Drivers

By Mike Stachura

Photos by Jim Herity

VIEW THE COMPLETE 2011 HOT LIST

(W) ALSO IN WOMEN'S (•) CATEGORY LEADER | (L) LOW-HANDICAPPER | (M) MIDDLE-HANDICAPPER | (H) HIGH-HANDICAPPER | LISTED ALPHABETICALLY

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CALLAWAY
DIABLO OCTANE
DIABLO OCTANE TOUR

STREET PRICE: $300
WEBSITE: callawaygolf.com
LOFTS: 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 13;
Tour: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5

TECH TALK:The clubhead weighs just 195 grams thanks to a lightweight carbon-fiber crown. Despite the lighter weight, the head still has a low center of gravity (CG) and the off-center hit stability of heavier heads. A 46-inch lightweight shaft is designed to increase swing speed, and a chemically milled cupface helps improve ball speed.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
L: "Impressive. It took awhile for the ball to come down."... "The tour version might be the best-looking Callaway driver ever made."
M: "Perfect combination of distance and forgiveness. You can hit this any place on the clubface, and it will still go like a center strike."

HOT: Many companies have given up on carbon fiber, but Callaway uses the material's light weight to control the clubhead's CG more precisely than most. Plus, the Octane's shape is more appealing than last year's Diablo Edge.
NOT: The Callaway fitting system is great. Fitting for shaft length would make it even better.

Photo by Jim Herity