I love the smell of jargon on the course
Pierre from Fernie, B.C. asks:
When choosing clubs, is the Maltby Playability Factor helpful or hogwash? What does the Golf Gal think?
The Golf Gal appreciates technical-sounding challenges. For those who wonder, go to Ralph Maltby’s website at: www.ralphmaltby.com.
The Maltby Playability Factor is a method devised by Ralph Maltby—a vastly experienced golf equipment designer—for classifying clubs into six categories. Here’s what it says on the site: “Certain mass and dimensional qualities along with a mathematical computation determine this playability factor and rate each iron into one of six different categories.”
Based on this information, Golf Gal says:
Helpful—but consider a few things: While extensive, the MPF does not consider many factors, such as “sole bounce, proper loft angle, proper lie angle, face grooves, sole width, offsets, face progressions, head weight, swing weight, club length and the golf shaft. Playability factor also does not take into account how different swings can bring the club head into impact on different planes, arcs and angles and how the ball is affected regarding launch angle, backspin and feel back to the golfer”—and this is stated directly on the website. Also, the MPF is dependent on an honest self-evaluation of ability. As a former ski shop girl who set the DIN binding release on rental skis, I have seen nervous, excited tourists off a bus from Toronto—wearing sweatpants—evaluate themselves as expert skiers. I erred on the side of caution and set their binding release slightly low. I am sure this trait of human nature carries over into golf.
Aside from that caveat, choosing clubs from the MPF category that suits you is easy. As long as you are in the care of a professional golf club fitter and have your swing properly analyzed, adding in the MPF to your selection criteria is great. The MPF will narrow your search and steer you to a better-suited club—provided you know what kind of golfer you are. Finally, I condone any practice that gives athletes a mental edge—even if it means delving into the minutiae of physics.