Golf Club Testing Methodology
The primary goal of our testing process is to produce accurate and unbiased test results that the golfing consumer can depend upon. To do so, we provide golfers with a suitable environment to test and rate golf clubs that is free of influence from manufacturers. Testers record their findings and we report them to you on Rankmark.com
TeSt Frequency and Location
We hold most of the monthly tests in California, but we do conduct tests throughout the United States. We also provide specialty testing (for a fee) to companies wishing to derive specific criteria for their own R&D use.
About the Testers (Rankmarkers)
We know that everyone’s swing is different. In order to provide results that reflect different swing types, we use a variety of testers. We do not allow professional golfers to test, nor do we allow anyone associated with golf equipment manufacturers to test.
For EVERY test, we have;
- Men’s High Handicappers (with a handicap of over 10)
- Men’s Low Handicappers (with a handicap of under 10)
- Seniors’ (with an age over 50)
- Women
We then collate and report the results via Rankmark.com at NO cost to you.
When a golfer comes to a test, we ask them for their age, handicap and other information. They are then escorted to one of ten club s
tations that have on average, 3 different manufacturer’s equipment in the bag. They are then provided with a brief explanation of how to mark their test sheet. The testers must test ALL the equipment or the test is incomplete and not used in the calculation of the results. In very rare occasions we will use incomplete tests to determine tie breakers, but only as a last resort.
Club Submission Criteria
We spend a great deal of time, effort and money to ensure that the tests are fair and accurate.
We recognize that the USGA develops and enforces equipment specifications for the betterment of the game. Therefore, we only test USGA compliant products.
We understand that testers come to the events with preconceived notions about certain brands. To that end, we gather products to be tested from as many manufacturers as possible.
We do not charge manufacturers to test product. This allows the smaller equipment makers the opportunity to have their product lines tested against the “biggies” to see how they compare.
Testing Process
Depending upon the club being tested, we ask golfers to provide ratings in four primary categories. For example; during the February 2009 driver test, we asked testers to rate the clubs on LOOK, FEEL, ACCURACY and DISTANCE. The Rankmarkers score each club on their personal score sheet on a scale from 1 to 5; 1 being the worst, 5 being the best.
By using the 1 to 5 rating system in four primary categories, we allow the tester to rate the club from multiple angles. For example a tester may NOT like the look of a club, and they rate it a 1, however, when they hit the club, it feels perfect, therefore they rate it a 5. The tester then mishits a shot, but it still goes straight, they rate it a 5 for accuracy. The next shot doesn’t go as far but they did make very solid contact with the ball in the center of the face, so they rank the distance a 3.
The clubs to be tested are in golf bags made by a bag manufacturer that does not make clubs. There are no manufacturers ads present on, or near the range.
The testers warm up and begin. As they go from station to station they hit the clubs and rate them. We typically ask golfers to hit the club at least 5 times, however, some can almost immediately tell that the club does not work with their swing, and therefore they may hit it less. Other clubs are hit considerably more, often to make sure the really are performing as well as they are. We encourage golfers to hit the clubs as many times as they need to effectively determine the correct rating (good or bad). In other words, testers are not hurried along to keep up with the other testers.
Afterwards, with the assistance one or more PGA professionals, we enter all the data to determine the results. In addition to an overall winner, we also determine the winners in 20 additional categories. The reason that we have so many categories is simple. We want to provide you with the best information to make a decision (or confirm one that you have already made) about the equipment that you plan to purchase.
For example, we report test results above and below an average price point for the product being tested. Sometimes a $200 product tests better than a $500 one…
Test Criteria
Below, please find the list of almost twenty categories that we report for each test;
- Overall
- Look
- Feel
- Accuracy
- Distance
- Under a certain MSRP (Manufactures Suggested Retail Price)
- Over a certain MSRP
- Men's High Handicap
- Men's High Handicap Under a certain MSRP
- Men's High Handicamp Over a certain MSRP
- Men's Low Handicap
- Men's Low Handicap Under a certain MSRP
- Men's High Handicap Over a certain MSRP
- Senior's
- Senior's Under a certain MSRP
- Senior's Over a certain MSRP
- Women's
- Women's Under a certain MSRP
- Women's Over a certain MSRP
Another aspect of the test is how many places we publish when we report the results. For most tests, we publish the top 3, 
including ties. However, we found that for certain tests like Drivers and Putters, there are so many more choices for a golfer to consider, we offer the top five.
Again, we want the tests to be fair, as you may appreciate, coordinating the delivery of clubs from the manufacturers with the same loft or shaft flexes can be a significant undertaking.
We then need to attract golfer’s from all walks of life and different skill levels to make the test fair. Conducting an unbiased test is also no easy feat! The calculations also take days of strenuous work that must be exact. Finally, we prepare the results to be published… It’s a labor of love, but we really want to give you the best product we can.
Summary
A final thought about the test. We know that trying to determine look, feel or almost any criteria for that matter is very subjective. We also know first hand that you can’t please everybody all the time. We do feel however, that we provide an accurate and informative product to the golfing community. We remain open to your suggestions and comments. We appreciate you visiting Rankmark.com.
