The 48 Step Process 1. Customer fills out fitting form - The information on the fitting form begins to acquaint us with the current state of your game and where there might be room for improvement. We look for shot tendencies, strengths, yardage inconsistencies, etc. 2. Personal interview - The interview allows us to learn even more about your game by exploring some of the data from the fitting form in further detail. The dialogue continues for about an hour or two, as long as it takes to get it right. 3. "Pre-fit" based on fitting form & interview data - We have learned enough at this point to have an idea what your game might be lacking and what clubs would be a good fit for you. 4. We test your current set on our frequency analyzer - Shaft flex is the most important part of a set of clubs. This process shows you if your current clubs are properly matched to each other. Even if they are, the lie angles, swingweight, etc might not fit you. But if your clubs fit you, we'll tell you. If not, we'll tell you why they don't and what Montech does to ensure that your new set will. 5. Test lie angles of your current set - We check to see if your lie angles are consistent. Small errors in lie angles can lead to big misses on the golf course. 6. Shaft flex pre-fit - For the next few steps to provide accurate data, you have to use a club that has close to, if not exactly, the right shaft flex and weighting characteristics. 7. Determine proper lie angle - The only accurate way to determine your proper lie angle is to hit actual shots using a club that fits you. The data from the impact tape on the sole of the club tells us your perfect lie angle. Fingertip to floor, height measurements, and address measurements don't work. What matters is what happens at the moment of impact, nothing else. 8. Determine club length - Lie angle, not height, determines club length. A very upright lie angle means the club needs to be longer. We have seen shorter people that need longer clubs, and taller people that need standard or shorter clubs. Again, the moment of impact provides dynamic data. Standstill or static data is worthless. 9. Test club speed (MPH) - The first of many swing variables that we test. Club head speed is only one factor we consider. In many fitting systems, it is the only factor considered. 10. Test Ball Speed (MPH) - Distance is determined by the initial velocity of the ball at impact along with its launch angle (see next step). High club head speeds might not result in the highest ball velocity if energy isn't being transferred effectively from the club to the ball. We call this relationship "swing efficiency." 11. Test Launch Angle (DEG) - We look for the optimum launch angle that maximizes total distance. Physics dictates that initial velocity and launch angle are the two key components of distance. 12. Test Spin Rate (RPM) - Spin rates affect distance and accuracy to different degrees depending on the club. Off-center hits will spin more off irons, and the driver that provides a lower spin rate will provide a straighter and longer ball flight. 13. Test Carry Yards - Our computerized ball-flight analyzer calculates the yardage covered on the fly. We compare the data with other findings, such as launch angle, to see why the result may have been shorter or longer than expected. 14. Test Total Distance - This factor incorporates many of the other variables and lets us know which driver hits the ground hotter, or which short iron holds the green better. It's all part of fine-tuning the fitting process to make sure we've considered every variable. 15. Determine proper shaft flex - By this point you've struck enough shots with clubs that are close to your specs for us to know which one provides the proper balance of distance and accuracy. Our computer ball flight analysis provides all the data we need to zero in on your perfect fit. Fittings that rely on club head speed only are missing important aspects of ball flight like launch angle, spin rate ball speed, carry distance, etc. Like impact readings for lie angle, what really matters for shaft and head characteristics is ball flight. 16. Determine shaft type - At this point we know a lot about your game. We know your perfect lie angle, club length, swing path, swing strength, tempo, and what your shaft flex should be. It's now time to determine the kind of shaft that is best for you. You'll hit more shots with each shaft type if necessary to determine which one provides the best combination of distance and accuracy. It is a misconception that graphite is less consistent than steel. If the clubs match you perfectly, it is just as accurate and consistent as steel. 17. Determine kick point - Kick point has little effect on ball flight, but a big impact on feel. Each of our shafts is built to have the optimum kick point for a shaft of its length and stiffness. 18. Determine torque - Torque is a measure of the resistance of the shaft to twisting at the bottom of the swing. We make sure that there is a proper amount of resistance for your given swing strength. 19. Determine swing weight - The swing weight is a measure of how heavy the club is to swing, not it's raw weight. We factor swing weight into every club we build. If swing weights vary within a set, it can cause problems with tempo and feel. 20. Determine grip size - Grip size is an often-overlooked component in fitting. Players tend to like the feel of grips that are too large for their hands, which restricts the proper release of the club at the bottom of the swing. 21. Determine grip type - This is largely a matter of personal preference, but certain grips are much lighter or heavier than others. Being off by a few grams can cause inaccuracies in swing weight and/or shaft flex. 22. Final shaft test - Now that we know your swing requirements, we have you hit a few more balls with a club built to exactly your specifications. And we recheck the data to make sure you are getting the proper readings for distance and accuracy. 23. Final lie angle test - Just to be sure we have the exact lie angle, we have you hit a couple more shots with the club that matches your game. Testing lie angle with the proper club provides the most reliable data since we know that the club is unloading properly through the hitting area. 24. Final club length check - This information will come from the lie angle check above. If there is any last tinkering needing, it will be done here. 25. Determine proper loft increments - We read ball flight data to see which loft driver maximizes your distance and accuracy, and also to determine if you need irons bent stronger than standard. Or perhaps you'd like the sand wedge delofted a couple degrees so you don't need to carry a gap wedge. 26. Determine head type(s) - Each of our heads offers different performance characteristics, so one head design may better suit a particular player more than another. But each of our heads feature a design that makes the most of current technology while incorporating, traditional, clean, eye-pleasing lines. 27. Determine configuration of set - Stronger players may want to carry more long irons and only two woods. Weaker players may opt for three woods and fewer long irons. Or you may want to play three wedges or add another fairway wood. 28. Determine specific requirements - This is the step where we explore every last detail of your new set. You may have aesthetic preferences for the graphics on the shaft or grip being turned underneath so they aren't visible at address. Or you might play a course with thin-sand bunkers and many tight lies that would call for your wedges being ground down to a tighter leading edge with less bounce. 29. Pre-sort shafts (weight) - This is the first step of the hand crafting process. We weigh and test every shaft when we receive them in shipping rather than rely on the labels. Then we pull those shafts that fit into the proper gram weight range to be used in your set. 30. Pre-sort shafts (flex) - Of those that weigh the right amount, we sort each shaft according to the cycles per minute (CPM) reading we got when the shaft arrived at our factory. Again, we set aside those shaft blanks that are suited for use in your set. 31. Pre-sort heads - This step is also performed when the clubs come in. We weigh every head and label it with its gram weight, then resort them accordingly. This way we know exactly what heads are suited for use in a club of a certain shaft flex or swing weight. 32. Pre-sort grips - Exactly the same as the above step. Even grips of the exact same model may vary as much as a few grams in weight. 33. Weigh heads - We pull the heads to be used in your set and double check the weight to make sure they are going to be perfect in reaching the exact requirements of your new set. 34. Weigh grips - We weigh the grips and make sure they are each of the exact same gram weight so we know they will result in the same swing weight on each of the finished clubs. 35. Weigh shafts and final raw check - The weight of the shaft has a vital effect on the resulting shaft flex. We make very certain that the shaft we are going to use in your club is the exact weight necessary to craft a club that will meet your specifications. We also check the shaft blank for any visible construction defects at this point. 36. Bend heads - If your club heads need to be bent to reach the proper lie and loft angles, this is the step where it is done. 37. Grind/plug heads - If the gram weight of your heads needs to be adjusted slightly to arrive at the proper shaft flex or swing weight, we can grind a few grams off, or add a few grams of weight to the club head. 38. Test shaft frequencies - At this point we electronically test the shaft blank with a weight onthe end of it to make sure of what the relative frequency is under the strain of a weight. 39. Cut to length - We now trim the shaft to the proper length. If necessary, this is when we "tip" a shaft, which is to take length of the club head end instead of from the butt. This allows us to move the stiffness a few steps in either direction, or provide a different feel to the finished club. 40. Check frequency again with head taped on - Once again we check the frequency of the shaft, this time with the head to be used securely taped to the shaft. This lets us be sure that the club is still meeting each check to ensure that it matches all the others in a given set perfectly. 41. Test raw swing weight - With the head still taped on, we test the swing weight again to make sure that all of the variables are in line with each other and nothing is out of balance. 42. Glue - Every Montech head is glued on by hand only after it has passed each and every checkpoint described above. 43. Set overnight - All of our clubs set overnight. Quick setting or "five minute" glues weaken over time, and any handling or movement before the club has properly set can result in slight inadequacies. 44. Test shaft flex - Once again we test the shaft flex. This is the most important variable of a golf club, so we make certain that every single shaft flex is the perfect before it gets to the customer. 45. Grip - We grip your clubs to your specifications only after the rest of the club makes it through all of the other checkpoints. It is best for the clubs to sit overnight to allow the adhesive to set properly. 46. Test swing weight - Now that the grip is on, it is time for one final check to make sure the process didn't get off track at any point. 47. Final fitting (lie angle) - Your clubs are finished, but we still don't let them out the door unless we know they are perfect. Therefore, we ask you to hit a few shots to make sure the lie angles are dialed in properly. It is common for the metal to rebound to its prior state after we bend them the first time, so this just makes sure the lie angles haven't changed. 48. Follow-up - If your clubs need any tinkering once you've been playing with them for a while, we are happy to make the adjustments. Also, we like to hear about your success stories now that you are playing with clubs that fit you properly!