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BEST DRIVERS FOR 2020
If you are in the market for a driver, this test is for you. These are the best drivers for 2020.
At MyGolfSpy, our job is to provide independent, unbiased, and objective testing of products to help you make more confident purchasing decisions. We do this by employing consistent testing methodologies and advanced golf analytics inside our 100% independent test facility. You are then able to leverage the industry’s richest set of head-to-head data to help unlock your full potential. Our testing provides unparalleled data, which equals unparalleled insight for the golfer.
For 2020, stop buying golf equipment you like and start buying equipment you want to keep. Don’t spend a dollar unless it improves on what’s already in the bag.
Most Wanted: PING G410 LST
Expert Consultant - Lou Stagner
Lou serves as the Director, Analytics at a multi-billion dollar privately held company. He has over 20 years of experience in analytics, data architecture, and machine learning across a variety of industries, including finance, manufacturing, and energy. Lou recently partnered with Scott Fawcett, creator of the DECADE system, where together, they use stats & analytics to help improve the games of professional and amateur golfers.
Follow @LouStagner on Twitter | PlayingLesson.com
Testing Changes
MyGolfSpy is the site millions of golfers turn to when they’re about to buy something golf-related. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find golf equipment that will perform best for your game and give you the most confidence in your decision. Every year we work with experts from across the golf industry to continually improving our testing process.
Here’s an overview of the significant changes we’ve made to help you find the best drivers for 2020.
Less Aggressive Manual Outlier Filtering – We’ve expanded our allowable
2020 Runner Up - Ping G410 Plus
A top-tier performer for the second year in a row, the Ping G410 Plus is this year's runner up. It ranked 2nd in Strokes Gained, 7th in total distance, and 16th in forgiveness. It was among the top-performing drivers for 29% of testers (2nd in the test). It also produced the most centered dispersion of any model tested. Notably, testers hit 60% of fairways with the Plus. Ball speed consistency and off-center performance were both excellent.
The G410 Plus was also highly rated for looks, feel and sound by our testers.
Other Notable Performances
TaylorMade SIM MAX D (rated 3rd) wasn’t nearly as left-side biased as other draw drivers. Some have noted that the MAX D doesn’t appear closed at address, which could explain why it performed so well across the testing pool. The data suggest it’s well-suited for golfers who are fighting a little bit of a slice but don’t want to go all-in on a closed face, upright, or super draw-biased alternative.
Driver Buying Considerations
Performance should be your primary concern when looking for the best drivers of 2020, but there are some additional considerations you may want to think about before you buy.
Cost
The drivers in this test range from $199 to $650, excluding any exotic shaft upgrades. The 2020 Most Wanted PING G410 LST‘s $399 price tag is a relative bargain vs. new 2020 models. Our top value pick, the strong-performing Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220, currently sells for a for $350. As the golf world comes to terms with the realities of the COVID19 virus, price cuts may come sooner than usual. Given the uncertainty of the situation, some golf companies believe consumers won’t be looking to spend $500 on a new driver any time soon. Some manufacturers may adjust prices accordingly.
ADJUSTABLE vs. GLUED
Fitters and knowledgeable golfers can often turn a reasonably good performing driver into a great one with adjustability. In addition to loft/face angle and lie adjustments, many adjustable drivers include movable weights that can be used to lower launch, correct a slice, or boost forgiveness. In the hands of a capable fitter, these additional options can make a world of difference.
Many golfers don’t get fit for their drivers, and most still never adjust their driver. If you are not going to use it, you might not want to pay for it. Removing adjustability brings with it lower costs.
If you prefer simple or are looking to save a few bucks, a bonded hosel may be an option. Cleveland, Srixon, XXIO, Cobra (F-Max – not tested), Tour Edge, and Wilson each offer no-fuss, glued options.
EXPERT TIP - Do More Aerodynamic Drivers Increase Head Speed?
You are seeing more golf companies make claims about aerodynamics increasing head speed. Nothing in our data suggests any driver's aerodynamic properties provide any clubhead speed advantage over the rest of the field.
Driver aerodynamics have improved but no model stands out from the pack. Head speed improvements come more from drivers that are lightweight with longer shafts than refined shaping. The Top 4 clubs for clubhead speed are lightweight models with longer shafts.
SHAFT SELECTION
Several manufacturers continue to provide low cost, made for shafts as stock options in their drivers. The performance is often adequate (though not likely what you’d get from a properly fit aftermarket shaft), but make no mistake, made for shafts are usually chosen, not for performance, but instead to cut cost and boost margins.
We recommend working with a competent fitter, but understand that many of you will continue to buy off the rack. With most manufacturers offering 2-3 stock shafts to choose from, it’s still important to find the best fit within a stock lineup.
Finally, while we always recommend taking a performance-first approach, when comparing prices, golfers should understand that there’s more value to be found from brands who don’t water down their shaft offerings. We want to make sure you get the best driver for 2020.
Distance vs. Dispersion vs. Shot Shape Correction
Distance is king. We understand the temptation to focus on distance, but most golfers will only see a few yards between similar new drivers. There’s a strong case to made for prioritizing dispersion and consistency over distance.
For most golfers, it may be worth forgoing a couple of yards in favor of smaller numbers (tighter standard deviations) and smaller circles (better dispersion).
If you struggle with a slice, taking the right side out of play may be your most important buying consideration.
EXPERT TIP - How To Improve Accuracy
Shaft selection matters. Not only can it be used to optimize launch and spin conditions, but it can also have a significant influence on accuracy. Key factors, such as, weight, stiffness, and torque can dictate how the clubhead bends and twists as it is delivered to the ball, which ultimately impacts your ability to deliver the club consistently and hit straighter shots.
FIELD NOTES
During each test, we look for trends that provide insight about market direction, as well as what noteworthy changes manufacturers have made to improve year-over-year performance. We also solicit feedback from our testers. We want to understand what they liked, what they didn’t like, and why. While we do collect and share this subjective feedback, it is not a factor in determining the best drivers for 2020.
Trends
- Lower spinning drivers are the new normal. As a result, fitting challenges have shifted from trying to correct for too much spin to often fighting to add it. Golfers, particularly those with slower swing speeds, may need to change to higher lofted heads and higher launching shafts.
- Lightweight options have increased to provide golfers not well-served by lower spinning mainstream offerings. There are more lightweight options available than ever before. Historically, this space has been the domain of niche players and fringe brands, but this year it has gone mainstream. Titleist and Mizuno entered the category, leaving TaylorMade and PING as the only mainstream brands yet to offer something long and light for the aging population of golfers.
- Non-Adjustable or Glued options are on the rise. The majority of lightweight offerings aren’t hosel adjustable, which plays well for a golfer who wants to keep it simple or minimize cost.
- Smaller Head options declined in 2020. 460cc is the standard, and 455cc is the new benchmark for undersized heads. With TaylorMade vacating the space with the SIM lineup, the Titleist TS4 (430cc) and Honma TR-20 440 were the only small heads in this year’s test.
Upright and Flat Settings
As it does with irons, the lie angle of your driver matters. Lie angle has a strong influence on where the ball starts. If you find yourself missing right, something as simple as an upright lie angle can help. Conversely, a flatter lie angle can help mitigate a left miss.
Notes from the Testing Pool
- Mizuno ST200 – family was well-received throughout the testing pool. Many suggested that the ST200s were the best Mizuno drivers they have ever hit.
- PING G410 LST – had higher swing speed players raving about the consistent feel across the face. The turbulators on the crown weren’t universally loved.
- Callaway Mavrik – family resolves the acoustic issues that plagued the Epic Flash line. Testers frequently commented on the significantly improved sound of the new models.
- Cobra Speedzone – received mixed reviews. Some loved the look and setup while others expressed concern with what they described as an open look at address.
- Tommy Armour 845 – impressed testers across all swing speeds, most notably for its pleasant and consistent feel. The crown design was an issue for some.
- Tour Edge EXS 220 – has produced another strong performer. The crown design received favorable reviews, though some testers didn’t approve of the slightly elongated head.
Ping G410 SFT - The Slice Killer
The PING G410 SFT is ranked 6th in forgiveness and produced among the tighest dispersion of the drivers we tested. It's Strokes Gained performance is perhaps misleading. While it's not designed for every golfer, the SFT effectively takes the right-side of the course out of play. It had the most left-side favoring dispersion of any driver tested. It also produced the most left-tilted spin axis (draw spin) in the test.
What that means to you is that the G410 SFT does exactly what it's designed to do - help golfers who slice keep the ball in play.
BEST DRIVER FOR 2020 (DATA)
The data is best-viewed on a desktop computer. Mobile users, please rotate your phones to landscape mode.
The Metrics
To rank drivers the best drivers for 2020, we leverage a new metric we call Efficiency. Efficiency compares how each driver compared on a relative basis to the median value for all drivers in the test.
Driver Tips
- Distance vs. Accuracy – Don’t sacrifice accuracy for a few more yards. Manufacturers know you want distance and often cheat distance through longer shafts. A 46″ shaft will almost always get you more yards, but it typically leads to a loss of accuracy and increased dispersion.
- Adjustable Loft – Adjusting loft changes the face angle. Adding loft ↑ closes the face while decreasing loft ↓ opens the face. By understanding the relationship between loft and face angle, and the influence face angle has on where your ball starts, you can leverage loft adjustability to improve accuracy.
- Looks vs. Performance – Don’t overvalue looks. Golfers tell us all the time that they can’t hit a club well if they don’t like how it looks, but we’ve found very little evidence to suggest this is true. Very often, golfers produce outstanding results with clubs they claim to despise. Keep an open mind about a club that you may not find visually appealing.
- Adjustable Weights – Not all adjustable weighting systems are created equal. You can leverage movable weight to its fullest potential by looking for systems that allow you to move significant mass over a wider area of the clubhead while keeping the weight close to the perimeter of the golf club. Lighter weights moved over small distances, or moved between central locations will have a minimal impact on ball flight.
How We Test
Our Mission is to help you find the best driver for your game.
We are 100% independent and unbiased, and we always put the #ConsumerFirst.
About our Testers
Our pool of testers consists of 35 golfers with handicaps ranging from plus to the mid-teens. As a group, they span a broad range of swing characteristics (head speed, attack angle, etc.).
Over the course of several sessions, each golfer is required to hit 10-12 "good" shots with each club. Club order is randomized on a per tester basis.
Limiting Variables and Gathering Data Reliably
To minimize variables, all testers hit Bridgestone Tour BX Golf balls.
Both club and head data are captured using Foresight GCQuad launch monitors.
Crunching the Numbers
Before determining our rankings, we identify and remove outliers using a proprietary detection methodology.
To arrive at our final results, we calculate the averages of key metrics (ball speed, distance, dispersion, etc.), while also considering the standard deviation and the statistical reliability of those values.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
| Product | Lie | Length | Swingweight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ben Hogan GS53 Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D4 |
 | Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Check Price | 60 | 45.75 | D3.4 |
 | Cobra King SpeedZone Check Price | 58.5 | 45.75 | D4.2 |
 | Cobra King SpeedZone Xtreme Check Price | 57.5 | 45.75 | D3.8 |
 | Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D3.8 |
 | Honma TR-20 440 Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D3.7 |
 | Honma TR-20 460 Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D4.8 |
 | Honma XP-1 Check Price | 59.5 | 45.25 | D2.0 |
 | INESIS 500 REG Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D4.8 |
 | Lynx Black Cat Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D3.3 |
 | Callaway Mavrik Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D1.9 |
 | Callaway Mavrik Max Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D3.0 |
 | Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero Check Price | 59 | 45.5 | D4.0 |
 | Mizuno ST 200X Check Price | 59 | 45.5 | C7.0 |
 | Mizuno ST 200 Check Price | 56.5 | 45.25 | D4.5 |
 | Mizuno ST 200G Check Price | 56.5 | 45.25 | D3.1 |
 | PING G410 LST Check Price | 57 | 45.5 | D4.5 |
 | PING G410 Plus Check Price | 58.5 | 45.5 | D3.0 |
 | PING G410 SFT Check Price | 58.5 | 45.5 | D1.1 |
 | PXG 0811 X Check Price | 60 | 45.25 | D4.2 |
 | PXG 0811 XF Check Price | 60 | 45.25 | D3.2 |
 | Srixon Z585 Check Price | 58 | 45.25 | D3.5 |
 | Srixon Z785 Check Price | 58 | 45.25 | D4.7 |
 | Sub 70 839D Check Price | 58 | 45.25 | D4.8 |
 | TaylorMade Sim Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D6.5 |
 | TaylorMade Sim Max D Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D4.0 |
 | TaylorMade Sim Max Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D4.9 |
 | Titleist TS4 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | D5.6 |
 | Titleist TS1 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | C8.0 |
 | Titleist TS2 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | D5.2 |
 | Titlesit TS3 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | D4.4 |
 | Tommy Armour 845 Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D3.8 |
 | Tour Edge HL4 Check Price | 57.5 | 45 | D1.4 |
 | Wilson D7 Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D2.0 |
 | Wilson Launch Pad Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D2.0 |
 | XXIO Eleven Check Price | 59 | 45.75 | D2.9 |
 | XXIO X Black Check Price | 59 | 45.75 | D2.3 |
EXPERT TIP - Movable Weights
Moving weight forward can decrease ↓ launch angle and reduce spin by up to 250-500 RPM. Moving weight back will increase ↑ launch and spin, while boosting MOI (forgiveness). Heel positions are less forgiving than back positions, but help golfers fight a slice.
Moving weight forward often introduces a bit of fade bias, while back weight positions tend be more draw-biased (though not as much as heel positions)
FAQ
Buying a New Driver
Q: How often should I buy a new driver?
A: Typically, it takes 3-5 years for manufacturers to make any significant performance gains. With the USGA tightening restrictions on manufacturers, it’s possible, even likely, that it will take longer moving forward. Our recommendation is to buy a new driver only when it appreciably outperforms what is already in your bag.
Q: With all the talk of new face technology, is there one driver that produces significantly more ball speed?
A: No. There’s definitely not one driver that produces more ball speed for everyone. We do find standouts every year (Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero led the field in ball speed), but average ball speeds among our top performers tend to be very close. As you move down the ball speed rankings, however, you will find drivers that can reasonably be described as slow.
Q: Does the shaft matter?
A: Absolutely. While changes to spin and launch and spin differences are rarely massive, shaft changes frequently lead to improved accuracy, tighter dispersion, and greater overall consistency.
Q: What should I look for when testing drivers?
A: Don’t focus exclusively on distance. While we all want a few more yards, don’t overlook dispersion and consistency numbers (most launch monitors display standard deviations in small print under the averages). Smaller standard deviations correlate to greater consistency, which is often overlooked by golfers.
Most Wanted – Determining the Best Drivers for 2020
Q: What is your fitting process?
A: We use a fitting process that we call fit from stock. Drivers are fit to each tester using available stock, no up-charge options from each manufacturer. We test with stamped lofts between 9° and 10.5° and fully utilize the fitting capability within each manufacturer’s lineup. This includes leveraging, loft, lie, and face angle adjustability (hosel), movable weights, and available shafts.
Q: What does your Efficiency metric measure?
A: Efficiency looks at differences in how clubs performed – on an individual golfer basis – to other clubs in the field for a given metric. With the exception of Strokes Gained Efficiency, values are expressed as percentages.
Q: How is the Most Wanted Driver Determined
A: To determine the Most Wanted Driver, we look at a variety of performance metrics based on data collected with Foresight GCQuad Launch Monitors. We filter based on the statistical reliability of the data at an 85% confidence interval with final rankings based on Strokes Gained and Driving Distance Efficiency.
Q: How is the “Longest” driver determined?
A: Our Total Distance Efficiency metric determines the longest driver.
Q: How is the “Most Forgiving” driver determined?
A: We focus on a narrow set of metrics that includes: Shot Area (dispersion), Accuracy, the average standard deviation for ball speed and carry yards, and the falloff rate of smash factor as impact moves away from center (Smash Efficiency).
Q: How much does subjective feedback like looks, sound, and feel factor into your rankings?
A: ZERO. Our rankings are based on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.
Q: Will you publish a breakdown of the results by swing speed like you have in the past?
A: Yes. those results will be published in the coming weeks.
*We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.
Scott
3 years agoI always wonder do drive go farther now then they did 5 years ago or is it just more forgiving and you think it does ? ..
Mike Cahn
3 years agoGreat research and data article. I wonder if there could be some robotic distance figures at 80, 100 and 120 mph swings.
tscdave
3 years agoGreat research and comprehensive info. Will use as a reference when prepared to purchase.
Dave
3 years agoI hate the new format for carry and total distance with percentages. These numbers mean nothing to me. Show me how far they go in yards … that I can relate to.
Dave Richards
3 years agoIn your driver test results, how about going back to actual distances instead of percentages. I can’t compare the percentages to all the other tests that used actual distances.
MajDuffer
3 years agoI agree, these percentage mean absolutely nothing as there is not correlation to what distance the ball will travel with a certain swing speed.. Did the manufactures get to you and didn’t want to get embarrassed by having their $600 driver beat by a $300 driver.
Mhb
3 years agoGrateful to know if you still intend to issue a report for the slower swing speed golfers.
Regards. Mike
TonyG
3 years agoOK, it’s been long enough. So stop teasing and publish the best drivers at different swing speeds!
scott
3 years agoThanks again for another great article ..I’m a guy who is always two years behind in driver tech, This year I’m rocking the Callaway XR Speed bought brand new at the bargain price of $ 120 . now to the point club makers have no where to go unless USGA change COR limits clubs makers can’t built a better driver just a repackage of last years model at a higher price.
kym stock
3 years agoThe table is quite useful IMO. You can look at the Driver you are interested in a see how it compares to the median performance.
For example as a senior golfer with 93 mph driver swing speed and a need to eliminate the right side miss, I traded my F9 Cobra 10.5 head to for a Cleveland HB Launcher Turbo 12 degree. My experience was supported by the data in your table. Bang for buck I am a happy golfer again.
Chuck Austin
3 years ago100 percent correct. Ping 410 LST is the best . Tilteist TS 3 Right up there.
Listen up folks, if you have had a fitting yesterday or years ago, and the
numbers where good , don’t screw with another shaft . Go back and
get that shaft if you sold it , thinking a newer one was worth the money.
NOT . Get a Ping put in you best shaft for you . Get a Titleist TS3 put in your
best shaft for you . Pick a grip ,. Work on the swing …. Yep that is the hardest
thing you will have to do.. Few people know what the real swing looks
like or how to teach it. .Then the rest is easy to do.
Steve S
3 years agoThe best deal may be the Tommy Armour 845. Now on sale at Dick’s for $149.98.
Vspin1
3 years agoJust bought the G400 2 years ago so not quite ready for something new yet but love the insights here.
Shannon
3 years agoDrivers are as individual as the person hitting them. I recently got fitted, and with that fitting I was able to put all of the drivers and shaft combos to the test. I let the fitter know my current concerns with my current driver and what I wanted and expected from a new driver. I was not a Callaway fan, I hit the Callway Mavrik and the Aldila Rouge 70 more consistent then all of the others, I did not want to believe it, but the fitting proved it to me. First round yesterday and I am not disappointed. In fact I am excited. Get fitted.
Krishna Prasad
3 years agoDear MGS,
I have been a big fan of MGS and refer to MGS extensively for my professional needs.
I am intrigued and have to question as to why MGS rates the Ping G410 LST as the best and the GD Hotlist does not rate them at all. Please explain.
Thanks
Mike R.
3 years agoGolf Digest Hotlist only reviews “new” clubs. Their definition of new is that the products price has not been permanently reduced from the introductory price. The Ping G410 wood line fails to meet this criteria which is why it was excluded from the test for 2020. The chose to do so even though the woods all received gold for the 2019 Hotlist. Just another testament to the integrity of MGS and their commitment to helping golfers make the best possible equipment choices regardless of whether it is considered “old”: equipment by the industry.
James Shepard
3 years agoI like the changes with outlier system and smash efficiency. I always felt that throwing out outliers helped some clubs hide their faults. Seperating the bad swings outliers makes a big difference. Now I feel more confident in your results. Which confirms my choice for Ping drivers for the last 20 years. I believe they make the best drivers for most players.
.
James Shepard
3 years agoAgree that now the results are more real world. All I care about is results. When I swing all I try to see is the ball. I could care less about iron top line or driver shape. I need all the help I can get.
Smogmonster
3 years agoGolf Digest Gold = most money paid to advertise in their publication, period.
This group of guys dedicated to honesty and integrity will give you the straight goods.
No reason to look elsewhere. These numbers don’t lie.
It’s been said many times… b.s. baffles brains.
Love MyGolfSpy!
MyGolfSpy
3 years ago?
Michael H
3 years agoI use the MGS testing data to weed out some drivers when I go to upgrade. They hit nail on head when they talk about limited improvement with new drivers. I just went to upgrade from my TM RBZ. Tried several 2018 models based on MGS testing and none provided vast improvement. Best was 5 more yds but no better dispersion. Tried 2018 models to keep price down; next year I’ll try some 2019 models. Shout out to 2nd Swing Golf in Columbia, MD for great staff; no pressure to go with clubs out of my price range; very receptive to what I was looking for. Ended up adjusting my RBZ to get. better ball flight and pick up a few more yards.
Bryan H
3 years agoLove the Pings as I play the G410 plus but that was 2019 not 2020
Robert
3 years agohave no idea what your data numbers are explaining, why so different than previous years?
DawgDaddy
3 years agoSeriously, what does Carry Yds 1.67% even mean?
Dave T
3 years ago1..67% farther than the average driver in the test.
oweno2
3 years agoagreed lets have numbers… the results do not tell me much
blake
3 years agodid ya’ll find the Sim Max to be particularly fade biased?
Casey
3 years agoWhat do you think the reasons are that Srixon Z585 and Z785 pretty much flipped spots from a performance perspective between last years tests and this years?
Travis Sayer
3 years agoI did a driver fitting using using your fitting system and the number one choice for me was the wilson cortex….. I want my money back. You guys basically said the wilson cortex couldn’t “perform” in a recent podcast. Refund???
Enriels
3 years agoGreat stuff!
You speak about Smash Efficiency as the Holy Grail, because we simple mortals rarely find the sweetspot. I do not think about longer but more accurate drives
But I do not see Smash Efficiency in the chart; will you be sharing the rankings?
Thanks and carry on!
peakatron
3 years agoWhen can we expect the follow up articles?
Nick Palazzetti
3 years agoI am interested in driver fitting with my own swing speed in mind. I am an aging golfer, and my driver swing speed is probably down to about 92 mph.
Japans
3 years agoIt’s very well documented. It was helpful. Thank you.
NH Golfer
3 years agoJeez I wonder why the Tommy Armour driver did so poorly.
Gary McCandless
3 years agoWhat club manufacturers still offer quality aftermarket shafts off the rack as opposed to “made-for” shafts?
Chris Nickel
3 years agoGary – This conversation can go any number of directions and there are a bunch of potential rabbit holes down which we can travel. It’s also a topic worthy of more focus and dialog.
We tapped into some of the topics here – https://mygolfspy.com/made-for-shafts-a-closer-look/
And certainly, some things have changed since this article was published but many of the dynamics remain the same.
A couple highlights from 2020 –
Mizuno drivers – offer authentic Mitsubishi M+/S+ series shafts. Also offered Atmos TS series the year before with the 190 line of metalwoods..
PING has typically had high-quality proprietary shafts which are co-engineered with shaft OEMs such as UST Mamiya. The Tour 65/75 shafts bearing the PING is what I’m specifically referencing.
Callaway does offer the Aldila Rogue White 130 MSI which does appear to be the same as the aftermarket, though the Project X line is much more confusing. Previously, the “Handcrafted” label identified a more true or aftermarket shaft, but the brand has since moved to the “Small Batch” moniker for more or less the same thing. Now, how those shafts different exactly from something like the stock Riptide in the Callaway Mavrik is a bit of an unknown at this point.
TaylorMade has the non-Ventus, Ventus as a stock offering. It looks virtually identical, but there’s no VeleCore technology which is really the defining characteristic of the authentic Ventus shaft.
Then there’s the entire topic of just what are the differences between “made for” and “aftermarket” shafts and based on those characteristics, is a “made for” design actually “better” or ostensibly “worse” for players. Again, a topic for a much longer and possibly less convoluted discussion.
Mike
3 years agoI enjoy these articles but not sure of the point. I recently bought the Ping g410 LST. With the red alta shaft it performed terribly. With the Tour 65 shaft, it worked beautifully. So the “wrong “shaft in the “right” head would skew my results completely off.. All of today’s drivers are good products, all have a lot of r&d behind them. My advice is, get fitted. Then, get fitted again, at a different venue. If you’re not a consistently good ball-striker a single fitting may not be sufficient as you might be swinging a certain way that day. For me, when 2 fitters in 2 different venues both recommended the same driver head & shaft I knew that was the one to go with. A driver is a big investment these days, so I’m definitely going to get my money’s worth in terms of my own “r&d”.
Michael
3 years agoI understand strokes gained when shown on http://www.pgatour.com. It shows the strokes gained per round in each category. Here, the strokes gained seems to be in relation to other drivers, but how is that translated to strokes on the course. Is the variance from best to last 1 stroke a round or 10 strokes a round. Or, since some people use driver fewer times a round, give the difference as strokes per time used. I love the analysis but am having a challenge making it tangible to the course.
Chris
3 years agoNo reviews on the sub70 839D driver? Has anyone hit this driver and what do you think about it?
MyGolfSpy
3 years agoYou must have just missed it, it was included in the test.
Chris
3 years agoAh yes Sorry. Thank you!
Steve
3 years agoI’ve had the Sub 70 driver for about a year. and am very satisfied with the results. Went to get fitted at several locations – mainly to select the right shaft. Then I talked directly with Jason Hiland – sub 70 CEO to get the right head loft, weights, etc. This driver is almost as long as my previous big name one BUT it is extremely accurate. Plus I can make it got left to right or right to left, high and low as needed. All at a significant cost savings.
Steve C
3 years agoI like the new data being presented as percentages. It is much better then the previous format. I do miss the filtering feature though and it would be great to see the smash efficiency numbers. Great job, thanks.
Timmy
3 years agoSoooo…where are all the actual numbers like from years before???
Is MyGolfSpy HIDING something? All I see are % numbers???
Also, as one other reader mentioned, shouldn’t the Wilson driver be the MOST FORGIVING based on this data? Has lowest shot area…..
Shawn
3 years agoIf they give all the numbers today what can they give us tomorrow. You can bet they will trickle out all the data.
Much Love MGS you tell us in your own good time and I will wait here like a puppy waiting for a biscuit.
Dan
3 years agoI agree
Micah
3 years agoI bought a Ping G410 plus 2 weeks ago after hitting it and all the other new drivers(Titleist, Taylormade, Cobra, Calloway) and it was longest, least spinny, and highest launching: so with it also being $100 less than the others I tested, I was happy to buy it. Reading this today confirms what I saw/felt on the launch monitor. MGS is always a good starting point for data, but is anyone here not going to hit all their favorite brands on a simulator before buying?
Steve
3 years agoso based on this data is the Wilson the most accurate driver?
ryebread
3 years agoThere’s consistency and accuracy. We know it was fairly consistent, but it doesn’t sound like it was that accurate. My guess is the shots clustered left hard.
What lofts were used on the Wilson, XXIO 11 and Inesis? When I see higher launch AND higher spin, my suspicion is that there’s just more static loft. Those offset drivers (like the Wilson) seem to have vanity lofting (I’ve seen it with Cobra and Tour Edge as well).
When might we see the CG information? That’s as interesting to me as the winner.
Great job as always MGS team!
jerry
3 years agoInteresting stuff, not surprised to see Ping do well, but surprised at some other results. Can’t wait to see this years data compared to last years.
Lou
3 years agoYour tests are terrific and seem quite accurate. The question is who is going to buy these drivers with the economy shut down and the stock market off 10,000 points? I submit almost no one will be buying. Great test but this year we all are going to be playing what we now own. Lucky that all drivers made in the last 5 years or so all go about the same distance.
Dakota
3 years agoI’m buying one next week. ? golf is one of the only things left to do so I’m doing a lot more of it. Haha
Jamie Katz
3 years agoOn one of your recent podcasts in which you discussed this year’s driver testing, Tony indicated that the Mavrik was beating all other drivers. What happened?
Roger
3 years agoPing G410 LST ranked 21st last year on 2019 Most wanted list, this year it is 1st.
Looks like all the new drivers this year took a major step backwards or else you got a LST with a non-conforming club head this year. I own a G410 plus and love it.
Chris Nickel
3 years agoRoger – The G410 LST wasn’t included in the 2019 test as it didn’t hit the market until early summer 2019. Perhaps you’re confusing it with the SFT, which was included.
Roger
3 years agoOops, my bad
Matt
3 years agoI have had a PING G410 plus with an Aldila NV green shaft (65-S, 1 inch short, D5 weight, 9 degree head set at 10 degrees loft, neutral weight setting) for about one year now. It is the first driver I have ever been fitted for. I had previously tried to do put together a club on my own for cheap. My current driver was purchased from Club Champion for about $650 (including custom shaft).
When I thought about the price, I had instant remorse. After one year, it changed my golf life. Golf is fun again. I step up to the tee with confidence.
I spend less time searching for balls. I am as long or sometimes longer than golf buddies that used to consistently outdrive me. The biggest difference is when I feel an off-center strike, the result is often just as good. Seeing the performance on this review validates my purchase..
I honestly don’t know whether the performance is the head, the shaft, the custom fit or entirely mental. I would highly recommend the G410 lineup . . . but get the shaft fitted.
Mike
3 years agoFunny, I have a 4:10 LST with the tour 65 shaft. Went to club Champion, they tried a bunch of shafts but nothing really upped my performance enough to make it worthwhile for me to spend any money on an upgraded shaft. I’m a 15 index; maybe if I was half that & a more aconsistent ball striker, I’d see better results. Did you even try the shifts that paying offered for free? Sounds like things worked out for you and that’s cool, but things worked out for me while spending hundreds less.
Matt
3 years agoCompletely agree that I don’t know. In retrospect, I could have saved at least $300 (fitting plus extra shaft cost) by doing it on my own. I may have tried Global Golf U-try in retrospect. Practically speaking, it would have been very difficult to try as many shafts as I did on my own. In the end, I needed some guidance from a professional and the ability to try multiple head/setting/shaft combos in a short amount of time.
I do believe the stock shafts are not as good quality as the aftermarket equivalents (whether this makes a difference for a 13 handicap like myself is debatable)..
If you really want to save money but still get quality clubs, you need to get the equipment to regrip your own clubs and learn to swap out the shafts yourself. That way, you could buy heads and shafts online and spend time testing different combinations on your own. At my level, I’d rather spend the $300 and move on.
Bryce
3 years agoFor those of you who aren’t fans of the percentage system, I wasn’t either, but then I realized that this makes the potential math equations for how YOU might perform with them easier. Some of the actual numbers aren’t relatable to different consumers, but the percentages allow you to make your own deductions in an easier manner.
P.J.
3 years agoSo the longest club is the Callaway Mavrik, but it’s also one of the less forgiving clubs. That just means I’ll have to walk further into the woods to get my ball back! NO thanks…. I’ll give up some distance (10 yards or less) for accuracy/forgiveness any day.
David
3 years agoKnow your audience. We want to see actual data, not percentages. Where’s the raw data MGS? Otherwise, the wait was worthless.
Pete
3 years agoAbsolutely! These percentages don’t help me much at all. I need to see actual data!
Curt
3 years agoExactly, we need the actual data.
Don
3 years agoI recently tried out all the new drivers and for me they were all very close to the same. Then I pulled last years Taylormade M6 off the shelf, it was consistently about 3 yrds shorter but straighter then all of them. I’ll sacrifice 3 yrds to be down the middle consistently.
Andrew Han
3 years agoMGS, can you back test last year’s data with this year’s methodology?
Also, how many of the testers did you retain from last year?
JasonA
3 years agoRespectfully the fact that you are asking “How many of the testers did you retain from last year?”
Should mean that you would understand: The percentages are more useful than raw numbers because the tester pool can change the relative data year to year.
Percentages are more useful as relate to personally an individual would expect to gain / loose an % of (say) RPM by switching from X to Y
Andrew Han
3 years agoYes, I get that. I wouldn’t mind the raw numbers, but the % is preferred for me.
I only ask for the tester retention because someone stated the difference in recurring models from last year. Hence, why I wanted to see the back testing and tester retention rate.
JasonA
3 years ago@Andrew Han: Good point, given the model change I’d expect less statistical variability – but would be a positive to confirm this.
Jamie L
3 years agoFor the drivers who appeared in both the 2019 and 2020 test, can you explain how some displayed certain characteristics one year and then completely different characteristics the next years.
The Titleist TS3 had the fastest ball speed in 2019 and was one of the top 5 longest driver but was near the bottom of the pack for shot area. In 2020 it wasn’t in the top half in ball speed or driving distance but suddenly it was 6th for shot area?
The Ping 410+ seems to have gone in the opposite direction. Bottom half of ball speed and distance in 2019 but 5th in shot area. In 2020, it was in the top 3rd of drivers for distance and ball speed but in the bottom half of shot area?
How does a long and wild driver become comparitively short and straight and vice versa?
Jimmy O
3 years agoBest guess is the ball used for testing changed. 2019 used the Bridgestone RX and this year it’s the X. I’m surprised that hasn’t been the main talking point
THOMAS
3 years agoQuestion ????? : Why did Titleist drop the price on their latest SP driver line by
$100 ($499 down to $399) Next drive launch is 2021 in late fall of 2020?
Rob
3 years agoLike PING it entered it’s 2nd CY of sales, so it helps to compete with the new models just released in January,.
New woods line by Titleist will be out to tour pros this summer and available at retail in late summer.
NH Golfer
3 years agoStill…Titleist dropped their prices this year very early for them. Reason? Simple…poor sell through. End of story.
Walter
3 years agoAccording to one former mini tour player who has his own utube channel, cy2 heads are not the same as cy1 heads. In other words they make them cheaper and of course they won’t perform the same either, so they can sell them cheaper. He says he was told this by one of the big companies(which starts with P), P company doesn’t change the quality of their heads between cycles. So if you buy a new old stock from any other company apparently you’ll be getting a different head but not from P company. I wasn’t really shocked to hear that for some reason.
Spitfisher
3 years agoMy golf spy, I think its time you join the other sites that do and claim to be independent testers of consumer products. . Rather than having donated product directly from the manufacturer, I think its time you guys buy off the rack goods. It much too easy for a manufacturer to send you a special head in an attempt to manipulate your testing procedures- which seem true, thought out and deserving of absolute accuracy.
I can assure you this happens more than you think….
TR1PTIK
3 years agoFell free to donate – I’m sure eventually it will happen. As is, MGS already buys several clubs to perform Most Wanted testing as not all OEMs are supportive.
THOMAS
3 years agoLooking at Total Yards
In percentage – A percentage of what?? I looked at Ping G410 LST 3rd place% vs Calaway Mavrik 1st. place %
I just don’t know how to use percentages that make know since to me in my buying decision??????????? PLEASE REPLY
B.Boston
3 years agoIt’s a % plus or minus the average. So for example: The Callaway Mavrik Subzeo was 3.02% longer than the average of all drivers. So if the overall average was 100 yards, the Callaway Maverik would have been 103.02 total yards and the Wilson Launch Pad would have been 92.44 total yards (-7.56% versus the average).
At least that is how I understand it.
THOMAS
3 years agoA lot of information. I just don’t know how to apply it to my 2020 driver buying decision, And the percentage chart I just didn’t understand at all unless I missed the charts key???
Christopher
3 years agoYou guys have lit a fuse…if you ever decide to have a cumulative yearly running data set you will blow the whole system up. Fair Winds and Following Seas.
mizuno 29
3 years agoFantastic as always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sam
3 years agoIt can be argued that the Srixon drivers would be the best value seeing that they are currently priced at 299.99(these will likely remain at this price until new model is release AUG/SEPT) . The Z785 has better strokes gained, ball speed, total distance and shot dispersion. Spin and launch are variables dependent on user.
Dugan
3 years agoWhy does my screen show all the ball and club dates in percentages? Anyone?
Darren
3 years agoI’m getting the same thing
Walter
3 years agoReally guys?? Did you take the time to actually read the article or just jump down to the data? Trying reading first, lol.
David
3 years agoThe data is the core of this article. Nothing else is fluff. The way it is presented would make a crappy data analyst cringe.
Walter
3 years agoI understand what the shot area is, but in real terms(yardage) what’s the difference between a shot area of 2500 and 3500(beside the obvious 1000 number)? Or can you put a yardage number to it.
Tony Covey
3 years agoDefinitely think of it as a percentage difference. As with most metrics, it’s imperfect. It gives an idea of relative dispersion, but you sometimes have large shot areas that can be good (a flat, wide ellipse with most shots in the fairway), and smaller ones that aren’t as good (tightly grouped, but way offline). It’s always an interesting one for us, but it’s only a fraction of our forgiveness equation.
Walter
3 years agoOkay, thanks Tony, will we see the raw data on this at some point?
mikecool
3 years agomake a driver for us old guys with slow swing speeds. we play once week if that, we’ve lost 50yards or more, we don’t care if it conforms, COR (0.830/83%)
make one around 0.900/90% COR . Some company? could make a lot of money! I know the boo’s are coming, 40years ago I boo too. “Ok Boomer” go take a nap, Thanks
Robert
3 years agoTry the Titleist TS1, it’s exactly what you are asking for. I have not found anything better for my 85 to 88 MPH swing.
Or if budget is no issue try the XXIO X or XI it also is designed for that segment.
Baron58TB
3 years agoOld Guy here with a slow swing. Got fitted at Club Champion into a Callaway Epic Flash Star. Stupid expensive ($700) BUT…..
Long and straight.
donn rutkoff
3 years agothere are many non conforming drivers. But the big name brands won’t make one because it would be confusing and would lower credibility and cause ruckus with legit retailers and USGA. Krank is probably the biggest, most well known non conforming maker. go on ebay or amazon or just do a web search. it is easy to find illegal driver.
Alex
3 years agoGreat work. When do you anticipate doing breakouts by (low, middle, high) swing speed? Thanks
lynryd
3 years agoAlways look forward to your tests. One thing though – I much preferred the old table method because I could “select” the drivers I wanted to compare. Eliminating certain brands or models that I would never play cleaned up the comparison table and was much easier to read. Any chance you could update this Table with that function? Thanks for your consideration.
Dan F
3 years agoAgreed
Sam
3 years agoHold Ctrl when selecting the drivers you want to compare, then select the keep only options. This will/should narrow the results to the drivers you want to campare.
Tony Covey
3 years agoWe’re working on cleaner displays in general. This year was particularly difficult with the tables because the number of drivers had increased significantly. We had to cut some things to make everything fit the best that we could. That said, it’s nice to know somebody was using the filtering option.
Guido
3 years agoDear MGS,
Compliments for the depth of your analysis.
I couldn’t find the explication of “strokes gained” index..
Thanks.
Carolyn
3 years agoNice Article for the 27 people buying drivers in 2020…….time to worry more (especially public golfers) just where their maybe a public course we can play still open after the Health problem…..by 2021 how many public courses will still be open? In California alone it would be a safe bet we loose 20% of current public courses without a bail out for them (good bet we do not see that).
Mike
3 years agoThe article is specifically for people with interested in drivers. I can turn on 2,700 different new channels and all I hear about is the Corona virus. I would just like a little diversion from the 24-hour Corona virus news cycle and this article, although I still have to take the time to read through all of it, seemed interesting..
RC
3 years agoI have to admit I was surprised to see my SIM Max score so low, as it’s given me at least 5 more yards than my M6. I wasn’t surprised to see Ping score so high – Ping just gets it right…the Goldilocks company. The “problem” I have is that I love my shaft (a “real” Ventus with Velocore), and it has a TaylorMade adaptor which I’m not changing just to try a new head. I know all of the drivers tested would be better with the best fitted shaft for a particular golfer. My shaft and my new “Plus 4” grip seems to matter more than a tweak or two of a clubhead. By the way, those swing weight numbers don’t seem to correlate with what the manufacturer shows, did you test those individually? Thanks
MG
3 years agoHow does the Cobra SZ extreme, #1 in forgiveness and smash factor, and excellent ball speed, end up near the bottom of the pack in strokes gained?
Brandon
3 years agoBest to ignore the Cobra ranking and test it yourself as they can hang with or outperform anything on the list if it fits your swing…
SZ Extreme somehow 1% above average in total distance and the most forgiving, with a Shot Area (dispersion) in the top quartile yet ranked 27/35 in SG.
Tony Covey
3 years agoKeep in mind that the Strokes Gained formula includes a resulting lie component. So, when total distances are similar, the differences are found in fairway vs. rough. As you mentioned, the SZ Extreme had excellent numbers in a number of metrics. I commented on the right-side bias in the article, which translated to a below-average % of fairways hit. A number of testers commented that they thought the Cobra drivers looked open at address. How that face looks to any given individual is subjective, of course, but typically, when we hear comments about driver faces appearing open or closed, or lie angles looking upright, the results are predicatble.
I definitely wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying it.
Brandon
3 years agoThanks for the clarification Tony. Your comments above about shot area sizing versus locations is helpful as well. Perhaps, offline measurements would be a good supplement or even a replacement for shot area in the driver category.
Marc Brady, PGA
3 years agoMany PGA professionals and operators could care less that Ping ‘won’ the Best Driver contest since Ping closed all course/ retail accounts last year that did not maintain yearly purchases of at least $2500.. For many of us that is just not feasible when trying to carry the most popular brands to service our members. Ping has always been difficult to deal with on many internal issues so this made my decision easy to not carry, promote or recommend them. I do business with companies that provide the combination of best products, best service and best attitude so that I, can in turn, do the same for my members and guests. No chance with Ping!
Robin
3 years agoI’m glad that you’re doing nobody needs to bully anyone. Just maybe all this hype goes to their head.
doug
3 years agoMarc, well said. What is your #1 brand for products/svc/attitude?
Rob
3 years agoYou can’t sell 5 or 6 drivers, or 3 or 4 sand or 3 or 4 sets of irons in a year of one of the best and most reputable club companies out there? Given that, I can see PING’s position.
Fred
3 years agoI dont get this ? Can anyone explain ?
“Cobra Speedzone & Speedzone Xtreme both favored the right side. This suggests they may work well for golfers fighting a right-side miss.”
mitchdpg
3 years agoI was also wondering about that. I think it’s a typo. Assuming they’ll correct this but I’d guess they meant: “Cobra Speedzone & Speedzone Xtreme both favored the “LEFT” side.
Tony Covey
3 years agoYup. Typo.
donn rutkoff
3 years agoNice work as usual. Just one question, why no Krank tested? Not a criticism, just a question. Do you rely on retailers help with supplying the clubs?.
TR1PTIK
3 years agoMost golfers aren’t in the market for clubs designed for long drive. Some OEMs do offer support and provide clubs for testing, but other clubs are purchased by MGS specifically for MGS Most Wanted testing.
Douglas Mael
3 years agoYou got it right regarding the Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 driver (disclaimer: I am a Tour Edge Fitter/Dealer). It is a very forgiving driver, and is very close to the top performers in distance. Almost every single golfer that I have handed the EXS 220 to for testing (on a simulator, launch monitor, or out on the golf courses when weather allowed, and before the COVID-19 coronavirus closed down all golf courses around me) has gotten great results. One thing that I have noticed about this driver that bears mentioning is that higher loft is recommended in virtually every case, as the EXS 220 is a low-launching driver.
The above being said, I currently have a SIM MAX D driver in my bag (10.5* loft, set to 9.75* which opens the face angle just a hair). Once we get past “coronavirus mania” and I can get back out on teh golf course, it is going to be a battle between the SIM MAX D and the EXS 220 to see which driver stays in the bag for the balance of 2020 and beyond.
Bryan
3 years agoMy favorite test of the year, big thanks! Quick question, weren’t previous years winners going to be included in this years test? That’s the only thing that would make the results that much better. Keep up the good work!
B.Boston
3 years agoI believe this is coming as a follow-up article from what I remember on No Putts Given.
Dan Corun
3 years agoI couldn’t try all the drivers tested, but I did try the Ping, Cobra, TM, Wilson, Cleveland & Callaway. The Turbo was the one I liked the best and the numbers were close or slightly above/below all of the above. The performance and feel for me plus the price was my deciding factor. I was fitted and I really like this driver. Another fine job by MSG.
kym stock
3 years agoMy experience was similar. The Launcher HB Turbo is very easy to hit well with.
Chris
3 years agoThe Launcher was also my favorite!
Justin
3 years agoIs it possible to see dispersion numbers for the drivers tested? Or perhaps have a ranking in terms of forgiveness which includes Shot Area (dispersion), Accuracy, etc. Thanks for all you guys do
CalGolfer
3 years agoGreat write up as usual guys!
Might want to do an edit on the “Cobra Speedzone & Speedzone Extreme” in the OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES….I think you meant to say the “other” right side 😉
Smith
3 years agoSrixon is the real winner, $300.
Jerry
3 years agoI’m not at all surprised that Ping won. In fact, as I said earlier, the Ping 400 LST is even better. It has the smaller head and for me it out performs the 410 LST. Before going out and buying a new 410, you might want to look at used 400. Although I doubt anyone would sell theirs because they will be using them.
Wiegs
3 years agoLOVE what you guys do. As a note, when you expand one section it collapses the previous, and you have to scroll back up to get what you’re looking for. (on PC browser, at least) not *perfect*. Great data though, thanks!
Jeremy
3 years agoI’m not at all surprised by the SIM not being there, it’s done nothing but kill my driving game since turning in my M4 for it. Tried both the MAX and MAX D, MAX D was better than the MAX and is NOT closed at address like past models. As usual, on the range or simulator I hit it well, on course it’s a guessing game. Feel is terrible, sweet spot is N/A.
Likely going to a Ping fitting soon, tired of racking up strokes from BS drives.
Kenny B
3 years agoGreat testing and analysis! I like the more detail and evaluation by the testers for the top performers. I do have a couple of questions. You state…
“Lower spinning drivers are the new normal. As a result, fitting challenges have shifted from trying to correct for too much spin to often fighting to add it. Golfers, particularly those with slower swing speeds, may need to change to higher lofted heads and higher launching shafts.”
AND
“We test with stamped lofts between 9° and 10.5° and fully utilize the fitting capability within each manufacturer’s lineup.”
There are a lot of aging MyGolfSpy readers that should loft up, or already do. Is it possible that future Most Wanted testing will include 12º lofted drivers for that segment of the population?
As one who needs more spin off the driver for higher launch, will MyGolfSpy conduct tests to determine whether best results are obtained with higher lofted heads and lower spinning shafts or lower lofter heads and higher launching shafts?
Robin
3 years agoI bought a Wilson Staff Cortex 1n 12 deg. I have the weight set almost to the front.
It’s the stock regular shaft that seems to fit me , but I probably could be stiffer.
All for $ 149.00
Walter
3 years agoTo me the most shocking spec is the driver length, most of them average 45.5″ with only one at 45″, just crazy considering the tour average I think is 44.5″.
shortside
3 years agoMy first thought every time these come out. I’ve been having my drivers cut down to 44.25″ for years now.
I’d rather lose a couple yards in or around the fairway than gain a few in the woods or OB.
Walter
3 years agoThat’s what I play too, 44.25″
Dawg Golfer
3 years agoMay be a silly question, but I normally grip down, with about an inch showing on my driver. Would that be the same as cutting it down an
inch?
Mike
3 years agoWow! Looks like when I purchased a driver last Dec, I got it right. I know the LST model is a bit less for giving than the 410 plus but the fitter wanted to knock some spin off my shots. For me, it was down to this or the Epic Flash Sub-Zero. I’m biased toward Ping, so I went with the LST. Also had it trimmed down to play @ 45″. I’ve had limited play opportunities so far this year but right now it feels as if I made the right choice. I’m fine with the tribulators; I really like the way the club looks at address. For me, a 15 index who doesn’t hit the ball very far, NO specific driver head is going to give me an extra 25 yds (I tried a bunch). It was more about what driver/shaft combo would give me the most consistent distance & accuracy
Steve
3 years agoMostly stunned by the results. Maybe this year, there will be big differences between the ‘average’ and the high swing speed players? I guess we wait and see. Although I do think a few companies have crossed the low-spin line, I still expected many other drivers to be higher in the list…
Jake
3 years agoGreat stuff! Will you be sharing the full forgiveness rankings? Or the top 5/10?
Vern Haynes
3 years agoMost wanted driver data did not have any info on this report. Will there be another report coming out that will have that data?
Largechris
3 years agoYikes didn’t see that coming, thought it was all about the Sim this year. Great test as usual.
Mike
3 years agoI’m not surprised. We have a number of tbig box golf stores in my immediate area. I’m friendly with the guys that work there & for years they’ve been telling me that Ping drivers have consistently been the #1 or at worst #2 seller. Plus, the customer service is second to none. Cool there, and their rep s will actually talk with you (and not rush you off the phone).
Jeremy
3 years agoi can attest from a user standpoint, the SIM is a hot mess. It derailed any positives I had with my M4 and for 3+ weeks now i’m STILL trying to find the sweet spot. Honestly, I’ll give it a few more weeks (hopefully the covid dissipates) but then I’ll be selling it and doing scheduling a Ping fitting.
Jerry
3 years agoFor me, the G400 LST is better than G410. It would be interesting to see it in the test.
Geoff
3 years agoGreat work guys. Good time to look through some data. I did the TRUEGolfFit for the driver. I appreciate the hard work. Thanks
Johnnythunders
3 years agoWhy is the club data all in percentages? Where is spin, carry yards, etc. these percentages mean nothing to us average golfers.
TR1PTIK
3 years agoThe new efficiency metric is explained in the article if you care to read it… Yes, it’s different, but it’s probably also more meaningful as it tells you precisely how much better (by percentage) a club performed for a given metric.
Johnnythunders
3 years agoI read it and still think it’s rubbish, I want to numbers not efficiency percentage and shot are and all this other statistical bs.
LISTEN TO ME!
3 years agoI think I’m with Johnny Thunders in this one. Thank you for the clarification, Chris, but this is still somehow less meaningful than actual numbers. I understand the intent, but the percentages seem a little esoteric, maybe a little too cute.
On another note, one of the No Putts Given discussions made it sound as if a large number of shots could be dropped if they are considered mis-hits or don’t fill the statistical need, but does this dilute the results? Are some drivers simply harder to hit well than others and would this type of trend then be lost in the form of dropped shots?
Tony Covey
3 years agoIt’s always a delicate balance between dropping too few and too many. Using clubhead data as the foundation makes things a bit more straightforward. This year the outlier count was a bit lower than past years. We prefer to err on the side of keeping too many.
Chris Nickel
3 years agoI’d contend the percentages are better for several reasons. As Tony mentioned, it limits assumptions readers may make based on raw data and it does a much better job of allowing for comparisons.
No doubt it’s different and perhaps not what some were expecting to see, but it really is very simple. It’s a conversation of averages and distance from the average.
In terms of outliers, it’s explained in the article but there’s always going to be a point at which we decide to include/exclude certain shots. The task is to work to accurately capture the role forgiveness plays in overall performance. Some of that is a function of where the ball goes (how far offline) and some of it deals with abnormalities in club behavior during the swing.
For example, we would look at attack angle, path, face angle, etc. and if there was enough deviation in these metrics, toss out the shot once we determined it was a swing issue and not a club/equipment issue.
Sam
3 years agoI think the percentages are great. For someone in the market this can greatly narrow down the options to try when looking for a new driver. For instance if you have troubles launching the ball then you can easily see what to or not to consider. I think there are too many people focused on numbers that try to apply someone else’s averages to them. Just because you have 90-95 MPH club head speed doesn’t mean you will have the same outcome as the testers. Take this data and apply it to your game. As a fitter I believe this is a very good general representation of how these drivers perform, there are always outliers but in general very good data. I think adding 1 metric or point of trend would be drivers that tend to be more fade or draw bias. With that said go get fitted!
Bob
3 years agoI agree. The percentage for Launch Angle? What does that mean?
Chris Nickel
3 years agoPercentile rankings allow you to compare drivers given a single metric. So, if a driver has a launch angle of +1.0%, it launched 1% higher than the average of the testing pool. Hope that helps.
Frank
3 years agoCurrently gaming the G410 LST and I have to say it is a great driver. I was actually hoping for a different result though as now there is nothing better to buy. Guess I will just have to go and do some overspeed training, thanks for the great test guys you really delve deep into the data.
To.m
3 years agoGreat job as always!!!
john young
3 years agoWould love to find a driver that helps me with distance… currently hitting taylormade M6 10.5 – reg shaft…. total distance 210-220 don’t get much roll… Thanks for the opportunity 72 year old 12 hdcp
Ralph Finaldi
3 years agoHi. First, as always, thank you for everything you guys do. I have been panting to see what your tests proved to be the best driver lineup for 2020. I read the “What is Your Fitting Process” section, but want to be clear on this. Do you actually go through a fitting process for each tester with the best shaft for each club head they are testing? Or are they stock shafts and everyone is testing from the same head-shaft combination? Or something else? Thanks!
Mark
3 years agoI have the same question. Also, very good work MGS!
walter
3 years agoDuring one of their podcasts I thought I heard Harry that each tester was fit for each driver. Seems like a lot of fittings but I’m sure that’s what I heard. Makes sense though to it that way. Now if they could break down all of that and show what shafts were used in what heads with what swing speeds etc etc . Lots of info there.
Walter
3 years agoYes it states what they did under ” Q – What is your fitting process”
MSG
3 years agoOh man, I had a used G410 LST in the cart last night. $270 all in. Then I checked this morning and the price is up by $100. lol