The 2018 Most Wanted Driver is...

[JTexGolfer]

Little surprised to see the LST version take top honors, but not surprised at all to see a G400 variant on top. I absolutely love mine and it was a huge step up from what I had been gaming. Really tight numbers between all of the drivers though so looking forward to seeing the swing speed breakdowns.

[ole gray]

On 3/27/2018 at 2:56 AM, jdlingle said:

Little surprised to see the LST version take top honors, but not surprised at all to see a G400 variant on top. I absolutely love mine and it was a huge step up from what I had been gaming. Really tight numbers between all of the drivers though so looking forward to seeing the swing speed breakdowns.

 

Yea the swing speed stats will be cool to view.  Can't wait!

 

I have been lofting up the last few years because it helps me hit those high thundering drives.  Yea right   ....  Seriously I'm looking forward to hitting a few of the low spin puppies soon to see how I fare with them.  I have a fitting at Club Champion and one of the primary reason I have waited this long is for the MGS test results.  Now I can schedule and try some of these drivers for myself. 

[JTexGolfer]

On 3/27/2018 at 3:05 AM, ole gray said:

Yea the swing speed stats will be cool to view. Can't wait!

 

I have been lofting up the last few years because it helps me hit those high thundering drives. Yea right  .... Seriously I'm looking forward to hitting a few of the low spin puppies soon to see how I fare with them. I have a fitting at Club Champion and one of the primary reason I have waited this long is for the MGS test results. Now I can schedule and try some of these drivers for myself.

Time to finally take that fitting Ole Gray!!

[ole gray]

Time to finally take that fitting Ole Gray!!

 

 

Sent my email in tonight to schedule my gig.   I should know something tomorrow so let's get this party started!

[Kenny B]

 

 

In my inbox yesterday!!

[JAGolfore]

I for one will say this driver and the M3 did not agree with me in my fitting. I think it shows it's important to get fit but man are these reviews and the data are great for the consumer. Nice job MGS.

 

 

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[newballcoach]

My friend did a fitting with one of these and absolutely loved it. I knew this club would be special when I read Tony's review on it. He's a great writer and you could feel his excitement about these clubs and the way they performed. Great work all around MGS!

[Miboy62]

On 3/28/2018 at 6:06 PM, Kenny B said:

 

 

In my inbox yesterday!!

Did not take long for Ping, to get the advertising out with the MGS attached.

[MDGolfHacker]

On 3/28/2018 at 6:06 PM, Kenny B said:

 

 

In my inbox yesterday!!

So, where do I buy the ping driver with a laser shooting out of it?? �😂🤣

 

MDGolfHacker

[Kenny B]

So, where do I buy the ping driver with a laser shooting out of it??

 

MDGolfHacker

Probably the same place you can get a Mercedes Benz with the lighted star in the grill shown in the commercials.

[ridgewalker]

I was surprised to see the relatively high spin (2350) on the LS Tech and the relatively small difference in spin between that and the G400max. Good ball speeds it looks like with that line.

 

 

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[MattF]

Probably the same place you can get a Mercedes Benz with the lighted star in the grill shown in the commercials.

 

I've seen a few on the road Kenny, so they're available for those that REALLY want others to know what they're driving.

[Kenny B]

I've seen a few on the road Kenny, so they're available for those that REALLY want others to know what they're driving.

Too rich for my blood!!  This is all I can afford...

 

[MDGolfHacker]

Too rich for my blood!! This is all I can afford...

 

image001.jpg

Ha ha ha... My loaner's broke off during the snow we got. Found a replacement on the bay for $30..instead of the $110 they wanted at the dealership...

 

MDGolfHacker

[PGHBluejay]

Just picked up a new G400 LST 8.5 with a TENSEI ck blue 70 shaft. Dropped 1000 rpm off the spin on my G25 and dropped the launch angle from 14-18 down to 8-12. Feels so easy to hit, love the sound and tempo with the heavy shaft. Club head speed actually went up a few mph due to better tempo. Can't wait for it to be warm enough for the course.

[STUDque]

High swing speed (105+) results were just posted.

https://mygolfspy.com/2018-most-wanted-the-best-driver-for-high-swing-speeds-105-mph/

 

1) Rogue SubZero

2) G400 LST

3) M4

 

 

Since LST won overall, this would have to mean that SubZero was either very poor for low SS or the LST actually won that category. Would also be very interesting to see if LST doesn't win either category but found a way to win overall due to consistent performance.

 

 

These, in particular, are very interesting results to me. I've never gotten along with Callaway but might give them an eye next time I'm ready for a driver. M4 had the best dispersion so I'd probably get more value out of that than anything else.

 

 

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[yungkory]

I don't understand what shot area is? Is that not the overall picture of the dispersion, meaning a smaller number would be better? The MAX has almost identical numbers to the LST, but with a smaller shot area and larger offline number, but its truerank is in the dumps compared to the LST. I'm questioning if I'm actually part Asian, I've never been confused by numbers halp!

[cnosil]

I don't understand what shot area is? Is that not the overall picture of the dispersion, meaning a smaller number would be better? The MAX has almost identical numbers to the LST, but with a smaller shot area and larger offline number, but its truerank is in the dumps compared to the LST. I'm questioning if I'm actually part Asian, I've never been confused by numbers halp!

 

 

You have shot area correct.  There is more that goes into the calculations than just one variable and those variables are for all the golfers together.  One golfer could have made that number bigger.  The ranking is based on the club that finished highest for each golfer.  The LST finished best for 40% of the golfers and the MAX for 20%.  The "best" for a person could be multiple drivers.  

[newballcoach]

I don't understand what shot area is? Is that not the overall picture of the dispersion, meaning a smaller number would be better? The MAX has almost identical numbers to the LST, but with a smaller shot area and larger offline number, but its truerank is in the dumps compared to the LST. I'm questioning if I'm actually part Asian, I've never been confused by numbers halp!

 

Yards offline is simply misses right to left, whereas shot area uses all 4 directions to create a circle. With the number of shots that is hit, it would be possible to have that combo you described, if the carry is very consistent. I would think that would be a good indicator of how forgiving the driver is? Since Max is extremely high MOI and supposed to be extremely forgiving, that would make sense to me.

 

It is slightly confusing that the graphic listing the drivers that "place" says accuracy, but the chart uses dispersion. I wonder if yards offline and shot area could be combined into a forgiveness rating?

[yungkory]

Yards offline is simply misses right to left, whereas shot area uses all 4 directions to create a circle. With the number of shots that is hit, it would be possible to have that combo you described, if the carry is very consistent. I would think that would be a good indicator of how forgiving the driver is? Since Max is extremely high MOI and supposed to be extremely forgiving, that would make sense to me.

 

It is slightly confusing that the graphic listing the drivers that "place" says accuracy, but the chart uses dispersion. I wonder if yards offline and shot area could be combined into a forgiveness rating?

Yeah just seems like having a tight shot area means the testers were having more success keeping the ball in the same relative area. Which is something that I'm personally looking for, and had really great success with when I tested the g400 max

 

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[chisag]

I don't understand what shot area is? Is that not the overall picture of the dispersion, meaning a smaller number would be better? The MAX has almost identical numbers to the LST, but with a smaller shot area and larger offline number, but its truerank is in the dumps compared to the LST. I'm questioning if I'm actually part Asian, I've never been confused by numbers halp!

 

 

... LOL, best comment of the day. It is a thankless task and one I always appreciate from MGS, even if it has very little relevance for me. I cannot remember the last time I played a stock shaft, at least those in the stores. For instance I am right around 101-105mph and I am playing the F8 and F8+ with a free upgrade stock shaft, the Even Flow Blue. Performance has been outstanding. 

 

... But even another tester at 105 using the Even Flow Blue with a different tempo and/or AOA might come to a completely different conclusion. Heads are very important but matched to a shaft that does not fit your swing will bring a quick and unsatisfactory conclusion to any demo. 

[yungkory]

... LOL, best comment of the day. It is a thankless task and one I always appreciate from MGS, even if it has very little relevance for me. I cannot remember the last time I played a stock shaft, at least those in the stores. For instance I am right around 101-105mph and I am playing the F8 and F8+ with a free upgrade stock shaft, the Even Flow Blue. Performance has been outstanding.

 

... But even another tester at 105 using the Even Flow Blue with a different tempo and/or AOA might come to a completely different conclusion. Heads are very important but matched to a shaft that does not fit your swing will bring a quick and unsatisfactory conclusion o any demo.

I'm right around 105 as well with my top end being 108 when I'm angry. I liked the feeling of the evenflow blue a lot actually! I think the TP6 is a little too tip stiff for me and I have trouble feeling when to release the club head when I'm not grooving with my swing. I get a lot more low trajectories and pulls to the left than I'd like!

 

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[revkev]

You have shot area correct. There is more that goes into the calculations than just one variable and those variables are for all the golfers together. One golfer could have made that number bigger. The ranking is based on the club that finished highest for each golfer. The LST finished best for 40% of the golfers and the MAX for 20%. The "best" for a person could be multiple drivers.

Could you explain how that is? That the best for an individual could be multiple drivers.

 

Thanks

 

 

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[cnosil]

Could you explain how that is? That the best for an individual could be multiple drivers.

 

Thanks

 

 

If multiple clubs end up statistically the same then they are in essence equal.  Each tester may have 2 or more drivers that end up being statistically equal.  

[MDGolfHacker]

 

... LOL, best comment of the day. It is a thankless task and one I always appreciate from MGS, even if it has very little relevance for me. I cannot remember the last time I played a stock shaft, at least those in the stores. For instance I am right around 101-105mph and I am playing the F8 and F8+ with a free upgrade stock shaft, the Even Flow Blue. Performance has been outstanding.

 

... But even another tester at 105 using the Even Flow Blue with a different tempo and/or AOA might come to a completely different conclusion. Heads are very important but matched to a shaft that does not fit your swing will bring a quick and unsatisfactory conclusion to any demo.

Gotta say, I just hit and got fitted for the even flow blue with the F8 head. Loved the combo, but my swing speed is no where near 105...

 

MDGolfHacker

[yungkory]

Gotta say, I just hit and got fitted for the even flow blue with the F8 head. Loved the combo, but my swing speed is no where near 105...

 

MDGolfHacker

I'm assuming chisag is playing 6.0 and you're playing 5.5? The bend profile could be good for anyone's speed, just at different torques I'm sure. I found that I like a little softer of a tip section

 

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[revkev]

I'm sorry to divert away from the shafts and back towards topic -

 

Is it just me or does it seem like there is a much larger relative gap between the drivers at slower swing speeds than larger or the amalgam?

 

Also what about for those of us in the middle category - it would seem that most golfers are between 85-95 (claims on forums to the contrary). Those of us who lay there are out.

 

My ball speed tends to be between 125 and 130.

 

I suspect the LST would be the runaway leader there but it would be fun to see. I've been on a LM with driver twice in the last month and my launch angle was between 14-15 (good) spin rate around 2,800 (too high) and ball speed 125-130.

 

So I'm in the hole on these tests.

 

 

 

 

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[chisag]

... So many factors involved that are not addressed. The F8 spinning less then the F8+ is certainly not the experience for most, so that is a real head scratcher. I am shorter off the tee with the B-RX than any premium ball I have played so while low compression and a soft core may be a good choice for the slower swing speeds, it is a bad fit for mid swing speeds and a terrible fit for high swing speeds. What shaft was used in these drivers, especially the F8 and F8+? Unless I missed it, wasn't it only 4 testers in each category? That is much too small of a sample size. And again, are they Hitters? Swingers? Fast-medium-slow transition? High spin or low spin players? Positive or negative AOL? Loft maximized for each player or everyone hits the same loft? 

... As a 101-105 swing speed player with a smooth transition, late release and having found a mid flex, mid spin, mid tip stiff/stiff tip shaft working best, what kind of shaft is used in each driver? So very little information to compare how this test might be best for me. I have the luxury of going to the PGA Show Demo Day and hitting every new driver with shafts that fit me, so my conclusion is very different than those in the test. Hitting a driver head with a stock shaft that does not fit your swing is a recipe for disappointment, but finding the right shaft can really bring a head to life. Breaking down every driver into different type of swing categories, specific types of shafts and premium balls like a ProV1, TP5x, Chrome Soft that are much more appropriate for most players would be a very VERY intensive test and probably unrealistic. But other than fun reading (which it is) all the above is what it would take to make these tests valuable to anyone looking for a new driver.   

[MaxEntropy]

 

 

... So many factors involved that are not addressed. The F8 spinning less then the F8+ is certainly not the experience for most, so that is a real head scratcher. I am shorter off the tee with the B-RX than any premium ball I have played so while low compression and a soft core may be a good choice for the slower swing speeds, it is a bad fit for mid swing speeds and a terrible fit for high swing speeds. What shaft was used in these drivers, especially the F8 and F8+? Unless I missed it, wasn't it only 4 testers in each category? That is much too small of a sample size. And again, are they Hitters? Swingers? Fast-medium-slow transition? High spin or low spin players? Positive or negative AOL? Loft maximized for each player or everyone hits the same loft?

 

... As a 101-105 swing speed player with a smooth transition, late release and having found a mid flex, mid spin, mid tip stiff/stiff tip shaft working best, what kind of shaft is used in each driver? So very little information to compare how this test might be best for me. I have the luxury of going to the PGA Show Demo Day and hitting every new driver with shafts that fit me, so my conclusion is very different than those in the test. Hitting a driver head with a stock shaft that does not fit your swing is a recipe for disappointment, but finding the right shaft can really bring a head to life. Breaking down every driver into different type of swing categories, specific types of shafts and premium balls like a ProV1, TP5x, Chrome Soft that are much more appropriate for most players would be a very VERY intensive test and probably unrealistic. But other than fun reading (which it is) all the above is what it would take to make these tests valuable to anyone looking for a new driver.

While I agree with most of what you say (hell, you're one of only a handful of guys who I make a point of reading what they have to say), I would say the list provides a great starting point for someone like me. Last month I hit a few "stock" drivers at a PGA Superstore and the stock G400 blew everything away by about 10 yards (F8, M3, M4). I certainly wouldn't discount any of the 4 if I was going shopping and the list has brought others into the picture (Mizuno, for example).

 

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[revkev]

Chisag I think there's great relevance to the tests for the generally golfing public. This is exactly how they choose their driver, they go to the store and buy stock. For balls they use whatever is on sale or what their favorite player uses.

 

There is a smaller group of golfers, 10 to 15 percent, that understand equipment and have the financial capability of getting fit. That group also knows full well that tests like the Most Wanted driver are a starting point for them, at best, and also a fun read.

 

The best driver/shaft combo is out there for each of us. It may be a head that finished 9th in a category but with the right shaft pops for a particular player.

 

However it may also be that the player will never get to that combo because it's 500 for the driver, another 100 for the fitting and a 250 upcharge for the shaft all to gain 6 yards and a bit of dispersion. That's if the fitter takes the time to try that combo. I've had four thorough driver fittings in my life and lots of less thorough ones. I don't recall a fitting that included more than three brands and a handful of shafts. It's tough for the normal guy to get what you described you got at the PGA merchandising show.

 

So figure I could do it for about a grand, get the fully comprehensive fitting with my own custom driver at the end of it and I'd gain those 6 yards. That brings us back to another interesting thread that someone started a year or so ago. I wonder who.

 

 

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