The Golf Engineer

The Gear Guide is live. Golf equipment sorted by brand, year & performance. Because keeping track of the Max's, K's, and D's isn't easy for anyone. Built to assist our DM conversations as you navigate a purchase or fitting. Drivers for now. More to come. Link here 👇

Great question. Like any equipment choice, it’s nuanced and subjective. Generally I ask players where they start to get uncomfortable with their irons. Sacrifices will be: -a thicker sole that doesn’t cut thru rough as well. -jumpier, more flyer prone Benefits will be: -more distance -higher launch -more forgiving mishits.

@engineeringolf What would you say is the decision point between playing one vs the other? Thank you.

Giving this old post a bump, since there’s some active conversation about this topic on yesterday’s post.

@eazyness1314 Lmk if I can assist 👍

@engineeringolf Figuring out the combo set I want to build from the T100/150. Awesome job man

A frequent topic in my DMs: Combo sets. -How do I build one? -What will my gaps be? -What specs should I order? Here’s how the Iron Guide will assist those conversations. Actively building, wanted to get this in front of an audience before rollout.

@BennyFCrenshaw Let’s get you testing the Beta, Benny.

@engineeringolf Actively looking for something like this, would use this to build the next set.

@therealmcnair Love to see that smile back in the profile picture.

Titleist GT2 Reggio formula m+ TM BRNR mini 13.5 ka’li red TM QI10 5 wood ka’li red Titleist T200 4 iron kai’li red Titleist T-100 5 iron modus 130 Titleist 620 MB 6-PW modus 130 Vokey Raw 50, 56 TM high toe low bounce 60 Never Compromise #3 Provix

@Idahopro59 5i does feel like the transition sweetspot for better players.

@engineeringolf Lol for me it’s easy, need lots of help starting at the 5 iron…I feel the need for speed !

@ZoltanOSU @nws13 Agreed. When everyone has products that perform similarly, the fitting experience is a way to separate yourself and create loyalty. Definitely a focus in the industry right now.

@nws13 @engineeringolf As someone who does fitting for a living right now, I absolutely see the industry going that way. So many people, who really shouldn’t, come in to fit for clubs they don’t need but they want them and the club makers will always oblige that level of want.

@LarryHotdogs Nice. Was it a pain to get the overlap correct? Do any loft bending?

@engineeringolf I’m sorry it was 2017 and they sold the mp18 Blade Pw-8 Skipped the sc and went 7-5 mmc and 4 fli hi

@LarryHotdogs 🤝 What’d you go with?

@engineeringolf This is sweet wish I had this when I bought my mp17s

@nws13 Nate, are you theorizing a 5-way combo set? 😄 I’d say diminishing returns. But it would award you lifetime membership into the sicko club, so that’s a benefit.

@engineeringolf Could someone theoretically find a benefit from working their way (using Taylormade as an example) a P790 4i, through P770, through P7CB, P7MC, to P7TW at the short end? Or do returns diminish from lack of familiarity/continuity?

@Driftless_Golf The detriment with soft golf balls is that you can over-compress and lose distance with any decent clubhead speed. I suspect you could achieve this even with classic clubs, and harder high-end balls would give you more distance. Have a simulator you could test it out in?

@engineeringolf Always been told to use lowest compression balls for hickories. Thoughts on that?

The sneakiest piece of equipment that I see wreck beginner scorecards: Ionomer balls. -Look the same -Marketed as “soft” or “distance” (almost always shorter) -Cheap price point attracts the casual You will always lack greenside spin & control without a urethane cover.

@johnjfair 😄

@engineeringolf The. I have zero idea 😂… I guess the hardest 6” in golf really is between the ears 😂😂😂. It just seems that the Kirkland doesn’t spin the same 8i down😎

@johnjfair Both urethane

@engineeringolf If it were allowed, I would tee a Kirkland (and 2nd on par 5s) and switch to a ProV1 for approach and back to the Kirkland to putt… The only time I can tell the difference is 140 in… So I play par 3’s with the titleist and Kirkland every where else

@THE_LHC Any player looking to improve requires short game control, and could benefit from urethane. The difference is noticeable. Whether you care or think it’s worth the price is subjective.

@engineeringolf Beginners/high-handicaps don't require green side spin, they're either putting everything or using a chipper which doesn't spin the ball anyway. I play with dozens of people over 20 hdcp (many over 30), not one of them would notice the difference.

@PGATOUR @JLas43_ @cadillac_champ Ball don’t lie.

Cameron Young called a one-stroke penalty on himself on No. 2 Sunday @Cadillac_Champ after causing his ball to move at address. He still saved par and maintains a five-shot lead. 📺 PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+

@RichieOwens_ I encourage you to grab a sleeve of ionomer vs. urethane, hit 10 pitch shots with each, and discover for yourself.

@engineeringolf does the ball really matter if you’re a 15 handicap?

@GaryWoodBurner Alyssa knows how to build a combo set. Respect.

Do people genuinely not realize this is a bot

@nws13 The difference between ionomer and urethane is far bigger than the gap between your old vs. fresh wedge.

@engineeringolf I used some Supersofts for about 8 seconds and then relegated them to the magazine basket in the living room, barely even good for carpet putting practice. If I don't want to waste a few hundred bucks on balls, I need to pay attention to my lessons, not buy shit balls.

@Dtrain1776 Just out here trying to inform. I see ams get frustrated that their chips roll thru the green, or they can’t stick a wedge. It’s a sneaky stroke stealer, that ionomer.

@engineeringolf Yeah I see a lot of posts where people marvel at how pros hit the low launching spinners, meanwhile they are probably playing a ball they found in the woods that says Super Soft on it. The Ionomer low compression balls “feel” great when you hit them, launch high don’t spin.