Coming Soon (enough) - 2014 Golf's Most Wanted Driver Test

[Tony Covey MGS]

So remember earlier this year we did this?:

 

 

For those who can't wait for the 2014 version, I have good news. We're going to be publishing this year's Driver Test much earlier.

 

Invites to twenty different manufacturers went out early last week. Each was invited to submit anything and everything from their current lineup.

 

Thus far we've only had a few confirmed participants (these things take time...usually you have to remind people to read their email), but we've already received the first of the drivers for the test (so we'll start making announcements very soon).

 

Unfortunately we've already had a few companies decline for various reasons. Both Tom Wishon and Geek Golf will not have new product available in time for the test, so for obvious reasons they won't be participating.

 

Miura Golf declined our invitation (irons remain their focus).

 

Another smaller company who talks a lot, but apparently doesn't want to put its product where its ever-expanding gob is, told us they won't send us "free drivers" (apparently totally ignorant of the value that comes in exposing your product to 400,000 golfers - and that the +/-40 hours of work involved in this test hardly qualifies as "free"). Then again...if you don't truly believe your product can hold its own against the big boys, I suppose that's as good a way to hide as any. We were told we could buy them.

 

Anyway...let's call this a buzz building thread, and be sure to check back often. The wheels are in motion, and we're going to get seriously rolling soon enough.

[hckymeyer]

Excited as always for these!!

 

Any chance of a list of companies that chose not to participate this year?  I understand if it's not kosher, but I think the community deserves to know who doesn't believe in their clubs enough to put their money where their mouth is.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Excited as always for these!!

 

Any chance of a list of companies that chose not to participate this year?  I understand if it's not kosher, but I think the community deserves to know who doesn't believe in their clubs enough to put their money where their mouth is.

 

Names will absolutely be named. We're giving everyone a little more time to think it over, but you guys definitely deserve to know the who and why of the non-participants.

[westy]

Great stuff chaps - when's the cut off for entries? Looking forward to the results already.

[TeamPowers]

I have always loved these tests.  Not surprised by the one company refusing.  If it got out that their club is crap, they would be done for.

[Jgolf]

Is it christmas already?

 

I'm so excited! 

 

(P.S. who told you to buy their drivers???) 

[MrSinister]

If it's not to late to get in I'd love to have my product put to the test! I sent an email to the advertisement department with my contact info.

 

Shawn Allan

Sinister Golf

[lmh3]

Always a great read, nice to get actual testing data rather than a list of who bought the most advertising space.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Just an FYI. I'll be announcing the first entry tomorrow.

[revkev]

Can't wait to hear....

[TWShoot67]

Well I'm excited for 2014 with all types of equipment from drivers to wedges so this driver year should be a good one. Hope we get all the big boys to enter without any delay!

[Never Lay Up]

Pretty Pumped about this review. Have been following MGS for a few years now and love all the reviews and write ups on equipment. Curious tho, what system for gathering data do you guys use? TrackMan? FlightScope? Also if you guys need some independent testers for the new equipment, I'm a fitter at a local golf store and have access to a Flightscope and most of the new wacking sticks. Not looking for money, would love the opportunity to just spread some data that I find.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driver: 910 D3 8.5 degree w/Oban Devotion 7 Tipped 1" Length 44.5" CPM 283

Hybrid: 910 19 Degree w/ VS Proto 95X Tipped 1"

Irons: 3-PW Bridgestone J40 CB w/KBS Tour X Black Nickel 1/4" over 4 Up

Wedge: 52 Degree SM4 Bent to 51 w/KBS Tour X Black Nickel 2 up STD length

Wedge: 56 Degree SM4 Bent to 55 w/KBS TOur X Black Nickel 2 up STD length

Putter: Benttinardi Signature Series 6 34" w/Super Stroke 3.0

Grips: Golf Pride Z-Cords

Ball: Pro V1x 2013 

 

[SPY ZINGER]

If it's not to late to get in I'd love to have my product put to the test! I sent an email to the advertisement department with my contact info.

 

Shawn Allan

Sinister Golf

Nice move, Shawn! Thanks!

[whiskey golf]

I'm really looking forward to hearing the results.

[GlobalGolf.com]

THIS.WILL.BE.AWESOME!  As always, looking forward to seeing the results of the hard work you guys are putting in!

[Tony Covey MGS]

Just an FYI. We're going to be running a parallel thread of sorts on the main website. I'll be keeping everyone informed in both, so...

 

In the spirit of that, the first entry in MyGolfSpy's 2014 Golf's Most Wanted Driver test has just been announced:

 

http://www.mygolfspy.com/preview-2014-most-wanted-driver/

[RonTheSavage]

I always look forward to reading the results

[RookieBlue7]

That Wilson is a pleasant surprise as far as aesthetics go. Understated elegance, IMO. Don't know how it'll perform but it looks good.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Just a quick update while we wait for more product to arrive.

 

Before the dust settled (and I think it finally has), we sent invites to 22 different companies. Here's where things stand.

 

• Thus far we've had 2 companies turn us down because their new product won't be available in time to test.
• 3 Companies (Miura, Bombtech, and 1 other...still crossing fingers) have turned us down for what we'll just say are "other reasons".
• We have outstanding (no response thus far) invitations from 4 companies, including two who qualify as significant industry players.
• While to date we have only received product from Wilson, we have commitments from a total of 13 different companies.
• While it's difficult to pin down the exact number at this point, the total number of clubs participating in this year's test will almost certainly exceed last year's count.

[Aotearoa_Brad]

Sounds like you guys are going to be busy! So the plan is to postpone Christmas this year? or will testing start in the new year? 

 

BTW, drivers confirmed from 13 different manufacturers already! I know, I know, don't count your chickens and all that, but bravo team! This is shaping up as an epic encounter!

[Jgolf]

Sounds like you guys are going to be busy! So the plan is to postpone Christmas this year? or will testing start in the new year? 

 

BTW, drivers confirmed from 13 different manufacturers already! I know, I know, don't count your chickens and all that, but bravo team! This is shaping up as an epic encounter!

 

Seconded! 

[Tony Covey MGS]

Most up to date tracking info I have suggests we'll be ready to announce the 2nd entry tomorrow. There's a pretty good story behind it, and I think it's going to raise a lot of eyebrows because of it.

[Blade]

Most up to date tracking info I have suggests we'll be ready to announce the 2nd entry tomorrow. There's a pretty good story behind it, and I think it's going to raise a lot of eyebrows because of it.

Cool! Looking forward to it!

[Krizar]

If it's not to late to get in I'd love to have my product put to the test! I sent an email to the advertisement department with my contact info.

 

Shawn Allan

Sinister Golf

 

Sully from Bombtech - take note. This is how it's done.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Here we go boys (and whatever women happy to be lurking). This isn't what I talked about yesterday. I didn't have tracking info on these, but I was pretty excited when they showed up as promised. Here's the teaser pic. The main site will be updated in just a few minutes...and yes, as I promised, I'll be removing all of the discussion around Bombtech. 

 

While I understand, and can appreciate (to a degree) Sully's decison not to participate, we're at 14:59...it's time to bring the focus back to the guys who deserve it.

 

Give me 10 minutes, and then go check this out:

 

Coming Soon - MyGolfSpy's 2014 Most Wanted Driver (that's the link to the main article if it's not clear).

 

And here's entry #2. We're only just getting started.

 

 

 

[Hula Rock]

Hey T:

 

Is it possible to compare the Driver Models tested to the ones that they replaced ?  e.g.  Covert vs Covert 2.0  It would be interesting to see performance gains, if any at all.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Hey T:

 

Is it possible to compare the Driver Models tested to the ones that they replaced ?  e.g.  Covert vs Covert 2.0  It would be interesting to see performance gains, if any at all.

 

Anything is possible . There will be more to say soon enough, but we're planning some tweaks to the review process that will not only simplify the scoring, but put us in a much better place to do exactly the type of thing you're asking about.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Here's the latest update on where things stand with our test.

 

We sent invites to 22 companies (you knew that already...I said it like yesterday). Actually....we really sent 20 invites and then asked a couple others if they had anything new this year. But anyway, let's call it 22.

 

Of those 22:

• 15 have committed to send at least one model. Several will send 2, 1 or 2 may even send 3.
• I went back and forth with one major OEM today. At this point their status is PENDING (literally...that's how it's listed in my status sheet...all caps and everything). I think they'll probably decide to participate, but I've been wrong before.
• We're down to a single company who has yet to reply.
• Bombtech, Titleist, and Miura declined to participate outright. Wishon and Geek won't have 2014 product ready in time.
• Full inventory from 6 companies has arrived. There will be a single announcement tomorrow AM with several additional announcements made Friday.
• Since I'm still not 100% positive whose sending absolutely what, final totals are a bit of a guessing game, but my prediction at this point is we'll have at least 22 models (not including pro/tour variants that we treat as the same model). I'd be shocked if it was less, and would be decidedly less shocked if the final tally was as high as 26.

Lots of work ahead, but we're pretty damn excited about this test.

[Blade]

Great, thanks! I hope the PENDING isn't who I'm thinking it could be.

[SPY ZINGER]

Titleist...not surprising.