| 1st Edition (2005) - With 272 pages, Ralph Maltby's latest book is the product of over a decade of research and a lifetime of experience with golf club design. Having designed and analyzed irons for major manufacturers and his own company, and having fit golfers of every playing ability including many touring professionals for decades, Ralph has developed an analytical system to understand how iron club designs play. In this book, he explains how several mass and dimensional properties of an iron head determine how the clubhead behaves when striking the ball. He then takes those properties, measures them and puts them through a calculation that results in an index of playability. He discusses the theory behind iron design and translates into a practical guide for understanding iron playability and even a guide for iron designers. Finally, the book includes the results of measuring most of the modern irons available today. The book has many sidebars, adding explanations and often recounting Ralph's experiences as he developed this system. This is an absolute MUST HAVE book for anyone with a passion for golf equipment, golf club history, and, to say the least, golf club designers! Contents include: - Section 1: MALTBY PLAYABILITY FACTOR (MPF) FOR IRONS The book starts with a detailed history of the development of the modern iron, including examples of how some designers have learned to improve playability while others have not. It then examines each of the key mass and dimensional properties that influence playability, why and how they do, and then assembles the mathematical formula for MPF. Section 2: OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS IN IRONHEAD PLAYABILITY AND DESIGN Ralph shares his experience on a number of other topics, including what happens to the clubhead at impact, bounce, grooves, face progression, offset, designs for women golfers, and many other topics.
- Section 3: HOW TO MEASURE IRONS Of particular interest to custom clubmakers and equipment designers, this section includes step by step, pictorial explanations of how all key iron head measurements, including those to calculate MPF, are made. This will provide an industry reference standard for the future.
- Section 4: MALTBY PLAYABILITY FACTOR LISTINGS Finally, of interest to virtually all golfers, the book lists all the mass and dimensional properties for most modern irons as well as many of historical significance. In addition to listing playability ratings, the book includes pictures of the heads, making this an indispensible guide to modern irons.
- APPENDICES: Finally, the book includes appendices that share research hitting a ball sitting up on grass, balancing golf balls to improve putting, and even plans to build your own MOI Iron head drilling gauge.
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