Tried. Tested. True.
That’s our mission. To give you, the golfer, the truth about the golf gear you’re spending your money on and companies you’re giving money to.
Why? Your game is our job. It’s that simple. You want to play better golf and we want you do just that.
Your game is the first thing we think about when we’re testing a new product. It’s the only thing that really matters to us.
In the hopes of making your game better, we’ve created, refined and executed our Most Wanted Testing for 16 years. This data-driven methodology of testing is what we do best.
That said, data shouldn’t be the only thing you consider before your next purchase. Our annual Editor’s Choice Awards allows us to shine a spotlight on products, companies and brands that have left an impression on us – even if they didn’t place No. 1.
Here are our Editors’ Choice Awards for 2024.
Story of the Year: USGA Golf Ball Rollback
While most expected the USGA and R&A would take steps to roll back the ball at the elite level, golf’s governing bodies caught us by surprise when they decided to roll back the golf ball for all golfers. Early projections suggest golfers will lose between five and 15 yards on drives and approach shots.
The new distance rules have the potential to reshape the game and the courses it’s played on. While the decision has been made, the matter may not be settled. The PGA Tour is apparently against rolling back the ball and, with millions invested in the ball and millions more on the table, there’s still the possibility that ball manufacturers could take legal action.
Technology of the Year: COBRA 3D Printed Irons
With this award, we’re always looking for the next big thing. 3D printing has been knocking golf’s door for years. While applications have typically been limited to rapid prototyping (and, yes, putters), the launch of the limited-edition 3D PRINT3D irons, COBRA has kicked the door open. The expectation is that more 3D-printed products will be launched in the coming months.
Driver: PING G430 MAX 10K
Most Wanted Winner. It’s a cheat code – this driver just wants to go straight. Shots you think should be in the right trees stay in play and your best strikes are fairway finders. Keeps you in play off the tee, which is a game changer.
Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke
It’s sometimes hard for golfers to get excited about fairway woods but maybe the Paradym Ai Smoke lineup can change that. We constantly talk about the importance of fitting and having multiple levers to pull to help golfers optimize performance. Callaway is doing that better than anyone else right now. Even without an AI story, the Ai Smoke fairway lineup would be impressive. With three models, four if you could Max Fast, and seven lofts (including a Heavenwood), if you can’t find a Callaway fairway that works for you, you’re not trying.
Hybrid: PING G430
For most, substituting a long iron for a hybrid is a wise decision. They’re more forgiving, easier to hit higher and simply more consistent. The PING G430 hybrid is the crown jewel in the hybrid market. In our testing, it nearly swept the field for distance, accuracy and forgiveness.
Utility Iron: PING iCrossover
In a category without much differentiation, the iCrossover blew away the competition in last fall’s test. Calling it “easy to hit” is an understatement. It’s the first utility we’ve seen that’s a serious option for average golfers while still delivering everything a better player expects from a utility iron.
Player’s Irons: TaylorMade P7MC
With a player’s iron, accuracy is the key performance attribute and it should drive your decision making. TaylorMade P7MC displays reliable precision across the entire set. It isn’t the longest player’s iron on the market. But for better players, it’s going to help you hit more greens and provide you with a tighter dispersion.
Player’s Distance Irons: PING i530
Yes, the lofts are strong but PING has found a way to get the CG 10 percent lower and the rear wall 40 percent thinner than the i525 models. Peak height, descent angle and spin make them extremely playable. And they’re freaking rocket launchers.
Game-Improvement Irons: Titleist T350
The T350 is game-improvement done right. Yeah, it’s big (that’s how the category works) but it’s not unsightly. More to the point, it does what it’s supposed to. It’s easy to hit. It’s long, it launches high and it holds greens. Frankly, it’s the iron we never expected to love and yet here we are.
Super Game-Improvement Irons: Mizuno JPX 923 HL
Since its creation, Mizuno’s JPX lineup has been a model of consistency. JPX 923 HL continues this with excellence. Its shaping is visually friendly in a not so eye-friendly category and it performs with consistency. You should expect playable launch conditions and tight dispersion with this super game-improvement iron.
Wedge: Vokey SM10
It feels almost too on the nose but it’s hard to overlook Vokey’s dominance in the marketplace and on the PGA Tour. While so much of wedge performance is tied to proper fitting, it’s telling that, seemingly, every Tour player with a loophole in their contract ends up with a Vokey lob wedge (often a T Grind or Low Bounce K) in the bag.
Blade Putter: Evnroll Neo Classic ER2
Most Wanted winner. The new polymer/aluminum face adds amazing feel to Evnroll’s performance-enhancing grooves. The Sweetest Face in Golf is now even sweeter.
Mallet Putter: L.A.B. Golf
Love it or hate it, they continue to increase their footprint on golfers everywhere – professionals and amateurs alike. I played in a local tournament this past weekend … the entire foursome was gaming a L.A.B. Golf putter.
Golf Ball: Maxfli
You can make a strong argument for a handful of balls but, over the last year, the DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Maxfli Tour series reached a tipping point. A standout dating back to our 2015 ball test for its uncommon mix of performance and value, this year the brand has received the ultimate validation with balls in play on the PGA and LPGA tours. It’s not the story you’d expect from a sometimes-overlooked house brand that sells for $15+ below the bigger brands.
Training Aid: The Stack System
For the third year The Stack System is our choice for the best training aid. It’s not just that the Stack is the best speed-training system on the market, it’s that the Stack System (emphasis on system) continues to improve. Last time around, it was a putting module. More recently, The Stack has launched its own fully integrated radar device, added a learning library and updated the app to give you the ability to tune the potential distance to your unique conditions.
Glove: Palm Canvas
The golf glove category is one that’s been dominated by big names. This year, Palm took dead aim at the best in the business with their Canvas glove. Made from ultra-soft cabretta leather, the Palm Canvas glove was the surprise of Most Wanted Golf Glove testing.
Rangefinder: Vortex Anarch
It’s rare that a rangefinder gets us excited but that’s exactly what the Vortex Anarch did. World-renowned optics meet pinpoint accuracy. It’s not often that a rangefinder rivals the big names but Vortex’s first step into golf proved the right one: They nailed it.
Golf Shoe: Under Armour Drive Pro
Very rarely do we see this kind of leap year-to-year for a golf shoe. Last year, Under Armour finished middle of the pack in our testing. This year, they blew us away with their new Drive Pro golf shoe. It’s comfortable, stable and provides excellent traction. That trifecta gave the Drive Pro a top finish in spiked and spikeless testing.
Company of the Year: PING
There’s a case to be made that PING is the company of the year off the strength of the G430 MAX 10K driver alone but that’s just one of many plaudits on a long list of innovations. With the launch of the Glide 4.0 wedge, PING rolled out a robust, consumer-facing wedge fitting tool that makes finding the right wedge easy. It’s Co-pilot fitting fitting software goes way beyond driver optimization making it easy for fitters to build and gap your entire golf bag. The point is that PING isn’t just making products that help average golfers play better. It’s building to tools to make it easier to find what’s going to work best for you.
DTC Company of the Year: Golf Brands, Inc.
Hogan, MacGregor, Ram, Zebra and Teardrop are nostalgic names. Resurrecting those brands to their former glory is no small task but Golf Brands, Inc. is beating the odds. Each line has is a proven performer and offers a unique value proposition for golfers. It’s a long, slow process but Simon Millington and his team are going about it the right way.
Best Collab: Kith for TaylorMade
The second rendition of Kith for TaylorMade is unequivically the best collab of the year. Between the sexy K790 Irons, MG4 wedges and host of apparel, this collab truly has it all. Kith has firmly cemented themselves as a legitimate player in golf, thanks to their second collab with TaylorMade.
Best Trend: Mini Driver
It may be a stretch to call mini drivers a trend but with Callaway’s Ti 340 joining TaylorMade’s BRNR and Titleist dabbling with a “Tour-only” prototype of its own, it may just be a matter of time before the flood gates open. For strong 3W players, a mini might not make sense but if you’re looking to dial up precision off the tee, a mini may be the answer and, with that, it’s always better to have choices.
Comeback of the Year: Wilson
Wilson has revamped its Staff Model lineup and introduced the excellent Dynapower Forged irons plus two new and very good golf balls. Wilson Fit AI has the opportunity to speed up and change the fitting game for the better. The company is refocused and poised to make some noise.
Newcomer of the Year: Stix Golf
The perception of complete golf sets is shifting dramtically. Stix Golf isn’t new to 2024. However, our exposure to them is fresh and, with it, an optimism that golfers can have easy access to a high-quality complete golf set. We put their Perform Series through a “We Tried It” and came away impressed. For the price, it is a complete set of golf clubs that has our backing. The performance is there for new golfers, recreational golfers or even the more experienced player.
Best Personal Tech Product: Rapsodo MLM2PRO
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO has accuracy that rivals launch monitors that are double or triple the cost. It’s easy to use, a breeze to setup and it’s less than $800. You won’t find a better option in the personal launch monitor space.
Best Industry Tech Product: PuttView
Not only is PuttView is changing the way we test putters here at MGS but they’re changing how golfers improve with their flatstick. It’s the real deal. The PuttView interactive indoor putting green is probably the coolest thing in golf right now.
Best Apparel (Men’s): Malbon
No one has done more for the golf apparel landscape this year than Malbon. There hasn’t yet been a JDay outfit that isn’t the talk of the tournament. Whether you like it or not, Malbon is loud, hip and here for good.
Best Apparel (Women’s): Macade
It’s not often you find the perfect mix of modern, streetwear and classic clean lines. Macade is slowly making their way to pro tours. Women’s clothing sizing is all over the place. No simple waist and inseam size can solve the skort, crop top, too short, no sleeves problem. Macade has been one of the only companies to nail it for just about any age group or style. Piece it together with your other favs, or not, but Macade has your staples, and then some, down pat.
Best Golf Ball Pattern: TaylorMade TP5 Pickle Ball
While it’s easy to dismiss limited-edition patterns on golf balls as pointless hokum, the reality is they’re fun and cool and that’s often reason enough to try a golf ball you otherwise wouldn’t have. And when it comes to limited-edition runs, none was better than TaylorMade’s TP5 “Pickle Ball” offering. Packaged in a jar, it plays to the overlap between golf and pickleball. The ingredient list on the jar made it all the better. Near-perfect execution.
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