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GOLF DIGEST 2014 "HOT" LIST - What's Hot, What Should Be Hot

Mr. Desmond

By Mr. Desmond,
in Clubs, Grips, Shafts, Fitting

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Mr. Desmond Super Member

Mr. Desmond

This year's list of controversy or yawns, depends on how you see it, has arrived at:

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/hot-list

It's the usual suspects, maybe moreso than usual.

-- Lots of adjustable drivers, etc.

-- I saw a Callaway X2 Hot Hybrid yesterday -- liked the look.

-- The New Big Bertha? Lots of Adjustability.

-- Are slots old news or just don't look good?  Adams?

-- Some head designs look less like a soft triangle (stable) and more old school...

-- Is this really just a list for GD Advertisers? (Of course ! or ?)

Who's not on the list that you like?

What interests you?

If we're talking quality equipment, I don't see Edel Wedges or Putters, Bobby Grace Putters, and my favorite club maker for hybrids and fairways - Jesse Ortiz at Bobby Jones. Hey, he makes clubs even I can hit well.

Of course, a club maker has to submit a club, so who knows why some makers are not on the "list."

This year, I'm looking at golf balls ... exciting stuff.... Okay, I admit it, in June, I'll start looking at Drivers.. Last year soured this middle aged guy with mediocre ball speed - RIP RBZ fwys and hybrid - I did not like you or the shaft you came with -- let it go, Jerry, it's the past... the 2014 Hot List is NOW!

Think I'll work more on my swing keys than clubs this year.

For equipment geeks, it looks like a busy year... Enjoy!

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Mr. Desmond Super Member

Mr. Desmond

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Can you say Callaway, Taylormade, Nike, Titleist, Cobra with a smattering of Mizuno, Adams, Tour Edge, Bettinardi

I've seen more Nike Putters on the Hot List than I've ever seen on a golf course... just sayin'

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

Drivers: Callaway looks to have a seriously legit line of products to compete with Taylormade. Though I like the fact Taylormade has put in some pretty good golf shafts in their drivers, at least for high swing speeds. Kinda wish Mizuno would do more with their drivers. Just never seems they put the same effort into the their woods as they do their irons.

Fairway Woods: Umm, Taylormade that SLDR looks ALOT like the Jetspeed, just saying. Maybe a little different design would have been nice :-D

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: :titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

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96p993 Member

96p993

Seems like a list for the big box boys that spend millions on advertising...What would be fun would be to see ALL the names that submitted clubs...This would at least give us an idea what competition was like and how many great clubs didnt make the list

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geauxforbroke Great Member

geauxforbroke

I always take the "Hot List" as just that: a list of popular new clubs, not the best clubs on the market. After all, "best clubs" is so incredibly subjective.

That being said, I'm curious to get my hands on the new Callaway drivers and the Ping i25 driver.

From the looks of it, Callaway has either put together one of the best club lineups in recent memory, or they bumped up their sponsorship with GD...

Tyler Martin

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mvmac Incredible Member

mvmac

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-- Is this really just a list for GD Advertisers? (Of course ! or ?)

Yep the more you spend the "hotter" your clubs are, yay!

Mike McLoughlin

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Mozgolf Well Established Member

Mozgolf

The annual whinny hot-list thread.

Who really makes better gear than the big OEMs? Sure there is the odd boutique manufacturer, but they are not widely available or that widely known and similarly would be of little interest to the vast majority of GDs readership.

It gives you a guide on who has produced something decent for this season and can assist in narrowing down your choices of what to demo. In reality few in the know will buy purely off what is written on a list, no matter how comprehensive. Thats why we people go and get fittings, its hourses for courses

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Mr. Desmond Super Member

Mr. Desmond

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IMHO, It's just a list to get golfers interested in buying equipment for the coming season.

It whets the golfer's appetite while the weather is still cold. Its best use after a brief review is a toss into the fireplace, but that would contribute to global climate change -- so trash it... lol.

The LIST helps the magazine and  advertising OEM's with more sales. I'm sure the guys who get silver are not too pleased... everyone wants the gold.

I'm surprised a silver award still exists...

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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amac Well Established Member

amac

They used to give out a Bronze medal.  Must have been too insulting.  Agree, the big OEM's dominate the show.  Callaway has some interesting stuff, for sure.  Waiting for it to hit my local shops.  The new driver technology seems to be dumbing down adjustability.  Hybrids are on my purchase list for 2014.  Saw some good ones.

Driver :tmade: R1

Fairwaywood :tmade: Rocketballz Stage 2 15*

Hybrids :ping: i15 20* and 23* Hybrids

Irons :mizuno: MP64 4 - PW

Wedges :edel: 54* and 58* 

Putter :edel: 

Golf Ball :titleist: Pro V1 

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colin007 Incredible Member

colin007

I have a serious problem with this issue. I think the fact that they have a weighted category called "Demand" is utter bullshit. How should that be relevant? Also, I'd like to see robot testing that shows independent and unbiased info, instead of having different levels of amateurs hit the clubs. I don't care what a hack like me thinks, most hacks can't tell where on the clubface they've hit the ball. Anyways, I keep telling myself every year that I'm going to write in to them and tell them what a waste that issue is, but I never do...

Colin P.

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Hammer 4 Great Member

Hammer 4

I only buy something if my current stuff breaks, so the " hot list" means nada to me. Just another way to sell clubs. Shoot, I still wear my golf shirts from over 10 yrs. ago... B-)

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Hollister Well Established Member

Hollister

Still playing the ole clubs from 10years ago. The still refuse to wear out!

Still hit the 2007 driver bad enough - does hitting a 2014 stick really make the ball go further/straighter and my swing flaws go away?

Reading the list every Spring, I get the testing-bug. Last year I surrounded myself with all the TaylorMake drivers the range had to offer. My 2007 driver still performed OK. It already has four weights to move around - after testing each Spring I put them back to the default position. I think that adjustability is more for the soon-to-be-pros, way better players than me.

No, I do not get the list.

Why not add a style or beauty category? Or label the demand category "Like" or "Want"?

Or have only drivers with co-sponsors included. The Cialis hybrid for demanding lies. The Vorsprung Durch Technik diver. How would the Dolce&Gabbana; driver look (worse than the Poults designs?)?

Spring, I am ready. Bring on the new sticks, I will resist the temptation... Hopefully.

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

Still playing the ole clubs from 10years ago. The still refuse to wear out!

Still hit the 2007 driver bad enough - does hitting a 2014 stick really make the ball go further/straighter and my swing flaws go away?

Reading the list every Spring, I get the testing-bug. Last year I surrounded myself with all the TaylorMake drivers the range had to offer. My 2007 driver still performed OK. It already has four weights to move around - after testing each Spring I put them back to the default position. I think that adjustability is more for the soon-to-be-pros, way better players than me.

No, I do not get the list.

Why not add a style or beauty category? Or label the demand category "Like" or "Want"?

Or have only drivers with co-sponsors included. The Cialis hybrid for demanding lies. The Vorsprung Durch Technik diver. How would the Dolce&Gabbana; driver look (worse than the Poults designs?)?

Spring, I am ready. Bring on the new sticks, I will resist the temptation... Hopefully.

The only reason I am getting a new driver, my old one is a 2010 model is because it fits my swing profile so much better. That taylormade SLDR is very much a great club for higher swing speeds. I was hitting 13-14 degrees of launch with 2100-2300 backspin, that is just crazy good numbers. With my current driver I get 2800-3100, way to much. It is literally costing me 15 yards of carry, and probably more roll due to the more boring trajectory.

That and I need wedges and hybrids. Next year is a buy no clubs year :-D

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: :titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

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Note: This thread is 3715 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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