As part of our hardware testing, we extract key pieces of information to help players make smart purchasing decisions. This year we learned a lot, especially about drivers and the MIA. If you’re in the market for new clubs, let our testing and research help you make more informed decisions. Here are the device testing highlights for 2024.
Subjective feedback and performance do not always match
Golfers often assume that the look, feel and sound of a club reflects its performance.
It’s not true.
Models likeT Squared TS-912ANDCleveland HB Soft 2 #1shooters performed well despite low subjective ratings in our placement test. This theme was also seen during iron and driver testing.
Yes, many clubs had solid data to back up the feel and subjective evaluations, but feel and look alone are not enough to succeed on the course.
Non-adjustable drivers are obsolete
Convenience is here to stay.
Non-adjustable drivers are disappearing from the market. Of the 37 drivers we tested, only one was unadjustable. Manufacturers are realizing that fit is necessary for the performance players demand on the course.
If you’re holding onto a non-adjustable driver because you think it weighs less, let it go. New materials and improvements in technology will make up for the loss.
Don’t overlook clubs that are out of the ordinary
While major brands dominate the market, some lesser-known models produced outstanding results in testing.
In our driver testing, Srixon ZX7 Mk II shone in the distance, the Mizuno ST-G it was the best Mizuno driver we tested and Wilson Dynapower Carbon showed excellent accuracy.
of Haywood Golf fairway wood won the most forgiving fairway wood of 2024. The Forged Axial Ram earned a first three for players (a category where non-mainstream clubs don’t often break through).
If you want to stray from the mainstream, look at the data and you’ll find options where you can get performance from a lesser-known brand.
Here is a list of our most underrated golf equipment of 2024.
Tire mounting options vary by type
The rubber mount is not the same for the hammer and the blades. Blade movers have limited hose options and you will see some brands like PXG, TaylorMade and COBRA with some flexibility and options.
Hammer shooters offer wider mounting options. Rubber mounting is always a good idea, regardless of the type of barrel you are considering.
Distance and accuracy are hard to find in the same club
We weighed accuracy heavily in our best golf club test 2024. What’s the point of investing in new golf clubs if they don’t save you shots? We use strokes gained as a metric to measure accuracy in our golf club testing.
Finding a club that excels in distance and accuracy (Strokes Gained) is tricky. Many drivers seem to gravitate toward distance or accuracy, but something like that PING G430 MAX 10K strikes a pretty good balance.
Moving weights can be a double-edged sword
Here is another important piece of information for drivers. Although floating weights are valuable for changing shot shapes, they can sometimes cause inconsistencies in low-spinning drivers.
We have noticed that the movable weights in COBRA DARKSPEED X created inconsistency. IN Mizuno ST-Gweights helped regulate spin and increased the predictability of stroke results.
The bottom line is if you’re going to play with swing weights, try out the setups when buying the club.
MIA is only one factor in forgiveness
“MOI” is a buzz word in 2024. However, while drivers are increasing their MOI, we’re not always seeing a direct correlation between that and forgiveness.
We measure forgiveness as the ability of a golf club to produce repeatable results. High MOI helps maintain ball speed on off-center shots, but does not provide straighter or more consistent shots.
Some patterns that would not normally be recognized for forgiveness were surprisingly consistent in their results. of Callaway Paradym AI Smoke AND COBRA DARKSPEED LS ranked high in forgiveness metrics even though they were not advertised as the top leaders of the MIA.
It’s important to understand that there can be a difference between MIA and forgiveness when testing (and buying) golf clubs.
Final thoughts
If you missed any of our 2024 golf club tests, here is a summary of each test we did. You’ll find more detailed information on hundreds of golf clubs and how they rank for distance, accuracy and forgiveness.
- The best golf drivers 2024
- The best drivers for high speed movement
- The best drivers for medium movement speed
- The best drivers for low movement speed
- Best Fairway Woods
- The best golf hybrids
- The best irons to use
- The irons of the best player
- Irons in the distance of the best player
- Irons for best game improvement
- The best super game improvement irons
- The best wedges
- The best hammer throwers
- Best Blade Putters
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