2017 Golf Digest Hot List Certified Show Stopper?

[golfsurfbike]

I have a good friend in the golf business who has hit this driver and I asked him point blank if this driver is truly better than all the other great options out there, or is this all just the typical marketing hype we see every year. He said, "While there is clearly a marketing effort occurring here, this driver is going to live up to the hype for many golfers. As much as you try different drivers, I bet you end up bagging it next year." I can't wait to find out if he is right. His opinion has been spot on, every time I have asked him an insider question like this in the past.

 

I have hit it and posted my thoughts on the Callaway thread. I am just a regular golfer, 5 hdcp, and I had heard absolutely nothing about this driver (I have been off the boards for a while). Your friends comments are spot on. I hate the design of the crown, but that is the only negative I can find with this club. It beat my gamer solidly and I thought I had the best driver in the world. I am not trying to hype anything, just giving my honest thoughts.

[illmatik53]

I have a good friend in the golf business who has hit this driver and I asked him point blank if this driver is truly better than all the other great options out there, or is this all just the typical marketing hype we see every year. He said, "While there is clearly a marketing effort occurring here, this driver is going to live up to the hype for many golfers. As much as you try different drivers, I bet you end up bagging it next year." I can't wait to find out if he is right. His opinion has been spot on, every time I have asked him an insider question like this in the past.

 

 

Funny thing is Callaway hasn't a said one word about the club yet, no marketing has been released or presented. This is solely word of mouth from people that have hit it and want to put it in the bag.

 

That pic started it all. Rumor is free marketing. No need to pay anyone except the person they gave the picture. Heck, that person probably accepted the picture for free just to up their own popularity.

[rthrbgolfing]

I, personally, am tired of Callaway releasing a new driver every 6 months that is "game changing."

[golfsurfbike]

Oh man, that Callaway trip is gonna be something for those selected.

 

I will need another SZ....

Where is the sign up for the Callaway trip? Did I miss it?

[Noke]

All the posts about a $1000 driver are totally incorrect. It's really a disservice to a company to post such misinformation. Unless you know for 100% certainty, it's best to keep quiet.

 

The new driver will be right in line price wise with the latest offerings from other top OEM's. Look for for a combo of ballspeed, spin reduction & forgiveness that is unmatched in the industry. You'll see real deal results, not just BS marketing hype.

 

Pfffft. Disservice my arse. I'm not going to boo hoo for a big golf company having to deal with a bit of possible misinformation.

[1 iron2]

Let me guess, between 7-10 more yards.

[Warrick]

Oh man, that Callaway trip is gonna be something for those selected.

 

I will need another SZ....

Where is the sign up for the Callaway trip? Did I miss it?

 

Unfortunately, yes. I think it ended over a week ago, do not think winners have been announced yet, still holding out hope.

[SwingMan]

They could charge $1k if they renamed it ...

 

The Holy Grail

 

and matte gold-plate, of course.

[ptambrosetti]

What everyone I guess has forgotten is that when TaylorMade introduced the SuperQuad, they sold the TP at $1k in a limited release and were sold out even before it hit the shelves. I remember an exec over there telling me, "we never ever thought the masses would pay $1,000 for a driver so we made it exclusive"

 

This is the same exec that told me SLDR was a total rush job and should have been given 6 more months for QA testing

[mackepa]

I know Callaway and Taylormade get absolutely reamed for their frequency of their product releases but if you really look at what product is geared for who then the releases truly aren't that frequent. Example, the Fusion was just released and now we're already talking about the Epic. If the Epic fits you, the Fusion most likely won't and vise versa. It doesn't help Callaway to release all these lines at once. The strain on R&D working on Multiple lines at once would be astronomical then you have to look at the financial side of the business. Bottom line Callaway is a business, they are out to make money. that requires them to have release intervals a year to keep the money coming in steadily.

[I.AM.PACO]

Also lost in the discussion of 2016/17 marketing of golf equipment, specifically with respect to drivers, is the genius that Callaway is using thru their reduced production numbers vs releases. TMAG choked themselves and their retail accounts with a new driver every 10 minutes combined with production of a jillion units. NOONE could sell them all.

 

Callaway, at the direction of a very very smart man who works there now, is doing the same thing but with a 1/10th of the production level. They are releasing actual tech, but keeping production to a level that retailers are happy and not choked to death with 150 drivers per store sitting on the shelves. It's very intelligent how they have modeled their sales effort.

 

PACO

[Jagpilotohio]

Just read 4 pages and realize no one posted a picture of it.

[PowderedToastMan]

If this truly gains 17 yards, I will pay whatever Callaway wants and offer a blood sacrifice if necessary.

[mackepa]

Just read 4 pages and realize no one posted a picture of it.

 

the pictures been posted and talked about at great lengths. A DSG employee lost his job for posting it.

[baudi]

If reps come by shortly after the introduction of the Fusion with a new head, it is will be introduced within 3 months max.

If the Epic 'fits' in a way/sense thus the Fusion does not 'fit; the company better holds these alternatives physically close to each other as two ends on a scale. Last thing wanted is a customer moving away towards a competitor.

[Peanut191]

Does anyone else,(besides GolfSurfBike, thanks for the input) that has seen the drivers, have any descriptions or thoughts on the crown?

[moonshine]

I, personally, am tired of Callaway releasing a new driver every 6 months that is "game changing."

Don't buy it! If there was no pipeline for new products you would be complaining when nothing new is introduced.

[Jagpilotohio]

Just read 4 pages and realize no one posted a picture of it.

 

the pictures been posted and talked about at great lengths. A DSG employee lost his job for posting it.

I meant posted on this particular thread. Some of us have only read about it on this thread.

[golfsurfbike]

Does anyone else,(besides GolfSurfBike, thanks for the input) that has seen the drivers, have any descriptions or thoughts on the crown?

I would love to hear what others think. I am biased to simple crown designs, but others may love the look of this. Just depends on peoples preference. I will say I am sure the performance would be more than enough to get me to get over the look.

[ccn]

One thought the c16 at a 1000 dollar price point was not even available to tour pros. It seems to me if the picture has been leaked at this point, the guys on tour would be testing it. Or like titleist it will be set at a very high price point with a limited release and not even tour pros will be using it until the general population can. I am not in the know, just a thought. It is clear if something performs that a company can charge a 1000 for a driver.

[Peanut191]

Does anyone else,(besides GolfSurfBike, thanks for the input) that has seen the drivers, have any descriptions or thoughts on the crown?

I would love to hear what others think. I am biased to simple crown designs, but others may love the look of this. Just depends on peoples preference. I will say I am sure the performance would be more than enough to get me to get over the look.

 

Maybe it will be ok if the performance is good enough. Although, I was hoping one of them would be a simple crown, just like the original SubZero.

[scratchswinger]

So much hype! Can't wait to try it!

[DavePelz4]

So much hype! Can't wait to try it!

 

Scratch you'll need to change your AV to a Cally player!

[Lefty Hacker]

Isn't there a contest to win one of these here at Golfwrx? I can't find it.

[DTown3011]

Does anyone else,(besides GolfSurfBike, thanks for the input) that has seen the drivers, have any descriptions or thoughts on the crown?

I would love to hear what others think. I am biased to simple crown designs, but others may love the look of this. Just depends on peoples preference. I will say I am sure the performance would be more than enough to get me to get over the look.

 

It's pretty simple. Black fading to black carbon fiber. IMO the Boeing raised turbulators are pretty subdued and blend into the crown as they are light grey. They are identical to the XR16 ones but look better on the gloss head - they stand out less than the matte finish. The Callaway chevron alignment is a brighter white and really draws your eye into it. It's brighter than the turbulators for sure. The rest is simple and understated - all in a high gloss clearcoat finish.

[Afraid2goLow]

Guys are we so sure this "show-stopper" is from Callaway? Im starting to think that the real show-stopper is Wilson's new Driver vs Driver winner. I mean they changed the game by having average guys who know nothing about golf clubs make a driver for a TV show surely this is better than anything Callaway or TaylorMade have or will ever make.

[4rheel]

Does anyone else,(besides GolfSurfBike, thanks for the input) that has seen the drivers, have any descriptions or thoughts on the crown?

I would love to hear what others think. I am biased to simple crown designs, but others may love the look of this. Just depends on peoples preference. I will say I am sure the performance would be more than enough to get me to get over the look.

 

It's pretty simple. Black fading to black carbon fiber. IMO the Boeing raised turbulators are pretty subdued and blend into the crown as they are light grey. They are identical to the XR16 ones but look better on the gloss head - they stand out less than the matte finish. The Callaway chevron alignment is a brighter white and really draws your eye into it. It's brighter than the turbulators for sure. The rest is simple and understated - all in a high gloss clearcoat finish.

 

So there's no green on the crown at address?

[scotee]

All the posts about a $1000 driver are totally incorrect. It's really a disservice to a company to post such misinformation. Unless you know for 100% certainty, it's best to keep quiet.

 

The new driver will be right in line price wise with the latest offerings from other top OEM's. Look for for a combo of ballspeed, spin reduction & forgiveness that is unmatched in the industry. You'll see real deal results, not just BS marketing hype.

 

All publicity /hype is good for the company. If it turns out to sell for $500 some will think they are getting it for 1/2 price. This buzz however inaccurate can only be good for Callaway. Word of mouth is the best kind of marking you can get.

[justwellsy]

One thought the c16 at a 1000 dollar price point was not even available to tour pros. It seems to me if the picture has been leaked at this point, the guys on tour would be testing it. Or like titleist it will be set at a very high price point with a limited release and not even tour pros will be using it until the general population can. I am not in the know, just a thought. It is clear if something performs that a company can charge a 1000 for a driver.

 

I wonder why not a single tour pro uses the C16? Does Titleist not let them? If it was truly a better club, they would surely use it if available. That to me screams total failure because if a club costs twice as much but doesn't perform as well, that really sucks.

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens with this club as a number of pros use the great big bertha driver now and that's what this one reminds me of.

[Marand]

Rory is going to be so disappointed to discover he's playing inferior equipment. Again.