What is the difference in metals and is the playability noticeable between the KE4 Pro adjustable 455HS face material and the KE4 TC IST non-adjustable forged 17-4 face?
Britt Lindsey Answered question
What is the difference in metals and is the playability noticeable between the KE4 Pro adjustable 455HS face material and the KE4 TC IST non-adjustable forged 17-4 face?
Apologies for the delay in responding. I think Jim wanted me to answer this one and I have been out of the office.
In short, when the face is made of 455 HS miraging steel, we can make the face thinner. In theory this allows for a little more face deflection at impact that can result in less energy loss from ball compression, thus increasing distance. Generally, and based on testing on this over the years, this benefit only results in fractional ball speed increases in fairway woods for players with higher clubhead speeds. An additional benefit though of using the thinner HS steel in the face, which is also lighter, is that it gives us a little more weight to move to improve stability.
All that being said, one thing to remember is the higher the loft the less of an impact any of the face deflection can have on increasing ball speed. More loft, less of a direct hit, so less deflection. Also, even when the face is made of 17-4 stainless, which is a strong stainless, we are able to maintain a pretty thin dimension as well. Not as thin as HS steel, but still adequate for high performance.
For players with average to slower swing speeds I would say it would be difficult to find any performance difference related to increasing ball speed. Higher swing speed players might see fractional increases on center hits on the lower lofted fairways.
I don’t want to undersell the aspect of HS steel in the faces because we like the benefits it can provide. Just want to put into the proper perspective for what you might expect when comparing the two.
Britt Lindsey
Thanks for the insight. I’m in 90 mph swing speed with a driver so I’m in the middle of the road or on the lower end so from what I’m reading. Therefore the difference between either of the new fairway woods would be negligible for me.
Was my question too technical in nature to have answered? To make it easier I’ll ask – why is there a difference in face materials between the two new Fairway woods?