Golf Equipment News 2010: Callaway top Golf Digest 2010 'Hot List' medals haul

Callaway top Golf Digest 2010 'Hot List' medals haul
January 6, 2010

Callaway Golf Company have once again taken top honours within Golf Digest's annual "Hot List" issue. The Hot List is a comprehensive golf equipment evaluation conducted by Golf Digest Publications' 32-person team of equipment editors, scientists, player panelists and retailers. Together they considered 403 separate entries for the 2010 Hot List. When the results were posted, Callaway Golf and Odyssey combined to earn more medals than any other golf equipment manufacturer for the fourth straight year.

Two of Callaway's new drivers led the way; the FT-iZ Driver and the Callaway Diablo Edge/Diablo Edge Tour Driver both earned Gold Medals. The FT-9 Driver was also distinguished with a 2010 Hot List medal.

In the game-improvement irons category, the new Diablo Forged Irons announced their arrival with a Gold Medal. One tester said of the Diablo Forged Irons (picture right): "This is like jet fuel in your hands. It stays in the air forever." Callaway's new Diablo Edge Irons also earned a Gold Medal in the super game-improvement iron category. "These clubs are so good even better players should take a look," said one tester of the Diablo Edge Irons. Other Callaway irons and wedges distinguished with 2010 Hot List medals include the X-22 Irons, X-22 Tour Irons and the X-Forged Wedges.

Odyssey is once again atop the Gold Medal count in the putter category, tying for the most Gold Medals in the test. In the blade category, Black Series Tour Designs Putter and the White Ice line both captured Gold Medals. Odyssey's third Gold Medal came in the Mallet category for the White Ice line.

This year's "Hot List" featured an additional section called the Editor's Choice, which focused on the one club that each of the four Hot List judges found "uniquely intriguing, paradigm-shifting or generally remarkable in ways others have overlooked." The Odyssey White Ice 2-Ball was identified as one of these clubs, with Golf Digest saying, "Odyssey's designs aren't typical, just better, and the new insert somehow plays firm and soft at the same time."

Callaway's new Diablo Edge lineup enjoyed a full sweep of Gold Medals across every category in which the line was nominated. That includes Driver, Fairway Wood, Hybrid, Game Improvement Irons (Diablo Forged) and Super Game Improvement Irons (Diablo Edge).

The February Hot List issue of Golf Digest also contains several Callaway Golf and Odyssey advertisements featuring new, interactive Microsoft Tag technology. These Tags allow readers to snap a picture on their smart phones and instantly view Callaway Golf product videos. Callaway Golf is the first equipment manufacturer to feature such technology within the pages of Golf Digest.

Overall, Callaway and Odyssey won 15 Golf Digest Hot List Medals, three more than the closest competitor. The full list of distinguished products includes:

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS