How we rank
A ranking isn't worth reading unless it explains why things are ranked where they are. So here, up front, is what this site bases its order on.
Three inputs
| Input | What it is | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| ① Measured data (3 models) | Ten or more balls hit on the same day, with the same ball, by the same player, with the average and spread recorded.Right now I have measured data for three models: the PING G440 K (October 24, 15 balls, average carry 246 yards), the Mizuno JPX ONE driver (October 24, 10 balls, 244 yards), and the Callaway QUANTUM (October 14, 20 balls, 251 yards).All were hit on an indoor TrackMan (a fitting room at a local golf shop, or an indoor driving range), with a PRO V1 that I bought and brought myself | One player, with an average driver head speed of about 46 m/s (as shown on TrackMan). A different head speed will give different results |
| ② Official specs | Figures the manufacturer publishes: loft, length, weight, moment of inertia (MOI) and so on | Good numbers and a good fit for you are two different things |
| ③ Used prices | Prices from several used-club shops, logged by hand (with the date stated) | They move with the shop, condition and timing. Check the article's date |
The basis for each rating is written right there
Buying and testing every product is honestly impossible. So I split the basis for each ranking into "official specs and street prices" and "numbers from the 10 balls the site owner hit", so each page shows which one it rests on. The basis of my rankings is still mostly "official specs and street prices." I have actually hit only the three models above; the others haven't reached 10 balls, so I don't label them "measured."
Ad commissions never change the order
This site carries ads (affiliate links). If you buy or sign up through a link, I earn a commission. But the size of the commission is never a factor in the ranking.
On every page that contains ads, we say so at the top.
We publish "no difference" too
When the difference from 10 balls each is smaller than the ball-to-ball spread, I write "can't tell with this many balls." I don't force a ranking.
For example, the G440 K (246 yards) and the JPX ONE (244 yards) differ by 2 yards, which is smaller than the spread across 10–15 balls. If I ranked those two, I'd write "can't tell."
For example, the G440 K (246 yards) and the JPX ONE (244 yards) differ by 2 yards, which is smaller than the spread across 10–15 balls. If I ranked those two, I'd write "can't tell."
That isn't dodging. It's the opposite: calling a difference smaller than the spread an "effect" is the real dodge.
For example, if the distance gap is 2 yards and the ball-to-ball spread is 8 yards, the test can't pick up those 2 yards. In the article, I calculate and show how many balls it would take to tell.
About the numbers
- Carry: distance until the ball lands. Roll isn't included.
- Spread (standard deviation): how widely each shot scatters. About 7 in 10 balls land within "average ± spread."
- 90% range: the range that holds 9 of 10 balls. The narrower, the more consistent.
Corrections
When an article turns out to be wrong, I don't delete it. I fix it and leave the correction date and what was wrong in the text. I never quietly rewrite past numbers.