Play Better Golf

TECH TALK
The company believes big, boxy drivers lose clubhead speed because of increased drag, so the head shape of the Speedline has been streamlined to help achieve aerodynamic efficiency. Design features include scooped heel and toe slots, a smaller face and optimal crown height and curve.

PLAYER COMMENTS
“Just flat-out bombs it. The head shape is different but not distracting.” … “It might be ugly, but I could be dating it. The ball goes far.”… “The rounded sole rocks like an egg, but the ball comes off the face easily.” … “Surprised. Hit some beautiful soft fades with that toe-y head. Smaller face can encourage center hits.”

HOT
There is a sense that Adams has discovered something others have overlooked. The good news is, it still looks like a driver.

NOT
Some MOI has been sacrificed.

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LOFTS
8, 9, 10; draw: 9, 10, 11, 13 HT

TECH TALK
The all-titanium construction uses a variable-thickness hyperbolic cupface for optimizing ball speed on off-center hits. In addition to the face, the head fuses three separate sheets of titanium, including a .68-millimeter crown that frees weight for use in an internal chip in the sole. Available in two head shapes (for golfers who prefer neutral and draw-bias ball flights).

PLAYER COMMENTS
“Straightest club in the bunch.”… “Sleek graphics. A little closed, but it’s extremely forgiving and feels solid. Definitely a high-launch driver.”… “Anybody who has never hit a draw will love this club.”

HOT
The differing head shapes aren’t especially noteworthy, but the intriguing construction results in a club as hot as its color.

NOT
Wish it could be part of OptiFit.

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TECH TALK
The carbon-fiber composite frame is 7 percent longer front to back than the FT-5 and uses six materials to push the center of gravity (CG) low and deep. The titanium cupface has an internal X-pattern design to improve ball speed on off-center hits.

PLAYER COMMENTS
“They’ve toned down the sound. It now has a more conservative ‘bang.’ ” … “The trampoline effect feels outstanding, and at setup this lies perfectly on the ground.” … “Great feel. Not too busy.”

HOT
No one is better than Callaway at using multiple materials. Solid and comfortable, the FT-9 has improved weight distribution (18 percent lower CG), and OptiFit makes trying and buying almost seamless.

NOT
We like options, but 13 stock loft/weight configurations might cause confusion.

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TECH TALK
The carbon-fiber shell of the FT-iQ is designed to improve overall head stability (high and low and heel to toe) by using a hyperbolic X-design in the cupface and a rear-weighted, stretched square shape that increases the moment of inertia (MOI). In addition, to help launch the ball high with low spin, the CG is half the height that it was in the previous model (the FT-i).

PLAYER COMMENTS
“Very straight with a muted sound at impact. This could benefit a slicer, too, because it’s almost impossible to curve to the right.”… “Explosive off the clubface. There’s no ping or vibration.” … “Saw no curve even on toe and heel mis-hits.”

HOT
As sleek a square shape as there has been. The Mitsubishi Fubuki shaft is a bonus.

NOT
A closed face on all lofts in the standard version.

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TECH TALK
A thin, 0.5-millimeter crown slopes down from the large face (which is 21 percent bigger than the original Launcher 460) to help launch the ball high. An internal horseshoe-shape weight pad at the back of the sole improves perimeter weighting and lowers the CG.

PLAYER COMMENTS
“Swings itself. Get it started, and the balance just allows it to get through impact on its own. Similar to a Momentus training aid, it won’t let you swing off plane.” … “I found it difficult to align, but once I did, the ball went long and straight.”… “The most consistent one I hit.”

HOT
Think hidden, efficient power, like a butler with a maul in the umbrella stand. This is about skill-enhancement, not correction.

NOT
A breakout face technology would be nice. As would a serious commitment to fitting.

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