GuidesArticles on deciding how many clubs to carry, and which ones, by the numbers

【Nov 2026 Update】New Golf Clubs 2026 Release Calendar | Prices by Month 75 new releases from January to September, plus 3 scheduled for October onward. Release dates and prices listed month by month, updated monthly. 【Nov 2026 Update】2026 Driver Review | 8 Models Scored on 6 Criteria 8 models scored on 6 criteria. My pick is the QUANTUM ◆◆◆, then the GTS2 and the ZXi RKT. 【Nov 2026 Update】TaylorMade Qi4D Driver Review | 4 Models Scored Street price is about 40% off list. Weak points: measurements “on par with the previous model” and a lineup that's hard to choose from. 【Nov 2026 Update】Callaway QUANTUM Review My No. 1 is the ◆◆◆: a 450cc pear shape that lets you work the ball. For forgiveness, take the MAX, now about 40% off MSRP. 【Nov 2026 Update】Titleist GTS Driver Review | GTS2 vs. GTS3 Distance stays consistent even off the center. The GTS2 and GTS3 stay strong on off-center hits. The only catch is the sound on off-center hits. 【Nov 2026 Update】Srixon ZXi RKT Driver Review At ¥89,100, among the cheapest from the major brands. Weak points: forgiveness doesn't stand out, and opinions split on sound and draw bias. 【Nov 2026 Update】PING G440 K Review: Is It Worth ¥11,000 More? The most stable of 21 models. But some golfers may barely feel a difference from the G440 MAX. 【Nov 2026 Update】Mizuno JPX ONE Review | The Weak Point Is Spin The ONE spins on the high side; the SELECT is unforgiving off-center. Opinions on feel are split, too. 【Nov 2026 Update】PRGR RS / RS MAX Review | All-In on Distance Among this year's longest. But even the RS MAX is, inside, “the equivalent of other brands' LS models.” 【Nov 2026 Update】Bridgestone BX TOUR Review | Few Places to Try One A serious, no-compromise build. But the ★★TOUR comes only in 9.0° loft, and places to buy it are limited. 【Nov 2026 Update】2026 New Drivers: Release Dates, Prices and the One to Buy The Srixon ZXi RKT, released Sep 12, is the newest you can buy at regular retailers. The Bridgestone BX is custom-order only, out Sep 18 and Oct 9. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Mini Drivers: 3 Picks, Chosen by Turf Playability What a mini driver is, and whether you can hit one off the turf. Three Callaway and Honma clubs, ranked on official numbers. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Golf Swing Sticks: 5 Compared, VS Ranks No. 1 How to choose a swing stick by weight, length and sound cue. Five Daiya Swing models ranked on official numbers. 【Nov 2026 Update】PRGR 01, 02, 03, 04 Irons: 7-Iron Lofts 32°–26° Four PRGR irons compared on 7-iron loft, length, total weight and price. For forgiveness, the 04. For distance, the 03. 【Nov 2026 Update】PING Putters, 3 Lines: Your 1st Is the ¥44,000 SCOTTSDALE The three PING putter lines, sorted by number of head shapes, head weight and price. Your first PING should be a SCOTTSDALE. If you want milled, go PLD. 【Nov 2026 Update】Center-shaft putters compared Two center-shaft putters, sorted by build, total weight and length. For a putter designed around the center shaft, go PRGR SB Centered. PING is the one with a fixed list price. 【Nov 2026 Update】Do You Need a 3-Wood? Measured data for 3-woods and 5-woods, and how to think about what to carry instead. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Fairway Woods 2026 The Srixon ZXi RKT (Sep 12) is the newest and, at ¥55,000, the cheapest new model from a major brand. 3-wood volume ranges from 162 to 200 cc. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Women's Hybrids: 9 Compared, With Swap Costs A 35° hybrid has almost the same loft as an 8-iron. If your irons won't launch, you can swap them out club for club. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Hybrids 2026 | 3 Picked on Dispersion I ranked the longest hybrid No. 3. No. 1 is the one whose dispersion area was about 30% smaller. 【Nov 2026 Update】What Number Is a 23° Hybrid? Loft Chart and How to Choose How to choose by loft instead of number, and how to decide between wood-type and iron-type. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Hybrids 2026: A Hardcore Golfer's Top Pick Even the same “4” ranges from 20 to 23° in loft and from 101 to 130 cc in volume. The newest is the Srixon ZXi RKT (Sep 12). 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Women's Fairway Woods 2026 PING's 5-wood is 23°, the same loft as XXIO's 7-wood. Pick by loft, not the number on the club. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Fairway Woods 2026 | 3 Picked on Measured Data The longest one was the lowest of the three for forgiveness. I explain with numbers why I still ranked it No. 1. 【Nov 2026 Update】Kasco Dolphin Wedge DW-125G High Spin I compared the Dolphin Wedge DW-125G High Spin with the standard DW-125G on price, loft and sole angles. It includes notes on caring for an unplated face. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Women's Wedges 2026: For Bunkers The set PW is 44° and the sand wedge is 56°, leaving a 12° gap. Start with the one wedge that fills it. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Wedges 2026 | 3 Picked on Wet Spin Only one wedge out of 15 models lost not a single rpm of spin when wet. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Women's Putters 2026: Pick by Length Women's putters run 31 to 33 inches. Four of the eight models list only one length. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Putters 2026 | 3 Picked on Holing Numbers The top-tested putter was a ¥60,000 zero-torque model. One that costs about ¥130,000 was 12th in the same test. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Women's Drivers 2026: Pick by Weight Even with the same "L" flex, total weight ran from 255g to 272g, a 17g spread. Pick by weight and loft, not the flex letter. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Women's Irons 2026: Pick by Loft 7-iron lofts run from 29° to 34°. Five degrees is more than one full club. 【Nov 2026 Update】2026 New Irons: Release Dates and the One to Buy by 7-Iron Loft September brings the Srixon ZXi and Bridgestone B-FORGED. 7-iron lofts run from 28° to 33°, a 5° spread. 【Nov 2026 Update】PXG 0311 Gen8 Irons: Release Date, Price, T vs P vs XP From ¥37,400 per iron. 7-iron lofts are XP 27°, P 30°, T 32°, and the heel and toe weights move from 2 to 12 g. 【Nov 2026 Update】TB-7 Forged 2027 Review | Out 11/13, vs TB-5 Out Nov 13. ¥165,000 for a 5-iron set. 30° 7-iron. The first TB iron forged from S15C soft carbon steel. 【Nov 2026 Update】How to Hit a Penetrating Iron Flight A tour pro's 7-iron launches at 16 degrees and climbs to 31 m. Without air, that ball would top out at 12 m. I wrote up what makes the difference. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Irons for a Penetrating Flight It launches at 18.7° and climbs to twice its height with no air. I lined up five irons that posted numbers like that. 【Nov 2026 Update】Srixon 2026 Iron Specs | ZXi5 vs. ZXi7, Compared by a ZXi5 Player The 7-iron lofts differ by just 1°, but bounce differs by 3.5°. Line up the official specs and your buying criteria change. 【Nov 2026 Update】ZXi5 vs P790: The Long Irons Decide It The 7-irons are 31° and 30°, and both PWs are 44°. The differences between these two similar irons come down to the long irons, the construction and the price. 【Nov 2026 Update】Bridgestone Irons 2026: 100CB or 200CB+? Released Sep 4. The 7-iron is 32° on the 100CB and 31° on the 200CB+; from the 8-iron down the lofts are the same. Lofts are unchanged from the previous model, and the set price rose ¥13,200. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Titleist Irons 2026 and 2027 All that came out in 2026 was a limited-edition finish. The four current models cost the same, ¥178,200 for a 6-club set, so choose by 7-iron loft. 【Nov 2026 Update】T100 Irons: 2023 vs 2025 Model Every loft got 1° stronger. The 3 changes, who should upgrade, and how to tell them apart on the used market. 【Nov 2026 Update】How Many Wedges? Your PW Loft Decides: Set-Makeup Chart PW lofts range from 41° to 47° depending on the model. Lofts for 18 major models, and when to replace them. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Wedges 2026: The One a Hardcore Golfer Picked 2026 saw a surge in forged soft-carbon-steel wedges. September brings the Bridgestone BITING SPIN 2, Hi-Toe 5 and RTZ 2. 【Nov 2026 Update】Chunked Chips and Bounce The more you push your hands forward out of fear of chunking, the more you take your wedge's bounce out of play. 【Nov 2026 Update】Lynx Slide Sole Master 56° Review A 56° wedge with 1° of bounce. That is at least 7° less than a normal 56°. Whose side is it on? 【Nov 2026 Update】Lynx Zero Magic II Review | 0° Bounce, 34 Inches 0° bounce and a 34-inch putter length. A wedge that turns your chip into a putting stroke. 【Nov 2026 Update】PRGR R35 and R50 Wedges | Only 15° of Loft Apart Out Nov 12, ¥33,000 each. The only difference between the two is loft. They're wedges for running the ball close, 110g heavier than a regular 50°. 【Nov 2026 Update】Vokey SM10 vs. SM11: 5% More Groove Volume, New 44° Lofts shift from 46–62° to 44–60°. Groove volume is 5% larger, and the price is ¥2,200 higher at ¥29,700. For some golfers the SM10 is enough. 【Nov 2026 Update】Hi-Toe 5 vs MG5 | Compared by Loft, Weight and Price The Hi-Toe 5 comes only in 56–60°, the MG5 in 46–60°. With the same shaft, the Hi-Toe 5 is 2–7g heavier and ¥2,200 more. I also cover how to combine them. 【Nov 2026 Update】Are Zero-Torque Putters Actually Good? All they remove is twisting during the stroke. They don't help distance-control misses. Count how you miss over 20 putts and you'll know whether you need one. 【Nov 2026 Update】PXG Torpedo ZT Putter: Price, vs. the Earlier Torpedo ¥81,400, 370g. Just 1° of forward press. A mallet for golfers who never got comfortable with the zero-torque setup. 【Nov 2026 Update】Kasco STRAP Putter Torqueless: Release Date, vs. Original At 633g it's 23g heavier than the original types, with 3.5° of loft, 1° more. A putter that doesn't cancel twisting completely and keeps weight in the heel. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Putters 2026: A Hardcore Golfer's Top Pick Isn't Zero Torque In 2026, “zero torque” spread across brands. Prices run from ¥41,800 for the SYSTM2 to ¥129,800 for the DF3i. 【Nov 2026 Update】How to Choose a Putter How to choose length, weight and shape, and what 5 major brands disclose. 【Nov 2026 Update】Missing Short Putts The thinner grip is heavier. Side by side, the official numbers show thickness and weight don't track each other. 【Nov 2026 Update】3 Stabilized Golf Rangefinders Compared Three stabilized rangefinders from Nikon, Canon and NINJOR, compared on price, weight and measuring speed. My pick is the Nikon PROIII STABILIZED. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Golf Rangefinders Under ¥30,000 2026 Three laser rangefinders under ¥30,000, lined up by weight, speed and charging. From ¥21,900. 【Nov 2026 Update】Golf Rangefinder: Watch or Laser? Laser First Make your first one a laser. A GPS watch gives you the center of the green, which can be about 10 yards off from the pin. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Golf Rangefinders 2026 5 new models in 2026: from the 130g Laser FIT2 to the PRECIS LM, which also measures your swing, and the GPS-equipped Tour Hybrid. 【Nov 2026 Update】Bushnell Rangefinders Compared All 4 range 5–1300 yards and are legal for tournament use. They differ in weight (139–340g), how far they can range a flag, waterproofing and power. 【Nov 2026 Update】Shot Navi STEADY Review | ¥24,970, 0.05-Second Readings ¥24,970, 116g, 0.05 seconds. Vibrates on the pin and measures between three points. Shot Navi's new laser rangefinder. 【Nov 2026 Update】Shot Navi nano GR+ Review | 110g, 0.05 s, Made in Japan 110g, 0.05 seconds, made in Japan. The lightest laser rangefinder in the Shot Navi lineup, at ¥36,300. 【Nov 2026 Update】Shot Navi LINEA Review | ¥29,920, 1,640-Yard Range ¥29,920, 139g. Reaches 1,640 yards and charges fully in about 1.5 hours. Shot Navi's 2025 model. 【Nov 2026 Update】Voice Caddie Laser FIT2 Specs and Price 130g, ¥37,400. Range the ball, then the flag, and it shows the distance from the ball to the flag. 【Nov 2026 Update】Garmin Approach S72 | 47mm & 43mm Dates, ¥128,000, 8g Lighter than S70 At 48g it's 8g lighter than the S70, and it costs ¥128,000. What it adds isn't distance but records: heart rate, swing and putting. 【Nov 2026 Update】What Is Voice Caddie AutoPin APL? Models and How to Use It Started Oct 9, free. The official page lists the T12 PRO and SL mini as compatible, on about 504 courses. It pays off for golfers who play with a watch. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Golf Shoes 2026 The lightest is the Mizuno NEXLITE ENERZY II at about 280g. Only 2 Mizuno models come in wide 4E. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Wide Golf Shoes 2026 | 3 Pairs in 4E, 3E and Wide Three 2026 golf shoes for wide feet, offered in 3E, 4E or wide widths. 【Nov 2026 Update】Beginner Golf Shoes: 3 Compared, From ¥15,950 Lace-Up Three spikeless pairs for your first golf shoes. Lace-up models start at ¥15,950. 【Nov 2026 Update】Mizuno NEO IMPACT Compared | 5 Models by Weight The 5 NEO IMPACT models differ in 3 ways: width, upper material and closure. The sole is shared. I also explain why to pick the NEXLITE ENERZY II if light weight is your priority. 【Nov 2026 Update】New Shafts 2026: The One a Hardcore Golfer Would Pick In September, the SPEEDER NX WHITE, TOUR AD EK and ATTAS RX PURE BLUE launched around the same time. Within a series, the lighter the shaft, the higher the torque. 【Nov 2026 Update】JADE SPEEDER Release Date and Specs | vs. NX FW A distance shaft, yet its torque is 5.6°. Pick by number and you end up 8–9g lighter than now, so to match weight, go up one number. 【Nov 2026 Update】SPEEDER BOOST BLACK vs. Standard: The Difference Is 1g The limited black version is just 1g lighter than the standard one. What matters more: the BOOST 60S is as soft as the NX GOLD 40R. 【Nov 2026 Update】Low-Launch, High-Spin Iron Shafts Makers classify it as "low launch = low spin." Yet in testing, a shaft in that class had the most spin of all 34. 【Nov 2026 Update】Shaft Flex S vs R | 47–82g Within the Same S Even within the same “S”, weights range from 47g to 82g. Flex labels have no common standard. Here's a step-by-step way to choose by the numbers. 【Nov 2026 Update】AutoFlex Shafts Compared: 4 Series and Who Each Fits Pick AutoFlex by the head-speed column, not the model name. Why a soft shaft doesn't have to cost ball speed, and how the 4 series differ. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Driver Shafts 2026 | 5 Ranked on Test Data Same head, same hitter. Only the shaft changed, and total distance moved by about 10 yards. I line up five on measured data. 【Nov 2026 Update】Is Your Club Causing the Duck Hook? Making the lie angle 0.75° more upright sends the ball about 2 yards left. A duck hook that misses 30 yards left is 15 times that. 【Nov 2026 Update】Early Extension Misses Right | Clubs Fix About 5 Yards When your hands rise 2cm, the lie angle plays about 3° flat. A club can only give back about 5 yards of the miss to the right. 【Nov 2026 Update】Does More Loft Reduce a Slice? Drop to 9° chasing distance and the slice only gets bigger. How loft relates to spin axis, and the order to fix things in. 【Nov 2026 Update】9° or 10.5° Driver? Attack Angle Decides Whether you need 9° or 10.5° comes down to attack angle, not head speed. If you can't measure it, buy 10.5° and turn it down with the sleeve. 【Nov 2026 Update】Can't Get Your Driver in the Air? At 38 m/s, carry peaks at a 14.5° launch angle. Check the tee, the strike and the loft, in that order. 【Nov 2026 Update】Lessons or New Clubs First? Fixing a ball that lands 30 yards right with equipment alone would mean bending the lie angle 21°. Here's the number I'd like you to measure before buying clubs. 【Nov 2026 Update】How to Choose a Golf School Even with the same “S”, weights run from 47g to 82g. Start lessons without knowing that gap and you'll get less out of your fees. The 4 numbers to measure before you enroll. 【Nov 2026 Update】Golf School Prices Compared Trial lessons alone range from ¥2,000 to ¥11,000. I converted three schools' official prices to a per-lesson cost and also listed who may not need lessons at all. 【Nov 2026 Update】How to Sell Golf Clubs for More Some buyers lower their quote by ¥1,000–3,000 just for missing accessories. The 3 things to record before selling, and how to gauge market value from used selling prices. 【Nov 2026 Update】TENSEI RIP+ vs VENTUS TR BLACK Both are ¥55,000. Compared in the 60g range, they differ by 5.5g in weight and 0.5° in torque. Whether an R flex is offered also splits who they suit. 【Nov 2026 Update】2026 D1 Ball vs Previous Model The maker says the new D1 goes 5.4 yards farther than the previous model. But the maker's direct price per dozen rose from ¥1,300 to ¥2,750. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Golf Balls for Distance Four distance balls lined up by construction and by price per ball. From about ¥2,400 a dozen. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Golf Balls | 5 Spin Balls, Ranked by What I Played and Price Five tour-type balls lined up by what I played and by price per ball. No. 1 is my everyday PRO V1. 【Nov 2026 Update】Beginner Golf Club Sets: 3 Compared From ¥42,790 Three beginner sets that come with a bag, lined up by club count, contents and price. From ¥42,790. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Slice Drivers: G440 K Cuts the Curve 8 to 5 Yards Three drivers built to fight a slice, ranked by the numbers. A used previous-gen model starts at ¥23,800. 【Nov 2026 Update】T//WORLD for the Queen: Rating and How to Choose Driver about 256g, 12.5°. The 7W and 4U are both 22°. I explain with numbers why the 7W is the one to pick if you choose just one. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Beginner Drivers 2026 Used prices for previous models, plus guidelines for loft, weight and shaft. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Used Drivers | 5 Ranked on Distance and Dispersion The rules cap how forgiving a driver can be. Some models two generations old already reach that cap, but fakes and hidden damage are worries only used clubs bring. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Used Irons, 5 Ranked | I Hit the No. 1 ZX5 Mk II: 163-yd 7-Iron Carry An iron that won a comparison test two years running can be found used. I lined up five by the numbers and separated the praise from the weak spots. 【Nov 2026 Update】Best Used Fairway Woods | 5 Ranked on Test Data A one-generation-old 3-wood carries 6 yards past a current top-ranked model. I lined up five by their distance and dispersion numbers. 【Nov 2026 Update】How to Read a Golf Club Spec Sheet Same 200g head, same 460cc. Yet the total weight differs by 32g. The numbers that matter for choosing sit outside the big print in the catalog. 【Nov 2026 Update】Bushnell Pinseeker A1 Slope Jolt Orange Impressions after about six rounds with a Pinseeker A1 Slope Jolt Orange (145 g), plus a weight comparison with the Marine and other Bushnell models. 【Nov 2026 Update】What Is a High-Rebound Driver? High rebound means a non-conforming club. Here are the limit, how to spot one and where you can use it, using official numbers for the PRGR SUPER egg. 【Nov 2026 Update】FineCaddie J2000 | 113g with Aiming Mode, ¥21,900 113g, ¥21,900. FineCaddie's 2026 model with Aiming Mode, club suggestions and three-point measuring. 【Nov 2026 Update】NINJOR GOLF NJ MINI | 121g OLED at ¥14,990, Stabilizer at 176g The NJ MINI OLED weighs 121g and costs ¥14,990. The stabilized Stabilizer model weighs 176g and costs ¥19,980. Weights sorted out model by model. 【Nov 2026 Update】SILLAID VM2 | Red/Green OLED at ¥19,980 with Tournament Mode Red/green OLED, ¥19,980. A rangefinder released in January 2025 at ¥31,980, looked at again at today's price. 【Nov 2026 Update】FineCaddie J12 VOICE RED | 105g, Voice Control, ¥22,900 105g, ¥22,900. FineCaddie's 2026 model with Voice Mode, which calls up functions by voice. 【Nov 2026 Update】How to Buy Japanese Golf Clubs From Outside Japan (2026) Four ways to buy Japanese clubs from abroad, compared: Rakuten forwarding, proxy buying, duty and warranty. 【Nov 2026 Update】Are the Clubs in Your Bag Really Right? Free Check Two of your 14 clubs cover the same distance, leaving a 20-yard gap. Just enter your lofts to find out. 【Nov 2026 Update】The Hardcore Golfer's Pick: Shafts I publish the 5 criteria a shaft must meet to be my pick. Applied to the official spec sheets, 4 shafts met them as of Sep 2026. I also explain why one didn't make the cut.