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GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best golf ball of 2023 (non-tour ball)

GolfWRX Staff — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:53:41 +0000

We’re proud to partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2023! 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

What is the best golf ball in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best tour and non-tour golf ball of 2023.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Best golf ball of 2023 (non-tour ball)

1. TaylorMade Tour Response (27.78%)

What TaylorMade says: “360° ClearPath Alignment was engineered with the golfer in mind. This next-gen visible technology of Tour Response Stripe wraps around the center of the golf ball to help you aim putts better, faster and more consistently, all while providing immediate feedback on the quality of your roll. A lime yellow finish offers enhanced visibility.”

Shop here.

2. Titleist Tour Speed (11.11%)

What Titleist says: “If you’re looking for long distance, a penetrating flight and shot stopping control into the green, we’ve got you covered with Titleist® Tour Speed. Like the name says, Tour Speed is very fast, but low scores require more than speed and Tour Speed is designed to help you execute every type of shot. All with the quality and consistency you trust from Titleist.”

Shop here.

3. Srixon Q-Star Tour (10.49%)

What Srixon says: “Q-STAR TOUR has all the features you’d expect from a tour ball, but its low compression is tuned to your moderate swing speed, with the distance you need to get ahead of the competition and the greenside spin to park it by tough pins.”

Shop here.

4. Callaway Supersoft (9.88%)

What Callaway says: “Callaway Supersoft is one of the most popular balls in golf, particularly for its long, straight distance, and most importantly the super soft feel. We’ve advanced the cover, core, and construction technologies to enhance these key benefits, with improved performance from tee-to-green.”

Shop here.

5. Vice Tour (5.09%)

What Vice says: “With the new Vice TOUR, you benefit from the technological improvements, including an updated hardness distribution, a higher coefficient of restitution (COR) and lower driver spin, which result in more distance off the tee.The new 312 dimple design features an increase in the diameter of dimples which reduces air resistance and results in a more stable trajectory of the golf ball and higher ball speed.”

See the full results and read what GolfWRX members are saying here.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best golf ball of 2023 (tour ball)

GolfWRX Staff — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 12:27:10 +0000

Best golf ball of 2023 (tour ball)

1. Titleist Pro V1 (23.01%)

What Titleist says: “Pro V1 is the optimal premium performance choice for most players, and the most played ball model in golf…Pro V1 has a softer feel, less spin and flatter trajectory than Pro V1x, which makes it the preferred model for players who like exceptionally long distance, the ability to flight shots, and score with precision and touch.”

Shop here.

2. Titleist Pro V1x (14.16%)

What Titleist says: “Pro V1x is the optimal premium performance choice for players looking for maximum distance, who need higher flight and more stopping power. Pro V1x is most frequently recommended for players with launch conditions that are naturally low in height and low in spin.”

Shop here.

3. Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash (7.3%)

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls are designed for players seeking a high flight similar to Pro V1x with dramatically lower full swing spin and firmer feel.”

Shop here.

4. TaylorMade TP5x (5.53%)

What TaylorMade says: “At TaylorMade, life is all about golf and trying new things. Like the new TP5/TP5x and its better aerodynamics, improved green side spin and enhanced feel. When you try TP5/TP5x hitting more greens, saving that clutch par and outdriving your competition is a real possibility. So, just try it. What’s the best that could happen?”

Shop here.

5. Srixon Z-Star Diamond (5.09%)

What Srixon says: “To push the limits of your game, you need a ball with all the right ingredients. That’s why the entire Z-STAR Series was designed to deliver tour-level distance, control and feel, from tee to green. Starring a reformulated FastLayer DG Core and improved Spin Skin+ coating, you, too, can experience the formula trusted by Major Champions when wins are on the line.”

Shop here.

See the full results and read what GolfWRX members are saying here.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best launch monitor of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 12:41:17 +0000

What is the best launch monitor in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best launch monitor of 2023.

Best launch monitor of 2023

1. Foresight GCQuad (23.13%)

What Foresight says: “The GCQuad is the world’s most accurate, versatile, and complete launch monitor on the market. As the only launch monitor in the industry to utilize Quadrascopic imaging, the GCQuad delivers the most accurate detailed picture of ball and club head performance analysis.”

Shop here.

2. FlightScope Mevo+ (10.45%)

What FlightScope says: “The FlightScope Mevo+ is a launch monitor and simulator that uses patented FlightScope Fusion Tracking technology to provide golfers with accurate golf performance data. Fusion Tracking technology is an innovative combination of 3D Doppler tracking radar technology and synchronized high speed image processing that helps provide users with the most accurate and consistent data for every shot – indoors and outdoors.”

Shop here.

T3. TrackMan 4 (9.7%)

What Trackman says: “The TrackMan 4 golf launch monitor gives you all the data you need, is incredibly intuitive and seriously performance-enhancing. You won’t just improve. You’ll improve faster than you thought possible.”

T3. Bushnell Launch Pro (9.7%)

What Bushnell says: “Tour-level accuracy both indoor and out. Capture club and ball data for industry-leading performance insights. Yearly subscription options available to fit your needs from enhanced data visualization to full simulation.”

Shop here.

T3. Full Swing Kit (9.7%)

What Full Swing says: “The Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor is engineered with the most advanced radar technology and a high-resolution camera to give you 16 points of data and video to see your swing in perfect clarity. Tested & trusted by Tiger Woods, made for everyone.”

Shop here.

See the full results and read what GolfWRX members are saying here.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best rangefinder of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 13:34:15 +0000

What is the best rangefinder in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best rangefinder of 2023.

Best rangefinder of 2023

1. Bushnell Pro X3 (17.95%)

What Bushnell says: “The best just got even better – Pro X3 is the most feature rich, best performing laser rangefinder on earth. Bushnell Golf brings you its most advanced laser rangefinder yet. Packing all of the market-leading innovations you have come to expect.”

Shop here.

2. Precision Pro NX10 Slope (15.38%)

What Precision Pro says: “The NX10 brings premium quality and performance together with the ability to effortlessly customize your rangefinder to your style. Lightning-quick internals and an HD LCD display make it easy to lock onto your target to get your exact distance. Start lowering your scores and having more fun on the course with golf’s only customizable rangefinder.”

Shop here.

3. Bushnell Tour V6 Shift (12.82%)

What Bushnell says: “Utilizing new and improved electronics, along with our patented, Tour-trusted Slope technology, Tour V6 Shift is the most accurate, consistent and longest ranging Tour series laser Bushnell Golf has ever released.”

Shop here.

4. Bushnell Tour V5 Shift (7.05%)

What Bushnell says: “Size, speed and accuracy evolved with a new generation of tech — featuring PinSeeker with Visual JOLT, BITE Magnetic Mount, and next level clarity and brightness — plus patented slope compensation that will change your game.”

Shop here.

5. Nikon Coolshot ProII Stabilized (6.41%)

What Nikon says: “From the moment you step onto the tee box and look through the COOLSHOT PROII, you’ll know your game has changed. The view is stunning—bright, clear and sharp thanks to Nikon’s brilliant optics. Key measurements appear in an instant thanks to integrated HYPER READ technology and a premium OLED display. What’s most striking? The stability. Regardless of the weather conditions or excitement level, the view through the COOLSHOT PROII is calm and steady, for unshakable confidence in every shot.”

Shop here.

See the full results and what GolfWRXers are saying here.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best putter of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:14:06 +0000

What is the best putter in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best putter of 2023.

Best putters over $300

1. Titleist Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 (9.06%)

What Scotty Cameron says: “The evolution of Scotty Cameron’s Phantom X 5.5 continues with his latest creation, inspired by Justin Thomas’ prototype gamer, yet refined with a new, self-centering sole plate design, updated graphics and an all-new Pistolero Plus grip with a decorative, non-slip texture. The small slant—or “jet” neck—configuration remains unchanged, as do the solid face and body precision milled from 303 stainless steel and integrated with an updated aluminum sole plate and customizable stainless steel sole weights. This combination of heavier steel and lighter aluminum moves weight to the perimeter of the head, increasing MOI, stability and forgiveness.”

Shop here.

2. Titleist Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport 2 (6.34%)

What Scotty Cameron says: “Refined and re-designed for 2023, the iconic Scotty Cameron heel-and-toe weighted putter shape—the Super Select Newport 2—emerges again as the flagship model of our most modern blade line to date. Milled in USA from 303 stainless steel with customizable tungsten sole weights, the Newport 2 retains its tri-sole design, incorporates the Tour-inspired I-beam plumbing neck and introduces new dual-milled face technology, a milling process inspired by deep milled models, but with a second pass of the mill to level, or smooth, face grooves to deliver the feedback associated with mid-mill putters and a highly consistent putter face.”

Shop here.

3. L.A.B. Directed Force 2.1 (5.74%)

What L.A.B. says: “Our Founder is Bill Presse, a former mini-tour player who had the idea to create a putter that would allow him to drastically simplify his stroke. He wanted to be able to count on a square putter face every time, which led him to invent Lie Angle Balance. Bill also wanted to create a putter head that would give him as much forgiveness as possible, so he developed the radical shape of the DF 2.1 as a way to maximize consistency on off-center hits. Yes, it looks like a branding iron… but it works!”

Shop here.

4. L.A.B. Link.1 (4.53%)

What L.A.B. says: “Like all L.A.B. Golf putters, LINK.1 is designed to stay square to your path during the stroke. That means there’s no need to try to keep the face square like there is with other putters. All you have to do is LET the face stay square. Think about that for a second. How many more putts would you make if you could trust your putter to be square at impact?”

Shop here.

5. L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max (4.23%)

What L.A.B. says: “MEZZ.1 MAX offers outrageous stability. It was created for golfers that prefer larger putters or are seeking the most forgiveness possible. MEZZ.1 MAX is almost as forgiving as our DF 2.1 (except it’s not ugly) to give golfers everything they love about DF 2.1 without the spaceship vibe.”

Shop here.

See what GolfWRXers have to say and check out the votes in the forums.

Best putters sub $300

1. Odyssey White Hot OG Seven (9.77%)

What Odyssey says: “The White Hot OG Seven is a double bend face-balanced mallet, best suited for strokes with minimal arc and face rotation. It’s our latest take on this iconic head shape, featuring our legendary White Hot insert and fitted with our silver and black Odyssey pistol grip.”

Shop here.

2. Ping Anser (7.52%)

What Ping says: “The winningest putter in history is updated using tungsten toe-heel weights to improve stability and forgiveness, and the shallow milled face delivers a firmer feel and consistent ball speed with pleasing acoustics. Employs color blocking where the platinum topline contrasts against the black cavity to focus the eye forward.”

Shop here.

3. Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball (6.02%)

What Odyssey says: “The White Hot OG 2-Ball is our latest release of the iconic 2-Ball putter and is a double bend face-balanced mallet best suited for strokes with minimal face rotation and arc. It’s our latest take on this iconic head shape, featuring our legendary White Hot insert and fitted with our silver and black Odyssey pistol grip.”

Shop here.

4. Odyssey 2-Ball Ten (5.26%)

What Odyssey says: “The 2-Ball Ten is a double bend face-balanced mallet best suited for golfers with strokes with minimal face rotation and arc. This putter combines our Tour proven 2-Ball and Ten shapes creating a super high MOI head design with our red Stroke Lab shaft and White Hot insert. This putter is equipped with two adjustable 15 gram weights.”

Shop here.

T5. TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Soto (4.51%)

What TaylorMade says: “The Hydro Blast process delivers a rich and premium finish to this classically shaped putter. The application of a high-pressure stream of water to 303 stainless steel creates a smooth and durable surface. A clean build with a single sightline on the back cavity, this time-honored shape is meant to inspire confidence and produce exceptional feel putt after putt.”

Shop here.

T5. TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon (4.51%)

What TaylorMade says: “An L-Neck hosel combines with the double wing design to generate 22° of toe hang, delivering a putter that best fits players who create moderate face rotation throughout the putting motion.”

Shop here.

See what GolfWRXers have to say and check out the votes in the forums.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best iron shaft of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 13:03:26 +0000

What is the best iron shaft in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best iron shaft of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best iron shaft of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best graphite iron shaft of 2023: The top 5

1. AeroTech SteelFiber (20.37%)

What Aerotech says: “With more professional tour wins than any other graphite iron shaft in history, SteelFiber iron shafts are the preferred option by the world’s best. SteelFiber shafts come in many weights and are the only graphite iron shafts to feature Aerotech’s unique SteelFiber technology–combing the power of graphite with the stability of steel.”

2. Fujikura Axiom (17.9%)

What Fujikura says: “For AXIOM, VeloCore has been specifically tailored and modified to ensure that the groundbreaking results players have experienced with VENTUS metalwood shafts are just as impressive in their irons. VeloCore Technology increases the stability of the club during the swing and at impact, resulting in more efficient strikes and improved performance on mishit shots. Improved consistency, accuracy, and distance help golfers hit it closer to their target more frequently.”

3. Mitsubishi MMT (13.58%)

What Mitsubishi says: “Born from more than 30 years of innovation and composite shaft mastery, the new MMT Iron utilizes a breakthrough Metal Mesh Technology to redefine the possibilities for performance in a composite iron shaft.”

4. Mitsubishi MMT Taper (6.79%)

What Mitsubishi says: “Born from more than 30-years of composite shaft mastery, the new MMT Taper Iron utilizes a patent pending Metal Mesh Technology (MMT) to redefine the possibilities for feel and performance in a composite iron shaft. A unique metal mesh – made from individually braided strands of 304 Stainless Steel – is integrated into the shaft’s prepreg layers towards the tip. This improves density and stability, while also allowing for thinner overall composite wall construction.”

5. UST Mamiya Recoil (6.17%)

What UST says: “Recoil Technology…Efficient Energy Transfer (67% more efficient than steel). Optimal spring effect in the walls of the shaft for efficient energy transfer to the ball for increased velocity and greater distance…Improves consistency (i.e. shot dispersion), distance and trajectory control.”

See more results and what GolfWRXers are saying here.

Best steel iron shaft of 2023: The top 5

1. True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue (13.65%)

What True Temper says: “Dynamic Gold Tour Issue is the Gold Standard by which all other iron shafts are measured. It is the most successful shaft in the history of golf and continues to dominate on professional tours each and every year. Dynamic Gold Tour Issue is a tour-weighted shaft that is designed for players seeking a low, penetrating ball flight for optimum control and accuracy. Our Tour Issue shafts hold the industry’s tightest weight tolerance for the exacting performance demanded by the best players.”

2. Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 (12.06%)

What Nippon says: “The N.S. PRO Modus³ series shafts are popular with touring pros because they offer optimal performance in the three key areas: 1) High tip rigidity strengthens trajectory. The high-rigidity design of the tip steadies impact to help minimize unwanted spin and realize a stronger trajectory. 2) Low mid-section rigidity controls shaft flex. Low rigidity in the mid section improves shaft control so players with any swing tempo can more easily control their shots. 3) Low butt rigidity enhances comfort. Low butt rigidity improves swing tempo and contributes to a comfortable, smoother feeling upon impact.”

3. Nippon Modus3 Tour 105 (10.79%)

T4. Project X (7.62%)

What Project X says: “Project X iron shafts are trusted by the best players in the world and are a staple in golf shaft design. Maintaining a stout profile throughout the entire shaft, Project X is a preferred choice by stronger swingers looking for a flat, penetrating ball flight and unmatched stability.”

T4. True Temper Dynamic Gold (7.62%)

What True Temper says: “The #1 shaft in golf. The True Temper Dynamic Gold is a high-flex, tour weighted steel iron shaft that is designed for skilled players seeking a low, penetrating ball flight for optimum control and accuracy.”

See more results and what GolfWRXers are saying here.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best graphite wood shaft of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 12:35:35 +0000

What is the best graphite wood shaft in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best graphite wood shaft of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best graphite wood shaft of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best graphite wood shaft of 2023: The top 5

1. Fujikura Ventus TR Blue (18.63%)

What Fujikura says: “A powerful combination of stability and feel, TR Blue maintains an ultra-stiff tip section for superior control at impact. Increased torsional stiffness creates a profile with enhanced load capabilities for more aggressive swings while maintaining a smooth overall feel.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Fujikura Ventus TR Blue here.

2. Fujikura Ventus Blue (9.42%)

What Fujikura says: “A multi-material bias core construction that delivers ultimate stability through transition and impact (maximizing clubhead MOI) – increasing velocity and smash factor. The multi-material core is crafted with full-length, ultra-high modulus Pitch 70 Ton Carbon Fiber — 150% stronger and more stable than T1100g — for ultimate stability, and 40 Ton bias layers ensure incredible feel.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Fujikura Ventus Blue here.

3. Fujikura Ventus Black (7.92%)

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Fujikura Ventus Black here.

4. Fujikura Ventus TR Red (6.21%)

What Fujikura says: “The softest tip section of the TR lineup is ideal for players seeking a mid-high launch profile with controlled spin and increased stability.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Fujikura Ventus TR Red here.

5. Graphite Design Tour AD DI (6%)

What Graphite Design says: “Graphite Design Tour AD DI Driver Shafts allow player to release more power through “Deep Impact’ technology and ensures maximum control. Tour AD DI Wood Shafts are available in both black and orange, however, the black model is not available in all flex choices. The Tour AD DI are built from composite material used in aerospace designs and also incorporates NANOALLOY to provide a comfortable feel that helps the golfer maintain control while generating faster club head speed.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Graphite Design Tour AD DI here.

You can see the full results for the best graphite wood shaft of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best irons of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:35:18 +0000

What are the best irons in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best irons of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best irons of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best irons of 2023: The top 5

1. Srixon ZX7 Mk II (12.72%)

What Srixon says: “A players Iron with tour-preferred looks and the pure feel of a premium blade, offering total control—ZX7 Mk II delivers it all. Featuring a compact shape, narrow topline, single-piece forging, and narrow sole.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Srixon ZX7 Mk II here.

2. Ping i230 (11.47%)

What Ping says: “Hit your yardages precisely with this Tour-proven, players-style iron that delivers consistent, predictable distance control and tight dispersion. An activated elastomer insert creates discretionary weight to lower the CG for more distance while enhancing feel and sound in conjunction with a multi-material badge. A more rounded lead edge ensures smooth turf interaction for clean strikes.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Ping i230 here.

3. Srixon ZX5 Mk II (6.86%)

What Srixon says: “ZX5 Mk II Irons offer low- to mid-handicap golfers the perfect union of razor-sharp looks, power, and playability. These cavity back, players distance Irons combine premium forged feel with advanced distance technology. Featuring a narrow topline with moderate sole width, blade length and offset.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Srixon ZX5 Mk II here.

4. Mizuno Pro 223 (6.23%)

What Mizuno says: “Everything tour players need to compete on extended, more demanding layouts – but never thought to ask for. The Mizuno Pro 223 conceals a ball speed-enhancing construction within the frame of a compact players cavity. A completely new technology platform from 4-7 iron combining Mizuno’s tested Chromoly Forging and Flow Micro-Slot Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima Japan with a soft copper underlay and uniquely satisfying Mizuno sensation at impact.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Mizuno Pro 223 here.

5. Titleist T100 (5.86%)

What Titleist says: “The refinements found in the new T100 irons are the product of thousands of hours in the hands of Titleist Tour Pros. The #1 irons model on Tour for a reason – now with even more reasons to stay on top.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist T100 here.

You can see the full results for the best irons of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

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GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best wedge of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:22:40 +0000

What is the best wedge in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best wedge of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best wedge of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best wedge of 2023: The top 5

1. Titleist Vokey SM9 (36.56%)

What Titleist says: “Every Vokey wedge is a demonstration of two distinct realities: the precision of engineering and the artistry of craft. The materials and structure of Vokey SM9 wedges represent our most technologically advanced design, tuned for lower flight and higher spin. But the grind applied to each releases a creative edge that only Bob Vokey can impart.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges here.

2. Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore (14.52%)

What Cleveland says: “You might think Wedge shots spin far less in rough or wet conditions. But with the all-new RTX 6 ZipCore, when it comes to spin, it’s all lies. By combining our new HydraZip face, UltiZip grooves, and upgraded ZipCore tech, these Wedges are designed to improve spin, conditions be darned.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore wedges here.

T3. TaylorMade MG3 (6.18%)

What TaylorMade says: “Wedge technology has evolved. The new Milled Grind 3 features RAW Face Micro-Ribs, engineered for added face texture to deliver spin around the greens and added precision on partial shots.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop TaylorMade MG3 wedges here.

T3. Ping Glide 4.0 (6.18%)

What Ping says: “A precision-machined face and grooves and new textured face blast increase spin and consistency, a larger activated elastomer insert helps soften the feel, and four distinct grind options maximize versatility on full and finesse shots. The compact, refined profile provides a confident and captured look at address.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Ping Glide 4.0 wedges here.

5. Cleveland CBX ZipCore (5.34%)

What Cleveland says: “CBX ZipCore delivers the perfect blend of performance and forgiveness for players that never apologize for stepping up their short game.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Cleveland CBX ZipCore wedges here.

You can see the full results for the best wedge of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

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GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best hybrid of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:37:14 +0000

What is the best hybrid in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best hybrid of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best hybrid of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best hybrid of 2023: The top 5

1. Ping G430 (30.03%)

What Ping says: “We’ve loaded the G430 with new innovations like Carbonfly Wrap to give you the added ball speed, distance and green-holding stopping power you need to take on any approach. Our proven technologies Facewrap and Spinsistency are also here, and a tungsten backweight to ensure forgiveness.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Ping G430 hybrid here.

2. Titleist TSR2 (14.88%)

What Titleist says: “Built to be trusted. Every improvement to the TSR2 Hybrid – from the extended blade length to the deeper CG to the refined sole shape – is designed to make it an even more forgiving, faster feeling, long-distance performer ready to come through in the clutch.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist TSR2 hybrid here.

3. Titleist TSR3 (9.09%)

What Titleist says: “Set yourself up for success. TSR3 Hybrids feature a new player-refined shape, more precise adjustability and better interaction through both short and longer grasses to give you more control over every result.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist TSR3 hybrid here.

4. Callaway Paradym (6.61%)

What Callaway says: “The Paradym Hybrid is for golfers who want a mid-sized, wood-shaped hybrid that’s long with excellent versatility and control. Our Cutwave Sole design improves the club’s performance through the turf, making this our most versatile hybrid, and we’ve adapted our best fairway wood technologies for maximum distance.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Callaway Paradym hybrid here.

5. TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (6.06%)

What TaylorMade says: “Reachable par 5s. Tight par 4s. Long par 3s. Bring ’em on. With advanced Inverted Cone Technology and precision CG for high launch, the all-new Stealth 2 Rescue is like a cheat code. Helping you take on any shot that stands in your way.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus hybrid here.

Join the discussion about the best hybrid of 2023 in the forums.

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GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best fairway wood of 2023

GolfWRX Staff — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:08:32 +0000

What is the best fairway wood in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best fairway wood of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best fairway wood of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best fairway wood of 2023: The top 5

1. Titleist TSR2 (19.86%)

What Titleist says: “Go low to get more. Titleist TSR2 Fairways feature our lowest CG ever for speed and launch without creating excessive backspin. A new Open Hosel Construction contributes to a powerful new sound and feel that make TSR2 an instant favorite for many players.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

DJ07: “Have both a Paradym Heavenwood and TSR2 3W. I love both of them, but the TSR2 is far more consistent for me for a club that I historically have struggled to be consistent with. Upgraded from TSi2, and the subtle changes like full scorelines across the face and shape/weight changes have given me a noticeable increase in ball speed and distance.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist TSR2 here.

2. Ping G430 Max (17.49%)

What Ping says: “You can size up long approach shots with 100% confidence that your G430 fairway will get you home. We’re introducing Carbonfly Wrap technology to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the force line to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

eric61: “My confidence with the G430 Max 3 wood is really high right now. I’ve been reaching more par 5s in two than ever before. It is a spinnier head than many of its competitors — I’m around 3500 RPMs on a Trackman on good strikes. However, I wanted my 3 wood to be a club I really felt like I could trust and control off the tee, and this gives me that, while also being able to stop on greens — which I’m actually hitting with it sometimes! The 7 wood is just super straight and really versatile, good out of anything but the fluffiest of lies (where I feel like, because of the shallow face, I could slide it right under the ball).”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Ping G430 Max here.

3. TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (13.92%)

What TaylorMade says: “Reachable par 5s. Tight par 4s. Long par 3s. Bring ’em on. With a massive 50g sliding weight that creates three fairway woods in one, the all-new Stealth 2 Plus Fairway is like a cheat code. Letting you control launch, spin and distance with a few twists of the wrench.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

halfsumo “Stealth 2 Plus. Best sound and feel on the market. Great shaping. Long. Easy to launch. Best adjustability on the market.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus here.

4. Titleist TSR3 (8.83%)

What Titleist says: “Dial in your performance with the ultimate in adjustability. TSR3 Fairways feature a new, easier to adjust 5-position SureFit Adjustable CG Track System that offers both a wider adjustment range and greater precision. A deeper CG improves accuracy.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

g_nw: “TSR3 for me… shape, consistency, adjustability and sound… all amazing for me. My launch numbers are the same, every day. I own 3w and 5w and I’ll have these in the bag for a super long time. Ventus TR Black 7X and 8X respectively, loft turned down a bit.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist TSR3 here.

5. Callaway Paradym (7.3%)

What Callaway says: “A total Paradym shift in distance and forgiveness, featuring progressive shaping, and our most robust offering that fits a wide range of player types. This is the model for golfers who want a high launching fairway wood with a neutral ball flight.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Callaway Paradym here.

Join the discussion about the best fairway wood of 2023 in the forums.

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GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best driver of 2023

GolfWRX — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:14:48 +0000

What is the best driver in 2023? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best driver of 2023.

You can see the full results for the best driver of 2023, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best driver of 2023: The top 5

1. Titleist TSR3 (20.22%)

What Titleist says: “If you are a player with a consistent impact location, then Titleist TSR3 Driver is your ticket to maximum driving performance. The new Speed Ring Face Technology creates a focused point of pure speed that can be precision-tuned to match your point of contact.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

Blakehall: “Nothing has been able to give me the huge ball speed and good dispersion balance like the TSR3.”
PigBimpin: “Titleist TSR3….best adjustable sleeve in the market in my opinion.”
Kaitsu68: “Titleist TSR3. First time in many many years I am confident with driver. Makes a big difference.”
GlennQNYC: “Titleist TSR3 won my fitting and has proven to be super impressive in play. Miss hits are surprisingly long too.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist TSR3 here.

2. Titleist TSR2 (14.74%)

What Titleist says: “Titleist TSR2 Driver is slimmed down and ramped up. For players who make contact across the entire surface of the face, it combines our most significant CG shift with a new Multi-Plateau Variable Face Thickness design to boost speed across the face. All within a cleaner, refined shape that inspires total player confidence.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

Rkeffer: “Titleist TSR2 with Ventus Blue TR 6S has been the winner for me. I demo’d all of this years offerings and it was the best combo of distance and forgiveness. Added plus that it looks and sounds amazing.”
Philly2kUK: “I voted tsr2. It’s ridiculously forgiving and I tried all the other clubs but it beat them all hands down for forgiveness whilst being long.”
ABuckley11: “Love my new TSR2!…I’m loving my wood set up with a TSR2 9.0 with a Ventus Black TR 7X”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Titleist TSR2 here.

3. Ping G430 Max (12.5%)

What Ping says: “We took the game’s most forgiving driver (that also ranks as one of the longest) and made it even longer, while producing a more pleasing sound. A new face-design optimization leads to increased flexing for a big distance gain, and a 25-gram moveable backweight positions the CG to influence shot shape.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

Multipass613: “Ping G430 MAX. Total game changer for me, fairways hit up, average distance up, longest drives up. Less penalties, punch outs from trees, and nerves on par 5’s, it’s a winner!”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Ping G430 Max here.

4. Ping G430 LST (10.67%)

What Ping says: “If you generate a lot of clubhead speed and rely on a more penetrating trajectory, the 440cc LST accelerates ball speed with reduced spin, key contributors being a new Carbonfly Wrap and a newly optimized face featuring Spinsistency, combining for longer drives with a more pleasing impact experience.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

MyShortGameSucks: “What the Ping LST gives me is amazing forgiveness and consistency which results in a lot of confidence standing on the tee. My bad swings with the Ping are still surprisingly long and playable… At the end of that day those playable bad swings are what saves the score and I’m down from 5-6 to 2 this year.”
Craze-e: “I voted Ping G430 LST as it has helped me hit a flight window I have never been able to hit before…. We have never had it so good though, there really is something for everyone and it does go to prove a point that fitting is key.”
Justinpmc: “Ping G430 LST 9 degrees with an Oban Tour Limited Blue 05 flex. My first Ping driver and it’s a beast. High launch low spin and so easy to hit. When I tested I was getting 2-3 more mph ball speed than tsr3.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Ping G430 LST here.

5. Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9.55%)

What Callaway says: “The Paradym Triple Diamond Driver is a compact, 450cc shape designed for better players who want to work the ball. It’s the lowest spinning and lowest launching Paradym model with a neutral ball flight.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

JimmyD: “Paradym Triple Diamond has everything in a driver I want so been playing most of the year. Size, shape, feel & sound are ideal for me. Super long and very forgiving, especially important as I begin to show and feel my years.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond here.

Join the discussion about the best driver of 2023 in the forums.

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Best irons in golf of 2023: Best blades

GolfWRX Staff — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:38:37 +0000

At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

RELATED: Best driver 2023

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter, Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks

2023 Best irons: Best blades

This is by far the most straightforward category because it is defined by a single style of club — the blade AKA the muscle back or MB for short. Although modern variations offer a lot more playability than they did decades ago, blades are still defined by their workability, compact shaping, and lower ball flight. If you are looking for the ultimate test or just prefer something in the more traditional vein, these are for you.

Titleist 620 MB

Their story: The 620 MB offers ideal turf interaction throughout the set thanks to more camber and a tweaked leading edge. In addition to the sole tweaks, the blade length is progressive from the longest iron to the shortest and the transition is so smooth that unless you set clubs next to each other, it’s quite difficult to notice. The final design element is the face height progression which transitions from more shallow to tall in the pitching wedge to offer the greatest control over ball flight.

From the fitters:

“It usually comes down to the look and feel with the 620 MB, and they are tough to beat. They are very soft and responsive while offering good turf interaction.”
“Classic look. Keep it simple. This is an iron catered to the traditionalist.”
“A super classic look. Probably the ultimate shot shaping iron for the golfer who wants to bend it like Beckham on the golf course.”
“Still our best selling blade. I’m not sure if it’s the performance or the simplicity of the look, but this is just what that blade player is looking for.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Mizuno Pro 221

Their story: The Mizuno Pro 221 is a new muscleback iron inspired by iconic Mizuno blades of the past. The Pro 221 irons have been bevelled for the appearance of a shorter face profile and narrower top line but without loss of mass in the upper blade. The 221’s are more compact in the scoring irons than their predecessors while also featuring Mizuno’s shortest CG/shaft axis, which is consistent from 3-iron to PW, in design to allow for controlled shot shaping through the set. Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima, Japan, they feature a soft copper underlay in a bid to provide a classic, smooth Mizuno feel at impact.

From the fitters:

“Obviously, with Mizuno, the feel is always the big thing. If someone wants to hit a blade, this is usually the first club I pull.”
“One of the easiest blade sales out there if someone comes in looking for a blade. The look is safe (in a good way). Everything you’d expect out of a Mizuno blade but more forgiving than you would expect. Whatever they’re doing with center of gravity, they’re easier to hit than blades used to be. Definitely wins in the ‘feel’ category.”
“A true Mizuno blade. The copper underlay. The look. The feel. So Mizuno. When people think about Mizuno, you think about the MP-29, MP-33. The 221 is a good throwback to those with a modern look. A perfect blade with no gimmicks.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Miura MB-101

Their story: The muscle shape is much more organic and rounded to go along with the new sole design that greatly improves turf interaction. The other part of the iron that has gone through a tremendous change, thanks to Shinei and Yoshitaka Muira, is the transition from the hosel to the topline. This is, for the most discerning player, the telltale sign of a well-designed club: The hosel should look like it almost melts into the topline of the club, and with the new Muira MB-101 iron, you get exactly that.

From the fitters:

“One of the most beautiful sets of irons, for sure.”
“As far as pure workability goes the Miura MB-101 is king of the hill. Many tour players over the years have played Miura irons when they don’t have club contracts.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Cobra King MB

Their story: A key to the enhanced forgiveness and overall performance of Cobra’s new Tour iron are CNC undercuts in the back cavity of each iron, which allow weight to be repositioned from high center to lower center and heel and toe areas of the clubhead, in design to create improved launch conditions and more forgiveness on off center hits. These cavities progress from deeper in the long irons for enhanced stability, to shallower in the short irons for enhanced control.

From the fitters:

“With that satin finish, when guys are looking for a blade, this is always one we pull. Easy to combo and great feel. A good classic blade look.”
“As sexy as a blade can look. Rounded. Looks like a traditional blade. Would look good mounted on you wall. You can combo these with the CBs.”
“Incredibly easy to hit for a blade iron. Many players like to go with the MB in the “scoring” irons and the CB in the long irons for a bit more forgiveness and launch.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Apex MB

Their story: The Callaway Apex MB is forged from 1025 carbon steel with a classic shape that is similar to other blade irons from Callaway’s past, but this time with a slightly narrower sole and less offset. Another improvement is the 20V grooves ensure optimal spin control in and out of the rough. The centrally located weight screw in the back of the head allows Callaway builders to maintain the precise center of gravity locations when adding or removing weight from the irons—it’s not a new idea, but it’s one that is key to allowing the irons to be dialed into spec for each golfer.

From the fitters:

“A little different with the weight in the back, but still looks great, a nice thin topline. Looks good, feels good.”
“A modern blade with the weight port in the back, and it’s nice to be able to adjust the weight if you need to. Strike location is a little more in the center. Distinctly Callaway in look and shape. Gives the blade guy who isn’t looking for a throwback a great option for look, sound, feel, and performance.”
“The weight port in the back positions the center of gravity directly behind the ball to give the player precision and control over the launch and shape of shots.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about the best irons of 2023 in the forums!

Best irons in golf of 2023: Top overall performers

GolfWRX Staff — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:23:24 +0000

RELATED: Best driver 2023

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Overall performance
Easiest to launch
Pure enjoyment
Shotmakers
Most technology-packed
Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter, Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks

2023 Best irons: Top overall performers

This category is the perfect place to start if you’re not quite sure what you are looking for. Distance? Check. Forgiveness? Check. Sleek looks? Check. The top five in the “best irons overall” category are perfect for those golfers who appreciate technology and want something that is going to give them shot options.

Srixon ZX5 Mk II

Their story: MainFrame v2 was developed with an Automated Intelligence process, flex-maximizing variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of Z ZX5 iron faces for high ball speeds. Not only does MainFrame boost COR, but it also repositions mass away from the face and into the toe and sole for a lower CG for easier launch, more consistency, and forgiveness.

From the fitters:

“From Z585 to ZX5 was a huge bump in performance, and this one picks up where ZX5 left off. It fits such a wide array of golfers — it looks good enough a mid-low single digit will play it, and the guy who is a 12-15 can play it. Awesome iron.”
“I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate to high handicappers.”
“We’ve fit a scary amount of these. They’ve refined the sole over previous generations so it works for a variety of attack angles. Good ball speeds. Players still aren’t look at this club as much as they should be. Great to combo with the ZX7 Mk II.”
“Like the old 745 in feel. I find the V-sole a little more prominent. They’ve cleaned up the shaping. The best combo iron with ZX7. Not as clickly as the previous generation. The PureFrame in the back has made a huge difference with the sound. Launches high with a ton of control.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Ping G430

Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever”, the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation which features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to the solid feel and pleasing impact sound.

From the fitters:

“Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
“They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
“It’s awesome. We told Ping you could probably repaint the G425, it was performing so well. They said the G430 would be better and they did. I think G430 is the line of the year. They’ve done everything right. Feels good, looks good. Goes a little higher and a little straighter. The iron does everything G425 did but a little bit better. They’ve nailed it.”
“These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
“G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

Their story: Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 Face, creating Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency.The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face in design for incredibly fast ball speeds.

From the fitters:

“Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
“These go forever. I’ve had a lot of success — if you guy who flips at it or doesn’t lean the shaft enough to get dynamic loft. You give him Paradym, and he’s got some giddy up. They just flat out go forever. It’s an interesting iron sitting between game improvement and players iron”
“Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
“Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
“Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration. As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.

From the fitters:

“This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
“High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
“It fits a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
“A great long iron, but great all the way through for a player who wants a little help all the way through”
“This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Srixon ZX7 Mk II

Their story: The players iron ZX7 Mk II features PureFrame: an 80-percent thicker portion of 1020 carbon steel forged behind the sweet spot in the body of the iron for soft-yet-solid-feeling impact. Also significant to the design: A refined Tour V.T. Sole Proprietary sole widths, bounce angles, and notches in the heel and toe of the club aid clean contact from a variety of lies.

From the fitters:

“While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
“Srixon has been the “sleeper” iron company for a number of years now, but I think the secret is out. The ZX7 Mk II fit many different player types, from tour pro to mid-handicapper. The forging is very soft and forgiving, and the iron is very workable for the player with more ability. They didn’t change the shape from ZX7 to Mk II, and I think that’s a great thing.”
“Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
“They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
“Most forgiving players iron. V-Sole design gives significantly better turf interaction compared to a traditional sole.”
“This is a great players iron that is great on its own or easily blended with the ZX5 in the long irons or the blades in the short irons for a great combo set.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Best irons in golf 2023: Most technology packed

GolfWRX Staff — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:09:22 +0000

RELATED: Best driver 2023

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Overall performance
Easiest to launch
Pure enjoyment
Shotmakers
Most technology-packed
Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter, Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks

2023 Best irons: Most technology packed

This is the “give me everything you got” list. These irons are the cream of the crop for offering technology to improve feel, distance, and ball speed. The great thing about the technology category is it’s not reserved for higher handicap golfers—it’s for anyone looking to get everything they can out of their game in an iron that also suits their eye.

Ping G430

From the fitters:

“Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
“They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
“These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
“G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

From the fitters:

“This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
“High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
“It fights a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
“This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

From the fitters:

“Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
“Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
“Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
“Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Great Big Bertha

Their story: By leveraging materials that are typically reserved for drivers, Callaway generated up to 96g of discretionary weight and precisely repositioned this saved weight in their new irons in design to increase launch and forgiveness. The Great Big Bertha iron features the thinnest titanium face the brand has ever used in an iron. On top of that, it’s also the lightest. In addition, the Commercially Pure Grade 4 (CP4) Titanium body flexes more at impact than traditional steel and works together with the thinner face in a bid to transfer more energy to the ball.

From the fitters:

“Hotter than a lot of clubs in this category. This is the club for distance. Higher and farther than anything in this category. Tons of tungsten. The only issue with this club for players in this category is price. Everything else is exactly what this player needs. A great fit for a lot of 40-plus-year olds.”
“All that tungsten makes this club easy to hit for high handicaps and slow swing speeds.”
“Between AI design face, hollow body construction, and tons of tungsten.”
“Titanium/tungsten/carbon fiber. Crazy MOI.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth HD

Their story: The new addition features an ultra-low profile head shape in the long irons designed to drive CG lower to help get the ball airborne with ease while progressive head sizes (each club is uniquely shaped and gets incrementally larger from 5-iron through pitching wedge) aim to help independently optimize the performance of each iron. An increased sole radius and step down design along the bottom of the club round out the all-new shape. Per TaylorMade, testing confirmed that increasing the sole arc from heel to toe led to more shots high on the face, which translates to higher launch and further helps this golfer get the ball airborne. The step down sole is designed to boost playability by reducing the amount of surface area that contacts the turf.

From the fitters:

“If you have a player who struggles with launch, just give them these.”
“I had a guy who couldn’t hit it through a second-story window, but the first swing he took with this, it went 60 feet in the air. It really goes straight up in the air, but it has all the tech and distance TaylorMade irons are known for. As we get into the season, I think this iron is going to do really well.”
“Higher handicappers want higher shots and shots that draw. With the HD — high draw — TaylorMade is delivering that. It’s a different club. Similar to how hybrids looked different 20 years ago. But they do what they’re supposed to do, and I always appreciate thinking outside of the box.”
“The face-wrapped designed face makes this iron hot all over the face and super forgiving. Also, love the hollow body for stability and speed as well. The HD really varies the CG allowing golfers to get the forgiveness and height needed to hit high bombs.”
“The all-new sole design helps get through the turf easier with the added weight in the back allowing for a player who struggles with launch to get the height they need with the added forgiveness to get a ball to launch properly and stop quicker on a green.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece,

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

Best irons in golf 2023: The shotmakers

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 14:19:15 +0000

RELATED: Best driver 2023

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Overall performance
Easiest to launch
Pure enjoyment
Shotmakers
Most technology-packed
Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter, Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks

2023 Best irons: The Shotmakers

Each one of these irons was designed with a single purpose: to provide the ultimate shotmaking weapon. You don’t have to be a tour player to appreciate the pleasure of hitting a well-struck shot with a club engineered to offer superior feedback. This category is all about control—and that doesn’t mean it “has to be a blade.”

Srixon ZX7 Mk II

From the fitters:

“While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
“Srixon has been the “sleeper” iron company for a number of years now, but I think the secret is out. The ZX7 Mk II fit many different player types, from tour pro to mid-handicapper. The forging is very soft and forgiving, and the iron is very workable for the player with more ability. They didn’t change the shape from ZX7 to Mk II, and I think that’s a great thing.”
“Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
“They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
“Most forgiving players iron. V-Sole design gives significantly better turf interaction compared to a traditional sole.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Apex TCB

Their story: With internal and external MIM’d tungsten weighting, Callaway engineers precisely each irons CG within the 1025 mild carbon steel body. Tour-inspired size and shaping with a straighter leading edge, less offset, a thinner top line, and a smoother hosel transition distinguishes the TCB from the stock Apex CB.

From the fitters:

“Good lofts for spin, and you can flight them any way you want if you have the club speed.”
“Classic small compact look with the endless ability to shape shots into the window a better player is looking for. We have seen lots of wins on tour this season. Players who need spin will tend to gravitate towards this iron.”
“One of the best players irons Callaway has made. Great shape. Looks fantastic. Feels fantastic. You can feel that weight in the back, and obviously its done well on tour. They don’t need to change anything.”
“One of the best players irons out there but still has the right amount of forgiveness that player is looking for.”
“Excellent shape, sound, and feel from an iron with a bit of forgiveness as well. Tour response is excellent, and offering the same iron to the retail market is a very positive option for golfers looking to shape the ball.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Titleist T100

Their story: The “players iron” of the new T-Series family, the T100 iron features an all-new Tour-designed sole, which was inspired by discussions with both the tour staff and the Vokey wedge design team. It features a new variable bounce sole design, which provides less bounce in the heel and more bounce in the toe to facilitate better turf interaction and improved feel.

The new T100 face features a continuous cradle construction that aims to provide a seamless striking surface and a more uniform leading edge than its predecessor.

From the fitters

“A purist players club. For a better ballstriker. Not a ton of offset but still easy to launch and spin. It’s not forgiving within the category, but usually it’s not for a player looking for forgiveness. In the right window for launch. Great sound and feel.”
“The club that blade players transition to when they don’t want to go full muscleback…when you look down at it, it looks like a blade. You don’t see the back or the cavity. It has enough tech in it to make it forgiving on mishits. But it’s slim enough and has a thin enough topline that guys feel it has playability for shot shaping.”
“Still the GOAT in the high-tech players category. Titleist somehow manages to make it better looking with each update, more forgiving than they look.”
“Best low handicap iron head. Always performs well. Great look at address for that discerning golfer. Classic Titleist sound and feel.”
“Great ball speed and performance for a tour-style profile. For players looking for a classic players look combined with distance, this has to be in the mix.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece

TaylorMade P7MC

Their story: To build the TaylorMade P7MC irons, the manufacturing process incorporates a 2,000-ton pressure forging to ensure the feel and sound is dialed in. This iron is all business, and anyone comparing this to the smaller P7MB (blade) will notice its slightly longer heel-to-toe length, and just a touch more offset which makes it a great candidate for gapping. It offers a crisp feel at impact and the workability of a blade iron, but in a platform that still offers forgiveness on shots hit outside of the middle. Looks, feel, and workability—it’s all here.

From the fitters:

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Mizuno Pro 223

Their story: The Mizuno Pro 223 irons conceal a ball speed-enhancing construction within the frame of a compact players cavity. A completely new technology platform from 4-7 iron combines Mizuno’s tested Chromoly Forging and Flow Micro-Slot – An innovation designed to produce extreme ball speeds from a small tour-ready profile. The irons deliver a face thickness of just 2.4mm (vs 2.6mm JPX921 Forged), and from 8-PW, the Pro 223 irons are constructed from 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel in a bid to offer excellent precision and control.

From the fitters:

“223 is tremendous. Should not be as forgiving as it is. Players clubs are getting a little too low spin, but this is still great. Definitely for the single-digit player. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to fit. It’s Mizuno, so everybody loves the feel.”
“When you have something in that 32-degree 7-iron range, and it feels good, looks good, sounds good and offers what the better player is looking for. Home run. For someone who isn’t a tour level-player but wants something that looks like a Mizuno with a little bit of help, this is great.”
“Forged Mizuno feel with great distance and control. Compact shape but enough ball speed to hang with other players distance irons.”
“Iron has done great for cutting spin for a high-spin player.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

Best irons in golf of 2023: Pure enjoyment

GolfWRX Staff — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 14:00:08 +0000

RELATED: Best driver 2023

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Overall performance
Easiest to launch
Pure enjoyment
Shotmakers
Most technology-packed
Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter,Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks

2023 Best irons: Pure enjoyment

It’s no mistake that we are seeing overlap in the way the top irons are defined by fitters in this category. The most playable irons are most likely to be higher launching, and shots that fly higher make the game more enjoyable for everyone. This reiterates the point previously made that your iron selection should not be defined by your handicap but instead what gives you the best opportunity to play your best — and most enjoyable — golf.

Srixon ZX5 Mk II

From the fitters:

“From Z585 to ZX5 was a huge bump in performance, and this one picks up where ZX5 left off. It fits such a wide array of golfers — it looks good enough a mid-low single digit will play it, and the guy who is a 12-15 can play it. Awesome iron.”
“I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate to high handicappers.”
“We’ve fit a scary amount of these. They’ve refined the sole over previous generations so it works for a variety of attack angles. Good ball speeds. Players still aren’t look at this club as much as they should be. Great to combo with the ZX7 Mk II.”
“Like the old 745 in feel. I find the V-sole a little more prominent. They’ve cleaned up the shaping. The best combo iron with ZX7. Not as clickly as the previous generation. The PureFrame in the back has made a huge difference with the sound. Launches high with a ton of control.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Ping G430

From the fitters:

“Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
“They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
“These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
“G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”
“Best looking G.I. iron out there. Blends great forgiveness and distance.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

From the fitters:

“Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
“Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
“Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
“Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

From the fitters:

“This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
“High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
“It fights a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
“This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Srixon ZX7 Mk II

Their story:The players iron ZX7 Mk II features PureFrame: an 80-percent thicker portion of 1020 carbon steel forged behind the sweet spot in the body of the iron for soft-yet-solid-feeling impact. Also significant to the design: A refined Tour V.T. Sole Proprietary sole widths, bounce angles, and notches in the heel and toe of the club aid clean contact from a variety of lies.

From the fitters:

“While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
“Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
“They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
“Most of what we’ve done is short iron combos with the ZX5 Mk II.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

Best irons in golf of 2023: Easiest to launch

GolfWRX Staff — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:34:32 +0000

RELATED: Best driver 2023

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Overall performance
Easiest to launch
Pure enjoyment
Shotmakers
Most technology-packed
Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter,Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks

2023 Best irons: Easy to launch

This category of irons is aimed to help players who need height. With today’s modern golf ball, creating proper flight widows and spin can be difficult for some players—especially those at lower speeds, and this is where technology can really help. All of these irons do everything they can to create shot-stopping trajectories, regardless of clubhead speed.

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal HL

Their story: With the JPX923 Hot Metal, Mizuno introduced “4355 nickel chromoly,” which is 35 percent stronger than the original Hot Metal material and allows for an eight-percent thinner clubface. Cup face construction works in tandem with a deep center of gravity for high launch with stopping power. Mizuno developed Hot Metal Pro, Hot Metal and Hot Metal HL (High Launch) from 175,000 real golf swings recorded via Mizuno’s Swing DNA system. JPX923 Hot Metal HL is a high launch speed cavity delivering a higher launching option for players with moderate swing speeds or aggressive shaft lean, it’s suitable for mid to high handicap golfers.

From the fitters:

“Mizuno being Mizuno making another great iron that fits a high handicap and improves their current ball flight with the weaker lofts. Ball speed is great, and feel is never an issue with Mizuno, one of my favorite clubs to use in a fitting.”
“Excellent ball speed from an iron designed to get the ball up in the air with Mizuno feel! Great iron for slower swing speeds needing height. Love the CG positioning; low and back from the face of the club. Increasing static loft makes these great for increasing forgiveness and launch.”
“Mizuno asked us what we saw in their game improvement side, and we said ‘players don’t hit it high enough. Your lofts are too strong.’ This club fits a wide range of players. We’ve had fittings where we’re going 2 degrees weak from standard.”
“This was a club that we begged for someone to make. Make a game improvement iron that has some loft on it. We wanted something that had all the tech, but just make it half a club weaker. This allows the player who can’t get the ball in the air to keep a 5 or 6-iron in the bag instead of going to a hybrid.”
“The low spin we’re seeing with so many players, the higher we can launch it, the better they’re going to hit it. This is a good fitting option for many women as well. Great for a player who needs launch more than anything. We’re pulling this a lot, and it’s performing exceedingly well.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth HD

From the fitters:

“If you have a player who struggles with launch, just give them these.”
“I had a guy who couldn’t hit it through a second-story window, but the first swing he took with this, it went 60 feet in the air. It really goes straight up in the air, but it has all the tech and distance TaylorMade irons are known for. As we get into the season, I think this iron is going to do really well.”
“Higher handicappers want higher shots and shots that draw. With the HD — high draw — TaylorMade is delivering that. It’s a different club. Similar to how hybrids looked different 20 years ago. But they do what they’re supposed to do, and I always appreciate thinking outside of the box.”
“The face-wrapped designed face makes this iron hot all over the face and super forgiving. Also, love the hollow body for stability and speed as well. The HD really varies the CG allowing golfers to get the forgiveness and height needed to hit high bombs.”
“The all-new sole design helps get through the turf easier with the added weight in the back allowing for a player who struggles with launch to get the height they need with the added forgiveness to get a ball to launch properly and stop quicker on a green.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece,

Ping G430 HL

From the fitters:

“These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. With a lightweight option this club is able to fit a player who may not swing it as fast and needs extra launch help and needs speed. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players. The added changes of Power spec and retro spec allow us fitters to help dial in loft and help a player achieve a ball flight that suits them. These might be one of the best irons ever made!”
“With the stock shaft option at 45 grams, you see players pick up some speed and launch, and get the ball to land softer.”
“It’s not that much difference from the standard G430, which is great, you just have it in a lightweight package. For the player who wants to play the G430 but needs to pick up a couple of yards, this is a great choice.”
“Light, fast, and easy to elevate. The Ping irons continue to be a home run with golfers in the slower swing speed categories.”
“Great for height, spin and forgiveness. Ping poured a lot of tech into the G430 with the Pureflex badge and helping players hit it higher by offering the HL version of an already high launch iron.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym X

From the fitters:

“It just goes. Crazy ball speeds. I’ve been shocked at times to see how fast the ball is coming off this iron. If you want distance, this is the iron to consider.”
“Numero uno for me for getting the ball up in the air and getting a player some distance. I’ll pull this 10 times out of 10. A cannon.”
“Launches high with hollow body deep CG design, super hot AI designed face that gets the ball moving up and fast, all leading to great speed and forgiveness for the slower speed players.”
“Launches great and goes straight.”
“Long, stays down the middle, great forgiveness. Incredibly easy to hit. Probably the best distance iron in the category.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

XXIO X

Their story: The new High-Strength Face Plate is made from specialized steel and allows for a remarkably thin, 2.1mm face, which flexes more substantially for increased ball speed and better performance on shots struck low on the face. The clubs contain a heavier clubhead and an extremely lightweight shaft which work together in a bid to increase ball speed and swing speed at the same time, while manufacturers positioned mass under the grip, behind the hands in design to help players find the ideal spot at the top of their swing to make the downswing more consistent.

From the fitters:

“We do a lot of XXIO, and I don’t really reshaft them. They have the right kick point. At stock, they are super hot and they go to the moon. Still with a clean profile and almost looks like an old Srixon. I’ve seen as much as 25-feet difference between this and other fittings.”
“Continues to be the best overall performer in the category.”
“Always a great iron for the slower swing speed player.”
“XXIO is the lightest head we sell, and we love pulling them for people with slow swing speeds. The shaft and head combination is magical many time, and I have seen some incredible improvements for people who tend to hit every iron the same distance.”
“This is an iron where it’s just easy to get height. If a player has trouble launching it or needs speed, you throw this in their hands and immediately you see a difference.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

Best hybrids of 2023: Most versatile, most forgiving hybrids for your game

GolfWRX Staff — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:20:09 +0000

At GolfWRX, we believe the best hybrid for your game is going to be the one that gives you the greatest opportunity to both score and save shots during your round of golf.

In 2023, we have seen a continued expansion of hybrid options from every manufacturer with models designed to fit golfers of all skill levels and clubhead speeds to the point that some manufacturers offer models all the way down to 8-iron-replacement lofts.

These hybrids all utilize new technology and manufacturing methods to launch golf balls higher, faster, and farther, while also offering forgiveness. It’s now easier than ever to find the right one that matches your swing and fits into your set.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best hybrid or hybrids for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor and gap them accordingly. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you, and we’re offering recommendations based on exactly what you need from your hybrids.

GolfWRX best hybrid of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter,Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion

Best hybrid of 2023: The categories

We have again broken our 2023 best hybrid list into two categories.

Best hybrid for golfers seeking forgiveness
Best hybrid for golfers seeking versatility

As a reminder, we selected this format for hybrid clubs because every golfer fits into one of these two “want” categories, regardless of age, handicap, or gender. For many golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting the hybrids that will go into their bag.

Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the hybrid club options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

Most forgiving hybrids 2023

Ping G430

In all of the G430 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face line in design to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve the lower CG and increase ball speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR1

Titleist’s new TSR1 hybrids are built with a larger, “wood-like” size to help golfers find more speed and forgiveness. They’re also built 0.5 inches longer than standard to provide additional assistance creating speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym X

The Paradym X model is for golfers looking for full-sized, wood-shaped hybrid that’s long with versatility and forgiveness. By incorporating high-density tungsten, Callaway pushed the center of gravity (CG) low and forward. The result is lower spin with more ball speed. In addition, the A.I. designed Jailbreak with Batwing Technology increases stiffness in the perimeter, while allowing the face to flex in design for high ball speeds across the face.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD

In the Stealth Rescue, the new carbon crown construction allows for the relocation of 7 grams of weight which has been transferred lower in the head to better position CG in design for easier launch, optimal forgiveness, and better stability through impact. Stealth 2 HD features a larger profile, deeper CG, and draw bias.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Great Big Bertha

In their Great Big Bertha hybrids, Callaway engineers leveraged a titanium face and body, resulting in 100g of discretionary saved weight. After extensively reviewing performance characteristics, this weight was then redistributed in design to enhance ball speed, improve forgiveness, and promote an easy launch.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Most versatile hybrids 2023

Ping G430

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR2

“Forgiving speed and performance,” is the branding for the TSR2. TSR2 hybrids remain slightly longer with a classical shape. Center of gravity is lower and deeper in the TSR2 for higher launch, maximum forgiveness.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

The Paradym model is for golfers who want a mid-sized, wood-shaped hybrid that’s long with versatility and control. By incorporating high-density tungsten, Callaway pushed the center of gravity (CG) low and forward. The result is lower spin with more ball speed. In addition, the A.I. designed Jailbreak with Batwing Technology increases stiffness in the perimeter, while allowing the face to flex in design for high ball speeds across the face.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR3

TSR3 is a smaller-profile hybrid and offers precision, workability, and adjustability. TSR3 hybrids are designed for a more iron-like look with a reduction in offset.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Conclusion

The fitters consulted for this piece have accumulated data from thousands of fittings with golfers just like you. From beginners to tour players, their feedback and information can’t be undervalued.

Best fairway woods of 2023: Expert club fitters recommend the most versatile and forgiving options

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:45:46 +0000

Having the right fairway woods is essential for golfers of all skill levels looking to get the most out of their long games — whether it be approach shots into longer par 4’s and par 3’s, going after par 5’s in two, or just trying to hit more fairways off the tee — finding the best fairway wood of 2023 to fit your needs is a must.

Looking at the best fairway wood playing field for 2023, we continue to see more fairway wood options from every manufacturer. What used to be a single model release has been expanded to three—and in some cases even four—models to fit specific player types.

These new fairway woods impress us with their ability to utilize new technology and construction methods to go faster, and further, while also offering never-before-seen levels of forgiveness. It’s now easier than ever to find the right one that matches your swing.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best fairway woods for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX — with the help of our panel of expert fitters — we have done a lot of the work for you to narrow down your short list.

Best fairway woods of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter,Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion

2023 best fairway woods: The categories

We have broken our 2023 best fairway wood list into two categories.

Best fairway wood for golfers seeking forgiveness
Best fairway wood for golfers seeking versatility

We selected this format for fairway woods because every golfer fits into one of these two “want” categories regardless of age, handicap, or sex, and for a lot of golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting a fairway wood.

Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the fairway wood options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

Most versatile fairway woods 2023

Titleist TSR2

TSR2 fairways feature the lowest CG in Titleist history for an all-steel construction designed to create speed and launch without excessive spin. New Open Hosel Construction created space for sizable improvements to key areas of performance by removing unwanted weight high and towards the heel.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

With a primarily carbon sole, Callaway engineers designed the Paradym fairway woods in that spirit of weight savings and redistribution. A.I. Designed Jailbreak Batwing is pushed to the perimeter of the club to stiffen the body of Paradym woods, while still allowing the face to flex for high ball speeds. Paradym fits the largest segment of the fitting bell curve and promotes high launch and a neutral ball flight.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Ping G430 Max

Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve the lower CG and increase ball speed. The composite also plays a role in the pleasing sound, while a tungsten backweight extends the perimeter weighting to ensure forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

Breakthrough movable weight technologies and versatile designs are the hallmarks of the 2023 TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway woods. Stealth 2 Plus is branded as “three fairway woods in one” owing to the unique performance characteristics afforded by the 50-gram sole weight.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR3

Titleist’s adjustability focused fairway wood is designed with a new, easy-to-adjust 5-position SureFit Adjustable CG Track System to fine tune performance. It features the same Open Hosel Construction as TSR2 fairways. The TSR3’s CG has been positioned deeper, slightly lower, and closer to face center to provide easy, high launch with plenty of forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Most forgiving fairway woods 2023

Ping G430 Max

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym X

With a primarily carbon sole, Callaway engineers designed the Paradym fairway woods in that spirit of weight savings and redistribution. A.I. Designed Jailbreak Batwing is pushed to the perimeter of the club to stiffen the body of Paradym woods, while still allowing the face to flex for high ball speeds. Paradym X is a draw-biased, high-launching, high-MOI fairway wood, a forged carbon toe patch shifts weight to the heel.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

The 3D carbon crown is slightly lower than Stealth, which positions CG lower in the club and away from the toe. This allows engineers to move more weight rearward in the club for additional forgiveness. Engineers again employ the V Steel sole, which helps position weight low for deeper CG and improves turf interaction for versatility from different lies.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR2

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD

Branded as an easy-to-hit addition to the Stealth family and the fairway wood for players who struggle to hit their fairway woods, Stealth 2 HD features an oversized 200cc head and ultra-high MOI construction for maximum playability. Large, low-profile sole helps launch the ball higher. Stealth 2 HD is internally weighted for a draw bias.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Again, we can’t thank the fitters enough for their time, and we hope that in your search for your best fairway wood for 2023, we can help you find it!

Join the discussion about the best fairway woods of 2023 in the forums.

RELATED: Best driver 2023: Most forgiving driver
RELATED: Best driver 2023: Expert club fitters recommend the best driver for your swing speed

Best driver 2023: Expert club fitters recommend the best driver for your swing speed

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:10:07 +0000

At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best driver, we have once again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2023 drivers is best for your game.

We continue to exist in an era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player with the driver. Discretionary weight within the driver is also at an all-time high, so engineers are able to provide the widest range of performance characteristics in the metalwood era.

Custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make, and we believe the best way to find your personal best driver is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor.

The difficult part is many golfers don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work to help you narrow down your short list of best drivers as you test out options for your best driver.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you —offering recommendations for your swing speed with feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best driver of 2023: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Bobby Ennis: Fitter,Club Champion
Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion

Best driver of 2023: The categories

We have again broken our 2023 best drivers list into four total categories. Three are swing speed-based and the other forgiveness.

Best driver for faster swing speeds 106+ mph
Best driver for swing speeds 95-105 mph
Best driver for slower swing speeds <94 mph
Best driver most forgiving

We select this format because every golfer fits into one of these categories regardless of age, handicap, or gender, and for a lot of golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting a driver.

When we reconfigured our Best Driver process in 2021, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless head combinations available to golfers. Time after time, swing speed and forgiveness were the highest-ranked choices, after that it comes down to adjustability to fit individual players and their trends.

This year, we have again worked internally to craft a survey that allowed the fitters to be honest—we want the truth just as much as you do, and to prevent anyone from feeling they couldn’t be, we allowed all of the results and quotes to remain anonymous unless otherwise stated.

Again, we can’t thank the fitters enough for their time, and we hope that in your search for your best driver for 2023, we can help you find it!

Join the best driver of 2023 discussion in the forums!

BEST DRIVER FOR 106 MPH AND ABOVE

Titleist TSR3

TSR is the next generation of the Titleist Speed Project that began more than six years ago with the TS series and continued with TSi models in 2020. Mid-launch, mid-spin TSR3 is the more adjustable option in a tour-preferred shape. It’s engineered for playability and precise CG positioning (thanks to a reimagined SureFit Adjustable CG Track System) and an improved sweet spot.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

It has enough spin where they’re going to be able to control it and it isn’t going to knuckle on them too much. I’m actually gaming this driver and I’m right at 105-106 mph clubhead speed, and I’ve seen a good ball speed jump. With the adjustable weight and what you can do to fine tune, it’s solid.
This head is so classic looking and it is so obvious when looking down at it that it is exactly that, a Titleist! The deeper face and track weight allow me to really dial in my players looking to target a specific side of the course more often. I pull this head often because I know better players will be in favor of the simplicity and non distracting features about it. The sound of the driver at impact is impeccable and gives players the responsiveness they need to know when they hit a good shot. I mean don’t we all want some confirmation when we hit a great shot?! The weight of this club head is really why I pull it for 106+ swingers. I see many lower than that have a hard time getting it airborne consistently and instead it will create a knuckleballing effect that doesn’t carry.
Great ball speed retention across the face, produces good launch and spin combination. Sounds great at impact.
Classic look. Forgiveness bumped up since TSi and neutral face, with ability to open.
The market has been very competitive and innovative over the last few years since the Great Covid Golf Boom of 2020, and despite all the carbon-construction, paradigm-shifting AI technology and twisting faces, the Titleist TSR3 returns for season two in a slightly lower-spinning and refined version of the TSi that preceded it. It is proof positive that titanium remains undefeated under the current rules of golf, and this is the market’s best driver for the excellent player.

Ping G430 LST

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. Exclusive to the G430 LST, lightweight composite crown-covering Carbonfly Wrap technology is the major innovation in the series. It’s an eight-layer, one-piece composite covering the crown to save weight (four grams) and lower CG, creating a lower-spin, higher-MOI driver.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

The 9-degree head in the LST is such a spin killer. It go real low and spins like zero. For that medium trajectory player, they can increase their launch angles and keep spin the same. You’re able to play more loft and not have spin go up. From a fitter’s standpoint, it gives us a little bit more leeway. In the low-spin option, that head truly is the most forgiving. I don’t know what Ping does, but they’ve got an ability to make drivers ridiculously easy to hit straight, and its up to their engineers to try to make them efficient and fast. The LST does an awesome job of that.
They’ve added ball speed. With the added carbon, obviously they moved a lot more weight around to give it that little extra ball speed. Now we’re seeing the LST compete more in the ball speed category. They always had the forgiveness element down, but the added ball speed has been pretty solid so far.
This driver has a very handsome design. It is still appearing a little bit more offset than some other competitors in the lower spin category however, it certainly performs in the bays. The effects you get on good contact feel almost non existent as if the ball kind of melts into the club face. From a performance aspect, the design of this with the carbon inserts and the adjustable track weight system, I have found it very easy to fit aggressive swingers and faster tempo swingers into this head and it has substantially increased their control off the tee and with the track weighting I am able to manipulate their club head at times and either delay the release or vice versa accelerate it so the player can slot the club up more consistently. It is amazing what happens when you find that perfect swing weight and adapter setting. The flat setting with a toe weighting bias on the track weights is a lethal combo for a PGA Tour quality baby draw, which is just what some players need more if in their game! The cherry on top here is basically when you see that perfect land angle and combination of low spin because it may just be the longest drives that my fitting has ever seen in their lives.
This thing is a slow spin machine. For a player who fights a high and spinny drive this driver can be a key to success. The flight is a lower, flatter flight. From a ball flight standpoint this head is super fade bias along with being a stable head compared to some of the low spin drivers on the market.
The G430 is the fittest version of the G400 line to date, weighing in a little less than the prior generations that should welcome a wider audience to experience the rock-solid forgiveness of Ping. Ping is typically the most polarizing driver each year and this one maintains its role on the market nicely.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

For the first time, carbon is the most prevalent material by volume in a TaylorMade driver, and more carbon equals better performance, says the company. Last year, TaylorMade debuted a 60X Carbon Twist Face. With TaylorMade Stealth 2, engineers are bringing carbon to more of the golf club — and unveiling a new-and-improved Carbon Twist Face in the process. Stealth 2 Plus is the lowest spinning, lowest launching, most workable driver in the family. Engineers were able to add a 15-gram sliding weight track thanks to weight savings from the usage of carbon materials.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

This driver is all about the carry distance! I did not see run out gains as much, but for a strong swinger trying to dial in shot shape and max out their carry, this is the driver to pull. The feedback is solid in comparison to its predecessor, which was a little bit dead at impact. Stealth 2 Plus is a great spin killer and any power swinger’s dream come true!
In the fittings we have done, the Stealth 2 line has had the fastest ball speeds, especially for the higher club head speed players, even more so than the original Stealth. The forgiveness level is great too. Spin killer, too.
Stealth 2 Plus is extremely flat and right-biased, which fast players who don’t like the ball moving left will love. Being able to substitute carbon for titanium on the clubface should greatly improve forgiveness by allowing engineers to redistribute weight more rearward and to the perimeter, but the benefits still aren’t quite realized on Stealth Plus 2. It is another great driver in a long line of great drivers from TaylorMade.
No surprise Taylormade is up at the top. They have always had the recipe for great ball speed. Now they have improved on forgiveness. From the past model I see slight gains but similar ball speeds little higher dispersion and sound is great being as much carbon as they have.
The Stealth 2 Plus is very very fast off the center of the club, like its predecessor. However heel misses have a tendency to be very slow and spinny. TaylorMade has made an improvement with widening out the sweet spot but heel misses continue to be an issue with Twist Face technology. On the flip side, high toe misses are very good with the Stealth2 and I gravitate toward TaylorMade product when fitting a person who misses on the toe of the club often.

Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. Paradym Triple Diamond is a compact, fade-biased driver that is the lowest-spinning and lowest-launching in the lineup.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Even with that super heavy weight in the back, it still doesn’t spin a ton. You can give that high-speed guy that wants a smaller, cleaner kind-of pear-shaped golf club who understands generally he has to give up some forgiveness, with that heavy weight in the back, in the category, it’s a pretty darn forgiving driver. The guy doesn’t have to flush it every time to get stability in the ball flight. He can toe it or thin it or heel it and still get a pretty solid golf shot. In the past, the super low spin head has been dramatically unforgiving for that golfer.
You’re seeing added forgiveness versus Rogue ST. To take a driver that was one of the best last year, add some forgiveness to that, have a moveable weight and be able to move that weight forward and back to really dial it in — if you can give that player [high swing speed] a little extra forgiveness when they hit it off the heel, off the toe, whatever, I think that’s a huge bonus. They took something that was really good from a distance standpoint and improved the stability. That’s a win for everybody. Super strong driver so far.
First and foremost, very neutral and clean looking at address pertaining to offset. I look down at it and feel confident I can throw a dart out there with it and I think most of my customers would agree that have fitted into them. When you put the 360 Carbon tech at every portion possible with the center of gravity position shifted just perfect in that sweet spot low and forward it produces a monstrous effect. The trajectory is so much more piercing and the spin killing effect allows the ball to descend on a much more optimal land angle. The outcome of this of course is the best damn run out most golfers have seen! Due to the CG in this driver it definitely is not something I typically fit my slower/moderate swing speeds in quite as often. With that said, there are occasional times where it can work for who you least expect it to, so I would say try it out in every single fitting!
The best TD driver Callaway has ever made. This is a great blend of low spin and forgiveness. With the weight in the back it is a fairly forgiving driver for its size. With the weight forward it is a spin killer for that player that needs it. 8-degree option this year is a nice addition.
This thing is a ball speed machine. The look is great, with a muted sound. From previous generations in the Triple Diamond line, this thing is more forgiving and can fit more golfers who tend to struggle with a high launch and who spin a driver a lot. The Triple Diamond model is a spin killer and has a lower penetrating trajectory. From a ball flight standpoint, this head is super fade biased. This thing has started the year off great with serval wins on the PGA Tour.

Cobra AeroJet LS

An elevated, internal bridge structure (PWR-Bridge Weighting) in the sole of the club is the centerpiece technology of the LTDx LS, which places CG low and forward. AeroJet LS is a low-launch, low-spin driver that produces a neutral to fade-biased ball flight. Featuring a smaller profile at address, LTDx LS has two weight ports in the sole (with 12g and 3g weights) are positioned forward in the heel and toe

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

This is probably the biggest spin killer that we have. What I really love about it is, after the success we had with LTDx where the ball speeds were crazy good, that just carried over. They made a driver that looks, sounds, and feels even better. Really, really good option for a lot of players. Sound and feel are great.
Great sound at impact! Definitely faster clubhead speeds preferred as the milled face does create a firmer feedback and response. Slower swing speeds do not produce enough COR with it, power swingers though, forget about it! The sound on good contact is impeccable and the ball speed numbers are some of the best I have ever seen!
AeroJet LS is probably the fastest driver out there. It took the LTDx LS and refined it in terms of shape. The shape is really good, and it has a fuller sound. Previous years it sounded like a tin can on mishits, but the sound this year is very, very pleasurable. It’s probably top 2 or 3 fastest drivers right now.
Ball speed machine! Biggest surprise of the year so far in our testing. The AeroJet LS is consistently a top performer regarding ball speed, and in many cases is beating other top brands by 2-3 MPH when it is the best fit for a specific player.
Getting back to where Cobra had success. The F9 is what comes to mind. I think they hit a home run with the look. Probably one of the softest-feeling drivers. We’re seeing some great numbers.

BEST DRIVERS FOR 95-105 MPH

Titleist TSR2

TSR is the next generation of the Titleist Speed Project that began more than six years ago with the TS series and continued with TSi models in 2020. There are three models in the TSR line, which began tour seeding in June. TSR2 is a high-launch, low-spin “max” driver, balancing speed and stability that is designed for the player who makes contact across the face.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

It fits a huge, huge variety of players. Huge upgrade over TSi, in my opinion. The 2 was slow and it didn’t go as fast as the 3. It was a great driver, but it was a step down. This thing has all the power the TSR3 has. It looks awesome. But they didn’t sacrifice forgiveness. It’s great for that traditionalist who likes a clean, classic look but needs forgiveness out of it. And their adjustable cog allows us to fit a wide variety of players. I love this driver.
This thing has been a staple on tour for a while now. The stability and forgiveness on off-center hits with this is great to not have a huge kick up in spin but still maintain good ball speed. Guys are seeing they can miss this driver on the toe or heal and the spin isn’t going to drastically go up or down compared to previous models
TSR2 got the biggest upgrade in the TSR family over the previous model. Nice change in looks, but the increase in speed was much needed. This is equally as long as TSR3, just with more forgiveness.
Hands down a favorite pull for the swing speed range. That classic black look is just clean and confidence boosting. The material in the face makes it crazy hot, but on top of that you always know where you strike on the face! I’m seeing people gain a MPH or 2 of club head speed with this head!
Best in show ball speed, launch and spin conditions, and I’m very partial to the looks. TSR2 is much more neutral looking than TS2 and TSi2, which really makes the 2 more appealing than ever. The best bet for the 230 yard player to find a couple at 250…Just be sure to hit the center of the face for best results.

Callaway Paradym

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. With high MOI and adjustable perimeter weighting, Paradym fits the largest segment of the fitting bell curve. It’s high launch, low spin, neutral ball flight driver.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

A pretty decent low-spin option for the average golfer. As clubs get more forgiving, spin tends to go up, but for that max MOI driver, we don’t really see that with Paradym. And it gives that better player a slightly higher-spinning option. It sets up square. It gives you all the adjustability you want. It gives that better player everything they want, but it gives a 20-handicapper a plenty stable driver that’s going to be great.
Consistent spin rates across the face. Not as low spin as some other heads in this category, but it looks and sounds great and versatile.
This is a very neutral setup. The reduction in spin makes it great for a wide variety of players both when it comes to speed and ability. It is a great driver for someone looking to pick up some forgiveness as well as some speed.
Forgiving, fast, but most importantly, accurate! I am seeing the gains in fits with these drivers left and right! The tech in this driver has made mishits almost as good as the good shots are! Never had better misses that went further.
Launches high and offers a little more left bias than other competitive heads. This club may actually help your slice as well as any draw-biased driver on the market, especially with the right shaft paired up with it.

Ping G430 Max

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. For slower-swing-speed golfers, G430 Max can be custom built with lighter head weights. G430 Max is suitable for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve and features a 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable back weight (±8 yards of shot shaping).

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

The Max head from Ping has always been one of, if not the best driver on the market. The G430 version is no different. Forgiveness that nobody else can touch along with great ball speed and surprisingly lowish spin.
Great for a moderate to faster swinger who wants to launch the ball better and tighten dispersion.
Just as easy to hit as it gets. Speed is good, not great, but for this player, it’s good and straight.
The Ping 430 Max is the ultimate driver for the most forgiveness on those off-center hits. The stability on this head is crazy good. For someone who wants forgiveness and needs some added height to their drives this is a go to driver. This head will fit a wide range of handicaps.
Who doesn’t like forgiveness? Ping has been the king of MOI for the past few years and the 430 takes it to another level. If finding more fairways is the goal, then the Ping G430 Max should be on your shortlist of options to evaluate.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

With TaylorMade Stealth 2, engineers are bringing carbon to more of the golf club — and unveiling a new-and-improved Carbon Twist Face in the process. Stealth 2 is a mid-launch, mid-spin driver that is tailored for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve. It features a 25-gram tungsten TaylorMade Swingweight System weight on the Inertia Generator to dial in launch and spin.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Ball speed is awesome with the new Stealth. By that, I mean more consistent ball speed on impact across the face — and across varying skill levels.
Adding the speed ring back in and using carbon for saving weight, you’re seeing enhanced stability versus the Stealth. It’s TaylorMade, so they’re always good on ball speed. But with the enhanced stability, it’s a step up.
This thing is a cannon! The people fitting into it are gaining 15-20 yards from their gamer numbers! I love the level of adjustability on it and it makes a massive difference in launch and carry numbers.
Probably the driver that will sell the most of this year. TaylorMade always has amazing marketing and continues to own the 15 handicap space. Get it and enjoy, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t fix your slice.
All-around great performer. Shape of the Stealth 2 is much cleaner, and most people notice an increase in confidence at address almost immediately compared to the original Stealth. Increased forgiveness vs Stealth 2 Plus without seeing a huge jump in spin. For those that need a bit help on mishits but need to keep an eye on launch conditions, Stealth 2 is arguably the best all-around performer on the market.

Cobra AeroJet

An elevated, internal bridge structure (PWR-Bridge Weighting) in the sole of the club is the centerpiece technology of the line, which places CG low and forward. AeroJet features a 12-gram fixed back weight for higher launch, and higher MOI. Standard AeroJet is higher launching than the LS while still being low spinning and produces a neutral shot shape.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Cobra made a pretty cool looking driver this year. the white and carbon give off a few TaylorMade M Series vibes which may sway some players their way. Cobra has been focused on producing the least amount of spin on a proper strike, and with their LS model they accomplish that. The AeroJet offers premier performance with a slightly lower price-point to boot.
The AeroJet has been a good improvement from the previous generation in the Cobra line. We were seeing faster ball speeds as well as better dispersion between shots. The color scheme makes it look sharp at address.
Another really low-spinning driver from Cobra. This is probably the lowest spinning driver in this category.
Great design and produces consistent low-ish spin and high ball speeds.
Super easy to hit. Launches high. Very little gearing on off center hits.

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BEST DRIVERS FOR 94 MPH AND BELOW

Titleist TSR1

According to Titleist, the new 460cc TSR1 driver weighs a total of 40 grams lighter than the TSR2 thanks to a lighter headweight, 40-gram stock shaft, and a lighter stock grip. Like the other TSR drivers, the TSR1 has Multi-Plateau Variable Face Thickness to boost speed on off-center hits, and the CG (center of gravity) is placed rearward in the heads to increase launch and height.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Easy to hit, easy to launch. Good ball speed without spinning too much. Looks and feels great for a niche market.
Fantastic option for those looking for a little help with creating speed through lighter equipment. Many of the lighter options on the market have a pre-built in draw bias. Many players out there who want to test lighter equipment but don’t fight a slice. This is the best option on the market for that scenario.
The TSR1 is light, easy to hit, nice looking, and is draw-biased for tight draws. At this speed, spin rates can get too low and the TSR1 does a good job of helping retain spin rate for low speed players. Some players in this category might think Titleist is for good players with speed and not think they are good enough to play Titleist.
Titleist does light weight the right way: Keeping the balance the same, but making a club easier to swing for the slower speed player. Traditional Titleist shape makes this a very appealing option.
The TSR1 offers a little less headweight which can help dramatically reduce the weight of the club and ease the user experience. While a lighter club doesn’t always offer more speed, it can dramatically improve a player’s balance through the swing and help them hit the ball better. Titleist remains on top.

Ping G430 Max

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. For slower-swing-speed golfers, G430 Max can be custom built with lighter head weights. G430 Max is suitable for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve and features a 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable back weight (±8 yards of shot shaping).

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

The biggest difference from the 425 is the sound. They enhanced the sound of this driver. And it’s a super forgiving, easy-to-hit club.
Reliable, consistent driver head for many players. Higher spin than most, but forgiveness is excellent.
Still easy fit for wide range of players. Speed is top notch and super forgiving. Flat settings are fairly handy.
Both adapter and weighting help straighten curves, which helps in this speed range. Forgiveness is at the highest level.
Stable head maximizes clubhead speed-to-ball speed ratio.

Titleist TSR2

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

It fits a huge, huge variety of players. Huge upgrade over TSi, in my opinion. The 2 was slow and it didn’t go as fast as the 3. It was a great driver, but it was a step down. This thing has all the power the TSR3 has. It looks awesome. But they didn’t sacrifice forgiveness. It’s great for that traditionalist who likes a clean, classic look but needs forgiveness out of it. And their adjustable cog allows us to fit a wide variety of players. I love this driver.
Forgiving solid driver for a wide spectrum of players who need a combo of an easy driver without too high spin.
That ball speed…all I remember is Titleist not being that ball speed monster, now sometimes they lead the pack in ball speed, and spin/launch are controlled, too…extremely forgiving and easy to hit.
Sound/feel are best, speed is awesome, just not as good on heel shots or slicers.
From what I have seen, the fastest ball speeds of the “core models.” Lower spinning than others in its class which makes it a top pick for me.

Callaway Paradym X

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. Paradym X is a draw-biased, high-launching, high-MOI driver. It features a larger profile and is the most forgiving driver in the lineup.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

It has draw bias to it, but it doesn’t look hooded or closed or anything. It’s a very easy to square up golf club. That’s a better way to describe it, for me. It spins a little more and is a little more forgiving [than Paradym]. If you put them on the ground, you can barely tell the difference between X and Paradym, but Paradym X is easier to square up. Callaway absolutely crushed it with this one.
For that guy who has the mid swing. The forgiveness aspect is huge. Spin windows for Callaway this year are small. It’s not overly draw-biased. Super forgiving. Easy to launch.
This is the most draw biased of the Paradym lineup, but also the most forgiving driver in the line. Players are seeing an increase in launch and spin with this driver. The downrange dispersion is one thing that Callaway has been talking about and it’s evident in the bays players are seeing their shots tighten up overall.
Need a draw and struggle to create speed? Paradym X needs to be at the top of your list then. Very surprising how little you give up when focusing on the draw bias version of the Paradym. Many draw-biased heads in the past have had an issue with creating too much spin. Not the Paradym X. Similar results to Paradym, just that much better for those who need a little help with their fade.
Draw biased and lowish spin are great attributes. Some players have commented on the shape being a little funny. I’ve seen the Paradym X straighten out players while giving them more distance by dropping spin rate.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

New carbon face design increases ball speed retention at lower speeds.
Good smooth swings really work well with this head. A lot of forgiveness and great sound at impact.
It actually spins and it’s more playable. Last year it was very hit or miss, it didn’t work great for mid to high handicappers. It’s long but it’s playable. It’s more consistent this year across the face. They enhanced the variable face thickness and it’s been a big help.
This is a great option for a player who wants to add some height and spin to their shots.
A unique looking driver on the market to be sure. Spin rate is low and speeds are hot.

Conclusion

Now it’s your turn: Everybody swings the club differently, and everybody has their own experience with a driver in hand. We want to hear from you. Let us know in the discussion thread linked below: What driver are you using? What did you switch from? What performance gains did you find in your own game?

Join the best driver of 2023 discussion in the forums!

Best driver 2023: Most forgiving driver

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:39:05 +0000

At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best driver, we have once again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2023 drivers is best for your game.

The difficult part is many golfers don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, in addition to breaking down the best options across three swing speed ranges, we’re also presenting the most forgiving drivers for the player who preferences forgiveness above all else (meet our fitters here).

Most forgiving driver of 2023

Ping G430 Max

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. For slower-swing-speed golfers, G430 Max can be custom built with lighter head weights. G430 Max is suitable for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve and features a 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable back weight (±8 yards of shot shaping).

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

If you want a forgiving driver with a back CG, this thing is great for mishits.
Very stable head that just hits it straight.
It’s Ping. For a fitter, we know what that means: It goes straight!
The leader in forgiveness, plus it has adjustability to help with bias.
Hands down the most forgiving driver on the market. Off-center hits aren’t moving offline quite as much. The handicaps that this driver can fit is so wide.
Ping continues to lead from the front when discussing forgiveness and dispersion. First option pulled in a fitting whenever finding the fairway is an issue.
Just like the G425 Max, the G430 Max goes very, very straight. The adjustable weights move CG a lot so that can make a big impact on curvature. The sweet spot has been slightly increased over the g425 max which I didn’t think was possible.
It’s Ping; they make one of the most forgiving driver on the market.

Join the best driver of 2023 discussion in the forums!

Callaway Paradym

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. With high MOI and adjustable perimeter weighting, Paradym fits the largest segment of the fitting bell curve. It’s high launch, low spin, neutral ball flight driver.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Forgiving, fast, but most importantly, accurate! I am seeing the gains in fits with these drivers left and right! The tech in this driver has made mishits almost as good as the good shots are! Never had better misses that went further.
We’re seeing that the adjustable weight can definitely help to reduce ball curvature.
Incredibly, incredibly forgiving on mishits.
Down range dispersion is something Callaway has been chatting about for a while with this driver. Long and straight won’t get you into trouble. Players who don’t strike the center are seeing more ball speed being created on mishits.
Mishits are still in play and not costing us penalty strokes. Callaway really has a winner this year with their entire Paradym lineup. Much more consistent to target than previous generations.
The Paradym is the straightest driver Callaway has ever made. I see mishits fly straight almost every time it’s tested. Not a lot of D-plane curvature so right shots don’t continue curving right and left shots don’t continue curving left. Dispersion has been cut 10-20% in a lot of fittings I’ve conducted.

Titleist TSR2

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Forgiving solid driver for a wide spectrum of players who need a combo of an easy driver without too high spin.
A really forgiving driver with plenty of adjustability to help the player.
Supreme adjustability both ways and very forgiving.
The combination of ball speed with a mid-high trajectory and long distance down the middle of the fairway. For a player who tends to hit it all over the face, this driver doesn’t- have as much curve on the shot shape as other models do.
The driver just flat-out performs in every aspect. Extremely straight, but not going to be the best option for faders or slicers of the ball. If you fight an over draw or big pulls and want to hit is straighter, TSR2 is definitely going to have a chance of making it in your bag.
This is the straightest driver in Titleist’s lineup.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

Twist Face reduces the penalty on off-center strikes.
Twist Face really helps the average player end up closer to the target on mishits.
Twist Face really seems to work. I’ve seen a lot of heel shots be pretty killer. Stealth 2 may not as good on the toe shots as some other drivers, but my average player misses more heel than toe.
All-around great performer. Shape of the Stealth 2 is much cleaner, and most people notice an increase in confidence at address almost immediately compared to the original Stealth. Increased forgiveness vs Stealth 2 Plus without seeing a huge jump in spin. For those that need a bit help on mishits but need to keep an eye on launch conditions, Stealth 2 is arguably the best all-around performer on the market.

Callaway Paradym X

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. Paradym X is a draw-biased, high-launching, high-MOI driver. It features a larger profile and is the most forgiving driver in the lineup.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

It has draw bias to it, but it doesn’t look hooded or closed or anything. It’s a very easy to square up golf club. That’s a better way to describe it, for me. It spins a little more and is a little more forgiving [than Paradym]. If you put them on the ground, you can barely tell the difference between X and Paradym, but Paradym X is easier to square up. Callaway absolutely crushed it with this one.
CG that far back in the club produces a forgiving driver for shots across the face.
Callaway’s most forgiving driver. With a very slight draw bias to it, the player will get great forgiveness with all the distance that Callaway is known for.
Super high MOI help’s keep they face squarer on off-center hits.
Great club for slower-speed players looking to keep the ball in play.

Join the best driver of 2023 discussion in the forums!

RELATED: Best driver 2023

2022 Members Choice: Best iron shaft

GolfWRX Staff — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 15:56:15 +0000

What is the best iron shaft in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to GolfWRXers’ views on the best iron shaft of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Check out the full results and see what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Graphite iron shaft

1. Mitsubishi MMT

What Mitsubishi says: “Born from more than 30-years of innovation and composite shaft mastery, the new MMT Iron utilizes a breakthrough Metal Mesh Technology to redefine the possibilities for performance in a composite iron shaft.”

2. Aerotech SteelFiber

3. UST Mamiya Recoil

4. Fujikura Pro

What Fujikura says: “The PRO Iron Series features industry-leading High Density Composite Core (HDCC), which produces dialed-in swingweights at steel length. It is ideal for all swing types, available in 2-iron length “one length blanks”, giving fitters the option to soft or hard step to reach in-between flexes.”

5. Aerotech SteelFiber FC

What Aerotech says: “The SteelFiber FC “Flight Control” graphite iron shafts combine the advanced composite technology of SteelFiber with variable tip stiffness–delivering a higher ball flight in the mid and long irons while maintaining the classic SteelFiber launch in the scoring irons.”

Steel iron shaft

1. Nippon Modus3 Tour 120

2. Nippon Modus3 Tour 105

What Nippon says: “The all new N.S. PRO MODUS³ Tour 105: lighter weight to increase club head speed for longer distances, straighter shots, stronger trajectory, more consistent performance!”

3. True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

4. KBS $-Taper

What KBS says: “KBS Tour $-Taper provides superior feel while maintaining shot workability and tight dispersion for players seeking the ultimate tour shaft with Mid trajectory and Low Spin performance.”

5. Project X

See full results and what GolfWRXers are saying here.

Members Choice 2022: Best launch monitor

GolfWRX Staff — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 12:41:55 +0000

What is the best launch monitor in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best launch monitor of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Check out all the voting and what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Best launch monitor >$10K

1. Foresight GC Quad

What Foresight says: “As the only launch monitor in the industry to utilize Quadrascopic imaging, the GCQuad delivers the most accurate detailed picture of ball and club head performance analysis.”

2. Trackman 4

What Trackman says: “TrackMan 4 captures every detail with astounding precision. That’s club and ball data including impact location. It’s full ball-flight numbers. Normalization for all conditions. With video analysis and data tailored to you. And with no markers required, it’s convenient, quick and seamless. That’s clever.”

Best launch monitor $1K-$10K

1. Foresight GC3

What Foresight says: “Three precision cameras for both ball and club data. Four ways to connect. A touch screen display that’s easy to read indoors and out. Add it all up and you’ve got the ultimate personal launch monitor.”

2. Flightscope Mevo+

What Flightscope says: “The FlightScope Mevo+ is a launch monitor and simulator that uses patented FlightScope Fusion Tracking technology to provide golfers with accurate golf performance data. Fusion Tracking technology is an innovative combination of 3D Doppler tracking radar technology and synchronized high speed image processing that helps provide users with the most accurate and consistent data for every shot – indoors and outdoors.”

Best launch monitor <$1K

1. Flightscope Mevo

What Flightscope says: “Enhance your game with this portable and affordable launch monitor that uses 3D Doppler Radar technology to provide users with accurate performance data indoors and outdoors.”

2. Garmin Approach R10

What Garmin says: “Track key metrics when paired with a compatible smartphone with the Garmin Golf app to help better your shot consistency, including club head speed, ball speed, swing tempo, ball spin, launch angle and more.”

Check out all the voting and what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

GolfWRX Members Choice: Best golf ball of 2022 (best tour ball)

GolfWRX Staff — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 20:03:25 +0000

What is the best golf ball in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best golf ball of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

You can see the full results for the best golf ball of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best golf ball of 2022

Best “tour” golf ball

1.Titleist ProV1

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1 offers total performance and features long distance, very low long game spin, penetrating flight, Drop-and-Stop greenside control and very soft feel.”

From our launch piece: “It’s important to note that this is the first totally new dimple redesign of the Titleist Pro V1 golf balls since 2011, and since that time the Titleist R&D team has gone through the painstaking process of designing, manufacturing, and tested more than 1,900 aerodynamic patterns—including no less than 60 different iterations of the new 2021 Pro V1’s 388 dimple layout and more than 30 versions of Pro V1x’s 348 dimple design as per Titleist.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Titleist ProV1x

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1x offers total performance and features long distance, high trajectory, low long game spin, Drop-and-Stop greenside control and soft feel.”

From our launch piece: “The casing layer between the core and the cover adds speed and lowers spin on long game shots. This casing layer is comprised of a highly-resilient, high-speed (another way of saying firm) ionomer which was originally developed for the Pro V1x Left Dash — and like with any piece of golf technology has trickled its way into other products in the line where it can be used to increase performance variables.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Bridgestone Tour B X

What Bridgestone says: “The new Tour B with Reactiv iQ is the smarter tour ball. Proprietary new Reactiv iQ is a smart cover technology that reacts to the force of impact. Reactiv iQ rebounds quickly on tee shots, delivering explosive velocity and increased distance. Reactiv iQ stays on the face longer on approach shots, providing more spin and soft feel around the green.”

From our launch piece: “The new Bridgestone Tour B series continues the company’s focus on the moment of impact across all 14 clubs in the bag. Designed to cater to the unique needs of each club, the new Reactive IQ cover utilizes unique impact modifiers to rebound quickly on tee shots. Around the green, the new Tour B stays on the clubface longer — or to use a Tiger Woods term: gets more “face time” — for more spin.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. Titleist ProV1x Left Dash

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls are designed for players seeking a high flight similar to Pro V1x with dramatically lower full swing spin and firmer feel.”

From our launch piece:

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. TaylorMade TP5x

What TaylorMade says: “The new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern unlocks the next level of aerodynamics while promoting maximum carry distances and a steep angle of descent for extra stopping power, especially on long irons.”

From our launch piece: “TaylorMade is looking to optimize aerodynamics once more with what it is calling “Tour Flight Dimple Pattern” to improve both ball-flight stability and carry distance throughout the bag. The new dimple design alters the relationship between dimple volume and depth, which leads to reduced drag and optimized lift that keeps the golf ball in the air longer through its descent leading. TLDR; more potential distance.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

You can see the full results for the best golf ball of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.