LinksMag | Best of Golf | Callaway FT-i


Links Gear: Callaway FT-i Mid-Handicap (10-19)
By Tom Cunneff You’ve put off trying the Callaway FT-i driver because there’s no way you’re going to play with a club that looks like the back end of a Buick. That would be a mistake. It’s easy to get over the square shape when you find yourself in fairway after fairway. In fact, it’s the shape—using a titanium face and carbon-composite body—that makes the club highly stable on off-center hits. Our launch monitor data revealed little sidespin, confirming the stellar on-course performance. “I’ve never hit a straighter driver,” says a 12. “I’m usually talking to the ball to stay out of the rough, but I didn’t once have to tell the ball to ‘get lucky.’” Impact sound is somehow both duller and louder than with titanium, but after a while, our testers were hearing something sweeter. Says a 15: “Sure, the shape and acoustics take getting used to, but the sound of your buddies saying ‘nice drive’ never gets old.” FT-i (10 degrees) Clubhead speed: 85.8 MPH Launch angle: 15.1 degrees Spin rate: 2,220 RPM Carry distance: 201.9 yards Average of five testers, handicaps 10–17 Average 10-degree driver Clubhead speed: 86 MPH Launch angle: 10.4 degrees Spin rate: 2,236 RPM Carry distance: 195 yards Data provided by Tom Wishon Golf Technology

Links Gear:
Callaway FT-i
Mid-Handicap (10-19)

By Tom Cunneff

You’ve put off trying the Callaway FT-i driver because there’s no way you’re going to play with a club that looks like the back end of a Buick. That would be a mistake. It’s easy to get over the square shape when you find yourself in fairway after fairway. In fact, it’s the shape—using a titanium face and carbon-composite body—that makes the club highly stable on off-center hits. Our launch monitor data revealed little sidespin, confirming the stellar on-course performance.

“I’ve never hit a straighter driver,” says a 12. “I’m usually talking to the ball to stay out of the rough, but I didn’t once have to tell the ball to ‘get lucky.’”

Impact sound is somehow both duller and louder than with titanium, but after a while, our testers were hearing something sweeter. Says a 15: “Sure, the shape and acoustics take getting used to, but the sound of your buddies saying ‘nice drive’ never gets old.”

FT-i (10 degrees)
Clubhead speed: 85.8 MPH
Launch angle: 15.1 degrees
Spin rate: 2,220 RPM
Carry distance: 201.9 yards
Average of five testers, handicaps 10–17

Average 10-degree driver
Clubhead speed: 86 MPH
Launch angle: 10.4 degrees
Spin rate: 2,236 RPM
Carry distance: 195 yards
Data provided by Tom Wishon Golf Technology