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HOT LIST 2007: DRIVERS
10
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Gold
- TaylorMade r7 SuperQuad
- Street Price: $400
- Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5.
- Key Technology: The first driver to max out size and have four movable weight screws (two 12-gram screws and two one-gram screws), it can be set to six CG positions. SelectFit fitting setup offers more than 63,000 combinations, including top-notch r7 425 and r7 460 heads.
- Panelist Comments: "It feels great and just goes forever. I love the black sole and dark face. It looks like a Stealth fighter but flies like a bomber."
- Judges Verdict: Quite simply the ultimate in optimizing ball flight for the better player.
- Hot: TaylorMade's unseen but powerful inverted-cone face technology.
- Not: A 13-degree wouldn't hurt.
- Heavier swingweight feels more powerful.
- taylormadegolf.com
11
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Silver
- Adams Insight
- Street Price: $300
- Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5.
- Key Technology: The flat-crown and wide-body shape extend the rear perimeter. The large size helps improve clubhead stability from crown to sole and heel to toe. The heel weighting places the CG closer to the shaft but maintains a deep position.
- Panelist Comments: "Consistent feel and trajectory. . . . These square looks are starting to feel powerful."
- Judges' Verdict: A thoughtful method for improving MOI without forgetting the importance of the CG location.
- Hot: A 45¾-inch shaft could increase ball speed.
- Not: No real commitment to fitting, which means the long shaft might be a problem for some.
- Disc shape different without being unsettling.
- adamsgolf.com
12
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Silver
- Bobby Jones Players Series
- Street Price: $300
- Lofts: 9.5, 10.5, OLA (12).
- Key Technology: Two fixed weight screws (two and 12 grams) are in the sole to increase stability. The curve of the face (it has a nine-inch roll and a nine-inch bulge) is designed to enhance gear effect (forgiveness on off-center hits).
- Panelist Comments: "Such an attractive club. I like how the face depth is deepest through the center of the face. I feel like I can hit it well anywhere on the clubface. . . . Of all the drivers, this sounded the best."
- Judges' Verdict: It has the charm of vintage jewelry and the kick of a street fighter.
- Hot: Playable 44¾-inch shaft increases consistency potential.
- Not: Only 440cc. Would like to see a maxed-out version.
- OLA or Optimal Launch Angle is a great fit for mid-level speeds.
- bobbyjonesgolf.net
13
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Silver
- Callaway X460
- Street Price: $300
- Lofts: 9, 10, 11, 13HT.
- Key Technology: The contoured X-pattern in the sole is designed to stabilize the club at address. The face insert is robotically plasma-welded. The hosel-free design saves weight for redistribution in the head.
- Panelist Comments: "This hit the ball as big as anything. . . . Clubface has a steelier, firmer, quicker feel. . . . The moment of impact makes me think of the song that goes: 'Feeling hot, hot, hot.' "
- Judges' Verdict: The look is almost classic; its performance is worthy of the look.
- Hot: The Tour version comes with a swanky Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 shaft.
- Not: If you want forgiveness above all else, there are other options.
- Sixteen custom-shaft options available.
- callawaygolf.com
14
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Silver
- Cobra HS9
- Street Price: $400.
- Lofts: 9, 10, 10.5, 12 (three head shapes, including offset).
- Key Technology: The large face has a thick, milled rhombus section designed to improve the face flex and ball speed across a wider section of the face.
- Panelist Comments: "Love the carbon-fiber look, and it got me one of the best ball flights. . . . Feel was muted. . . . Even though it's closed a bit, the ball did not want to come back to earth."
- Judges' Verdict: The big, blocky beast works for a wide range of players thanks to its three head options.
- Hot: Cobra tech van will stop at your shop to fit you with its Speed fitting process.
- Not: Don't expect it to be there once a month.
- If there's any doubt, at least try the M model.
- cobragolf.com
15
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Silver
- Mizuno MX-500
- Street Price: $300.
- Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5.
- Key Technology: There's a two-tiered approach to the use of carbon composite: A graphite-crown section is designed to lower the CG, and a large graphite-sole piece toward the toe is aimed at placing extra weight in the heel to help close the face at impact.
- Panelist Comments: "The head is nicely tapered, so it doesn't look too big, and it sits square so easily. . . . The pear-roll look is excellent, and the ball was leaping off the clubface."
- Judges' Verdict: It's a sturdy performer with a unique and purposeful use of graphite.
- Hot: There are 29 available shafts.
- Not: Relatively mediocre in the MOI department.
- Often overlooked as a better player's favorite.
- mizunousa.com
16
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Silver
- Nicklaus Dual Point
- Street Price: $300.
- lofts: 8, 9, 10.5, 12, 15 (also in offset lofts).
- Key Technology: The four-piece forged titanium clubhead uses a weight-saving micro-welding process and a 14-gram weight plug to position the CG in line with the maximum flex point on the face.
- Panelist Comments: “Might be the most pleasant surprise of the year. . . . Forgiveness? Jack doesn’t miss too many, so I guess it doesn’t need forgiveness. . . . This thing is definitely on steroids.”
- Judges' Verdict: Don’t let the no-frills look fool you; there’s plenty of heat inside.
- Hot: The 15-degree offset model is a real problem-solver.
- Not: Limited shaft options and no alignment aid.
- Offset version is really a different club than standard.
- nicklaus-golf.com
17
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Silver
- Tour Edge Bazooka GeoMax
- Street Price: $200
- Lofts: 9, 10.5, 12, 14, 16.
- Key Technology: Its head depth is near the USGA limit on higher-lofted models, but to control trajectory, its lower-lofted versions aren't as deep. The long shape is designed to raise the MOI. A tungsten sole weight is designed to lower the CG.
- Panelist Comments: "Can't believe it, but I'd put this in my bag. Every ball was out there with the best. . . . Not wild about the extended head, but off-center hits seemed to hold their line. . . . Not for me, but for my 15-handicap buddies."
- Judges' Verdict: Could be the clubhouse leader if you're going to dollar-cost average your MOI number.
- Hot: Cheers for high lofts.
- Not: Launches too high for some.
- MOI number drops on lower-lofted models.
- touredge.com
18
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Silver
- TaylorMade r7 Draw
- Street Price: $300.
- Lofts: 9, 10.5, HT (13.5).
- Key Technology: A 55-gram, soft-tipped Fujikura Re*Ax shaft and extra weight in the heel help prevent a slice. The face has TaylorMade's inverted-cone technology, which stretches the size of the area on the clubface that produces maximum or near-maximum ball speed.
- Panelist Comments: "Nothing special unless you like distance and accuracy. This is powerful. . . . Felt heavier in head. . . . Draw is what it is. I couldn't fade it."
- Judges' Verdict: It has a classic TaylorMade look; heft and feel with a genuine left-tendency.
- Hot: Sounds like a driver should, even one for choppers.
- Not: Unless you slice it 90 percent of the time, there might be better options.
- If you hit it right with this, then give up the game.
- taylormadegolf.com
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