Question

3.25K viewsAugust 7, 2017

Hatch 2 August 7, 2017 0 Comments

I understand MPF is a “guide” to selecting the correct irons. How would a single handicap utilize the MPF to select an iron? It seems most of the dimensions used for MPF are to help with getting the ball airborne. I don’t require any more height even with long/mid irons so would I still look for a specific MPF rating range? I currently use a MB iron with a 335 rating. It seems from reading that I would benefit with a higher rated iron (450-550 minimum according to the MPF article). Would it be better to look specifically at MOI and Horizontal CG placement or MPF as a whole?

Thanks for any clarification.

3 Answers

Answer 1 · 2017-08-07T13:37:44+00:00

I understand your question quite well, Hatch, since my shots get plenty of loft, so it’s been something I’ve personally studied a bit. The higher MPF helps every ball-striker, and it’s as much about better results with off-center strikes as with loft. You can have a high MPF on an iron head that will still give you a lower launch. The three most important factors to determine launch are clubhead loft, CG, and shaft stiffness, and in that order. So in looking to get a lower launching iron, be sure to do a loft comparison first, as all irons do not have the same lofts. Then check the vertical center of gravity. For example, I love the TE Forged irons, but the CG is .675 and MPF is 788 whereas the new STi OS has a CG of .806 with a slightly higher MPF of 814! It also has stronger loft angles than the TE Forged. I’ve built sets of each for myself and I can launch the STi OS lower than the TE Forged. Here’s the listing of the MPF of the Maltby designs – https://www.golfworks.com/images/art/MPF_MALTBY.pdf.

Hope this helps you! Michael

Michael, Thanks for the info. So when selecting an iron do you just go with looks as long as the MPF is above a certain limit? In my reading, it looks like I should be using MPF to help me select a set of irons. Obviously looks/feel and things of that sort factor into a decision. However, I’m trying to learn how MPF is used to help a low-handicap player select an iron. For instance, I’m familiar with the Titleist 716 line. I own the T-MB and MB and their MPF is 458/335 respectively. But from an MPF only standpoint I should be playing the AP1 which has the highest MPF of the line (737)? I’m just not understanding how to use MPF. If I switch from the MB at 335 to the Maltby MMB-17 at 714 technically I should see significantly better ball striking due to a better/optimized CoG? I could order a higher MPF club to test but I’m asking from the standpoint of understanding the method.
-Thanks, nice discussion!

Answer 2 · 2017-08-14T14:19:47+00:00

Hatch, a solid shot with any club will produce similar results. It’s the off center strike where we all could use some help, scratch players included. Why? Because even scratch golfers occasionally hit shots slightly thin, or on the toe, or even a little fat. Higher MPF makes the results of those shots much better than those with a low MPF. For example, if a player hits a solid 7 iron 165 yards, a mis-hit on the toe might only go 150 and to the right 15 yards with a 716 MB. With an AP1, it’d probably fly 158 and only 8 yards to the right. This is just to give you an idea of how higher MPF can help. (It’s the same with putting. If you never miss the sweet spot, you can putt great with an old Acushnet bullseye blade.) One other thing. Most better ball-strikers don’t want or need a lot of offset, and many higher MPF clubs have a fair amount of offset. The Maltby DBM, TE Forged, the MMB-17 and the KE4 Forged all have a minimal amount of offset but still have high MPF. You cannot go wrong with any of those, and the KE4 Forged set is at an unbelievable price. I’d get a set before they’re gone. Here’s the link: https://www.golfworks.com/maltby-ke4-iron-head-set-4-pw-gw/p/MA0218S/

Yep, I understand how a higher MPF can help your off-center shots. Specifically, I’m looking for how to use the MPF ratings as a guide.
http://ralphmaltby.com/what-is-mpf/
“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).”
How do I actually use the info? Should I simply play the highest MPF iron I can get my hands on? Should I look at a particular category based on my handicap? I don’t understand how to use MPF to aid me in trying clubs best suited for my game.
-Thanks

Answer 3 · 2017-08-15T11:32:34+00:00

Interesting discussion Hatch. I’ve always understood the MPF as a ratio of ability. If you like the appearance of a forged club you can choose a head based upon your ability. There are forged clubs within that MPF that athestically appeal to most. As a golfers ability decreases a bit you may want to move to a higher MPF and the selection of heads in that MPF range. Do you like a thicker top line, or thin. Are you a sweeper or a digger. Does a larger head appeal to you, or do you favor a smaller head. I’ve moved from a forged MMB to a KE because I’m a sweeper and I want the weight adjustability. I like a smaller head and I’ve found a head with feel, that isn’t that huge. There’s some excellent Maltby articles which you’ve read. There’s an excellent article on COG which I believe all Maltby heads are based upon. Good luck in your search and experimentation.

Woody, I agree with your concept. It would seem to go as far up the list with the MPF as you can while still finding a club head you like the look, feel, offset, etc of. I’ll take a look at the CoG article. I don’t think I’ve read that one.

Cheers