HOT LIST 2007: DRIVERS

Gold (Editor's Choice)
CALLAWAY FUSION FT-5: Street Price: $430.; Lofts: 9, 10, 11, 13 High Trajectory; draw and neutral versions.; Key Technology: The trademark carbon-composite body is stretched longer to push the CG farther back and improve stability. The lightweight frame is designed to allow 50 grams to be redistributed internally around the rear perimeter, and the titanium cup-face is wider and taller than before.; Panelist Comments: "Very forgiving and even ball flight across the face . . . Not classic, but there's a symmetry that makes it easy to look at . . . Sound is better, but the way the ball was flying I could get past almost anything."; Judges' Verdict: Callaway might have the last laugh for its preoccupation with carbon-composite technology because its latest generation is its best. The lightweight shell allows Callaway designers to put weight exactly where they want it, and the new shape optimizes that potential. But it's the OptiFit System, which features a fitting cart of interchangeable heads and dozens of shafts, that maximizes the value of its technology.; Hot: Tour version; Not: OptiFit isn't everywhere yet.; Comes with 14 head/loft options, not counting the shafts.; callawaygolf.com

Gold
Callaway Big Bertha 460: Street Price: $300.; Lofts: 9, 10, 11, 13HT.; Key Technology: Its wider body and flatter crown are designed to approach the USGA's five-inch-box size limit, and Callaway says the shape produces the highest MOI of any all-titanium driver in the company's history.; Panelist Comments: "Call me crazy, but that white line really enhances the look at address. . . . A good club for bombers who want to bang it out there."; Judges' Verdict: Sometimes simple is better. The sheer bulk of this club screams classic Callaway forgiveness and fun.; Hot: Can be customized with Callaway's OptiFit Driver System.; Not: The stock shaft won't be satisfactory for bigger hitters.; The 55-gram shaft makes big swingers out of us all.; callawaygolf.com

Gold
Callaway Fusion FT-i: Street Price: $500; Lofts: 9, 10, 11, 13HT; draw and neutral versions.; Key Technology: Callaway seeks to achieve maximum clubhead stability by going to extremes with a driver whose prototype was called (no lie) SpongeBob. Its square shape, titanium face and carbon-composite body are designed to distribute weight to the corners of the club for higher MOI.; Panelist Comments: "Looks like a tank on a stick but hits like one, too . . . How desperate do you have to be?"; Judges' Verdict: Applause for the technological horsepower behind this effort. Its look remains a hurdle, though.; Hot: The odd shape isn't entirely unsettling.; Not: Launches the ball high. Might produce too much spin for fast swingers.; Just might be the ultimate use of carbon composite.; callawaygolf.com

Gold
Cleveland HiBore XL: Street Price: $300; Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 16.; Key Technology: The scooped-out crown is designed to place the CG low and align it with the center of the clubface without letting it get too deep (An excessively deep CG could lead to shots that spin too much). It has a larger frame than its predecessor and a higher MOI.; Panelist Comments: "The feel was a bit harsh, but the ball came off the face hot. . . . This one's like eating spinach: It's good for you, and you eventually get used to it."; Judges' Verdict: We like the better stability over the original HiBore, and Cleveland's CG technology has meaning.; Hot: Two tip stiffnesses for each flex, plus a Tour version.; Not: Does the Tour version need to be $50 more?; Tour use of the XL started in November.; clevelandgolf.com

Gold
Nike SQ Sumo: Street Price: $300.; Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 13, 16.; Key Technology: Building on the original SasQuatch's deep, front-to-back frame, the new version has lowered its back seat to push the CG lower. The large depth of the club's body (Nike says 71 percent of the clubhead is behind the CG) is designed to enhance MOI.; Panelist Comments: "This is an improvement with better sound and feel and better distance for off-center hits . . . . Trajectory seemed low . . . Performs well on mis-hits."; Judges' Verdict: A smart adjustment from last year's success story, and a big cheer for showing the power of geometry.; Hot: More MOI than original at the same price.; Not: Having two shaft-upgrade options seems paltry.; The 16-degree gives beginners confidence.; nikegolf.com

Gold
Nike SQ Sumo²: Street Price: $400; Lofts: 8.5, 9.5., 10.5, 13.; Key Technology: It achieves the highest MOI of any driver on the list thanks to its nearly five-inch-square size, which is made possible through the use of a carbon-composite crown insert.; Panelist Comments: "Nice high flight, but does it hold six or eight CDs? Better players would rate it a 6 out of 10, but high-handicappersmight like it."; Judges' Verdict: The sound and shape are difficult to overcome, but the performance helps those who can't find the center of the face. It encourages us all to swing hard without fear.; Hot: Gimmick? A win in the club's second week on tour says no.; Not: Why no 16-degree model on a club that choppers should flock to?; Impact sounds similar to a softball bat.; nikegolf.com

Gold
Ping G5: Street Price: $300; Lofts: 7.5, 9, 10.5, 12, 13.5, plus offset models.; Key Technology: A hidden web-like structure in the rear of the crown is an attempt to give the standard-issue, all-titanium head a performance boost by helping lower its CG. A plasma-welded insert in the face helps save weight. The clubface is machined to variable thicknesses to improve its flex.; Panelist Comments: "The half-moon alignment device is elegant . . . Simply a perfect-looking driver . . . Nice, muted, heavy sound."; Judges' Verdict: It's still very much an old-money club, but we really appreciate its eight loft options.; Hot: The Ping Wrx fitting option is great for geeks.; Not: Might be a little behind the times in the great MOI race.; Aldila NV shaft option helps lower ball flight.; pinggolf.com

Gold
Ping Rapture: Street Price: $430; Lofts: 9, 10.5, 12.; Key Technology: The webbed rear portion of the titanium crown is filled with carbon composite, allowing 20 grams to be placed in the back heel and toe. Ping used a supercomputer to analyze the structural integrity of the crown when determining where to place the web structure.; Panelist Comments: "Perfect sound . . . I might have found me another date. It looks great, sits perfect. I don't like the Spiderman thing on the crown, but it's solid."; Judges' Verdict: It's a strong entry at the pricey end of the spectrum, but a step forward, without stepping too far from G5.; Hot: The meatiest-sounding composite driver ever.; Not: Three lofts aren't enough.; $430 is a lot of jing without a name shaft.; pinggolf.com