2011 Hot List Category Leaders

By Mike Stachura, Stina Sternberg, E. Michael Johnson, Max Adler Photos by Jim Herity

January 23, 2011

THE CATEGORIES

1. PERFORMANCE (45%)Based on interviews with our player panelists, independent robot testing and other sources, the judges assessed the utility of each product. Simply put, this is a grade for what happens to the ball when it's struck by the club.2. INNOVATION (30%)In consultation with our technical panel and based on company interviews and our review of company technical documents, this grade reflects how a specific technology advances the category and how it's explained to the public and our editors. In addition, our judges assessed the commitment of each company to fitting the majority of golfers.3. LOOK/SOUND/FEEL (20%)Using input from the panelists, our judges evaluated the excellence of the visual, auditory and tactile experience of using a particular club. The more the club reflects our understanding of what a golf club should be, the higher the grade it receives.4. DEMAND (5%)An assessment of the reputation, interest, intrigue and excitement about a particular product, considering market presence, tour use, relative value and consumer satisfaction through consulting research by Golf Datatech, other published resources and a panel of leading retailers.

DRIVER: TAYLORMADE R11

STREET PRICE:: $400 WEBSITE:taylormadegolf.comLOFTS: 9, 10.5TECH TALK: The movable weights of the original r7 and the adjustable hosel of the R9 are joined by a rotating soleplate that independently changes the driver's face angle for 48 possible settings. As a result, the adjustments in loft and lie from the hosel don't affect the driver's appearance at address. The purpose of the white paint job is to eliminate possible glare at address.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"It's ahead of the curve visually. They tried something different, and it works." ... "It's easy to work this club any way I want, and the distance is superb."M:"The adjustability is complex but not complicated. The soleplate is idiot-proof."__HOT:__Getting more distance from your driver has less to do with springlike faces and huge clubheads these days. Instead, it's about getting the most from each golfer's swing. The R11's adjustability makes achieving this goal easier than with any other club on the market.NOT: Even with 2 degrees of launch adjustability, this is still a driver for better players.

DRIVER: TITLEIST 910D2/D3

STREET PRICE:: $400WEBSITE:titleist.comLOFTS:: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 in both models__TECH TALK:__The adjustable hosel allows the club's loft and lie angle to be manipulated independently to any of 16 settings. The purpose is to help optimize each player's launch conditions. The D2 and D3 (smaller head designed to spin less) feature a thinner crown than previous Titleist drivers to help lower the CG. The face design has a thick center section equidistant from the perimeter for maximizing ball speed.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I love how the alignment aid frames the face." ... "You can hit the shot you want with this club."M:"The adjustability is spot-on: One degree open looks like 1 degree open." ... "The feel is solid."H: "It's easy to hit, and hit long. I'm starting to tire out, and this club still gets it out there."__HOT:__Adjustability doesn't have to be about a wide range of flight patterns as much as finding each player's individual setting. Titleist has done that here in a way that will please its target audience and probably a few others, too.NOT: At 320 grams, it's among the heaviest drivers on the market.

FAIRWAY WOOD: CALLAWAY DIABLO OCTANE OCTANE TOUR

STREET PRICE: $200 (per club)WEBSITE:callawaygolf.comLOFTS: 15, 17, 19, 21, 24; Tour: 13, 15, 18TECH TALK: Golfers have two choices: The deep center of gravity (CG) of the wide-bodied Diablo Octane helps launch the ball high. The more forward CG of the smaller Tour model delivers a lower trajectory. Both feature Callaway's variable-thickness face that's designed to maximize off-center hits.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I like the clean look of the Tour version. Ball flight is consistent off the tee and fairway."..."I can get this in the air with minimal spin. On a tight driving hole, this is your club."M: "The muted sound and solid feel at impact are awesome. Mis-hits might go a little shorter, but they hit the fairway."..."Your shots don't balloon, even when you hit it hard."..."The ball flies off the face with unexpected forgiveness."HOT: A forgiving shape and a smart face make this a strong entry. Including a 9-wood in the lineup where others don't makes it special.NOT: The standard version is loud, and the Tour model is muffled. Any way we can find middle ground?

FAIRWAY WOOD: PING G15

STREET PRICE: $200WEBSITE:ping.comLOFTS: 15.5, 17, 18.5, 21.5TECH TALK: The low-profile clubhead has an external sole weight to keep the CG low and push it farther back. Many regular and senior flex shafts are merely softer versions of the stiff flex. But Ping's proprietary shaft varies in weight, flex profile and torque in all clubs and flexes to address the playing characteristics of golfers regardless of skill level.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "This is a Ferrari: Just put your foot on the gas pedal, and it does all the work."..."I hit one fat, and it still got out there. A nice recovery club, with a solid sound, too."M: "This one never balloons on you. It doesn't matter where you hit it on the face; it feels solid."..."The face feels explosive. It's forgiving, and the trajectory is consistent."__HOT:__Ping's unsurpassed fitting options (lie angles, grip sizes and swingweights) only enhance the G15's simplicity and reliability.NOT: We wish the company hadn't stopped making the G15's Draw model. It was a better club than the new K15 draw-bias fairway wood.

FAIRWAY WOOD: TITLEIST 910F/910F-D

STREET PRICE: $250WEBSITE:titleist.comLOFTS: 13.5, 15, 17, 19TECH TALK: Titleist separates the lie and loft/face-angle settings in this adjustable fairway wood through the use of a multi-faceted hosel. The 3-wood is available in two versions: The 910F has a low profile and produces a higher spin rate, and the 910F-d has a deep face and generates less spin to optimize tee shots. An optional weight kit allows you to experiment with swingweights.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "A perfect sync of sound and feel, like a one-two punch combination." ..."I wanted to hit a high draw, and that's what the D-3 hosel setting let me do."M: "This might be the best-looking fairway wood I've seen in the past 10 years. The adjustable hosel is seamless."..."You feel like you're banging the ball with a hammer. It's that solid. I love the rounded face, too. This is a great overall club."HOT: Both fairway woods come with an easy-to-follow glossy chart that describes how each hosel setting can affect ball flight.__NOT:__Where's the 7-wood?

HYBRID: ADAMS IDEA TECH V3

STREET PRICE: $200WEBSITE:adamsgolf.comLOFTS: 17, 19, 22, 25, 29, 33TECH TALK: A thin clubface and crown plus a 70-gram tungsten sole weight create a high-launching utility club with plenty of spring in the face. The four-way cambered sole helps reduce turf interaction, and the dual bounces on the sole (the head tapers in the front and back) make the club playable for golfers who sweep and those who take deep divots..PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "The smaller head makes it look more like an iron, and it sounds like one, too. The ball really gets up in the air easily, yet it has a penetrating flight. I'm not a hybrid guy, but I'd put this one in my bag."H: "This club is sweet. The black is classy, and the single white alignment line on the bottom of the face really does the trick. It's everything a hybrid should be."HOT: Adams has succeeded in making a hybrid that looks sleek, small and playable yet launches the ball high with forgiveness.NOT: The face angle looks set up for a fade, which can be intimidating for players fighting a slice.

HYBRID: CALLAWAY RAZR X / RAZR X TOUR

STREET PRICE:$160WEBSITE:callawaygolf.comLOFTS: RAZR X: 21, 24, 27; RAZR X Tour: 18, 21, 24TECH TALK: A heat-treating process allows Callaway to make the RAZR X's face 18 percent thinner than the face of the Diablo Edge. This improves ball speed and allows weight to be redistributed to the perimeter of the sole for better stability on off-center hits. The face design of the standard model helps average golfers get thin shots up in the air more easily.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The Tour model has a nice compact head and no variation in feel: Even my poor strikes felt great."..."I love the high draw it produces."M: "This thing is more forgiving than your grandmother."..."I hit it all over the face and didn't notice any substantial difference in distance or ball flight."HOT: We are pleased to see a truly inventive hybrid shape. The heavily beveled back sole on the Tour model makes it easy to move the club through thick rough.__NOT:__Callaway flattened the lie angles based on "tour-player feedback." Unfortunately, we're not tour players.

HYBRID: TAYLORMADE RESCUE RESCUE TP

STREET PRICE: $190WEBSITE:taylormadegolf.com__LOFTS:__17, 19, 22TECH TALK: The Rescue features a classic head shape, a deep face and a neutral face angle. The matte-white crown and black face are intended to help with alignment. The hosel is adjustable, so golfers can change the club's lie and loft/face angle to suit their preferences.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I'm fine with the white. After a few hits it ceases to be a novelty. This club has a muted sound with a mid-flight trajectory."..."It's a heavier club, but with that weight comes distance."M: "This is a sophisticated piece of equipment."..."It has a very consistent flight, good distance and it lands softly. Just what a hybrid should be."HOT: Forget the look for a minute. The sound is true and the feel is authentic. The performance is straight from the TaylorMade tree.NOT: Still, the red decals on the white crown are distracting.

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON: CALLAWAY RAZR X

STREET PRICE:$700WEBSITE:callawaygolf.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 28, PW: 44TECH TALK: Thirty grams of weight have been repositioned toward the rear of the club to produce a center of gravity (CG) 12 percent lower and 15 percent deeper than last year's X-22. Taking away the undercut in the heel and toe areas creates a high moment of inertia (MOI) to improve ball speed on off-center strikes.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The muted sound at impact reminds me of the old Fusions. It's not an offensive sound, just different. Pleasant, actually. Produces a high ball flight, but not too high. An extremely forgiving iron."M: "It has a rebel-like look in the bag but is pleasing at address."HOT: Hybrid options (up to three) are a definite bonus. Studying the tendency of golfers to hit their irons low on the face and then designing a set to optimize such shots is the kind of function-over-form thinking that benefits golfers.NOT: We're not sure what Callaway was thinking when it strengthened the long-iron lofts by 2 degrees. Aren't long irons hard enough to get in the air?

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON: MIZUNO JPX-800 PRO

STREET PRICE: $800WEBSITE:mizunousa.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45TECH TALK A computer-milling process is used to create the thin face on this 1025E soft carbon-steel forged iron. A triple-cut sole (beveled leading and trailing edges with a cambered midsole) helps reduce the club's turf drag. Mizuno devoted considerable research to developing the right sound.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The ball flight is a little lower than other irons in this category. It's also easier to maneuver than a lot of players irons I've hit." ... "Really good addition to the Mizuno line." ... "A great forged option for someone who wants a perimeter-weighted club."HOT: It's a game-improvement club that you can fool your friends with: It looks like a players iron, but middle-handicappers can play well with these. Help is there, but it's not the most forgiving. The 93-gram Project X shaft completes the ensemble if you prefer graphite.__NOT:__Having a JPX-800 and JPX-800 Pro model could lead to consumer confusion.

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON: TAYLORMADE BURNER 2.0

STREET PRICE: $700WEBSITE:taylormadegolf.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 27, PW: 45TECH TALK: The long irons are oversize, and the entire set features lightweight shafts (90 grams in steel) and grips to keep the weight down. The purpose is to promote a faster swing speed. Each shaft also has a different flex profile (lower in the long irons to help launch the ball high, and higher in the short irons to maximize control).PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It's long, but the distance control was surprisingly consistent for a bomber club." ... "The long irons are the longest I've seen, but the lofts are more jacked up than a monster truck."M: "I was expecting a little more feedback, but this club doesn't talk back to you."__HOT:__TaylorMade has taken much of the gee-whiz creativity it has shown in its drivers and put it in its irons. Although hitting the ball as far as possible with irons isn't for everyone, players seeking distance will benefit from a set like this.NOT: The offset screams, "Fore, left!" too loudly for some players.

PLAYERS IRON: MIZUNO MP-63

STREET PRICE: $900WEBSITE:mizunousa.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 30, PW: 46TECH TALK: The diamond-muscle design on the back cavity allows for incremental heel-toe weighting (more in long irons, less in short irons). Mizuno's Shaft Optimizer fitting system remains the one by which others are judged.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I thought the best synergy of sod and steel was in the MP-62s, but these beat that. I caught a couple heavy, and the impact and flight were barely affected."M: "You feel like you're a pro when you're looking down at these. Coming down from the handle, they're very pretty: a chrome, satin finish with clean lines."HOT: Mizuno's sound research led to one of the company's sweetest-sounding irons yet. The MP-63 doesn't wow you with technological features, and it's not going to overcome mis-hits as much as a larger clubhead might, but if you've got game, these irons do, too.NOT: Wannabes will flock to this club but shouldn't. Your misses are going to be misses.

PLAYERS IRON: PING ANSER

STREET PRICE: $1,350WEBSITE:ping.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 30, PW: 46TECH TALK: This forged, multi-material creation uses an 8620 carbon-steel body, a tungsten sole and a hollow-sole cavity that is designed to soften feel and position the CG for high-launching shots. Stock shaft is the Project X. As with all Ping irons, a dozen lie-angle options provides the ability to order specs ranging from 3.75 degrees flat to 4.5 degrees upright.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Great feel. You know where the club is in your fingers. The matte finish kills the glare nicely."M: "Few long irons come down as softly as these." ... "You have to work hard to miss shots. The sole just glides through the turf."HOT: Ping's long-awaited entry into commercially available forged irons was worth the wait. The look is comfortable without being too big, and the club delivers on feel in a way previous Ping players irons didn't.NOT: We seldom tell people to put down our magazine, but if you want a set of these you might want to stop reading and place your order. Only 1,500 are being made.

PLAYERS IRON: TAYLORMADE TOUR PREFERRED MC

STREET PRICE: $900WEBSITE:taylormadegolf.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 30, PW: 47TECH TALK: The 1025 carbon-steel clubhead is manufactured using a five-step forging process that allows for a more precise head shape. A weight port in the back is designed to provide consistent swingweights throughout the set.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "There's absolutely zero vibration. It's amazing TaylorMade can achieve that in such a small head. There's just the right amount of progression in the offset." ... "The look has a good balance of high-tech and tradition. It also has good workability in the short irons. I wasn't expecting that."M: "I don't know if the weight screw in the back does anything, but the head feels solid at impact."HOT: Making clubs that look good, sound great and feel like they should is a TaylorMade strength. The badge and weight in the cavity are unobtrusive and produce a feel worthy of the company's Tour Preferred name.NOT: The finish is plain Jane. It lacks the visual distinction we expect from TaylorMade.

SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON: ADAMS IDEA TECH V3

STREET PRICE: $900WEBSITE:adamsgolf.comLOFTS 6-iron: 29, PW: 45TECH TALK The tungsten weighting in the hybrids enhances forgiveness, and recessed heel and toe areas reduce turf drag. A four-piece viscoelastic vibration-dampening material is designed to promote a solid feel. There are two set choices (all hybrids or one with forged short irons). Both come with Mitsubishi Bassara graphite shafts.PLAYER COMMENTSM: "Best in show, but not for complete beginners." ... "The all-black is a bad-ass look."H: "The 6-hybrid is so super-easy to hit I might have to get it on its own." ... "The amount of mass behind the ball makes me feel like I'll make solid contact every time."HOT The ability to choose between two sets widens the audience for this model. Adams knows how to make clubs that work for average golfers, and average golfers can't hit long irons. What they can hit are the long hybrids.NOT Looking at the hybrid-style short irons, however, may not be so easy on the eyes.

SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON: CALLAWAY DIABLO EDGE

STREET PRICE: $800WEBSITE:callawaygolf.comLOFTS 6-iron: 28, PW: 44TECH TALK Two hybrids (with the option to purchase as many as two more at $160 each) come standard in a set that features the company's familiar iron technologies, including a variable-thickness face for extra yards on off-center strikes. There's also a 360-degree undercut channel to increase perimeter weighting for additional forgiveness.PLAYER COMMENTSM: "I like the look: It's minimum gaudy and maximum nice. Plus, the hybrid is powerful. I really knocked it a long way."H: "These could seriously change someone's game. They're easy to hit, and they pack a lot of power. Anyone could get around the course with these."HOT Although this set isn't a substitute for lessons, it comes pretty close. The sole is 15 percent wider than the Big Bertha '08 model and moves through the turf easily.NOT All of the hybrids are longer in length than the corresponding iron (1.25 inches in the case of the 3-hybrid). We'd prefer to see the lengths more iron-like.

SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON: PING K15

STREET PRICE: $1,100WEBSITE:ping.comLOFTS: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45TECH TALK: The hybrids have an internal weight pad to help increase the moment of inertia (MOI), giving more stability on off-center strikes. Using a titanium face adds zip to this wide-soled iron. It also saved 27 grams that were moved to the perimeter and sole for added forgiveness.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "The fat-toe hybrid is a little ugly, but the irons are sweet. Call it Ping's starter kit." ..."These feel like the G15, but the turf interaction is easier on the bad swings. The brushed finish is a nice break from all the chrome irons." ... "This is a blueprint for other super game-improvement irons."HOT: Known for its dedication to fitting, Ping has expanded that commitment with a mix-and-match approach to set makeup: You can get two, three or four hybrids at no additional cost. That, friends, is brilliant.NOT: The K15 uses the same basic head shape but with more offset. That's going to take time to get used to.

WEDGE: CLEVELAND CG15 (TOUR ZIP)

STREET PRICE: $120 WEBSITE:clevelandgolf.comLOFTS: 29 loft and bounce options (46 to 64 degrees, including "dynamic sole grind" models); three finishes (black pearl, oil quench, satin chrome)TECH TALK: The groove pattern on the face of the CG15 is laser-etched to create consistent surface roughness for maximum spin. The sole has a wider heel than last year's model and toe relief for improved performance from the sand.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Same consistent feel on every type of chip shot. Just cuts through the sand." ... "Seems to feel better on steeper swings."M: "Perfect amount of bounce for full shots." ... "It's like a five-tool baseball player that gets the job done in all aspects of the game."HOT: With 29 loft and bounce options (at least 12 more than any other company), you can't find a more thorough commitment to the short game. The multi-faceted effectiveness of the head shape will never go out of style.NOT: Cleveland has taken a safe approach to its groove configuration while others have taken risks.

WEDGE: TITLEIST VOKEY DESIGN SPIN MILLED C-C

STREET PRICE: $120WEBSITE:titleist.comLOFTS: 17 loft and bounce options (48 to 64 degrees); three finishes (black nickel, oil can, tour chrome)TECH TALK: Though the grooves have been downsized from the original version, the same technique is used to precisely mill groove edges and volume. Expect a slightly higher trajectory and less spin compared to last year's model.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "A versatile wedge, and the bounce isn't noticeable." ... "Sits really well in every position no matter how you lay the face."M: "Phenomenal in the sand: It's delicate enough to finesse shots or blast them out when necessary."H: "Feels so pure. Even when I chunked it a bit, the wedge still cut through the turf nicely."HOT: Bob Vokey's genius in wedge design isn't just about spin. He creates the proper head shape to execute the shots that matter.NOT: We get the feeling a more inventive solution to the new groove rule is still to come.

MALLET PUTTER: ODYSSEY WHITE ICE SERIES

STREET PRICE: $180-$200WEBSITE:odysseygolf.comSTYLES: Eight (Backstryke D.A.R.T., pictured)__TECH TALK:__This series is three families with intermingled traits, united by the firm, multimaterial insert. The Backstryke’s shaft enters the rear of the head to establish the correct amount of forward press and to make the view of the leading edge unobstructed. D.A.R.T. putt-ers have an alignment system of converging white lines whose intersection would be the center of the ball. The 2-Ball models are finished in dark nickel and come with an adjustable weight port.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "There's nothing I can align better than a 2-Ball on short putts."M: "The Backstryke is funky, but I was ready to fall in love." ... "Triangle optics work. They focus you on the point of impact."HOT: A favorite and leader because it's so comprehensive. The D.A.R.T. is an interesting new alignment tool. And it's almost impossible to fan a putt with the Backstryke, so steady does it keep your wrists.NOT: If you like sensing the rotation of the face in your stroke, the Backstryke is not for you.

MALLET PUTTER: PING SCOTTSDALE SERIES

STREET PRICE: $160WEBSITE:ping.comSTYLES: Five (Y Worry, pictured)__TECH TALK:__The thermoplastic-elastomer insert is designed to produce a soft feel yet make the ball come off the face as fast as a steel-faced putter. The crimson, white and black alignment aid (offered on all models except the Pickemup) provides a lengthy, high-contrast sightline. All models are cast from 17-4 stainless steel. Custom-fitting for shaft length, loft, lie angle and grip size is available.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "This is what I've been looking for." ... "It lets you think you're going to drain the putt."M: "The insert plays soft yet firm, and the entire thing is very stable. Surprisingly, the look isn't distracting, though it combines various angles and circles with lines."HOT: A very stealthy collection of shapes. Any weirdness on first blush is quickly counter-balanced by the clean, dark finish and the easy utility of the alignment art.NOT: The names. Y Worry? Hohum? Pickemup? Pickemup is what you do when you're putting for double.

BLADE PUTTER: ODYSSEY BLACK SERIES TOUR DESIGNS

STREET PRICE: $270WEBSITE:odysseygolf.comSTYLES: Three (#1 Wide, pictured)__TECH TALK:__The head is constructed from three materials: a 1025 carbon-steel body, a tungsten flange, and between them a thin urethane dampening layer. The purpose of placing heavy tungsten in the rear is to get the ball rolling end over end more quickly. The #1 Wide is a no-hosel design. The #2 has a plumber's-neck hosel with a full shaft of offset. The #8 is the Arnold Palmer style.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I'd buy it for just how it looks." ... "The feel is soft, yet the ball came off the face fast, which is a rare combination."M: "It's got a great, heavy feel to it. Your stroke can't get jumpy."HOT: If you desire real technology but can't abandon the looks you know and love, then this is your putter. Making classic shapes play better, and doing it with elegance, is why this series is Hot List Gold two years running.NOT: Urethane-covered tour balls work well with the face, but other balls can feel too firm.

BLADE PUTTER: ODYSSEY WHITE ICE SERIES

STREET PRICE: $130WEBSITE:odysseygolf.comSTYLES: Five (#6, pictured)__TECH TALK:__Designers conducted acoustical research to develop an insert that gives consistent sound across all ball constructions. The outcome is a multimaterial insert that weighs 60 grams less than if the face were made of steel. This saved weight helps push the center of gravity (CG) back to improve roll. Finished in dark nickel, new additions to the series this year are the #3, #4 and #6.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "The black sightline with the white borders [#3 model] really tunes in your attention."H: "Delicious. The contact is velvety, and I'm digging the clean look."HOT: A creative company when it comes to options. The new models are respectful of tradition yet approach alignment in inventive ways. One of these ways just might unlock something magical for you.NOT: We'd expect the leading putter company, given its ample resources, to come up with something revolutionary in custom-fitting. So far it hasn't.

BLADE PUTTER: TITLEIST SCOTTY CAMERON STUDIO SELECT

STREET PRICE: $300WEBSITE:titleist.comSTYLES: Six (Laguna 2, pictured)__TECH TALK:__Milled from 303 stainless steel, the five blade models in this line (not counting Fastback and Squareback versions--too mallet-like in our opinion to be considered pure blades) provide a mix of hosel choices and head shapes on the Newport style. Circular weight ports in the heel and toe provide stability and are adjusted at the factory to maintain the correct headweight for different shaft lengths.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Very crisp edges on all the models." ... "Swings so nicely. Instead of making a stroke, you really feel like you're swinging the putterhead."M: "Looks good, sounds good, probably even tastes good."HOT: His name transcends all others in putter crafting. More tour players use his putters than anyone else's. To have one is to never doubt your equipment.NOT: On the Laguna 2, the designer's name appears on the club no fewer than four times. Most gratuitous is the engraving on the heel and toe of the flange, visible at address.

BLADE PUTTER: BETTINARDI STUDIO STOCK

STREET PRICE: $375WEBSITE:bettinardi.comSTYLES: Three (#6, pictured)TECH TALK: Milled from soft carbon steel, the "honeycomb" pattern face has grooves in the hitting area. The "borealis black" finish is made to reflect rich colors and never tarnish. The #5 and #8 are derivations of an Anser; the #6 is an Arnold Palmer-style.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Gives you a very consistent feel no matter how hard or soft you hit it."..."I popped one in the air on purpose with a bad stroke, but it still rolled well."M: "You can tell that a lot of time was spent crafting this putter. It seemed easier than most to hear the ball on the meat of the putter." ..."The ball blends to this head like a hand fitting in a glove."HOT: Robert J. Bettinardi has been milling putters for close to 20 years. His style is mature and understated. The hand-applied finish is subtly unique on each head. If you're putting lights-out, detecting the spectrum of the rainbow in the oil-can glint of the finish might compare to a religious experience.NOT: "That will be $375, please."

Zurich Classic of New Orleans