About the Hot List

Our search for the best golf clubs that began in 2003 is not a task we approach lightly. The passion, intensity and commitment haven’t changed, but our process has evolved to keep up with the equipment industry. Today, every full swing of our 32 player-testers is recorded by a launch monitor. We evaluate irons in four categories. The titanium drivers of two decades ago are now made of lightweight carbon composite and other materials. Most drivers, fairway woods and hybrids come in multiple versions with lofts that reach 30 degrees. This is why our commitment to the Hot List is a year-round enterprise designed to educate our editors so that they can help you. This year, for the first time, we include ratings of every model under every driver, fairway wood and hybrid family. With our player-tester panel double what it was a year ago, we can dial in how different player types respond to clubs so that you can narrow your search. Our annual Hot List Summit ran three weeks in 2023, a far cry from the three days we set aside in 2003. Identifying the best golf clubs has not gotten easier since then, but our efforts to make it more manageable for you have only intensified. This year the Hot List features a record 144 clubs, and we’ve made sure you understand how each one is distinct and worthy of being called the best of the best.