How PXG’s Black Ops drivers fared in latest round of robot testing

For the 2024 version of GOLF’s ClubTest, we as soon as once more teamed up with Golf Laboratories for robotic driver testing. With the assistance of their swing robot, we’re capable of get a greater image of how every driver performs on the identical velocity (95 mph), supply and assault angle in a 9-point face mapping take a look at. The finish result’s an unbiased (and intensely detailed) have a look at the place every driver mannequin excels.

We proceed with robotic insights on PXG’s all-new Black Ops drivers. Pick up all of your PXG gear at Fairway Jockey.

MORE FROM OUR 2024 CLUBTEST COVERAGE: PXG’s Black Ops drivers, fairway woods and hybrids: Everything it’s good to know | How PXG’s new Black Ops woods added confidence and management

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Testing each mannequin in all accessible lofts makes it attainable to see if particular combos are a greater match when the robot is swinging at 95 mph. In this occasion, the ten.5-degree Black Ops stood out from the pack in a number of key areas.

Let’s begin with an important attribute: high-toe misses. Under Golf Laboratories’ testing parameters, the ten.5-degree head misplaced 0.3 yards on high-toe impression — one of the tightest mishit carry distance deltas (to geometric heart strikes) we noticed on the swing robot.

On the flip facet, the 9-degree head noticed the carry delta soar above 10 yards on the identical 95 mph swing velocity. The numbers reinforce the significance of getting match to your driver to optimize launch, spin and mishit safety.

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In addition to incomes excessive marks for high-toe misses, the ten.5-degree head gained 0.6 yards on high-center misses. It’s value declaring that a number of drivers we examined noticed distance will increase on mishits, with Black Ops being one of them, so this isn’t an anomaly. (The 10.5-degree head had a 5-yard distance delta on toe strikes throughout all three areas, so it’s a terrific choice to check if you happen to reside in that space of the face.)

Before a couple of years in the past, mishits penalized golfers with suboptimal launch, spin and carry numbers. Now we’re seeing a number of fashions produce higher efficiency traits on widespread misses. Welcome to the brand new frontier of driver design.

Low spin bombs

Reducing spin is one option to enhance distance with out making wholesale swing modifications. In most circumstances, turning down the loft sleeve with a wrench can get you there. Or you possibly can monitor down a driver with built-in low spin traits.

If you’re simply beginning the seek for a low-spin driver, PXG’s Black Ops and Black Ops Tour deserve testing consideration after they produced some of the bottom launch and spin numbers we noticed on the swing robot.

The 10.5-degree heads alone produced a mean spin price of 2,500 RPMs with a 10-degree launch angle, which was wherever from 300-500 RPMs and 1-1.5 levels decrease launching and spinning than different manufacturers.

The 8- and 9-degree heads registered even decrease launch and spin numbers at 8.8 levels and a pair of,000 RPMs. Those numbers are good if you happen to hit it out of the center constantly, however a excessive toe goes to knuckle in a giant method if you happen to’re already sitting at 2,000 RPMs. It’s meals for thought in the course of the driver testing course of.

Small circle

Black Ops and Black Ops Tour each completed inside the highest 5 in dispersion, which means you possibly can play the usual or low-spin head and see constant numbers throughout the whole face.

The Black Ops produced a dispersion of 7 yards, whereas the Black Ops Tour got here in at 9.8 yards. It’s additional affirmation that the swap from T-412 Titanium to a brand new Advanced Material Face (AMF) is already paying off in a giant method.

With PXG bumping the worth of its latest driver line to $600, many golfers have questioned aloud if the expertise is well worth the enhance. Based on the dispersion numbers alone, it’s clear PXG has issues trending in the precise course with Black Ops.

Want to overtake your bag for 2024? Find a becoming location close to you at GOLF’s affiliate firm True Spec Golf.

Jonathan Wall

Golf.com Editor

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to becoming a member of the employees on the finish of 2018, he spent 6 years masking tools for the PGA Tour. He could be reached at jonathan.wall@golf.com.