How hard it could be to test golf clubs all day? Our Surviving the Hot List video series provides the answer | Golf Equipment: Clubs, Balls, Bags

“Blood, sweat, tears and Red Bull.”

These are just some of the things needed to survive the annual Hot List summit, where over two four-day sessions, 29 testers tested nearly 300 club models from every club manufacturer you’ve ever seen. heard of, and some you haven’t heard of.

After 20 years of Hot List Summits, you’d think the team has it all down to a science. And to some extent, they do. But there is no control over Mother Nature, as the team learned the hard way this year.

“Unless it’s raining horizontally and fire is falling from the sky, these guys aren’t deterred,” said Mike Stachura, Golf Digest editor, Equipment. “And if they complained slightly about the weather, I’d just give them a ride.”

Luckily for Stachura (and the testers), laps weren’t necessary this year, but there was still a lot to overcome during the group’s time in Arizona. For a full understanding of what it takes to pull off the most ambitious project on our calendar each year, we’ve chronicled the testing experience and brought in a few special guests – actor Michael Peña and the NFL star at the Danny Woodhead’s retirement – to participate as well.

“You think you know the equipment and then you come here and you’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Jack,'” Peña said. “Some people want to play in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which I completely understand. I’ve played and it’s been fantastic. But I think that should be on a to-do list as well.”

Watch the full series below: