AskMyGolfSpy Vol. 37 
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AskMyGolfSpy Vol. 37 

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AskMyGolfSpy Vol. 37 

AskMyGolfSpy is an opportunity to submit questions to our experts here at MGS. Let’s call this the abbreviated jetlag edition, as I’m still recovering from a brief trip to the west coast. I saw some cool stuff, but I’m tired.

Really tired.

If you’ve got a question for a future edition of AskMyGolfSpy, you can pass along your questions to the team on Twitter,Facebook, Instagram or right here in the comments section below!  

Q: What’s the effect of water on a driver? – andy_sp1 

On any clubface, water is going to reduce friction. The result is invariably higher launch with reduced spin. While that’s not ideal with a wedge, with a driver it can be a good thing—in some cases. 

Over the years, we’ve seen a few products designed to cut spin (and with that, help reduce a slice). Several years ago, we did a test with a product called No Slice (I don’t think it exists anymore) alongside cooking spray and butter. While not legal (as far as the USGA is concerned), all three helped cut spin and improve accuracy. While water will do the same, given the lower loft, the impact won’t be nearly as significant as it is with other forms of driver lube. 

The upside is water isn’t as flagrantly against the Rules of Golf. 

Q: Is Srixon trying to disrupt the DTC market? The pricing of their tour balls is similar to DTC – dblebuck 

a closeup of a 2023 Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf ball

I don’t think so. I think Srixon’s approach is more about finding a soft spot in the zone where it can find a competitive edge in the market. I understand Srixon balls are not without loyalists but, in the grand scheme of things, its market share among the urethane set is small. With that, it’s not going to win fighting Titleist at $50+ a dozen.  

Like direct-to-consumer brands, Srixon needs to offer value to a consumer but it’s not so much about going after DTC brands directly as it is finding a price point that works for the market.  

As it turns out, that price point is not much north of where some DTC brands live.  

Q: Thoughts on stretching out gapping with your irons to get more options at the top of the bag (mini driver, utility irons, high lofted FW) and more wedges (or a chipper!) at the bottom? – @UpandDown4Bogey 

This is a conversation I had with Lou Stagner a while ago. Based on some research he was doing at that time, our thinking is that it might be beneficial to spread gaps out at the long end and narrow them at the short end of the bag. The general idea is that golfers get better results when the distance calls for a full swing so giving yourself more full-swing distances closer to the green might make sense. 

There’s almost certainly something to be said for having even gaps with the irons but I’m curious about the idea of progressive gapping: again, tight at the short end of the bag and then stretched out in those fairway/hybrid/utility spaces you mentioned. 

In a perfect world (or at least MY perfect world), the USGA would allow us another club or two (or three) in the bag rendering this discussion moot. 

Q: Just talk about the new T-Series for like an hour – @phillipontacos 

Titleist T-Series Irons

Not really a question, and it likely has more to do with the mailbag segment on our No Putts Given podcast, but we’ve seen ’em. We’ve hit ’em, too, and, yeah, if I had my way, we probably would talk about them for a solid hour. 

At some point, we probably will. 

More Questions?  

As always, if you have any questions for the MGS crew (and they don’t have to be about the golf ball), drop them below for a chance to be featured in next week’s #AskMyGolfSpy!  

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      Ronnie

      10 months ago

      The authors’ ability to engage with readers and address their concerns showcases their dedication to fostering an inclusive and knowledgeable golfing community. The article’s positive tone, coupled with the depth of information provided, makes it a must-read for any golf enthusiast seeking expert advice and thoughtful analysis. MyGolfSpy continues to impress with its commitment to delivering top-notch content that both educates and entertains. Kudos to the team behind this excellent article!

      Reply

      Fred

      10 months ago

      I left golf for 10 years when I owned a boat. I’m back now and I would love to know when and why Titleist changed the X to the higher spinning ball and the Pro-V to the lower spinning version. I wish I knew before I bought a bunch of X’s!

      Reply

      Ray Murray

      10 months ago

      Sign me up for news letter please.

      Reply

      Leonard

      10 months ago

      I read your article about Cobra being the just outside of the Big 4 (Titleist, Taylor Made, Ping, Callaway). Is this the Big 4 in the Japanese and Asian market as well?

      Reply

      Matts

      10 months ago

      Your discussion point on refining gapping distances is very relevant. So for the typical golfer that hits a seven iron into most greens, then it may be better to have slightly smaller gapping from five iron through nine iron. For longer hitting and shorter hitting golfers, it would be short irons and wedges for the former and long irons or hybrids for the latter.

      Reply

      Odie

      11 months ago

      Why don’t major manufactures have a sub category line of clubs that do not confirm to USGA rules for max distance? With golf becoming more popular as an entertainment/leisure activity, there are lots of players that have zero desire to play in USGA regulated competitions, but would love to buy a driver that goes 15 yards further. Same train of thought, if all restraints on club and ball were thrown out the window, how much extra distance is out there?

      Reply

      Da Slammer

      11 months ago

      They have those in Asia, for that exact reason, and sell them side by side with the conforming ones

      Reply

      Haywood

      10 months ago

      The gains from illegal clubs would be minimal for a high handicap golfer

      Reply

      Don Smith

      11 months ago

      Will you publish a driver analysis for slow swing speeds?

      Reply

      Da Slammer

      11 months ago

      Playing golf in the rain, when you get the club face wet and the ball is wet – with low spin balls and low spin heads, low spin shafts – will KNUCKLE the ball all over the planet. You will have no control over where it goes. It will just fly wherever it wants to as if the ball has no dimples.
      It will NOT help with accuracy, AT ALL.
      If in the test it seemed like it flew more accurately it’s because the face wasn’t covered in actual water, it wasn’t wet from rain drops, and the ball was dry, and it was done with a higher MOI head with the weight at the back with a higher loft that already was spinning high in the first place.
      There is a point of diminishing returns – i.e., the test needs to be done with various lofts and head types, as well as various balls that have different launch and spin characteristics, at varying speeds.

      Reply

      Fred

      11 months ago

      Given a consistent swing and swing speed, what would be the distance gain going from a 70 compression ball to an 80 or 90 compression ball?

      Reply

      Richard

      10 months ago

      It’s not just swing speed and ball compression that matter. Spin, launch angle, and high or low flight (dimple characteristics) matter too.

      See the data from the 2021 MyGolfSpy ball test. They hit balls using a robot, so the conditions are exactly the same from swing to swing.

      For all manufacturers in that test, the lower compression ball resulted in slower exit velocity, but that didn’t necessarily mean less distance down range.
      For some manufacturers in the test, the lower compression ball had better spin and flight windows at a given swing speed, so they flew the same distance as the higher compression ball. For other swing speeds, the distance difference was notable, and not always in favor of the high compression ball.
      I imagine the altitude (air pressure) also had some influence in total distance, and may change, depending on the dimples, at different altitudes.

      Reply

      James Bruce

      11 months ago

      What happened to the Costco Kirkland irons that were supposedly being released soon? I don’t see them on the USGA conforming list.

      Reply

      Keith

      11 months ago

      I recently read your review of the best rain jackets. Do you know what they wear on tour? When you watch a tournament in the rain, it always look like they wear their apparel sponsor gear, FJ, Nike, Adidas, etc…but not one of those made your top five list. Are they really wearing inferior rain gear on the course? I know I have wear average rain gear since I don’t have $700 for a new rain jacket, but that’s not their concern. I would think they could negotiate with the sponsor on rainy days and instead would prefer to stay dry and play their best.

      Reply

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