Ping vs Callaway vs Taylormade – Who Makes The Best Golf Clubs

The game of golf has come a long way over the last couple decades. It has become more accessible, more marketable and has thus attracted a larger fan base.

In short, more people than ever before are picking up their first golf clubs and discovering the sport for themselves.

This is great for golf enthusiasts in general but this gaining popularity is something of a double-edged sword for those trying to choose a set of clubs. More club manufacturers are emerging as major players in the industry.

So much so that you may be asking yourself, “who makes the best golf clubs?” While the answer to that question will depend on many factors, in the following article we will be stacking 3 major golf club companies against each other so you can compare them for yourself.

 

Overview Of Each Brand

Believe it or not, Ping is actually the oldest of the three companies.

Although it seems like they have only gained notoriety in recent decades, the Ping company was actually founded in1959 by a former General Electric engineer. Today, players like Bubba Watson, Tony Finau and Cameron Champ play Ping clubs.

Taylormade is the second oldest of these three companies having been founded in 1982.

Taylormade’s bug claim to fame is that they actually invented the metalwood and started the revolution of using primarily metal material in traditionally wood clubs.

Callaway is the relatively new kid on the block though you wouldn’t know it based on their short but incredibly prestigious track record.

The Callaway pro team boasts some of the highest-profile names in the game like Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm.

 

Best Irons Of – Ping Vs Callaway Vs Taylormade

The debate as to which of these 3 companies makes the best golf clubs rages on. For most people though, it’s a matter of individual clubs.

For example, some people feel that Taylormade makes the best drivers by far. Other people say that Callaway is the best company for irons.

Fans of Ping argue that they make the best game-improvement clubs overall.

So in this next section we are going to be taking a look at comparable irons from each of these companies to see how they really stack up against one another.

 

Ping G710 – Best Ping Irons Overall

Selling Points:

• Maraging steel face
• Hydropearl finish
• Standard Arccos Smart Caddie grips

Key Features:

You have to play these irons to believe them. By far the best thing about them is the aerospace grade alloy that they use for the face.

The maraging steel used for the G710’s is outfitted with variable face thickness – keeping with Ping’s reputation for making high-end game-improvement clubs.

The face reacts instantly and sends the ball flying high and far.

The machined miraging steel gives these irons a feel like none other – smooth, responsive and with all the feedback you could want.

The body is composed of 17-4 stainless steel and there is a tungsten toe screw and a heel weight to increase MOI.

 

Performance: 94/100

Feel: 96/100

Accuracy: 92/100

Forgiveness: 93/100

Distance: 95/100

Value: 93/100

 

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Taylormade SIM 2 Max

Selling Points:

• Cap back design
• Speed Pocket
• Echo dampening technology

Key Features:

Remember near the top of the article when we were talking about Taylormade being an innovative company?

The quality is put on full display with the SIM 2 Max irons. The SIM 2 Max’s are jam-packed with new and unique technology.

First of all, Taylormade put a spin on the old cavity back design. The SIM 2 Max irons have a hybrid cavity-back design with a special “cap” or badge in the rear that is made of different materials and helps stabilize the head – sort of like the old Speed Bridge brace.

The cap back shallows out the cavity but it increases feel and forgiveness. The SIM 2 Max irons also feature the famed Speed Pocket that is essentially a cavity bored along the inside of the face to allow it flex more at point of impact.

The Echo dampening system now runs from the toe to the heel thanks in part to the hollow body design of the SIM 2 Max irons. This allows for a softer, less harsh feel on full swings.

 

Performance: 97/100

Accuracy: 93/100

Feel: 92/100

Forgiveness: 95/100

Distance: 96/100

Value: 92/100

Overall Rating: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

 

Callaway Apex DCB

Selling Points:

• Fully forged body
• Flash face cup design
• Wide sole

Key Features:

The Callaway Apex DCB irons were meant to give higher handicap players the same quality iron experience as more skilled players.

They are fully forged from 1025 carbon steel and packed with the urethane “microspheres” that Callaway has become known for.

As you might imagine, all this amounts to an incredible feeling set of irons. The Apex DCB’s in particular have enlarged heads and a wide sole too. These are congenial features for high to mid handicappers.

It basically means you will have more of a sweet spot to work with and that your turf interaction will go, at the risk of sounding cheesy, smoothly.

Performance: 95/100

Accuracy: 94/100

Feel: 92/100

Forgiveness: 95/100

Distance: 94/100

Value: 91/100

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Best Overall Driver: Ping vs Taylormade vs Callaway

There are a lot of qualifying factors for “the best golf club manufacturer.”

Therefore, the best approach  to determining  which company makes the best clubs would be a segmented one.

We will start with the drivers. Which company makes the best overall driver in 2021? That would be….

 

Taylormade – SIM 2 Driver

The SIM 2 driver is just the perfect example of the innovation that has made Taylormade a household name in golf.

The elongated sole panel that stretches out behind the head creates so much head speed and distance, it’s ridiculous.

There are other drivers that are more accurate but the sheer distance of the SIM 2 driver is enough of a difference-maker to put it over the top.

The SIM 2 was made for low spin and high MOI so it goes far and is very forgiving. Plus, the forged aluminum chassis provides a great feel and club head stability.

Pros:

• Split mass weighting
• Adjustable loft sleeve
• Great for shot shaping

Cons:

• Not the most accurate
• No sliding weight

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

The Ping G425 and The Callaway Rogue are quality drivers from Callaway And Ping Respectively.

 

Best Irons For High Handicappers

Irons are notoriously difficult clubs to master.

That’s why it’s important to compare these 3 companies based on who makes the best irons for high handicappers. And the winner is….

 

Ping G410’s

The great thing about the G410 irons is that they are game improvement irons but they don’t look like game improvement irons.

They sport a compact head and short blade length but there is a tungsten toe screw and even a notched hosel and heel weight to increase MOI.

The result is a very forgiving set of irons that have the look and feel of players irons. To help with distance, the G410’s feature free-hinging faces that allow for more flex and ball speed.

Pros:

• Great irons for beginners
• Multi-material rear badge dampens harsh vibrations
• Player’s iron look

Cons:

• Little offset
• Not the most durable irons

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

The Callaway Big Bertha B21’s and Taylormade Sim Max Irons are the game improvement irons from Callaway and Ping.

Best Irons for Mid Handicappers 

For those of you wondering which of these 3 companies makes the best irons for mid handicappers, here is our pick:

 

Ping – G425

What makes the G425’s great for mid handicapper? As an intermediate player you have probably moved on from needing max distance from your irons and are now working on precision ball placement. The G425’s will go a long way to that end.

The cascading sole and undercut of these irons work in tandem to launch the ball high with minimal effort. This means that as long as you have your distance (and your iron selection) under control, you will be able to drop and stop the ball as needed.

Pros:

• Great launch
• 17-4 stainless steel face
• Multi-material rear badge

Cons:

• A  bit pricey
• Not very forgiving

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

The Taylormade P790 and Callaway Apex will also be quality irons for mid handicappers.

 

Best Irons for Low Handicappers

What about the irons for players who need the utmost in consistency and control? For that we see none better than the…

 

Callaway – X Forged CB Irons

Single-digit handicappers will love the feel and accuracy of the X Forged CB irons.

They have a player’s shaped head size and an adjustable 16 gram weight plate. They sport a shallow cavity back design but have a very clean look at point of address.

Best of all they shape shots like a dream. You get amazing launch angles from the long irons and total feel and spin control in the short irons.

Pros:

• Very accurate
• Forged design
• Adjustable weight

Cons:

• Pricey
• Muscle back irons may be preferable for low handicappers

Overall Rating: 93/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

The Taylormade P770 and Ping i500 will be good quality irons for low handicappers.

Best Fairway Wood – Taylormade – SIM 2 Fairway

When we did the research and testing in preparation for this article, we quickly noticed a theme:

Taylormade makes some of the most likable and utilitarian woods on the market. If you’re looking for a good fairway wood, the SIM 2 is going to be hard to beat.

Players of all skill levels love the V steel sole panel that effortlessly draws the CG downward, helps correct shot biases and launches the ball high.

Pros:

• Twist face technology
• Very forgiving
• Great distance

Cons:

• Hollow sound
• A bit heavy

 

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Best Hybrids – Taylormade – SIM 2 Rescue

Once again, Taylormade’s innovation puts them at the top.

Apart from calling their hybrid clubs “rescue” clubs, the SIM 2 rescue features a mini V steel panel that lowers the CG much like the SIM 2 fairway wood.

The C300 steel face of the SIM 2 Rescue delivers a good combination of distance and shot shaping ability. This combination is what ultimately put Taylormade over the top in terms of hybrids.

Pros:

• Accurate on mis-hits
• Best cross between a wood and an iron we have played
• Adjustable hosel

Cons:

• Head shape takes some getting used to
• Not the best turf interaction

Overall Rating: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

The Ping G425 and Callaway Mavrik are also well worth a look.

 

Callaway Jaws MD5 – Best Wedges

When it comes to wedges, you want the best launch and spin control possible. The Jaws MD5 wedges give you both in spades.

The aggressive groove-in-groove face will allow you to control greenside spin to a ridiculous degree.

The head, designed by legendary craftsman Roger Cleveland, is made from 8620 carbon steel and has a nice soft feel.

Pros:

• Amazing feel
• Many loft/bounce combinations available
• Bites the green hard

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not great for beginners

Overall Rating: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

The Taylormade Mill Grind and the Ping Glide Wedges are also worth checking out

 

Best Putter – Taylormade Spider X

The best thing about the Taylormade Spider X putter is that it can be used accurately by players of all skill levels.

This putter is amazingly balanced with a heavy steel body and a lightweight carbon composite sole.

The alignment marker runs the length of the putter head to give you a better visual of the path that your ball will take.

Taylormade has also added a face insert with 45 degree angle grooves to improve end-over-end forward roll. Putts just feel more satisfying with the Spider X.

Pros:

• Weight is very well-distributed
• Very helpful alignment marker
• It can be used by players of all skill levels

Cons:

• It’s definitely on the pricey side
• A bit heavy overall

Overall Rating: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

The Callaway Odyssey White Hot O.G and the Ping Sigma G are also well worth a look.

 

Which Company Is The Best Overall?

It’s pretty clear that each company has their specific area of expertise.

Ping has emerged as, in our humble opinion, the company that makes the best irons.

Callaway is also adept at making quality irons and wedges but Ping just reaches a broader market.

Ping makes great irons whether you are a beginner, intermediate or low handicapper.

While Ping may have the irons dominated, no one really comes close to Taylormade when it comes to woods. Taylormade is the best company to start your shopping with if you are in the market for woods.

So which company is the best? That all depends on what you’re in the market for.

Still, these are 3 of the very best golf club manufacturers in the world so you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Be sure to check out the clubs we highlighted in here soon!