Aside from gap wedges, golf drivers are one of the most important sets of golf equipment that set the mood for the rest of your game.

Using the right golf driver enhances your distance, accuracy, and other crucial elements of your performance off the tee area.

Our experts at Tell Me Golf are here to shed some light on all things golf drivers. Be it how to size a golf driver, factors to consider when choosing a driver, most importantly we answer: How To Pick A Golf Driver. Keep reading to better understand the processes involved in buying a golf driver and choosing the right one while at that. Alternatively, you can head over here to learn more about gap wedges.

4 Crucial Factors to Consider When Buying A Golf Driver

---

1. Club Head Size

Most PGA tour players believe that drivers with a large head size offer a larger sweet spot thereby making it easier to get better off-center shots. That’s valid reasoning, but the outcome may vary widely based on the golfer’s skill level.

If you’re a weekend golfer, for example, and you hit your ball 250 yards or less off the tee, consider a driver with a head size of approximately 450 cc. Hitting the ball farther is a good thing, but don’t sacrifice accuracy by using a driver head size you’re not accustomed to.

2. The Right Shaft

Graphite, steel, and titanium. These are the three types of metals used in producing golf driver shafts. Steel shafts are generally heavier and less expensive than the other two options.

High handicappers spend a little extra on drivers with a titanium or graphite shaft because their light weight generally translates to a higher club-head speed, meaning a longer ball distance on your shots.

Finally, ensure you choose the right shaft length. Most amateur players hit with a longer shaft to maximize their distance, but they’re only sacrificing accuracy.

3. Driver Loft

Most golfers believe that drivers with lower loft promote longer, higher ball flights. However, recent studies have shown that it all depends on the ball. Golf balls with higher loft typically fly farther.

Your choice of driver loft should be determined by your swing speed.

Your local club fitting shop should help you discover this.

Players with an average swing speed of approximately 85 mph or lower should opt for a driver with a loft of at least 10.5 degrees of loft. If you have a faster swing speed, opt for a driver with a 9.5, or if you have a swing speed over 105, you might consider an 8.5 driver loft.

4. Price

This is one of the most important factors for any beginner to consider before buying a golf driver. If you’re loyal to the sport of golf and you wish to get better, don’t look down upon the pricey equipment. 

If they’re not within your reach, however, it won’t hurt to cut back and save enough cash for bigger and better drives in the future. While using the budget drivers, you’ll eventually gain more skill and experience that will be beneficial for the costlier alternatives.

3 Recommended Golf Drivers For Beginners

---

TaylorMade SIM Max Golf Driver

The TaylorMade SIM Max was introduced in the 2020 season as one of the broader range of SIM drivers. Of all the options put out that year, the SIM Max was the leading driver in enhancing forgiveness, which is a crucial attribute for any beginner golfer.

The Taylormade driver is made from high quality materials and top-notch technology for maximizing ball speed, overall consistency, and forgiveness.

The driver’s Inertia Generator shifts the clubhead’s weight towards the back of the club to add forgiveness and upgrade the moment of Inertia (MOI) while the Asymmetric Sole design on the other hand, optimizes clubhead speed.

The Taylormade SIM Max is designed specifically for high handicappers to give them confidence over every shot, forgiveness included.

Callaway Mavrik Max Driver

You may have come across the name Callaway in one of your golfing escapades. All drivers from this brand are easy to hit and highly recommended for the high handicap lot.

The Callaway Mavrik Max Driver presents a modest draw bias to help golfers with a slice improve their shots.

Its intricate design also helps players with slower swing speeds gain a longer carry distance. If you have a faster swing speed, trust the Mavrik Max to improve your accuracy.

Callaway utilizes their modern Jailbreak Technology to join the club’s crown and sole to promote faster ball speeds and a higher MOI. The driver also fans out adjustable weights at the clubhead’s sole and heel to command a max draw bias or more forgiveness, based on your personal preferences.

Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Turbo Driver

Our team of experts at Tell Me More Golf highly regards Cleveland as a leading brand in game-improvement golf drivers. The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver is one of our best drivers that features a Turbocharged Cup Face that helps promote consistency on off-center shots. Forgiveness is key, especially for those who aren’t yet intermediate golfers. 🙂

It does so by increasing the Coefficient of Restitution (COR) or transfer of energy across a wider area. This results in straighter and higher drives, increased speed, and smoother launches. Other bits of technology included in the Cleveland Launcher include: 

• HiBore Crown – It features aerodynamic strikes that run down the clubhead’s back and allow the CG to be shifted lower by 2.2m.
• Ultralight hosel – The non-adjustable hosel ensures the driver’s weight remains deep and low to encourage superior forgiveness levels and a higher launch. Beginners will find this feature beneficial for improving off-the-tee shots.
• Deep weighting – This is achievable by distributing the weight in alternative areas. Deep weighting helps deliver extra speed and improves forgiveness by increasing the MOI.

Popular Budget Drivers You Need to Get Your Hands On

---

If you’re new to the game of golf, your last bet would be to splurge hundreds of dollars on the latest drivers. We recommend getting a slightly used club.

Despite their used nature, these kinds of drivers are just as good (if not better) as their newer counterparts. They’re also easy on the pocket too! Here are our top picks for used and affordable golf drivers in the market today:

1. Ping G20

The Ping G20 is one of the best golf drives for maximum forgiveness and striking fairways. It’s the perfect option for mid-high handicaps who want to enjoy consistent fairway hits.

Pros:

• It’s one of the straightest budget drivers
• It feels and sounds pretty solid upon impact

Cons

• It may launch the ball higher than expected

2. Callaway X Hot

The Callaway X Hot made its entry into the golf market in 2013. Not only is it a high quality golf driver that offers exceptional forgiveness, but it also delivers exceptional distance, especially on mishits. It helps beginners to achieve consistency.

Pros:

• Quite adjustable
• It’s the straightest and highest of the 3 Callaway drivers.
• It’s easy to position with the target

Cons:

• Some golfers may find it extremely light.

3. Titleist TS2 

Any beginner’s golf bag is incomplete without the Titleist TS2 driver. Compared to other clubs on this list, the TS2 might fetch for a relatively higher price, but if you opt for the older version, a great price can be found for this driver. It was designed for beginning golfers in mind and not only is it adjustable, but is very forgiving on slower swing golfers.

Pros: 

• Offers exceptional distance
• Offers a wide range of adjustments

Cons:

• Can be expensive

4. Wilson Staff D300 Driver

The 2017 Wilson Staff D300 Driver is perfect for mid-high handicaps with slow-mid swing speeds. Our team found the D300’s weight and balance a lot better in comparison to the previous Cobra. It’s a low-spinning club that offers extra feedback on mishits.

Pros:

• Adjustable loft
• Offers a favorable amount of feedback on off-center shots.
• It’s extremely balanced and comfortable.

Cons:

• Slightly hard to align with the target.
  

When our team of golfers picked these drivers, they sought out top brands that were first expensive when they came out but gradually became cheaper.

Frequently Asked Questions:

---

How do I choose the right golf driver?

Here are a couple of handy tips to help you find the best driver for your game:

• Look for a golf driver with a large, adjustable head. The wider sweet spot ensures that your golf ball travels farther and improves ball contact for minimal off-center shots.
• Consider your skill and swing speed. If you have a fast swing speed, settle for a driver with a higher loft and vice versa. If you have slice issues, try reducing your angle to enhance your performance.
• Consider the driver’s shaft length and flex. Drivers with longer driver shafts ensure your ball travels farther. If you’re a beginner, settle for a driver with exceptional flex. If you have a significantly higher swing speed, opt for a driver with a stiffer flex that ensures reliable strikes by the club’s sweet spot.
• Finally, consider the material used. Golf driver’s shaft and head can are made from different materials such as titanium, steel, graphite, and wood. Try out each one and settle for the material that suits your taste.

How do you size a golf driver?

Sizing a golf driver is not as complicated as it looks. Here’s the standard USGA method of sizing your golf driver: Simply take your club, hold it at a 45-degree angle to the ground or in regards to your playing position.

Next, grab your golf club ruler and place it directly below the sole of the club. Measure all the way up to the grip cap. Doing so should give you an accurate measurement of your golf driver.

What’s a good driver for an average golfer?

If you’re a mid-handicapper who struggles with your game or even trying to learn the game, we strongly recommend the TaylorMade SIM driver. It comes in three primary materials: steel, titanium, and carbon. Fun fact: the SIM on the driver’s name stands for Shape in Motion.

The TaylorMade SIM driver is designed specifically for players who seek to enhance their shots. It has an inertia generator that provides the driver with an asymmetrical sole shape to lower the drag.

The SIM driver features weights at the back and the low areas of the clubhead to increase forgiveness. The corrective face angles also help improve your shots and gradually ward off mishits.

What is the easiest golf driver to hit straight?

The Mavrik Max is the best driver for golfers who prefer hitting the ball super straight. The driver boasts a smooth 4.6 out of 5 rating on the official Callaway website. It comes in lofts of 9°, 10.5°, and 12°. You have the option of tweaking the loft using the OptiFit hosel wrench.

The Callaway Mavrik Max is also one of the most forgiving drivers as it offers accurate shots. When our team of experts shifted the heavier weight toward the club’s heel, they observed an approximate 14 yards worth of left bias that may help beginner golfers who often grapple with a slice.

What is the easiest golf driver to hit?

The Callaway Mavrik Max is arguably the most forgiving modern driver designed for high handicappers and beginners alike. The Mavrik Max’s head features an ultra-stable head design that makes your misses (both right and left) less severe.

Furthermore, this driver features a wide range of shaft options including stiff, heavy, fast, lightweight, and standard. Because the swing speed varies among beginners and high handicappers, Callaway has offered several alternatives to suit your individual speed.

Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com

And there you have it – a detailed guide on how to pick a golf driver from the brilliant minds of our experts at Tell Me More Golf.

Now that you understand how to pick a golf driver, go on your way and unleash your inner Tiger Woods! Keep in mind that golf is a powerful sport that demands strategy and skill. Therefore, if you understand how to choose a suitable golf club for your playing style, you stand a better chance of improving your golf game.