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TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE LOOK BACK

If you want new clubs, the Hot List is the ultimate guide. Every person on the Golf Digest masthead contributes in some way, from processing data to engineering the filter interface on your phone to running the event, and much more. It’s a process that has expanded every year under the direction of editors Mike Stachura and E. Michael Johnson. Though sometimes the best new club is one that used to be in your bag. And it’s with this spirit that we welcome (back) Jonathan Wall as our new Managing Editor of Equipment. He and I first worked in the same building 15 years ago when he was a staff writer for Golf World. From a significant sample of Friday afternoon rounds, I learned he was a good golfer and…

TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE LOOK BACK

MISSION: HOT LIST

Just as there was with the first Hot List 22 years ago, there’s a kind of pursuit of the impossible that drives our equipment testing. While “What are the best new clubs?” seems a straightforward enough enterprise, each possible answer only spurs more questions. “Best” is a word that draws a lot of attention, but we here at Hot List Central present our annual collection of drivers, woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters in terms of what fits your game and your swing. These are the clubs that should move to the top of your own shopping list. Although the intent of our testing hasn’t changed in two decades, the process for getting this year’s Hot List and its 143 winners in front of you is almost unrecognizable. What once…

MISSION: HOT LIST

HOT LIST TOP 5 AND VECTOR RATINGS

In addition to our overall star ratings for each club in Performance and Look/Sound/Feel, we also ask our player-testers to provide their input in two other dimensions that you will see in the individual club writeups. First, we look at the collective average of each player’s score for the Look, Sound/Feel and Performance criteria for clubs that earned one of the Top 5 highest average scores based on player handicap. So you will see in the writeups a mention of a club that earned a Top 5 average score for a particular handicap group in one of those criterion. Another area where you will see ratings are what we call “vectors.” These are meant to be descriptive ratings about a certain characteristic of a club, and in most cases (exceptions…

SCIENTISTS MARTIN BROUILLETTE, PH.D. Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sherbrooke TOM MASE, PH.D. Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo JOHN MCPHEE, PH.D. Professor of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo DICK RUGGE Senior Technical Director (retired), USGA FITTERS CHRIS MARCHINI Director of Golf Experience, Golf Galaxy, Coraopolis, Pa. ANDREW FARLOW Golf Galaxy, Richmond, Va. ALEX KENNEDY Golf Galaxy, Pittsburgh DEVIN LOGUE Golf Galaxy, Richmond, Va. DANIEL MARTINEZ Golf Galaxy, Orlando PAT SNYDER Golf Galaxy, Pittsburgh…

At the Hot List Summit, our panel of intrepid testers—from 90-shooters to pros—analyzed, scrutinized and pulverized golf’s newest clubs. Let’s meet them. Gary Abbott, 37 Dundas, Ontario, Canada Solutions engineer/Handicap: 13 Driver: 265 yards/7-iron: 170 yards "I minimize big mistakes by playing a fairly conservative game from tee to green so I chase par and bogey on most holes. I lack the higher gear to make a bunch of birdies in a round." Favorite Hot List driver: Callaway Elyte X Thomas B. Allen, 60 Middletown, Ohio Attorney/Handicap: 7 Driver: 250 yards/7-iron: 153 yards "About once a week, I put in a practice session, mostly on my short game, so I excel with a wedge or putter in my hands. I fight a two-way miss off the tee, which is where…

CALLAWAY ELYTE ELYTE $600 • The new head shape features smoother curves for less drag without compromising off-center-hit stability or negatively altering spin or launch.• Callaway analyzed thousands of swings via AI to optimize face thickness.• The thermo-forged carbon crown saves weight that is repositioned low to reduce spin.• Designed for players who swing out to in with an open face.• Top 5 in Forgiveness, high-handicaps• 9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel) ‘Big fan of the matte finish and the green tint. Best part of this club is the way the ball fires off the face. Felt like every ball had a trail of fire on it. Incredibly long and forgiving, and I could shape shots both ways.’—6-HANDICAP OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK/SOUND/FEEL ★★★★★…

CALLAWAY Elyte ELYTE $350 • An internal-weighting structure (a 31-gram tungsten bar sits low and forward) reduces spin and allows the lower part of the clubface to flex like the center.• An AI-driven clubface design optimizes launch and spin and increases ball speed.• The sole geometry’s extensive relief on the back half reduces the contact area by almost 60 percent.• Top 5 in Performance, low- and high-handicaps• 15, 16.5, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27 degrees (adjustable hosel on the 15-, 16.5-degree) ‘Nice, contrasting color scheme. The club really performs through the turf, gliding and launching the ball very rapidly on line. From a forgiveness standpoint, it felt like it had guardrails.’—10-HANDICAP OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK/SOUND/FEEL ★★★★½ ELYTE $400 • The compact shape targets high-skilled players seeking…

CALLAWAY Apex CB $215 per iron • A five-step forging process delivers the kind of feel that better players crave.• Metal-injectionmolding weights placed in the toe create enhanced workability and control.• The center of gravity is lower in the long irons to boost launch and higher in the short irons to control trajectory on pin-seeking shots.• A back weight can be adjusted by a clubfitter to dial in the correct swingweight.• Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps• Specs: 7-iron: 34 degrees; PW: 46 degrees ’I love the clean, sharp look of this club. Even though it’s a cavity-back, it’s not a cavityback of old where you see the back of the head when you set it down.’—+3-HANDICAP OVERALL RATING ★★★★ ½ PERFORMANCE★★★★ ½INNOVATION★★★★LOOK/SOUND/FEEL★★★★ ½ CALLAWAY Apex Pro $215 • The hollow-body…

TEE IT HIGH AND LET IT FLY? NOT NECESSARILY

To take advantage of the technology in your driver, especially if you don’t swing it over 100 miles per hour, you might have been told it’s best to tee the ball high and catch it on the upswing. Do that, and you’ll maximize the time the ball stays in the air and minimize the amount of distance-robbing backspin. That’s good advice, but perhaps more important to getting the most out of your driver is to make sure you strike the ball in the center of the face. If you’ve been hitting the ball high on the face more often than not, it’s probably the result of having a steeper downswing. Your club might be descending as it reaches the ball or even be level with the turf. If you keep…

TEE IT HIGH AND LET IT FLY? NOT NECESSARILY

NEED MORE SPEED? YOU DON’T HAVE TO SWING HARDER

As drivers have become bigger, lighter and more forgiving—thank you, manufacturers!—you probably have picked up some distance without doing anything to your swing. However, I know distance gains are addictive, so now you might be tempted to go at the ball harder than ever. That’s fine, but don’t make the mistake of adding speed to your driver swing in the wrong place. I’ll explain. Many amateurs sacrifice yardage by thinking they need to swing down hard into the ball at the start of the downswing. This notion typically leads to the driver slowing down as it meets the ball. There’s no snap-like action through impact. What you want to do is think about having the club moving its fastest at the ball or even after it. Think of it like…

NEED MORE SPEED? YOU DON’T HAVE TO SWING HARDER

USING A FAIRWAY WOOD OFF THE TEE? CHECK THESE TWO THINGS FIRST

The versatility and ease of use of the newest fairway woods make them a popular—and wise—choice if getting the ball in play is more important than maxing out your distance with a driver. The thing to remember, however, is that these clubs are designed to get the ball up in the air when it’s resting on the ground. Knowing that, you have to make a couple of adjustments if you’re going with a 5-wood or similar off the tee. The first is to check your ball position. The big mistake is to play it like you’re swinging a driver. If you address the ball up by the heel of your lead foot, you make it much harder to catch it on the center of the face. Instead, play it a…

USING A FAIRWAY WOOD OFF THE TEE? CHECK THESE TWO THINGS FIRST

WANT MORE FROM YOUR HYBRID? STOP TREATING IT LIKE A WOOD

There’s no question that higher-lofted fairway woods have really increased in popularity in recent years. Even some tour pros are using 7-woods when they were once thought of as taboo for better players. That said, hybrids still are a popular, user-friendly option for average players who struggle to hit middle and long irons. To that point, the thing to remember about hybrids is that they are intended to be used more like irons. With the beefy clubhead, I know they sort of look like a fairway wood, but you’ll get a lot more out of these clubs if you set up and swing like you’re holding a 5-iron. That means playing the ball more in the middle of your stance and striking the ball with a slightly downward angle of…

WANT MORE FROM YOUR HYBRID? STOP TREATING IT LIKE A WOOD

HIT YOUR IRONS TOO LOW? STAND TALLER

If you look at the heads of most game-improvement and super-game-improvement irons, you’ll probably notice they look like they’ll make it easier to hit the ball higher and straighter. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, but even with those features, you still have to make a swing that capitalizes on their design. Many poorer iron players swing down into the ball too steeply, and that creates a lower, clunkier shot. Your emphasis with these clubs should be to make a shallower swing into impact, which will promote better contact and get the ball up. You don’t want to feel bunched up; you want a feeling of extension. One way to better understand this approach is to think about something I call the “tree of trust.” If you visualize and then…

HIT YOUR IRONS TOO LOW? STAND TALLER

MISSING GREENS WITH YOUR WEDGES? GET INTO ATTACK MODE

One area of the game where you should have a healthy expectation of success is pitching. Although wedge technology is better than ever, you still need to take advantage of it, so let’s review how to set up and swing when you’re trying to hit a green inside of, say, 50 yards. The common mistake because of the look of the club is to get into a setup where you can scoop the ball off the turf. Instead of hanging back with your body as I’m showing (below, left), which will likely cause you to hit it fat or thin, you should get into a more aggressive setup. Your sternum should be in front of the ball. I’m dangling a club from it (below, right) to show just how much…

MISSING GREENS WITH YOUR WEDGES? GET INTO ATTACK MODE

CALLAWAY Opus/Opus Platinum $180/$230 • Tighter-spaced grooves mean more groove edges on the ball for increased spin but with a lower, more controllable launch.• The groove-in-groove design creates spin when opening the face.• The Platinum model has an 18-gram tungsten weight in the topline to pull the center of gravity up higher to create a lower launch.• Top 5 in Performance, middle- and high-handicaps• Opus: 17 options (48-60 degrees), 4 sole grinds, 2 finishes. Opus Platinum: 8 options (54-60 degrees), 2 grinds, 2 finishes ‘Gunmetal-finish option increases cool factor. Goes through dirt easily on full shots with better-than-average distance and spin. Carves the sand just like a pumpkin.’—7-HANDICAP OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★½ LOOK/SOUND/FEEL ★★★★★ CLEVELAND CBX4 ZipCore $170 • The larger, cavity-back design minimizes the loss of…

BETTINARDI Queen B $450 • A ball-width cavity in the back flange with a contrasting alignment line increases target awareness.• Slight toe hang works best for strokes that have some flowing arc.• This updated iconic line repositions the center of gravity to create a more balanced stroke with a larger, more centered sweet spot.• Mini-honeycomb milling marks provide a responsive but firm feel, softer than Bettinardi’s traditional honeycomb pattern.• Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps• Models: 1. Lengths: 33-38 inches ‘The coppertone finish is unique, very pleasing. I like the curved shape of the head and the heavy weight to it. The ball rolled true no matter where I hit on the face.’—1-HANDICAP OVERALL RATING ★★★★½ PERFORMANCE ★★★★½ INNOVATION ★★★½ LOOK/SOUND/FEEL ★★★★½ EVNROLL V-Series $450 • The “V” reflects the versatility…

NEED MORE TOUCH AROUND THE GREENS? DEADEN THE STRIKE

High-lofted wedges are more forgiving and userfriendly than ever. In addition to being designed to glide along the turf better, many have bigger heads and grooves from one end of the face to the other. Not only do they give you a decent result on less-than-perfect strikes, they also can add more touch to your shots around the greens. Here’s one way to take advantage of the tech. I often see amateurs mistakenly decelerate the club into the ball because of a lack of confidence—they fear hitting the chip too far. You have to keep your speed up through impact, and one way to be more aggressive is to strike the ball closer to the toe of the clubface. This deadens the shot, so it doesn’t go as far. It’s…

NEED MORE TOUCH AROUND THE GREENS? DEADEN THE STRIKE

WANT HELP IN THE SAND? GRAB A SCORECARD PENCIL

No matter whether your wedge is brand new or 20 years old, you’re still facing the same dilemma in a greenside bunker. You’ve got to trust that if you make a big swing through the sand with it and purposely miss the ball, the shot is going to come out high and soft and stop quickly on the green. Bunker play is all about commitment, and I’ve got a great way for you to practice it that will boost your confidence. There’s something strange about making a big swing on a short shot with the intent of hitting behind the ball. Seeing the ball sitting there can prompt you to do all kinds of things that make these shots a lot harder. So why not practice without a ball until a…

WANT HELP IN THE SAND? GRAB A SCORECARD PENCIL

WANT TO BECOME A HOT LIST TESTER?

1. HOW OFTEN DO YOU BUY NEW CLUBS? A I get a new driver every other year, maybe three years on the irons, and one season with wedges. B Most interested in the driver but certainly wouldn’t go five years without changing out my whole bag. C Is Nike still making clubs? I think my irons are Nike. I also have a sweet chipper you can use lefty or righty. 2. YOU JUST WON A SET OF MUSCLEBACK BLADES IN A RAFFLE. WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT? A Trade those in for an iron fitting for a proper set for me because no one who isn’t on TV should be playing those. B Get them re-shafted to my specs. C No 2-iron? These are worthless. Give me the Derek Jeter-autographed…

WANT TO BECOME A HOT LIST TESTER?

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