AskMyGolfSpy is a chance to submit inquiries to our consultants right here at MGS. In the present day we’re specializing in some regularly left feedback on our Most Wished and Purchaser’s Information exams.

When you’ve acquired a query for a future version of AskMyGolfSpy, you’ll be able to move alongside your inquiries to the group on Twitter, Fb, Instagram or proper right here within the feedback part beneath!  

Q: Why don’t you check irons on the similar loft? 

First, a fast reminder – in our annual Most Wished sequence, we check off-the-rack golf equipment. The intent is to supply steerage for the off-the-rack purchaser and to place golf equipment on the radar of golfers who plan on being fitted. 

We check how producers design and retailers promote golf equipment. Why would we manipulate and normalize lofts throughout a whole class when that’s not how golfers expertise (and purchase) the product?

Equally true, lofts are inherently a part of the design – and never simply to create distance. There’s a purpose why Mizuno Professional 23 and JPX Sizzling Metallic have completely different lofts and it’s far more complicated than as a result of Mizuno needs Sizzling Metallic to go farther.

There’s a not-so-insignificant relationship between loft, CG location and the efficiency intent of the design.

Finally, whereas ranting about loft-jacking is a well-liked pastime in golf boards (and our remark part), I’d wager that almost all golfers don’t care in regards to the lofts, solely the outcome. 

That result’s extra distance. 

That’s to not say normalizing lofts to higher perceive the affect of issues like face tech, CG, and MOI, wouldn’t make for an attention-grabbing check. I feel it could, which is why we’ve got one thing within the works that, partially, considers efficiency with normalized lofts. 

With all of that stated, whereas fine-tuning (FYI, that doesn’t imply bending golf equipment 4 levels to make all the things the identical) static lofts ought to be part of each becoming, it doesn’t make sense for an off-the-rack check. 

We’ve constructed some issues into our check to account for distance variations, and whereas we’ve had some winners which were the longest, in lots of circumstances, the additional distance comes on the expense of accuracy and consistency. 

That’s not a recipe for fulfillment in our exams. 

Q: Why don’t you check drivers will the identical shaft?

On the threat of repeating myself, we check how producers design and retailers promote golf equipment.

As with iron loft, it’s an attention-grabbing check, however once more not reflective of market realities.  

Our method in Most Wished exams is what we name match from inventory. We glance to suit our testers into the best-performing shaft every producer places on the shelf at retail. 

It ought to be apparent sufficient that when the purpose is to supply the most effective match, utilizing the identical shaft for everybody doesn’t obtain the target. 

It’s additionally true that there isn’t something near industry-wide overlap. That’s to say; there isn’t a single shaft choice that’s a part of each producer’s lineup. With that, we don’t assume it makes a lot sense to check golf equipment with a construct that golfers can’t get from the producer. 

Q: Why don’t you check left-handed golf equipment? 

The largest situation is we don’t have any left-handed wrenches, and, in addition to, the ball doesn’t care from which aspect the swing is coming from. 

However severely … left-handed ought to carry out the identical as their right-handed counterparts, so from a efficiency standpoint, there isn’t a lot level. 

It’s additionally true that it could be exhausting to spherical up sufficient lefties for a correct check, and that’s earlier than we begin speaking about the truth that not each product for lefties. 

We’re assured that testing right-handed fashions interprets simply positive. 

Q: Why don’t you check the cheaper golf balls most golfers play?

First, we do check some cheaper balls, however not on the fee that we check efficiency balls. 

The one purpose low-cost balls exist is to attraction to some form of golfer choice (value, colour, really feel, and many others.) that’s completely unrelated to perforamnce.

Sorry to interrupt it to you, but when efficiency was all the time a very powerful facet of the design (and finally shopping for) determination, “low-cost” balls (aside from lower-priced urethane choices) wouldn’t exist.

Interval. Exhausting cease.

A budget balls we check are usually among the many best-selling low-cost balls or people who current a specific curiosity. 

The fact is that extra {dollars} are spent on efficiency balls than on a budget stuff, although in some circumstances (Supersoft, for instance), the amount of low-cost balls bought outpaces the great things.  

However once more, those that promote properly are usually those we check.  

Bear in mind, many OEMs outsource their ionomer balls to abroad factories, and the information we’ve got suggests the standard management isn’t nearly as good as what we see from the highest urethane producers. 

As anybody who has adopted ball lab is aware of, sometimes, a higher-priced ball can have high quality management points, however I’d level out that of the 19 ionomer (i.e., low-cost) balls in our Ball Lab database, solely 6 have scores above the present database common and all 6 are Titleist balls. Even then, solely two have scores above 80. 

If you wish to purchase an affordable ball due to some particular person choice, that’s positive, however perceive that efficiency and high quality are unlikely to match that of the premium choices irrespective of what number of low-cost balls we check. 

Chances are you’ll not all the time get what you pay for, however you hardly ever get extra.

Q: Who ought to play a utility/driving iron?  

Because it occurs, our Most Wished Utility iron is approaching Monday, so the timing of this one couldn’t be higher. 

While you’re coping with what I name the transition zone of your golf bag (the area between your longest fairway wooden and the longest iron in your bag), there are a number of other ways you’ll be able to go. 

Aside from the iron out of your set (and corporations hardly ever make something longer than a 4-iron today), a utility iron goes to be your lowest-flying choice. 

So, on the most elementary stage, a utility iron could be nice for anybody who wants a protracted iron substitute however isn’t in search of the elevated trajectory you’d count on from a hybrid or high-lofted fairway wooden. 

I’m a high-lofted fairway wooden (7-Woods RULE!) and occasional hybrid man, however I’m contemplating constructing a utility iron for windy days or when course situations favor extra roll. 

When you’re in search of the proverbial fairway finder for brief par 4s and different tight driving holes and wrestle with hybrids (as many golfers do), a utility iron could be an answer. 

That’s your want-/needs-based stuff. From a becoming perspective, you usually need to see 5mph of ball pace distinction between golf equipment. For almost each golfer, there’s a level at which you’ll’t fairly get the pace you want with the subsequent longest iron within the set. 

For instance, if the pace hole between the 4 and 5-irons in your set is just 3mph, a 4U will usually present the requisite pace enhance whereas preserving the “iron-like” efficiency many golfers need from their lengthy iron options. 

The very last thing I’ll say is that whereas there aren’t any exhausting and quick guidelines, in lots of circumstances, larger handicap gamers might be higher served by the improved forgiveness (and better flight) provided by fairway woods and hybrids.

Q: How can a membership win [a Most Wanted Test] if it’s one of many shortest, least correct, and many others.?

Relying on the class, it may not be capable to. 

Our method to scoring varies by class and sub-category. One of the best instance of this may be discovered within the variations in how we method Sport Enchancment irons vs. Gamers irons. 

Whereas our efficiency scores (by-in-large, accuracy) are by no means a minority contributor to the general rating, we all know that recreation enchancment gamers have larger expectations for distance than someone trying to purchase a single-piece or easy multi-piece gamers irons. 

Within the GI class, we rely distance virtually as a lot as accuracy, whereas within the gamers class, accuracy is much and away probably the most important contributor to the general rating. 

With the SGI class, forgiveness is extra necessary than another iron class we check. 

So, because it pertains to the query, it’s potential for a gamers iron to be our greatest total with out being among the many longest. It’s way more troublesome for a brief iron to complete on prime within the GI class. 

I feel it’s additionally necessary to level out that the gaps between rankings aren’t uniform throughout all scoring classes. 

We’ll usually see a a lot wider unfold for our distance and accuracy metrics than we do with our forgiveness metrics. Finally what meaning is that the efficiency hole between the golf equipment that completed 1^st and 12^th for forgiveness isn’t usually almost as huge as it’s with distance. 

With that, it’s potential for a driver that completed center of the pack for forgiveness to complete greatest total as a result of, in lots of circumstances, middle-of-the-pack forgiveness isn’t miles worse than top-of-the-table forgiveness. 

Q: Why would I purchase a rain jacket that prices as a lot as a driver? 

Legitimate query. Sure, just some individuals want the most effective golf rain jacket. The truth is, in case you’re like me, a few of you’d slightly keep house if it’s going to rain. That stated, some individuals dwell in locations the place it rains almost daily. Take Scotland, for instance, the place it rains on common 250 out of the one year of the yr. In climates like this, spending some extra cash to make sure you keep dry is properly value it.  

Consider it this fashion. Do you may have a day by day commute? Think about somebody with a two-hour commute, versus somebody like me who has a 25 minutes commute. The kind of automotive I drive doesn’t almost matter as a lot. If I had a two-hour commute, I’d go for one thing extra snug or perhaps one thing extra gasoline environment friendly. Does my automotive nonetheless get me from A to B? Positive. However, it will not be greatest fitted to somebody with an extended commute.  

When deciding whether or not the value is value it, it’s necessary to contemplate your private wants – not venture your opinion on others. -Connor 

Extra Questions?  

As all the time, you probably have any questions for the MGS crew (they usually don’t must be in regards to the golf ball), drop them beneath for an opportunity to be featured in subsequent week’s #AskMyGolfSpy!