area then consider fitted clubs to help you even more in that area. Good luck!" - Jeff Mathew, Teaching Professional
Maine
"Dear Fred: In my opinion, properly fitted equipment is an essential aspect to any player's game. However, until the golfer is making a consistent swing each time, it is difficult to fit clubs for them. What may be great for one swing, may not suited for the next. It has been proven, however, that while contact may vary from swing to swing, the body essentially moves the same way each swing after a certain period of practice. I suggest starting with a basic set of clubs or even rent a set when you first begin. Try as many different types of clubs. That is one of the best things about buying new clubs! When you begin to make consistent contact, then see your local PGA Professional. When you get fitted, go through the entire process as each company works on different standards. Enjoy this great game!" 
- Chris Christie, Teaching Professional
Michigan
"Dear Fred: I think they would benefit having clubs fitted to their perspective swings, however, being a novice would indicate to me that the individual needs some instruction to develop a swing. Once the swing is developed it will much easier to match a set of clubs to that swing. In most circumstances it is best to develop good fundamentals rather than wasting money on equipment that might not maximize your potential once a proper is taught." - Shaun Bezilla, Teaching Professional
Michigan
"Properly fitting equipment is a definite advantage for any golfer. As a beginner progresses, his or her swing is continually changing, so the equipment specifications could also change. A beginner can be taught the 'basics' with less than perfectly fitting clubs effectively. For further improvement, the instructor will suggest when and what equipment would suit each student. " 
- Diane Patterson, Teaching Professional
Michigan
"The un-tuned musical instrument comparison is interesting. In my experience learning to play the violin when I was a kid, I think if it was not tuned it might have helped! Regarding fitted golf equipment for a beginner, there are a few things that would be beneficial and a few things that would not. The length of the club, the size of the grip and the flex of the shaft are all important considerations, no matter what the level of the golfer. As the golfer develops his or her game the length and shaft flex will need to be reevaluated. As far as the lie angle of the clubs are concerned, there would be no great advantage in this fitting variable until the student has developed their swing. Once developed, however, the lie angle also needs to be fitted." - Joe Perdue, Teaching Professional
Michigan
"Fitting clubs to a novice player can lead to all kinds of problems now and in the future. Fitting fits the clubs to your swing, and if you are a beginner, you more than likely have many flaws that need to be corrected before you go to that expense for clubs that probably will not fit you in the near future. Start off with a set that is used and that is hopefully standard in every way and get with a teacher that can teach you the fundamental basics like grip, stance, posture, alignment and the foundation of a swing motion. Then go from there." - Jack Seltzer, Teaching Professional
Minnesota
"While a musical instrument can be tuned, it is tuned to an absolute. Golf swings are like finger prints and clubs must be tuned to the individual. Having said that, I would get the student started with an approximately fit club until he/she had the basics down and then fit them with the proper clubs. I believe that they would progress rapidly in this fashion." - Jim Manthis, Teaching Professional
Missouri
"Dear Fred Bond: In response to your question about club fitting, if someone say's that you don't need fitted club, I would not take any advice from them about golf. So many people fit their posture and swing to the club instead of the other way around. I would get yourself checked by a professional. Also, make
sure that they first get you into good posture if you are not already before checking your club specifications." - David Mulso, Teaching Professional
Missouri
"An entry level and novice player WILL benefit greatly from clubs that do fit him/her. For example, if someone has a club that is too long for them it will be very easy to develop bad habits. The best advice I have for you is to have a pro look at the clubs you are using and have them tell you if they are right for you to use while you are learning the swing. The best thing a beginner can do is get the basics of the swing down (grip, posture, and alignment). The time to get fitted for clubs is when you are no longer making major swing adjustments. As far as a person wanting to get fitted for clubs when they are beginning, the answer is no. Wait till you develop your swing to a certain point like I stated earlier. If someone is fit for clubs before they learn how to swing the club fitting is useless. There will be too many swing changes the person will have to make. Hope this helps and thanks for the question." 
- Toby Yates, Teaching Professional
Nevada
"Great question and one I have answered thousands of times in our custom club building business. If one has any ear for music, one cannot play, begin to play, a musical instrument that is not tuned. The cost of a tuned musical instrument is no greater than one that is not tuned as long as you are dealing with a reputable service agent who has an ear and cares for you his client! The selection of equipment and the huge number of sources affords the buyer, you, the ability to be 'king of the market' and you should settle for nothing less. No one who is going to get out on the links more than a couple of times should play with clubs that do not fit. Whether you are buying new or used, there is a huge supply of clubs out there that will suit your needs. You would not wear a pair of shoes that are two sizes too large would you? And you are going for a walk on the course, too! Locate a professional club builder who will give you a free ear. He will protect your interests. Use him. We like customers!" 
- Karl Fischer, Teaching Professional
New Jersey
"Great question. The most common misconception I have found among new golfers is how they must use their clubs to propel the ball into the air and towards a target. The concept of striking down into the ball with an iron to create the pressure and compression necessary to produce a golf shot is not an easy one to learn. I feel that once this basic idea is understood and practiced, then the benefits of fitted equipment will be realized. Of course, if the individual is a unique physical specimen (extremely tall, large hands, short arms, etc.) then I would certainly look at modifying equipment to accelerate the learning process. Otherwise, learn how the clubs work, then fit the player to maximize the ability to produce accurate club head speed." - Marty Strumpf, Teaching Professional
New Mexico
"It is extremely difficult to fit someone properly if they have not developed a somewhat repeating swing. Most fitting is necessary due to faulty swing habits or fairly extreme physical characteristics (very tall or short, large or small hands, etc.). Standard clubs are a good starting point for average sized people, be they men, women, or juniors. A beginner is usually better off learning to make good contact and then getting fit unless money is of no consideration. If that is the case, I would suggest a brief fitting to start and another fitting after each season." - Warren Lehr, Teaching Professional
New York
"I agree with your statement! Everyone would benefit with properly fitted clubs. Most manufactures have a fitting system for their irons and some for woods, and putters, Yes putters. They also train and certify P.G.A. and L.P.G.A. professionals to properly use their fitting system. The statement that gets under my skin is: 'Hey Fred! check out my new irons I spent $1,000.00 on. Boy, I cannot wait to get used to them.' A properly fitted set of irons will help you to set up the same way all the time. 70% of what your swing will be is due to your set up. So it only makes sense to get your clubs fitted. So Fred, getting properly fitted will be time well spent on your game. Swing smooth and play hard." 
- Stephen Kladis, Teaching Professional
New York
"Fred: If you learn with clubs not fitted properly, you could have a very square swing, but due to improper lie on the clubs the ball might move left or right. You then try to correct for something in your swing, when it was the equipment all along..." - Ron Venturini, Teaching Professional
New York
"Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this case, Fred, the swing comes first. In order to be properly fit for all variables (lie, length, shaft, head design), the student must be able to repeat the swing we want repeated. Example...I had a 36 handicap gentleman come to me for a fitting this summer. I normally complete a fitting in about 30 minutes to an hour. It took us almost 3 hours over various meetings to find the answers I was comfortable with. However, this was an extreme case. Often with novice, or beginning golfers, so many swing adjustments are made in the first year of instruction that fitting is not advisable. However, I do have several higher handicap students who have been playing for years, therefore fitting for them is not as trying since their swings are more repetitious. What I would add is that any good instructor who is guiding a student through a club fit should make the student aware of potential swing changes that could affect the fit. At that point the student can decide to deal with the swing first, or proceed with the fit and allow that to take care of some of the problems. Keep in mind that early in a golfer's career, it is much more important to have the proper set makeup, as opposed to properly fitted clubs. Most novice golfers shouldn't have drivers, 3 irons, or lob wedges in their bags. Many could operate quite well with a couple of fairway woods (3 or 5, 7), then 4 or 5 irons (any combo of 5 thru SW), and finally a putter. This will get them through the developmental stages of their game until the time that their swing is READY to be fitted. As with most things in golf, it depends highly on the student's dedication and ability." - Robert Whetsell, Teaching Professional
Ohio
"Fred: A fitted set of clubs may help a novice or beginner, but I believe that until you have taken some lessons and started to develop a fundamentally sound golf swing you may be wasting your money. After all, you may have to change your grip, posture, and swing plane to improve your ball striking ability. If your clubs are fitted for your first fundamentally poor swing, then after you've made the proper changes your clubs may no longer be appropriate." - Grayson FitzHugh, Teaching Professional
Ohio
"You're right. You definitely would benefit from being properly fitted. As teachers, we find that it is easier to teach if the student has been fitted. It may not be a perfect fit, but the fit can get more exact as 
the swing develops. We can teach concepts rather than compensation. The fit might change as you get more proficient, so you will want to have your LPGA or PGA professional double check your fit after a couple of months playing with those clubs. And yes, it is not unlike playing with an un-tuned instrument." - Patty Reno, Teaching Professional
Oregon
"I could relate to your question until I became a Titleist Fitter. Now I am always wondering: do I correct the swing of the student before I fit them or fit them to the swing that isn't right? The answer is you need to get a swing that is flowing in the right order and path (within reason) and then get fitted for custom clubs." - Tom Blair, Teaching Professional
Oregon
"Fred Bond: Yes you would benefit greatly from golf clubs that are custom fit to you even as a beginner. However,  your dollar budget may not fit the goal. Your general overall size makes a major difference. If your are between the heights of 5'9" and 6'1 you could very easily play a standard length set of irons as long as your arms and legs are not too long or too short.  Your PGA professional can provide you with the proper fit here. If you are of average height and weight, etc, you could save some money, fit your budget, by buying close out "major brand" clubs that will do very nicely for you. A lot has to do with how serious you are about the game. Where you want to go with your skill levels. Are you a competitor or a weekend warrior?  Do you play more than 4 times a month? The answer to these questions should determine the route you take as regards fitted or standard "off the rack" clubs. Many golf shops, especially golf course shops, no longer sell off the rack clubs. They custom fit only. That is fine. Seek out alternatives to fit your budget and playing expertise." - Ronn Grove, Teaching Professional
Pennsylvania
"Dear Fred: That is an excellent question! Fitting golf clubs to an individual is an art, that should be performed by an reputable professional. Speaking from experience, when an individual learns how to play an instrument, the instrument has a particular design, and the student must learn the proper technique in order to play the instrument more effectively. For instance, when playing the piano, a pianist must have the proper posture, and his/her hands placed on the keys in a particular manner so they can play better. This is very similar to golf. Although golf is a very individual sport, and every player has their own unique way to swing the club, there are specific positions during the swing that need to be attained in order to hit better golf shots. So, to answer your question, if you just fit clubs to a novice golfer, in most cases they will probably improve. But to what level is questionable. The golfer may get so used to swinging the clubs the way they were designed - he/she may have a difficult time making changes that will take them to the next level. However, if you can find a knowledgeable instructor who also fits golf clubs, they can design clubs that will cater to your current swing demands, but also cater to future swing demands as well. So, as you get better you see the results. If your clubs are fit to your current demands, when you make a change for the better you may have a difficult time seeing and feeling the results. Which will eventually deter you from ever improving swing in a positive manner. Overall, in my personal opinion the ideal thing to do is to assess the individuals physical abilities, limitations, and goals, and then fit them accordingly. If a player just wants to play once in a while, but hit the ball better - maybe fit the clubs to their current swing. But, if a player wants to improve, and has goals of playing more often - find a fit more in the middle. So it will help them now, but also help them towards developing a more effective swing." - Ralph Viola, Teaching Professional
Pennsylvania
"Perhaps you've heard of a company called Henry - Griffitts... they specialize in building golf clubs that fit a golfer's most balanced golf swing. So rather than forcing a person into making compensations in order to produce good shots with ill fitting equipment, Henry - Griffitts makes a club that fits the most balanced swing that particular golfer can make, thus eliminating the need for compensations. You make a good point about the musical instrument, but perhaps the analogy is even more dramatic in the
golf application since the need for precision is more dramatic in achieving success. Of course, like one of my favorite bands from the late 70's titled one of their albums... You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish. Take care Fred and keep up the good work..." - Ben Witter, Teaching Professional
Pennsylvania
"A beginner does benefit from clubs that fit them, the variable is how precise the fit needs to be. The beginner should have clubs that: Are of the right overall weight; Have the right amount of flex, and; have the correct lie (this means that the when an iron hits the ground, the center of the bottom of the club makes contact first, not the toe or the heel). If the new golfer has these three things they will get the proper feedback from their shot (e.g. If a shaft is too stiff, a good swing will cause the ball to start to the right instead of straight). As the golfer becomes better, there are more factors to consider when fitting and the tolerance in those factors narrow as the golfer continues to improve. The downside is that the least expensive clubs do not offer many custom fitting options and the player either has to buy a higher quality (more expensive) set, or get the less expensive clubs adjusted, which also adds to cost. Many beginners don't want that expense when they don't know if they'll stick with the game. Also, as the golfer becomes better and their swing is refined, the clubs that would fit them as a new player will not fit them. In many cases this happens in as little as six months if they are working steadily on their game.
I usually advise beginners to use an inexpensive that should work pretty well unless grossly misfit for their swing and physical abilities. After they gain some proficiency and know they want to keep playing, then they should get a better, more precisely fitted set. If money is not an issue, then by all means get a very good set right away, but be prepared to have to have them replaced quickly as you get better. If that's the case, please don't hesitate to call and we'll be glad to thoroughly fit and sell you the set. That was a semi-joke, but if you go that route, make sure you find someone who knows what their doing. 
Best of luck in taking up golf and please be patient and listen to what your teacher says. Don't experiment on your own, take tips from your buddies or from television and you'll improve quickly and permanently." - Bruce Stephen, Teaching Professional

Rhode Island
"I feel an entry level person should not rush into buying equipment. I provide proper clubs for at least a series of lessons so the person can decide if they even want to pursue the game. Then they also have developed a feel for what they might like to purchase." - Susan Bond, Teaching Professional
South Carolina
"You are somewhat correct in that a non-fitted club is like an un-tuned instrument. I like the analogy of a suit bought from a fine men's shop that was not tailored before you wore it to that big meeting. You would not make a great impression. As you practice with clubs that do not fit your swing, you could tend to develop habits that are reactions by your body to a club that is too heavy. Through doing over 400 fits a year, the tendency I see is that most players play with clubs that are too strong for them and therefore are too heavy (shaft weight is directly responsible for shaft strength). I also see that lie improper lie angle is also a big culprit of poor shots. You could practice all your life with a properly fitted shaft, and never make the swing change you are looking for if the lie angle is incorrect. Make sure that if you are serious about your improvement, to invest in properly fitted clubs from a factory trained and accredited fitting professional." - John Hughes, Teaching Professional
South Carolina
"Fred Bond: Get professional help to fit clubs. When my 7 year old son puts my shoes on, he feels like dad...until he falls!" - Doug Weaver, Teaching Professional
Tennessee
"Ok Fred. Here is my answer to that. Fitted clubs don't work either if you do not have the basics down. I encourage my students to get fitted clubs when they can break 85 on a regular basis. Fitted clubs are great but if you can't get it airborne with standard clubs fitted clubs aren't going to help much. One more thing. Your swing will change as you get better and if you are fitted now and your swing changes you will have to be re-fitted and need more new clubs. Therefore you now have 3 sets of clubs." 
- Jeff Dukehart, Teaching Professional
Texas
"I want you to have the right equipment. We can fit you immediately as to the right shaft , grip size, length of club etc. The only hitch is that of lie angle. Until a player develops true tendencies we can't accurately fit for lie angle. However we can fit for everything else and if we get a set that are adjustable with a loft and lie machine, we can change the lie angle when the swing is more consistent. Thanks for your interest in being the best you can be!" - Dave Baron, Teaching Professional
Texas
"A novice golfer, unless very short or tall, would fit into the average set of clubs made in the market place. For example, I'm 6 feet average and could buy almost any set and it would fit me. If I cut across the ball, no custom fitted set would help this. If I hit fat shots, no custom fitted set would make me not make mistakes. You have to learn the basics in order to know if the piano is tuned. After you learn the basics, then fitting yourself could be of some value. But learning that custom made swing is much more important." - Fred Collins, Teaching Professional
Texas
"Dear Rookie...I don't think novice golfers should be fit until they have spent time with a qualified professional to learn the basics of the set-up and the golf swing. Let's face it, if there are problems with these two issues, the fit is likely to change after corrective measures are made. Why invest a considerable amount of money into equipment when a swing may not be worth fitting...To use your analogy of the musical instrument, one can learn how to play a musical instrument which is not perfectly tuned but when more proficient at playing the instrument the fine tuning makes the notes sound sweeter. The tone of the sound coming from a century old violin will not have the same tonal quality when played by a novice as that of the late Yehudi Menhuin. To clarify: Spend your time, money & effort at this time on practice (proper practice using correct technique), golf swing instruction (from an instructor you can connect with, mentally) and focus on causing the correct motions, consistently. 
Imagine taking a novice pilot, putting them behind the stick of an F-18 and without learning how to control the stick (the grip of the golf club) asking them to fly... Not likely! Fred, keep your money in the stock market at this point (its making a recovery) learn the fundamentals of the correct swing and setup. By the time you have your fundamentals, maybe your investments have grown enough to pay for that new 'fit' set of golf clubs! Down the middle." - Dan Howard, Teaching Professional
Utah
"Dear Fred, you are right on track! I own and operate a golf retail store and "custom fitting" is what we do with every club we sell, even beginners. Your swing is very unique and individual and your clubs need to come through the ball square in order to make the ball flight straight. If your equipment is not fitted properly the ball may fly off line. Your clubs may be too upright or too flat a lie angle and you may feel that you hit it square or solid but the ball flies off line. It is like playing and instrument that is out of tune, just like you said. My suggestion is to have all your clubs fit by your local PGA professional." 
- Brent Wootton, Teaching Professional

Virginia
"Hello Fred, I agree with you. A novice player would benefit from being fitted, but only once the player's posture and setup have become permanent. As long as a player is learning how to setup to the ball correctly it would be very difficult to fit the player for a set of clubs that will give them the most playability."  - John SanGiacomo, Teaching Professional
Washington
"Everyone benefits from fitted equipment, but with entry or novice players, if they are working to improve their own game, fitted clubs may not help them if they are changing their swing. I would wait until they could repeat the swing that they want to play with before getting fitted." 
- Charles Knight, Teaching Professional