2014 Hot List: Drivers

All 12 are adjustable—for the first time

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA

STREET PRICE: $400LOFTS: 9, 10.5, 13.5HT (all adjustable)TECH TALK: Eight settings on the adjustable hosel independently change loft and lie angle. A sliding eight-gram weight in the back adds a draw or fade bias. The re-engineered variable-thickness face is designed for a larger sweet spot than last year's RAZR Fit Xtreme, and a lightweight composite crown makes a more traditional D-2 swingweight possible.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "There's a ton of adjustability without it being in your face."M: "A powerful feel: muted, but crisp and pleasing. Plenty of giddy-up at impact."HOT: Callaway has smartly enhanced its adjustable features, including the sliding eight-gram weight. Plus, this driver gets two big things right: ball speed and forgiveness.NOT: If you've got "man hands," the small dual rings on the adjustable hosel can be a little tricky.INFO: callawaygolf.com

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA ALPHA

STREET PRICE: $500LOFTS: 9, 10.5 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: This driver features the same eight independent settings of loft and lie on its adjustable hosel as the Big Bertha and X2 Hot drivers. It also has the movable heel and toe weights (one, three, five and seven grams) found in last year's RAZR Fit Xtreme. But it now adds a third adjustable element that allows the center of gravity (CG) to be raised or lowered.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Sets up square. Dependable. I always knew where my ball was going."M: "It produced the best sound and ball flight of any driver I've hit. The impact feels cushy but firm."HOT: With the ability to adjust the CG horizontally and vertically as well as the loft and lie angle independently, this driver stands alone technologically.NOT: At $500, it stands alone in another way, too.INFO: callawaygolf.com

CALLAWAY X2 HOT/X2 HOT PRO

STREET PRICE: $330LOFTS: 9, 10.5, 13.5HT for X2 Hot (shown); 8.5 on X2 Hot Pro (all adjustable)TECH TALK: Both models feature a redesigned variable-thickness face that is lighter than the X Hot line from 2013. The saved weight allows the face to be larger to increase ball-speed consistency (compared to last year's model) on the more compact X2 Hot Pro. Each club also features an eight-way adjustable hosel that sets loft and lie independently.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It just sits down in the proper position every time. The adjustable hosel is clean."M: "On the proper side of sound: powerful without being too loud. High trajectory, but still produced very good distance."HOT: Not the most adjustable, but it offers all you need, with a powerful face. And at a lighter total weight, too.NOT: A club for average golfers doesn't need to be 46 inches.INFO: callawaygolf.com

COBRA BIO CELL/BIO CELL +

STREET PRICE: $300/$400LOFTS: One adjustable head for each (9 to 12 degrees on Bio Cell, shown; 8 to 11 degrees on Bio Cell+)TECH TALK: The adjustable hosel has eight settings across 3 degrees of loft. Each version saves weight with a lighter variable-thickness face. More weight is saved using a thin, waffled pattern in the rear crown. The more compact Bio Cell+ benefits from a lightweight multimaterial alloy in the crown.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The black head looks sinister-cool. It swings easy, but you feel like you're hitting the ball with a hammer."M: "Crisp at impact. Once dialed in, I could see how it would help you hit more fairways."HOT: The crown and face designs are smart, the adjustability is straightforward, and the color selections are welcome (thanks for bringing back the basic black).NOT: Why three draw settings for the better-player Bio Cell+?INFO: cobragolf.com

NIKE VRS COVERT 2.0/VRS COVERT 2.0 TOUR

STREET PRICE: $300/$400LOFTS: One adjustable head (8.5 to 12.5 degrees). VRS Covert 2.0 (shown)TECH TALK: Designers strengthened the sole-cavity's internal frame to reduce energy loss. Both models have larger faces than last year and increased stability on off-center strikes. An adjustable hosel allows each of the five lofts to be matched with a neutral, left or right face angle.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It launched in a perfect window. Even mis-hits had life."M: "Feels like persimmon but has terrific ball speed off the face."..."Its low-frequency sound inspires confidence, and the look is contemporary."HOT: The tweaks from last year are subtle, but the result is more forgiveness to go with unique adjustability.NOT: Even those who need it would prefer solutions that don't require looking at a closed face angle.INFO: nikegolf.com

PING G25

STREET PRICE: $350LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: The G25 has the highest MOI and lowest CG of any Ping driver, and each loft can be adjusted up or down half a degree. Designed to launch high, the club also benefits from a high-balance-point shaft, which is engineered to deliver a heavier mass without reducing clubhead speed.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "This is a good club to stick a longer shaft in because you can control it. It goes straight."M: "The sound is just so organic, like I was hitting a pool of water. Loved it. A sweet, flush contact."HOT: The range of lofts and the fact that more tour players use the G25 than any other Ping driver prove that the formula of forgiveness and high launch is universal.NOT: We wish Ping offered the range of swing-specific stock-shaft options for the G25 as it does with its i25 driver.INFO: ping.com

PING i25

STREET PRICE: $400LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: The titanium face and body along with the two tungsten weights on the perimeter of the sole lower the CG and increase forgiveness. The lightweight hosel accommodates a loft change of plus or minus half a degree. The crown stripe is meant to help users line up to their target at address. Stock shafts come in three weight ranges.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Might be the best alignment aid I've ever seen on a driver. Dull enough so as not to be gaudy, but extremely effective."M: "On the right track: a decent combination of performance with enough forgiveness to help those of moderate skill."HOT: More forgiving and playable: an upgrade from the i20. The stripe is classic Ping: distinct, subtle, helpful.NOT: This customer wants to explore more CG adjustability.INFO: ping.com

TAYLORMADE JETSPEED/JETSPEED TP

STREET PRICE: $300/$400LOFTS: 9.5, 10.5, HL-13 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: The JetSpeed combines a shaft that's long (46 inches) and light (50 grams) with the company's philosophy of positioning the CG low and forward for better energy transfer. In addition, a slot in the sole is designed to reduce spin and improve ball speed for impacts low on the face. The adjustable hosel accommodates 12 settings that can reduce or increase loft by as much as 1.5 degrees.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I hit three in different parts of the face and the result stayed the same. Very forgiving."M: "Love the head size: It just wants to hug the ground at address."..."Feels substantial even with the light shaft."HOT: JetSpeed's simpler adjustability and slight draw bias (on the standard model) make it friendly to average players.NOT: Be sure to get fit. It launches lower than you'd think.INFO: taylormadegolf.com

TAYLORMADE SLDR/SLDR TP, SLDR 430/SLDR 430 TP

STREET PRICE: $400/$500LOFTS: SLDR: 8, 9.5, 10.5, 12, 14; SLDR TP, SLDR 430, SLDR 430 TP: 9, 10.5, 12TECH TALK: The idea is that placing the CG more forward and low yields better energy transfer into the ball and less spin. The hosel features 12 settings that can alter the loft by plus or minus 1.5 degrees. A 20-gram sliding weight in the sole changes the CG to any of 21 positions between draw and fade.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Changing the setup makes all the difference in the world. This went from iffy to really special."M: "The sound was muted but still pleasing."..."It's very easy to return the clubface to square at impact."HOT: The CG idea might be radical, but it matters less than whether the club resonates with golfers. This one does.NOT: Other drivers allow the loft and lie/face-angle settings to be adjusted separately. Why not here?INFO: taylormadegolf.com

TITLEIST 913D2/D3

STREET PRICE: $400LOFTS: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 for D2 (shown); 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 for D3 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: The variable-thickness face insert is designed to promote ball-speed consistency across a larger area of the face. It's also lighter and thinner than the 910 models for better speed on mis-hits. Both clubs have a dual-ring adjustable hosel so loft and lie angle can be changed independently. The more forgiving D2 features a slight draw bias, and the D3's compact shape (445 cubic centimeters) is made to improve workability.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Explosive yet soft."..."A perfect combination of sound and feel. A quiet beast."M: "You hear the golf ball at impact, not the club—classic."HOT: Perhaps Titleist drivers endure because they appear to have been engineered by da Vinci and drawn by Rembrandt.NOT: Adjustability that needs a guidebook is so last decade.INFO: titleist.com

ADAMS XTD

STREET PRICE: $400LOFTS: 9, 10.5, 12 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: The three slots (sole, crown and toe) are designed to improve the way the face flexes on the perimeter for better ball speed on off-center hits. The new design of the slots moves the cut-through opening from below the slot to the slot's front wall. This allows the entire face to flex more consistently. The adjustable hosel accommodates plus or minus 1.5 degrees of loft and face-angle change.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "You have to accept it's wearing its technology on the outside, but the head shape is pleasing."M: "A bit dull on the sound, but the distance was there."HOT: Adams has found more ball speed through its slot design and variable-thickness face. Plus, the shorter 45-inch shaft allows more golfers to put this technology to use.NOT: The face angle can't be set closed enough for slicers.INFO: adamsgolf.com

MIZUNO JPX-EZ

STREET PRICE: $300LOFTS: 9.5, 10.5 (all adjustable)TECH TALK: This driver has been designed to make it easier for average players to launch the ball higher and with less spin. The adjustable hosel has eight settings that alter loft by plus or minus 1.5 degrees, as well as lie angle. The thin crown has a softer edge to improve face flexibility. And a fixed weight in the rear of the sole pushes the CG low and back.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The head shape is a little flatter on top and a little longer, but not huge. Makes me feel more confident about mis-hits."M: "Uber-forgiving. Seems like hits anywhere on the face go straight and high."HOT: We like offering an adjustable driver for average golfers, and this club resonated with all swing speeds on our panel.NOT: With adjustability, players in the middle might get confused as to whether they should opt for the 9.5 or 10.5 loft.INFO: mizunousa.com/golf