Welcome back to another edition of #AskMyGolfSpy where readers like you submit your questions to our experts here at MGS. You can pass along your questions to the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or right here in the comments section below!

Normally it’s Tony Covey answering your questions, but today, we’ve turned it over to the other half of the No Putts Given team, Chris Nickel.

I travel a bunch for work and always wondered if I should do something different with my equipment based on where I play? – Jeremy Sanborn.

Short answer – Yes.

Longer answer. Some adaptations are likely to benefit most golfers while others might feel a bit extra. With that, here’s a quick overview of tweaks worth considering:

• Change your ball. I know, you’re probably thinking that after our first mega ball test, one of the key learnings was “Find a ball and play only that ball.” That’s still sound advice, but with a caveat. At significantly higher elevations, playing a ball with more spin is likely a good idea. Put differently, spin is your friend and there’s less resistance in the air than there is on the ground. In my case, the Titleist ProV1x is an ideal ball when I play in Colorado at 5,000 above sea level. But when I travel to either coast, I swap out the Pro V1x for the lower-launching, lower-spinning ProV1. 
  
• A different way to achieve a similar result is to change the settings on your driver. Increasing the loft on your driver will increase the trajectory, peak height and spin. Decreasing the loft will have the opposite effect. It might take some trial and error to find the optimal adjustment, but that’s all part of the fun, right? 
  
• Often when you travel, you find yourself in unfamiliar conditions. A high-end rangefinder such as the Bushnell Pro X3 can calibrate shot distance based on environmental factors such as temperature, barometric pressure and slope to provide an accurate “plays as” distance. But, at $600, it’s a bit pricey. If that’s out of range, a quick dive into the app store generated roughly 1,540 options. Or, if you own an abacus or routinely work out math problems without pencil and paper:
  • Adjust +/- 2 yards (carry) for every 10° increase/decrease in temperature off the driver. 
  • Adjust +/- 2% carry distance for every increase/decrease of 1,000 ft of elevation change.
  • Remember that increase in humidity will cause the ball to fly marginally farther, NOT shorter.
• If you’re playing in windy conditions, a hurting wind is roughly 1.5X more penal than the same amount of helping wind. For example, if a 10 MPH tailwind causes an increased carry of 10 yards, the same amount of headwind would decrease carry by 15 yards. 
  
• If we really want to get carried away, we can talk about swapping out equipment as well. This one probably only applies to competitive golfers (dare I even suggest those engaged in elite levels of competition). But depending on the course setup, weather conditions, expected wind direction, etc. it might make sense to alter which 14 clubs are in your bag. PING has a handy tool called “Co-Pilot” which may become consumer-facing at some point, but for now, is reserved for its staff of fitters. What Co-Pilot does is allow fitters to show golfers the expected change in trajectory and carry distance when swapping out clubs, without hitting a shot. Yeah, and you thought ChatGPT was cool. 

I recently got fitted for a new set of irons and the fitter/salesperson was really pushing me to get my clubs “pured.” Is it worth it?

When it comes to other people’s money, the only truth is that it’s easy for someone else to spend it. Ultimately, it’s a case of whether or not you believe the cost of the service is worth whatever benefit you’re getting from it (or believe that you’re getting from it).

Now, if you’re asking me, personally, it’s a resounding “hell no.” Here’s why. 

The largest proponents of this service are often club fitters/builders who stand to make a healthy margin on the service. And, no doubt there are golfers who don’t mind paying a bit more for the peace of mind knowing that they’ve done everything possible to eliminate any manufacturing inconsistencies.

That aside, shaft manufacturers will tell you that it isn’t necessary, particularly on high-end shafts that are thoroughly tested for concentricity. Moreover, in speaking with several industry insiders, some of which have examined and tested this topic, the consensus seems to be that juice (AKA, your money) isn’t worth the squeeze.

Also, consider that with any adjustable hosel, should you decide to change the loft/lie, it can change the orientation of the shaft, which essentially eliminates any benefit associated with the “puring” process. 

Bottom line: The quality and consistency of both steel and composite shafts have markedly improved over time. But, as with every purchase, it’s an individual decision. If it’s me, I’m saving that money and buying a couple of extra pints of ice cream. 

Should I work the ball or always try to hit the same shot over and over? 

Well, isn’t this a nice little can o’ worms? It depends on who you ask – and you’re likely going to get conflicting information pending your source of information.

It’s fun to try different shots on the range or attempt Tiger’s “9 window” drill. You know the one – three shot shapes (straight, draw, fade) on three trajectories (low, middle, high). But is this level of mastery necessary to play golf at an elite level? 

I don’t think so. Plenty of golfers with storied careers on the PGA Tour (even some major winners) defer to predominantly a single shot shape. And if it’s true at this level, it’s certainly true for almost everyone reading this. 

Frankly, amateur golfers would be best served if they would commit to the following three pieces of advice:

1. Know how far you actually hit each club in your bag.
2. Play a single shot shape, keeping in mind it can vary based on the club. For example, you might fade the ball with a driver, but play a draw with your irons.
3. Pick optimal targets based on your distance and shot pattern. 

If this sounds a lot like Scott Fawcett’s DECADE system, it should.

Like Ron Burgandy said …

Here’s the caveat. At the most elite levels, some golfers do successfully work the ball on different trajectories and routinely alter shot shape. I’m sure many golfers try to “work” the ball, but the total number of professional players that should, can, and do work the ball is small. Just spit-balling, I’d put the number somewhere between faces on Mt. Rushmore and movies in the Police Academy franchise. 

I’m not sure where this last nugget of wisdom fits best, but scientifically speaking there’s no reason not to try and hit the ball as straight as possible. Generally speaking, straighter = longer. 

How much distance should I have between clubs? 

We’ll finish up with a quick one. If you’re not sure, a great starting point is to take your 7-iron ball speed, divide by 10 and that’s your baseline. So, if you have a 7-iron ball speed of 120 MPH, the distance gap between each club (irons/wedges) should be 12 yards. 

More Questions?

As always, if you have any questions for the MGS crew – drop them below for a chance to be featured in next week’s #AskMyGolfSpy!

The post AskMyGolfSpy Vol. 27 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Would you like to put the Edel SMS or SMS Pro Irons to the test? 

For this review opportunity, we are looking for 4 dedicated readers to test and keep the Edel Irons!

Testers will be able to choos from in-stock shaft options currently listed on Edel’s website and can choose from SMS Irons, SMS Pro Irons, or a blended combo set of irons!

As iron testing for 2023 continues in the MyGolfSpy Lab, it’s important that we hear from our players.

Can we grab your feedback?

TESTERS WANTED

Head to the Edel Testing Thread in the forum to apply.

This opportunity is open to right-handed golfers in the United States.

The post Testers Wanted – Edel SMS & SMS Pro Irons appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Each year around mid-March, the entire golf gear space sets their sights on Augusta National with a flood of limited-edition Masters themed apparel, gear and other accessories. Nothing is better for your heart (and worse for your wallet) than a myriad of green-laden gear showing up at the doorstep.

Not everyone has the chance to take in a final round at Augusta National. Even fewer have the chance to actually play in The Masters. But, the best Masters themed apparel, gear and accessories for 2023 are sure to get you in a southern state of mind.

Take a look at our top picks and celebrate golf’s biggest tournament from the comfort of your own home.

Best Masters Themed Apparel

• NIKE Dri-Fit Victory Golf Polo
• RHOBACK THE AZALEA POLO
• Bad Birdie August Time Sleeveless Golf Polo
• Galvin Green Amen Waterproof Jacket

Best Masters Themed Golf Gear & Accessories

• Stitch SL2 Limited Edition Fadeaway Golf Stand Bag
• Srixon Limited Edition Major Golf Towel
• Srixon Limited Edition Major Staff Bag
• Taylormade TP5 Pix Season Opener Golf Balls
• Waggle “The 87th” Snapback Golf Hat

Best Masters Themed Golf Shoes

• New Balance 997 Spiked Golf Shoes
• G/FORE x Barstool MG4+ Men’s Golf Shoes
• NIKE Infinity Pro 2 Spikeless Golf Shoes

Best Masters Themed Golf Clubs

• Callaway Paradym Limited Edition Drivers

Connor’s Corner – My Favorites

Callaway Paradym Limited Edition Drivers – $699

I’ll let Tony give you the technical rundown here, but Callaway’s limited edition Paradym driver is quite the sight to behold. The typical teal has been replaced by a garish green hue that I’m a big fan of. If you’re in need of a new golf driver, plan on shelling out a little extra “green” for this limited edition product.

CHECK PRICE

Galvin Green Amen Waterproof Jacket – $389

Galvin Green’s premium lineup of waterproof outwear is a perennial winner for a reason. The lightweight Amen Waterproof Jacket features GORE-TEX technology to keep you dry in the wettest of conditions.

I’m more of a fair weather golfer myself, but a jacket this nice is something worth playing in the rain for. I love the subtle green and yellow accents. It doesn’t scream “The Masters”, but still adequately denotes golf’s greatest tournament.

CHECK PRICE

Taylormade TP5 Pix Season Opener Golf Balls – $59.99

TaylorMade’s signature TP5 pix golf ball is the perfect candidate for a floral makeover. The addition of the azalea graphics probably won’t give you an edge on the greens, but they look darned cool.

Whether you plan to collect them or put them right into your bag, the TP5 pix Season Opener golf balls are a great way to satisfy your Masters themed gear craving without upsetting your significant other.

CHECK PRICE

Stitch SL2 Limited Edition Fadeaway Golf Stand Bag – $398

Stitch has some of the best looking golf bags out there, and the mean, lean and green SL2 Limited Edition Fadeaway Stand Bag is no exception. If you prefer to walk or just need something that will make you look like you’re a better golfer than you are, the SL2 from Stitch is a must have.

The SL2 was tested against 41 other golf stand bags, and its best feature was its walkability. If you want a good looking Masters themed golf bag that’s fairly lightweight and easy to carry, this is the bag for you.

CHECK PRICE

New Balance 997 Spiked Golf Shoes – $119.99

The New Balance 997 is one of the most iconic causal silhouettes of all time, and the golf adaptation from New Balance is so darned cool. This comfortable, casual looking golf shoe features a spiked sole and waterproof upper that make it course ready.

Is the New Balance 997 going to be the best performing golf shoe out there? There are definitely better options if performance is your main concern. But, the playful take on The Masters theme and the wearable design make it an easy recommendation for someone looking to up their style game.

CHECK PRICE

Bad Birdie August Time Sleeveless Polo – $84

This one’s for you, ladies! Bad Birdie is anything but basic, and their flamboyant take on The Masters is quite the sight to behold. The fun, floral pattern is perfect for the Spring season. Who needs Azaleas, anyways? The whole Azalea theme can be overplayed quite a bit, so Bad Birdie’s choice of flora is both fantastic and refreshing

They offer the same design for men, too, if you want a matching “his & hers” set.

CHECK PRICE

Waggle “The 87th” Snapback

I love a good hat! Waggle has some of the best out there, including the new “The 87th” snapback inspired by … well … you get the idea. This one is on the subtle side, and the unassuming bystander may not get the reference. But, rest assured, the hat is still “Augusta” through and through.

CHECK PRICE

Your Turn

What’s your favorite piece of Masters themed golf gear? If you have something you can’t bare not to share, shoot me a message on Twitter or Instagram!

The post Best Masters Themed Apparel, Gear, Accessories for 2023 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Do golf shoes actually help you play better? Like me, you’ve probably asked yourself that question. Or, like me, you’ve left your golf shoes at home and been forced to play a round in something not so suitable for the course.

You wouldn’t dare hit the course with a hockey stick instead of a putter, would you? There’s a lesson in there somewhere. Just because it looks like it might work for golf doesn’t mean that it will. More on that in a minute.

As any self-respecting journalist does, I read the comments about my work so I can try to do better. This year we had multiple readers share their experience with trail running shoes on the golf course and it rekindled a flame of curiosity that I’d had months ago.

Trail Running Shoes Versus Spikeless Golf Shoes

Are trail running shoes a suitable replacement for spikeless golf shoes? Are there any trade-offs? The fact that some of you choose not to wear a designated golf shoe in favor of something else is an interesting take that needs further exploring.

At first glance, it’s clear that, like spikeless golf shoes, trail running shoes use a host of rubber lugs to increase traction. If you compare 10 different trail running shoes to 10 spikeless golf shoes, you’ll surely find one or two with a more aggressive traction pattern than a shoe designed for golf.

If our rigorous golf shoe testing has taught me anything, it’s that not all (golf) shoes are created equal. A few of the spikeless golf shoes we tested this year hardly deserved the name. Some had subpar traction and others lacked stability.

Speaking of testing—it’s only right that we test the hypothesis. So, will it golf?

Let’s find out.

Testing Criteria

The test itself is simple. I took the best spikeless golf shoe of 2023, the adidas CodeChaos 22, and put it up against one of the most popular trail shoes out right now, the HOKA Speedgoat 5. Each shoe was put through a rigorous test to determine a winner.

For those who aren’t familiar with how we test, this is what to look for when choosing a spikeless golf shoe.

• Comfort. Above all else, a spikeless golf shoe should be comfortable. If you can’t walk 18 or 36 holes right out of the box, then the shoe isn’t comfortable enough.
• Stability. Golf is a game of inches and you can’t afford to give up distance or accuracy because your shoe is unstable. A stable spikeless golf shoe should keep you from rolling over or sliding over the footbed.
• Traction. Both spikeless golf shoes and trail running shoes should provide enhanced traction, but is one better than the other? Good luck making a solid swing if your shoes won’t grip and allow you to use the ground.
• Elements. You can’t control the weather but you can control your choice of golf footwear. A good spikeless golf shoe should be waterproof.

It’s important to note that, while I could have also tested a pair of spiked golf shoes, the test would be unfair to the trail running shoes. Because spikeless golf shoes and trail running shoes often share similarities in the sole, it was only right to compare them.

The Competitors

• adidas CodeChaos 22. The best spikeless golf shoe of 2023. Enough said!
• HOKA Speedgoat 5. A trail running shoe that has a lot to prove.

Round 1: Comfort

Of the four testing criteria, comfort had the most predictable outcome. The HOKA Speedgoat 5 was the clear winner.

The CodeChaos 22 is a darned comfortable spikeless golf shoe but the HOKA Speedgoat 5’s pillowy midsole was a joy to walk in. It’s no knock on the CodeChaos 22, though, as the Speedgoat 5 was the heavy favorite going into Round 1.

Round 2: Stability

Despite a promising performance in the first round, Round 2 was not so favorable for the HOKA Speedgoat 5. If there’s one thing that really separates a trail running shoe from a shoe designed specifically for golf, it’s stability. The testing made it very clear that a trail running shoe such as the HOKA Speedgoat 5 isn’t meant to handle the twisting forces of the golf swing while the adidas CodeChaos 22 stayed strong and stable throughout.

If you don’t want to turn or roll your ankle, stick with a spikeless golf shoe. Most spikeless golf shoes have purposeful outriggers and rigid midsections in order to keep your foot contained and stop the shoe from twisting. These key design features promote stability that a trail shoe can’t match.

It’s noteworthy to mention that trail running shoes like the Hoka Speedgoat 5 aren’t necessarily unstable. There’s still a certain level of stability a shoe must have for rugged terrain. But running stability is very different from golf stability. A stable running shoe helps keep the foot in a neutral position while a stable golf shoe focuses more on caging and using the powerful downward and lateral movements of the lower body in the golf swing.

Round 3: Traction

A quick glance at the bottom of both shoes offers a glimmer of hope for the Speedgoat 5. If anything, the rubber lugs seem like they’ll at least provide some grip. The traction test was admittedly the most competitive of the bunch but the adidas CodeChaos 22 emerged superior. Not that the Speedgoat 5 didn’t land a few punches. Its traction performed pretty darned well, all things considered.

You’ll notice that the CodeChaos 22 has far more traction lugs than the Hoka Speedgoat 5, which does make a difference.

The number of lugs isn’t the only thing that matters, though. Their shape and size matter nearly as much. The CodeChaos 22 features multiple shapes and sizes of lugs oriented in all different directions. As well, different portions of the sole feature varying lug designs. This provides complete coverage whether you’re moving left, right, up or down. The Speedgoat 5, on the other hand, has only one lug size and type.

The easiest way to picture the difference is to look at tire treads. Some tires feature symmetrical patterns (similar to the Speedgoat 5) and others feature asymmetrical patterns (like the Codechaos 22). Any guess as to which type of tire is best in slippery conditions?

While the symmetrical pattern on the Speedgoat 5 provides some traction, the high-performance asymmetrical pattern of the CodeChaos 22 provides better all-around grip. The Speedgoat 5 performed well in dry conditions but the minute moisture was introduced, its traction was compromised. The adidas Codechaos 22 held firm in both wet and dry conditions.

Round 4: Elements

Surprised the Hoka Speedgoat 5 lasted until Round 4? At this point, the fight is over. If there was a proverbial knockout blow, it was this category. The Speedgoat 5 features a mostly mesh upper with some TPU overlays near the toe for durability. That said, the shoe is far from waterproof or even water resistant, for that matter. Water permeates its mesh membrane with ease which means you’re stuck with wet socks for the entirety of your round.

The CodeChaos 22’s mesh body is encased in a plastic layer that makes it extremely water-resistant. Not only will the CodeChaos 22 keep your feet dry but the water-resistant TPU layer makes it easier to clean, too.

By Unanimous Decision

If you haven’t pieced it together by now, here’s the verdict: the adidas CodeChaos 22 is a far superior option than the Hoka Speedgoat 5. This toe-to-toe bout made it very clear to me, as I hope it did you, that trail running shoes lack some of the key “ingredients” that make a golf shoe a golf shoe.

Are there trail running shoes out there that may perform better? I’m not sure. At this point, though, I’m willing to conclude that if you value stability, traction and a shoe that handles the elements … stick with a spikeless golf shoe.

If comfort is the only thing you need from a “golf shoe,” then you can probably get by with a trail running shoe like the Speedgoat 5. But as a product expert, I’d advise against it if your goal is to play your best.

The post Will It Golf? Trail Running Shoe Versus Best Spikeless Golf Shoe appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

‘Tis the season for … well, for many things, but it’s the time of year when Limited Edition products hit the golf market and everyone involved in making, marketing, and selling them goes out of their way to avoid saying it’s to celebrate the Masters – even if we all know that’s exactly what it is.

Trademarks, people. (FWIW, Augusta National’s legal team sends the most polite cease and desist letters. There’s truly something to be said for southern hospitality.)

I digress …

While we expect there will be more, we’ll credit Callaway with being the first in 2023 to announce a special/limited edition driver. Launching through its Callaway Customs program is a special green and yellow version of the Paradym driver – and no, that doesn’t make it an Epic (at least I don’t think it does).

This Limited Edition is 100% Paradym, and with that, you get Callaway’s 360° carbon chassis, which the company says produces unparalleled distance and tighter dispersion.

The Rest of the Paradym Limited Edition Package

As part of the Paradym Limited Edition Driver package, you also get a HZRDUS Silver shaft with a custom cosmetic and perhaps most notably, a Callaway Customs headcover which pulls the package together and reinforces the theme of the day (which is the Masters, even if Callaway can’t say it).

As is typical for these sorts of releases, the Paradym Limited Edition Driver carries a hefty upcharge.

The street price is $699.99 and while that kind of hike is tough to swallow on paint alone, the headcover is well-executed, so for guys who love the season’s first major or themed headcovers, it’s not particularly egregious.

Paradym Limited Edition Driver – Specs and Availability

The Callaway Paradym Limited Edition Driver is available in 9- and 10.5-degrees in right-hand only. The Custom Limited HZRDUS Silver shaft is available in 50g (regular) and 60g (stiff). The stock grip is a Golf Pride New Decade MCC (Black/Green).

Only 750 will be sold globally.

A limited number of Paradym Triple Diamond heads are also available.

For more information or to buy your Paradym Limited Edition Driver, visit CallawayGolf.com.

The post Callaway Paradym Limited Edition Drivers appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Edison 2.0 Forged Wedges – Key Takeaways

• Updated 1025 forged wedges from “The Wedge Guy,” Terry Koehler
• More mass higher on the clubface – brings flight down and spin up
• $199.99 in steel, $214.95 in graphite with a 30-day risk-free trial
• Pre-sale starts today at edisonwedges.com.

Should the new Edison 2.0 forged wedges be on your radar? Well, that depends.

Are you a wedge-neck?

If, at some point over the past 20 years, you’ve been a fan of Eidolon, SCOR or Hogan wedges, you might just be a wedge-neck.

If you find you hit your approach wedges a tad too high and a tad too short, you might just be a wedge-neck.

And if you don’t think playing a wedge from someone other than Vokey, Cleveland, Callaway, PING or TaylorMade is foolishness or heresy…

Well, you really might just be a wedge-neck.

So, should the Edison 2.0 forged wedges be on your radar? Wedge-neck or not, it might not be a bad idea.

Edison 2.0 Forged Wedges: “Distancency”

Terry Koehler may be the original wedge-neck. His new Edison 2.0 forged wedges are the latest in a wedge-neck family tree that includes the Hogan TK15 and his original SCOR and Eidolon wedges. In fact, the tree goes all the way back to the old Reid Lockhart company in the 90s.

“My work with wedges over 30 years is to try to help give you management and control over ball flight,” he tells MyGolfSpy. “If you control ball flight, you control distance.”

Spin may be the sizzle that sells wedges, but consistent distance is the steak.

We already have “spinsistency.” Since we’re making up words today, is there any reason we can’t call it “distsistency?”

“With wedges, your objective is pinpoint distance control,” says Koehler. “If you miss the sweet spot by a quarter of an inch or even an eighth of an inch, what you really want is to get the same distance.”

What’s the opposite of “fargiveness?”

Shortgiveness?

“Whether you hit your gap wedge 75 yards or 118 yards doesn’t matter. You need to be able to hit that distance with consistency.”

And while a sizable chunk of that comes down to the archer, Koehler believes we weekend warriors can benefit some by using the right arrow. And in this case, the right arrow includes more beefed-up mass behind the impact zone than your standard Tour-style wedge.

Mass Displacement

Over his 30 years as a designer, Koehler has studied the impact locations of thousands of recreational golfers’ wedges. He found that even low single digits tend to make contact higher on the face and over a larger area than Tour pros. That’s one reason, says Koehler, why we mere mortals can’t get consistent wedge performance.

“The physics of the golf club don’t know who you are, only where the impact is made. A high face or high toe impact is going to lose up to 15- to 18-percent impact efficiency.”

Koehler’s original Edison wedges featured a sizable amount of mass high in the impact zone. The new Edison 2.0 forged wedges feature even more.

“There’s this multi-level back on the new wedges,” he says. “There’s a little cutout on the sort of swoosh right below the top pad on the back. The weight came out of that center depression.

“Depending on loft, we were able to move 14 to 17 grams of weight up above the point of impact by about an inch. That’s a big move on a golf club.”

That means, essentially, a higher center of gravity. If you go back and read any MyGolfSpy article on virtually any iron release over the past six or seven years, you’ll find everyone is trying to move iron CG lower. That’s the help the less-than-perfect ball striker get the damn ball up in the air. What Koehler is talking about is more mass higher on the club to bring ball flight down, even if you tend to hit it around the seventh groove instead of the third groove.

An Industry Trend?

Koehler and Edison certainly aren’t the only wedge makers raising the center of gravity (high-toe wedges, anyone?). But you can make a case Koehler has been doing it longer. He had his first aha moment in the early ‘90s on a trip to St Andrews in Scotland. After a miserable round, he convinced the folks at Auchterlonies Golf Shop to let him experiment with a new sole grind on his Cleveland 588.

“I ground the crap out of that thing,” he says. “I took a good 15 or 20 grams off the sole – it looked awful. But to get the weight back, I had to put a whole bunch of lead tape on the middle of the golf club.

“One of the first things I saw was my ball flight changed immensely.”

That inspired the thickness of Koehler’s Reid Lockhart wedges and, later, similar designs for Eidolon, SCOR and Hogan. And now Edison.

“The SCOR wedges came from testing new groove geometry after the USGA changed the groove rules,” he says. “I had to move weight up even more to make up for lost spin with the new grooves.”

A man who’s never afraid to have an opinion, Koehler also says groove enhancements over the years probably have more to do with moisture management than adding spin.

“When you look at the minute, microscopic changes we can make to groove geometries and still stay within the USGA rules, what we can do with spin is minimal,” he explains. “Milling techniques are better, and we’ve learned if we angle the edges of the grooves, we can technically make the edge play a hair sharper, but I can’t actually sharpen the groove. The rules won’t let me do that.”

Edison 2.0: The Sole Story

The other evolution that came out of that afternoon at Auchterlonies was the birth of what’s become known as the Koehler Sole. It’s the original – and often imitated – versatile V-sole that makes grind and bounce lovers’ heads explode.

“The wedge category suffers from what I call the ‘G and G Syndrome.’ It’s all grooves and grinds,” says Koehler. “OEMs want you to think there’s a perfect sole grind for you. I’m like, ‘that’s great, but what’s your next wedge lie going to look like? Is it in the fairway? The left rough? A fairway bunker?

“I’ve always found the notion of ‘bounce fitting’ to be absurd because the texture of the turf, the array of possible lies, and every golfer’s divot pattern are all variable. How can anyone claim to fit things that are constantly changing?”

In theory, the “Koehler Sole” is high bounce on the leading edge and low bounce on the trailing edge, depending on how you use it. In the 2.0 models, the sole on the leading-edge side has been widened a bit, while the bounce on the trailing edge has been reduced a bit to help with soft sand play.

And if you’re going to ask if this is so good, why don’t Tour players use it, don’t. Koehler says Tour players don’t play this type of sole – or this type of wedge, for that matter – because they simply don’t need it.

“They’ve got magical short games,” he says. “I don’t worry about them. My market is the six- to 20-handicapper. He’s not playing Tour cut fairways. He’s playing out of the rough more often, and doesn’t consistently hit it down on the third or fourth groove.”

On Course With The Edison 2.0

And speaking of not hitting it consistently on the third or fourth groove, we were able to give the Edison 2.0 forged wedges a try over the weekend. It was the first round of the year up here in New England, so we were pleased to hit any of the grooves. And while it’s hardly an actual test, we can share a few findings with you.

The Edison 2.0 is made from 1025 carbon steel with a five-step forging process. The result is a crisp sound and feel with enough feedback to know the difference between flushing it and a slight miss. The high mass was most evident on 30- to 50-yard partial shots, with low trajectory and hop ‘n stop spin.

If you’ve never chipped with a Koehler-type V-sole, it can take some getting used to. The learning curve, however, isn’t very steep, and the versatility is welcome. After the round, my playing partner asked if the Edison 2.0 forged wedges would stay in the bag. It’s hard to make that call after just one round (I’ve been playing Cleveland ZipCore wedges since 2021 and am a big fan), but there was enough to warrant more on-course trial.

The original Edison wedges were included in MyGolfSpy’s 2022 Most Wanted Wedge testing. They finished almost smack-dab in the middle: 13 points out of first place, 13 points out of last place. It did, however, rate well with testers on the intangibles of style and feel.

Edison 2.0 Forged Golf Wedges: Specs, Pricing and Final Thoughts

There’s no real “stock” Edison 2.0 wedge. You pick the shaft, grip and loft you want, and Edison will make it for you. The heads are available in odd numbers from 45 to 59 degrees (just to be different), and Edison will bend them to an even number if that’s what you order.

As for shafts, the KBS Tour in R, S, and X flex are standard steel. The KBS PGI in A, R and S are standard graphite. If you want something else, tell Edison and they’ll get it for you, most likely at an upcharge.

It’s the same with grips. Lamkin Crossline Grey in regular or midsize are standard, but they can get you anything. Things like grip wraps and loft, lie and length adjustments are no extra charge.

If you’re looking for a cheap wedge, look elsewhere. The Edison 2.0 forged wedge will run you $199.95 in steel, and $214.95 in graphite. That’s a bit of a pill to swallow, especially for a direct-to-consumer wedge. Edison does, however, offer a straightforward, risk-free 30-day trial. You get a month to hit every shot imaginable at your home course. If you don’t like it, send it back and Edison will refund your money.

There’s still a cult-like following for Koehler’s previous wedge work (particularly SCOR), and the new Edison 2.0 forged wedges share the same DNA. It might be hard to get past the $199.95 per wedge toll, especially for the golfer on a budget. But if you are a fan of Koehler’s previous work, the new Edison’s should definitely be on your list.

And if you’re willing to take a shot with that 30-day risk-free trial, dare I say…

You might just be a wedge-neck.

For more information, visit edisonwedges.com.

The post Edison 2.0 Forged Golf Wedges appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried

TaylorMade MySpider GTX Custom putter interface– The online design interface that allows golfers to create customized versions of TaylorMade’s new Spider GTX putter.

Your Custom Builder

Dave Wolfe – MyGolfSpy writer and putter fanatic. I’ve tested hundreds (maybe thousands) of flatsticks.

TaylorMade MySpider GTX Designer

Golf is big on traditions. We can use The Masters as the prime example. That tournament is steeped in tradition. Its mere existence is a tradition we celebrate. How many of us started Days Until The Masters countdowns with a number over 50? Some folk start the countdown to the next Masters as soon as the current green jacket is presented.

Like I said, traditions are a part of this game we love.

While admittedly not on the same scale, TaylorMade has its own (putter-building) tradition. For the past few years, the newest TaylorMade Spider putter release has been accompanied by a custom MySpider build option. OK, so one time it was MyTP instead. Not a Spider but still a cool custom program for building non-off-the-rack putters.

This year, TaylorMade released the new Spider GTX mallet putter, an evolution of the 2022 Spider GT mallet. Keeping with tradition, the MySpider GTX program soon followed. Once again, golfers are able to take the newest TaylorMade Spider model and create a version that is uniquely personal.

As expected, the design options are extensive. Here are possible build parameters for your MySpider GTX mallet.

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Build Options: TaylorMade MySpider GTX Custom Designer

• Head shape: Spider GTX
• Dexterity: Right or left (short-slant and single-bend hosels only for LH)
• Head finish: 13 paint options RH; 10 options LH
• Hosel: Single-bend, center-shaft, short-slant or L-neck (plumber’s)
• Hosel color: Black or silver
• True Path Alignment: Optional
• Alignment scheme: Five alignment options: no alignment, sight dot, triple dot, short sight line or long sight line
• Face insert: 22 paint options for the Pure Roll2 insert with co-molded grooves
• True Path color options: 14, including golf ball yellow
• Rear bar colors: Silver or black
• Rear badge colors: Silver or black
• GT side logo: 15 color options
• Shaft: Black or chrome
• Shaft band color: Eight options
• Length: 32-37 inches
• Grip: Various SuperStroke, Golf Pride and Lamkin models. Most color options in SuperStroke 1.0 GTR and 1.0 Pistol.
• Headcover: Multi-colored MySpider

Evolving Options with the MySpider GTX

It’s interesting to see how the MySpider options vary with head design. For example, the MySpider GT didn’t have rear-bar options since the putter didn’t have a rear bar. The change in putter head shape influences the options.

Initially, I was surprised that custom engraving was not a MySpider GTX option. As it turns out, the area on the MySpider GT putter that had the engraving is missing from the MySpider GTX. The aforementioned rear weight bar sits in the engraving space. Like I said, change the putter, change the options.

As to why you couldn’t engrave the bar instead, that we may never know.

Left-Handed Options

TaylorMade didn’t forget lefties. You, too, can build a MySpider GT mallet putter. This will be welcome news but it’s tempered a bit as the options are fewer for left-handed builds. Maybe it’s a machinery issue but only two neck options are available in LH. Oddly, color options decrease for left-handed models. Who would have thought that a pink finish could only be applied to right-handed putters?

Dave’s MySpider GTX

Brace yourself. For the second cycle in a row, my custom Spider contains not a drop of purple. I know. I find the lack of purple surprising as well. Maybe the MyStealth 2 Plus driver’s purple satisfied my grape compulsion.

As you can tell, I took the putter in a totally different direction. This time, the palette played predominantly pink. Why pink? I’m not sure. Perhaps the color just caught my eye when I was in the interface. Ultimately, I wanted to see what it would look like when finished.

The Pink Putter Pops

Every time I open the MySpider box for the first time, I can’t help but smile. Even though I know what is coming, seeing the putter in person produces a bit of glee. This time, the pink finish was a surprise. Yes, I knew it would be pink but I did not expect it to be so metallic and shiny. I suppose I should have, since the stock Spider GTX models are glossy, especially the blue one.

Still, the finish was the real over-deliver feature for the MySpider GTX program. I am also glad I went with the black sight line. That, too, was pink in the initial build but I changed it to increase the contrast at address. So far, it seems to be working well on the greens.

My only knock on the colors would be with the shaft band. That pink color doesn’t match the putter’s shade of pink or the grip’s pink. Obviously, I can just take it off if it irritates me too much. Seeing that pink shaft band not match was the only design-to-delivery downer but not a large one.

TaylorMade MySpider GT Interface Issues: Alignment Selection Glitch?

As per usual, the TaylorMade MySpider GTX build interface is very user-friendly. Like I said about the MySpider GT designer, it’s really a click-click-done process. Outside of a bit of loading time as the photos are updated with design changes, everything is smooth sailing.

This time, there was one bit of a buggy situation. When I was scrolling down for the alignment options, the visuals were off. Sometimes I couldn’t see any options and other times the background of the drop-down menu was missing. See the photo above.

It does seem like this glitch has been repaired. I believe I built the putter on the first or second day the interface was live. This was probably just an early bug that was quickly patched. One other thing I noticed is, if you switch back and forth between left- and right-handed heads, the color options get stuck. Just refresh the page and the colors will reset.

Satisfaction and Value

It’s $70 to go from stock Spider GTX to a custom MySpider GTX. Unlike yours truly, most of you are sane when it comes to putters. You buy a putter and then use it for years or even decades. If this is you, and you are going to pay $350 for a new Spider GTX, why not spend that extra $70 for a putter made just how you want it?

Maybe you are more of a Last Season’s Gear shopper. Good news on that front. TaylorMade has lowered the price of the MySpider GT program to $299. If that putter works for you, now you can get it customized for less.

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The Takeaway

TaylorMade has delivered a blissfully repetitive product with the MySpider GTX custom designer. Year after year, the program produces amazing custom Spider putters, delivered in about four weeks. There was one interface glitch this time around that now seems to be fixed. Sure, it would be great to see equal numbers of options in left-handed models. Typically, the options for left-handed players sits around zero, though.

Naturally, not all of you are going to gravitate to the colors and potential boldness opportunities. That’s fine. The beauty of golf is that while it is steeped in tradition, it is also a sport that welcomes individuality. We all have different swings and like different things about the game. That’s OK.

Perhaps that “diverse unity” is golf’s greatest tradition.

Design your own MySpider GTX at TaylorMadegolf.com.

The post We Tried It: TaylorMade MySpider GTX Custom Putter Designer appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

• PING announces 2023 PLD Limited Edition putter line.
• Based on PING’s Grand Slam putter win in 1988.
• The first limited-edition putter, the PLD Pal, drops April 4 at 2 p.. Eastern (MSRP $990).

PING announced today that they will be continuing their PLD (Putting Lab Design) Limited-Edition line. This is cause for celebration as putter collectors and PING fans rapidly devoured the 2022 PLD Anser Patent 55 Limited Edition line.

Refreshing your memory: the 2022 limited run celebrated the 55th anniversary of Karsten Solheim’s Anser design with four fully milled Asner putters, each constructed from a different metal.

For the 2023 line, PING will once again be celebrating one of their historical achievements. In 1988, PING putters were used by the winners of all four men’s majors. That had never happened before and has not happened since.

That’s a wild statistic. I would have put money on Odyssey or Scotty Cameron being able to make a similar claim in the past 35 years. I would have lost that bet. Only PING has done it. No wonder PING is calling these putters the “PING Slam” collection.

First up in the release cycle will be the 1988 Masters-winning version of the PING Pal wielded by Sandy Lyle.

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2023 PLD PING Pal Limited Edition

The first PING PLD limited-edition putter released will be a modernized version of the PING Pal. As with all of these new limited-edition putters, the new putter will be a new 100-percent milled design but that design will still be based upon Karsten Solheim’s original Pal blueprint.

A lot of what we did back then is still critical to our putter designs today, so we went to great lengths to maintain the subtleties of each model while giving them the precise details and strikingly clean, premium appearance made possible through the milling process.

PING Executive Chairman John A. Solheim

While we all know the Anser has a long history of tournament wins, I didn’t realize the Pal has its share as well. Check out the Pal’s tournament pedigree:

• The Pal won five other men’s majors before winning at Augusta in 1988.
• Used to win more than 100 PGA TOUR events.
• Used to win the Open Championship three out of four years in the early 1980s..
• In 1977, used by the first player (Al Geiberger) to shoot 59 in a PGA TOUR event.

The PLD version of the PING Pal will be milled by the PING WRX craftsmen in Phoenix, Ariz. This Pal will be machined from a single billet of aluminum bronze (AlBz). The natural finish should allow it to patina over time as a AlBz putter from 1988 would have. The putter will include a head cover commemorating the Masters win as well as a numbered certificate of authenticity.

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New Release Every Tuesday of the Majors

The PLD Pal is the first putter in the new line and it will be available on April 4, the Tuesday of Masters week. From there, we can expect to see the subsequent releases corresponding with the rest of this year’s men’s majors. Nothing like adding a bit more excitement to already exciting weeks.

Once again, these putters will be limited in number. Only 88 of each will be produced. As they were in 2022, they will be expensive, carrying a MSRP of $990 (limit one per household). PING is adding one other purchase option this year. Should you want the whole set, on Dec. 5, you can purchase one of 35 “Ping Slam” sets for $4,990.

If these are anything like the Patent 55 Limited Edition Ansers from last year, expect these putters to be very popular and fleeting in the marketplace. Those 2022 putters sold out in minutes and now fetch a premium price on the secondary market—if you can find one. For reference, I really wanted the copper Patent 55 Anser from last year and missed out on the release. There is one up for sale on eBay right now—for $4,000!

Unfortunately, that means the flippers will want these as much as the collectors. Yet another reason to be fingers at the ready when the clock hits 2 p.m. Eastern on April 4. Happy hunting to those of you looking to add this new Pal to your circle of friends.

Find out more about the 2023 PING PLD Limited-Edition putters at pingpld.com

The post PING PLD “PING Slam” Limited Edition Putters appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Dean Snell is pretty well qualified to weigh in on last week’s USGA and R&A proposed Model Local Rule. Especially on a new Overall Distance Standard (ODS) test and how golf ball manufacturers will be affected it’s fair to call him a certified expert.

Evidence shows up in the 40+ golf ball patents he holds (and ones pending) from his time with Titleist, TaylorMade and most recently Snell Golf, the direct-to-consumer ball company he founded in March, 2015.

More proof comes with this little nugget of trivia: Snell appeared as an expert witness for the prosecution AND the defence in the 2008 Titleist versus Callaway golf ball patent litigation.

“Still makes me laugh,” says Snell, who graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in plastics engineering.

Titleist and TaylorMade Tenures

TaylorMade’s Vice-President of Research and Development for 18-years his fingerprints are all over the TP Red and Black, Penta (golf’s first five layer ball), Lethal, TOUR Preferred, Noodle, RocketBallz and Project (a).

Before that Snell spent seven-years in Fairhaven, Mass. co-inventing the original Titleist Pro V1 and Professional. He’s also listed as a co-designer of Tour Prestige, HP2 and HP2 Distance.

Snell Golf’s Focus

Today the approach he’s taken with Snell Golf is, “No Tour Contracts, No Extra Costs, No B.S.”.

Being an e-commerce, direct-to-consumer business model he’s distanced himself (pun intended) from an on-going soap opera with enough story angles, twists and bad-blood it could main event, Wrestlemania 39 next month.

Watching this Battle Royal play itself out from a seat in the stands suits Snell fine.

Ask him what he thinks about it all he’s happy to oblige.

On the Modern Ball for Recreational Players

When you’re the co-inventor of Titleist Pro V1 no surprise Snell is an advocate of the modern golf ball.

Wound-core and solid core construction brought together produced a performance confluence of tour-level spin control AND distance capability.

For recreational playing consumers the modern ball has been a revelation.

“Golf is a hard, hard sport to play. I don’t know if that gets mentioned enough in this debate,” he says. “Taking spin out of the ball in my opinion has brought more people to the game and its kept more people in the game. Look at young kids playing now and how good they are at such a young age. Look how much longer people play because they still hit it a comfortable distance. That keeps it fun for them. If you gave a 15-20 handicap golfer today a Tour Balata of yesterday I don’t believe they would enjoy the game as much.”

What About the Pro Game?

Snell would never deny that multi-layer, solid core golf balls have been a game changer for touring professionals. Pro V1 was built to be more consistent, durable, straighter and, yes, longer AND have a Tour Balata level of spin control.

Is the modern ball the root cause of this debate on distance? Snell contends that it’s one of four equal factors that have contributed to escalation at the game’s top level (more on that in a second)

As a television product he thinks professional golf has advanced way beyond the Big Three era of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player and even surpassed the late 90’s and early 2000’s viewing when Tiger and Phil dominated.

On weekends he watches PGA Tour coverage religiously.

“It’s gone from stagnant and a little bland to a lot more interesting,” he says. “The same guys don’t win every week. One week it’s an athletic guy who wins with his distance, the next week it’s a guy with his putting and wedge play. Doesn’t change our game when we go out and play but for me it’s entertaining and more fun to watch.”

Is the USGA and R&A Model Local Rule a setback for the television product if codified?

“It could be,” Snell shrugs. “I appreciate architectural people saying a shorter ball brings back angles and maybe how a designer intended a course to play but that doesn’t show well on television. Players are the product, courses are the arenas.”

Bifurcation by Any Other Name

One of his main takeaways from last week’s rollback announcement was the governing bodies admission that distance is now officially on the clock as an issue that concerns golf’s less than 1% of tour pros and elite amateurs while allowing recreational golf equipment to go forward unimpeded.

Snell is pleased the USGA and R&A finally stated that for the record.

That said he still considers the MLR, “bifurcation” even if thinly disguised as a choice rather than a mandate.

“I’ll always believe one set of rules is best for the game,” he says.

Tackling the Model Local Rule

In 2004 the USGA and R&A implemented its current Overall Distance Standard (ODS) for golf ball testing. Thresholds were a maximum of 317 yards (+ a 3-yard tolerance) and launch conditions set at 120 mph, 2,520 rpm and a launch angle of 10-degrees.

What the governing bodies have proposed is an updated testing procedure that maintains 317 yards (+ 3-yard tolerance) but moves launch parameters to 127 mph, 2,250 rpm and 11-deg launch.

No current golf ball used on Tour will conform under these updated guidelines. That means golf ball manufacturers will have no choice but to re-tool every aspect of their franchise products to satisfy player expectations and USGA, R&A requirements.

“Sounds simple to say, hey, let’s go make balls 15-20 yards shorter but it’s not,” Snell says. “There’s a trickle down of build problems that require step-by-step, layer-by-layer solutions for R&D. All of the things you put into the design of a golf ball don’t only relate to the driver. They relate to total performance tee to green. Every aspect of the game changes.”

Offense to Defence

When Snell started at Titleist, Tour Balata had 4,000 rpm of spin. The ODS proposal calls for spin to be set for 2,200 rpm. Not much question bringing back Tour Balata spin levels at 1,800 mph more spin would shorten up golf balls.

But does it fundamentally change the game at the Tour level from offence to defence?

“Players will try and control the driver with a lower trajectory and the ball isn’t going as far so distance will come down,” Snell says. “At the same time iron spin will rise and for wedges it goes up a lot – to about 10,000 rpm. That becomes a problem in windy conditions and for holding greens and pulling balls back. Definitely, it impacts a player’s ability to control shots.”

How Will Manufacturers Tackle a New World Order?

When a golf ball manufacturer like Snell Golf submits prototypes to the USGA and R&A for testing they do everything possible to maximize speed, spin rate and aerodynamics to keep product just below legal.

That’s the competitive nature of the category.

“If you get things where you’re supposed to you’ve pushed the speed limit on velocity and distance because everyone plays there,” Snell says.

Swing speed being effectively two-thirds of ball speed seven more miles-per-hour at impact pushes current balls way past the conforming thresholds.

Snell says designing compliant products through CAD (computer aided design) is one thing, producing them is another.

“Every company will have to look at different core design, changing mantle layers, different covers that create more spin or designing to solve the problem with dimple pattern. Doing this strictly on aerodynamic basis would be tough. You’d have to design some crazy dimples to get to the speed and spin rate they want to test at,” he adds.

How Snell Would Do It

Happily he doesn’t have to but if Snell had a vested interest in the Tour to satisfy a new ODS his first order of business would be to assess the proposed USGA and R&A test conditions with current product.

Once complete he’d move to a discovery phase of whether an aerodynamic design keeping the same spin is the best way forward or if a combination of aerodynamics and spin is the more practical approach.

“You’d do the evaluations and it could work out to be both,” he says. “By adding some spin, not too much, adding some drag, not too much, your goal is to create a ball that would be under but still close to 320 yards (+3 yard) at 127 mph.”

Strictly as an aerodynamics modification, Snell would look at patterning changes for dimple design as soon as possible.

“Every product is different. Every aerodynamic out there is different. When you go on a launch monitor or play in simulators there’s a programmed model in there that gives you spin, launch, speed and it uses a model to calculate distance. Works great but its not real life when it comes to golf ball specifics. There’s different lift and drag forces on every dimple pattern. Some of them are designed for faster speeds, to keep the ball in the air longer and for some company’s it’s that second stage flight that assists with carry.”

And if he identified spin as the best means for achieving a rolled back tour product?

“As I said before spin impacts every shot in the bag. You’d do your due diligence with tour data and work from there,” he answered, “Especially on shots from 125-130 yards into the green where it really counts out there.”

Who’s Picking Up the Tab?

Everything involved with a distance rollback comes with a significant cost factor. Snell cites re-tooling to create a new set of deeper dimples to slow a Urethane cover ball down as “an extremely expensive undertaking”.

Not insignificant is the re-engineering and R&D investment required in multiple areas for prototyping, in-house testing and tour testing.

“When you go out on Tour and give this shorter ball to Rory (McIlroy) if you’re TaylorMade or to Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth if you’re Titleist no one is buying that ball. The pros don’t buy it and consumers won’t buy it because its 15-20 yards shorter. In the end the manufacturers will want their money back from this. If you’re already trying to protect recreational consumers and keep the balls people are actually buying in a controlled price range you’re potentially adding millions of dollars in R&D, manufacturing retooling costs and tour support for a product for less than 1% of golfers. Someone is paying for that and it shouldn’t be the consumer,” Snell says.

Wait…How Many Pro V1’s???

Titleist has multiple golf ball models in use on the PGA Tour. Some are older Pro V1 or Pro V1x models players won’t change out of. Others have specific performance characteristics like Left Dash and Left Dot.

Snell hasn’t had to look at a weekly Darrell Survey golf ball count for seven years but he has a pretty good idea what Titleist, for example, would be dealing with.

“They probably have 12-15 balls they’d have to look at,” he says. “And I can guarantee Titleist will not make 15 new models. They’ll probably make one or two of each and the players will have to learn to play with them. That means different levels of feel if you change spin and different levels of feel for changes to aerodynamics.”

Shit Show Scenario

The USGA and R&A have initiated another six month Notice and Comment Period on the MLR through August 14.

Equipment manufacturers, tour administrators, players and individuals running elite amateur competitions will have an opportunity to provide feedback like they have with the Distance Insights project.

Social media is already buzzing with ‘What If’ scenarios.

The U.S. Open and Open Championship are obvious locks to implement the MLR. Voicing distance concerns for quite some time The Masters will as well. After that? The PGA of America don’t seem enthused and the PGA Tour and other tours worldwide are assessing what a rollback will mean to their product. Both organizations, of course, are more tightly aligned with golf ball manufacturers.

Reasonable the NCAA, regional and independent tour associations, including junior tours, would fall in line with whatever the Tour decides since they’re part of professional golf’s development ramp.

So, if the PGA Tour turns thumbs down? A veritable shit-show awaits in prospect.

“I don’t think it will come to that but if it did ‘shit-show’ is a good way to describe it,” Snell says. “The players would absolutely hate it and it wouldn’t be good for fans. To go from the Valero Texas Open with the current ball then have to switch into a shorter ball at The Masters that has 4,000 more rpm’s of spin with a wedge would be the worst thing that could happen out of this. No doubt it would cause chaos.”

Snell’s Four Point Distance Issue Philosophy

Three + decades of experience with golf ball performance his personal philosophy hasn’t changed much the past 20 years. He puts any distance issue in four equal silos:

• 25% golf balls with lower spin rates (not faster speeds meaning players
  hit it higher)
• 25% drivers with faster COR and expanded sweet spots
• 25% agronomy from firmer, shorter cut fairways
• 25% player biomechanics, strength and fitness level

“The golf ball hasn’t gotten faster,” he contends. “Back in 1990 160 mph was tour ball speed with Tour Balata. Now its 185 -190 mph. Some guys can get it to 200. Any distance issue is a combination of player, driver, shorter, harder fairways and ball flight being higher. That’s the reality.”

Over a two-year period during the Mercedes Championship at LaCosta Resort a few years back, Snell tested out his agronomy theory.

“I did a comparison of top ten players for driving distance – the first year where it rained pretty good and the next year when conditions were dry – and the difference was 22-23 yards,” he says. “Making fairways softer on tour would slow roll and distance down. Since the players hit it high it wouldn’t roll out nearly as much. If the Tour shaped fairways a bit different out at 300 yards, if they’re a bit softer, if rough is thicker accuracy becomes more important.”

Bifurcating the Tee

Snell is a big proponent of another alternative: A shorter tee.

No, he’s not crazy that it’s bifurcation but legislating a half-inch shorter tee for Tour players and elite amateurs would be a cheaper fix than the OEM’s spending millions to produce new golf balls.

“A half-inch shorter tee would reduce distance by 10-15 yards based on how much lower they’d have to tee it, how much spin that adds to the golf ball and how much it reduces loft at impact. They can’t hit the ball as high and there’s added spin so it goes shorter. I’ve been saying the same thing from the time I was doing the Professional to Pro V1. That’s when driver spin rates got much lower and drivers themselves started to get bigger heads and longer shafts.”

Only Thing Certain is the Uncertainty

On one hand Snell thinks bigger, stronger, more flexible athletes are kind of being punished for their length with this proposed MLR.

On the other he knows the longest hitters are certain to gain a competitive advantage if it goes ahead.

“If a guy is hitting a pitching-wedge into a green and the other guy is hitting an 8-iron the player hitting 8-iron can still win,” he says, “but as you go further back if that same comparison becomes a 7-8 iron versus a 4-5 iron that’s a big difference over 72 holes on approach shots to firm, fast greens.”

Snell is like a lot of people. He enjoys tour players hitting it long but gets caught up in the moment when a shorter hitter wins with his driving accuracy and short game ability.

“When Mark McGwire played baseball at Fenway Park they didn’t make him hit from behind the backstop. He got to hit from the plate, same as everyone else, with that short wall in Left Field,” Snell says, “but Ichiro could still beat the Red Sox with singles and doubles. To me it’s pretty cool if you don’t have to hit home runs to still win the game.”

The post Dean Snell On USGA & R&A the Proposed Golf Ball Rollback appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

For many of you, the snow is melting (not fast enough) and the golf season is almost here. But even if you’re able to play year-round, now is the best time to stock up on golf balls.

Let’s face it. You’re going to need them anyway so why not reload while golf ball brands are offering what will surely be their best prices of the year?

Here are the best golf ball deals right now.

Bridgestone TOUR B Trifecta (3 dozen for $119)

Bridgestone’s entire TOUR B Lineup is discounted with “Trifecta” pricing. Whether you want the distance of TOUR B X, the spin of TOUR B XS or the softer feel of the TOUR B RX and TOUR B RXS, for a limited time you can get a three-dozen bundle of Bridgestone’s finest for just $119.99.

BUY NOW

Callaway Chrome Soft (4 dozen for $150)

If precision technology is your thing, you’re going to love this one. Get four dozen Chrome Soft balls for the price of three. The promotion includes the standard Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X and the Chrome Soft XS LS.

Specially packaged four-dozen boxes are available in White Triple Track, but if you don’t love lines, just buy three boxes in white (CS, CSX and CSX LS), Yellow Triple Track (CS and CSX) or Truvis (CS) and you’ll still get a free dozen.

Maxfli Tour, Tour X and Tour X (2 dozen for $70 or 4 for $120)

The DICKS’S Sporting Goods house brand has been a surprisingly strong performer in our ball testing. Maxfli’s Tour series offers premium performance and outstanding value. With three models to choose from (Tour, Tour X and the softer Tour S) and bulk pricing deals, now is a great time to give this reader favorite a try.

BUY NOW

Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star 24-Pack (2 dozen for $65)

Srixon has bundled two dozen of its prior-generation Z-Star ball and Z-Star XV Balls (That’s Gen-7 if you’re keeping track at home) into limited-edition 24-packs.

Srixon’s double-dozen boxes are $64.99 while supplies last.

BUY NOW

Titleist Pro V1 Loyalty Rewarded (4 dozen for $165)

As it does most years, Titleist is offering its Loyalty Reward Program. Buy three dozen Titleist Premium golf balls and get the fourth free. That works out to four dozen balls for $165.

The deal is good on AVX, Pro V1, Pro V1x, and even Pro V1x Left Dash.

BUY NOW

Wilson Staff Model (4 dozen for $150)

The sleeper on this list, the Wilson Staff Model, is perhaps one of the most underappreciated golf balls on the market today. It’s among the best we’ve tested in our Ball Lab and was a strong performer in our robot tests.

If you’re a fan of Wilson, or just Staff Model curious, you’ll get a dozen free when you buy three. That’s four dozen for $149.97.

BUY NOW

The post The Best Golf Ball Deals Right Now appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Vessel Player IV Series Golf Bags – Key Takeaways

• Two new models: Player IV and Player IV Pro
• Player IV has six-way dividers, Pro version has 14
• New jam-resistant bottom club divider
• $395 for Player IV, $435 for Player IV Pro

The new Vessel Player IV Series golf bags seem like a bit of a backward launch. We’ve already seen the Player IV DXR stand bag in MyGolfSpy’s 2023 Stand Bag Buyer’s Guide (it finished eighth). The new Vessel Player IV and Player IV Pro, however, are being released today.  And, as is typical of Vessel, Player IV packs plenty of features and plenty of options.

Just don’t expect it to be a “budget” golf bag.

“Two words serve as our inspiration: luxury performance,” says Vessel founder and CEO Ronnie Shaw. “Luxury speaks to the materials we use. It speaks to the sleek design and to the way we stitch the bag together. Performance speaks to our features and how each pocket is designed. We want to make insanely amazing products.”

Are the new Vessel Player IV golf bags “insanely amazing”? We’ll have to get our hands on some samples to really tell. But the early returns do sound promising.

Vessel Player IV Series Golf Bags: Standard and Pro

Offering regular and “pro” models of irons in pretty much standard procedure for golf OEMs. But we have to admit, we’ve never seen that approach with golf bags before.

“This is the first time we’ve done it,” says Shaw. “So far with pre-orders people are buying the Pro more than the standard (by a 60-40 margin).”

The biggest differences between the Vessel Player IV standard and Pro are the size of the opening and the weight. The Player IV standard features an 8.5-inch top while the Player IV Pro has a nine-inch top. Both are being offered with either six- or 14-way dividers with the Pro models running about one pound heavier (6.5 for the six-way, 7.5 for the 14-way).

The Vessel Player III was MyGolfSpy’s best stand bag for 2022, and the new Player IV models feature several upgrades. Among them are dual water bottle sleeves with magnetic openings along with a cooler-lined pocket. Additionally, the carbon fiber legs feature a new housing to protect them from scratching.

But perhaps the biggest upgrade can be found at the very bottom of the bag.

Jam-Resistant Bottom

One of the biggest gripes about any stand bag is club jamming. Grips tangle at the bottom of the bag and pulling them out or jamming them back in can be a major pain. Which, any golfer can tell you, just plain sucks.

“We listen to a lot of customer feedback,” says Shaw. “What they said was the 14-way divider is great but the clubs still tangle and snag.”

The Vessel Player IV series provides a clever solution the company is calling a “jam-resistant bottom club divider.”

In a typical stand bag, anytime you carry the bag on your back or deploy the legs, the grips slide to the low end of the bag. So what starts out as maybe nine inches of total real estate shrinks down to maybe four inches, with the grips getting tangled in a big knot.

“We actually made a clear bag so we could see where the grips would go,” says Shaw. “When we tried it out, you could see the putter grip sliding all the way to the bottom because of the way the bag leaned.”

The jam-resistant dividers are essentially three horizontal channels formed into the base. So, whether you have the six-way or 14-way top, the grips will be separated into three groups at the bottom of the bag and, it would seem, not get tangled.

Which doesn’t suck.

Brass In Pocket

While there are many pretenders to the throne, Vessel can lay a legitimate claim to being the first bag with magnetic pocket closures. Magnetic pockets are ridiculously convenient but, as with any convenience, there’s a downside.

“We found that people would just throw everything in there,” says Shaw. “We designed it to hold the rangefinder but people would also toss tees, divot tools and ball markers in, as well.”

That’s why you’ll find a separate sleeve or divider in the magnetic rangefinder pocket. You can slide your rangefinder in the sleeve to protect it from everything else.

“The ball pocket has the same thing,” adds Shaw. “I throw all my junk into the ball pocket. And anytime I want to find a ball marker, I can’t. I know I have like 17 ball markers in there but I can’t find any of them.”

The ball pocket has both a divider and a “mess” pocket in the inside wall. The new Player IV series also have dual insulated bottle cooler sleeves with magnetic openings.

“We thought one was enough but people asked for more,” Shaw says. “So we added the whole hip-side panel with a waterproof cooler pocket.”

Carry That Weight

With weights ranging from six to 7.5 pounds, you’d think the Vessel Players IV series stand bags might prove to be a bit of a load for the dedicated carrier. Shaw says overall weight is one thing but how that weight is distributed on your back in another thing entirely.

“Balance is more important than weight,” he says. “I’ve had people tell me that because of the strap and how balanced the bag is, they can carry a full-featured bag and not have their bag hurt. That’s even though on paper, it’s a heavier bag.”

Vessel’s unique Equilibrium 2 Strap features a four-point swivel disc where the four straps meet. The company says the disc self-adjusts to maintain balance whether you’re carrying the bag on one or both shoulders. Additionally, the upper straps on the Vessel Players IV series connect at the very top of the bag, to the frame at the opening.

“Most other companies connect on the bag itself,” says Shaw. “That one or two inches makes a big difference when you’re carrying.”

Additionally, the carbon fiber legs feature a new housing so they won’t get scratched on a pushcart or golf cart.

Vessel Player IV Series Golf Bags: Colors, Price and Availability

The Vessel Player IV standard golf bag features an 8.5-inch top opening with your choice of a six- or 14-way top divider. It’s available in five colorways: matte black, matte white, matte grey, matte navy and what Vessel calls DXR Black.

The Vessel Player IV Pro has a larger 9.5-inch top opening and is also available with either six-way or 14-way dividers. Because of the larger opening, the Player IV Pro’s 14-way opening can easily accommodate midsize and jumbo grips. Vessel says the standard Player IV 14-way opening works best with standard-size grips only.

The Player IV Pro is available in pebbled black, pebbled white, pebbled grey, pebbled navy and DXR Black.

Vessel bags, as mentioned, aren’t for the budget-minded. Vessel uses the same material in the Player IV series as it does in its Tour player bags and the company doesn’t skimp on the features. The standard Player IV bag is $395 for either the six- or 14-way top while the Player IV Pro six- or 14-way will run you $435.

“Premium” is an overused word in golf and where Vessel winds up in your price-value matrix really depends on what you want from a golf bag. If all you want is something to tote your clubs around, there are far less expensive options. Luxury, features and higher quality, however, almost always come with dollar signs attached.

For more information, visit the Vessel website.

So GolfSpies, where does Vessel fall on your price-value matrix?

The post Vessel Player IV Series Golf Bags appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Welcome back to #ASKMYGOLFSPY where readers like you submit questions to our team of experts here at MyGolfSpy.  These week, we tackle a couple of more golf ball rollback questions, discuss the best tools for gaining speed, and more.

Submit your questions any time on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the comments below..

Q: Best swing speed improvement products? – Portell3

A: There are so many good ones now and more hitting the market seemingly every week.

I love the Stack System but it’s probably the most expensive and that’s before you buy something to measure your swing speed (required). Our putter guy, Dave Wolfe, is seeing good results with the RypStick. Super Speed is the original (and it’s backed by plenty of success stories). Finally, for those who want to hit balls as part of the training, I’d suggest Clay Ballard’s Top Speed as an option.

Ultimately, I think swing speed products are a bit like fitness equipment and gym memberships. The most effective will prove to be the one you actually use so there’s a bit of “know thyself” in figuring out which is the best option for you.

Q: How accurate are GPS devices? And if they’re accurate within a couple of yards, does it matter? And how does that impact putting stats from Arccos/Shot Scope? – Andrew the Great

A: Since pretty much all of the golf GPS units out there use pretty much the same satellites, they’re all pretty close when it comes to accuracy. So if you’re in the fairway and it says 154 yards to the center, it’s safe to assume the real number is anywhere from 152 to 156 yards. If you need to know the exact number, that’s what a laser is for and it’s why a lot of golfers carry both.

When it comes to stat tracking, the distances you have with each clubs are probably within that plus or minus two yards. Putting stats, especially distances, should be taken with a grain of salt. – John Barba

Q: What impact do you think the resale market has on new club purchases? Do brands like Tour Edge, Mizuno (drivers) and/or COBRA have lower front-end sales because people know the resale/trade value won’t be as high as a Big-4 brand? Conversely, do two-year cycles help PING/Titleist? – Max Johnson

A: It’s not something I think golfers should worry about. Golf clubs are an investment in your game, not your financial future. That said, we’ve seen enough comments that specifically mention the resale value that we know it’s something some golfers are concerned about. On one hand, worrying about resale can limit your options but if you’re relying on getting a good chunk of cash for your old clubs to finance the new ones, then I suppose I understand.

Q: Any info on the new Snell lineup? – Up and Down for Bogey

A: Absolutely. I’ve got all the info. Unfortunately, I can’t share it right now. Please come back in 10 days or so.

Q: Bifurcation of ball seen as “easiest”…although no change needed, imo..& not sure why Tour/s would agree to any…

BUT: Wouldn’t most immediate & impactful affect be MLR rolled back driver? 360cc/200CT…& ONLY during PGAT level/certain play…the “wood bat” of golf? – Keith Cook

A: As I’ve noted, rolling back the driver only impacts a single club in the bag. While the focus of the golf ball discussion has been largely about distance off the tee, a ball rollback would reduce driver distance and fairway wood distance and hybrid distance.

There’s a lot of uncertainty around how manufacturers will tackle the challenge of a reduced-distance ball so it’s hard to be sure how deep into the bag you’ll see distance drops but the rollback will definitely steal distance from more than just the driver which is very likely why that is the focus of the USGA and R&A.

Q: Based on the proposed spec, if the rollback was made to be unilateral, rather than bifurcated, what do you think the impact on distances would be to the Average Joe golfer? – Emmet Holland

A: It kinda depends on the approach golf companies take and under what launch conditions a given ball is optimized for but—painting with a REALLY wide brush—the USGA and R&A estimate the rollback will reduce PGA TOUR distance by about 15 yards. Based on real-world conditions, the ball manufacturers say the number is likely to be 20 yards. Again, this is all player-dependent but to try and get at something close to a reasonable answer, I looked at current Tour driving distance.

As of these keyboard strokes, that average is 297.1. Take a worst-case 20 yards off that and you’ve got a 6.73-percent drop.

(Reminding you yet again that this is all player-dependent and that performance specs for some balls that are popular with Average Joes aren’t exactly Tour-level …)

The just-released Arccos distance report pegs the average adult male driving distance at 225.9 yards and 6.7 percent off that leaves us with an Average Joe’s estimated rolled-back distance of 210.7 yards (a drop of 15 yards).

Fortunately, the MLR (“model local rule” as proposed by the ruling bodies) means most of us don’t need to worry about that.

This exercise does create an interesting discussion around who benefits and who suffers (at the Tour level) as a result of a rollback.

One school of thought says it further benefits longer players. The argument is that guys who were hitting wedges into greens will be hitting 8-irons while guys already hitting 8-irons into greens will need to hit 6-irons. The thinking is that it’s more punishing to move from an 8-iron to a 6-iron than from a PW to an 8-iron. I buy that.

Let’s look at another way. The current Tour leader in driving distance is Rory McIlory at 326.6 yards. The poor DFL on the list is Brian Stuard at 269.6. If both step up to the tee and hit an average drive, today, there’d be 57 yards between them.

In our “all-things-equal” rollback scenario, Rory’s average would dip to 304.6 while poor Brian drops to 251.5.  But the good news for Mr. Stuard is that, instead of being 57 yards back of McIlory, the USGA and R&A have teamed up to narrow the gap to *only* 53 yards.

For sure, I’d much rather have the shorter iron in my hand but, nevertheless, if the rollback works out as a percentage of distance-lost thing, it does serve to narrow, albeit only slightly, the actual distance (yards) between long and short hitters.

Q: Instead of rolling the ball back can’t we just make the pros play Volviks? – Feral Golfer

A: (Wince emoji)

Q: What will the specs of the proposed MLR ball look like? (Compression, spin, weight, etc.). Cast urethane or likely injected? Will we really be looking at something comparable to Pinnacle Soft (as mentioned on NPG)? – Lee Vandergriff

A: I’m confident the application of urethane won’t change. Titleist and TaylorMade will still cast covers, Callaway and Bridgestone (others) will still injection mold and crosslink. As for the rest, I think it’s too soon to know much of anything. The broad thinking is the ball will likely need to fly, spin and feel like current Tour offerings.

Given that one thing impacts another, I think we’re probably talking about a responsive core material with similar compression. That’s just a guess but the first thing to change (core, for example) will create a domino effect. Mantles and covers will likely need to change as well. Every layer of the golf ball impacts the others.

Behind the scenes, there will likely be plenty of experimentation with various ways to accomplish the desired result. It’s going to be really expensive, which is crazy when you consider we’re talking about balls with limited market appeal designed for a rule that may not actually be adopted.

GOT MORE QUESTIONS?

Got a question for #AskMyGolfSpy? Leave it in the comments below.

The post ASKMYGOLFSPY Vol. 26 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

This year, Callaway dropped the Paradym lineup which includes the Paradym and Paradym X irons.

The first fits into the “player’s distance” category. The X is for those looking at a game-improvement set.

In both, we’re getting an AI-designed Face Cup, urethane microspheres and a lot of tungsten. And just for fun, Callaway threw in something new: a forged 455 stainless steel face.

As iron testing continues in the MyGolfSpy Lab, it’s important that we hear from our loyal readers.

Can we grab your feedback?

TESTERS WANTED

We’re looking for four MyGolfSpy readers to test, review and keep a set of the Callaway Paradym X or Paradym irons.

Head to the Callaway Testing Thread in the forum to apply.

This testing opportunity is open to right- and left-handed golfers in the United States.

The post Testers Wanted – Callaway Paradym Irons appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Today, PUMA Golf announced the newest collaboration with lifestyle brand Palm Tree Crew (PTC) and let me be the first to say the vibes are immaculate.

Together, the two brands have a history of eye-popping designs but the newest PUMA Golf x Palm Tree Crew Collection is nothing short of bold. I’ll let you be the judge but this one has Rickie Fowler’s name all over it.

The Details

• Available online March 23 at PUMA and PTC
• Exclusive access at PUMA’s flagship NYC store on April 3
• Highlighted by 11 apparel items, three accessory items and one pair of golf shoes
• COBRA AEROJET x Palm Tree Crew driver ($599) and a COBRA AEROJET LS x Palm Tree Crew driver ($599) also available

Behind the Collection

The PUMA Golf X Palm Tree Crew Collection is the brainchild of one of golf’s most stylish players and the world’s most iconic DJs. Fowler’s flair and KYGO’s creative passion served as the foundation for the artfully crafted collection. Said to be inspired by “the art and music of golf”, the PUMA Golf x PTC Collection embodies the neon retro-tropical vibes of Miami Beach.

“Working with PUMA Golf to continue developing the collaboration with KYGO and PTC keeps me creative,” says Fowler. “Golf and music both have tempo and rhythm, bringing the art of them together through a fashion lens is unique. The Puma x PTC collection gives me confidence in my personal style that I can rock on the course. It’s cool.”

It’s noteworthy that the past PUMA Golf x PTC collections have taken on a more muted navy and gold color scheme. This newest iteration is a total departure from tradition in that regard.

“So excited to be going into the third year in a row of PUMA x PTC,” says KYGO. “This collection helps continue our mission to bring the worlds of golf and music together. Want to thank everyone who has been a part of the journey and welcome the new members of the crew. Can’t wait to see what you guys think!”

Apparel and Accessories

The PUMA Golf x PTC Collection for 2023 is rife with apparel and accessory options. Both women and men are getting polo shirts and shorts, along with men’s-only items such as joggers (sign me up), jackets and more. It would be nice to see more women’s-only options as often they are neglected when cool collaborations make their way to retail. On the accessory front, PUMA has you covered with a bucket hat, traditional cap and crew socks. Most items are available in two or three colors so you can find a look that suits your style.

If the head-to-toe apparel and accessories aren’t enough to show your fandom, the PUMA Golf x PTC Collection also features limited-edition golf shoes, the PUMA x PTC IGNITE Elevate. The IGNITE Elevate is PUMA’s newest spikeless shoe which scored pretty well in our Best Spikeless Golf Shoes of 2023 testing. While the changes here are merely cosmetic, if it’s good enough for Rickie, it’s good enough for you. Right?

Hard Goods

If you’re at all familiar with PUMA and PTC’s history, you’ll know the collection generally includes a few hard goods. This year, the PUMA Golf x PTC Collection will feature two AEROJET drivers, complete with palm leaf graphics that, frankly, I’m in love with.

Both the COBRA AEROJET x Palm Tree Crew driver and AEROJET LS x Palm Tree Crew driver will be offered stock in RH (9.0 and 10.5 degrees) with a custom LH (10.5) option as well. Speaking as a lefty, it’s good to finally get a left-handed option so you all don’t have to read my annoying “they never make it in LH” comments. We’ll call that a win-win!

The drivers come with a COBRA x PTC headcover,  Kai’li White 60 shaft and a black COBRA Lamkin Crossline grip.

To Vibe or Not to Vibe

If you’ve made it this far without a premature expostulation in the comments section, I applaud you. This collection isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, sure, but last I checked, your opinion isn’t gospel and neither is mine. Just because you won’t wear, it doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there who will love every piece.

Remember what Rickie said? It’s cool. And while “cool” might look different for you than it does for me, it’s always refreshing to see golf take on a new persona with lifestyle-inspired, course-ready collections like this. PUMA and PTC have definitely struck a chord with me and surely some of you, too.

How do I feel about it? Don’t be surprised if you catch me in some aqua-green joggers. Coming soon!

The entire PUMA Golf x Palm Tree Crew Collection is available now at PUMA.

CHECK PRICE

The post First Look: PUMA Golf x Palm Tree Crew Collection appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

You likely don’t hit the center of the club face nearly as often as you think you do. That’s the philosophical underpinning that drives much of the performance story in the new PXG 0311 GEN6 fairway woods and hybrids.

A bump in ball speed on a perfect strike is a clear benefit. However, it’s one that likely goes largely unrealized by amateur golfers. It’s somewhere between theoretical and marginally practical. Put differently: even the most accomplished golfers on the planet understand that forgiveness is an integral performance characteristic for any fairway wood or hybrid.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Models

As with the PXG 0311 GEN6 drivers, the fairway woods and hybrids come in two models with two distinct player profiles. The standard PXG 0311 GEN6 fairway wood and hybrid is a “one size fits most” proposition whereas the 0311 GEN6 XF targets golfers who can benefit from xtreme forgiveness.

Moreover, what’s true for the PXG 0311 GEN6 fairway woods is also true for the hybrids: materials, design specs, aesthetics. Yep, all of it. If you want to call the  0311 GEN6 hybrid a scrunched version of the GEN6 fairway wood, I suppose that works. The point is that, beyond the clear difference in footprint between a fairway wood and hybrid, the blueprints are the same.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Tech

Both the fairway wood and hybrid utilize an AM355 steel body alongside an HT1770 high-strength face material. The new face material is six percent thinner than what PXG used in GEN5 fairway woods and hybrids which helps account for the slight increase in ball speed. Also, PXG is quick to mention that the HT1770 is stronger than the basic 17-4 stainless steel, though top-shelf brands have largely moved on from 17-4 stainless in favor of premium maraging steel (eg., C300, MAS1C) or various titanium alloys. So, ultimately, it’s a good thing that PXG isn’t using 17-4 stainless but it’s not a face material I’d expect to see used with any regularity from top-performing brands.

If you look at the 0311 GEN6 fairway woods and hybrids face on, you can see that the toe-section appears “squared-off.” This also moves the perimeter skirt design more vertical. Ultimately what this means to golfers is that a squared face design increases the face surface area and, by extension, improves MOI/forgiveness.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Model Differences

In both the fairway wood and hybrid, the 0311 GEN6 XF features a rail sole geometry and two rear weights. It’s also the larger of the two models (0.250” longer heel to toe and 0.300” deeper front to back). The standard 0311 GEN6 has a flat sole design and three moveable weights.

Because the 0311 GEN6 XF targets players who can benefit from a higher overall trajectory, both weights sit in the rear section of the sole. The stock configuration is 15 grams in the heel and 2.5 grams in the toe, which creates a slight draw bias. To be clear, golfers can swap the weights and PXG also offers a separate weight kit that allows fitters a range of weights to help golfers dial in a preferred swing weight or launch/spin characteristics.

The standard 0311 GEN6 has three weight locations positioned in the heel, rear and toe sections of the sole. The off-the-rack arrangement is 10 grams in the heel and rear and 2.5 grams in the toe. Again, the additional weight port provides another lever for fitters to pull to help golfers find an optimal fit.

Performance Implications

PXG provided a wealth of internal testing data as part of its media presentation. And, no doubt, the next time a company trots out a bunch of numbers and stats showing that its newest flagship product isn’t somehow better than the competitors, it’ll be the first.

That aside, I applaud PXG for both the level of detail and scope of analysis which provides plenty of evidence to support its position that GEN6 fairway woods and hybrids offer a meaningful improvement over GEN5 which launched roughly 12 months ago.

Specifically, I’m talking about a chart titled “All Hit Locations.” What it shows is that GEN6 is marginally better on center strikes (roughly one mph ball speed) but universally better on off-center strikes as compared to GEN5. And by “better,” we’re talking primarily about ball speed and optimal spin retention. The net result is more distance but, perhaps more importantly, significantly reduced dispersion. Translation: Compared to GEN5, the GEN6 product is a bit longer for every hit location and more accurate.

My $0.05

Sometimes, we need solutions to help save ourselves from ourselves. It’s why we leave “Don’t forget to take out the trash” sticky notes on the garage door. Or why we set up a recurring order of dog food. But for such strategies to work, we must admit an honest assessment based in reality, which isn’t a strong suite for many golfers. As a collective (myself included), we tend to remember the best shots while justifying the mulligans and scooping up several three-footers for bogey (you never miss that putt, right?). What PXG is offering with 0311 GEN6 is a healthy reality check with an intriguing performance proposition.

Also, what the 0311 GEN6 launch leaves out is a dedicated, low-spin fairway wood and hybrid that eventually could show up as part of the 0317 family. This is entirely conjecture but should PXG decide to add any “Tour-inspired” gear aimed at elite amateurs and pros, this is where I’d expect it to make an appearance.

Pricing and Availability

Retail price for the PXG 0311 GEN6 fairway woods is $299 with the stock shaft. The PXG 0311 GEN6 hybrids are $289. Alternative shafts (both no-upcharge and lots of upcharge shafts) are also available.

Available now.

For more information or to schedule your fitting, visit PXG.com.

The post PXG 0311 GEN6 Fairway Woods and Hybrids appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

It’s been one hell of a ride for PXG of late.

In the parlance of the stock market, it basically shorted COVID-19, staked a strong inventory position and fundamentally changed its business, shifting from a premium-priced brand to a high-volume, low-price model that changed perceptions of the brand both inside and outside of the equipment industry.

While the result what likely a net positive—the company has more (and more vocal) supporters than ever—PXG appears to have hit a few bumps.

Being the most nimble brand in golf isn’t all upside. The company just had a round of layoffs (at least partially the result of its direct-to-consumer model and transitioning its brick-and-mortar locations to five-day work weeks). Given the volatility in its pricing model (which might be described as chaotic), golfers have come to expect that, even if a PXG product doesn’t launch at a discount price, it will get there pretty quickly.

Given all of that, it’s reasonable to expect some misguided takes (“PXG is going out of business!”) and a reasonable cohort of golfers who will respond to this story with, “I’ll just wait until they’re $200.”

PXG – A Fresh Start (maybe)

Based on recent history, that last bit is probably fair but when I caught up with PXG Owner and CEO Bob Parsons last month, he told me PXG’s blowout pricing days are over.

If things go as Parsons laid out, PXG prices will normalize and stabilize. And if everything else goes according to plan, you’ll see “chaos pricing” replaced with a sensible cascading model where the new stuff carries higher “premium” prices while the prior-generation stuff remains available at a reduced price.

For what it’s worth, this was the industry model, and a successful one at that, before “churn and burn” took over with new drivers replacing “old” ones almost as quickly as they hit shelves.

How long it lasts, I can’t say, but you should expect the revised strategy to start with the latest iteration of PXG Drivers: 0311 GEN6.

About PXG 0311 GEN6 Drivers

As was the case a little less than a year ago, PXG’s 0311 driver family will launch with two models: a standard 0311 and the forgiveness-centric 0311 XF.

The low-spinning X and Tour-centric XT drivers remain on hiatus though, with last season’s introduction of the better player’s 0317 lineup, it’s at least possible one of the two might make a comeback.

That’s all speculation.

What is certain is that the models introduced today bring an interesting mix of the familiar and the updated.

TI412 Face

The familiar includes a robotically polished T1412 face. The material is proprietary to PXG but similarities can be drawn to materials used by other manufacturers such as Mizuno’s SAT 2041 or Titleist’s ATI.

TI412 is a high-yield, low-elastic-modulus material which means it’s strong but flexible. Not only is that great for ball speed but it also helps prevent flat spots and reduces CT creep over time.

The robotically polished part helps ensure consistency (we’re talking about things like CT and bulge and roll radii) from one part to the next. It’s part of what allows PXG to push its CT targets a bit closer to the limit though we’re admittedly in an area where the tangible benefits are typically fractions of miles per hour.

Precision Weighting

It wouldn’t be PXG without movable weight. While the 0311 GEN6 weight system functions the same as the previous generation, each of the three weights has been pushed a bit further to the perimeter.

The default setting places a 7.5-gram weight in both the heel and rear weight ports with a 2.5-gram weight in the toe. The default setting creates more draw bias with improved MOI.

Moving both 7.5-gram weights to the front ports (heel and toe) will reduce launch and spin and while you will lose some forgiveness, because the weights are pushed out to the perimeter, you’ll still be in the ballpark of forgiving.

If you get fitted at a PXG retail location or demo experience, your fitter will handle the weight for you. If you’re more of a DIYer, weights are available from 2.5 to 20 grams.

Adjustable Hosel (with flat settings)

Worth a mention: PXG’s adjustable hosel adapter is unchanged. Your refresher is that the + and – settings allow for 1- (little + or little -) and 1.5-degrees (big + or big -) in either direction while the “PXG” settings introduce flatter lie angles.

The PXG+ setting is two degrees flat with one degree of added loft. The PXG- setting is two degrees flat with one degree less loft. The standard PXG setting is three degrees flatter with no loft change, making it one of the most effective tools for battling a hook or introducing a fade.

With the familiar covered, here’s a look at what’s new.

New Crown Design

Gone is PXG’s Aluminum Vapor impregnated crown. This time around, the company will rely on a more standard use of carbon fiber. The layering is a bit different which results in a stiffer crown without resorting to Aluminum Vapor.

With that, PXG has transitioned to a matte black crown instead of the dark gray that served, in part, as a visual reminder of AV technology.

The crown of a PXG 0311 XP GEN6 driver

Improved Sound and Taller Faces

Finally, both models promise improved sound and feel by way of improvements to the internal rib structures. As we’ve said before, sound and feel are largely subjective but, for what it’s worth, they feel better than GEN5. Of course, that’s just one guy’s opinion.

Both models feature a taller, deeper face (about 12-percent larger) which helps preserve a bit more ball speed on mis-hits.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Drivers – Two Models

As noted, the 0311 GEN6 driver lineup will consist of two models. Both have stated MOIs of 5,000 which, I suppose, makes both reasonably forgiving by some measure. We’ll dig more into the specifics in just a bit.

0311 GEN6 (Standard Model)

The standard GEN6 driver model is built for the masses and should prove to be the more popular of the two.

PXG describes the shape as “tear drop”, which is probably similar to pear shape but either way the blanket “more traditional” (at least in comparison to the XF) description applies.

The crown is noticeably more curved than the XF’s which suggests it’s the more aerodynamic of the two PXG shapes.

By design, the PXG 0311 GEN6 driver is a mid-spin offering. It’s a bit lower-spinning than GEN5 but in no way is it designed to be a spin killer. Instead, the 0311 GEN6 tries to balance moderate spin with forgiveness. And while that’s the kind of thing every manufacturer says it’s doing, PXG is more willing than most to put numbers to it.

The company says the MOI of the standard 0311 is a bit over 5,200 in the stock configuration. By tweaking the stock weight configuration (adding more weight to the back), it’s possible to bump up MOI a bit.

The standard PXG 0311 GEN6 driver won’t be the most forgiving driver on the market (it’s not supposed to be) but it’s far from the least.

The PXG 0311 GEN6 (standard) driver is available in 7.5, 9 and 10.5 degrees. The stock lie angle is 59 degrees, one degree flatter than the XF.

PXG 0311 XF GEN6

With a stated MOI above 5,500, the 0311 XF remains the most forgiving of PXG’s driver offerings by a reasonable amount.

With the stock weight configuration, it doesn’t push quite as close to the USGA limit as PXG’s previous XF offerings but with some clever tuning (more weight in back), the XF can be configured to come close to the maximum allowable MOI.

As you’d expect, the 0311 XF GEN6 has the bigger overall footprint. It’s larger heel to toe, the shape is more symmetrical (I’d describe it as round) and the crown is flatter, which generally means less aerodynamic, which is fine for the target golfer.

The PXG 0311 XF GEN6 is designed to be forgiving without introducing excessive spin into the equation. Despite the deeper center of gravity, PXG describes the 0311 XF GEN6 as a mid-spin offering.

PXG’s test data suggests the GEN6 XF should spin about 200 rpm more than the standard model (based on 100 mph swing speed).

With a 60-degree lie angle, it’s more upright than the standard 0311 GEN6 driver.

The PXG 0311 XF GEN6 driver is available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees.

PXG GEN6 Drivers by the Numbers

Behind the scenes, PXG’s engineering team doesn’t get the credit it deserves for the volume of data it shares. That’s my opinion and, to an extent, the lack of credit might be partially my fault.

I’ve come to expect the company showing me the data will come out on top so it’s refreshing that PXG doesn’t always hide the areas where its previous products perhaps perform a bit better than the new stuff. For sure, this is absolutely home-team stuff but it’s rare a company shares the volume of data PXG does to illustrate the differentiation and specific areas of improvement relative to its previous models.

With that said, PXG’s testing shows that both 0311 GEN6 drivers are about one mph faster (100 mph – center strikes) than the equivalent GEN5 offerings. Paired with a combination of similar launch angles and lower spin, that works out to about six yards of additional carry distance.

To reiterate, that’s on center strikes and, while that’s good, it’s not entirely the point.

GEN 6 Drivers – More Forgiving Depending on Your Miss

Looking at off-center strikes from the standard nine-point test, PXG’s data shows that the standard 0311 GEN6 gives up little ball speed and distance on high-face impacts but does a better job preserving speed and distance when contact is in one of the low-face regions.

Again, it’s faster in the center and if you tend to be a low-face kinda guy, the GEN6 design could work to your advantage.

By comparison, XF GEN6 is more forgiving (as it relates to preserving speed and distance) than the GEN5 XF basically across all of the face.

It’s a Club Fitting 101 question: What can you optimize for and what do you need to optimize against?

Finally, while it’s often difficult to explain how you got there, in robot testing, both PXG 0311 GEN6 drivers produced significantly improved dispersion over the previous models. The likely factors are changes to GEN6 drivers’ CG locations and modifications to the bulge and roll of the club face.

Ultimately, what you’re getting should prove to be, for most golfers, a bit better than what came before. That’s all you can reasonably ask for.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Drivers – Pricing and Availability

Retail price for the PXG 0311 GEN6 is $499 with the stock shaft. Alternative shafts (both no-upcharge and lots of upcharge shafts) are also available.

Available now.

For more information or to schedule your fitting, visit PXG.com.

The post PXG 0311 GEN6 Drivers (Standard and XF GEN6) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

If you’re interested in where PXG is as a business today, I touched on that a bit in my story on the 0311 GEN6 driver family. (No need to copy and paste. You guys know how links work.)

For the 0311 GEN6 iron family, I’m going to go light on the introduction (for once) and jump right into the products.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Irons – The Basics

With the 0311 GEN6 iron family, PXG is streamlining things a touch. While the familiar P and XP models carry on, the 0311 T model is gone from the lineup.

Boo! Boo!

I’m not thrilled about that and we’ll dig into it later.

As far as the irons that do exist are concerned, with the 0311 GEN6 P and XP irons, you’re getting a good bit of what PXG already gave you with GEN5.

You’ve still got Power Channel. That’s “PXG speak” for a U-shaped milling pattern on the back side of the face that works to increase launch angles.

XCOR2 filling carries on as well. That’s the latest iteration of PXG’s proprietary polymer that supports its thin faces, provides resiliency and improves feel.

The bodies are still 5x forged from 8620. And while I accept that you probably don’t care about that, the point is that 8620 strikes a sensible balance between soft feel and durability.

Faces (welds) are robotically polished as well and the back side of the club is still milled. All that works to keep tolerances tight. Consistently on-spec head weights go a long way towards building on-spec sets.

You also get big chunks of tungsten in the heel and toe along with a precision swing weight. The latter comes in the form of a big screw in the middle of the club. It’s not meant to be end-user (or, I suppose, end-golfer) swappable but it’s one of the levers PXG fitters can pull to optimize performance for any given golfer.

You also get a bit of clever toprail shaping that allows PXG to give you the benefit of a thicker topline without any unnecessary and often off-putting visual bulk. For my money, PXG designers are the best in the industry at this particular aspect of iron design.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit harder to hide blade length and offset and, while the P isn’t egregious for the category, it’s got a bit more of both than I like to see.

Did I mention the lack of a GEN6 T option?

PXG 0311 GEN6 Irons – Thinner Faces

With all of that said, the story of the PXG 0311 GEN6 irons is the face.

The 0311 GEN6 irons feature a variable-thickness HT1770 face. The ripple here is that the base thickness is 15 percent thinner than the previous iterations.

Face thickness is a reasonably common talking point in iron stories, especially those in speed-favoring categories, but I’m also aware they’re perhaps not the most exciting to read.

That said, and at the risk of boring you, there are a few things I’d like to point out.

When PXG launched the original 0311 irons nearly eight years ago, its iron faces were half as thick as anything else on the market. For a first crack at the iron business, it was an impressive feat.

Eight years in, while its competitors have thinned some faces a little, nobody has come close to achieving an iron face as thin as PXG’s.

Granted, not every category requires a thin face but, given the industry’s general obsession with such things, it’s surprising PXG hasn’t been challenged.

Lastly, before GEN6, PXG hadn’t been able to make its faces any thinner so the fact that we’re talking about a thinner PXG face is something.

Getting More out of XCOR2

The 0311 GEN6 iron’s thinner face wouldn’t have been possible with the original XCOR material. According to PXG Chief Product Officer Brad Schweigert, faces would have dented after a single hit.

XCOR2, plus a year or so of time spent getting more familiar with the material, allowed PXG to go a bit thinner. The primary benefit of that is more flex which ultimately means more speed. In the case of the PXG GEN6 irons, thinner also means lighter (five grams lighter) which allowed PXG to push a bit of additional mass to the perimeter for increased MOI.

We’re not talking about a massive boost but, relative to GEN5, the GEN6 P has 2.2-percent higher MOI while MOI in the XP is 3.7-percent higher.

When everything comes together, the result is a faster, more forgiving (better mis-hit performance) iron that flies farther without any jacking of lofts or additional shaft length. That is to say, no more than already existed in the PXG lineup (the specs are the same as the previous generation).

PXG 0311 GEN6 Irons – Softer Feel

It’s also worth mentioning that PXG says the 0311 GEN6 is its softest-feeling iron ever. To be sure, not only is that subjective but PXG has basically said the same with every generation of irons it has released.

For what it’s worth, while that type of claim is invariably subjective, in this case PXG says the thinner face is allowing more of the feel from the XCOR2 polymer to come through at impact, creating the softer feel.

Where the PXG 0311 GEN6 irons fit

Despite the “P” designation, it’s hard for me to classify the 0311 GEN6 P as a player’s iron. My opinion, it’s a textbook player’s distance iron.

The XP is trickier still. It’s forgiving enough to fit into the super game-improvement category and fast enough to fit in either the game improvement or player’s distance categories.

It’s a textbook fit for what we affectionately call the emerging “hacker’s distance” category. It brings a healthy dose of distance and forgiveness to the table but it’s a bit bigger than anything in the player’s distance category.

Big picture thinking: The 0311 P is a mid-sized iron that’s good fit for low- to mid-handicap golfers looking for distance with plenty of forgiveness. The 0311 XP, with its thicker topline, generous offset and longer blade length, is ideal for mid- to high-handicap golfers looking for an “xtreme” dose of both.

PXG 0311 GEN6 irons by the numbers

As it typically does, PXG has provided a fair amount of data to put some numbers to the performance benefits.

On center strikes, PXG’s data shows that the XP is about .5 mph faster. It carries about two yards farther than the GEN5 with similar launch and a bit lower spin.

And, yeah, while a competent fitter should be able to offset the spin loss with higher trajectory and steepening descent angles, lower spin off an already low-spinning iron can be a problem if it’s not accounted for.

As with the 0311 GEN6 Drivers, the more compelling details can be found in the off-center performance numbers.

The XP is 3.4 mph faster on heel strikes, 2.8 mph faster off the toe, 2.3 mph faster high on the face and 1.3 mph faster on low strikes. That translates to  8.6, 6.9, 6.3 and 3.2 more yards respectively. The additional distance is the result of more speed paired with lower spin.

We should also mention that PXG’s robot data suggests the XP will produce tighter dispersion. That’s largely a product of the MOI bump and more consistent speed across the face.

As far as the 0311 GEN6 P is concerned, the story is similar. It’s one mph faster on center which results in about 3.4 yards more carry. In this case, launch is a bit higher, albeit with lower spin.

The off-center stuff is again compelling. The new 0311 GEN6 P is one mph faster off the heel, 1.6 mph faster off the toe, 2.8 mph faster high on the face and .1 mph faster low on the face.

Your distance impact is 5.1, 4.5, 6.9 and two yards respectively. Again, PXG’s data suggests tighter dispersion, most notably from left to right.

OK Cool, But What About the 0311 GEN6 T?

The original (GEN1) 0311 T iron launched about six months after PXG’s first-ever iron hit the market. Since then, the T has carried on through every iteration of 0311: GEN2 through GEN5.

With the launch of the 0311 GEN6 iron franchise, the T as we know it is gone.

Speaking as a guy who has had somewhere between two and five 0311 T clubs in the bag for the last several years, I’m not good with this.

For what it’s worth, the suggestion is that something like a T is coming but it will likely fall under PXG’s 0317 (player’s) umbrella.

As you may recall, when GEN5 launched, PXG moved all of its “GEN” franchise clubs into a larger 0311 family (previously irons only) and then reassigned 0317 (previously hybrids) as the franchise name for its “better player” irons when it launched the 0211 ST (Super Tour) irons.

Currently, the ST is the only thing in the 0317 lineup so it stands to reason that will change.

Reading between the lines, it’s likely that PXG’s fresh take on T may not be as speed-favoring as the GEN5 offering. That could come by way of something more like a true player’s iron (a compact cavity-back maybe) as opposed to what I’d classify as a compact player’s distance offering along the lines of a P770.

PXG’s thinking is the target player for a T iron isn’t looking for the same things as a P or XP player.

Maybe that’s true, maybe it isn’t (I’m personally a fan of really fast player’s irons), but either way something different is in the works.

Fingers crossed for something like a hollow-body T, CB combo set rather than straight CBs but, again, what I want from a PXG Tour iron probably doesn’t matter too much.

And, of course, it’s possible multiple 0317 offerings could be in the pipeline.

PXG 0311 Black Label Elite Xtreme Dark Irons

While there aren’t any T irons in the 0311 GEN6 lineup, the Black Label Elite offering is again part of the offering. GEN 6 Black Label Elite irons feature PXG’s Xtreme Dark finish (black and chrome instead of chrome and black) paired with black Steel Fiber Private Reserve shafts.

Available in both 0311 GEN6 P and GEN6 XP irons, the available Private Reserve shaft specs include i60 (A-flex), i70 (regular), i95(stiff), and i110 (stiff).

If the Steel Fiber shaft isn’t right for you, you’re free to choose from any other shaft in the PXG iron catalog.

PXG 0311 GEN6 Black Label Elite irons carry an $80 per iron upcharge ($289.99 each).

Availability and Pricing

Retail price for PXG 0311 GEN6 irons is $299 per stick. Available now.

For more information, visit PXG.com.

The post PXG 0311 GEN6 Irons (P and XP) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

2023 Golf Glove Buyer’s Guide

If you could lower your scores simply by changing an inexpensive piece of gear in your golf bag, would you do it?

The best golf gloves cost less than a dozen golf balls and finding the right fit can have a major impact on your game. We already know that wearing a golf glove offers some performance benefits but just wearing a glove isn’t enough. Like any item in your bag, it’s important to find a glove that helps, not hinders, your performance.

Is your golf glove hurting your game? Is it helping?

Whether you know the answer to that question or are unsure, we’re here to walk you through the process … “hand in hand,” so to speak.

A new golf glove could be just the thing your game has been craving. Here are the best golf gloves for 2023.

WINNER – PXG Players

Who is it for?

• The golfer who needs a glove that fits like a second skin
• Someone who values comfort over durability
• The golfer who wants great grip and excellent club feel

Other Notable Performers

• Callaway Tour Authentic: The Callaway Tour Authentic performed admirably across all categories and provided some of the best grip and comfort of any golf glove in the test.
• Red Rooster Cape: Red Rooster burst onto the scene last year and their gloves performed just as well this year. The Red Rooster Cape provided a great fit and feel and the lightweight construction was very comfortable.
• Mizuno Tour: Mizuno’s Tour glove was an all-around good performer. Its cabretta leather construction provided great grip and feel.
• Srixon Premium: The cabretta leather Srixon Premium golf glove also had an admirable showing with good scores in comfort, fit and feel.
• Red Rooster Range Rooster: If you want a golf glove that’s so light and comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing it, the Range Rooster by Red Rooster is right in your wheelhouse. It was supremely comfortable and provided a good fit despite not being made from leather.

Features That Matter

Grip

Get a grip! A constant, stable connection with your golf club starts with your golf glove. Similar to the traction provided by spiked golf shoes, a good golf glove gives you complete control and confidence. A slip of the club in the backswing, transition or downswing can cause errant shots and shanks galore.

The best golf gloves of 2023 provide consistent grip that makes it easy to control the clubface. If you’re looking for the golf glove with the most grip, the FootJoy Contour FLX has you covered. Other admirable performers in the grip category include the Cuater Between the Lines and Callaway Tour Authentic golf gloves.

Best Value Golf Glove - Kirkland Signature Leather Golf Glove

For the 5th year in a row, the Kirkland Signature Leather Golf Glove takes the crown as the best value golf glove. At less than $30 for a pack of 4 (yes, 4 gloves for less than a box of golf balls), it's hard to find anything else that compares in the value space. A golf glove that feels, fits and grips this good shouldn't be this inexpensive!

Comfort

A comfortable golf glove is a luxury—nay, a necessity!—that your game deserves. You shouldn’t dread putting your glove on because it pinches here or there. Wouldn’t it feel nice to have a glove that lovingly wraps and supports your hand? To put it bluntly, would you rather have scratchy, cheap toilet paper or the softest stuff around?

Too far? Maybe. But the principle remains: Comfort should not be compromised.

You don’t know how good a comfortable glove feels until you’ve used it side by side with one that’s uncomfortable. Our head-to-head (hand to hand?) testing produced some clear winners in the comfort category.

If you value comfort, the PXG Players is the most comfortable golf glove. The buttery-soft cabretta construction makes it feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. The Red Rooster Range Rooster is the most comfortable glove not made from cabretta leather.

Fit

Fit is perhaps the most important criterion separating the best golf gloves from the rest. The right golf glove should fit like a second skin with just enough room around the joints and knuckles for total freedom of movement. A good golf glove moves with your hand rather than against it.

Any restriction of movement due to a fit that’s too tight or loss of feel due to a fit that’s too baggy could be costing you precious strokes. The golf gloves with the best fit are the PXG Players, Cuater Between the Lines and PING Tour.

Wear Your Heart on Your Glove

Golf gloves have been traditionally boring in color and style. But, thanks to brands like Asher, Cuater, Ghost and North Coast, golf gloves are starting to become statement pieces.

Between the snarky, subtle innuendos baked into the design of Cuater's gloves and the eye-popping colors of Asher and Ghost, there truly is a golf glove to match your personality.

Some of the best styles we saw are the Cuater Beach Bliss, North Coast High Flier, and Asher Snow.

Best Golf Gloves 2023 - Features

	PRODUCT	SIZES	CADET	MATERIAL	COLORS	HAND
	Asher Premium Check Price	S-XXL	N	AAA Cabretta Leather	12	L/R
	Bionic PerformanceGrip Pro Check Price	S-XXXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Bionic RelaxGrip 2.0 Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic	2	L/R
	Bionic StableGrip 2.0 Check Price	S-XXXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	4	L/R
	Bridgestone E Glove Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather/Mesh	1	L/R
	Bridgestone Tour Premium Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Caddy Daddy Claw Pro Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic Suede	2	L/R
	Callaway Tour Authentic Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Callaway Weather Spann Check Price	S-XXL	Y	FUSETECH Synthetic	1	L/R
	Callaway X-Spann Check Price	S-XL	Y	X-Spann Compression Fabric	1	L/R
	Circle 15 The Genisis Check Price	S-XXL	N	Cabretta Leather	3	L/R
	Clinch Tactile Check Price	XS-XXL	N	CrushGroove Fabric	3	L/R
	Cobra PUR Tour Check Price	S-XL	Y	AAA Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Cuater Between the Lines Check Price	S-XL	Y	Cabretta Leather	8	L/R
	FJ Contour FLX Check Price	S-XXL	Y	CabrettaSof Leather	1	L/R
	FJ HyperFLX Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Leather	1	L/R
	FJ Rain Grip Check Price	S-XXL	Y	QuikDry II Knit	2	L/R
	FJ StaSof Check Price	S-XXXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	3	L/R
	FJ WeatherSof Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Performance Leather	2	L/R
	FJ WinterSoft Check Price	S-XXL	N	Structured Nylon	1	L/R
	Ghost Golf Glove Check Price	S-XXL	N	AAA Cabretta Leather	7	L/R
	Kirkland Signature Leather Golf Glove Check Price	S-XL	N	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Me and My Golf True Grip Check Price	S-XL	N	Synthetic	1	L
	Mizuno Comp Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic	1	L/R
	Mizuno Elite Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather/Mesh	1	L/R
	Mizuno Tour Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	North Coast High Flier Check Price	S-XXL	N	Leather	1	L/R
	Penfold GX Performance Check Price	S-XL	Y	AAA Sheep Skin Leather	6	L/R
	PING Sport Tech Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic	1	L/R
	PING Tour Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	PXG Players Glove Check Price	S-XXL	Y	AAA Cabretta Leather	2	L/R
	Red Rooster Cape Check Price	S-XL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Red Rooster Rain Rooster Check Price	S-XL	N	Microfiber	1	L/R
	Red Rooster Range Rooster Check Price	S-XL	Y	Microfiber	1	L/R
	Skins Golf Tour Edition Check Price	S-XL	N	AAA Cabretta Leather	9	L/R
	Srixon Premium Check Price	S-XL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Sub Seventy Pro Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	2	L
	TaylorMade Stratus Tech Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Hypertec	1	L/R
	Titleist Players Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Under Armour Iso-Chill Check Price	XS-L	Y	Tour Cool/Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Under Armour Spieth Tour Check Price	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Vice Duro Check Price	S-XL	N	Synthetic Suede	2	L/R
	Wilson Conform Check Price	S-XXL	N	Soft Tack Teck Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Wilson Staff Model Check Price	S-XL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L/R
	Zero Friction Compression Fit Check Price	Universal	N	Mesh Lycra	9	L/R

More Tips

• Size can vary between manufactures. If possible, try on a variety of sizes until you find the right fit. What you wear in one brand may not fit the same in another.
• If durability is your main concern, look for a glove made from thicker material. While thin cabretta leather golf gloves provide the best feel and often the most comfortable fit, a thicker glove won’t wear as quickly.
• Tired of going out to buy a new golf glove every few months? Red Rooster’s subscription model will ensure you have a fresh one on the backburner.
• Worried about tearing up your hands? Bionic golf gloves feature strategically placed internal pads to keep your hands blister-free.

Best Rain Glove - Red Rooster Rain Rooster

Direct-to-consumer brand Red Rooster stormed onto the scene in our 2022 golf glove testing, and the newest addition to their lineup is now the best rain glove for 2023. The Rain Rooster glove provides a great fit and supreme comfort without taking away too much club feel.

GET FIT FOR YOUR GAME WITH TRUEGOLFFIT

Unbiased. No Guesswork. All Major Brands. Matched To Your Swing. Advanced Golf Analytics matches the perfect clubs to your exact swing using connected data and machine learning.

FREE FITTING

How We Test

We're here to help you find the best golf glove to fit your needs.

To do that, we employ a thorough and fully independent testing process that leaves no feature unexplored, no display unchecked, and no stone unturned.

Our Metrics

Golf gloves are tested head to head with rigorous protocols.

The metrics we consider when rating premium gloves include Fit, Comfort, Feel, and Grip

Best Golf Gloves 2023 - Results

	PRODUCT	FIT	COMFORT	FEEL	GRIP	TOTAL
	PXG Players Glove Check Price	1st	1st	1st	3rd	96
	Cuater Between the Lines Check Price	1st	3rd	4th	3rd	95.25
	PING Tour Check Price	1st	3rd	4th	10th	94.75
	Titleist Players Check Price	6th	3rd	1st	11th	94.5
	Penfold GX Performance Check Price	6th	3rd	3rd	11th	94.25
	Callaway Tour Authentic Check Price	9th	9th	4th	3rd	94
	Red Rooster Cape Check Price	8th	9th	4th	11th	93.5
	Mizuno Tour Check Price	9th	19th	4th	6th	93
	Srixon Premium Check Price	9th	12th	4th	11th	93
	FJ StaSof Check Price	22nd	3rd	4th	6th	92.75
	Red Rooster Range Rooster Check Price	9th	1st	4th	31st	92.75
	Cobra PUR Tour Check Price	9th	12th	21st	11th	92
	Asher Premium Check Price	14th	18th	4th	11th	91.75
	Kirkland Signature Leather Golf Glove Check Price	9th	19th	21st	11th	91.5
	Wilson Staff Model Check Price	15th	19th	4th	11th	91.5
	Callaway X-Spann Check Price	5th	12th	21st	38th	91.25
	Ghost Golf Glove Check Price	15th	9th	21st	11th	91.25
	Sub Seventy Pro Check Price	15th	19th	21st	11th	90.5
	FJ Contour FLX Check Price	31st	25th	18th	1st	89.75
	Mizuno Elite Check Price	15th	25th	30th	11th	89.75
	Bionic PerformanceGrip Pro Check Price	1st	19th	40th	31st	89.5
	PING Sport Tech Check Price	31st	19th	4th	11th	89.5
	Under Armour Spieth Tour Check Price	26th	29th	18th	11th	89.5
	Clinch Tactile Check Price	26th	3rd	33rd	27th	89
	FJ HyperFLX Check Price	31st	29th	4th	11th	89
	North Coast High Flier Check Price	37th	12th	4th	11th	89
	Red Rooster Rain Rooster Check Price	15th	12th	21st	41st	89
	Mizuno Comp Check Price	31st	29th	17th	27th	88.25
	Bridgestone Tour Premium Check Price	31st	29th	18th	27th	88
	Circle 15 The Genisis Check Price	37th	25th	30th	6th	87.25
	Bionic RelaxGrip 2.0 Check Price	15th	25th	43rd	31st	87
	FJ Rain Grip Check Price	37th	29th	33rd	1st	87
	Zero Friction Compression Fit Check Price	26th	38th	33rd	30th	87
	Callaway Weather Spann Check Price	26th	38th	21st	41st	86.75
	Bionic StableGrip 2.0 Check Price	24th	40th	44th	31st	85
	Bridgestone E Glove Check Price	37th	42nd	21st	31st	85
	Skins Golf Tour Edition Check Price	26th	29th	33rd	43rd	85
	TaylorMade Stratus Tech Check Price	36th	40th	33rd	31st	85
	Under Armour Iso-Chill Check Price	44th	29th	21st	38th	84.75
	Caddy Daddy Claw Pro Check Price	24th	45th	40th	11th	84.5
	FJ WeatherSof Check Price	45th	42nd	33rd	6th	84.5
	Wilson Conform Check Price	42nd	29th	30th	38th	84.5
	Vice Duro Check Price	42nd	42nd	33rd	31st	83.5
	FJ WinterSoft Check Price	15th	12th	45th	43rd	83
	Me and My Golf True Grip Check Price	37th	29th	40th	43rd	82

The Best Golf Glove 2023 – FAQ

Q: How much do I need to spend on a glove? 

A: The best golf gloves for 2023 hover around the $20-$30 range. However, our “best value” pick, the Kirkland Signature Leather Glove, provides exceptional value and good performance for less than $8.

Q: Do professional golfers wear gloves?

A: Most professional golfers do indeed wear golf gloves for all of the reasons we listed above. The game of golf is hard enough and the right golf glove can take out a lot of extra variables from your game so that you can focus on playing your best.

Q: How do I know when a glove fits correctly?

A: A golf glove should fit like a second skin. As the hands are the only point of contact between you and your club, a glove must fit properly to allow you to maintain control throughout the swing. Look for things like excess material in the fingers and palm of the hand. This is generally where a golf glove starts to become baggy and loose which can ultimately cause you to lose that vital connection with the club.

Q: Do I need to wear a glove?

A: The choice is yours but we’ve conducted tests that provide pretty compelling results in favor of wearing a glove. If you’re skeptical or don’t know if a golf glove is right for you, we’d encourage you to read more about our Glove versus No Glove testing.

The post BEST GOLF GLOVE 2023 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of ECCO Golf?

Of all the words used to describe ECCO, “traditional” surely isn’t at the top of that list.

For years, ECCO has been at the forefront of golf shoe innovation with their fancy BOA-ridden silhouettes and Gore-Tex waterproofing. But in a classic “back to the future” move, the Danish footwear giant has released an all-new, old-school spikeless golf shoe—the ECCO Classic Hybrid.

The Details

• Available March 22
• White and brown color options
• Retail $220

A Closer Look

Highlighted by ultra-premium construction, the ECCO Classic Hybrid spikeless golf shoe lives up to its namesake with a classic dress shoe fit and finish. Unlike the golf shoes of old, the Classic Hybrid is fully up to speed in the performance category.

Beneath the leather exterior and classy façade, the ECCO Classic Hybrid features the brand’s FLUIDFORM Direct Comfort Technology. This refers to the process in which ECCO forms the midsoles for some of their shoes across a bunch of different categories, golf included. It’s basically a fancy way of saying the midsoles are molded in a way to fit the human foot, rather than just a flat board.

The Classic Hybrid features other golf goodies including a water-resistant coating, OrthoLite insole and multi-directional spikeless traction. You aren’t getting the top-of-the-line technology that ECCO packs into their BIOM line but the Classic Hybrid should still be a fairly functional spikeless golf shoe.

Sadly, due to the release cycle, we weren’t able to include the ECCO Classic Hybrid in this year’s spikeless golf shoe test. If you’re interested in a “We Tried It,” leave a comment down below and I’ll see what I can do.

You’re So Classic

Now for the fun part. The nice thing about “First Look” articles is that I get to share my subjective thoughts on the stuff that’s not billed as “performance.”  Yes, it’s time to talk style!

I’m far from a traditionalist when it comes to golf footwear but the sleek, sophisticated look of the Classic Hybrid is something I can get behind. If I had to swap out my joggers for a day to throw on some real golf slacks and these bad boys … let’s just say I’d be game.

“The unique and exciting designs throughout this collection, whether it’s a brand-new product or an update to one of our all-time favorites, will appeal to a wide range of golfers,” said Jesper Thuen, General Manager, ECCO GOLF USA. “Finding a pair of golf shoes that fits your style is important but what sets our shoes apart can only be experienced when they are worn.”

Do I think the ECCO Classic Hybrid is going to make its way into my golf shoe rotation anytime soon? That’s TBD. I could definitely get on board with a cordovan colorway if you’re taking notes, ECCO.

A Welcomed Departure

In a world where golf shoes look more like running shoes, it’s refreshing to turn back the clock and take a more classic approach. So long as it’s done right (and ECCO seems to have done so), traditional golf shoes still move the needle.

The ECCO Classic Hybrid spikeless golf shoes are available starting today.

BUY NOW

The post First Look: ECCO Classic Hybrid Spikeless Golf Shoes appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of golf balls. Today, we’re reviewing the 2023 Mizuno RB Tour X. To learn more about our test process, click here.

About the Mizuno RB Tour X

The RB Tour X is one of two premium urethane offerings from Mizuno. At $43 per dozen, it doesn’t strike quite the same value proposition of many direct-to-consumer offerings, but it is $5-$10 less than competitive offerings from the industry leaders.

Mizuno says the 2023 RB Tour golf ball lineup is a significant upgrade over the prior generation. It has stepped up the quality while changing the performance specs. Both the previous RB Tour and RB Tour X were what we would classify as excessively high-spin balls. Mizuno says the new balls don’t spin nearly as much and, while the RB Tour X is the higher-spinning off the two, Mizuno classifies it mid-spin (the RB Tour is classified as low-spin).

Mizuno RB Tour X Construction

With the new RB Tour X golf ball, Mizuno has moved away from four-piece, dual-core construction. Suffice it to say we found some issues with the prior generation, so it’s not particularly surprising that Mizuno, like others in the industry, has moved away from dual-core construction entirely.

The 2023 RB Tour X features three-piece (single core) construction. The cover is TPU (injection-molded) urethane with a unique 272-dimple aerodynamic package.

While the balls are Mizuno-designed from cover to core, they’re produced in Vietnam by Feng Tay. In addition to its in-house RZN brand, the company also produces balls for other DTC brands.

Compression

On our gauge, the Mizuno RB Tour X has an average compression of 95. That’s the same general compression range as balls like the Callaway Chrome Soft X, Srixon Z-Star Diamond and XV (prior-gen) and the 2022 Bridgestone Tour B X.

By nearly any reasonable compression comparison, the RB Tour X qualifies as a firm ball.

Compression Comparison Chart

We’ve had several requests for a standalone compression comparison tool. As it turns out, that tool exists. We created it as part of our Golf Ball Compression FAQ page. At some point, we may merge the two charts but for now the plan is to include this chart in future Ball Labs.

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Diameter and Weight

All of the balls in Mizuno RB Tour X sample conformed to USGA rules for both diameter and weight.

A single ball in the sample failed to meet our standard for roundness. Accordingly, we flagged it as bad.

Inspection

Centeredness and Concentricity

We found no issues of note with regard to layer concentricity within our Mizuno RB Tour X sample. This appears to be an area of improvement over the prior version.

Core Consistency

The Mizuno RB Tour X isn’t particularly fun as far as coloring goes but we don’t give style or beauty points anyway. We did observe a bit of regrind in a healthy percentage of the sample. It’s common practice among two-piece balls to reuse a bit of inert material as filler. And while it is a bit less common in the premium space, it absolutely does happen and unless we see something weird on the gauges (which we didn’t) it isn’t cause for concern.

Cover

No cover defects were identified.

Mizuno RB Tour X – Consistency

In this section, we detail the consistency of the Mizuno RB Tour X. Our consistency metrics provide a measure of how similar the balls in our sample were to one another relative to all of the models we’ve tested to date.

Weight Consistency

• At the time of testing, weight consistency for the 2023 Mizuno RB Tour X falls within the average range (though only by a bit).
• As you can see in the chart above, there was some clear variation between boxes.
  • In general, the RB Tour X qualifies as a light ball which isn’t necessarily ideal in the Tour space.

Diameter Consistency

• Diameter consistency falls in the Average range.
• While the sample was generally consistent, a single ball did not meet our standard for roundness.

Compression Consistency

• Compression consistency falls on the higher end of the Average range.
• The compression delta across the sample was only 7.8 points which is two points better than the current average.

Summary

To learn more about our test process, how we define “Bad” balls and our True Price metric, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.

Mizuno RB Tour X Golf Ball Quality Summary

From a quality perspective, the new Mizuno RB Tour X represents a significant upgrade over the original. The 2019 model rated as below average (five bad balls, overall score of 60) while the updated RB Tour X rates as well above.

The Good

• Average quality across the board with concentricity defects
• Compression consistency on the high end of the Average range
• Impressively tight compression delta
• Significant improvement over the original

The Bad

• Weight consistency narrowly falls into the Average range.
• Runs light for a Tour ball.

The Score

The True Price for the Mizuno RB Tour X is $44.22. That’s just a three-percent increase over the $42.99 retail price.

At the time of testing, the Mizuno RB Tour X golf ball receives a Ball Lab score of 84. That’s 11 points higher than the current average of 73.

The post Ball Lab: Mizuno RB Tour X Golf Ball Review (2023 model) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.