Agree with Golf Test USA list?

[tdaniels]

Have any of you guys ever checked out the Golf Test USA rating lists?

I checked it out earlier and felt that there were some quality clubs that didnt even make the list.

I was suprised to see that some, (what I would call "cheaper") brands made the lists.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

www.GolfTestUSA.com

[ezra76]

This is a biased study. Most of these manufacturers are paying to have their clubs on the test list. Notice the "Free Yonex" being offered at the top right. The competitive market for golf clubs is ridiculous. I would be willing to bet that if you took away all the sponserships on the PGA tour a lot of guys would switch clubs. Tiger would drop Nike in a heartbeat.

[tdaniels]

Are there any reliable lists anyone can direct me to?

I have found and read numerous user submitted reviews but am looking for more of a rated list created by a single test group. Much like Golf Test USA. I agree with Ezra though, and dont trust the validity of their testing.

[emc]

Rankmark.com do independent tests of all clubs if you want.

[Augster]

Not to cap on a website or anything, but I don't get those rankings at all.

In that ranking chart, they don't say what shaft was used.

And, especially with drivers, distance is key. Feel is subjective, and also a result of the shaft that they don't tell you about, Look is subjective.

Distance is not subjective. Either you hit it further than another driver, or you don't. But with this chart, the "longest" driver gets an 8.6 rating while the "shortest" driver gets an 8.3. Huh? Carry yardages would have been nice. Even if they were carry yardages from a launch monitor.

At least with that info, and 25 different people hitting the same drivers, after it was said and done, you'd KNOW which drivers averaged the longest.

But even that would be skewed. Give a 983K with the NV-85XS to a 22 year old 3 handicap bomber and he'll hit it 320. Give the exact SAME driver to a 60-year old 20 handicapper that is short and straight with a good short game, and he might not get the thing airborne.

This will KILL the 983K's carry average.

Then the Launcher 460 comes out with a 44-inch Senior flex. The 60 year old piss-pounds it about 225. The 3 handicap 22 year old is still going to hit that 280+, albeit most of it straight up.

Conclusion, the Launcher 460 is longer than the 983K. Terrible.

I don't think you can do any real distance tests with people unless you have the facilities to allow each tester to test each clubhead with the EXACT same shaft they use in their own driver at the exact same length. Then you could actually test.

Since that kind of testing would be an absolute nightmare to do, I think the only way you can test to see which clubhead is "longest" is to test each clubhead with an iron byron through a series of shaft flexes.

Having the best club rated at 8.6 and the worst rated at 8.3 in distance tells me absolutely nothing. Is that .3 yards longer? 5 yards? 50 yards???? Worthless.

YMMV