The Hot List: How to Improve It

Here are our suggestions on how to turn this issue into a the ultimate resource for someone buying new equipment.

Bag DropWe’re not going to waste much time here with introductions, just a quick background. Last week, we took a look at a lot of the common criticisms of Golf Digest’s Hot List, and received a lot of quality feedback from the staff and forum members here.

The bottom line is that subscribers and newsstand customers want to see a change. As one of, if not the biggest name in golf media, you’ve got the money and resources to give us something better, something more helpful. What is it exactly that we want? Well, it’s funny you should ask – I’ve got those answers for you right here.

TaylorMade Announces R11 Drivers, Burner SuperFast 2.0 Drivers, and Forged TP MB, MC, and CB Irons

A new year means a plethora of new clubs from TaylorMade, ranging from game improvement drivers to the latest in the “R” line to new forged irons.

Bag DropFirst and foremost, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years! Now that we’ve got that out the way, it’s time for Bag Drop to get back on track, and what a better way to do just that than with a huge release of products from TaylorMade?!

They’re back at it again with the latest additions to the proven Burner and “R” lines of drivers, but they also churned out a what will likely be a real treat for fans of TaylorMade’s forged players irons. We’ve got a lot to cover, so lets not waste any more time with introductions!

Mizuno JPX-800 Pro Review

Mizuno has dropped the MX line, but filled it in with the JPX. How do the first replacements stack up?

Mizuno JPX-800 ProThough Mizuno said goodbye to the MX series this year, they had the new JPX series waiting in the wings to fill the game improvement gap. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to review the new JPX-800 Pro, since this new series would replace that which contained the MX-300s I loved so much.

Though a large number of players may not have been very excited about this change, Mizuno was there to reassure everyone, saying that this was their biggest commitment to the game improvement category yet, and that the JPX series may in fact be a game changer. When a global company such as Mizuno pools all of their talented engineers from around the world, you know they really do mean business. So how did that pay off in real world results?

Next Generation with Sean Foley DVD Review

Sean Foley caps a year in which his stock rose significantly with a new instructional DVD.

Sean Foley DVDSean Foley made a splash in 2010. Though he was known prior to this year as the coach of Sean O’Hair, Justin Rose, and Hunter Mahan (along with lesser knowns Stephen Ames and Parker McLachlin), Foley’s dim star became noticeable at dusk as rumors that Tiger Woods, dumped by his coach Hank Haney, was going to begin working with the 36-year old Canadian. When the arrangement became official around the time of the year’s final major, the Foley star became one of the brightest in the sky.

Capitalizing on his new-found fame (and helping charity – see comments), Sean Foley has put together a Blu-Ray/DVD instructional video that shares his understanding of the golf swing with the masses. Tiger’s already shown remarkable improvement, despite remaining winless in 2010, but with solid performances in the Ryder Cup, Australian Masters, and his own Chevron World Challenge. For about $50 USD including the $12.50 S&H charge, you too can learn from Sean Foley.

The Sand Trap’s Holiday Gift Guide, Part Two

Didn’t see anything last week? Maybe this new list of gift ideas will help! Christmas is getting close, better not wait too late to get that perfect gift for your favorite golfer!!

Bag DropWe’re another week closer to Christmas day, which means seven fewer days to shop. It’s getting closer, but have you been able to scratch your favorite golfer off your list? If nothing really caught your eye last week, we’ve got another list of potential gift ideas that will definitely keep him or her smiling well after New Year’s has come and gone.

In case you didn’t catch last week’s Bag Drop, we’ll categorize a few items, broken down by price range, with $10 at the bottom end, up to $1000 at the top end. So let’s get started!

Ouch! A Look Back at My Pathetic 2010 Predictions

Year in Review: Mickelson didn’t dominate, no solace on the course for Woods, Daly couldn’t shake the duldrums, and so much more.

Thrash TalkWhat’s the point of making predictions if you’re not going to own up to them after the fact? Especially when your predictions are as far off as mine?

But with 2010 wrapping up, it’s time to review the season’s highs and lows … and when it comes to my prognostications, it was pretty one-sided. How lousy? Let’s call it Tiger Wood ’10 bad.

There were a few gems mixed in, however, such as Dustin Johnson’s arrival. Before I get too excited, I also thought it would be the year of John Daly’s resurgence.

Ten Questions for 2011 #3: Which Golfers Need a Comeback Year?

These four golfers need to bounce back in a big way in 2011.

Thrash TalkThe 2010 golf season saw the rise of several golfers including Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, and the Molinari brothers. These golfers have had success in the past, but they are all inside the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking after breakthrough 2010 seasons. On the other side of things, there are several golfers who fell out of the spotlight in a big way this past season. It’s something golf fans don’t always see because they are so focused on the golfers having success on a weekly basis.

I’ve put together a list of golfers who struggled to find their way in 2010 and will be looking to have a bounce back year in 2011. All but one are Major Championship winners, and three of the four were in the top 20 this time last year. In addition, the game of golf is a better place when these guys are playing well. Without further ado, here is the list.

2010’s Unexpected Winners

PGA Tour parity leads to unexpected winners.

Trap Five LogoAfter talking about the top surprising stories of the year a few weeks ago, this week I have decided to go through the year’s most unexpected individual victories. From a major champion whose name no one can pronounce, to a multiple winner that nobody has heard of, 2010 had surprises down every turn. Because no one won more than three times, there were many opportunities for the journeymen to make a name for themselves. This year we saw Rocco get back in the winner’s circle, Arjun Atwal win after Monday qualifying, and Geoff Ogilvy kick off 2010 the same way as 2009.

Ten Questions for 2011 #2: Will Lee Westwood Win His First Major?

Will the new number one break through and win his first major in 2011?

Thrash TalkThe 2010 season was a crazy one for many different reasons, but the craziest thing of all is the fact Tiger Woods lost the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in over five years. It’s no surprise Woods had his worst year as a professional, but who would have predicted he would fall out of the top spot? I sure didn’t.

Lee Westwood took over the top spot in the rankings after playing really well the past couple years. He has won several events worldwide and has been in the hunt in more majors than anyone. With all his recent success, however, he is still looking for his first major victory. Will he finally break through and win a big one in 2011? Keep reading to find out.