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Forgiveness vs. Precision

• HoleItSucker 53 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 5:29 AM

  I'm saving up credits for club purchases. I'm a cheapskate, so my goal is to buy a set that will never require that I purchase meter balls. 

  I'm curious about the correlation between precision, forgiveness and meter speed. For example, the TM RSi2 clubs have a 5/3/3 split, while the MAX Meter (94+) have a 4/4/4/ split. 

  My impression is that, while the TM's are certainly more accurate, that accuracy won't be worth much if the faster meter and lower forgiveness will screw me over anytime I don't ding my shots. 

  On the other hand, the MAX Meter clubs seem like a ding would be much more likely because of the slower meter speed and that, if I missed the meter, the forgiveness score would get me closer to the pin.

  I've always been curious about club forgiveness because of my current old-school club set, which has awful forgiveness ratings on my driver (2.5), 3W (2.0), irons (2.0) and putter (2.0). After tanking approach shots and drives just because I was a hair off, I'm weary of having the gates of heaven shut because of my minor infractions.

  What say you? 

   

• phred952 2,714 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 11:44 AM

  I'm not being a jerk when I say this, but use the search box.  I recall seeing some good threads that describe how precision and forgiveness work.  But I can't tell you accurately enough to do justice to the info.  I recall one of the best threads was by Andyson I think, with some pictures showing shot deviation.  

  Hope this hekps a bit.

  phred952

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 12:22 PM

  SGTBilko did a great job explaining both here. 

  FWIW, I wouldn't live or die by the ding, smart missing is very effective. Smart missing is missing on the wind side of the ding and the lesser expensive balls let you get away with it. I thought the level 33 Callaway did an exceptional job playing this way but if you want to keep the cost down, the Tour-SD is a great value and also plays well this way.

• phred952 2,714 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 12:33 PM

  YankeeJim:

  SGTBilko did a great job explaining both here. 

  FWIW, I wouldn't live or die by the ding, smart missing is very effective. Smart missing is missing on the wind side of the ding and the lesser expensive balls let you get away with it. I thought the level 33 Callaway did an exceptional job playing this way but if you want to keep the cost down, the Tour-SD is a great value and also plays well this way.

  That was the link I was thinkg about Jim.  Thanks for finding it.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 1:18 PM

  phred952:

  That was the link I was thinkg about Jim.  Thanks for finding it.

  Heh, got tired of looking for it a long time ago and finally bookmarked it. Such a good explanation.

• skccvb 799 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 2:34 PM

  Interesting technical analysis (Bilko), yes, but not necessarily correct. 

  To simplify, there are 4 main factors in your shot:

  - Your math is correct (ie distance), including wind, and your aiming point is also correct:

  -If you ding, precision means your shot should end up with a makeable birdie putt, or even a tap in, the more precision, the more likely (these) will occur. This assumes an approach to green in "regulation".

  -If you miss the ding, all other things being equal, higher forgiveness clubs will have more tendency to forgive your missing the ding, ie less movement left or right, less loss of distance. If you intentionally "off ding" a shot, forgiveness becomes even more important, and your calculations need to be adjusted re: aim/distance.

  -Then there is VEM, which randomly as well as according to WGT's algorithms, will affect shots creating the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot effect (also known as WTF?). 

   

   

• 11BC2 555 Posts

  Mon, May 22 2017 2:46 PM

  YankeeJim:

  Heh, got tired of looking for it a long time ago and finally bookmarked it. Such a good explanation.

  Exactly Correct. ;)