Hot List 2010: Look/Sound/Feel Category Leaders: Golf Digest

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Hot List: golfdigest.com

Hot List Category Leaders: Look/Sound/Feel

Look/Sound/Feel factor (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 resonates with our understanding of what a golf club should be, the higher the grade it receives.

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

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DRIVER: COBRA ZL

STREET PRICE: $300
WEBSITE: cobragolf.com
LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5

TECH TALK: In the pursuit of maximum distance, Cobra combines multiple materials, milled geometry in the face insert, an adjustable hosel and a 46-inch shaft. Designers replaced titanium with graphite in the crown and sole sections to allow the CG to be positioned low, back and slightly toward the heel. In addition, the club's impact sound has been re-engineered from loud and low-pitched in the L5V to quieter and higher-pitched.
PLAYER COMMENTS:
(H) "Seems like there's a lot of club behind the ball but not in an overwhelming way. Even mis-hits sounded good." (M) "It's like a punch in the mouth -- a lot of straight power." (L) "Most solid impact note of anything I've hit. This driver sounds so pure I could tell you what type of ball I'm hitting." ... "Stupid long."
HOT: It's no shock that Cobra would introduce a distance-mad driver. One that sounds this good? Now there's an upset.
NOT: No stock options for women and seniors seems like a mistake, especially for Cobra.