Hot List 2010: Innovation Category Leaders: Golf Digest

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Hot List: golfdigest.com

Hot List Category Leaders: Innovation

Innovation factor (30%): In consultation with our technical panel and based on company interviews and our review of company technical documents, this grade reflects how a technology advances the category and how that technology is explained to the public and our editors. In addition, our judges assessed the commitment of each company to fitting the majority of golfers.

Other Hot List Slideshows: Performance | Innovation | Look/Sound/Feel | Demand
$: BEST VALUE | W: ALSO IN WOMEN'S | (H) HIGH-HANDICAPPER | (M) MIDDLE-HANDICAPPER | (L) LOW-HANDICAPPER

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DRIVER: CALLAWAY FT-IZ

STREET PRICE: $400
WEBSITE: callawaygolf.com
LOFTS: 9, 10, 11, 13;
Tour: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5

TECH TALK: The compression-cured carbon-fiber body behind the cupface weighs just 43.5 grams, allowing weight saved to be placed in the heel, toe and deep behind the center of the face. The purpose is more consistent ball speed, stability and spin on off-center hits. A chemically milled process on the face improves the precision of the variable thickness.
PLAYER COMMENTS:
(H) "The misses are not out of control, just off the fairway and not in the woods." (M) "Looks like Darth Vader's helmet. But don't judge it by its looks. It can play." (L) "For a crazy-shaped head, it looks really good. Mis-hits and good hits have the same trajectory, which you don't see very often."
HOT: Callaway's process lets its designers move more weight where many can't. This driver is more extreme in performance and less extreme in shape than ever before.
NOT: The adjustable I-Mix option is interesting, but its pricing structure (for shafts) is gulp-inducing.