Hot List 2026: Meet the testers behind our comprehensive (and personal) equipment guide

The Hot List is a comprehensive effort to explain the current golf club landscape, and while we make an editorial commitment to digging deep to understand all the meaningful clubs in the marketplace, it is the effort and input of our panel of real golfers that is the core of what we do. These are players with a passion for the game, certainly, because our goal is that they reflect your commitment, too. But this group of 32 golfers also exudes a passion for doing the work of hitting balls and deciphering the differences in the shades of excellence that the game’s top woods, irons, wedges and putters routinely display. It is not an easy task hitting balls for sometimes eight hours a day, but it is even more difficult explaining why one club resonates and another might not. As a baseline, we remain supremely dedicated to the simple premise that finding the golf equipment that truly matters must be prefaced by three tenets: We must be helpful to the reader. We must be fair to the industry. We must be true to ourselves. We achieve that purpose through many efforts large and small, but ultimately it is our players’ dedication that makes the Hot List go.

The main job of our players is to judge clubs on a 5-point scale in our Hot List judging criteria of Look/Sound/Feel and Performance. (On this scale, “5” is tops and “1” is the bottom.) Our guidelines to our testers includes:

Look/Sound/Feel: Your internal experience in holding, viewing, hitting the club.

Performance: What you see happening to the ball because of how you hit it with this club. Launch monitors are available to assist you in these assessments, please use them. But your gut should be your ultimate guide.

Our players also provide input for our descriptive “vector” ratings to give us a sense of not only the clubs that do well in certain aspects, but what about those qualities is distinct.

It is not an easy task, of course. Our Rapsodo MLM2 Pro launch monitors, one assigned to every panelist, recorded more than 28,000 shots from our players, and this number doesn’t include all the chips, pitches, bunker shots and putts, which might double that total number. An editor is paired with every twosome and follows them throughout the four days of testing, recording every thought and probing them with queries over more specific insights. It’s all in an effort to give you a more definitive picture of what clubs matter, how and why.

Take a look at their thoughts here and their favorites. See if you find a tester or two or three that seem to reflect your game, and search out their comments. This year, every player’s thoughts are included in the Hot List for your review. Our hope is these details and perspectives will further clarify your search for the clubs that will change your game this year.

Gary Abbott, 38
Paris, Ontario, Canada
Solutions engineer / Handicap: 13
Driver: 250 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“I share a kindred spirit with Jordan Spieth: My long game can be shaky, but I hit enough good shots and sink a few putts. I tend to cast from the top, so pulls and hooks haunt my golf brain, which is prone to over-activity.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Ping G440 K

Tom Allen, 61
Middletown, Ohio
Trial attorney / Handicap: 7
Driver: 244 yards / 7-iron: 158 yards
“I’ve been known to have the driver yips and a two-way miss. I’m decent with my irons but fight a stubborn sway, so I have a lower trajectory than I want. My short game, up to 60 yards, is still intact. I’m an OK putter.”
Favorite Hot List driver: TaylorMade Qi4D Max

Alejandra Bedoya, 27
Bogotá, Colombia
Corporate financial planner / Handicap: 6
Driver: 220 yards / 7-iron: 140 yards
“Truth be told, I love showing off with my driver, but putting is probably my favorite part of the game. I practice short game more than anything else to offset my struggle to find consistency with my longer irons.”
Favorite Hot List game-improvement iron: Titleist T350

Jack Bingham, 36
Hilton Head Island
Property manager / Handicap: 1
Driver: 280 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“I don’t do anything really great, just navigate my way around pretty well. I’m confident that I can stay in play and avoid big numbers. I do get steep on the downswing, so I usually play with a low-launch, high-spin shot.”
Favorite Hot List players iron: Cobra 3DP Tour

Aaron Borgmann, 44
Kansas City
Physical therapist / Handicap: 16
Driver: 260 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“I’m halfway decent when I get off the tee safely. I have a finely tuned recovery game because I have to use it so often. Reading greens is something I do pretty well, but I struggle to hit them where I want to.”
Favorite Hot List hybrid: Titleist GT2

Ricky Brown, 47
Fort Worth
High school principal / Handicap: 0
Driver: 300 yards / 7-iron: 180 yards
“My job is similar to golf: No day is ever the same. Golf is my therapy. My driver is a strength, for sure, and my iron play is fairly consistent. Wedge play is a constant work in progress, but that’s part of the fun of it.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Callaway Quantum ♦♦♦ Max

Chris Carda, 60
Mesa, Ariz.
Retired / Handicap: 8
Driver: 250 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“Good scores for me are about driving it well. I’m best from 100 yards and in. My goal is to remember ‘Animal House’ and the sage words of Otter: ‘Don’t think of it as work. The whole point is just to enjoy yourself.’”
Favorite Hot List wedge: TaylorMade Milled Grind 5

Alan Cooke, 31
Centennial, Colo.
Private wealth associate / Handicap: 3
Driver: 270 yards / 7-iron: 175 yards
“I’m pretty proud of my iron game. My driver can get wild and lead to double bogeys, but if I’m in play off the tee, I can score. I grew up a range rat, and I wish I’d spent more time as a kid on driving and short game.”
Favorite Hot List players-distance iron: Callaway Apex Ti Fusion

Scott Dickinson, 37
Easley, S.C.
Mechatronics student / Handicap: 16
Driver: 310 yards / 7-iron: 190 yards
“I’m a bomber, but no house is safe on either side. I get to see parts of courses that most don’t. I love the saying, ‘Scorecards don’t have pictures.’ My putting and distance control are my Achilles’ heels.”
Favorite Hot List wedge: Titleist Vokey Design SM11

Andrew Dulak, 40
Pittsburgh
Golf fitness trainer / Handicap: 8
Driver: 285 yards / 7-iron: 182 yards
“My game is held together by iron play. The driver is sporadic with misses when
I overswing. My short game is average, and I play best on faster greens where I can focus on just starting the ball on line.”
Favorite Hot List game-improvement iron: Ping G440

Skylar Frankiewicz, 28
New York City
Growth & partnerships associate / Handicap: 7
Driver: 255 yards / 7-iron: 152 yards
“My strengths are driving and inside 150 yards. I play a fade, but a snap hook can show up. If I could have three wishes, I’d like to be better at 60-yard shots and lag putts and have sniper-level aim with my hybrids.”
Favorite Hot List hybrid: Callaway Quantum Max

Wesley Gilmore, 31
Mableton, Ga.
Data analyst / Handicap: +3
Driver: 292 yards / 7-iron: 197 yards
“I’m pretty good with my long irons, wedges and shot-shaping, and I can hit it out there with the driver. When I get in trouble, it’s typically off the tee or with speed control on the greens.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Titleist GT3

Jason Guss, 48
Naperville, Ill.
Golf professional
Driver: 260 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“I go through phases of being a very good driver, although a left miss on any full swing can rear its head. My short game has always given me an advantage, and I’m a solid putter. I’d just love to play more than I do.”
Favorite Hot List mallet putter: Ping Scottsdale Tec

Sean Harper, Sr., 54
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Retired / Handicap: 6
Driver: 260 yards / 7-iron: 175 yards
“I rarely feel in control with my driver, and I haven’t quite figured out how to eliminate a two-way miss. On the plus side, my irons and short game are pretty dialed and save my scores more often than not.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Cobra OPTM Max-D

Paul Ianniello, 64
Scottsdale
Retired / Handicap: 6
Driver: 260 yards / 7-iron: 156 yards
“I’m consistent, but I struggle with short irons and chipping. Hitting fairways is a strength and getting fit for a driver was huge. I used to have the yips, so I’m proud to say putting is now my best asset.”
Favorite Hot List blade putter: Bettinardi Antidote

Wayne Johnson, 60
Palm Coast, Fla.
Pilot / Handicap: 7
Driver: 240 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“My game is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get! I fight a two-way miss. Chipping and putting save me a lot. My favorite club is my 5-wood, which I feel good hitting from anywhere.”
Favorite Hot List fairway wood: Srixon ZXi

Ryan Kroll, 50
Chanhassen, Minn.
Stay-at-home father / Handicap: 10
Driver: 245 yards / 7-iron: 166 yards
“Consistency off the tee is my big weakness. When I keep it in play, I lean on my irons and a decent short game to score. I can have an all-world warmup, lose it walking to the tee, then find it again on 18!”
Favorite Hot List game-improvement iron: Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal

Peter Lee, 58
San Diego
Attorney / Handicap: 8
Driver: 250 yards / 7-iron: 160 yards
“I’m most comfortable with my short game. Chipping and putting keep me from blowing up. My full swing is hot and cold. When I’m on, I feel great, but one wayward shot can escalate. I need mental fortitude.”
Favorite Hot List fairway wood: TaylorMade Qi4D

Timothy Linn, 45
Dublin, Ohio
Sales director / Handicap: 17
Driver: 280 yards / 7-iron: 165 yards
“I’m capable of crushing drives, hitting precise irons and rolling perfect putts—just never on the same hole. Instead of trying to control it, I just enjoy the game without taking the results too seriously.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Cobra OPTM Max-K

Daniel Lupo, 33
New York City
Financial analyst / Handicap: 11
Driver: 270 yards / 7-iron: 170 yards
“I hit a lot of fairways and am most confident with my long clubs, although
I can get steep and miss right. My stats show that 120 and in is a problem. Putting is OK, but any bunker shot is a disaster.”
Favorite Hot List fairway wood: Titleist GT3

Wei Mao, 55
Elk Grove, Calif.
Postal carrier / Handicap: 14
Driver: 240 yards / 7-iron: 155 yards
“Ball-striking and tempo are the best parts for me. I enjoy visualizing the shot and conjuring a swing that could make it reality. I don’t always pull it off, but when I do, the feeling I get is why I love the game.” Favorite Hot List driver: TaylorMade Qi4D Max

Anand Mudaliar, 43
Philadelphia
Head of product / Handicap: 6
Driver: 265 yards / 7-iron: 155 yards
“I drive it well and probably putt better. My issue is getting the ball on the green. The wedges are streaky, but my 7-wood has been a revelation. The more I plan a round, the more wayward I get. Humbling game.”
Favorite Hot List fairway wood: Mizuno JPX One

Matt Nestler, 28
New York City
Masters degree candidate / Handicap: 7
Driver: 260 yards / 7-iron: 170 yards
“I save myself with short game and putting. I drive it decently, but a high-right miss gets me in trouble. My biggest test is middle and long irons. If approach shots were stricken from the game, I’d be dangerous.”
Favorite Hot List wedge: Callaway Opus SP

Megan Padua Buzza, 40
Frisco, Texas
Golf professional
Driver: 250 yards / 7-iron: 155 yards
“I’m a college-golf alum whose strengths are driving and putting. With two little ones under age 4, I don’t play a lot, but simulator reps help. On any given day, I can go low or shoot in the 80s. I always enjoy myself.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Titleist GT3

Shane Popham, 37
Ridgefield, Conn.
Director of partnerships / Handicap: 12
Driver: 285 yards / 7-iron: 174 yards
“As a former college football player, I rely on athleticism to make up for lack of skill or practicing. I could probably putt the same with a croquet mallet as any putter. I do have it in me to hit any green—or nearby condo.”
Favorite Hot List super-game- improvement iron: Srixon ZXiR HL

Jin Roh, 30
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Personal trainer / Handicap: 10
Driver: 280 yards / 7-iron: 180 yards
“My iron game tends to be my strength, with the occasional tee shot to match. My tempo is smooth, but sometimes under pressure I can get some wild misses, which explains why my handicap isn’t lower.”
Favorite Hot List game-improvement iron: Callaway Apex Ai300

Robert Shaw, 28
Dawsonville, Ga.
M&A consultant / Handicap: +2
Driver: 305 yards / 7-iron: 185 yards
“My game is anchored in dependable ball-striking with my irons and wedges, enhanced by some greenside touch. I like to create shots and trust my feel to turn tough situations into scoring chances.”
Favorite Hot List players-distance iron: Mizuno Mizuno Pro M-15

Matt Singer, 53
Anchorage, Alaska
Trial lawyer / Handicap: 11
Driver: 245 yards / 7-iron: 150 yards
“Driver is a strength of my game. While not terribly long, I find most of the fairways. My approach game is lacking, with a dreaded two-way miss. I lean on my wedges and get up and down or two-putt most of the time.”
Favorite Hot List driver: PXG Lightning Tour Mid

Jamie Struck, 52
Okatie, S.C.
Test pilot / Handicap: 7
Driver: 250 yards / 7-iron: 160 yards
“I’m lucky to have a reliable driver. I need that consistency with my irons, where I tend to miss left and right. I do pick approach clubs with no ego, so I have good distance control. I’m streaky with my putter.”
Favorite Hot List players-distance iron: Callaway Apex Ai200

B.K. Suhr, 42
Orlando
Nurse practitioner / Handicap: 2
Driver: 300 yards / 7-iron: 180 yards
“The best parts of my game are driving and longer approaches. I don’t get to play as much as I used to, so I’ve tried to optimize my set to simplify things. Playing less has hurt my finesse. I need to get fit for wedges.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Ping G440 LST

Todd Wade, 62
San Mateo, Calif.
Financial technology consultant / Handicap: 13
Driver: 240 yards / 7-iron: 160 yards
“Driver has become my favorite club after working on swing speed and the release. My ball-striking is solid enough, particularly when the short game is on. When I grow up, I want to be a great putter.”
Favorite Hot List driver: Cobra OPTM X

Ryan Woyski, 47
Kansas City
Sales manager / Handicap: 10
Driver: 280 yards / 7-iron: 160 yards
“My tee shots are a game of driver roulette: sometimes center cut, sometimes out of play. Irons are decent, and I can usually scramble around the greens. On most days, my putter holds it all together.”
Favorite Hot List mallet putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3i