Golfer First.
That’s our mission. Everything we do, test, publish, write … it’s all done with you in mind.
Why? Your game is our job. It’s that simple. You want to play better golf and we want you do just that.
Your game is the first thing we think about when we’re testing a new product. It’s the only thing that really matters to us.
In the hopes of making your game better, we’ve created, refined and executed our Most Wanted Testing for 18 years. This data-driven methodology of testing is what we do best.
That said, data shouldn’t be the only thing you consider before your next purchase. Our annual Editor’s Choice Awards allows us to shine a spotlight on products, companies and brands that have left an impression on us – even if they didn’t place No. 1.
Here are our Editors’ Choice Awards for 2026
Company of the Year: Tour Edge
Tour Edge’s 2026 season was less about dominating one particular category and more about consistently showing up across the board. Drivers, hybrids, utilities and irons all produced strong results in our testing, with Tour Edge products regularly finishing among some of the best we tested. The brand also entered our golf ball test for the first time with the Exotics, its first golf ball, and showed it could compete there, too. When you look at the entire lineup rather than any single product, there just weren’t many weak spots. That kind of performance across nearly every equipment category is what made Tour Edge our Company of the Year.
Comeback of the Year: TaylorMade
It’s weird to think of one of the industry’s biggest brands in terms of a comback but here we are.. After a couple of generations where TaylorMade looked like a driver company that had forgotten how to make drivers, Qi4D won Most Wanted. That’s not a marginal improvement, that’s a company remembering what it’s supposed to be good at. The tell isn’t the win itself, though. It’s what came next: TaylorMade moved to a two-year driver cycle which is the kind of decision you make only when you believe the product in the market can hold up for another 12 months. Slowing down is a bigger flex than launching more stuff. (It’s also better for you, which is a nice bonus.) Early returns on TP5 and TP5x suggest meaningful improvement over the previous generation. Spider is everywhere and has been for long enough that it’s easy to forget how rare that kind of staying power is. And the wedges remain one of the better-kept secrets in golf, a strange thing to say about a company that isn’t historically shy about telling you how good its equipment is.
DTC Company: Takomo Golf
A top-five finish in player’s distance irons and a win for game-improvement irons. Takomo is helping to clear up some of those questions golfers once had about whether they can compete with the big names.
Technology of the Year: Arccos Air
We’ll concede two points: shot tracking isn’t for everyone and Arccos still isn’t perfect. That said, this year’s Air product finally delivers so much of what golfers have asked for. The new Air platform is entirely sensor-free and doesn’t require your phone to be in your pocket. The Air sensor is small, unobtrusive and works surprisingly well. The app experience, the richness of data and course strategy features continue to improve.
Driver: Titleist GTS
GT was already among the best driver lineups in golf. GT3 became the one the rest of the industry was chasing and it pulled off something most of the category can’t: traditional looks at address with modern performance behind them. Usually, you pick one. With GTS, Titleist didn’t touch what was working. It made it work better and paired it with the most robust fitting platform it has ever offered. That second part matters more than the marketing suggests. A great head you can’t dial in isn’t worth playing.
Mini Driver: TaylorMade R7 Quad
Our Most Wanted winner two years running. The R7 is at its level best as a true driver replacement off the tee while still being usable off the deck for golfers looking for a 3-wood replacement. The combination of hosel adjustability and a four-weight system means the R7 also provides the most robust fitting options in the category.
Fairway Wood: Callaway Mini Spinner
An unconventional choice but in a category that has become entirely about distance in recent years, Callaway decided to rethink what a fairway wood could be. Instead of chasing every yard, the Mini Spinner (7-, 9- and 11-wood lofts) makes the game easier for golfers who have trouble hitting the ball high and holding greens with anything longer than a 7-iron. For whatever it’s worth, it’s exceedingly fun to hit.
Hybrid: Mizuno JPX ONE
The Mizuno JPX ONE emphasizes everything golfers who understand that hybrids are scoring clubs want from that spot in the bag. The JPX ONE was the most accurate hybrid we tested while still offering plenty of forgiveness and enough distance to meet the needs of golfers looking to hit more greens from long range.
Utility Iron: Titleist U•505
We haven’t seen a driving iron this consistent in performance since the PING iCrossover. It had back-to-back first-place finishes in the driving iron category. Driving irons are niche but there is a spot in your bag for one, Titleist U•505 is the top choice definitively.
Irons: Takomo Iron 101 MKII
Takomo Iron 101 MKII took center stage by winning the game-improvement iron category. It beat out several top-name brands and was the most accurate iron in the test. The cherry on top: it is an incredibly price-friendly iron option in today’s market.
Wedge: New Level SPN V3
The New Level SPN V3 was one of the biggest surprises in our 2026 wedge testing. It finished runner-up overall and, more importantly, was the most accurate wedge we tested. That performance carried across full swings as well as 50-yard shots in both dry and wet conditions. It also produced plenty of spin without sacrificing proximity. For a brand that still flies under the radar for a lot of golfers, the SPN V3 made a pretty convincing case that it belongs in the conversation with any wedge on the market.
Blade Putter: PING Scottsdale Putter Line
Blade putters had a hard time keeping up with mallets and zero-torque in 2026. PING’s Scottsdale line was one of the biggest standouts. The Scottsdale Anser 4 finished second overall while the Anser 2D finished third, giving PING two of the top three blades we tested. They got there in different ways, too. The Anser 4 was one of the strongest performers on short putts while the Anser 2D was the best blade in the test from long range. Putting two models that high in the rankings made the Scottsdale line an easy Editor’s Choice.
Mallet Putter: Ben Hogan BHM02
Bettinardi stole the show for mallet putters this year and it took the attention away from Ben Hogan. The Ben Hogan BHM02 won third place overall and the BHM03 is the best for medium putts. The putters are half the price of first and second place.
Zero-Torque Putter: Odyssey Ai-Dual S2S #7
Odyssey Ai-Dual S2S #7 stole the show in our second annual zero-torque putter test. This ZT putter secured the best PuttView Handicap score on average. It ranks in the top six at each putting distance. Most notably, it was first overall on long-range putts. Ai-Dual S2S #7 also had the tightest miss distance of all the zero-torque putters.
Golf Ball: Maxfli Tour X
It’s rare—nearly unheard of—for a house-brand golf ball to find its way into play on the PGA Tour. When it does happen, it’s typically carried by journeymen pros who have most weekends off. The Maxfli Tour X became the remarkable exception. DICK’S house brand surprised nearly everyone by signing Lexi Thompson ahead of the 2024 season and again when Ben Griffin joined Team Maxfli and put the Tour X in play. The result? Two wins this season and a world ranking that puts Griffin in the conversation for a Ryder Cup spot.
Training Aid: The Divot Board Mini
The Divot Board has been around for years but the new Divot Board Mini earns an Editor’s Choice. It’s small enough to throw in the bag or suitcase so you always have a way to work on your path and impact position.
Glove: Idaka
Idaka Golf was founded in 2026 and they launched with a bang. The IDAKA Premium Golf Glove is proof that you can make a splash from the very beginning with testers lauding premium comfort, long-term durability and an emphasis on feel through your swing.
Rangefinder: Canon Powershot
A golf rangefinder has evolved far beyond measuring distance. The Canon PowerShot Golf is proof. It combines near-perfect optics and a premium display with the ability to capture every moment on the course in the form of a built-in video camera—whether it’s the shot you’ll remember for years or the one your buddies won’t let you live down.
Golf Shoe: Alma Mater Beta Lite
The best technological advancement in golf shoes that we’ve seen in a long, long time. A near perfect blend of fit, comfort and grip.
Best Collab: PAYNTR GOLF x Everyone
2026 is the year of collabs for PAYNTR Golf: Forresters, Bad Birdie, Students and Vessel, just to name a few. You’d be hard-pressed to find a shoe brand with this much positive momentum heading into 2027.
Men’s Apparel: B. Draddy
It’s the year of elevated essentials and no one personifies that statement quite like B. Draddy. Natural fibers, fantastic fits and on-trend colors make B. Draddy the logical Editor’s Choice for Best Men’s Golf Apparel.
Women’s Apparel: B. Draddy
B. Draddy women’s clothes look great. Classic golf style with a modern twist. The thing that sets them apart is the fabric and attention to detail. If you’re serious about golf and need products to perform on the course, B. Draddy is winning the game right now.
Jb
18 seconds ago
WATCHES! Does Garmin win as it has no competition???
Be nice to have a yardage watch that also does what a Fitbit etc does!!!