Almost every major OEM in golf is using artificial intelligence as an integral part of its R&D process.
However, when it comes to club fitting, you can only count two who are dipping their toes in that end of the pool. The interesting part is that neither is part of what we would refer to The Big Five.
One is Mizuno with its Swing DNA and Shaft Optimizer 3D technology. This is probably not a surprise to many of you. What may come as a surprise is that the other is Wilson which introduced its Wilson FitAi in December 2023.
That system used a Blast Motion sensor and a proprietary algorithm that could place you on the club head and shaft with length and alignment specifications within five swings. Now Wilson is announcing an extensive update to the FitAi system, and it could be a game changer for the club.
As Alec Baldwin famously asked: Oh, have I got your attention now?
Are you interested? I know you are, because coffee is just around the corner.
The new Wilson FitAI
The original Wilson FitAi used a dedicated 7-iron mount, a sensor and an app to perform your mount. The systems measured dozens of swing metrics and referenced a large database of swings to make a recommendation. Then an assembler would adjust the recommendation based on what it was seeing.
Updated Wilson FitAI the system removes the sensors, stick assembly, and any other external hardware. Instead, it integrates directly with flagship launch monitor technology and uses an improved AI engine for faster and more accurate devices. Additionally, the new Wilson FitAi system has been expanded to include drivers as well as irons.
“Our goal was to remove unnecessary friction from the assembly process while improving accuracy and durability,” says Wilson research and development director Ninad Trifale. “By integrating directly with leading launch monitors and applying an AI-driven optimization engine, we are able to provide recommendations that are truly tailored to each golfer’s unique swing characteristics.”
The new system integrates directly with Foresight’s launch monitors. Wilson will also soon include full Trackman integration. Can be used with other output monitors through manual data entry.
How does Wilson FitAi work?
We won’t bore you with insider information about how artificial intelligence works or the finer points of mathematical algorithms. The short version: Wilson FitAi feeds real-time club and ball data collected by a launch monitor into its proprietary fitting algorithm. This algorithm is designed to maximize distance, durability and other performance characteristics to find the best head and shaft combination.
After a short questionnaire covering carry distance, player height and performance goals, the system recommends a basic setup to set the motion data. In golfers’ movements, the AI interface analyzes the launch angle, spin speed, ball speed and spin axis in real time. The system then builds a final summary that captures each configuration tested, complete with supporting data.
The results of the adaptation are very specific. Wilson FitAi not only will it recommend a Wilson head and shaft flex, but it also provides lie and loft specs (including adjustable driver configurations), as well as head weight, shaft pattern, and shaft length. According to Wilson’s press release, each recommendation is dynamically refined as additional swing data is captured. This is intended to “guide players towards optimal performance windows through an interactive adaptation process”.
It is an assembly tool
It is important to note that Wilson FitAi it is intended to be a tool to help assemblers, not a tool for it substitute assembler.
This is an important distinction. The adapter remains an integral part of the equation. In the big picture, the system isn’t doing anything the assembler can’t do. It just does it much faster, leveraging an ever-growing database of swing analytics and fit dynamics. The assembler can certainly adjust the AI findings based on his experience and what he is seeing in front of him. To use a baseball stadium analogy, the Wilson FitAi not only gets you to the ballpark, but quickly finds the right gate, section and row. The bottom fitter makes sure you have the right seat.
“This next generation of Wilson FitAi represents a major step forward in custom fitting by providing the best, most accurate, data-driven tool to help golfers around the globe,” says Markus McCaine, Wilson’s Global Director of Product and Marketing. “It will be a huge step forward for golfers and we are proud to be pioneers in bringing this technology to market.”
As mentioned, the updated Wilson FitAi joins Mizuno’s Swing DNA platform as the leader in AI-powered fit technology. Mizuno’s system can, within a few swings, describe an entire bag from wedge to driver for you. It uses Mizuno’s shaft analyzer to measure basic swing metrics. The original Wilson FitAi took the same approach using a Blast Motion sensor. This new, improved system takes a more direct approach, using actual launch monitor data to feed the AI engine.
The new Wilson FitAi system is on the ground now. You can find locations near you at Wilson’s website.
