Editor’s note: This story originally ran in the May 9 issue of Golfweek.
•••
Walking into a store that is filled with the latest equipment, computers, high-tech cameras and other fancy devices can be intimidating for players who never have worked with a custom-fitter. It shouldn’t be that way.
A good fitter can transform a player’s game, helping the player hit the ball farther than ever and reduce the severity of misses.
Golfweek asked several well-known fitters for a few tips and questions that amateurs should ask.
Nick Sherburne
Founder and master fitter, Club Champion
clubchampiongolf.com
“After you get fit for the clubs, be sure to ask who is going to build your equipment. Everybody has gone to a demo day, hit a club and then purchased it, only to discover that the club they bought never feels quite as good as the demo.
“There are lots of little things that go into making a golf club perform at its very best, and making two clubs play the same takes time and skill. You want to know that after you get fit, the clubs that you buy will perform like the clubs during the fitting.”
Scott Ward
President, Performance ClubWorks
performanceclubworks.com
“When you go to your fitting, will you have multiple shafts to choose from? You don’t need to know what the exact shafts are – that’s the fitter’s field of expertise. The player does not need to understand the shafts, but you need a variety available. Otherwise, you may not know if you are doing better.
“You are really looking for a head-shaft combination that works for your game. A lot of times a fitter might say that it’s all in the shaft. No, it’s not. It’s the combination of the head and the shaft that makes the ball flight and the trajectory that the player is looking for.”
Mark Timms
Founder and CEO, Cool Clubs
coolclubs.com
“Do some research online, because you want an experienced fitter just like you’d want an experienced teacher. After that, a big question that you need to ask is, what clubs does the place carry? If there are clubs that you are interested in, you should get to try them.
“I’m a little opposed to fitters who only fit one brand. That’s not necessarily the best for everybody. That manufacturer might make great products, and you don’t necessarily have to go to a shop that carries everything, but you want to go to a place that has at least three or four. It gives the fitter a little more variability. If you go to a place that has three or four of the top brands, that’s probably enough to get anybody fitted.”
Chris March
General manager and master fitter, Hot Stix
hotstixgolf.com
“Can you help me choose my ideal set makeup? Every player is going to be different, and just because everyone seems to have hybrids in his bag doesn’t mean you should as well. You get 14 clubs and should focus on your strengths.
“It is all about loft replacement. If a typical 3-wood has 15 degrees, the next logical club in your bag would be in the 18- or 19-degree range. It can either be an 18-or 19-degree 5-wood, an 18- or 19-degree hybrid or even an 18- or 19-degree iron.
“If the courses you play typically leave you with short-iron approach shots, add an extra wedge. If your approach shots are on the longer side, ditch one of those wedges and add a hybrid or fairway wood.”
Additional Tips
How to select a buyer for your surplus pipe, valves, fittings, and flanges
If you operate a water, oil, gas, mining, utility, or industrial operation and are looking to sell your excess pipe, valve, fitting, & flange inventory, your most important step is to find a good, reputable buyer, with a demonstrated track record in the industry. If you do not choose a reputable buyer you could be leaving a lot of money on the table or getting cheated altogether. While finding the right buyer can be a time-consuming process, it is essential that you do your own due diligence to get maximum value from your surplus materials. Follow this advice to find the right buyer.
When you start looking around for a good buyer for your surplus pipe, valve, fitting, and flange inventory, ask the candidates the following eight questions to determine if you will get the most from your sale.
It’s in your best interest to choose a stocking distributor rather than a broker because they will typically pay more as their business needs the inventory. Staff of distributors are industry experts who know exactly what they are dealing with when they look at your surplus pipe and fittings, and will offer a fair, market-based price. A distributor will also operate efficient logistics and storage infrastructure, which will make it hassle-free for your materials to be removed from your site.
As in most other industries, it is always best to deal with a company that has been in business for a decent length of time and has a proven track record, and maintains a strong reputation.
A well-established buyer can offer a completely hands-off removal process. Removing your pipe, valve, fitting, & flange inventory using their own labor, equipment, logistics, and other resources. Also, always make sure your buyer can provide a certificate of insurance if they are operating on your site (industry standard is $5M umbrella)
You want to be sure that you will be dealing with individuals who are experienced, courteous, professional, and knowledgeable.
This is the mark of an excellent buyer. You should be left with a clean and tidy area, no leftovers, no trash. Be sure that your buyer can offer to leave your site clean & ready for the next project.
These days, most any serious buyer will have a legitimate website. Put in some effort to explore their website to make sure they buy and sell the type of material you are selling.
If your company has been in business for some time, or has name recognition, your buyer will have no problem paying for materials upfront prior to a scheduled removal date. ***Always take caution when someone wants to remove material prior to payment**
Your buyer should be in the business of buying! Buyers should be able to provide you with an idea of their interest without needing much time.
BS Company has been a pipe, valve, fitting, and flange master distributor since 1991. We can answer all of the above questions to your satisfaction, and you will quickly realize why we are the best surplus PVFF buyers to work with. Here are some key facts about us.
B-S Company:
Our company was established in 1991. We provide experience, excellent service, demonstrated safety record, and extremely competitive prices for your material.
We are a pipe, valve, fitting and flange distributor. Our facilities include 30 acres of outdoor storage and 100,000 sq/ft of warehouse.
We offers a hands-off removal process. We will provide the labor, equipment, and logistics, to safely and efficiently remove all purchased items.
We buy materials in any quantity, from single pieces to multiple truckloads.
Our crews are experienced at removing material in a timely manner and cleaning up our mess and always leaving your site in better condition than when we arrived.
You can be sure we will be safe, courteous, and efficient. Our history doesn’t lie, and neither do our insurance ratings.
Will always provide a $5M umbrella certificate of insurance for the sites we perform work.
Will pay for your materials prior to any removal.
We buy surplus:
Pipes – Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, HDPE, All Sizes (New, Used, Structural)
Valves – Ball, Gate, Globe, Knife Gates, Butterfly, All Sizes Carbon and Stainless Steel (New, Used)
Fittings & flanges – All Sizes Carbon & Stainless Steel (New Only)
Control Valves – Fisher (New & Used)
Actuators – Bettis, EIM, Limiterques, and Reterk
BS Company opened its doors in 1991 at a small 8,000 sq/ft location, “The Office” in Magna, UT. We’re grateful for the growth we’ve seen over the years and now operate three branches and one manufacturing facility. Our inventory consists of:
6,000 + tons of pipe ON THE GROUND! (300 semi truck loads)
1,500 + tons of fittings & flanges ON THE GROUND! (75 semi truck loads)
10,000 + valves ON THE GROUND
Our pipe and fitting inventory is held at our “Pipe Yard” in Toole, Utah. The “Pipe Yard” boasts much more than its name. There are 30 acres of carbon steel pipe, HDPE pipe, and large OD carbon steel fittings and flanges on the ground at this location. A new 10,000 sq.ft. warehouse stocked with large OD valves was added in 2014. We have pipe sizes up to 108”, fittings & flanges up to 48”, valves up to 36”, and stainless steel fittings & flanges, studs & nuts, and more on this site.
We buy all kinds of surplus flanges, pipes, valves and fittings from companies and individuals west of the Mississippi. We are a stocking distributor, not a middleman, which means you get the best price for your material. Contact us for more information.