DETAILS: $400/Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5TECH TALK: This is the first Callaway driver to offer adjustable weights and a rotating hosel. Users can change the center of gravity (CG) with the sole weights and adjust the face angle using three hosel settings. The face has been redesigned to save weight (four grams) and improve off-center ball speed.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "My longest shot came on a toe hit." ... "The best sound I've ever heard on a Callaway driver -- it has a nice crack instead of a thud."M:"My initial impression was that it didn't seem that different. But then I hit it. Wow." ... "It gives you feedback, and it's forgiving."HOT: Callaway is late to introduce serious adjustability in a driver, but this one might justify the wait.NOT: A version made for tour players has even more adjustable options. Why not offer this to the rest of us?INFO:callawaygolf.com
DRVER
Taylormade R11s
DETAILS: $400/Lofts: 9, 10.5TECH TALK: The three areas of adjustability include a rotating hosel with eight settings, two movable weights and a soleplate with five positions. The 80 combinations (32 more than last year's R11) cover a range of 3 degrees of loft, 6 degrees of face angle and four millimeters of CG movement.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "A one-stop shop. Whatever issues you have you can fix them with this."M:"Just the right shape; a good equilateral footprint. This is toward the maximum side of loudness without going over it."HOT: No one executes adjustability with TaylorMade's sophistication. Making the head 460 cubic centimeters (thanks to an ultra-thin crown) is a bonus.__NOT:__With 80 options, more players might give up well before they find the proper setting.INFO:taylormadegolf.com
DRIVER
TITLEIST 910D2/D3
DETAILS: $400/Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 (D2 only)TECH TALK: There are 16 settings on the two-way adjustable hosel that's designed to manipulate loft and lie angle independently to better isolate launch characteristics for individual players. The line now includes a sub-55-gram shaft option and the highest loft on a Titleist driver in 15 years.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I changed the shaft and the loft and saw a better ball flight. That speaks well to having those options."M:"Titleist just knows how to make a club feel good. The club is long without being loud." ... "Just delicious. All that work of getting the right setup was worth it. Great feedback on your shots, and surprisingly forgiving."HOT: Elegant, powerful, smart; the driver Q would have designed for James Bond.NOT: Alphanumeric-adjustable settings are not intuitive.INFO:titleist.com
FAIRWAY WOODS
taylormade RocketBallz/
RocketBallz Tour
DETAILS: $230/Lofts: RocketBallz: 15, 17, 19, 21, 24; RocketBallz Tour: 13, 14.5, 18TECH TALK: The purpose of the deep, narrow sole slot is to help the face flex more at impact to increase ball speed. Despite the club's large face, an extremely thin, webbed crown helps position the CG low and slightly forward. The goal is to create more ball speed while reducing spin.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The distance was huge! The club was light, and I was able to move it freely. Impact felt surprisingly sweet for a club with a slot."M:"You can get under the ball even on tight lies." ... "Teed up, it's fantastic."HOT: It's hard to get springlike effect from the smaller face of a fairway wood. TaylorMade makes a strong case it's done that.NOT: Some of our testers found this 3-wood launching lower compared to the other fairway woods.INFO:taylormadegolf.com
FAIRWAY WOODS
titleist 910f
DETAILS: $250/Lofts: 13.5*, 15*, 17, 19, 21 (*also in 910F-d)TECH TALK: Titleist's trademark adjustable hosel allows users to change the loft independent of the lie angle in one of 16 settings for more ball-flight control (draw or fade; high or low trajectory). Engineers used a thin crown to move the CG lower for improved launch conditions.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: This club feels really solid. There's no extra noise and no attempt to create something that isn't needed." ... "The compact head makes it easy to hit the ball off the fairway."M:"It looks small and hard to hit, but it's surprisingly forgiving."HOT: This is as full service a fairway wood as there is in the game: plenty of shaft options, two head styles and now an everyman-friendly 21-degree model.NOT: The compact head doesn't instill confidence for some.INFO:titleist.com
HYBRID
Ping i20
DETAILS: $190/Lofts: 17, 20, 23TECH TALK: Relative to the G20 hybrid, the i20 has a 48 percent lower moment of inertia (MOI) about the shaft axis, allowing for more workability. It's also shorter from toe to heel to help with shots from the rough, but there's more surface area low on the face to improve forgiveness on thin shots.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The ball was springing off the face." ... "I hit a shot off the toe, and it still made it to the green."M:"The matte look makes me feel like I can be a player. There was a nice weight to it, and every shot felt like a rocket launch." ... "Its forgiveness is excellent."HOT: Better players take note: Here's a hybrid that solves the problems you have, not one that overcorrects for nonexistent flaws. Some of us prefer handshakes to handsprings.NOT: Stock shafts trend toward the beefy, even at the R-flex.INFO:ping.com
HYBRID
Taylormade RocketBallz Rescue/RocketBallz Tour Rescue
DETAILS:$180/Lofts: RocketBallz Rescue: 19, 21, 24, 27; RocketBallz Tour Rescue: 16.5, 18.5, 21.5TECH TALK: The sole slot is designed to enhance face flexibility, and a very thin wall casting and web-like crown structure -- that gets as thin as 0.4 millimeters -- make it possible to move the CG low and forward for more ball speed.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "You didn't have to force it. Swing and the ball just gets up in the air." ... "The way it sits on the ground just resonates power."M: "Everything but the worst swing gave me a really good sound and feel." ... "This plays like a 3-wood, not a 3-hybrid. Silly long."HOT: Whether it's a fairway wood disguised as a hybrid or vice versa is immaterial. It does things no other club in your bag can do. We especially applaud the wide range of lofts.NOT: For some, white can turn zaftig into bloated.INFO:taylormadegolf.com
GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
PING G20
DETAILS:$700/Lofts: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45TECH TALK: Among improvements to Ping's hallmark iron line are a thin face to increase ball speed and a multimaterial cavity badge that features soft elastomer in the heel and toe areas to improve feel and sound.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The sole looks wider than a size-14 loafer, but this helps get the ball up in the air fast."M: "It really slides easily through the turf, and mis-hits don't feel like mis-hits."HOT: The G20 is a reliable follow-up to the G15. Ping has taken its classic game-improvement look and tweaked it in just the right places. The upgrade is so good that even G15 users might consider changing.__NOT:__The industrial-looking tumble finish is a love-it or loathe-it kind of look.INFO:ping.com
GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
TAYLORMADE RocketBallz
DETAILS:$700/Lofts: 6-iron: 26.5, PW: 45TECH TALK: The 3-, 4- and 5-irons are made from a high-strength steel alloy and feature a hollow construction to maximize distance. The large face is very thin (as little as 1.8 millimeters in some spots) to optimize springlike effect.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The forgiveness is beyond terrific. The ball just wants to straighten out no matter where I hit it."M: "The topline is wider than thick-sliced bacon, but the heft lets you know you're just going to kill it."HOT: It's not the most attractive iron on our list, but that doesn't really matter when you have so much technology. We also like the 85-gram steel shaft as well as the ability to bend the hosel for lie and loft adjustments.__NOT:__The RocketBallz name caused more than a few snickers from our testers.INFO:taylormadegolf.com
GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
TITLEIST AP1
DETAILS:$800/Lofts: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45__TECH TALK:__To help prevent the club from twisting at impact and to maximize ball speed on off-center hits, designers took some weight from the topline, center bar and soleplate and moved it low on the toe.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"You can hardly feel the club gliding through the turf. These are pure."M:"The sound is consistent from iron to iron. That's a plus."__HOT:__For years Titleist's irons for 15-handicappers looked like, well, something for 15-handicappers. The redesigned AP1 is a significant improvement in cosmetics (especially the topline and short irons). This is an upgrade in looks without sacrificing performance.__NOT:__We don't get the switch from the 105-gram Nippon shaft to the 117-gram (S-flex) True Temper Dynalite Gold XP.INFO:titleist.com
SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
adams Idea a12 OS
DETAILS:$700 (set of eight, graphite) Lofts: 6-iron: 28 degrees, PW: 44 degreesTECH TALK: The irons feature a lower profile than the a7OS line. A revamped back-cavity design reduces more than half of the mass in the back wall, allowing weight to be moved to the perimeter to improve forgiveness. The set comes with three hybrids, two iron-like hybrids and three cavity-back irons.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "The most consistent hybrid of all the ones I've tried. The ball sizzled off the face."H:"This is a set that won't intimidate the average Joe. However, that crater on the crown of the hybrids is off-putting."__HOT:__Adams has led the movement toward integrated sets, and this continues with the a12 OS. The set makeup makes sense, and the thin clubface provides plenty of pop.__NOT:__The hybrids are ginormous for an iron replacement.INFO:adamsgolf.com
SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
callaway RAZR X HL
DETAILS:$800/Lofts: 6-iron: 28, PW: 44__TECH TALK:__The sole of the irons is 12 percent wider and the center of gravity (CG) is 31 percent deeper than the RAZR Black to help the club slide through the turf and launch the ball higher. The face of the hybrids is designed to improve shots hit on the bottom portion of the club.PLAYER COMMENTS:M: "The look is very attractive and easy to line up. The offset is just the right amount." ... "The hybrid goes like a driver, and the irons have a better sound on mis-hits than the others."__HOT:__The size is a little bulky, but that lets you hit it all over the face and still get a decent result. For high-handicappers, there's no better quality in an iron.__NOT:__The standard set should have three hybrids (not two), and an option for a fourth would be even better.INFO:callawaygolf.com
SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
MIZUNO JPX-800 HD
DETAILS:$900/Lofts: 6-iron: 28, PW: 44__TECH TALK:__Mizuno took some of its hallmark technologies (a "hot metal" face for optimal ball speed and "harmonic impact technology" for sound and feel) and coupled them with an extra-wide sole and a high MOI.PLAYER COMMENTS:M:"You'll try these because of their appearance, but you'll buy them because of the way they perform. Easier to hit than they look."H:"Unmatched feel, and the hybrid alone makes the set worth getting."__HOT:__Known for its better-player irons, Mizuno has done a nice job for high-handicappers by disguising the game- improvement features, and including hybrids that look as if they should be used for approach shots instead of off a tee.__NOT:__Mizuno is known for offering plenty of options, making this set's lack of availability for lefties puzzling.INFO:mizunousa.com
SUPER GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRON
PING K15
DETAILS:$1,100/Lofts: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45__TECH TALK:__The wide sole pushes the CG low and back to help launch the ball high, and a titanium face saves 27 grams, which are redistributed to the perimeter to improve forgiveness. The standard set comes with one hybrid, and an option for two, three or four at no extra cost.PLAYER COMMENTS:H:"The irons feel firmer than most but with a nice, clean pop that feels strong, not harsh." ... "They don't come any better than these irons, but the hybrids need a makeover."__HOT:__Ping's fitting options are as good as anyone's. Shaft, grip size, length and lie-angle options are plentiful, and the mix-and-match approach to hybrids is something every company should emulate.__NOT:__The hybrids look as natural as Tim Tebow playing QB.INFO:ping.com
PLAYERS IRON
MIZUNO MP-59
DETAILS:$1,000/Lofts: 6-iron: 30, PW: 46__TECH TALK:__Twelve grams of titanium are forged into the center of the head to enhance feel and allow higher-density steel to be moved to the heel and toe for increased stability. A trailing-edge grind on the sole improves shotmaking ability.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"You can feel the extra weight working for you. There's a lot of kaboom when you hit it in the center."M: "The balance is practically perfect, and the look is beyond compare. It's everything your eye wants to see."__HOT:__The Mizuno feel is alive and well in an iron that is packed with technology, neatly hidden in a pleasingly conventional look. The company's Shaft Optimizer system bolsters what is already an impressive offering.__NOT:__It's not the most forgiving club on our list. Good players seeking more help might want to look elsewhere.INFO:mizunousa.com
PLAYERS IRON
TITLEIST AP2
DETAILS:$1,100/Lofts: 6-iron: 31; PW: 47__TECH TALK:__The biggest change from the previous AP2 is a redesigned sole cradle that is lighter but allows for more weight in the heel and toe to raise the MOI and produce more consistent ball speeds across the face.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"There's just enough heft to give a feeling of security without ruining the look." ... "I can do anything I want in the hitting zone without trying too hard. That's an awfully nice feeling."__HOT:__The redesigned look (a slightly squarer toe and steeper topline) and subtle changes -- such as the reduced sole width in the short irons -- are improvements. In other words, Titleist gets all the little things right. The big things, too.__NOT:__Speaking of big things, bumping the price up a hundy gives new meaning to the phrase: "What's in your wallet?"INFO:titleist.com
WEDGE
Titleist Vokey Design SM4
DETAILS:$13021 Loft/bounce options from 46 to 64 degrees; three finishes: tour chrome, black nickel (shown), oil can__TECH TALK:__The complete retooling of the Vokey wedge line includes making more aggressive individual grooves and expanding the number of grooves to 17 ( from 14). There are five sole grinds and varying leading-edge designs (square on lower lofts, rounded on higher lofts) through the range.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"You don't need a lob wedge with this thing. You can just open it up." ... "Every time you take this out, it's like a date with a supermodel: flawless."M: "It's how a wedge should look. Great feedback on full shots and little chips, and it spun the crap out of the ball on flops." ... "Nice thump as the club interacted with the sand."__HOT:__The defining wedge of our time. Case closed.__NOT:__Lefties who prefer the black nickel? No soup for you.INFO:titleist.com
BLADE PUTTER
Odyssey Metal-X
DETAILS:$150; four styles (#1, shown)__TECH TALK:__This is the first Odyssey putter with a fully textured face. A urethane dampening layer backs an aluminum face plate that is covered with oval dimples. The dimples are designed to create friction between the ball and face, lowering the ball's launch angle and creating faster forward roll.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"A simple design. It has great pop to the ball and a smoothness of roll unlike anything else. The balance is flawless. I'm getting giddy putting with this."M:"The insert offers feedback but isn't too hard."__HOT:__Although not technically a grooved face, the dimples on the Metal-X provide the same undeniable, positive effect on roll that a grooved face does. Rather than saying "What took you so long?" we'll go with "Nicely done" and "Well executed."__NOT:__It's 2012; time to get onboard with putter fitting.INFO:odysseygolf.com
BLADE PUTTER
Ping Anser Milled
DETAILS:$300; seven models (Anser, shown)__TECH TALK:__Milled from forged 303 stainless steel and covered in a nonglare satin-nickel chrome finish, the Anser Milled comes in seven hosel configurations to suit three types of strokes. Not sure what kind of stroke you use? The iPing app (available for anyone to download and for use as a fitting device at many retailers) analyzes your technique after five putts. Custom options include nine lie angles and 29 shaft lengths.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"It's consistent in every possible way: sound, feel, short putts, long putts."M:"I love the flat finish. This might be the best-looking putter I've ever putted with." ... "The corners have just the right bevel."HOT: The iPing app is a great invention, and the depth of fitting options for this putter is unmatched in the business.__NOT:__For 300 bucks, it had better make some bombs.INFO:ping.com
BLADE PUTTER
Titleist Cameron Select
DETAILS: $350; five models (Newport 2, shown)__TECH TALK:__This year's Select line offers five takes on the Newport head, all milled from 303 stainless steel with the Tour Black Mist finish. Like the California, this putter has a deep face mill to soften the response at impact, and it comes with a stepless shaft for a clean look.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"It's almost like the putter swings itself. The grip shape is good; it really puts the putter in the palm of the top hand."M:"Scotty Cameron nails sound and feel better than anyone else." ... "Holy Batman, this looks nice. Wish it had a white or silver alignment aid."HOT: The Pistolero grip is a cool update. That's nice to see from a putter designer who has been accused of lacking originality.__NOT:__A black sightline on a black head? Why even bother?INFO:titleist.com
MALLET PUTTER
Odyssey Metal-X
DETAILS:$180; four models (2-Ball, shown)__TECH TALK:__Oval dimples in the Metal-X face are designed to create faster forward roll on the ball and to reduce the surface area of the face by 48 percent, which softens the sound at impact. The aluminum-urethane face insert removes 73 grams of weight from the face to deepen the center of gravity (CG).PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"I've been waiting for an Odyssey putter with a metal face. The sound and feel used to be a deal-breaker, but now they've combined the best of both worlds."M:"The black finish really makes the two balls stand out, making it even easier to align, which is hard to imagine."__HOT:__Kudos to Odyssey for offering its new face insert in a smorgasbord of head shapes and shaft lengths -- including belly and long -- to fit every conceivable taste.__NOT:__You're the No. 1 putter company. Add some fitting.INFO:odysseygolf.com
MALLET PUTTER
Ping Scottsdale
DETAILS:$160; eight models (Carefree, shown)__TECH TALK:__Ping's new Fit for Stroke fitting system matches each model in the lineup to a specific type of putting stroke -- straight, slight arc or strong arc -- and marks its designation on the shaft label. Combined with the iPing app, which allows players to analyze their stroke, it's the most advanced user-friendly putter-fitting system in golf.PLAYER COMMENTS:L:"It gives you the benefits and forgiveness of a mallet with the feel of a blade."M:"I like that it has round and straight alignment in one putter -- something for everyone." ... "It looks and feels heavy, which is nice. It makes your stroke less handsy."__HOT:__The high-contrast alignment aids manage to be stark and effective while looking upscale and subtle.__NOT:__As with the blade, the feel of the face is divisive.INFO:ping.com
