For Callaway Golf fans, 2008 is shaping up to be a monster year. Already announced are 2 new drivers (and that’s not counting the I-MIX system), 3 new fairway woods, 1 new hybrid, 4 new iron sets, a new wedge, 4 new or redesigned golf balls, some new bags, and a whole mess of other accessories.

While you could fill a golf bag (or a U-Haul) several times over with Callaway’s 2008 gear, luckily most of us can get by with one set of clubs. If I were to buy tomorrow, here’s how I’d do it.

Driver

While were amused, intrigued, and almost taken in by the FT-i last year, this year’s FT-i Tour Low CG isn’t going to make it into this bag. Re-designed with input from Callaway tour pros, the FT-i Tour Low CG has discretionary weight placed low and to the extreme edges of the clubhead. The idea is less spin, with a more penetrating ball flight. Still, this looks like a big boy’s stick, and although I’m loving the kick-ass Matrix Ozik shaft that comes standard on the FT-i Tour Low CG, it’s clearly not the right club for this hacker.

Instead, I’m going with the new Callaway Hyper X, featuring Callaway’s “Hyperbolic Face Technology” or HFT (told you we’d be heavy on trademarks). HFT, whether intentional or not, reads like the evolution of Callaway’s VFT (variable face thickness). The gist of it is that Callaway engineers have varied the thickness of the club face to produce a huge sweet spot that limits loss of distance on those occasions when we don’t exactly hit it dead center. Not that any of us have that problem.

I know plenty of people who swear by the 2006 model of this club, so I’m willing to overlook the S2H2 (short, straight, hollow, hosel) design. I prefer the look of a traditional hosel, but Callaway claims S2H2 allows them to place more discretionary weight in the club head, which of course results in a higher MOI, improved control, and of course, greater distance.

While the Hyper X shaft by Fujikura isn’t quite as impressive as the Matrix Ozik shaft on the FT-i Tour Low CG, it should be mighty enough for the average golfer. For those of us who aren’t big fans of a closed clubface, the Tour model features a .5º open set up.

The Hyper X retails for $299 for the standard version, and $329 for the tour model.

Fairway Woods

There is some temptation to match the Hyper X up with the newly refined X series fairway woods. The new X series fairway features a larger footprint with a deeper face, which leads to increased MOI. The modified X sole is designed to help avoid digging in, and makes it much easier to sweep the ball off the fairway, or out of the rough.

At $179 for steel, $199 graphite, and $219 for the tour model, the X fairway is a relative bargain in the fairway world.

For those looking for a traditionally shaped fairway wood with internal weighting (draw or neutral), Callaway offer the FT and FT Tour models. The FT series features Fusion technology (carbon composite crown), and a traditional hosel design. While I’m sure Callaway will sell more than a few of these, at $249 for the regular model, and $269 for the tour, the FT series may find itself caught in the middle between the X series, and our Callaway fairway club of choice…

You knew it would only be a matter of time before the square-headed design filtered down into the shorter clubs, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that Callaway has announced the FT-i Squareway (get it, rhymes with fairway) wood. I struggle to find consistency with my fairway clubs, so while the design reminds me a bit of one of those square bagels they sell at Bruegger’s, if the Squareway can keep me in the fairway, then, count me in.

From a technology standpoint, the Squareway borrows a lot from its big brother. The square design of course (MOI, discretionary weight at the corners…you know the drill), and the carbon composite crown design with some sweet VFT action in its steel face.

At $299 it’s a little on the expensive side, but since we’re not playing with real money here, I’m throwing this in my bag and hitting the links.

Hybrids

Callaway has only announced one new model thus far. While here at WhatTheDeuce we’re a little surprised not to see a square-headed hybrid, we’re plenty happy to see an updated FT hybrid.

The updated model is built with Fusion technology, which in this case means a Tungsten infused sole, steel face, and I’m guessing a carbon composite crown. No S2H2 on this one, which makes me happy.

The FT Hybird is available lofts ranging from 18 – 27 degrees in 3 degree increments and retails for $199.

Irons

I’ll be honest, I feel a little bit let down by the Callaway iron offerings this year, which might be a good thing. Don’t get me wrong, with 4 new offerings announced, I can’t really complain about a lack of options. All I can really say is there isn’t really a set that appeals to me.

The X-Prototype blades, just announced as part of their Tour authentic lineup are admittedly above my game. The redesigned Big Bertha series irons look every bit the reliable game improvement package that previous Bertha’s were.

Perhaps most intriguing this year are the FT and FT i-brid irons. A quick side note…the first 500 times I read i-brid, I read as i-bird. Having straightened out the letters, it now makes much more sense.

I’ll spare you the acronyms, and trademark engineering that goes into the I-Brid design. What you really need to know is that it’s a mixed set where the longer clubs more closely resemble hybrids than they do irons. If you’re wondering where you’ve seen this in the past, it’s very similar to what TourEdge did with it’s JMAX series a few years ago, and what Cleveland did with its HiBore irons last year. At $1299 for steel and $1499 for graphite, the FT I-Brid irons are the most expensive in the Callaway lineup.

The FT Irons are a more conventionally shaped version of the FT I-brid (actually the I-brid is a less conventionally shaped version of the FT, but whatever). Like the I-Brid they feature a thermal plastic urethane “SenSert” to help reduce vibration, and a Tunite cradle which allows 80% of the club head’s discretionary weight to be placed on the extreme perimeter. Like the Fusion iron before it, and the VFTs before them, the FT has a titanium face, which allows for faster ball speeds (and presumably higher prices).

If I had to chose a 2008 iron set I’d probably put the $1099 ($1299 graphite) FTs in my bag, but the honest truth is if I’d prefer to keep my X-20 tours.

Wedges

For most of us, wedges last just about forever, which is why it isn’t any huge surprise that there isn’t an annual flood of new wedges like there is with drivers. Callaway’s single ’08 offering is the new X-Forged wedge, designed by famed wedge guru Roger Cleveland.

Hypotheticals aside the X-Forged Wedge could actually end up in my bag this year. Made from 1020 carbons steel, and available with your choice of 2 sole grinds, the X-Forged is one (actually 2 sweet looking wedges). The standard grind is versatile enough to handle most of the conditions you’ll encounter on the course. The C-Grind has more material removed from the leading edge and toe, and is an excellent choice for dry, hard-packed conditions.

Sand and Lob wedge options come standard with what Callaway is calling “Mack Daddy” grooves, which are wider and deeper than what you’re probably used to seeing. Major props to Callaway for being the first of the industry big boys to release a 64º wedge. Short-game superstar Dave Pelz has been talking about more loft for years, finally somebody with some industry clout is on board.

The X-Forged wedge has an ERP of $109 for the chrome finish and $119 for the vintage. It’s available in lofts from 48º – 64º.

Putters

As fine as the X-Forged wedges may be, chances are you’ll eventually need a putter. And well, Callaway (Odyssey) has a bunch too choose from. Now WhatTheDeuce has never made a secret about our lack of enthusiasm for Odyssey putters, and really, there isn’t much this year that’s going to change that.

Of course, plenty of golfers swear by them, so if they work for you, by all means check out the new WhiteHot XG Sabertooth, or the new black series. In fact, if pushed to put an Odyssey putter in my back, I’m grabbing one of the new black series #2 putters.

The black series features a Tungsten insert which helps to create a low, deep center of gravity for increased MOI and of course, superior control on off-center hits. This is in part achieved through the redistribution of discretionary weight from the hosel to the tungsten insert. I’m sensing a theme here.

At $269 the black series is the most expensive in the Callaway line, but, as I’ve said before; considering that at least 1/3 of all your strokes are taken with your putter, isn’t it worth spending a little more on?

Before I move on, I feel the need to rant a little bit about one of the new Odyssey products; the new Marxman X-Act putting wedge. This isn’t a club, it’s a crutch. It’s the least versatile, most useless piece of equipment that could ever occupy one of the 14 slots in your golf bag.

$119.00 is about $118.98 too much to spend on a club that’s only good within 6 feet of the green. You don’t need this club. Chip with a wedge. Chip with a hybrid. Hell, if you have to, chip with the back of your 5-iron, but I’m begging anyone and everyone who happens to read this: DO NOT BUY THE MARXMAN X-ACT or any other chipper. Even if you’re a 25+ handicap, you’re too good to carry this club. Ok, rant over.

Balls

I love Callaway golf balls. I’d rather play Callaway’s over the more popular Pro V1. This year the HX Tour gets a little bit of a face lift and gets a subtle rebranding as the Tour i and Tour ix (the ix is slightly firmer for more distance).

Both feature a 4-piece, perimeter-weighted design with a tungsten-infused core, which shifts weight away from the center of the ball to help reduce spin. The familiar HEX pattern has been redesigned to further reduce drag.

Callaway calls this this most technologically advanced ball ever made. Whether or not that’s true remains to be seen, but this is the first time we’ve seen MOI discussed as it relates to the ball itself.

Since I’ve already dropped plenty of (theoretical) cash on Callaway, I’ll forgo the $44.99 indulgence that is the Tour i and Tour ix, and instead play the brand new HX Hot Bite.

As you can probably tell by the name, the HX Hot Bite is based of the very popular HX Hot. I guess I’m not alone in finding the HX Hot just a little too firm because the Bite (which is an alternative to the standard hot, not a replacement), features a softer core and a thinner cover, which result in a ball with a softer feel and more stopping power around the green.

Speaking of green, the HX Hot Bite comes in a green box, not that it matters, but that box will have a price of $29.99 (that was some sweet segway action right there).

Bags

Pretty much exhausted by my Callaway shopping experience, I’m not going to put a whole lot of effort into selecting a bag. Without tipping my hand too early, I’ll tell you that you’re going to see lots of cool stuff in the golf bag category this year, and Callaway’s offerings are among the most compelling.

The new Hyper X Stand Bag is what I’ll be loading all this virtual gear into. It features a 9″ tri-sectional top with an 8-way divider system. There Hyper X also features an Izzo One-Up Stap•ology System, which allows you to easily convert the bag from a single strap to a dual-strap carry system.

The other big feature of the Hyper X Stand Bag is the XTT 2 Stand Activation System (the marketing guys are at it again). The XTT 2 is a base-activated system which reportedly offers more stability, and of course better performance. Stability is achieved through a mechanism which levels the base when the legs are extended.

I wasn’t able to locate pricing information for the Hyper X stand bag, but if I were making a guess, I’d come in around $179.00.

Final Thoughts

It’s a huge year for Callaway golf. It would only be speculation on my part, but given the tremendous number of new products, and the introduction of the I-Mix interchangeable driver system, it could be the biggest ever. My local demo days even usually takes place in early August, and you can bet I’ll be spending some quality time with all the equipment on this list.

My fully-loaded Callaway bag has an estimated retail price tag of $2911. Let’s not talk to my wife about this.