Ever catch yourself thinking “What club should I buy?!” Well, Golf Digest’s Hot List is here to help! The 2013 Hot List has recently been released and like all the Hot Lists, it’ll help consumers answer this question. Golf Digest goes through a year long process to meet manufacturers and their R&D departments to understand the new equipment and technology. Then, their own scientists take a look at the equipment and make their own evaluations and of course, there is on and off the course club testing. This process is to help consumers identify the newest and best equipment in the industry for the year.
Clubs are evaluated on 4 categories:
- Performance (45%) – What happens when the ball is hit, does it go far, how well can a player control trajectory, is the player pleased with what they see
- Innovation (30%) – Golf Digest’s interpretation of products and technology, how is it better than the previous year and how does it advance the industry
- Look/Sound/Feel (20%) – What happens to the golfer at impact, how does it feel, how does it look at address and on the shelf
- Demand (5%) – Evaluation of product interest, excitement, etc. in the consumers
It’s also nice to see an oversea brand make the Hot List this year as well – the Fourteen RM-12 wedge has been put on the Silver Hot List for wedges. Fourteen is a Japanese company that makes very good looking and high end golf equipment. Although it is a bit hard to find in the North American market, Fourteen Golf (for 14 clubs in the bag) has a strong presence in Asia.
Our dream bag from the 2013 Hot List would include: Titleist 913D2, Titleist 913F, Mizuno MP-59’s or Titleist AP2, Titleist Vokey Design SM4 and a Scotty Cameron Select Newport.
Source: Golf Digest
