Golf Digest 2018 Equipment Hot List
The “official” Golf Digest 2018 Equipment Hot List has been published! This signals the beginning of the golf season, in my opinion. Enjoy perusing the list by clicking on the title links in each category. I have taken some time to review the list and here are my overall impressions:
Overall:
Cobra Golf snatched 18 Gold medals, the highest count for them in like forever. For Cobra, this could be a banner year.
PXG made Gold lists in fairways, hybrids, and irons. I wasn’t sure if Bob Parson would go mainstream but he did.
Tour Edge notably missing from hybrids…hmmm?
Cleveland Golf irons making it back on the list in a couple of categories.
New entrants from EPON, Honma trying to break into the US Market.
Drivers:
The usual suspects hit the Gold List but I have been impressed with the Cobra drivers
Callaway EPIC, EPIC Sub Zero and EPIC Star
Callaway Rogue and Rogue Sub Zero
Cobra F8 and F8+
Ping G400, SF and LST
TaylorMade M3 and M4
Titleist 917 D2/D3
Fairways:
The focus as usual is on distance and in our testing every one of the Gold list and several Silver list winners make the cut. Maybe it is time to start thinking of dropping your 3 wood and putting a higher lofted, lower spinning 4 wood in your bag!
Callaway EPIC and Rogue
Cobra F8
Ping G400
PXG 0341X
TaylorMade M3 and M4
Titleist F
Hybrids:
More manufacturers are putting higher lofted hybrids in their line. You will start seeing 6, 7 hybrids and some complete hybrid sets from Callaway and Cleveland.
Callaway EPIC and Rogue
Cobra F8
Ping G400
PXG 0417X
TaylorMade M3 and M4
Titleist F
Irons – Game Improvement:
Again, the usual suspects made Gold, including the Cleveland CBX. Welcome back Cleveland.
Callaway EPIC
Callaway Rogue and Rogue X
Cleveland Launcher CBX
Cobra F8
Mizuno JPX-900 Hot Metal
Ping G400
PXG 0311XF
TaylorMade M4
Titleist AP1
Irons – Super Game Improvement
Entrants from Honma and XXIO made gold. Definitely a great market for beginners and higher handicap players looking for forgiveness and higher launching irons.
Callaway Big Bertha
Cleveland Launcher HB
Cobra FMAX
Honma Beres IS-06
TaylorMade M CGB
Wilson D300
Irons – Players Irons
Impressed that the new Callaway X Forged made Gold. Mizuno MMC, SC and the PXG 0311T are solid as well as the TaylorMAde P770.
Callaway X-Forged
Mizuno MP-18 MMC
Mizuno MP-18 SC
Ping iBlade
PXG 0311T
TayloMade P770
Titleist AP2
Titleist CB
Irons – Players Distance
A new Hot List category for better players seeking more distance. My votes go to the TaylorMade P790 and Titleist T-MB for feel AND distance.
Callaway EPIC Pro
Callaway Rogue Pro
Cobra Forged TEC
Ping i200
TaylorMade M3
TaylorMade P790
Titleist AP3
Titleist T-MB
Wedges:
Wow…ten wedges made Gold. Lot of great choices here so make sure to pick the right loft, bounce and grind for your game.
Callaway Mack Daddy 4
Cleveland RTX-3
Cobra King Black
Mizuno S18 and T7
Ping Glide 2.0 and 2.0 Stealth
TaylorMade Milled Grind
Titleist Vokey SM7
Blade Putters:
Hard to argue with Bettinardi, Scotty Cameron and Ping making Gold. The Odyssey Toulon was a little bit of a surprise.
Bettinardi BB (2018)
Callaway Odyssey O-Works Red/Black
Callaway Odyssey Toulon Design
Ping Sigma G and Vault 2
TaylorMade TP Collection
Titleist Scotty Cameron Select (2018)
Mallet Putters:
At the PGA Merchandise Show, this was by far the biggest category of putters with a ton of interest. Of course the TaylorMade Spider was top of the list.
Bettinardi BB
Callaway Odyssey EXO and O-Works Red/Black
Callaway Odyssey Toulon Design
Ping Sigma G and Vault 2.0
TaylorMade Spider and TP Red Collection
Titleist Scotty Cameron Futura 5.5M
Titleist Scotty Cameron Select Fastback (2018)
So there you have it! 121 clubs made the list, which is a little crazy. Enjoy perusing the list by clicking on the links and then come check them out in our fitting studio!
Dan Sueltz
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