2013 Hot List: Category Leaders

January 21, 2013

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Where the search for your new favorite club begins

DRIVER taylormade R1

STREET PRICE: $400 LOFTS: one adjustable head (8-12 degrees)TECH TALK: There are three ways to adjust this driver: The hosel has 12 settings for altering loft, the rotating soleplate features seven face-angle positions, and the movable sole weights allow you to change ball flight by 20 yards side to side. The crown's graphics are designed to aid alignment.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The sound is toward the loud end, but if you can't get dialed in with this club, you're not trying."M: "It's very forgiving; even shots high on the face go a long way, and my slices stayed in play."HOT: A force of substance and subtlety, the equipment industry's innovation leader has outdone itself again. With 168 possible settings, there's probably one that fits even your dog.NOT: Franz Klammer called. He wants his 1976 Winter Olympics sweater back.INFO: taylormadegolf.com

DRIVER TITLEIST 913D2/D3

STREET PRICE: $400 LOFTS: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 for D2; 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 for D3 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: Titleist's second-generation, 16-way adjustable driver gets an upgrade with a thinner, lighter forged face insert to increase ball speed. The D2 is larger than the D3 and produces less spin than the previous 910D2. The more compact D3 features a slightly forward CG for easier workability.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Simple and clean everywhere you look." ... "The ball flight had a controlled curve back to the center."M: "The sound has a nice home-run/crack-of-the-bat quality."HOT: Every element seems engineered in precisely the right proportions. Don't overlook the fact that most golfers will find a 45-inch shaft easier to swing consistently.NOT: The differences among some settings are too subtle.INFO: titleist.com

FAIRWAY WOOD TAYLORMADE RocketBallz Stage 2/RBZ Stage 2 Tour

STREET PRICE: $250/$280 LOFTS: 15, 17, 19, 21, 23; 13, 14.5, 16.5, 18.5 for Tour (adjustable)TECH TALK: The update from last year's top-selling fairway wood features a new high-strength, stainless-steel alloy in the face. Also used in rocket engines, the alloy is heat-treated so it can be made thinner. The slot in the sole improves the trampoline effect of the face, and a low, slightly forward CG is designed to increase ball speed.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The ball just didn't want to come out of the air, and I can shape shots."M: "The ball jumps faster than normal. Clearly, one of the longest ones out here."HOT: The slot is only a small part of the groundbreaking, comprehensive, almost dizzying level of innovation here.NOT: You're asking a lot of average golfers to hit a 43½-inch 3-wood off a fairway lie (43 inches used to be standard).INFO: taylormadegolf.com

FAIRWAY WOOD Titleist 913 F/913 F.d

STREET PRICE: $250LOFTS: (adjustable) 13.5, 15, 17, 19, 21; 13.5, 15 for F.dTECH TALK: The crown was made thinner so weight could be moved to get the CG low and forward for a better power transfer. The adjustable hosel, which allows for 16 settings to alter loft and lie angles independently, has been slimmed down from last year for a more pleasing appearance. The F.d is designed for less spin and a flatter trajectory.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Not superficial, just super."M: "The smaller clubhead makes you think it'd be harder to hit, but it's not. There was a cathartic thud at impact."HOT: The upgrades are meaty, but they don't alter the clean look. Five stock shafts mean you won't get shafted.NOT: The 13.5-degree is a good idea for the F.d player, but is it really needed in the regular version?INFO: titleist.com

HYBRID adams Idea Tech V4

STREET PRICE: $200LOFTS: 17, 19, 22, 25, 28, 32TECH TALK: The slots in the crown and sole have been narrowed and deepened to improve the face's flexibility. Another key change is an open slit within each slot that cuts through the head from the top to bottom. Adams' engineers say this improves the face's springlike effect by more than 15 percent. The lower lofts have tungsten weights in the heel and toe to help optimize the center of gravity (CG).PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Easy to hit high and straight."M: "When you hit the ball, it's like a hammer pounding a nail: It's quick, productive and a beautiful act."HOT: Adams' ambitious approach to improving face flexibility will help players of all abilities (hence, the 32-degree model).NOT: The slot on the crown might work, but visually it's not the traditional look preferred by many golfers.INFO: adamsgolf.com

HYBRID callaway X Hot/X Hot Pro

STREET PRICE: $180LOFTS: 19, 22, 25, 28 for X Hot; 16, 18, 20, 23 for X Hot ProTECH TALK: To improve ball speed, Callaway reduced the face thickness by 15 percent compared with the 2011 RAZR X. Heel and toe relief on the sole helps the club work out of a variety of lies. The X Hot features longer lengths and stronger lofts than the X Hot Pro.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I tried to mis-hit a few, but either there's a huge sweet spot, or I just couldn't miss. I'm thinking it's the sweet spot."M: "It might not have grabbed my attention with its look, but its performance sure got it."HOT: The compact shape enhances versatility, but the technology inside that traditional look provides a big hit.NOT: With equipment companies increasingly using non-traditional colors, gray seems a little boring.INFO: callawaygolf.com

HYBRID ping G25

STREET PRICE: $200LOFTS: 17, 20, 23, 27, 31TECH TALK: A 17-4 stainless-steel body features a progressive CG that moves slightly forward in higher lofts to lower the spin rate. On the lower lofts, the CG is lower and farther back to improve forgiveness on mis-hits. The heel-to-toe camber and relief on the back of the sole improve turf interaction.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It's hard to hit the ball anything but straight and high." ... "This one is ridiculously good. If I had a 200-yard approach shot at a U.S. Open, I'd use this club."M: "I put a smooth, easy swing on it, and the ball just jumped for me, straight every time. It felt like the easier I swung, the farther the ball went."HOT: Ping moves off the snub-nose look of its G15 and G20 but still makes a club that anyone can hit.NOT: We miss the true iron-replacement vibe of G15 and G20.INFO: ping.com

HYBRID taylormade RocketBallz Stage 2/RocketBallz Stage 2 Tour

STREET PRICE: $200/$230LOFTS: 19, 22, 25, 28; 16.5, 18.5, 20.5, 23.5 for Tour (lofts adjustable by 1.5 degrees)TECH TALK: The slot in the sole, which is part of the RocketBallz fairway-wood technology for increasing face flexibility, is also in this hybrid. Like the fairway wood, a new high-strength steel alloy allows the face to be made thinner and more flexible than last year's RocketBallz line.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Just a long, high ball flight. It goes forever."M: "To use a rocket analogy, this is like launching artillery. It just kept going." ... "Really long and consistent. You can't argue with distance and accuracy."HOT: Offering adjustability in the Tour model is useful, but what we like most is how the slot in the sole, combined with moving the CG closer to the face, leads to more distance.NOT: We'd prefer the simplicity of an all-white clubhead.INFO: taylormadegolf.com

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON MIZUNO MP-H4

STREET PRICE: $1,100LOFTS: 6-iron: 30, PW: 46TECH TALK: Mizuno uses three head constructions: large, hollow hybrid-like long irons; smaller, hollow middle irons; and solid cavity-back short irons. All are manufactured with the company's grain-flow forging process that is designed to produce a soft, consistent feel.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It doesn't look like a game-improvement iron. It just performs like one."M: "When the 4-iron is as easy to hit as the 9-iron, they've figured it out."HOT: The iron-like hybrids appeal to above-average players, and the middle irons have the forgiveness needed by those without a tour card. These just might keep a better player collecting the bets from his higher-handicap buddies.NOT: You'll have to take a lot of cash from your friends to make up for the steep price.INFO: mizunousa.com

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON ping G25

STREET PRICE: $900LOFTS: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45TECH TALK: The tuning port has been repositioned lower and integrated into the sole to achieve a lower CG so shots launch higher than the previous model. The widths of the soles get narrower from long irons to short irons.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "This is a standout in a category of clones. The responsiveness off the face is impressive."M: "Effortless flight. It's as comforting as hot cocoa."HOT: Ping didn't necessarily go too far with its G20 irons, but that model came dangerously close to super game-improvement territory. A return to a sleeker head size will appeal to a wider audience, and the progressive sole widths will continue to aid less skilled players on long- and middle-iron shots.NOT: A loft gap of just 3 degrees between the 6- and 7-irons is curious (4 or 5 degrees is standard).INFO: ping.com

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON TAYLORMADE RocketBladez

STREET PRICE: $800LOFTS: 6-iron: 26.5, PW: 45TECH TALK: The two-millimeter-wide sole slot in the 3- through 7-irons is designed to flex. This helps the face produce more ball speed and launch the ball higher. The slot is filled with polyurethane to reduce vibration.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I saw the ball exploding off the face on center hits."M:"Shots just hang and hang in the air without you having to generate any extra boost."HOT: The design grew from research that showed 72 percent of impacts with irons come below the center of the face. That's why the RocketBladez idea isn't just a gimmick. Creating "consistent distance" all over the area where average golfers make contact the most is what you probably need.NOT: Consistency and distance are easy to endorse, but some golfers might prefer tighter loft gaps in their short irons.INFO: taylormadegolf.com

SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON adams Idea Tech V4

STREET PRICE: $900 (set of eight, graphite)LOFTS: 6-iron: 28 degrees, PW: 44 degreesTECH TALK: The hybrids have a cut-through design that creates a channel through the head, from the slot on the top to the one on the bottom, to increase springlike effect. The set comprises three hybrids and five hollow-construction irons.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "The dispersion is consistently tighter than the others."H: "You won't find anything more forgiving. They've made the game easier."HOT: The hollow irons place weight where high-handicappers need help, and the wide soles allow these clubs to be played by almost anyone. A nice upgrade from the Idea Tech V3 -- and that club was our innovation leader in 2011.NOT: A 6-hybrid is hard to get used to at address. We wish there was an iron option in this set.INFO: adamsgolf.com

SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON CALLAWAY RAZR HL Hybrid set

STREET PRICE: $600LOFTS: 6-iron: 29.5, PW: 45TECH TALK: The hybrids (three of them in the standard set) have a face design that adds height to shots struck low on the face. The irons have an enclosed body that increases moment of inertia (MOI) for better mis-hit performance.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "Stylish but with plenty of heft behind it. It felt like I was throwing darts with the irons."H: "I fight a miss to the right, but I was actually hitting some draws with these. That's pretty cool."HOT: The upgrade from cavity-back to hollow-construction irons is significant for the caliber of swing buying these clubs. The price tag gives new meaning to the term "bargain." And we mean that as the highest form of a compliment.NOT: Last year you could interchange a hybrid in this set at no cost. Now it's $130. Bummer.INFO: callawaygolf.com

SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON taylormade RocketBladez Max

STREET PRICE: $1,300LOFTS: 6-iron: 26, PW: 44TECH TALK: A polymer-filled slot in the sole is used in all irons to increase face flexibility and enhance distance. The long and middle irons feature a stainless-steel face supported by a hollow frame for maximum springlike effect.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "I feel refreshed after hitting these. All it requires is a smooth swing, and the ball just flies."H:"They did everything right with this. A small head with tons of technology. It just blows away the field." ... "The soft, oversize grip felt great in my hands."HOT: It's not often we endorse a set in this category that lacks hybrids, but this design provides the right amount of pop along with forgiveness that altered our thinking.NOT: TaylorMade uses the slogan "This little thing" in its RocketBladez promotion. It's not talking about the price.INFO: taylormadegolf.com

PLAYERS IRON Mizuno MP-59

STREET PRICE: $1,000LOFTS: 6-iron: 30; PW: 46TECH TALK: Using lightweight titanium allowed Mizuno to move weight elsewhere to help bolster performance in this half-cavity design. The sole has a trailing-edge grind that improves workability for players who shape shots.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It has a classic blade look at address, and the turf interaction is terrific."M: "This one is better in sound and feel than the others. I take shallow divots, so this sole design really works for me."HOT: The use of titanium in a players iron is impressive. So is Mizuno's emphasis on sound and feel. That's not by accident. The company uses modal analysis to get that just right -- or in layman's terms, they study the heck out of it.NOT: Sure it's a players iron, but should an R-flex shaft really have to be custom-ordered?INFO: mizunousa.com

PLAYERS IRON mizuno MP-64

STREET PRICE: $1,000LOFTS: 6-iron: 30; PW: 46TECH TALK: The purpose of the thick muscle pad behind the clubface is to provide the feel of a muscleback blade. It's also designed to promote forgiveness in the long irons and keep the ball flight down with the short irons.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The muscle pad makes you feel like there's heft when you strike the shot."M: "Feels like an old-time forged iron but with high-tech benefits."HOT: Mizuno has a long heritage of producing good-looking, sweet-feeling forged irons. Add this one to that list. The MP-64 has a traditional look with more than enough playability. The ball feels like it melts into the face but then springs off like a sprinter out of the blocks.NOT: The long irons are for really good players. You'll need to work harder than usual to get some air under those shots.INFO: mizunousa.com

PLAYERS IRON taylormade RocketBladez Tour

STREET PRICE: $900LOFTS: 6-iron: 29.5, PW: 47TECH TALK: The channel in the 3-iron through 7-iron is designed to help the face flex at impact. A polyurethane filling in the channel helps reduce vibration for maximum feel. Weight has been moved lower in the clubhead to lower the CG so golfers have an easier time launching the ball high.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "A great combination of workability and distance."M:"Large enough to instill confidence, but small enough so you know you're not a hacker."HOT: A smart approach to achieving distance in a players iron, without fiddling with the lofts or lengths. Maximizing distance while keeping the proper ball flight isn't easy. Expect this to be the most played model on the PGA Tour in 2013.NOT: Extra distance could be a tricky adjustment for players who are used to hitting their irons a specific yardage.INFO: taylormadegolf.com

WEDGE cleveland 588 RTX

STREET PRICE: $120LOFTS: 18 loft/bounce options from 46 to 64 degrees; two finishes: satin chrome (shown), black pearlTECH TALK: Cleveland expanded the size of its grooves by 16 percent to improve spin. It also added a milled circular pattern to the laser-milled lines between the grooves to improve the level and consistency of friction at impact. The sole is wider near the heel and narrower at the toe.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "This one has a very soft feel, like a toasted marshmallow." ... "It has impeccable control: When I caught one on the toe, it had the same amount of check."M: "The wedge imparted backspin even on short chips, and it let me achieve all trajectories from the sand."HOT: A breakthrough in surface roughness, and the manufacturing process for these new grooves is precise.NOT: We'd like to see more than one sole grind on this model.INFO: clevelandgolf.com

WEDGE Titleist Vokey Design SM4

STREET PRICE: $130LOFTS: 21 loft/bounce options from 46 to 64 degrees; three finishes: tour chrome (shown), black nickel, oil canTECH TALK: A more precise manufacturing process allowed Titleist to design a wedge with sharper and deeper grooves that are closer to the USGA's limit. The finely machined surface roughness and an increase in the number of grooves help improve spin on partial shots and those from the rough. There are five sole grinds to choose from.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The perfect blend of feedback and firmness." ... "It has more feel around the green than I'm accustomed to."M: "I love the smooth, low-frequency sound at impact. Basic chips produce the same result every time." ... "I hit shots I didn't know I had."HOT: It answers every wedge question that will ever be asked.NOT: The complexity of options requires expert guidance.INFO: titleist.com

MALLET PUTTER odyssey White Hot Pro series

STREET PRICE: $130-$180; eight models (D.A.R.T., shown)TECH TALK: The 2013 White Hot insert is cast rather than injection-molded, which gives the material a more consistent molecular structure. Add to that a precision grinding process and individual laser cutting, and the intended result is an insert that has more reliable thickness, flatness, sound and feel.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The insert isn't too soft, which is good. It's not excessively lively, either." ... "Sounds great -- like a Bulls Eye hitting a balata ball."M: "For reliability, look no further. Consistent feel and sound, alignment is true, and everything about this putter is simple and clean."HOT: With eight models to choose from, factory-adjustable head weights and EyeFit direction on head design, there's something for everyone in this mallet family.NOT: The 2-Ball Blade model lacks mallet forgiveness.INFO: odysseygolf.com

MALLET PUTTER Ping Scottsdale TR

STREET PRICE: $180; three models (Grayhawk, shown)TECH TALK: The grooves in the new "true roll" aluminum face insert are deeper in the center and gradually shallower toward the perimeter. This effectively "deadens" center hits and minimizes the loss of speed and distance that ensues from toe and heel hits. The result is more consistent speed and roll across the face.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It reacts more consistently than any putter I've ever hit." ... "It rolls really well."M: "A simple putter that has great balance. Every putt, whether on the heel, toe or center, produced a good roll."HOT: The face concept is well conceived, and the line only gets better with Ping's fitting options and iPing app.NOT: Some of our testers struggled with how much softer center hits sounded compared to hits off the heel and toe.INFO: ping.com

MALLET PUTTER Titleist Scotty Cameron Select GoLo/GoLo S

STREET PRICE: $350; two models (GoLo S, shown)TECH TALK: The CNC-milled 303 stainless-steel head has a thicker face and topline to provide a more pleasing feel at impact. Deep-face milling and an aluminum soleplate help to tune the sound. Customizable sole weights in the heel and toe allow the head weight to be matched to the shaft length.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It feels like a finely tuned instrument in your hands. Beautiful, quiet, crisp." ... "If you're a decent putter, this is all the forgiveness you need."M: "The roll gets going immediately. The feel is consistent on every stroke -- even short putts and big breakers."HOT: Few putter designers are able to produce this type of muted-yet-firm sound and feel without a face insert.NOT: The black alignment line disappears into the black putterhead. Couldn't it at least have been gray?INFO: titleist.com

BLADE PUTTER odyssey White Hot Pro series

STREET PRICE: $130; four models (#1, shown)TECH TALK: Odyssey devoted a lot of research to re-creating the popular feel of its original White Hot face insert. A new insert-casting process produces more precise thickness and flatness tolerances for improved consistency. The gunmetal finish is intended to reduce glare.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "This putter makes a very low-pitched, quiet noise, but the face isn't too soft -- it's just right." ... "I love the matte finish and the simple alignment. It's easy on the eyes."M: "The sound is a pleasant conversation between the ball and the face."HOT: Our testers rated the White Hot Pro as their favorite blade. Goes to show that the technical benefits of a good face insert don't have to come at the cost of feel.NOT: The red label on the face insert cheapens the look.INFO: odysseygolf.com

BLADE PUTTER ping Scottsdale TR

STREET PRICE: $150; seven models (Anser 2, shown)TECH TALK: The aluminum face plate features grooves that are deeper toward the center than they are near the heel and toe, which counteracts the loss of ball speed that comes with mis-hits. Shaft bands help players choose the model most suitable for their stroke: straight, slight arc or strong arc.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The face is forgiving to the point it almost self-corrects." ... "It's fun to putt the long ones with this one, because you make so many. The ball rolls immediately off the face." ... "Good for a player who uses a harder ball."M: "The simplistic design is very pleasing. The oval-shape cavity is a nice alignment aid if you want it to be."HOT: The idea of grooves with uneven depth work if you don't mind the difference in sound off the toe and heel.NOT: Some found the adjustable-shaft model disjointed.INFO: ping.com

BLADE PUTTER Titleist Cameron Select Newport

STREET PRICE: $350; five models (Newport 1.5, shown)TECH TALK: Computer-milled from 303 stainless steel, the Select Newport line is designed to look luxurious while providing soft feel and consistent roll. The deep face milling helps dampen impact, and factory-adjustable tungsten weights in the toe and heel of the sole allow for precise swing-weight tuning. Subtle milling changes at the corners of the clubhead help players set up more squarely to the target.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The sound at impact is quiet, in a nice way, and a little heavier than normal, which I like." ... "You don't hit putts with this, you stroke them."M: "On long putts, this putter gives you the confidence to just take it back and release it through the ball."HOT: There's undeniable presence to these putters, and there's no denying they look like jewelry.NOT: Of course, they're priced like jewelry, too.INFO: titleist.com

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