Trevor Ng
Golf is a sport that requires a lot of precision and accuracy. To achieve this, it is important to have the right equipment, such as custom-fitted golf clubs. Club Champion, for example, offers a service where they fit and handcraft golf clubs to meet the unique needs of their customers. This process involves selecting from over 65,000 club combinations to create custom clubs that maximise the effects of the customer's hitting motion. The acronym OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. These are companies that originate, develop, and distribute their products across the globe, and in the golf industry, they include brands such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping, and Titleist. OEM clubs are generally considered fine for most players, but for those playing at a high level, the added precision of custom-fitted clubs can make a significant difference in their performance.
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What You'll Learn
Golf club fitting process
The golf club fitting process is a detailed and instructive procedure that involves selecting the right clubs to maximise a golfer's performance. The process can vary depending on the golfer's needs and preferences, but there are some common steps involved.
Firstly, the golfer's current clubs and playing ability are assessed. This includes analysing their swing and stroke data, as well as discussing their strengths, weaknesses, and goals. This baseline measurement helps the fitter understand the golfer's existing equipment and areas for improvement.
Next, the fitter will make recommendations and offer various combinations of club heads and shafts to try. The golfer will hit shots with different setups, providing feedback on performance and feel. The fitter will also provide guidance on aspects like grip size, lie angle, club length, and weight, ensuring they align with the golfer's height, hand size, and swing characteristics.
During this process, adjustments are made to fine-tune the clubs to the golfer's specifications. This includes tweaking the loft, lie angle, and shaft stiffness to optimise distance, dispersion, landing angle, and spin rate. The fitter's expertise and real-time data analysis play a crucial role in making these refinements.
Once the fitting process is complete, the golfer is presented with a detailed build sheet outlining the specifications for each recommended club, along with associated costs. There is typically no obligation to purchase, and golfers can choose to have their existing clubs adjusted or select custom-fitted clubs from a wide range of options.
The final step involves the assembly of the chosen club configuration by master builders. These craftsmen hand-build the clubs to precise specifications, ensuring that the final product matches the golfer's unique needs and preferences determined during the fitting process.
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OEM meaning
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. An OEM is a company that manufactures subsystems or components that are used in the production of a final product by another company. These components are often designed and produced to the purchasing company's specifications.
OEMs are an integral part of the manufacturing and supply chain ecosystems. They specialize in specific areas, such as manufacturing electronic components, automotive parts, or medical equipment. This specialization allows them to develop deep knowledge, expertise, and advanced manufacturing capabilities in their chosen fields.
For example, in the automotive industry, an OEM is the company that made the vehicle and its parts. They can either make the parts themselves or contract it out to a supplier, known as a Tier 1 supplier. If the demand is high, Tier 1 suppliers may further contract out the manufacturing to another company, known as a Tier 2 supplier.
In the context of golf, OEM builds refer to the quality of golf clubs and equipment. Golf enthusiasts often debate whether custom-fitted clubs by independent builders are worth the extra cost over OEM quality control. Some argue that independent builders offer more specific features and attention to detail than OEM builds, which are produced in higher quantities.
Additionally, in the software industry, OEM manufacturing is used to describe the bundling of operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, with computers from various manufacturers. These OEM product keys are typically priced lower than their retail counterparts, despite offering the same software.
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Fitter builds vs. OEM quality control
Golf club fitters offer a service that can help golfers improve their game. Fitters use real-time data and industry-leading technology to help golfers select from 65,000+ club combinations to create custom clubs that will maximise the effects of their hitting motion. The process starts in the fitting bay and ends with the golfer shooting lower scores.
Fitters can help golfers find more distance, more consistency, and better overall performance. They can also help golfers overcome issues like slices and low/high spin. Fitters take into account the golfer's swing and stroke data to make custom clubs that are built to the tightest tolerances, ensuring the club specifications determined in the golf club fitting end up in the golfer's bag.
OEM quality control, on the other hand, may not be as precise. While OEMs have a lot of checkpoints and quality control measures in place, there are still issues with their builds. For example, manufacturer quality control on loft and lie can be inaccurate, and some clubs may be off by a degree or two. This can be easily fixed by taking the clubs to a golf shop and having them adjusted, which is a relatively inexpensive solution.
Ultimately, the decision between fitter builds and OEM quality control comes down to the individual golfer's needs and preferences. If a golfer is playing at a high level and needs to ensure their clubs have the right lofts/lies and go the right distances, then fitter builds may be worth the added level of quality control. However, for most club golfers, OEM builds are likely to be fine, as any tolerance variation is not likely to hurt their scores over the long haul.
It's worth noting that some golfers may simply enjoy the process of working with a fitter and having custom clubs built, even if it doesn't significantly improve their game.
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OEM orders
OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer". Some of the major OEMs in the golf club market include TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping, Titleist, Cleveland/Srixon, Mizuno, and Cobra.
When placing an OEM order, it is important to note that there may be limited customization options available. OEMs typically have a set number of club designs, shaft models, and adjustment settings that they offer. While they may make recommendations based on your performance and baseline measurements, you may not be able to make highly specific requests or adjustments.
Additionally, when placing an OEM order, it is less likely that you will encounter issues with quality control. OEMs have standardized processes and checkpoints in place to ensure the quality of their products. However, there may be a larger number of people involved in the manufacturing process, which could potentially increase the chances of variation or tolerance issues.
It is worth mentioning that OEM orders may have different commission structures compared to orders placed through third-party fitters or retailers. In some cases, OEM orders may not include commission payouts, but they can still count towards referral totals and partner levels for the respective OEM.
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Fitter experience
The fitter experience can vary depending on the golfer's needs and preferences. Some golfers prefer to work with an independent builder or fitter, who can provide more specific and detailed customisations to their clubs. This is often a more expensive option, but it can be worth it for those who are very particular about their equipment or who play at a high level.
For example, during a fitting session, a golfer might discuss their game and specific needs with the fitter, who will take measurements and assess their swing to establish a baseline. The fitter will then make adjustments to the club, such as changing the head, shaft, or stiffness, and observe the golfer's performance to fine-tune the club to their swing. This process can result in significant improvements, as seen in the case of a 69-year-old golfer who gained 20-30 yards in distance after a fitting session.
Other golfers may opt for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) fittings, where they can choose from a variety of club combinations to maximise their hitting motion. OEMs offer a range of checkpoints and quality control measures, ensuring that the clubs meet certain specifications. However, some golfers feel that OEMs are more focused on selling clubs rather than providing a personalised fitting experience.
Ultimately, the choice between an independent fitter and an OEM comes down to individual needs and budgets. While independent fitters offer more detailed customisations, they may be more expensive. On the other hand, OEMs provide a wide range of options and quality clubs, but the fitting experience may not be as tailored to the golfer's unique requirements.
It is worth noting that some golfers choose to have both OEM clubs and custom-fitted clubs in their bag, depending on their preferences and performance needs.
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Frequently asked questions
OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer". TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping, Titleist, Cleveland/Srixon, Mizuno, and Cobra are examples of major OEMs.
A golf fitter is a person who helps golfers select the perfect clubs for their swing. Golf fitters can also adjust existing clubs to better suit a golfer's swing.
OEMs are the original manufacturers of golf clubs. Golf fitters, on the other hand, are experts who help golfers select the right clubs for their swing from the vast array of options available.
Golf fitters can provide more specific recommendations than OEMs. For instance, if you want Frequency matching, MOI Matching, specific or ascending swing weight, you may not be able to get that from an OEM.
