BEST DRIVER OF 2024! MOST WANTED

[Guest-0]

8 minutes ago, walkerdb7 said:

Same, but on the max for me. I expected to buy the Max 10K, but the fitting steered me in a different direction, haha. The Qi10 Max spins a bit more and worked for me. I am naturally low spin player. When a driver does not spin enough, the ball doesn't fly

With that said... The constant reiteration of how straight the Ping is makes me want to go hit that one more time, haha

We were hitting balls at the club the other day and five of us took turns hitting mine and purposely hitting bad shots and there is legit very little penalty but the Driver you bought is a nice stick and would be my second choice!! So when you say you are a low spin player how low??? And what numbers are you getting from the TM???

[walkerdb7]

12 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

We were hitting balls at the club the other day and five of us took turns hitting mine and purposely hitting bad shots and there is legit very little penalty but the Driver you bought is a nice stick and would be my second choice!! So when you say you are a low spin player how low??? And what numbers are you getting from the TM???

Here is the data from my fitting

The club came in. Did a gapping session with all my clubs. Here is 7 random swings after I hit every other club in the bag.  Spin and launch is pretty consistent. Swing speed and distance are different between the days. Looks during the fitting I was either swinging too hard or during the gaping session I was too tired by the time I got to the driver... haha

I always want longer, who doesn't? But my reason for wanting a Max driver was to see if the ball would fly that 5 yards straighter and stay inbounds or miss the pond, haha... So I'd be curious to hit the 10K one more time and confirm if it's any straighter.

Edited March 13 by walkerdb7

[Subdiver1]

6 minutes ago, walkerdb7 said:

Here is the data from my fitting

The club came in. Did a gapping session with all my clubs. Here is 7 random swings after I hit every other club in the bag.  Spin and launch is pretty consistent. Swing speed and distance are different between the days. Looks during the fitting I was either swinging too hard or during the gaping session I was too tired by the time I got to the driver... haha

I always want longer, who doesn't? But my reason for wanting a Max driver was to see if the ball would fly that 5 yards straighter and stay inbounds or miss the pond, haha

WOW! Pur swing speeds are similar and if this is the result you got my G400 breaking may have been a blessing in disguise.

[walkerdb7]

4 minutes ago, Subdiver1 said:

WOW! Pur swing speeds are similar and if this is the result you got my G400 breaking may have been a blessing in disguise.

HAHA, that is The TM Max not the Ping Max... isn't the ping the easy transition?

[Guest-0]

18 minutes ago, walkerdb7 said:

Here is the data from my fitting

The club came in. Did a gapping session with all my clubs. Here is 7 random swings after I hit every other club in the bag.  Spin and launch is pretty consistent. Swing speed and distance are different between the days. Looks during the fitting I was either swinging too hard or during the gaping session I was too tired by the time I got to the driver... haha

I always want longer, who doesn't? But my reason for wanting a Max driver was to see if the ball would fly that 5 yards straighter and stay inbounds or miss the pond, haha... So I'd be curious to hit the 10K one more time and confirm if it's any straighter.

So when they "fit" you for a driver did they not discuss shaft options??? You are launching to low man you would get those extra yards you are looking for if you could up that launch by 4° it makes a big difference as your launch at say 15° and peak Height at 100ft rather than 11° and 75ft.     I would bet you would gain 15 yds??? 

[cnosil]

2 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

So when they "fit" you for a driver did they not discuss shaft options??? You are launching to low man you would get those extra yards you are looking for if you could up that launch by 4° it makes a big difference as your launch at say 15° and peak Height at 100ft rather than 11° and 75ft.     I would bet you would gain 15 yds??? 

I think loft more than shaft. 

[walkerdb7]

11 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

So when they "fit" you for a driver did they not discuss shaft options??? You are launching to low man you would get those extra yards you are looking for if you could up that launch by 4° it makes a big difference as your launch at say 15° and peak Height at 100ft rather than 11° and 75ft.     I would bet you would gain 15 yds??? 

Yes, we went through shafts... I hit like a 150 driver balls that day. I don't remember each and every specific model, but I hit LA Golf, VA Composites, Accra, Ventus and we settled back on HZRDUS which is what I played previously in my Callaway.

I am NOT an expert on this topic and curious to learn more of where you are going... but I thought like 2500 spin and 11 deg launch is "perfect" and my numbers are close?

 

@cnosilDriver is lofted up to 12 or 12.5 Deg... It's 10.5 + 2 clicks... whatever that means

8 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I think loft more than shaft. 

Edited March 13 by walkerdb7

[Golf2Much]

My playing partner was happy when I texted him to say his recently purchased Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D driver finished in third place.   He literally unwrapped the driver and put it directly in play without any practice.  With this datapoint of one from yesterday's round, he's hitting it 10-20 yards farther on average and straighter than his previous Cleveland driver.  Needless to say, he was very happy with it's performance.   

In fact, as I was typing this the longest hitter of our group (who hits it a long way) commented how impressed he was with the driver's overall performance.  I think his distance dominance was threatened!  Instead of admitting that someone else in his playing might be approaching his distance off the tee prowess, it just got him thinking about upgrading from his one-year-old Paradym driver!  It's amazing how one golf sale can avalanche into multiple other sales!

[cnosil]

20 minutes ago, walkerdb7 said:

am NOT an expert on this topic and curious to learn more of where you are going... but I thought like 2500 spin and 11 deg launch is "perfect" and my numbers are close?

 

@cnosilDriver is lofted up to 12 or 12.5 Deg... It's 10.5 + 2 clicks... whatever that means

Wow.   That is surprising; you must deloft or hit down/level with the driver since launch angle is less than loft.   
 

lots of factors in launch and spin.   If you are pretty level with your deliver then yes you have probably maxed distance for those launch conditions   

https://ping.com/en-us/blogs/proving-grounds/optimal-launch-and-spin

[chiguy]

I was extremely shocked to see the AI Smoke MAX finish behind the Triple Diamond in almost every category! I have been going back and forth between those two and thought there would be a significant difference in the forgiveness numbers but doesn't appear to be the case! I am really curious to see the breakdown by swing speed and if there are any clear insights that jump out there.

[jbern]

4 hours ago, BallsLeon said:

Qi10, Darkspeed, and BlackOps didn't even rank 

Very surprising to me also!

[walkerdb7]

38 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Wow.   That is surprising; you must deloft or hit down/level with the driver since launch angle is less than loft.   
 

lots of factors in launch and spin.   If you are pretty level with your deliver then yes you have probably maxed distance for those launch conditions   

https://ping.com/en-us/blogs/proving-grounds/optimal-launch-and-spin

Interesting, thanks for sending. I have seen the PGAT Trackman averages and always thought of that as the goal. Always working on my game and about to start some lessons. Maybe I can focus on that.

I also have NOT hit my club outside yet, I live in Chicago. I tee the ball up high. If I were to scrutinize the data, it would probably be the tee height in the fitting bay. I'll have to get outside with my MLM2 PRO and see if it's any different.

[cnosil]

48 minutes ago, walkerdb7 said:

Interesting, thanks for sending. I have seen the PGAT Trackman averages and always thought of that as the goal. Always working on my game and about to start some lessons. Maybe I can focus on that.

I also have NOT hit my club outside yet, I live in Chicago. I tee the ball up high. If I were to scrutinize the data, it would probably be the tee height in the fitting bay. I'll have to get outside with my MLM2 PRO and see if it's any different.

Looking at averages is only interesting as players are above and below each of the numbers.   Same with all the most wanted driver numbers; they are averages for the testers and there are testers 110+ and others probably as low as  80.   

Hope it works for you outside! 

[walkerdb7]

Just now, cnosil said:

Looking at averages is only interesting as players are above and below each of the numbers.   Same with all the most wanted driver numbers; they are averages for the testers and there are testers 110+ and others probably as low as  80.   

Hope it works for you outside! 

I don't quite follow... You're saying it's hard to to understand how the MW data pertains to you as an individual player because you don't the swing speed break down of the players who tested it?

[Guest-0]

8 hours ago, walkerdb7 said:

Yes, we went through shafts... I hit like a 150 driver balls that day. I don't remember each and every specific model, but I hit LA Golf, VA Composites, Accra, Ventus and we settled back on HZRDUS which is what I played previously in my Callaway.

I am NOT an expert on this topic and curious to learn more of where you are going... but I thought like 2500 spin and 11 deg launch is "perfect" and my numbers are close?

 

@cnosilDriver is lofted up to 12 or 12.5 Deg... It's 10.5 + 2 clicks... whatever 

You want launch between 12 and 16° and spin between 2000 and 2500 and peak height should be around 95ft for you to optimize the shot and I was just curious if they had mentioned you launching so low. I really think you can get another 10 yds easily if not more

[Guest-0]

1 hour ago, walkerdb7 said:

Interesting, thanks for sending. I have seen the PGAT Trackman averages and always thought of that as the goal. Always working on my game and about to start some lessons. Maybe I can focus on that.

I also have NOT hit my club outside yet, I live in Chicago. I tee the ball up high. If I were to scrutinize the data, it would probably be the tee height in the fitting bay. I'll have to get outside with my MLM2 PRO and see if it's any different.

They surely have longer tees in the bay man!! I have like 20 of them in my sim and wd change them out depending on whoever is hitting

[GolfSpy_APH]

I haven't dug into it yet, but wasn't surprised to see the results. Just based off what I have seen from others and a few small tid bits from HQ. Great to see PING on top again and truly a no surprise situation. Stoked to see what may be my favorite driver claim second as the Callaway TD is basically all that I look for in a driver and will be one I look for during my next fitting. 

[PDIDDYMARSH]

They couldn't get the Blackops in time to do the testing.

 

17 hours ago, BallsLeon said:

Qi10, Darkspeed, and BlackOps didn't even rank 

[funkyjudge]

19 hours ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

PXG chose not to submit it for MW testing. 

Strange decision on their part.

[CFreddie]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I haven't dug into it yet, but wasn't surprised to see the results. Just based off what I have seen from others and a few small tid bits from HQ. Great to see PING on top again and truly a no surprise situation. Stoked to see what may be my favorite driver claim second as the Callaway TD is basically all that I look for in a driver and will be one I look for during my next fitting. 

Agreed - kinda shocked to not see the Qi near / at the top but stoked to see the Ai come out so well. 

[cnosil]

10 hours ago, walkerdb7 said:

I don't quite follow... You're saying it's hard to to understand how the MW data pertains to you as an individual player because you don't the swing speed break down of the players who tested it?

You said you were looking at the trackman averages and thought they were the goal.  Just reminding you that averages come from players that are above the average and below the average and in actuality there may be no one that has the average numbers.   
 

as for the most wanted numbers, the same applies you could have a few testers with an extreme high or low number that will raise or lower the average numbers.   When/if they publish the swing speed breakdowns the data gets better but you still don’t see the detailed way each player hits the ball to match up with how you hit the ball. 

[brogies]

I LOVE to hit my G430 Max 10K and I can confirm that there are balls I hit well off the toe that go almost dead straight. It's pretty remarkable. And distance is really good, too. 

[FightingScot82]

21 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

Could possibly say that Wilson Carbon > Ping G430 Max 10K?? 

 

I feel like it should have been the Best Value winner because it performed MUCH better than the K Sig but is still a couple hundred less than the 430 Max 10K and most others. Yeah its list price is $499 but since Wilson Staff doesn't move product I'm seeing it discounted to $399 in several places.

I'm confused about the scoring because the performance comparison you show on here doesn't correspond to the scoring. There are some very small differences in stats but bigger difference in scoring to push the 430 Max 10K ahead of Dynapower Carbon.

[walkerdb7]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

You said you were looking at the trackman averages and thought they were the goal.  Just reminding you that averages come from players that are above the average and below the average and in actuality there may be no one that has the average numbers.   
 

as for the most wanted numbers, the same applies you could have a few testers with an extreme high or low number that will raise or lower the average numbers.   When/if they publish the swing speed breakdowns the data gets better but you still don’t see the detailed way each player hits the ball to match up with how you hit the ball. 

ahh yes, I understand your point now. But for me hitting at home with my MLM2 and trying to get a gauge if my 7i conditions are good, that average is a good bench mark. I understand your point that better players hitting a 300 cary driver have different and better launch conditions. Sort of obvious point, but I hadn't looked at it that way.

[PMookie]

I posted my Trackman results from Ping Proving Grounds so not surprised at all by the 10k win. Higher launching and lower spin than my G430 Max, by design, and STRAIGHTER?! Duh!!!! Easy choice. 

[DukeStKing]

The numbers for the Ping 10k and the Paradym Max Ai were very close. Yet, the Ai Max didn’t break the top 5- what a tight race. I saw that the Moi was 9k on the Ai Max and there’s a sliding weight? I want to hit both, but I would lead toward a sliding weight and 1k less moi going into the comparison. 

[Guest-0]

29 minutes ago, DukeStKing said:

The numbers for the Ping 10k and the Paradym Max Ai were very close. Yet, the Ai Max didn’t break the top 5- what a tight race. I saw that the Moi was 9k on the Ai Max and there’s a sliding weight? I want to hit both, but I would lead toward a sliding weight and 1k less moi going into the comparison. 

What the AI Max didn't get because super forgiving drivers don't have low spin. But somehow some way this club does!! Pros never hit Max anything they need the LS models but somehow the 430Max 10k is a low spin driver???? That's the big mystery

[chisag]

15 hours ago, cnosil said:

Looking at averages is only interesting as players are above and below each of the numbers.   Same with all the most wanted driver numbers; they are averages for the testers and there are testers 110+ and others probably as low as  80.   

 

 

... One of the reasons I have never liked "BEST" of anything. Semantics maybe but I prefer "Highest Ranked". As you point out the average for any category is just that, an average of above and below, so any of the top 10 ranked driver in any category can easily be the Best for that individual golfer. As I have posted many times the Qi10 Max is ranked much higher for MOI and forgiveness compared to the standard Qi10. But for me, the standard Qi10 is more forgiving. 

... I believe if you take the top 5 in any category like the Ping 430 Max, Titleist TSR3, Qi10, Callaway Smoke Max and Exotics E723, 20 different players will have 20 different opinions starting with just looking at the head at a dress. "Wow, that looks good!" and "Wow, that is ugly!" for the exact same head. The difference between the 430 Max 10k with turbulators, carbon fly two toned wrap that seems to have everything and the kitchen sink on the crown compared to the Qi10 Max 10k with the Infinity Crown that is as clean as it could be is night and day different. Some will look at the tech in the Ping and think it looks like it will produce excellent results and look at the subtle Taylor Made and think there is no visible technology and won't perform as well.

... All these drivers today are just so good, that a personal preference based on looks won't be much different than another. I doubt most anyone could be fit for the Qi10 Max 10k and Ping 430 Max 10k and with well fit shafts for their swing, find much difference between the two. Sure a few yards farther or shorter, or a little better or worse dispersion and of course a personal preference for sound/feel/looks can make one much more desirable than the other. But pure performance will be very close. 

... Again, fun read but you have to narrow your choices to what looks at least acceptable to your eye, do your own research and then get fit. 

[Guest-0]

8 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... One of the reasons I have never liked "BEST" of anything. Semantics maybe but I prefer "Highest Ranked". As you point out the average for any category is just that, an average of above and below, so any of the top 10 ranked driver in any category can easily be the Best for that individual golfer. As I have posted many times the Qi10 Max is ranked much higher for MOI and forgiveness compared to the standard Qi10. But for me, the standard Qi10 is more forgiving. 

... I believe if you take the top 5 in any category like the Ping 430 Max, Titleist TSR3, Qi10, Callaway Smoke Max and Exotics E723, 20 different players will have 20 different opinions starting with just looking at the head at a dress. "Wow, that looks good!" and "Wow, that is ugly!" for the exact same head. The difference between the 430 Max 10k with turbulators, carbon fly two toned wrap that seems to have everything and the kitchen sink on the crown compared to the Qi10 Max 10k with the Infinity Crown that is as clean as it could be is night and day different. Some will look at the tech in the Ping and think it looks like it will produce excellent results and look at the subtle Taylor Made and think there is no visible technology and won't perform as well.

... All these drivers today are just so good, that a personal preference based on looks won't be much different than another. I doubt most anyone could be fit for the Qi10 Max 10k and Ping 430 Max 10k and with well fit shafts for their swing, find much difference between the two. Sure a few yards farther or shorter, or a little better or worse dispersion and of course a personal preference for sound/feel/looks can make one much more desirable than the other. But pure performance will be very close. 

... Again, fun read but you have to narrow your choices to what looks at least acceptable to your eye, do your own research and then get fit. 

The exact reason when you watch driver reviews on YouTube you get a different "best" from each guy!! Boils down to personal preference and that is everything!! I do alot of shooting, SIG handguns are widely viewed as the best "factory offering" but I wouldn't give you a nickel for  one!!  The real funny reviews to me are shafts, If you lay out 35 shafts and bring 35 people in there they will all like a different one and chances are very high the "description" written on the shaft isn't even close with a percentage of the golfers. 

[bens197]

51 minutes ago, chisag said:

... I believe if you take the top 5 in any category like the Ping 430 Max, Titleist TSR3, Qi10, Callaway Smoke Max and Exotics E723, 20 different players will have 20 different opinions starting with just looking at the head at a dress....

... All these drivers today are just so good, that a personal preference based on looks won't be much different than another.

This is exactly how I've always interpreted the data.  And I chose the word data purposefully.

The margins are relatively close while respecting the number 1.  I know that I will not be able to hit a Cobra driver.  I cannot get that head to setup properly for my eye...but I will certainly respect its ability to perform.