The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

First and foremost, the playability factor should be recognized as a “guide” to either selecting or understanding why a golf iron plays the way it does.

MPF makes it easier to choose the right clubs for you.

Golf is, for many people, a difficult game. It is a game that entices hundreds of thousands of people a year to take up the game and it is a game that loses about the same amount of people every year. Besides this fact, new, existing or potential golfers need to wade through all of the equipment hype and also what other people or the ever-knowledgeable golfing buddy is recommending. If only there was a way for the golfer to avoid buying and playing with the wrong equipment. A simple guide that would aid the golfer and provide multiple choices to try golf clubs best suited to his or her style of play. There is a solution: the Maltby Playability Factor (MPF).

MPF is based on dimensional and mass properties of iron heads. In addition, the playability factor utilizes two mathematically based tables to adjust the playability factor. This adjustment can either improve or reduce the playability factor. The adjustments are based on dimensional and mass properties that either fall outside accepted parameters or enhance accepted parameters.

MPF is broken down into 6 categories. The categories range from the easiest, most forgiving clubs made today (Ultra Game Improvement) to extremely difficult to hit clubs that only very accomplished players should attempt to use (Player Classic). The 6 categories are explained in a chart (see figure 1) that is easy to use and allows the player to honestly look at his or her game and make a decision. The final result of this simple, easy to use process is a satisfied golfer, playing with the correct equipment, who finds this game much easier to play and certainly more enjoyable.

Click here to get Ralph’s Insider Emails

Back to Article Discussions

Article Discussion

  • 10:18AM - Jul 6, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #12
    Report This

    Scott, the “C” dimension on the Toski T-55 irons is 1.332”.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 12:16AM - Jul 6, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #11
    Report This

    • Scott

    • Scott
    • Guest

    Ralph, what is the “C” Dim measurement for the T-55 iron?

    Thanks

    Respond

    Quote

  • 11:15AM - May 24, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #10
    Report This

    Paul, they were not taken off the list. The MPF listing on this site is the newest clubs since my book was published. The book still has over 350 listings going back to the 1950’s in some cases. I am going to put the MPF listings from the book on this site also, just have not done it yet. Hopefully in the next couple weeks? The I-3 Ping Blade is 546 points (MPF) and in the “Conventional ” category. The I-3 Plus is 578 points and in the “Game Improvemnet” category. Consider the playability the same on these two irons as the points are too close for anyone to see a difference. They just happen to fall on either side of two different categories.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 6:13PM - May 23, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #9
    Report This

    • Paul V.

    • Paul V.
    • Guest

    I was just reviewing the MPF irons ratings and I saw that my Ping i3 blades were taken off of the list for 2007. Can you tell me what the MPF factor was for my older Pings?

    Respond

    Quote

  • 10:27AM - Apr 5, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #8
    Report This

    Paul, I don’t know much about you or your swing but here goes: One of the highest playability forged irons on the market is the Maltby MTF iron. It was renamed this year and it’s older designation was the Maltby M-05. These are true forged irons and not form forged. This is the model that Ed Sneed currently plays and most good players at the GolfWorks. It sounds like you and I are similar in age, swingspeed and distance, only I hit it very straight. I played the M-05’s(MTF) for three years. Get a GolfWorks catalog and work through your shaft MPF using our chart. Order only the #6 iron in your specs (we build it or you can build it). Hit it and compare to your old clubs to see if you really like it. You can also hit it at your nearest Golf Galaxy store. I really like the TX-90 shaft (very light steel) and for you “S” flex. This shaft hits it very straight. There are a number of other great clubs out there but when you limit me to forged, I recommend our models. However, be sure to hit other manufacturers forgings for a comparison and you decide.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 11:18AM - Apr 4, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #7
    Report This

    • paul berko

    • paul berko
    • Guest

    I have cobra irons 2006 stiff graphite shafts. very inconsistant Iam 65 years old but stilldrive the ball from 235yds to 265 if Ihit it on the sweey spot. In addition for 35-40 years I only played with forged irons. Can you recommend aforged iron and shaftfor me my swing speed with my present irons 85-88 mph.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:13PM - Apr 2, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #6
    Report This

    Hai, we have not talked about doing this. Our product meetings for 2008 start in a week or so and I will bring this up with Britt Lindsey. Britt is on the design team and also puts out our catalog and makes sure we don’t have too many models at one time. You do have a good idea however.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 5:42PM - Mar 30, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #5
    Report This

    • Hai D.

    • Hai D.
    • Guest

    Raph,

    Love the new look on the MMB, MCC, MTF, great job! I love being able to mix and match any combination of those 3 heads. I also love the Toski T-54 in the Polish Satin, do you have any plan to do a version of this in a cavity back so that I can build a combo set, especially CB in the long iron?

    Respond

    Quote

  • 4:57PM - Mar 21, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #4
    Report This

    Kenny K, the Slingshot is 612 points and the OSS is 669 points. Both are about the same in MPF playability and fall into the Game Improvement catergory. Both of these irons have their horizontal centers of gravity over 1/8” into the heel vs. the face center thus hurting the MPF rating. Keep in mind that this rating is not telling you that these irons are in any way bad. As a matter of fact as a better player, I hit them very well. What it is telling you, is if you do not have the ability to hit the ball consistently in the heel area and you hit it in a larger area or toward the toe when you miss hit it, that a higher MPF rated iron with the center of gravity in the middle of the face will be more forgiving and easier to play with.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 1:26PM - Mar 21, 2007RE: The Maltby Playability Factor for Irons

    #3
    Report This

    • kenny k

    • kenny k
    • Guest

    I was looking thru your book giving the MPF #’s and I was suprised by how low the Nike slingshoots rated. Has the number increased much on the new OSS style? THANKS

    Respond

    Quote

  • 1
  • 2

Post Comment