Most golfers assume spring is the time to get fit for new clubs. The season's starting, motivation is high, and it feels natural to walk into a shop ready for something new. It makes sense on the surface — but fall is actually the smarter choice, and once you look at the reasons why, it's hard to argue otherwise.
1. Your swing is more honest in the fall
Consider where your swing actually is in April versus October. In spring, you're shaking off months of rust — early rounds are often more about knocking dust off old habits than reflecting your real game. By fall, you've played a full season. Your tendencies, tempo, and typical misses are the real ones, not a rusty spring version or a fatigued midsummer version. A fitter working with your fall swing is working with an accurate picture of your game.
2. Fitting studios are far less crowded
Spring brings a rush. Every golfer seems to have the same idea at once, which means fitting bays fill up fast and appointments can feel hurried. Even skilled fitters have less room to dig deep into your data when they're booked back-to-back.
Fall is quieter. That means more one-on-one time, more patience for testing different shafts or head combinations, and a fitting session that isn't racing the clock.
3. Equipment tends to go on sale in the fall
Have you been eyeing a new model all season long? Fall is often when many major manufacturers begin marking down current-year releases. Booking a fitting now means you can find better pricing on current-year models before next year’s release cycles drive demand back up.
4. You'll have time to break in your new clubs
Custom clubs take time to build and ship. Wait until spring, and you may be racing to get new equipment in hand before your first round — then adjusting to it on the course under pressure.
Getting fit in fall gives you the entire off-season to get comfortable: time in a simulator, time to adjust to a new shaft or lie angle, and time to iron out any small kinks. By opening day, your new clubs already feel familiar.
5. It keeps you engaged during the off-season
Winter can be a long stretch for golfers with no rounds on the calendar. Booking a fall fitting gives you something to look forward to, and turns the off-season into productive prep time rather than a dead period between seasons.
The Bottom Line
Spring may feel like the obvious choice, but fall quietly does it better. Your swing is more representative of your true game, fitting studios have more time to spend with you, and you'll head into next season already comfortable with your clubs instead of still adjusting to them.
If you've been considering a fitting, don't wait for the spring rush — fall is the better time to book it.
How To Get Fit
Ready to book your fitting? During the fall, we can usually get you in on the same day or within the week.
At Chris Cote’s we offer two types of club fitting experiences: Free Fittings and Tour Level Fittings.
Our Free Fittings are complimentary with purchase. They take place indoors on a TrackMan simulator at our Portland and Southington retail locations.
For a more in depth experience, our Tour Level Fittings are conducted at the Performance Center in Portland. These fittings are outdoors using Pro V1x golf balls, allowing you to see ball flight both in person and on TrackMan. You’ll also have access to an expanded selection of custom shaft options, will receive a detailed spec sheet, and a full TrackMan data report.
Want to get started? Book a Free Fitting or Book a Tour Level Fitting. Still deciding which option is right for you? Learn more about our fitting experiences here.
