I am not convinced about the shaft optimizer yet. I think there are so many other factors to consider. NOBODY GOES AT IT IN THE SAME WAY IN A SHOP UNDER LAB CONDITIONS AS THEY DO ON THE COURSE
I couldn't agree more. But stop and look at the process first. The fitting is a mechanical process up to a point, but I personally feel what the fitter does to prepare you for your fitting is more important.
Like many of you, I've been fitted by a variety of companies, including Mizuno. The Shaft Optimizer did give me useful feedback at a point when I wasn't sure whether to go from Regular to Senior flex shafts. The thing is, there were some things about that fitting that were vastly different from the others.
The day before my Mizuno fitting, one of the guys from Planet Golf called to talk to me first. His first comment was about what to wear. He said if I wear long pants, wear long pants to the fitting. If I wear shorts, wear shorts.
His most critical point was specifically about shoes. How many people show up for a fitting in street shoes, sneakers, even sandals, shoes that are not likely to put you in the same posture like golf shoes would on the course? I wore spikeless golf shoes that day.
He told me if I wore a hat on the course, bring one to wear in the booth. I wear glasses normally, but usually contacts on the course for the past year or so. If I got fitted now, I suppose I would wear contacts to it.
He reminded me to bring my current set, because we could measure me up the wazzoo, but without my current performance to compare things to, we wouldn't know if I was improving with the test clubs.
When I got there, I was given a bucket of balls to hit so I could warm up first and be as loose as possible before they started working with me. I hate to say this, but I've seen people step in a booth at a local sporting goods store with some so called fitter, hit 3-4 balls, have the fitter make one or two adjustments to the driver and walk out of the store with it, having probably never loosened up more than their wallets.
The Mizuno fitting I did at the time led me to buying JPX825 irons. Two weeks later, they were adjusted slightly as part of what I paid for.
My point is, so much more of a fitting depends on the professionalism of the fitter. So many people really have no idea there can be such a difference.