Opinion & Analysis

Confessions of a Golf Equipment Tech Rep

Published

9 years ago

Jun 23, 2017

It seems like a dream job, doesn’t it? Golf equipment tech reps spend hours on the driving ranges of some of the most prestigious courses. They have access to all the new gear from a golf equipment company and get to talk golf with like-minded individuals.

Let me tell you, it’s a ton of fun, but just like any “job” it does have its challenges. Here’s an inside look into what it’s really like to work as a summer tech rep for a golf equipment company.

The Travel

The commute can be one of the most challenging parts of any job, but traveling to golf courses really isn’t that bad. Most demo days are in the afternoon or around the lunch hour, so traffic in most cities is pretty light. Also, the majority of courses are located around the outskirts of the downtown cores just off arterial roads. The trick is avoiding the evening rush hour, but that’s easy when you have your clubs and an endless bucket of premium golf balls.

In contrast my car (cover image, this is car of a full-time Ping reps. He built a shelf for his van.

In contrast to my car (cover image), this is car of a full-time Ping rep. He built a shelf for his van.

The most difficult task actually is trying to get everything to fit into your car. Full-time reps have the luxury of either a company van or have made the decision to own a large vehicle. Tech reps, on the other hand, are not always so well prepared. I, for example, own a (humble brag) 2009 Toyota Matrix. It’s not a large car by any stretch of the imagination, but on the plus side it is a hatchback. A few other guys have small to mid-sized sedans. In another life, we must have all been very good Tetris players, because we somehow always get everything to fit (including the pop-up canopy tents). Speaking to the camaraderie, I’ve seen reps help each other out by taking an extra staff bag or two to the next event if for some reason it won’t fit in a rep’s car.

The Other Reps

Since we spend so much time together during the busy summer demo-day months, we’re more of a band of brothers than rival tribesman. When working with customers, it’s all business, but during off times we hit each other’s gear and trade golf balls and war stories. We even play golf together after demo days wrap up.

When it comes to finding the right piece of equipment, someone is either going to end up with our gear or move on down the line. We always do our best to make sure every golfer that comes out is giving our gear a fair shake and tries what’s right for them, but we all know people have brand biases, too. The one thing we all abide by is the unspoken etiquette of the range, which includes never interrupting another rep during a conversation with a golfer. We’re also never “that guy” who walks all the way to the other side of the range to push a product onto someone at another booth. We’re not new to the golf industry, and we’re all in it together. Our job is ultimately to fit and sell clubs, but at the end of the day, regardless of what equipment the golfer decides to purchase, it’s more important to represent your company the right way and make sure every golfer has a positive experience.

The Food

Each course we visit treats us amazing, from the head professionals all the way to the back-shop and range teams. Plus, since they want us to be good guests and stay with their members on the range, lunch is provided and delivered.

I’ve made the joke many times now that, by the end of the summer, I will be able to rank every sausage, hamburger, and chicken-caesar wrap from every private club in and around the Greater Toronto Area. So far, they’ve all received top marks.

The Fitting Experience

One of the best things about being on the range with golfers at their own club is that they’re comfortable in their surroundings and familiar with course conditions. This, to me, is one of the best ways to fit a golfer, especially one that plays a majority of their golf at their club.

Fittings move very quickly when a golfer can see ball flight and make an apple-to-apples comparison with their own clubs on their own range with an outdoor launch monitor. The benefits of new equipment are quick to spot and problems are easy to correct.

The Golfers

From scratch club champs to weekend warriors, we fit them all. The better golfers are easier to fit them since their swings are more repeatable. Most better players are also able to more accurately describe what they are “feeling” swing after swing.

When testing equipment, it helps to clean your clubs in between shots. It also helps a tech rep!

The one thing that still shocks me is the lack of understanding golfers have on simple fitting principles. Many are stuck in the past with what they know about technology. So many golfers also have misconceptions about what leads to gains in distance, accuracy and consistency. It’s part of our job to help make things simple to understand, and something we take pride in. Here are the top-5 misconceptions I hear from golfers on demo days:

Hitting it higher with a driver causes distance loss.
Graphite shafts are only meant for the slowest swingers.
Forged irons are only for highly skilled players.
“I don’t need to get fit. Just give me off-the-rack clubs.”
All “stiff” shafts and all “regular” shafts are the same.

The other difficulty lies in the outliers: the guys who are 6-feet, 6-inches tall and have club head speeds in excess of 120 mph with hands the size of bear paws. These are tough fits since most carts don’t have mid-sized grips. And as far as aftermarket shaft options go, it’s really hard to carry more than what’s already offered by golf equipment manufacturers. The great thing about the Mizuno fitting cart, particularly the company’s iron shafts, is that there aren’t many people I can’t fit given the wide amount of options.

The Weather

This is the one thing that is beyond our control. I’ve experienced days where it’s blowing 30 mph directly into golfers on the range and that’s a tough place to be. Not only that, but be prepared for at least one face full of dirt and sand along the way. No lie, on an extremely gusty day, I once saw a rep get thrown 8 feet into the air trying to save his tent. Thankfully, he walked away unscathed, but I can’t say the same for the tent (he crushed it when he landed inside of it, upside down).

And rain… even the thought or possibility of it scares people away, which can lead to pretty slow days on the range. We all know how much it sucks to have to dry out your entire golf bag after a soggy round. Imagine doing that with 5-6 golf bags after a few extra hours in the rain.

Golfers, don’t let the sun get away with anything, either. One of the first lessons as a tech rep is to load up on sunscreen or risk a very bad sunburn. If you think a golfer’s tan is bad, a rep tan can be even worse.

—

To all the golfers headed to the demo day, make sure to stop by and say hello to us tech reps. Don’t be nervous or embarrassed to make a swing in front of us; we hold no judgement. And please, ask as many questions as you’d like. We’ve heard them all, and want you to learn and enjoy trying out some new gear. You might just be surprised what ends up working for you, and you may even have a great conversation with one of unsung road warriors of the industry.

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Ryan Barath

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

24 Comments

Chris Downing

Apr 23, 2018 at 5:49 am

I think Ryan thought he boss would read this before he submitted it. In the past I have worked as a rep in a lot of industries – pluses are new cars supplied to you, quite a lot of freedom – downs – not all customers are nice, targets you need to hit causes stress, hours wasted on the road. Because you get a car and lots of people want the job it depresses the salary. It’s also not a particularly well respected career – as my mother said,” Couldn’t you get a proper job?” Ouch!

Reply Report comment
- D williams
  
  Mar 29, 2019 at 7:18 pm
  
  I have been the top tech rep in Texas for many years. I command top dollar from any company. The things that have been said are BS. Tech reps will never be more than that and most tech reps I know don’t have the ambition to be more. I have worked for multiple companies at same time I’ve worked full time Year around. In closing if you want to be a tech rep good luck maybe get a real job
  
  Reply Report comment
ooffa

Jun 25, 2017 at 6:42 am

Calm down dude. If some one wants to get fitted let it be. Why are you always freaking about stuff?
High handicapper, low handicapper, so what, let people enjoy themselves a bit. Stop being such a know it all downer. You must be a whole lot of fun at the monthly member mingler.

Reply Report comment
- Ward Wayne
  
  Jul 1, 2017 at 12:32 pm
  
  What?! Are you responding to the comment above?
  
  Reply Report comment
Dave R

Jun 25, 2017 at 12:02 am

Very good article and well explained. Every time I went to demo days I was always treated with respect . And showed the same in return . Never did I feel that I was being pressured into buying. And yes would strongly advise before you buy get fitted by someone who knows what they are doing. Expensive is not always the answer.

Reply Report comment
Tom1

Jun 24, 2017 at 5:12 pm

you rep’s need larger vehicles

Reply Report comment
Compressthis

Jun 23, 2017 at 12:54 pm

Long time Cobra demo tech in the Midwest. Liked the article, we are a band of friends at all events looking to only set up anyone with the clubs that best fit their swing. Of course I will do my best to explain why my clubs would be the best when you hit them as I believe like everyone that we have the clubs to fit your swing. You are still the one making the decision to purchase. It is your job to take the launch monitor readings, ball flight information, feel and performance observations and narrow down your ideal club selections for final comparison. We all have no problem going head to head with each other because the customer walks away satisfied knowing he got the best club for him. Not sure where the tech reps are shoving new product down people’s throats, that is not the case here. If you are not interested in hearing about or trying the new equipment why are you at a demo day anyway? Hopefully your response isn’t for the free balls to hit! ????

Reply Report comment
Bobbyeggroll

Jun 23, 2017 at 12:37 pm

Best time for me was when working a driving range I received a few new clubs and put them in the demo bag for an afternoon demo day. I set everything up and while getting setup a few keeners went looking in my bags and took a new hybrid out and started hitting it. This person wasn’t the best golfer but made reasonable contact and brought the club back to me and said they really liked it particularly the grip. Amusingly the protective plastic was still on the grip as I had only got the head plastic off. Slipped the club in the bag and said I was glad they liked it and could I order it for them? They came back later and bought one through the proshop and I never heard anything negative from the transaction and never told the pro the story.

Reply Report comment
mr b

Jun 23, 2017 at 11:04 am

always been something i wanted to do….but…there just wasn’t any money in it from what i saw. but if money wasn’t a concern it’d be a dream job for this guy.

Reply Report comment
Me

Jun 23, 2017 at 9:17 am

I too am a Club fitter, have been for over 10 years. The amount of stock & custom upgrade-able shafts, fitting heads for both Right and lefties- there is no way I could fit in a small SUV. I travel with more club and shaft selections ( including driver shafts in different lengths} that any superstore could possibly offer at any time. I have full sets of lefties, ladies, even full sets of ladies lefties. In addition I have the latest Trackman launch monitor not for consumers ego, but to be fitted. It amazes me that some large club companies, send a guy out with a tent and 2 staff bags, no launch monitor of any kind, a folding table with table cloth, a 1/2 dozen iron & driver fitting heads and conduct a demo day. A “demo day” consisting of hitting free range balls is not the way to conduct business. A fitting day on the other hand, with appointments is a partnership(s) between the Pro, vendor and consumer/member….Sadly many “pros” do not understand this & act like they are too busy. PXG, Taylormade and Titleist understands appointment driven fitting days, the consumer loves the attention to detail and often buys. The pros that do get it, see in an up tick in business profits and often an increase in lessons by these purchasers investing in their game.

Reply Report comment
- Thomas Murphy
  
  Jun 23, 2017 at 10:17 am
  
  Yay a full set of lefties. I hate when I go to fitting events and they have like 30 RH 6 irons of the same model and no LH. And I also agree that models like Titleist with “fitting thursdays” and appointments is great though at times I am not wanting a “fitting” I just want to try(demo) stuff but more directed models are great.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mike Sykes
    
    Jun 23, 2017 at 4:03 pm
    
    I am a Titleist Product Specialist (Tech Rep.). Titleist Thursdays serve both purposes…Fitting Appts. offer 45-min. total attention to a player’s wants & needs. If a player just wants to demo clubs & ask questions, they just need to walk up..no appt. needed. A somewhat consistent swing does help in fitting and player feedback during the fitting is critical. We are there to help players with their equipment. No-pressure selling here. If I can’t help improve their game, in their opinion….thanks for coming out!
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Nick
      
      Jun 23, 2017 at 8:59 pm
      
      Mike I to am a Product Specialist which Rep do you work for? I am on the west side of Michigan.
      
      Reply Report comment
Bert

Jun 23, 2017 at 9:04 am

Best quote in the article is scratch golfers are easier to fit than bogey golfers.

” The better golfers are easier to fit them since their swings are more repeatable. Most better players are also able to more accurately describe what they are “feeling” swing after swing”.

Said this for years and still believe it. If you can’t repeat a swing, it’s difficult at best to be fit. Fitting is normally, hit this, hit this, I think this will fit you best, your numbers are better.

Reply Report comment
- Dat
  
  Jun 23, 2017 at 9:43 am
  
  This IS the truth. Not everyone can benefit from a true fitting unless you have a consistent swing. Truly has nothing to do with handicap or the size/shape of the golfer. The best question I was ever asked was if I had a “Flex Shaft” for a gentleman to try out…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Was
    
    Jun 23, 2017 at 9:55 am
    
    Well you know why men ask for e “Flex” shaft, don’t you? They’re too ashamed to ask for a “Soft” one. Ego gets them every time.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Steve
      
      Jun 23, 2017 at 10:49 am
      
      Launch monitors have really smoothed out that shaft flex thing for me…my motto is your best fit driver will hit the fairway, best fit irons will hit the green and if you find a putter that will put the ball in the hole I want one….
      
      Reply Report comment
  - Ude
    
    Jun 23, 2017 at 6:04 pm
    
    New club designs — stronger lofts and softer shafts — more distance and more flex for higher shots — and the OEMs don’t tell you about it because golfer’s egos would suffer
    
    Reply Report comment
- Bishop
  
  Jun 23, 2017 at 12:23 pm
  
  I’m personally on the fence about this statement. I think that though the low ‘cap may be easier, even a high handicapper would be easy to fit, so long as their swing is consistent (which I completely agree, is absolutely necessary). To play Devil’s Advocate, I have a couple of friends who are 35 handicappers, but have a very consistent and repeatable swing (one in particular has a high handicap because he doesn’t line up for his 20 yard slice to land in the fairway, and thus his second shot is almost always out of the rough).
  
  Reply Report comment
  - stephenf
    
    Jun 23, 2017 at 2:58 pm
    
    Absolutely. A _lot_ of higher-handicap players have distressingly consistent swings. From a teacher’s perspective, the typical challenge is to get them out of those consistent patterns.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Dave
    
    Jun 25, 2017 at 7:50 am
    
    He should line up to see that a 20 yard slice ends up in the fairway he should determine what is causing that slice and FIX it. I speak from painful experience.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Dave
      
      Jun 25, 2017 at 7:53 am
      
      That should say SHOULD NOT line up …. doggone bad typist.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Double Mocha Man
        
        Jun 25, 2017 at 2:29 pm
        
        You sliced that one. 🙂
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Double Mocha Man
        
        Jun 25, 2017 at 2:30 pm
        
        You sliced that one! 🙂
        
        Reply Report comment

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Opinion & Analysis

5 Things We Learned: Thursday at the PGA Championship

Published

2 weeks ago

May 15, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Aronimink is not a storied club, but when Donald Ross himself proclaimed it to be as good as he can design and build, one had to take notice. Jay Sigel was the pre-eminent male amateur golfer from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He might have called any number of Philadelphia clubs home, but he chose Aronimink. It served him well. Gary Player won a PGA Championship here in 1962, and was followed by the 1993 winner … nobody. Aronimink gave that event away to Inverness, for reasons of which it is certainly not proud. So be it. We had to wait sixty-four years for the PGA to return to Newtown Square, but here we are. Aronimink has been neo-restored by Gil Hanse and team, to return Ross features with an eye toward defense against the dark arts, errrr, high-tech equipment.

Day one saw Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau dig big holes, to the tune of plus-four and plus-six, respectively. Since the first-round lead will be minus-three at worst, many shots will need to be made up for the power couple to reach contention. By nightfall, seven golfers held the day-one lead at three-under par 67. Shots and sticks caught our attention, and we are proud to present Five Things We Learned on Tech Thursday at the 2026 PGA Championship. Thanks to InsideTourGolfer, Today’s Golfer, and GolfWRX for initial equipment research.

First, meet Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee, aka Dr. Chipinski, has once again thrust himself into the conversation of Can he, will he, when will he? Lee has so much talent, wins not nearly as often as we believe that he should, and has no major near-misses (much less titles) on his wiki. The young Aussie is getting older and wiser, but is he able to avoid the scarring that holds the older and wiser back from breaking through? Philadelphia offers another opportunity. Min Woo signed for five birdies and two bogeys on day one, and grabbed a share of the opening-day lead at Aronimink. Winners transcend history and the moment, and Lee will need that sort of ascent to lift the Wannamaker on Sunday.

Second, meet Aldrich Potgeiter

The young South African golfer can rip driver with the best of them. Aronimink tips out at nearly 7400 yards, but beyond the fairway bunkers that ensnare only the mortals, Potgeiter can take his chances with wedge from the rough. On Thursday, he spent plenty of time in the spinach. Like Popeye, he used his muscles to gouge and thrash and dig his way out. Six birdies against three bogeys on the card brought AP in a three deep.

Third, meet Martin Kaymer

Not a major event takes place without a where’s he been throwback moment. We know that Martin Kaymer left the PGA and DP World tours for LIV golf, but the two-time (US Open and PGA) major winner has a lifetime exemption into at least one major event, and he seizes the opportunity each May. Kaymer joined the six-seven brigade with four birdies and a solitary bogey on day one. Kaymer was never a long hitter, and the years are kind to no golfer. The German champion will need to uncork every bottle of guile and strategy in his cabinet to remain in contention. For today, though, he occupies a rung on the ladder of Tour Tech.

Fourth, meet Scottie Scheffler

Let’s see, he’s the defending champion at the PGA, and he found his way back to the top tier with five birdies against two bogeys. To be a favorite and then play up to that stature and expectation is quite difficult. Just ask Rory, Bryson, and some of the other pre-tournament heartthrobs. Scheffler’s game is complete, and to knock him off the OWGR #1 pedestal, one needs to defeat him at the majors. Aronimink is the sort of course that fits Scheffler’s game. Better yet, it unfits the game of many of his challengers. Don’t expect Scheffler to go away anytime soon. Come Sunday, he’ll be around.

Fifth, meet Stephan Jaeger

Clocking in for the unheralded players shift are Ryo Hisatsune and Stephan Jaeger. Hisatsune logged seven birdies on day one, but gave most of them back with four bogeys. Still, he’s tied at the top for a time. Jaeger pitched five birdies against two bogeys, including a run of three consecutive, from holes four through six. Odds are that one of the two will hang around through 36 holes. Odds also suggest that both will be gone by Saturday evening. Still, the PGA Championship has historically been the major most likely to be won by an under-known. Both Hisatsune and Jaeger feature on that list, so good luck, lads!

Club Junkie

Club Junkie’s Titleist GTS driver fitting results!

Published

2 weeks ago

May 14, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, I head to the Titleist Performance Institute for a full driver fitting with the new Titleist GTS lineup. We dive into the fitting process, talk about what made the biggest difference in performance, and break down how the different GTS heads and shaft combinations compare on the launch monitor. If you are thinking about a new driver setup for this season, there is a lot to take away from this one.

I also get into Brooks Koepka and the gear setup he brought to the PGA Championship, including the putters that caught my eye during the week. There are some interesting equipment trends showing up at the highest level right now and we break down what stands out.

To wrap things up, I talk about reshafting a few wedges, what I learned during the process, and swapping an adaptor onto a new shaft for another build project in the shop. A gear packed episode from start to finish for anyone who loves golf equipment and club building.

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Club Junkie

Club Junkie WITB, week 16: New Titleist GTS woods!

Published

2 weeks ago

May 14, 2026

Brian Knudson

Excited for this week’s WITB as we get to add the new Titleist GTS woods to the bag! I was fit at Titleist’s TPI facility in Oceanside California a few weeks ago and my new clubs just showed up. I am also adding a cool set of irons that I built last year some wild custom wedges into a new golf bag. Speaking of the bag I have a new Ghost Anyday Black Ops stand bag that I will be using on my Motocaddy Remote M7 electric cart.

Driver: Titleist GTS3 (11 degrees @ 10.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 6s

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD CQ-7s

5-wood: Titleist GTS (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s

9-wood: Titleist GT1 (24 degress)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s

Irons: Bettinardi CB24 (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper Lite 110 stiff

Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (50-09 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff

Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (56-12 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff

Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (60-08 LB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff

Putter: Dan Carraher ZT Proto

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour

Bag: Ghost Anyday Black Ops Stand Bag