5 Best Drivers For Low Handicap Golfers
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When it comes to driving, brands have shown no signs of slowing down. So maybe a new driver is just what you need to kickstart your season.
Today’s drivers provide a new degree of playability that should help you find a few extra fairways, whether you’re a rapid swinger looking for workability or a beginner looking for as much aid as possible. We reviewed the best drivers as well as all models carried over from last year to give you an idea of what would work best for you.
Of course, investing in a new driver is one of the most expensive goods a golfer can purchase, and we’ve gone over whether you should buy a new driver this year and weighed the pros and disadvantages of doing so. There are still a handful of drivers that have been announced but aren’t yet available at retail, so scroll down to see our list of drivers we’re most enthusiastic about.
If you’re searching for a certain type of performance, check out our other recommendations on the most forgiving drivers, best golf drivers for distance, or best high handicap drivers.
Things to Consider When Picking a Low Handicap Driver
Adjustability
The customizable features of the driver allow the golfer to select the correct loft, hosel setting, and weight distribution for the perfect drive. For golfers who enjoy shaping their shots, the adjustable features of a high-quality driver can provide immense power.
Modern drivers benefit from raising their loft angles, which helps with overall impact as well as precision. Many current drivers also allow you to change the horizontal center of gravity, mostly through the use of movable weight sliders.
This tool can significantly improve your performance by adapting your clubhead to your specific swing. Some high-end drivers even have hundreds of weight-adjustment choices, letting you fine-tune your driver to your own playing style.
Design
The driver’s design is important because it instills confidence and gives the player a sense of direction when addressing the golf ball, as well as helping to regulate ball speed. The driver’s attitude and flair are embodied in the design.
A driver’s design also includes important details such as changeable features, feel, and reaction.
Forgiveness
When golfers talk about forgiveness, they are referring to how the club corrects off-center strokes.
For example, a ball that lands in the center of the club face, sometimes known as the sweet spot, usually travels straight. Off-center strikes occur when the ball is struck either towards the toe or the hosel. If the driver has a high level of forgiveness, the ball will continue to go toward the target line despite the off-center strike.
Feel
When a golfer discusses the feel of a club, they are referring to how the driver feels from the moment it touches their hands until impact.
The golfer knows what the club can and cannot accomplish on the tee box with a firm understanding of how the club will respond. Trusting that the ball will move in the intended direction is a direct result of relying on how the club feels at all times.
Balance
The driver’s balance is important because if too much weight is forced toward the toe or hosel, the club head can become imbalanced, enabling the golfer to hit furious slices or severe duck hooks. Too much tilting in either direction raises the likelihood of poor driving.
A balanced driver, on the other hand, is skilled at maintaining the club even though the impact zone, resulting in crisper contact and greater distance.
Club Head Size
The volume of a driver’s club head is used to determine its size. A normal driver has around 460 cubic centimeters of head space, which is why most manufacturers specify this measurement as a characteristic of their club.
In general, the larger the cc of the head, the more merciful it is on mishits, which is why the 460cc head is the most preferred.
The smaller the club head size, however, the greater the maximum distance and workability, as well as the ability to adapt your strokes. As a result, smaller heads will better cater to players with advanced talents.
Professionals and low handicappers choose a driver that is slightly smaller in size, around 450cc. The smaller size gives the golfer more control over their drives.
The larger driver head is ideal for golfers who require more forgiveness as well as faster swing speed. Professionals require superior precision and control because they already swing at extraordinary speeds.
Club Head Weight
The weight of a driver’s club head can alter the height of the drive and the shape of the shot.
Most modern drivers have an adjustable or fixed weighting in the club head. Adjustable weighting is more advanced than stationary weighted and allows the player to tailor their club to their preferences. Because advanced players desire more control over the shape of their shots, they prefer a driver with an adjustable weighing mechanism.
Stationary weighing improves the consistency and reliability of high handicappers’ and beginners’ games. Because these golfers fail to duplicate their greatest swing on a consistent basis, contemporary equipment can fill in the gaps. A fixed weighted driver can help reduce slicing and provide a higher launch for improved carry and distance.
Shaft
Choosing the correct shaft and grip might increase your carry distance by up to 20%. Although there are numerous aspects to consider when selecting the correct shaft, here are some general guidelines:
- If your driver swing speed is approximately 110mph or higher, and your carry distance around 270 yards = X flex shafts.
- If your speed is 95 to 110mph and your carry distance 240-270 yards = S flex.
- If your speed is 85 to 95 mph and your carry distance is 200 to 240 yards = R flex.
- If your speed is 75 to 85 mph and your carry distance is 180 to 200 yards, = A flex.
- If your speed is below 75 mph and driver distance less than 180 yards = L flex.
In terms of shaft length, a driver’s standard shaft length is 45.5 inches. For amateurs, equipment makers often use a longer driver. They do this because it is widely assumed that a longer driver equates to a longer swing for higher generated club speed.
A shorter driver shaft, roughly 43.5 inches in length, has gained appeal among pros who want to increase swing speed while also being able to return the clubface to square. Because professionals strive to shape their shots with every club, a shorter shaft in the driver allows them to produce their preferred swing with maximum club head speed and exceptional control.
Club Loft
A driver’s club loft indicates the amount of loft the club’s face has at address. The majority of amateur golfers use a loft degree ranging from 9 to 12 degrees. To put it another way, the lower the loft, the lower the shot height. For beginners and high handicappers, golf drivers with 12 degrees of loft or less will help lift the ball in the air for more carry, which corresponds to a longer distance.
If you’re having trouble finding consistent ball flight on your drives, a driver with a lower center of gravity can help. Similarly, if your game has plateaued, a driver with a forward, higher CG will increase distance and create shorter second shots to help you lower your scores.
Center Of Gravity
The launch angle of the ensuing shot in a driver is determined by the center of gravity, commonly known as CG.
For novices and high handicappers, a lower, deeper CG helps lift the ball rapidly for better distance and carry. Most advanced players, on the other hand, prefer a CG that is closer to the face and higher for a lower, more penetrating ball flight that lowers sidespin for increased forward roll and maximum distance.
Golfers who are having difficulty finding the optimal shot form for them would benefit from a new driver with a deeper, lower CG. This guideline is especially important for novices and high handicappers.
Top 5 Drivers For Low Handicap Golfers
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AT A GLANCE – THE TOP 5 DRIVERS FOR LOW HANDICAP GOLFERS (SEE ON AMAZON) |
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1. BEST FOR STRAIGHT HITTING: Taylormade Stealth HD |
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1. BEST FOR STRAIGHT HITTING: Taylormade Stealth HD |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ The 60X Carbon Twist Face is encased by a polyurethane cover, featuring a revolutionary new nanotexture technology. The nanotexture cover is used to fine-tune launch and spin to optimize total distance regardless of playing conditions. ⛳️ The weight savings of the 60x Carbon Twist Face has allowed more weight to be positioned low and deep in the head, this will add 15% more MOI compared to Stealth Plus plus. ⛳️ The Inertia Generator remains the foundational source of refined aerodynamic properties. The result is a slippery-fast head shape that aids in swing speed generation on the downswing for golfers at every level. ⛳️ Our most flexible Speed Pocket design is engineered to maximize ball speeds and produce additional forgiveness on low face strikes. |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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TaylorMade’s much-anticipated new 2022 driver introduction, the Stealth, did not disappoint, generating quite a buzz on social media and YouTube. When it comes to hype and marketing, you can always count on TaylorMade to deliver, and the Stealth was no exception. The Stealth, the brand’s first carbon fiber-faced driver, has the potential to be a game-changer. Others have tried and failed to employ superlightweight carbon on drivers, but TaylorMade has broken the code with the Stealth line. In fact, TaylorMade is so certain that they have found a winner that they vow they will “never create a titanium face driver ever again,” which is a strong statement given that all of their competitors are still producing titanium faced drivers. Because carbon fiber is lighter than titanium, TM was able to make the face larger and push their technology right up to the legal limit. The face of the Stealth is 11% larger than that of the SIM2 and 20% larger than that of the original SIM. There is less weight in the front and more weight in the back, which enhances ball speed. Consider a car with a load in the trunk colliding with a wall. The Stealth comes in three flavors. The SIM2 is directly replaced by the Plus+. It includes sliding weights and is the lowest spinning variant, making it ideal for low handicap golfers. The SIM2 Max has been replaced by the SIM2 Stealth. It is more forgiving than the Plus+ and will appeal to mid-high handicappers. However, we recommend the Stealth HD because it has all of the forgiveness of the Stealth plus draw bias technology. Internal weighting causes the heel to slow down on the downswing, allowing the toe of the club to operate a trifle faster, causing the club to be more square at impact. An open face will result in a shot that leaks to the right, therefore by eliminating this and squaring it up, straighter strokes will be promoted. You won’t see dramatic benefits from draw bias drives, but even a 5-10 yard difference can be enough to save a few shots if it keeps you out of fairway bunkers and the rough on the right side of the course. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Lightweight, adjustable, and added 10 yards on average to my drives.” “At least for my swing this driver has a perfect weight. I liked feeling the ball contact while adding 10-12 yards.” “The red face of the club allows for better target alignment. It is extremely forgiving. I picked up ball speed and carry and my spin rate is around 2000 RPM. This is a very solid driver and it looks good, too.” “I didn’t care for it with the stock shaft but put in a $700 AUTOFLEX and it became the best driver I ever hit. I had the shaft and gave it a shot. In fact, I have 2 of those shafts and put the other in a Rogue ST. The TMAG blew it away” |
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PROS ✅ Draw bias technology ✅ Massive face promotes confidence at address ✅ Great colorway |
CONS ❌ Quite expensive |
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2. MOST FAST & FORGIVING: Callaway Rogue ST Max |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ The new Rogue ST MAX Driver is Callaway’s fastest, most stable driver ever. ⛳️ The groundbreaking new Tungsten Speed Cartridge structure places up to 26 grams low and deep in the driver head. This increases speed on off-center hits and provides more forgiveness through high MOI. ⛳️ Their patented A.I. designed Jailbreak Speed Frame provides stability in the horizontal and torsional direction. Callaway has speed tuned the construction, shaping, and positioning to deliver even more speed across the face. ⛳️ As the industry leader in Artificial Intelligence, Callaway added launch and spin to ball speed in our optimization formula. This new formula lowers spin on the face, allowing us to add forgiveness to the driver. ⛳️ Titanium unibody construction provides stability and lowers center of gravity, while our proprietary Triaxial Carbon crown and sole allow us to save weight. This weight is redistributed to increase forgiveness with high launch and a slight draw bias. |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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With the 2022 driver, Callaway has gone back in time. Back in 2017, when Callaway first launched Jailbreak Technology, the original Rogue was a tremendous smash. Since then, we’ve seen the Epic Flash, Mavrik, and the Epic 21. All were excellent drives, but none captivated the golfing public in the manner that the Rogue did, not least because of the color schemes, which were not to everyone’s taste. The Rogue is back for 2022, but this time it’s better than ever. Callaway’s usage of A.I. is their calling card, and the company has invested millions on research and development to create Flash Face and JailBreak. The Rogue ST (Speed Tuned) line has expanded its use of artificial intelligence to improve the Flash Face for a greater launch and faster ball speed. There are four models in the Rogue ST family. Rogue ST Max, Rogue ST Max D, Rogue ST LS (low spin), and a new Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS intended for higher-level players. The Rogue ST Max offers a softer, duller sound than the Epic 21 and looks excellent at address. It’s quite forgiving on off-center hits, and while it’s not a full-on draw bias driver like the Max D, it does have semi-draw bias, which is a plus for the typical golfer, who is more likely to miss right than left. An 11.5g tungsten weight placed at the very back of the clubhead aids in spin and consistency, and the Rogue ST Max is unquestionably one of the better feeling drivers on the market. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Extremely well built and good looking driver.” |
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PROS ✅ High launch and mid spin ✅ Slight draw bias ✅ Improved jailbreak AI Speed frame |
CONS ❌ It doesn’t come with an adjustment tool for the head |
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3. VALUE FOR MONEY: Taylormade Sim2 Max D |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ New Forged Ring Construction. Forged from a lightweight and high-strength aluminum that is milled to an exacting shape, it unites a massive rear weight, a full carbon sole, crown, and a new milled back cup face. ⛳️ SIM Inertia Generator. The asymmetric Inertia Generator is designed to provide faster club head speed through advanced geometry and aerodynamic analytics. ⛳️ Speed Injected Twist Face. Improves ball speed by calibrating each head to the threshold of the legal speed limit with corrective face curvature also protecting against heel and toe mis-hits. ⛳️ Thru-Slot Speed Pocket. Our most flexible Speed Pocket design is engineered to maximize ball speeds and produce additional forgiveness on low face strikes. ⛳️ Split Mass Weighting. Designed to enhance forgiveness while allowing for pinpoint target swing weights during custom assembly. |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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The Sim2 Max D from TaylorMade, like the Stealth HD, is intended primarily to help golfers square the club face at impact and minimize those awful left to right misses that have spoiled countless rounds of golf. And, to some extent, it works. While lessons and practice will always be the greatest cure for a slice, there are other measures you may take to lessen the impact of an erroneous right miss. The Sim2 Max D will assist golfers who struggle to keep the ball in play owing to missing shots wide right but be warned: a draw bias driver is not a magic wand that will cure your slice. Most of you have probably seen the Sim2 driver, either in your local golf shop or while watching Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson on TV. You may have seen the Sim2 Max, but you are unlikely to have seen the Max D variant, as it is the least marketed of the Sim2 varieties and will not be as widely available. The standard Sim2 is aimed at the higher level of player, the Sim2 Max is more forgiving and suits the mid-high handicap golfer who doesn’t always hit his drive right in the sweet spot, and the Sim2 Max D has the same level of forgiveness as the Sim2 Max but has a configuration designed to promote a more right to left shape. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Played my first round with one of these at Maryland National today. The big difference-maker for me. Easy to attack the ball with it. Nice weight and the ball rockets off the face when you catch it cleanly. I usually lose a lot of drives to the left (I’m a lefty). I was able to be aggressive with it and hold the line. Maybe the best feeling, easiest to hit, and longest driver I’ve ever used. You will enjoy it.” “THIS DRIVER RIPS. Upgraded from the Callaway Epic Flash driver and although I loved the performance of that club, the distance and forgiveness of this thing justify the price tag. Gained about 15 to 20 yards off the tee, but the most impressive thing was my distance on mishits. Looks beautiful, sounds beautiful, feels beautiful.” |
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PROS ✅ Draw bias technology ✅ Extremely forgiving ✅ Stylish looking design |
CONS ❌ Not for the low handicap golfer or anyone who already draws the ball |
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4. BEST FOR SLOW SWINGERS: Wilson Launch Pad |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Lightweight components including the head, shaft, and grip result in a total club weight of just 272g, making the Launch Pad driver one of the lightest on the market. ⛳️ The Launch Pad driver is designed with a moderate hosel offset. Combined with 13 grams of weight in the heel side sole of the club, this hidden left promotes a closed face at impact and neutralizes any fade bias. ⛳️ This innovative tech is built into the Launch Pad head and delivers high ball speeds and high launch angles, regardless of where on the face they make contact. |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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Wilson is the most forgiving driver you will ever have. The Launch Pad is great for golfers who have slower swing speeds or who have a score-killing slice. The lightweight design allows players to enhance their swing speed, which leads to increased distance, while the upright design and anti-slice technology should assist keep the ball on the fairway. To get even more distance, partner this driver with the Wilson Staff DUO golf ball, which is the softest ball on the market and is designed to help players with slow swings get the most distance. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“I have torn biceps and back issues. Chunking the ground can ruin not just my day, but the entire week – depending. I play double bogie golf. Lately, it’s been closer to the single bogie. I cannot attest all of this to the clubs (Launch Pad Irons), but I feel like they help a lot. It took some practice and a few rounds to zero in on the distance as the angles are slightly different than the average club. After playing with these clubs about once a week for the past two months, I really have a great feel for them. Love me some Wilson clubs. I also picked up the Launch Pad 5 wood and Driver. Awesome!” “I am loving this driver! Have taken it to the driving range twice this week and it does not disappoint. Hitting it straight and far. Makes what I can only describe as a commanding sound when making contact with the ball.” |
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PROS ✅ Extremely lightweight ✅ Masses of anti-slice technology |
CONS ❌ Not suitable for faster swing speeds |
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5. MOST VERSATILE: Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Speedback Technology-King F9 Speedback driver is the first of its kind to achieve true optimization of aerodynamics and low CG, making it the fastest and longest COBRA driver. ⛳️ Speedback Aero Design-Speedback Technology delivers a highly aerodynamic clubhead design and is the first to combine a raised skirt, rounded crown, and rounded leading edge to improve airflow for maximum speed and stability. ⛳️ Low CG Speedback Weighting-The addition of a low, multi-material tungsten weight structure creates a low, deep CG that has never before been combined with efficient aerodynamics, optimizing club and ball speed, combined with low spin for extreme distance. ⛳️ CNC Precision Milled Face-In an industry where everyone claims to have a fast driver face, ours is the only one that’s CNC milled. CNC milling delivers our thinnest, hottest face repeatedly on every driver we manufacture. ⛳️ Dual Roll Technology-Dual Roll adds distance to your drives by minimizing the gear effect that negatively impacts launch and spin on high and low misses. |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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The Cobra F9 SpeedBack is the greatest driver on the market, pound for pound. It feels and sounds terrific. Some will claim it looks beautiful as well, but it is a matter of personal preference, and it will not appeal to everyone. That doesn’t change the fact that, in terms of performance, this is a fantastic club at an excellent value. Cobra made a deliberate decision to keep the F9’s debut pricing far lower than the competition’s. The F9 is up there with the greatest drivers available, but when it first came out, it was significantly less expensive than its competitors. Cobras’ 2019 offering was the F9, then in 2020 they introduced the SZ (SpeedZone), and in 2021 they released the RadSpeed. In reality, the difference in quality and performance between these clubs is small, but by looking about it, you can get the F9 for a substantially lower price, making it the greatest value high-end driver on the market. The F9 lacks sliding weights that allow you to modify for shot shape, which may be off-putting to some, but that option can often lead to excessive second thinking and fiddling after inaccurate shots. However, there are adjustable weights at the front and rear to help with higher launch, and the Cobra Connect shot tracking in the grip allows you to connect to your smartphone via an app and record valuable statistics such as distances, fairways hit, and so on. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Haven’t carried a driver in years… I was hitting my 2W as far as my driver 205-220 but much straighter. With my old driver, I was getting those distances but far right or far left, never straight (or even close)… So I just figured, to heck with it, I just won’t carry a driver… After watching Rick Shiels review of the Cobra F9 Speedback, I decided what the heck – if it doesn’t work right for me, I can just send it back. Ordered with the Helium UST shaft w/Senior (Lite) flex… Well, it has earned a spot in my bag… Taking it to the range, the first few shots were a little errant, and was thinking “well, maybe it’s not for me”… but a few shots later after slowing down, taking my time, and not trying to murder the ball, li and behold 240+ yard drives that were pretty darn straight with a nice little draw… I did hit a few fades. But not that big banana slice I had with my old driver… A couple of days later on the course, 10 out of 14 fairways hit… I’m sold..” |
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PROS ✅ The club head’s low center of gravity makes the F9 one of the fastest and best on the market. ✅ The low profile of the driver aids in higher strokes off the tee. ✅ The finely milled face produces a quick surface for greater range. |
CONS ❌ Loud sound might not appeal to some golfers |
Final Thoughts
The title of finest golf driver for advanced players is still up for debate among golfers. However, if you are serious about improving your game, you need to make your selection wisely. Keep in mind that low-handicappers have unique requirements. The good news is that there are many decent goods on the market from which to pick. But, before you do anything else, you should think about how you play your game. Do you have a tendency to lag in your swing speed? Or are you experiencing difficulty with your accuracy?
Before making a decision, try to compare at least a few of the products on this list. Consider your budget and needs to see what your best possibilities are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which driver hits the farthest?
From a physics standpoint, the low loft of a golf driver is rather shocking. In freshman physics, everyone learns that the best launch angle for a projectile — the angle that causes a ball to fly the furthest – is 45 degrees.
Is it true that new drivers are more forgiving?
There is no doubt that golf equipment has become more forgiving. As a result, golf clubs now have more forgiveness in the clubface’s lower heel and higher toe. If you’re using an older driver and you’re missing shots in either of these two areas, a new driver could help you improve your game.
Do golf drivers die?
When there is a crack or imperfection in the club face, a golf driver can go dead and lose its pop. This can be caused by poor manufacturing or a weakness in the driver head, and it has an impact on distance and performance.
Is 91 a good golf score?
According to the USGA, the average score for recreational golfers on a par 72 course is 91. These figures include everyone who actively records and submits their scores online, and because many golfers do not, the average golf score for all golfers is substantially closer to 100.
Which person has the lowest golf handicap?
Tiger Woods is the tour pro with the lowest handicap.
Tiger Woods hasn’t had an official handicap since he was 20 years old and played off +8.
Which degree driver do I require?
Based on your estimated club-head speed, select a loft to test. A 10- or 11-degree loft will suffice if the speed is between 95 and 104 mph. If the speed is between 105 and 115 mph, a loft of 7 to 9 degrees should be considered. Golfers with clubhead speed less than 85 mph should employ a loft angle of 14 to 20 degrees.
