Ill-fitting clubs would either take the brunt of why “they aren’t working “ or the player just assumed it was their ability.

The hardest job for a fitter is convincing the player that the muscle backs are too hard to use or that the same X shaft a pro uses won’t maximize his game.

For a long time now, different head and shaft combinations have been available. Now with modern technology, the fittings have become more precise and with the wider array of shafts and clubheads, a fitting these days can really match clubs to improve your game.
As for more forgiving clubs, yes, some clubs will give you better results with less than perfect swings and are therefore easier to hit.

For those who may not remember, 50-60 years ago, clubs were sold in sets with the exception of SW's and some Drivers. 3-PW for irons and 1-3-5 woods. Your choices were Spalding, Wilson, Mac Gregor, Hogan, Acushnet, Power-Bilt and good old Northwestern. You went into the pro shop and the all knowing pro watched you hit a few balls with some demo irons from the bag room, then made his choice for you. If you were a public course golfer, you went to a Department or Sporting Goods store and were left to your own devices. Then in the 1970's, along came Nevada Bob's and Las Vegas Golf and Tennis and the public golfer had access to the same merchandise as the private club golfer. Not only that, you could actually hit balls into a net to demo clubs. Custom fitting for the masses really didn't start until png started making irons and came out with their color code chart. Trackman was not even a thought in someone's mind back then.

Frank you are right on - it basically came down to whether you were a stiff or regular shaft and that was about it. You forgot Dunlop - I played a set of Australian Blades in late 70s to mid 80s.

Great trip down memory lane! I also remember. I got my 1st set on Titleist Blades in 1978 and the purchased Top Flite Woods (1,3 & 5) and a Titleist Bulls Eye Putter! THose were the days...

I remember those days. My first set of irons were Dunlop Gary Player I got a base exchange right before I was discharged.

Now we can get fittings and clubs that were always available to the pros, if are willing to pay the price.

I went directly to the Wilson Distributor in Clifton NJ which was 2 towns over from me. They had an inside range. I hit stiff shafted Wilson Staffs and the new ( at the time) X 31 irons and woods. I chose the the X31s. Standard length. Not much fitting options for sure. Mostly shaft flex and length.

The Wilson Distributor was not open to the public. I only went there to ask questions. By pure luck, some of the the NY Giants football players were there getting clubs. The rep thought I was with the Giants and the Giants players though I was with Wilson. The Wilson rep with the clip board just walked up and down the range with the different models, taking notes and names. The kicker. as they say , we were all were given a FREE set of clubs and the old red/white staff bags. Even got a 2 iron mailed to my house.
Still got 'em. I take 'em out for a round every now and then. I must add..... I beat the team out the door.

A year or so later I switched to Titleist for good.

Deno

So Deno, was that considered a hit and run?

Eric
Haaa! I think the Giants are still in shock!!!!

I remember impact stickers and the plastic board to hit balls off of to see if you needed flat-standard-up right. Then it was stiff or regular shafts. I remember our pro shop having a cart full of 7 irons and you could choose shaft and club head according to which one you liked best

Fitting was just like “try this club, then this club”. Use the old lie board. I think the Mitchell Bending Machine came along in the 1980s. Imagine how good someone like Hogan could be with all the technology today.