Manufacturer specifications, independent testing across the market, and long-term owner feedback. First-party notes only when we actually have them.
Methodology
How GolfTested reviews gear
How we source, label, and score golf gear so you can tell expert consensus from a first-party test before you buy.
Our 8-Metric Rubric
Every review uses the same fixed scorecard so comparisons are meaningful. Scores are 0–10. We prioritize independent data over marketing claims.
Distance
Carry + total yards normalized to tester pool. Big factor for drivers and balls.
Forgiveness
Dispersion and ball-speed retention on mishits. Critical for irons, drivers, and high-handicap gear.
Accuracy
Dispersion, shot shape control, and playable miss percentage. Key for launch monitors and clubs.
Feel
Impact sensation, sound, and feedback. Heavily weighted for putters, irons, and premium gear.
Ease of Use
Setup time, learning curve, app/hardware friction. Dominant for simulators, launch monitors, and training aids.
Value
Performance per dollar. Adjusted for real street price and what competitors offer at similar cost.
Build
Durability, materials, fit/finish, warranty support. Matters for bags, mats, nets, and clubs.
Software / Data
App quality, data richness, subscription value, and ecosystem. Primary for launch monitors and tech.
Sources & Process
Most GolfTested reviews are Expert Consensus: we read across the whole market before we score anything, then tell you what that evidence adds up to for your game. Each review draws on:
- Manufacturer specifications — the official design, materials, lofts, and settings, linked on the review
- Independent testing across the market — launch-monitor, robot, and on-course testing from respected golf equipment reviewers, weighed together so no single test decides a score
- Long-term owner feedback — recurring praise and complaints, not a single loud review
- The closest alternatives — every product is judged against what else the same money buys
- Price — brand-direct prices are shown with the date we checked them; Amazon prices are never displayed, so check the listing for today's price
We never present another publication's measurements as our own lab data, and when independent tests disagree we say so in plain English. Scores are editorial 0–10 scorecards, and every review includes honest cons and who should skip the product.
Why market-wide evidence
Nobody needs one more opinion on a driver. What most golfers lack is a clear read on what the whole body of evidence says — and whether it applies to their swing, budget, and bag. That is the job of an Expert Consensus review.
When we receive a product for direct testing we will re-test on-course and with launch monitor data, update the review with "GolfTested Lab Tested" notes, and adjust scores if the data warrants it. No brand ever sees or influences scores before publication.
The 4-step process (always)
Products are checked against direct competitors and realistic budgets using the same rubric.
Category-specific scorecards (the 8 metrics above) make strengths and weaknesses visible and comparable.
Every review ends with who it is best for, who should skip it, and clear value guidance.
Full details live in our internal rating criteria, adapted for golf and updated as our direct testing program grows. Questions? Reach out via the site or our affiliate contacts.