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The Golf Digest Hot List; Golf's Hottest Equipment Expertly Analyzed and Reviewed in February Edition
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire Having tried and evaluated more than
1,500 clubs and balls in the past year, Golf Digest is set to unveil the
results of its fourth-annual Hot List - a guide to the hottest golf equipment
in the game. The Hot List will appear in the magazine's February 2007 issue
(on newsstands January 9) featuring profiles of the 140 most exciting
products in the marketplace.
The full Golf Digest Hot List can be viewed now at
http://www.golfdigest.com/hotlist.
"The Hot List may be the single best service we provide to golfers and
the equipment industry," said Jerry Tarde, Chairman and Editor-In-Chief of
Golf Digest. "We have a team of equipment editors working year-round to
help our readers understand and navigate through the seemingly endless
options available in golf equipment and technology. The Hot List jumpstarts
the equipment buying process for many of them."
The "Editors' Choice" selections for the 2007 Golf Digest Hot List are:
- Drivers - Callaway Fusion FT-5
- Fairway Woods - Callaway Big Bertha
- Hybrids - Adams Idea Pro
- Game-Improvement Irons - Callaway X-20
- Super Game-Improvement Irons - King Cobra S9
- Player's Irons - TaylorMade r7 TP
- Wedges - Titleist Vokey Spin Milled
- Mallet Putters - Odyssey White Hot XG 2-Ball SRT
- Blade Putters - PING G5i
- Tour Performance Balls - Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1X
- Value Performance Balls - Callaway HX Hot
The Golf Digest Hot List was compiled by Golf Digest Publications' team
of equipment editors from Golf Digest, Golf World, and Golf For Women - the
industry's largest collection of journalists devoted exclusively to
covering equipment. Together,
the panel has more than 80 years experience covering the equipment
industry.
Golf Digest also enlisted various panels to assist in the evaluation
process. The Academic Advisory Panel
included leading scientists in the fields of mechanical and sports
engineering. The
Guidance Panel consisted of four groups, including top amateur players
nationwide, expert golf retailers, top teaching professionals and
mid-handicap players. The purpose of these panels was to further the
judges' understanding of each product's technology, marketability,
performance and playability.
The criteria that comprised the 2007 Hot List is detailed below. Voting
is based on a 100-point scale.
Buzz Factor (15 percent): A product must be in demand. The magazine
looked at market share, tour use and customer satisfaction, as well as
retailer reaction to new products.
Performance/Playability (30 percent): Using input from its panels and
other sources, the magazine considered two primary questions: Does the
product work in a unique and significant way? Does the stated
technology have a fundamentally practical application?
Technology/Innovation (30 percent): Based on interviews with the
company and study of its technical documents, as well as discussion
with the Academic Panel, the magazine seeks to answer these questions:
Is the innovation new or different? Is it meaningful? How well does the
company explain its technology?
Personal Preference (15 percent): Does the look, sound and overall
presentation resonate with the individual judge's interpretations of
what this specific product should be?
Value (10 percent): What does this product deliver in relation to its
price?
The evaluation criteria percentages were adjusted this year to put more
emphasis on Performance and Playability, and less weight on Personal
Preference.
SOURCE: Golf Digest
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