Golf Digest 2007 Hot List

[Everardo]

So I'm curious to hear what everyone's opinion of the annual Golf Digest Hot List is. You can read the rest but here are the 2007 Editors' Choice

Driver: Callaway FT-5
Fairway Wood: Callaway Big Bertha
Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro
Irons (Super Game Improvement): Cobra S9
Irons (Game Improvement): Callaway X-20
Irons (Players Iron): Taylormade R7 TP
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled
Putter (Blade): Ping G5I
Putter (Mallet): Odyssey White Hot XG 2-Ball
Ball (Value): Callaway HX Hot
Ball (Tour): Titleist Pro V1 / V1X

[Mr. Sparkle]

Is the issue out yet? I didn't get mine.

[Everardo]

Is the issue out yet? I didn't get mine.

I haven't received mine yet but it's online at

Golf Digest Hot List

[NM Golf]

No real surprises, all the major manufacturers are well represented. Titleist ProV and ProV1 golf balls were again the editor's choice in the golf ball category. Even with everything the other manufacturers do they just cannot make a better ball and knock titleist off their pedistal. And the new ProV's weren't even the ones tested. They are due out this spring I believe.
Ping did well for themselves with both the G5 series and Rapture series getting nods in most categories.
Nike had their way in the driver category. Sumo, Sumo, Sumo. I finally saw one. Whoa, good god that is an ugly club. Lets see how Michelle hits it this week at the Sony. Personally I hope she shoots 100.

[popey]

I know this may be in the wrong place but i need to say it.

I understand these people in the magazines are skilled pros that are testing this equipment but at times it annoys me because from one year to the next the top picks are always the same.

I love reading todays golfer as when doing gear tests they will give lots of reasons for the top picks. They have a gold,silver and bronze. When they did a drivers test they had 2 driver in the gold place as for the catergory the driver was focused at it was perfect.

Also in TG they did the biggest balls test ever. They did not decide what the best bal was but they tested every ball in the 3 price catergories and at the end of the test said that i was important not pick a winning as a ball is a personal preference so they do not want to persuade the readers to buying a certain ball.

Hats off to TG the best golf magazine in the world!! (at least the UK)

[Rusterson]

Is it true that Titleist doesn't participate in their "testing process"?
Something must explain no Titleist Drivers in this Hot List?

[tartanjack]

Yeah, Everado, I looked at the site. My reaction? There are so many gold and silver winners that any conclusions are pretty meaningless. And that's good because, despite all their web video justifications and explanations and everything else the testing and "judging" is flawed and pointless to me and, hopefully, to everyone who reads that drivel.

In the end, it's just one opinion and your opinion, whomever you are, is what really matters. Let me give you a couple for instances:

In blade putters they judged the Ping G5i series (a whole series?!) their editor's pick. Come on. Putting is so personal I can't imagine anyone settling on one putter let alone one series.

Their pick for driver? Consider that K.J. Choi won with a Sumo2 and Vijay just won with a HiBore XL. The point is their pick and what the pro's are winning with doesn't mean diddly to the person looking for the right driver for their game.

Everardo... you, as an accomplished club fitter... know what I'm saying. After decades of reading the bs in all the golf magazines I can only say this. They may sell magazines but they don't make better golfers. This "club testing" is a complete charade. Are any of the testers swinging exactly like you? Of course not.

Do yourself a favor. Find a good clubfitter like Everardo and try everything they have. Then buy your club. As I've written, there are so many new designs that's it's a worthwhile exercise to do your own testing and not follow what some bunch of magazine testers think is good.

Frank Thomas, the former equipment guru for the USGA, keeps stating that at this point, any improvements in club design are so infinitesimally incremental that a two year old driver is going to do you as much good as the 4X more expensive latest and greatest.

So what do I think? Read it. Laugh. Then go practice with what you have.

[iacas]

Is it true that Titleist doesn't participate in their "testing process"?

Correct. Titleist believes very strongly in being custom fit for clubs. That flies in the face of these "hot lists" or "mass reviews" wherein club companies are expected to send a "standard" set of clubs that likely won't fit ANY of the testers. A poorly fit piece of equipment won't play well.

All equipment reviewed here at TST is fitted for the reviewer as best as possible, for example.

[Everardo]

Correct. Titleist believes very strongly in being custom fit for clubs. That flies in the face of these "hot lists" or "mass reviews" wherein club companies are expected to send a "standard" set of clubs that likely won't fit ANY of the testers. A poorly fit piece of equipment won't play well.

This is straight from titleist.com

QUESTION Why aren’t Titleist products featured in the Club Test issues of major golf publications like Golf Magazine and Golf Digest? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Thank you for your question regarding Titleist's presence, or lack thereof, in third-party equipment reviews. There is a growing trend among golf publications and internet golf sites conducting club tests, and evaluating and ranking equipment. Among the several reasons we have decided not to participate in these third-party tests (e.g. Golf Magazine's ClubTest and PutterTest, Golf Digest's Hot List, etc.), is the fact that we believe that a golfer must be properly fit based on their individual abilities and requirements in order to determine the performance value of the equipment they are testing. Rather than potentially being influenced by a subjective judging process, we recommend that golfers make their purchase decisions after experimenting with demo equipment recommended by a PGA Club Professional and/or being fit for clubs through an authorized Titleist FittingWorks shop.

HOWEVER the only category Titleist wasn't in was Drivers (is this because of the 907?). The following Titleist clubs were listed in the Hotlist.

PT 906F2 Fairway Wood PT 585H Hybrid 755 Irons 775.CB Irons Vokey Wedges Scotty Cameron Putters (Blade and Mallet) Balls (Tour and Value) So Titleist may not choose to participate in these media ads but someone is still getting them in there.

[Everardo]

Their pick for driver? Consider that K.J. Choi won with a Sumo2 and Vijay just won with a HiBore XL. The point is their pick and what the pro's are winning with doesn't mean diddly to the person looking for the right driver for their game.

It's funny how we all can be sometimes. I think back to a fitting I had a whilte back for a driver. I had him try various shafts, heads, etc. but he still wanted a Brand X shaft installed into a Brand Y head because it's what was being used on tour by his favorite player even though it wasn't the best results. I know, not all golfers are like this but just drove a point home to me how people will let the media or marketing drive their decisions.

Personally I don't care who uses the components, what they've won, I have to look at the performance of the clubs.

[tartanjack]

Ya know, I know what you mean. One of my best friends is a PGA pro at a range. It's just amazing the stories he hears when it comes to club fitting. Back in the old days I could understand somebody wanting to play, for instance, a MacGregor driver because half the PGA Tour was playing them. But that was when there were maybe three or four decent persimmon heads and one shaft to choose from. Now... forgedaboutit.

That's why, Everardo, I could never deal with the "public" as do you. Sometimes somebody just wants something that's so wrong. And the best thing you can do is give it to them. That's painful. But that's life and that's golf today, I guess.

There's been talk on TV recently. Some commentators have noted that "feel" has been replaced by "mechanics" I think there's a lot to that. We've lost the workman-like swings of Palmer and Trevino. Now we've got Adam Scott and his Tiger 2002 swing as the model.

The average guy doesn't seem to undertand that golf is personal, it's not an emulation. It's not about being Tiger. It's about you. Ergo, it's what really, trully works for you. And if 220 is your average carry, then let's get you a club that gives you some roll after 220 and gets you in the fairway more often than not.

But I type in vain. There's too much "I wannna be him" than "I wanna be me" in golf today.

[cmarkmyers]

Back to the Hot List - Does anyone else hate the little graphics they use to designate the 3 levels of excellent, good, and very good? Would it not be much easier on readers if they just used 1 - 9?

I think I made this point last year and I think convinced myself that if someone saw a '1' or a '2' by a club they would think it was horrible. But screw it, I want something easier to read at a glance. They are worse than consumer reports.

[tartanjack]

Cmark... you're right, of course. That's because golf clubs aren't like cars or washing machines or blenders. It's too personal. It's like rating underwear for cryin' out loud Pete's sakes. Does the head fall off when you hit it? Does the grip slip around the shaft? No? Well, it must be a 10 for somebody. Give me a break.

[flap]

Am i missing something here?I thought the "Hot List" was more a whats new and sought by everyone cause of brand advertising.I see it had testers in the articile but the original "Hot List" was more a wish list for golfers from the show.

[NCGolfer]

Before I joined TST, I rarely switched clubs and had a lot of 'old' technology in my bag. After I upgraded a good deal of my equipment there was a definite improvement...but if it wasn't (mostly) free, I can't really say that I would do it again. I still have my Mizuno Pro-II's in my basement and think about trading my new Titleist irons for MP-32's or 37's...older technology.

If I had to rank what equipment was worth the upgrade, this would be it (from best upgrade to worst):

1. Replacing 2-iron with hybrid
2. Upgrading old Steelhead Plus with TM R7
3. Switching to Vokey wedges from Clevelands
4. Upgrade to R7 TP driver
5. Upgrading irons from Pro-II's to Titleists
6. Swapping out putters (I think I putted better with old Odyssey)

Just my opinion, but the hybrid is by far the most significant change in technology over the past 5 years. Everything else 'wood' related would be second and the rest is just noise.

[Clubswinger21]

No real surprises, all the major manufacturers are well represented. Titleist ProV and ProV1 golf balls were again the editor's choice in the golf ball category. Even with everything the other manufacturers do they just cannot make a better ball and knock titleist off their pedistal. And the new ProV's weren't even the ones tested. They are due out this spring I believe.

ahaha, are you Steve Duemig? anyways we'll see, as straight and long as KJ hit it, lets say its the only reason she shoots 72 70 to make the cut by a stroke. Callaways cleaning house?

[BritBoy]

I used to put a lot of stock into the hot list when I was desperately trying to improve my scores....... I think it was the desperation that was holding me back.

Now I believe that club choice is so personal that the hotlist is just something that fun to read but I would never hang my handicap on it.

[Rico College]

Where are all the Cobra Woods on this list?