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When things aren’t going right on the course, it’s easy to place the blame squarely on the tools instead of the user. No one wants to be told they need a swing overhaul. Let’s sentence the clubs to a lifetime spent in the “timeout closet.”

But what if it really is the clubs? In other words, maybe you’re only a few gear tweaks away from getting that pesky 7-iron — yes, it’s a thing — back on track.

On the latest episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast, co-hosts Kris McCormack and Gene Parente offered tips to revitalize your clubs before cutting bait. In this particular instance, they placed the focus on the irons.

Suppose you’re unfamiliar with the design behind your current set of irons. In that case, it’s best to get a certified club fitter involved so they can analyze several metrics to determine how close or far off you are from a well-fit set of irons. Two metrics that deserve a closer look are carry distance and descent angle. The latter can ultimately determine if your ball has the necessary stopping power to land on the green and come to rest at your expected distance.

“You really need to know where you sit on the matrix from a clubhead speed and attack angle standpoint before you can even start to guess or get direction as to where you want to go from a launch and spin standpoint,” said Golf Laboratories founder Gene Parente. “Ultimately, it comes down to two factors. One is the distance you’re looking for, and the second is your descent angle. Descent is the apex coming down to the green. You want an angle around 45 to 50. That allows the ball to stop and hold. If you’re at 60 mph clubhead speed, you might want to be closer to 0 or -2 [attack angle] and have as much loft as possible to get that descent angle. If you’re at 100 mph, you need to be around -4 to -6. Descent angle and carry are critical.”

Assuming you’re somewhere close to the ideal descent angle but something still feels off, McCormack, True Spec Golf’s VP of Tour and Education, said you can focus on three areas for additional tweaks: loft, golf ball and shaft.

Loft

Gear

If you notice the carry distance gap between two irons is dangerously close or miles apart, bending the head strong or weak can get launch, spin and carry in a proper window. The bending process isn’t labor intensive or expensive — provided you know what you’re doing or have a club-fitter who can do the work. That’s the good news.

As McCormack noted, the bad news is you can ruin a club if you bend it too far. In some cases, that could mean snapping the neck of a good club or bending to the point that it negatively affects turf interaction and bounce.

“I don’t like to manipulate loft more than [one] degree, one way or the other, personally,” McCormack said. “For some of the irons you can go as much as two [degrees] before it starts to move around and hurt turf interaction and bounce characteristics.”

If you have to bend an iron more than two degrees to get it in your preferred window, then it’s time to seek out alternative gear tweaks.

Golf ball

The golf ball can help scrub spin or tack it back on, depending on the model and what you’re trying to accomplish. Similar to altering the loft, a combination of bending the head and changing ball models can make positive improvements. Just don’t assume there’s a magic ball on the market that’ll solve all your problems by itself.

As I mentioned in a recent story on ball testing, robotic testing of 40 models with Golf Laboratories’ swing robot revealed the spin rate delta from the highest to lowest was a mere 600 RPMs with a driver. Of those models tested, more than half had a spin rate between 2,500 and 2,800 RPMs. Launch also changed less than 1 degree across all balls.

Again, it’s all about incremental improvements when you add in the right ball. Those improvements could be a total game-changer for many golfers, but if you need to change launch and spin measurably, it’s very likely going to come from using the correct head and shaft.

Shaft

Of the three we’ve covered, the shaft has the potential to impact launch and spin the most — if you’re using an off-the-rack set. Linking up with a knowledgeable fitter could reveal the stock offering in your current set is designed to induce a higher launch when you’re already a high-spin, high-launch player. Or maybe you struggle to get the ball in the air and don’t realize the shaft in your irons is a tip-stiff offering.

Gear

There isn’t a universal flex and bend profile for every shaft in the marketplace, and it’s silly to assume golfers have the knowledge base to understand if a stock stiff-flex shaft is suited for their game. Depending on how far off you are at the moment, it’s very possible the correct shaft could change your game in a meaningful way.

Incremental improvements can be made with a different shaft as well if you’re looking to tighten up dispersion and shed a little bit of spin. Again, this is where a reliable fitter and access to a launch monitor can make a world of difference.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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Robotic testing data can offer valuable insights that otherwise might get lost in a sea of product marketing speak. Those insights become even more valuable when searching for the right golf ball amongst a myriad of deserving offerings.

As we’ve highlighted in past pieces, and on GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast, golf ball testing generally takes time and access to a proper short game area. Not to mention several rounds to vet potential options on the course. There’s a reason why golfers tend to throw a budget-friendly ball in the bag and call it a day. Not everyone has the time, patience or practice facilities to conduct ball testing.

But let’s assume for a second that you want to conduct ball testing but don’t have any interest in going through the same thorough vetting process as, say, Tiger Woods. Maybe you’re good for the Cliff’s Notes version.

Where do you start? Head straight to the short game area and drop balls around 40 to 50 yards from the green. For most pros, this is the money distance that generally determines if a ball is worthy of further testing.

“It’s your short game that’s going to be the biggest defining factor,” said Golf Laboratories founder Gene Parente. “For most tour players, the money shot that determines whether they’re going to use a ball is the 40-yard wedge shot. They want to know how the ball flies, controls and lands. Start short and work your way back.”

Last year, GOLF and Golf Laboratories linked up to conduct golf ball testing with the help of a swing robot. Looking strictly at the numbers, the spin rate delta on a 50-yard wedge shot with the robot was noticeably larger than the driver — to the tune of 3,300 RPMs for the wedge and 600 RPMs with the driver. Those are the extremes at the top and bottom of the spin spectrum, but it highlights the importance of knowing your golf ball and prioritizing the short game during testing.

Out of the 40 balls that went through testing, 31 had a spin rate of over 6,300 RPMs on the wedge shot, which is ample spin for a wedge shot. So even if you don’t know the ins and outs of your current ball, there’s a good chance it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of what you should be using — provided it has a urethane cover. Just don’t assume until you see the numbers for yourself.

As for golfers currently playing offerings with a firmer Surlyn cover, greenside spin is being sacrificed for more distance in most cases. Depending on needs (not to mention budget) and where your game is currently at, it might make sense to start with Surlyn and graduate to urethane when you start finding the green on a more consistent basis. That’s one way to look at it.

However you decide to proceed, just know the data confirms urethane is where you’ll find more short-game spin. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

Considering the number of times you have a wedge in hand for 18 holes, it makes sense to ponder the idea of springing for something with the ability to react and stop on the green.

Yes, the driver is the sexy club in the bag. But if you think a golf ball is going to help you generate groundbreaking numbers — you might want to think again. The spin rate delta from the highest to lowest spinning balls we tested with the driver was just 600 RPMs.

Of those 40 models tested, more than half had a spin rate between 2,500 and 2,800 RPMs. And launch changed less than 1 degree. It makes sense to find a ball that works for every club in the bag. Just don’t weigh driver numbers heavily during the decision-making process. Instead, find one that pairs well with your go-to wedge shots and go from there.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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Go to the range at your local public course and there’s a good chance you’ll find a plethora of yellow golf balls. The range serves a purpose for golfers who need to knock off the rust before a round or simply have time to kill on a Friday afternoon. This is where you go to find some answers in the dirt. Just don’t expect those answers to help you determine if Club A is better than Club B in a head-to-head testing competition.

On the latest episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast, the crew discussed the role range balls play in the practice experience. Yes, they can help you work on tempo, groove your swing and improve turf interaction. These are important aspects of the swing that can take your game to the next level.

Where range balls fall short is in overall consistency, which is why they shouldn’t be used to vet new clubs or conduct thorough testing on the range. During testing conducted with Golf Laboratories’ swing robot, the results revealed a vast gap in carry distance from one range ball to the next when compared to a premium, multi-layer offering.

With the driver, there was a 12-yard drop-off in distance at 95 and 105 mph with the range ball compared to a premium version. The range ball also had double the lateral dispersion with the driver — a number that also reinforces why you should never rely on a worn range ball if you’re running low on pellets during a round.

Even more stunning? The 12-yard drop-off in distance was an average of the 10 shots struck by the robot. In some instances, the carry distance loss from one range ball to the next was 25 yards. For others, it was a tight 2 or 3 yards.

“The deviation was triple to quadruple what it was with the premium ball,” Parente said. “The robot is hitting it perfectly straight each time, so it’s the golf ball that’s the problem.”

A similar situation played out with the 5-iron, where the range ball was 8 yards shorter but also had a range four times larger than the premium ball, meaning there was a wider distance band. With the pitching wedge, the range ball wound up being 4 yards longer than the premium due to a significant downturn in spin — the range ball spin rate was half that of the premium ball — that resulted in a lower launch and more distance.

The thick surlyn cover and rubber core found on most range balls don’t hold a candle to the multi-layer construction found on premium offerings. The production tolerances are noticeably wider on a range ball, which matches up with the inconsistent launch and spin results seen from ball to ball on the robot.

Unless your range has access to premium urethane golf balls, it’s time to stop pouring over the yardages during a range testing session. Putting any weight into how a club performs with a yellow range ball is a fool’s errand. If you need to conduct serious club work, seek out a certified club-fitter and test with your golf ball of choice.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The spot(s) between the longest fairway wood and mid-iron remains a black hole for some golfers — and generally leads to plenty of critical bag setup questions: Are you better off using a game-improvement long iron or a utility iron? How about a hybrid or high-lofted fairway wood with the same loft? Answer these dilemmas and you’re bound to shave strokes off the handicap.

Unless you’re a bomber with plenty of speed in the tank, there’s a good chance you face a fair number of shots from 240-180 during a round. Long irons, utility irons, hybrids and high-lofted fairway wood can all get the job done, but it’s important to understand the benefits they provide for certain player types.

On the latest episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast, the crew discussed the results of a robotic test with Golf Laboratories that revealed the wide range of launch and spin characteristics the clubs possess at 92 mph. Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, it’s very likely one of the below clubs can help you fill a carry gap (or two) in the bag.

7-wood: 19 degrees (launch angle) | 5,200 RPMs (spin) | 200 yards (carry)

Who it’s designed for: Someone who doesn’t hit it out of the center regularly and requires maximum forgiveness. This golfer might also need help launching it high and stopping it on the green.

Insights (Kris McCormack, Fully Equipped co-host and VP of tour and education at True Spec Golf): “When it comes to the demographic of a player, the 7-wood is more forgiving and designed for the player who needs more launch and spin. It’s a long iron replacement that you’re hitting into a green and expecting it to hold. The lower, deeper CG in the 7-wood is going to allow you to hit it higher, and it did [during the test].”

3-hybrid: 14 degrees | 2,940 RPMs | 225 yards

Who it’s designed for: A golfer who needs a secondary option off the tee and isn’t launch and spin deficient. The compact profile makes it a good option for the better player who still needs some semblance of mishit protection.

Insights: “The 3-hybrid is a more compact design with a forward CG. It’s also a long iron replacement, but it’s going to play and perform more like a traditional long iron.”

3-iron: 15 degrees | 3,640 RPMs | 205 yards

Who it’s designed for: Strong ball-striker who wants a consistent look throughout their iron set and places a premium on workability and launch variability.

Insights: “I would expect the player using the 3-iron to be a little bit better ball-striker. They’re looking for a particular launch window and number. They’re also looking to shape and control shots.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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With drivers getting faster and more forgiving with each release cycle, it’s natural to assume the big stick should be the primary option off the tee. Weekend golfers tend to miss the face center more than the average tour pro and don’t possess anywhere close to the same speed in the tank. Opting for anything other than driver feels like a fool’s errand.

Even the mini driver appears to be a better 1A compared to the 3-wood. Or at least that’s the story we tell ourselves when standing over a tee. Provided the driver is optimized for your game, there’s no question it should be longer than the 3-wood. The problem is not every golfer understands the role clubhead speed can play in dialing in carry distance.

What we learned with the help of Golf Laboaratories’ swing robot is that certain groups of golfers might be better off using 3-wood as their primary option off the tee to maximize carry distance.

Testing with Golf Laboratories revealed that golfers at slower swing speeds below 80 mph saw carry distance with a 15-degree fairway wood outpace the 10.5-degree driver by roughly 5 yards. The simple reason for the flip-flop in carry distance is that golfers at slower swing speeds generally struggle to optimize launch and spin numbers. Carry distance is the first thing to suffer when you can’t generate enough hang-time.

The short 3-wood shaft should make the club easier to control, giving you an improvement in two all-important metrics (carry distance and dispersion). As for the golfers who swing it below 80 mph but are not interested in letting go of their driver, increasing the loft on an adjustable head — in some cases, you can move sole weights around as well to bump up launch and spin — can help you regain lost carry distance.

There’s no guarantee you’ll gain 10-15 yards simply with the turn of the wrench, but it’s very possible you could squeeze a few more yards out of the big stick with increased hang-time.

If you don’t have a launch monitor handy to establish launch conditions at your current driver loft, get with a certified club-fitter who can verify if adding loft to the head with your current attack angle increases carry distance.

Something else to consider is how more loft affects clubface angle on many of today’s drivers.

Going up in loft closes the face angle slightly, which could be a good thing if you tend to slice the ball. Because a change in face angle could alter the gear effect, it’s suggested you bring along impact tape or foot spray to find your typical impact location and see how it aligns with a different face angle.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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With the help of Golf Laboratories’ swing robot, GOLF’s 2024 ClubTest continues to deliver robotic testing insights on the newest equipment releases. We continue our fairway wood insights with the five models designed to launch it low. And if you want to learn more about the latest models, click here to get the full rundown on every fairway wood for ’24.

The driver is fun to whack on courses where the fairways are wide and generous. But things start to get scary when the trees encroach on the short grass and hazards become more plentiful. We’ve been there. In those moments, it’s easy to try and choke down and swing easier with the driver to just keep it in play. The problem is you’re bound to make a mistake if you’re playing defensively for all 18 holes.

This is where a strong secondary option comes in handy. For most golfers, it’s a fairway wood or hybrid that keeps the ball in the fairway. The shorter shaft and additional loft make it easier to control the ball and keep it from ending up in a watery grave. Or maybe it’s a mini driver.

If you don’t have one of the above, then it’s time to consider the idea of a fairway wood with driver-like properties. We’re talking about a 15-degree offering that launches low with reduced spin. The combination should make it easier to keep up with your driver at a shorter (more controllable) length.

Our robotic testing (95 mph) with Golf Laboratories’ swing robot revealed 4 offerings with lower-than-average launch angles and spin rates. Check them out below.

(How we test: The launch angles and spin rates are an average of 18 balls struck out of the geometric center, toe and heel.)

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TaylorMade Qi10 Tour

TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Custom Fairway Wood

Introducing the Qi10 Tour fairway. Experience TaylorMade speed with Qi10 forgiveness…off the tee and off the deck. MAXIMUM ADJUSTABILITY A lower profile moveable weight system features a 50g sliding weight and a 2° loft sleeve for a wide range of flight options. Golfers can shift the weight back for higher launch and stability, center it for all-around performance or move it forward for a low-spin ball flight with maximum distance. NEW INFINITY CARBON CROWN An Infinity Crown provides a clean, uninterrupted view at address while also optimizing performance.

$449.99 $349.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Launch: 13 degrees

Spin: 3,100 RPMs

Cobra Darkspeed LS

Cobra DarkSpeed LS Custom Fairway Wood

The LS model features our first ever Titanium fairway construction for driver-like performance in a refined clubhead shape tailored for precise shot shaping. TOUR INSPIRED SHAPING Subdued clubhead styling inspires a Tour-validated look and feel at address. TITANIUM CONSTRUCTION A multi-material construction blends a lightweight 8-1-1 Titanium body and face, and a carbon crown to improve weight distribution for more distance.

$429.99 $249.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Launch: 13.8 degrees

Spin: 3,402 RPMs

Mizuno ST-G Titanium

Launch: 14.2 degrees

Spin: 3,657 RPMs

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond

Launch: 14.6 degrees

Spin: 3,818 RPMs

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.

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Using the word “special” in a headline tied to the current driver crop can be dangerous if you don’t provide some context at the outset. In this case, we used our robotic testing data to spotlight launch and spin characteristics most golfers could only dream of accomplishing at 95 mph: high launch and low spin.

Achieving both of these will almost certainly increase carry distance. What makes these three drivers worthy of the “special” moniker is how they accomplish the rare combination.

Instead of altering the AoA (angle of attack) to increase launch, all three of the heads listed below produced a launch angle positive delta of 2 degrees or more with a neutral AoA (0 degrees). It means you can keep your current AoA and still see an increase in launch.

What makes them even more appealing is the fact they managed to keep spin below the testing mean with a neutral AoA. As Golf Laboratories’ swing robot confirmed, these three drivers can produce high launch and low spin numbers without any wholesale changes to the swing.

It’s a special (we’ll stop uttering the word) combination worth exploring if you’re in the market for a new driver and need guidance. And remember to test them with a certified club-fitter before making a final selection.

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Ping G430 Max 10K (9 degrees)

PING G430 Max 10K Custom Driver

The G430 MAX 10K is PING’s straightest and highest MOI driver to date, eclipsing the 10,000 g-cm2 combined moment of inertia threshold first surpassed by the G400 MAX five years earlier. FIXED BACK WEIGHT The fixed back weight allows for the record-setting MOI as it drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimize the center of gravity position. LARGER HEAD PROFILE PING’s biggest head profile to date maximizes the USGA-allowable heel-toe and front-back dimensions while staying within the 460cc volume limit. This eye-pleasing shape helps square the golfer to the target and inspires the confidence to hit longer, straighter tee shots.

$599.99 $449.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Launch: 11.3 degrees

Spin: 2,400 RPMs

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees)

Launch: 11.5 degrees

Spin: 2590 RPMs

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (9 degrees)

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Custom Driver

Ai SMOKE MAX DRIVER The new Paradym Ai Smoke driver represents a quantum leap forward in Callaway’s Ai journey. This new family of drivers feature the most sophisticated driver face in Callaway history, the Ai Smart Face.  World’s First Ai Smart Face™  The all-new Ai Smart Face optimizes driver performance using swing dynamics from thousands of real golfers. This promotes optimal launch conditions and tight downrange dispersion. Micro Deflections With Ai Smart Face technology, micro deflections are activated upon impact helping to optimize launch and spin on off-center shots. The result is sweet spots not just in the center, but all over the face.

$599.99 $399.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Launch: 12 degrees

Spin: 2423 RPMs

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.

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The robotic testing portion of GOLF’s 2024 ClubTest has come to a close, which means it’s time to take inventory of the numbers and highlight particular models that exceeded our expectations. The Fully Equipped crew recently highlighted their favorites on the podcast.

But what about the Golf Laboratories swing robot? Without any personal biases to navigate, we looked at the raw data to determine if any models jumped out. It didn’t take us long to circle one that earned high marks in several different areas: TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max.

Look at the TaylorMade fairway wood lineup and you’ll find three different models — standard, Tour and Max. Of the three, Qi10 Max offers a ton of intrigue. At 200cc and 5mm longer (front-to-back) than the previous Stealth 2 HD, Max is quite easily the most forgiving and easy-to-launch fairway wood TaylorMade has ever produced.

Max’s performance and forgiveness characteristics make it a strong option for additional testing, especially if you need launch assistance and lack a consistent mishit location. The Max fairway topped the list in heel-toe consistency (7.6 yards) and produced the third-highest launch angle (16 degrees) from this year’s crop during robotic testing. It also generated one of the highest recorded ball speeds.

Looking specifically at heel-toe consistency, only Cobra Darkspeed LS recorded a single-digit “forgiveness” number (averaging the carry distance drop-off on toe and heel strikes). Taking an ever closer peek at the numbers, Max was average on toe mishit (14 yards) but exceptional on strikes towards the heel. With an 0.8-yard carry delta on heel misses, it’s fair to expect similar carry numbers to a geometric center strike at 95 mph.

The longer head profile might not be for everyone, but if you’re a golfer seeking out a confidence-inspiring profile, the Max should check that box as well.

The robot data on Qi10 Max confirms it does a lot of things very well and should fit a large majority of player types. But as we preach every time our robotic insights are pushed out, make sure you take the clubs for a test drive with a certified club-fitter before spending hard-earned cash on a new fairway wood.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.

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Sifting through the robotic testing data always reveals some intriguing insights. Regarding fairway woods, it’s natural to wonder if this year’s crop is geared for golfers who miss it out of the toe or heel. Considering the toe is the more common mishit location, the money would be on a toe miss producing a tighter carry distance delta across all models. It’s always important to cater to the general audience.

Crunching the numbers confirms toe misses have a slight edge over toe misses — to the tune of 1.2 yards (10.3 yards versus 11.5 yards). In our opinion, the delta is within the noise, meaning there isn’t a meaningful difference between the two mishit locations. That’s good news for golfers who are inconsistent with their contact.

What’s interesting about the carry deltas is how the number jumps from 1.2 yards to 3 yards if you remove one club: TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max.

Of all the fairway woods GOLF tested, the Qi10 Max produced an impressive carry delta on heel misses. How impressive? Try 0.8 yards. It means you can miss it out of the heel and see little to no distance loss. (Many fairway woods saw distance dip 14-17 yards on heel misses during robotic testing.)

There’s no question Qi10 Max is one to consider if you consistently miss in the heel, but it’s not the only option worth additional testing. Take a closer look at the 15-degree fairway woods with the tightest carry distance deltas on heel misses below.

(Methodology: All testing was conducted with a 15-degree fairway wood at 95 mph — using the same shaft and attack angle — with six shots recorded from the geometric center and heel. The carry numbers below compare center and heel distances to achieve a carry delta.)

****

TaylorMade Qi10 Max | 0.8 yards of distance loss

TaylorMade Qi10 | 6.3 yards

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond | 8.3 yards

PXG 0311 Black Ops | 10.8 yards

PXG 0311 Black Ops Custom Fairway Wood

High-Strength Carbon Fiber Crown Crown made entirely from high-grade carbon fiber. This lightweight material saves mass in the crown, allowing it to be redistributed low and to the perimeter of the clubhead for optimal CG and addedforgiveness. Supported Weight Structure Innovative supported weight structure that delivers unbelievable sound and feel. High-Speed, Squared Face PXG 0311 Black Ops Fairways present a proprietary stainless steel face engineered to position the CG low for high launch, optimal spin performance, and insanely fast ball speeds.

$349.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Cobra Darkspeed Max | 11.4 yards

Cobra DarkSpeed Max Custom Fairway Wood

The MAX model features tunable draw-bias and unrivaled stability to inspire maximum confidence from the fairway or off the tee. MORE LAUNCH. MORE BALL SPEED. The PWRSHELL insert and suspended weight PWR-BRIDGE design create a more flexible face and sole to maximize launch and ball speed. SPEED & SPIN OPTIMIZATION An A.I. designed H.O.T. Face features an optimized variable thickness pattern that delivers more efficient speed & spin across the clubface.

$329.99 $199.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.

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Go ahead and pick up the 7-iron in your bag and take a look at the wear pattern on the face. Unless your name is Tiger Woods or Moe Norman, there’s a good chance you’ll find some marks out on the heel or toe. Of the two locations, a heel strike is less common and comes from an inside path generally attached to better players.

We’re not saying a heel strike is the calling card of all better players but as you’ll notice from the list below, the Golf Laboratories swing robot highlighted several iron models geared for elite ball-strikers who miss it in the heel, including the impressive Mizuno Pro 241.

Of course, not every model on this list is a blade. For the game-improvement crowd, Ping’s G730 and XXIO’s 13 saw minimal distance loss on heel strikes when compared to geometric center impact. So, too, did the Blueprint S, a cavity-back model geared for the better player who still needs perimeter weighting for those mishits.

And if you’re wondering whether it’s better to miss it out of the heel or toe with your irons, the clear answer is the heel, according to the robot data. Across the 40-plus models tested, heel strikes averaged just 6.5 yards of distance loss versus 12.3 yards for toe misses. Now you know why better players tend to live in the heel when they don’t pure it.

(Methodology: All testing was conducted with a 7-iron at 80 mph — using the same shaft and attack angle — with six shots recorded from the geometric center and toe. The carry numbers below compare center and heel distances to achieve a carry delta.)

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Mizuno Pro 241 | 1.1 yards (carry delta between geometric center and heel strikes)

Wilson Staff Model Blade | 2.1 yards

Ping G730 | 3.3 yards

XXIO 13 | 4.2 yards

XXIO 13 Irons

The all-new XXIO 13 Irons deliver the ultimate in moderate swing speed performance. Their advanced, four-piece design has a remarkably low Center of Gravity for a satisfyingly high launch. 4-PIECE CONSTRUCTION XXIO 13 Irons feature a low Center of Gravity thanks to their 4-piece construction, which uses titanium faces and tungsten-nickel sole weights. That weighting, combined with our unique Rebound Frame structure which alternates stiff and flexible zones for added ball speed, gives you a satisfyingly high launch with incredible distance. REBOUND FRAME Rebound Frame uses alternating layers of stiff and flexible zones to enhance overall COR, creating an effect that acts like a spring within a spring. It adds ball speed and distance to every shot. On the Irons, a thinner face flexes more extensively while perimeter grooves etched deep into the interior of the Iron body add even more flex, especially for shots struck low on the face.

$1,539.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Ping Blueprint S | 4.5 yards

PING Blueprint S Custom Irons

Developed following extensive testing with PING’s top tour pros to meet their “must haves” — control and precision — Blueprint S delivers the score-lowering performance demanded by the best players in the world. COMPACT SHAPE The compact shape fits the discerning eye with a thin top line and minimal offset. The 8620 carbon steel head boasts a clean cavity design, distinguished by an eye-catching forged textured pattern and hydropearl 2.0 chrome finish. PRECISION POCKET FORGING This patented forging technique allows PING to forge a pocket into the cavity of the 3, 4 and 5 irons. The pocket saves 10 grams of weight, which is re-allocated to increase the MOI and optimize the center of gravity position for more distance and trajectory control.

$221.50 from Fairway Jockey

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