Best of 2020: Drivers

[@Carlos-qh2fm]

I've watched hundreds of KZbin golf equipment reviews in the past 3 years since I decided to learn the game. Without question, your reviews are the unconditional best. They tell me exactly what I need to know in a concise and clear manner. THANK YOU!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thank you so much for taking the time to say so Carlos, very much appreciated. Glad you enjoy watching them as much as we enjoy shooting them.

[@Ghostshadows306]

Great video as always even if I’m 2 years late. Having said that these videos of past reviews are really important when want to upgrade with clubs that have been out for awhile and need a refresher on where they stand. So thanks for that.

[@robertsalazar5874]

Amazing work again gents! You have done your due diligence on getting the right information to us consumers!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for taking the time to feedback Robert, much appreciated.

[@paulbedder889]

Kudos for a terrific job analyzing all these drivers. Drop off is an excellent concept that relates well to what we experience playing golf. Keep up the good work!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for taking the time to feedback Paul, appreciate your input.

[@roberttrembicki9926]

Great video guys, thanks for the analytical and objective approach to this test and in keeping with all of your comparison testing videos. Great stuff!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thank you Robert, really appreciate you taking the time to say so.

[@garydavis8213]

You guys do a heck of a job. Really appreciate your work. 👍🏻

[@todaysgolfer]

We really appreciate the feedback Gary, thank you.

[@cheeks9596]

Thanks for taking the time to do the review. It just shows the improtance of getting fitted.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for taking the time to say so Jay.

[@rfh5525]

Thanks for taking the time and effort. Lot of great information and very well explained. Cheers.

[@todaysgolfer]

And thank you for taking the time to say so Robert, very much appreciated.

[@jhf125]

Great comparison review. I tested the Maverick SZ, Cobra Speedzone, TM SIM And SIM Max. The TM Max looked by far the best from the playing position in my opinion even better than the SIM. I too had similar results like you. The SIM Max with the Hzrdus Green gave me the best numbers overall. I went in thinking I would be buying the Cobra SZ or the Maverick SZ and ended up ordering the SIM Max with the Hzrdus Green which is a special order but no upcharge. I never thought I would have bought a Taylormade driver. BTW my club head speed average is around 108 mph.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for your input, great to hear. Hope the SIM Max works for you. Let us know how it goes.

[@lousifers]

Which one should be the most forgiving (easiest to go straight) for mid hcp? Great test guys

[@todaysgolfer]

hard to look past the Ping G410 Plus based on our data. If you're looking to counteract a slice with some draw bias the Callaway Mavrik Max, TaylorMade SIM Max D and Ping G410 SFT should be on your radar too. Hope that helps.

[@malcolmcoulson4625]

Great informative video guys! Really enjoy the in-depth nature. Also, interesting to see how well the Wilson D7 did which at a price point a lot lower than the top of the range competitor models to only be 6 yards off 1st place is impressive! Also beats some top drivers in the process...

[@todaysgolfer]

Thank you Malcolm, appreciate the feedback. The Wilson D7 was right up there with the longest last year, it like the Cleveland is still a great value option in 2020 too.

[@stumpyslvr]

Great videoThanks for taking the time to create all of the data.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated.

[@darrenbell6376]

Great video i switched out my g410 plus for the f9 and love it. Just got back from testing the cobra sz against f9 and it's slightly longer by 4 / 5 yds over f9 but more importantly is better on off centre srtikes and looks so much cleaner on top so I've made the switch.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Darren.

[@chasinggolf5491]

some of these comments lol. This was a fantastic video with a crap ton of useful info. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. The best is to go get fitted but you are not going to test 25 driver heads when you get fitted. This narrows it down. It also helps those that don't get fitted. Good stuff

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks so much for taking the time to say so, we really do appreciate it. Glad we can help.

[@deviusfeilds]

Wow what an effort! I can only imagine how many swings it took to generate those numbers.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated.

[@wannabegolfin24-72]

I enjoy the comparisons. Viewers have to beware. I played the F9 now onto the Speedzone. The headweight of the Cobra are probably the lightest out of all the clubs tested. I had to switch the 2g weight in the back position to a 10g weight. When you factor in a counter balanced shaft and a midsize grip, this change becomes really important as the club becomes very backweighted. This changed transformed the club. The proper fitting will transform most of these clubs. Peace!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for chiming in, completely understand where you're going with this. Probably worth us just pointing out our King SZ head was 198g - 200g, and to put that into context the TaylorMade SIM Max and Wilson D7 are both 192g.

[@matty7901]

Great review... BUT what would have been great is if you had of added a list price of all drivers... looking at all those drivers IMO the Cleveland HB Launcher is a massive stand out how it performed & its actual buy price. Very underrated!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the input, will consider this for the future, but of course it will be UK pricing and we know some of our audience are US based. Agreed the Cleveland is very under rated.

[@robertsalazar5874]

You gents do your due diligence and find the right driver. I liked the ping chart it helps me see my spin ratio and expected results. thanks

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Robert, glad we're able to help golfers make more informed decisions.

[@hbyrdut]

Great video! I love comparing driver numbers. I totally agree with your statement about dispersion where 20 yards left and 20 yards right is 0 yards offline average. I've never liked the average yards offline category.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback. Dispersion can be so misleading, we've used drop off data for a while but this is the first time we've combined it like this. Very interesting results.

[@phweisser]

Great work. About t=4m08s to 4m20s: But when it comes to statistics, i am interested in deviation, not averages. I.e. standard deviation (SD) or, even easier to understand, a 95% confidence intervall. E.g., this would indicate that 95% of identical shots with driver a would be between 260 and 280 yards long, while 95% of shots with driver b would be between 269 and 271. For left / right dispersion, it is not only interesting to know if 95% are within 40yds (+/-20 yds l/r) or within 15 yds, but also if the shot are equally dispersed within that intervall or if only few balls go far out and most are in the middle. Again, the SD is abstract, but comparable. Better to visualize could be a box plot, which shows the 50% of samples around the average, and each 25% above (or left) and below (right) average. If the middle box is small the club (or ball, whatever you test) is more accurate than if it was big.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated. Completely understand where you're coming from, dispersion is really tough to accurately compare. Understand your methodology but it's worth remembering the data created is only creditable for the actual test day/s. From our experience if come back 2 weeks later and run the same test, when it comes to dispersion at least, it's highly likely your numbers won't match between the sessions....which can causes huge amounts of confusion and be very misleading.

[@elpineo3606]

There's no mention of the Titleist range even though their numbers are excellent. Is there something about them that precludes them from your suggestions? Shame driver selection has come to numbers and not feel, looks and sound! Great test, well done.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Richard, really appreciate it. It often tends to happen that we end up talking more about the newest models, as they're the ones we've not tested before and most people want to know about what's new. The TS were already 15 months old by the time we produced this video. We always show the data so people can see it and come to their own conclusions, just as readily as us highlighting stand out performers.

[@tommyboyd6189]

Would like a new driver but what do you do if you can’t afford custom fit

[@todaysgolfer]

Whereabouts are you Tommy? Lot's of retailers in the UK won't charge for a fit, unless you're looking at after market shafts from an independent fitter.

[@NovaScene]

Awesome content, true data, great job!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thank you for the feedback, very much appreciated.

[@robklein5689]

Subscribed! Great video. I currently play the ST190 and I’m considering the ST200 just for the forgiveness factor.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks Rob, very much appreciated. Let us know how the ST200 goes, if you do give it a try.

[@robklein5689]

Today's Golfer do you feel there was a big jump in forgiveness between the 190 and 200?

[@todaysgolfer]

@@robklein5689 We feel there was a decent jump forgiveness wise between the pair Rob yes. Enough for us to feel we couldn't have the ST190 amongst our 'best' drivers of the year in 2019. But heartily recommending the ST200 in 2020. Hope that helps.

[@robklein5689]

Most definitely helps. I’m very big into the math/tech of clubs and I see you guys are as well. If you guys see a worthy jump in forgiveness I’m sure it’s true. That helps big time, thanks.

[@bjarkebk3735]

I USED YOUR Review for getting my mizuno 919 forged irons . based on your review . and they fell great

[@todaysgolfer]

Glad we could help Bjarke, 2020 really is the year Mizuno hit the big time with drivers too.

[@bjarkebk3735]

@@todaysgolfer mayby i should try the new st200

[@todaysgolfer]

@@bjarkebk3735 We were surprised by its performance this year for sure. Let us know if you do.

[@neebeehayden1913]

That ping chart is interesting. .. I've been using a 8.5 degree loft for years and it's the best for me

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Neebee. The Ping results do make for interesting viewing.

[@royschlaudecker8711]

thank you for all this hard work!!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for taking the time to say so Roy, much appreciated.

[@mikelytwyn3578]

How do you rate the three driver options available with the Mavrik and who are they most suitable for?

[@jmb4172]

OUTSTANDING PIECE OF WORK

[@todaysgolfer]

Thank you so much for taking the time to say so Mike, very much appreciated.

[@stanleyoliver3045]

Why on all of these tests is the obsession on ball speed and distance I would like to see more detail on dispersion. Are you better off 10 yards longer and in the trees or or 10 yards shorter but hitting more fairways?

[@kevinfriesen5081]

Hey guys! Loved the video 👍🏻 can you tell me what you guys think happened to the cobra drive? Thanks

[@todaysgolfer]

In all honesty we can only offer opinion Kevin. Our view is, the Ping G410 Plus was right at the top of the pile last year, but seems to have been surpassed this time around. So where the G410 Plus, which is now in its second season, compares more closely to the Cobra's, it feels like the Cobra tweaks (there's little new tech) have stood still. It will be very interesting to put any new Ping's (later in the year) against the Cobra's again. Hope that helps.

[@rickroche583]

Where can I find the Ping “Chart”? Please...

[@todaysgolfer]

You can see it on our website below Rick bit.ly/33Jsqa6

[@rickroche583]

Thank you Guys....appreciated

[@aartvdmolen]

Saw printed version. Great test, with good drop off data. Unfortunately only geared at swing speeds for players like Neil (105+ mph). How will they compare for the senior golfer or those with driver swing speeds of only 75-85 mph ? or 85-95 mph ? Could you maybe do this in a subsequent driver 2020 test with another test golfer ?

[@todaysgolfer]

Completely understand where you're coming from Aart and in a perfect world absolutely we'd love too. Truth is these tests take so long to conduct, video, edit, and pull together for a magazine, so it's not as easy as it sounds. Finding golfers at lower swing speeds that are consistent enough to allow comparison of the clubs rather than analysis of how they've hit each club isn't easy either. We'll certainly bear your comments in mind for future.

[@therookiemistake9714]

Great great test. Thanks for the effort.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for taking the time to say so, much appreciated.

[@johnnypenso9574]

Where is the data for Simon's shots?

[@todaysgolfer]

Simon hit the draw and super lightweight modelsJohnny - we've got a separate Best Draw Driver video planned for them.

[@johnnypenso9574]

I'd really like to see the data for more average swing speeds as I'm sure a lot of us would. What a driver/ball does at 110 mph isn't necessarily the same as what it does at 90 mph as you well know.

[@todaysgolfer]

@@johnnypenso9574 Completely agree we'd like to use different swing speed players for sure. From our experience though finding a player with reliable strike consistency to enable solid analysis between clubs rather than analysing how the golfer hit each product is pretty difficult. Get it wrong and it can be very misleading. We're still searching for the right person/people.

[@johnnypenso9574]

Understood. Thanks for the response.

[@Xrayg219]

great work .., love the science and the numbers ..

[@todaysgolfer]

Glad you enjoyed it Raymond, thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

[@LeprechaunGinger]

I was checking out TXG and their data is much different on cobra. Can you tell us what is going on?

[@todaysgolfer]

We're at a bit of a loss to explain. Especially as the F9 tested so well last last year. We have zero facts so it's complete speculation, but we wonder if the UK/Europe shaft (Tensei Blue) is the same spec as what's available in the USA. The Cobra is £100 less than the leading competition in the UK (and the Cobra comes with an Arccos shot tracker too) so margins have to be tight. Watering down a shaft is a proven way to shave some cost. As we say we have zero facts to support that thinking though.

[@krisiboren]

swing ball speed is 150ish and i swing down a little, -2 right and so I need a loft of 11.1 or need my driver to launch out from the driver at 11.1?

[@todaysgolfer]

Nice question Krisi. You need a launch angle of 11.1deg. Backspin in the regional's of 2750 RPM. The chart is on our website (link below) if you need it. bit.ly/2QHBLYG

[@dancorun6650]

Good work gentlemen. My only complaint is that as usual Cleveland is completely unmentioned. I recently tested it against the M6 I played all of 2019 ( I was fitted). The Cleveland gave me extra carry, forgiveness and swing speed. Add that and the price compared to the SIM, Mavrik and other top names and I now will be gaming the HB Turbo in 2020.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Dan, very much appreciated. The Cleveland did very well, and apologies if we didn't highlight that enough in the video. With the Launcher HB Turbo being launched last year, it probably didn't get quite the mention we've given it in our magazine. We create these videos' to support our magazine and website, and the Cleveland has actually gone down as our best value driver of the year.

[@dancorun6650]

@@todaysgolfer Thank you for getting back to me. I understand their release date for 2020 was the end of last year, but I've been a big Cleveland person for some time. I'm excited to see them back in the club business instead of just wedges. I get a little "crazy" because so many reviews seemed geared towards Titleiest, Callaway & Taylormade. You guys do a great job covering ALL the companies and I enjoy your videos very much. Looking forward to your next video and keep up the good work. Dan

[@kymstock1852]

@@dancorun6650 I had the same experience. The Cobra F9 I was fitted for was out performed by the Cleveland HB Turbo . My swing speed is 93 mph. I think a lot of player with 85-95 mph swing speed should consider the Cleveland drivers.

[@dancorun6650]

@@kymstock1852 If golfers don;t at least give it a try IMHO they are missing out on a driver that can compete with all the latest drivers for 2020 at a great price. Thank you for the reply.

[@stephendibari7704]

Great comparison! Did you use the “made for” Ventus shaft or the “real deal”? recently TaylorMade has listed the “Real deal” Ventus as a +$250 upcharge on their customization section of their website. using the “filtered down Ventus” could be the reason for worse performance. THe Mavrik is a leader and its going to fun at my custom fit later this springtime comparing it against Ping G410+ and Mizuno ST200!

[@simondaddow]

Stephen DiBari Thanks for the feedback Stephen. It was the stock Ventus, as you can see the HZRDUS was a much better fit for Neil. Hope you enjoy hitting them for yourself.

[@stephendibari7704]

simondaddow Simon thanks for your reply. When you say “stock” I’m assuming you mean TM’s stock offering Which is the “filtered down” version. The point I’m trying to make is the “stock” version is not the real deal VENTUS shaft. The real one is now offered as a + $250 surcharge. When you go on TaylorMade’s website and click on customization you’ll see the surcharges on the real VENTUS shafts Basically my point is confirming the reasons why that shaft wasn’t performing for Neil

[@simondaddow]

Stephen DiBari Completely understand the point you're making Stephen, we're just trying to avoid confusion as the stock Ventus does not state 'Made for' or 'Exclusive' on it. Hope that clears it up.

[@stephendibari7704]

simondaddow understood. I think the “ made for” shaft looks identical to the real one. I know this was brought up on another KZbin test review of the TaylorMade SIM driver. Immediately people were saying that’s not the real deal shaft. How they knew I don’t know? but it’s obviously an issue because TaylorMade has gone on and listed the real shaft at a +$250 upgrade. A heads up, Because not so many people know about this

[@mangelarsson7774]

Very interesting test.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for taking the time to say so Mange.

[@markdunn8038]

Are Ping offering testing in line with there new chart as shown in the video.

[@todaysgolfer]

Do you mean will Ping be fitting golfers to the numbers on the chart, Mark? That's their intention for sure.

[@markdunn8038]

@@todaysgolfer Yes Thank you. If I have a Driver from another brand would I be able to contact Ping to get it tested against what they offer.

[@todaysgolfer]

@@markdunn8038 That's how most fittings work Mark, you hit your own driver first to see how any potential new purchase compares. Let us know how you get on.

[@philmead8196]

Are all the clubs used with the same shaft for a direct comparison?

[@todaysgolfer]

All with their respective stiff flex shafts Phil.

[@philmead8196]

@@todaysgolfer Been away...surely if all the heads were on the “same shaft” the results would be more of a true comparison as the shaft, grip & person on the end would be the same..only the heads being different. If I go for a fitting, I’ll use the right shaft for me on various different clubs, not their respective shaft....just making a point.

[@todaysgolfer]

@@philmead8196 Completely understand your point Phil, and it's valid. Problem is the same shaft isn't available in all the drivers so essentially you'd be testing what people can't actually buy, so some would argue what's the point. We know the majority of drivers are bought off the rack, so we use the same shaft golfers get if they buy any of the models.

[@chasinggolf5491]

@@philmead8196 how do you figure? You do realize head weights vary, COG's vary etc. Always get a kick out of this particular comment. Also why test a head with a shaft that is not a stock option?

[@philmead8196]

@@chasinggolf5491 Yes, totally aware of that, but...if the same person used the same shaft and ball with each head, then, the results would show the difference with each driver head an would be far more relevant. eg...if the tester uses a Ping std stock shaft that he actually uses, the results would be more favourable than another std stock shaft...That is why TXG for example do exactly that, so there is no bias whatsoever...also, if you’re paying £400+ for a driver you’ll be daft not to get a proper fitting so you DO have the correct shaft for you.

[@masla02]

great video, unfortunately can't afford them right now

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Shivanaden. Much appreciated.

[@devonmccalla498]

This is the only test I’ve seen that the Cobra SZ hasn’t performed just as good or better than the other big manufacturers.

[@todaysgolfer]

We were a bit surprised too Devon. We loved the F9 last year, it arguably was the driver of the year considering the price. We're over reviews using the stock shaft? Or after-market models? Maybe some differences here.

[@RedSp4de]

Awesome video!......again!

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks so much for saying so, very much appreciated.

[@jamesharrison5004]

Would you not be better off testing these drivers at more average swing speeds of around 100mph. I think you would get some very different results.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the comment James, the differences for sure would be smaller at lower speeds.

[@taylormilton3]

Bruh.... no ts4.. no complete stats for TS3 or ts4?

[@todaysgolfer]

TS4 is ultra low spin Milton, and we know our test pro really isn't a super low spin player. It would have been misleading to include it. Ball data (which is the bit we usually use for analysis) for the TS3 is complete, it's just the head speed (because of the shape/finish of the head) the launch monitor struggled to measure.

[@taylormilton3]

@@todaysgolfer That makes sense. Thank you for the response.

[@randymahony8157]

I love your videos but I would have liked to see xixio in the test.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Randy, glad you like our content. XXIO is a tiny market in the UK. Srixon, Cleveland and XXIO (all owned by the same company) were all offered the same opportunity, but were much keener to focus on the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo.

[@stevet9279]

G410 lst is the best driver by far no comparison in my opinion long fast and straight

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Steve, glad you put 'in my opinion' in there. Ping make no secret of how less than 10% of the drivers they sell are low spin models (the LST).

[@cedricbuckley9003]

I honestly can’t take any of these reviews seriously. There obviously is bias leading to swinging faster or hitting a club better/more consistent. Some drivers are better fit for some while not so good for others. Also obviously these gents like Callaway and have there bias. Please go and get fit and find out what’s best for you.

[@todaysgolfer]

Completely respect you're entitled to an opinion Cedric, but it is just that opinion. If what you say were true, Ping who've looked after Neil for equipment since he was a promising young amateur would probably argue why isn't the bias in our favour in this test? That's because there is no bias. We just hit the product and let golfers know how they compare, we're not salesmen.

[@cedricbuckley9003]

I obviously made you upset with my comment. I think it is a pretty well known fact that some clubs fit and work better for different people. I very well could go and get fit and get better numbers with one driver compared to all the rest. That doesn’t mean that driver is the best driver for 2020. It just so happens to be my best driver. I worry that all these KZbin reviews come out and state one is better than the other, resulting in a bias to the consumer. When in reality the consumer really needs to go and get fit and find the best driver for him/herself.

[@todaysgolfer]

@@cedricbuckley9003 Absolutely zero upset here Cedric, we respect you're entitled to an opinion. Completely agree fitting is absolutely key, but the truth of it is so many golfers don't go and get fitted. Which is partly where we come in. As regards to 'Best Driver 2020' it will be interesting to see which sells best in 2020, shall we chat again in November / December and see if we're off the mark?

[@lazza51]

I don’t get it ... TXG does a bake off between Ping 410, TM SIM, Mavrik and Cobra.. and Cobra gets top score for forgiveness and distance.. go figure ..their testing was done outside..

[@todaysgolfer]

Any idea of what the 'forgiveness' data was based on Larry?

[@darrenbell6376]

It's all about getting a club and shaft to work for your swing Larry. I've tried every new driver out last 2 years and gamed g410 plus last season didn't think i would ever find better but the cobra f9 was slightly better on numbers for me so changed to that. Just had a fitting again last week tried new Callaway, Taylormade and cobra sz and cobra won again for me. Cobra was around same distance as f9 but more importantly was better looking, more forgiving on off centre strikes and more stable than my f9 so I'm gaming this now. All new drivers will go around the same distance as they have reached there legal limits 2 year ago for me it's now all about looks, forgiveness but again finding a driver after a proper fitting that works best for your swing. What works for you may not work for someone else we are all different and you must optimise club choice for your swing and game. Hope this helps

[@darrenbell6376]

Just for the record the callaway, Taylormade and ping couldn't beat my numbers from the cobra speedzone and that's after trying 4/5 shaft and loft settings which proves clubs are maxed out now for distance

[@lazza51]

Today's Golfer : it was a combination of distance and dispersion on miss hits ..

[@todaysgolfer]

@@lazza51 Dispersion can be such a misleading number, as it's not repeatable...essentially it just shows how a golfer has hit that club on that day.

[@simonevans2250]

Omg!!, what a drone it's like being back at college.....

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Simon, appreciate our videos aren't for everyone. If you don't like this one it's probably worth saying never watch our Robot Tested - Golf Balls equivalent.

[@stewarth794]

Mizuno is cheaper than most from what I’ve just checked aswell

[@todaysgolfer]

The ST200 is a very solid choice for 2020 Stewart.

[@stewarth794]

Today's Golfer I think it’s 299 if you pre order which would make it cheaper than the cobra 👀👍

[@kymstock1852]

I would have thought the Wilson D7 and Cleveland HB Turbo would give good bang for buck

[@stewarth794]

Kym Stock I’ll honestly try both but I seen if you order now the mizuno is 299 on club golf or a website which I think is class I just like the look of it and the sound 😁👍

[@todaysgolfer]

@@kymstock1852 On a cost per yard basis they'd be right up there for sure.

[@ddry3345]

superb

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

[@finnlord2798]

If you’re talking aerodynamics so much how come you haven’t tested the VEGA driver with airflow stabiliser? This aero system still holds the Guinness world record for carry I think!!

[@todaysgolfer]

We're based in the UK Finn, Vega is barely available here, we obviously need to reflect what's available in our market.

[@stevet9279]

Umm aero dynamics has nothing to do with speed as all the driver are different Weights ... aerodynamics has nothing to do with swing speed change compared to weight

[@todaysgolfer]

Completely understand the point you're making Steve, it's why we made it clear in the video how the Wilson D7 was so fast, as it's super lightweight. To suggest that aerodynamics have nothing to do with speed is just ridiculous, that we can't agree on.

[@stevet9279]

The only way too truely test is too have everything the same weight then and only then you can truely determine if it makes any difference... right now it’s speculation against other manufacturers but i agree it would differ from m5 -SIM in theory but my tests with aerodynamics with last years models all playing d7 swing weight was like .2mph between clubs the difference is soo small i dont really see it as a contributing factor to anything IMO

[@todaysgolfer]

@@stevet9279 Completely understand where you're coming from Steve, and in some respects we agree. But essentially you end up testing products golfers can't even buy, so there's little point in such a test. There's a reason why brands choose to optimise equipment to their own spec (and that's their choice), we just try to see if there's a difference between models to help golfers make a more informed decision. Hence why we posted out the D7 was super fast, because it's lightweight, but it's also didn't produce the longest drives.

[@stevet9279]

Not having a dig at ya just opening up a discussion thats all... give it a try it was fun for me testing all at same swing weight

[@alysgolfstudio567]

I can attest to a lot of what you suggest. Indeed using the optimal chart you link and others too including average pga and Logan and club data I put to the test my driver (honma tw747) against the sim max but std shaft (Ventura blue) and could not get anyway near the optimal mix and resulting carry and spin with the sim max. Also because my honma settings was adjusted for loft, lie, face angle to give me the optimal results. The sim max also did not compare with my previous ts3 data - also custom fit - in that case 9 degrees vs 10.5 in the sim and honma (though my honma is adjusted down half a degree). No mavrik in left hand yet but will definitely try out in comparison at a later date.

[@todaysgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback Aly. Appreciated.

[@nttrumpet]

Whats the point of a test when you hardly mention the driver in 2nd spot. Its also £150 cheaper!

[@todaysgolfer]

@@nttrumpet Are you enquiring about the Mizuno ST200? The model that was named as one of our four favourite drivers of 2020, Nicholas?

[@booger65man]

Oh no, I feel like I'm watching one of those alien movies where slowly but surely everyone gets infected and becomes a zombie. The Callaway pandemic has finally overtaken the the Today's Golfer studios! Repeat after me... Callaway is the best... Callaway is the best.. Callaway is the...

[@todaysgolfer]

Not quite sure what you're inferring Luke. We just hit the drivers, look at the data and comment on the results. Guessing you're not a Callaway fan?

[@libsrcrazy9634]

Ping all the way

[@todaysgolfer]

A very solid shout T-Rump

[@OneSlowLT1]

Mizuno sitting at 2nd and you guys literally can’t stop talking about TM and Calloway The 2 biggest driver companies Weird 😂😂😂😂

[@todaysgolfer]

We named four drivers of the year, TM, Callaway, Ping and Mizuno so not quite sure why you feel we didn't 'highlight' the ST200's performance. The extra breakdown for accuracy / spin robustness and head speed was to see if there's any truth behind some of the claims made by the leading brands.

[@todaysgolfer]

@Phil Lewis Sorry to spoil your 'story' Phil, but the grim reality is none of the brands involved paid us to create the video. Why would they ever pay us to talk about other brands clubs? #fakenews

[@todaysgolfer]

@Phil Lewis Completely respect you're entitled to an opinion Phil, but it is just that 'opinion', you have zero fact to back up what you say. The points you raise are exactly why we have 'editorial' and 'commercial' teams, who work independently and collaboratively. We'd argue working closely with all the leading brands actually gives a more independent view (than just being sponsored by a single or few brands), as every single one scrutinises results. You obviously have zero idea of how much it costs to pull together a magazine, website and KZbin/social media channels if you think we get paid in product.