Launch is 90 % related to the loft of the iron. The actual vertical cg is the other key factor, with the rearward cg being a minor factor as well. With that being said, I would say that even though the KE4 MAX has a stock loft that is 1 degree stronger than the standard loft of the Ai Smoke HL, it’s design could provide a similar launch conditions. I think if we custom bent the lofts to 1 degree weaker it could match very close to the Callaway launch condition. The TS3 with 1 degree more loft and a lower actual vertical cg than the Smoke HL should also provide a similar trajectory or higher. I would say the TS3 is the more traditional looking profile, if that matters.
Britt Lindsey
The Callaway Ai Smoke HL came out to be 766 MPF points in our Maltby Playability Factor (I just measured them), so that puts them in the Super Game Improvement category or our MPF. That may not mean anything to you if you are not familiar with the MPF. We do not design products to “compare” to others, as I have said before. That being said, you might look at our TS2 model, which is also a Super Game Improvement model (727 MPF rating) and has similar loft specs. Our newer TS3 is an Ultra Game Improvement design (849 MPF points) and would be worth looking at. It is 1 degree weaker in the loft specs, so keep that in mind. Also, our KE4 MAX irons is an Ultra Game Improvement design (959 MPF points) and is 1 degree stronger in loft). Both the TS3 and KE4 MAX should be slightly more forgiving, and the TS2 would be very similar in that aspect to the AI Smoke HL. All of ours have totally different looks, so cosmetically they would not be similar.
Britt Lindsey
Thank you, I appreciate all of the info you have provided. Are any of those Maltby heads geared toward a higher launch? That was what I really liked about the Callaways. I’m looking for similar characteristics, cosmetics don’t really matter much to me.
This is really helping me narrow down my choice, thank you. So, the TS3 7-iron is 32 degrees, and the Callaway I hit is 30 degrees. I was fitted for 1 inch longer, and oversize grips. If I order the TS3 and go -2 on the loft that would make it right on with the Callaway and SHOULD give me comparable launch and ball flight, right? I just want to make sure that whatever I order will be as close as possible to what I was fitted for. Thanks!