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Your ability to hit the ball solidly off the tee, send it a long way, and (hopefully) find the fairway is essential to your success as a golfer. It’s important to use a quality driver that suits your swing and your style of play.
Narrowing down a driver that would suit all high handicappers isn’t so easy since every player is unique. However, there are a few attributes that tend to be very desirable for most players in this category.
Generally speaking, most high handicappers have slower swing speeds and could use some help with distance and launching the ball in the air. High handicappers also typically have trouble hitting the ball solid and would benefit from larger, more forgiving heads.
Still, there are countless options on the market, which can make the process of choosing the best driver for you feel difficult and overwhelming. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we’ll review and compare our picks for the best golf drivers for high handicappers across a range of different brands. These drivers may have been released for the most current golf season or any year prior.
Note: Golfstead has tested and/or conducted in-depth research into all of the products featured in this guide. Our editorial process for these rankings takes into account a mix of many factors which may include performance, reliability, usability, value for money, cost, and the general consensus from other users of the product. The list that follows may be reassessed or updated over time. We do not guarantee that other users will have the same or similar experience with the products as described on this page.
Our Top Picks For Drivers For High Handicappers
Based on our own testing, research, and experience, here are our top selections:
- TaylorMade Qi4D Max Driver
- Callaway Quantum Max Driver
- PXG Lightning Max 10K+ Driver
- PING G440 MAX Driver
- Cobra OPTM MAX-D Driver
- Cleveland HiBore XL Lite Driver
- Srixon ZXi Driver
- Titleist GTS2 Driver
Note: Prices for the items listed on this page are subject to change. To see the current price, please click on the relevant links below.
1. TaylorMade Qi4D Max Driver
If we had to recommend one driver for high handicappers, it would be the Qi4D Max by TaylorMade.
TaylorMade is a top golf equipment brand that has developed high-performing drivers for decades. This one checks all the boxes a typical high-handicapper would look for including exceptional forgiveness, a great launch, and a stretched, confidence-inspiring look.
The Qi4D Max makes a number of improvements over the previous-generation Qi35 Max including a refined shape, improved roll radius, and new shaft fitting process designed to help you optimize performance better than ever.
Key features include:
- New Shaft Fitting Process: special Mitsubishi REAX stock shafts (developed using Mitsubishi Chemical’s world-class expertise, production processes, and materials) are offered with the Qi4D Max driver based on the type of swing rotation you have.
- Trajectory Adjustment System (TAS): two weights (13g and 4g) allow you to double down on MOI/stability or reduce spin for more distance. This is the first modern adjustable Max driver from TaylorMade.
- 60x Carbon Twist Face: 60 layers of carbon sheets are strategically arranged to maximize energy transfer and ball speeds in all regions of the face. This tech also improves directional forgiveness when contact is made towards the heel and toe.
- Forged 7075 Aluminum Collar: enables additional adjustability and helps elevate MOI. This redesigned aluminum collar has undergone a new robotic bonding process which is designed to reduce the likelihood of cracking in the trailing edge and of face separation.
- Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: this flexible pocket, redesigned for the Qi4D, reduces spin and increases sole flexibility, leading to increased ball speed and forgiveness low on the face.
- Multimaterial Construction: allows weight to be placed in strategic areas to maximize overall performance.
- Infinity Carbon Crown: this special carbon crown design extends virtually all the way to the top line to cover nearly all of the top of the driver, enabling weight savings that are redistributed to increase MOI.
The stock graphite shafts (based on rotational profiles) are the Mitsubishi REAX 50 High Rotation Red, Mitsubishi REAX 50 Mid Rotation Blue, and Mitsubishi REAX 60 Low Rotation White. The stock grip is the Golf Pride ZGRIP Plus2. A hosel adapter is included.
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5°, 12° |
| Lie | 58°-62° |
| Length | 45.75″ |
| Swing Weight | D4 |
Pros
- faster and longer than the Qi35 Max
- super forgiving
- sole adjustability in a GI driver is great
- look is clean, modern, and confidence-inspiring
- feel has added softness and depth compared to the Qi35 Max
Cons
- limited draw bias potential
Final Thoughts
For high handicappers looking for an extremely forgiving driver that is easy to launch and keep in the fairway, you can’t do much better than the Qi4D Max, which enjoys a very high average customer rating on the TaylorMade store.
Having said this, performance differences over the Qi35 Max are small, so if you already own the Qi35 Max, the changes might not be significant enough to justify the upgrade.
2. Callaway Quantum Max Driver
The Quantum Max by Callaway is the most versatile, well-rounded model in the Quantum family of drivers. It’s designed for speed, forgiveness, consistency and control.
This driver features a new, next-gen, triple-layer AI face design that is engineered to further improve performance over the previous-generation Elyte. Along with this is an adjustable perimeter weight track and a confidence-inspiring profile.
The driver has a high average rating of 4.7/5 on the Callaway store and won a gold medal on the 2026 Golf Digest Hot List. Its key technologies are:
- AI-Optimized Tri-Force Face: the signature tech of the Quantum Max, this consists of a carbon fiber inner layer, Poly Mesh middle layer, and titanium outer layer. Through a new AI process, face flexion is optimized based on real impact patterns, and unprecedented speed, distance, and spin consistency is delivered across the entire face.
- Advanced Perimeter Weighting (APW): a discrete perimeter weight system at the back of the club contains a 10g rubber weight that can be placed in neutral or draw positions to alter ball flight and launch direction.
The stock graphite shafts are the Project X Denali Frost Silver and Mitsubishi VANQUISH. The stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360. Custom options are available.
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5°, 12° |
| Lie | 57° |
| Length | 45.75″ |
| Hand | RH/LH (9°, 10.5°), RH (12°) |
Pros
- both long and forgiving
- consistent spin across the face
- strong adjustability between the sole and hosel
- powerful impact feel
- viable for a wide range of golfers
Cons
- no significant improvements over the Elyte
- design is too similar to the Elyte
Final Thoughts
Callaway’s Quantum Max driver can be a fantastic choice for high handicappers who want more balanced performance — namely big distance, forgiveness, consistency, adjustability, and control — rather than maximum forgiveness at the expense of other metrics.
Forgiveness is still excellent, but the adjustable perimeter weighting system makes it easy to find a driver configuration that works for you. If you don’t already own an Elyte driver, this one should be near the top of your consideration list.
3. PXG Lightning Max 10K+ Driver
PXG is a golf equipment manufacturer that was founded in 2014 and has quickly gained a foothold in the industry. It has been supported by a slew of pro golfers including Zach Johnson and Jason Kokrak.
Their Lightning Max 10K+ is a versatile driver built for extreme power, forgiveness and stability, which are things that practically every high handicapper wants. PXG has innovated to unlock the best performance of any PXG driver yet.
Not only does the Lightning Max 10K+ hit the 10K MOI threshold (10000g/cm²), leading to forgiveness that rivals the most forgiving drivers ever released on the market from PING, TaylorMade and others, but it also benefits from a significant boost in ball speed over the previous-generation Black Ops thanks to new tech that includes a Frequency Tuned Face and Spined Sole.
Key features of the driver include:
- Frequency Tuned Face: built to vibrate in sync with the precise moment of impact. The result is more energy transfer and new gains in ball speed and distance.
- Spined Sole: this sole design consists of a stiffening ridge or “backbone” across the face of the clubhead, helping the clubhead stay more rigid through impact for increased energy transfer, stability, and ball speed.
- Precision Weighting: three weights (two 2.5g and one 15g) are strategically placed in the perimeter of the clubhead and anchored to the outer wall. These weights, available from 2.5g to 20g, are interchangeable and can be used to alter shot bias, spin and stability.
- Carbon Fiber Crown & Sole: the crown and sole inserts are made of a high-strength, high-grade carbon fiber pre-preg that is just 0.03″ thick, with up to 84% more surface area coverage than the Black Ops. This allows for weight savings which are redistributed to the perimeter of the clubhead, optimizing CG and launch conditions, increasing MOI, and improving forgiveness.
- a proprietary face curvature that helps maintain shot shape, control and performance on off-center hits.
- a large, confidence-inspiring profile built for maximum MOI.
PXG offers a selection of shafts for the Lightning Max 10K+ at no additional charge including ones from Mitsubishi and Project X. The stock grip is the PXG ICON.
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5°, 12° |
| Lie | 60° |
| Length | 45.5″ |
| Head Mass | 203g |
Pros
- consistently high ball speed
- incredibly forgiving and stable
- strong adjustability
- easy launch
- large yet attractive at address
- premium looks
Cons
- somewhat loud, slightly metallic feel at impact
- steep price tag
Final Thoughts
The PXG Lightning Max 10K+ driver is significantly faster off the face and produces more ball speed than its predecessor, the Black Ops. On top of this, the forgiveness is the best in the business.
Normally, adjustability is sacrificed in the most forgiving drivers, but the Lightning Max 10K+ has robust adjustable weighting system that allows you to dial in your best ball flight. Golfers of any skill level, including high handicappers, can have great success with it.
4. PING G440 MAX Driver
The G440 MAX is designed to be PING’s most forgiving driver ever, with more speed and distance than the previous generation.
This thing has incredible forgiveness, and our tests indicate that it has a slight performance edge over the G430 MAX. At the same time, the lighter configuration with a longer 46″ shaft helps foster more clubhead speed, a higher launch, and more carry.
The key technologies of the G440 MAX are:
- Carbonfly Wrap Crown: this saves discretionary weight which is reallocated to lower the CG, leading to increased MOI and a more muted, pleasant impact sound.
- Free Hosel: weight is removed from a section of the hosel and reallocated to lower the CG to record levels — the result is more distance and forgiveness.
- Low Face: the height of the G440 MAX’s face is lower than previous models, which enables it to be thinner and hotter for higher ball speeds across the face.
- Tungsten Backweight: a 29-gram backweight can be moved into neutral, draw or fade positions for ball flight adjustability.
- Trajectory Tuning 2.0 Hosel: this lightweight, aerodynamic, adjustable hosel offers eight loft and lie combinations to fine-tune your trajectory.
There are many stock shaft options offered at no upcharge including the PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65, Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Black 65, and Project X Denali Red.
Also available is the G440 MAX High Launch (HL) driver. This custom option combines a lighter aluminum backweight with a lighter stock shaft and grip; it’s designed so that golfers with slower swing speeds can boost their clubhead speed and distance.
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5°, 12° |
| Lie | 58.5° |
| Length | 46″ |
| Swing Weight | D3 |
Pros
- truly exceptional forgiveness
- straight ball flight
- significantly improved sound and feel compared to older models
- easy launch
- adjustable ball flight
Cons
- expensive
Final Thoughts
The PING G440 MAX driver is all about maximizing distance off the tee and keeping the ball in the fairway. Most people won’t have any trouble getting the ball airborne, and the feel and sound are among the best of any PING driver.
We really can’t find anything to criticize about this club. It does what it’s supposed to do as a game-improvement driver, although it’s worth noting that the performance gains over the G430 MAX are minor at best.
5. Cobra OPTM MAX-D Driver
Cobra Golf was founded in 1973 by amateur golf champion Thomas Crow, and it has since grown to be one of the biggest brands in golf equipment, maintaining endorsement deals with many top pros.
Their OPTM MAX-D is a high-forgiveness driver model in the OPTM family of drivers, with a draw-biased design that has more mass towards the heel. It boasts a stretched footprint that minimizes Products of Inertia (POI), along with H.O.T. Face Technology and a fixed heel weight.
This driver is engineered for draw bias and stability. Key highlights include:
- a forged face insert with H.O.T. Face technology (optimized face thickness); the result is significantly more ball speed and spin consistency across the entire face
- a fixed 11g heel weight that shifts the center of gravity towards the hosel, promoting a draw bias
- a design that minimizes products of inertia (POI) as much as possible in an effort to achieve truer and more meaningful directional forgiveness
- a heel-focused head shape that reduces mis-hit sidespin and further promotes a draw bias
Several premium aftermarket shafts are available for the OPTM MAX-D. The stock shaft options are the Mitsubishi Kai’li Dark Waves Red 50 and Mitsubishi VANQUISH 40, and the stock grip is the SuperStroke Crossline 360.
| Lofts | 10.5°, 12° |
| Lie | 61° |
| Length | 45.50″ |
| Swing Weights | D0, D1 |
Pros
- very robust draw bias
- easy to get the ball airborne
- inspires confidence at address
- impact feel is well-balanced
- consistent sound & feel across the face
Cons
- distance isn’t the best
- minimal gains over previous models
- not quite as forgiving as the MAX-K
Final Thoughts
The OPTM MAX-D driver by Cobra is one of the best draw-biased drivers of the 2026 season. Its ability to mitigate slices is powerful, and the driver also produces the distance and forgiveness you would expect from a modern driver. Dispersions are slightly improved over the DS-ADAPT MAX D.
Throw in great looks and a great feel, and you have a driver that is ideal for high handicappers who would benefit from a draw bias and need some help getting the ball airborne.
6. Cleveland HiBore XL Lite Driver
Are you a high handicapper with a moderate swing speed who wants speed, forgiveness, a high launch, and a healthy draw bias to help keep you in the fairway? The Cleveland HiBore XL Lite driver should fit the bill.
Cleveland Golf is known to manufacture excellent golf clubs and offer them at relatively affordable prices. And they built this driver model with high handicappers, amateurs, and even beginners in mind.
The HiBore XL Lite builds on Cleveland’s previous-generation Launcher XL and addresses its weaknesses by introducing a retro triangular footprint and improving the impact sound. Key highlights are:
- MainFrame XL Face: a variable-thickness design effectively increases the size of the sweet spot and improves ball speed preservation across the entire face. It also shifts the CG low and back for more stability, forgiveness and consistency.
- ACTIVWING: this unique airfoil design promotes more stable aerodynamics through the swing, resulting in more consistently solid contact
- a 1.5-degree adjustable hosel that enables golfers to tweak loft, lie angle, and face angle
- an innovative chassis designed with the help of AI to enhance forgiveness and sound. The sound has been engineered to be more muted and solid than the Launcher XL.
- a taller face with 19% more surface area than the Launcher XL, making for easier ballstriking
- a total weight that is 32g lighter than the standard HiBore XL; the lightweight configuration allows slower swingers to generate more clubhead speed and distance
The stock shaft is the ALDILA ASCENT PL 40, and the stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Lite.
| Lofts | 10.5°, 12° |
| Lies | 58.5°, 60° |
| Length | 46″ |
| Swing Weight | D0 |
Pros
- so easy to hit
- draw bias helps keep slicers in the fairway
- more forgiving than the Launcher XL with better sound
- more affordable than most name-brand drivers
- solid all-around performance
Cons
- some people don’t like the 46″ length
- performance metrics don’t quite compare to many name-brand drivers
- triangular profile won’t suit everyone’s eye
Final Thoughts
Those high handicappers who tend to do well with draw drivers can’t go wrong with the Cleveland HiBore XL Lite. If you prefer a neutral flight bias and a little more weight to the swing, we suggest taking a look at the standard HiBore XL.
This driver delivers the forgiving performance that high handicappers want, with a draw bias and lighter feel. And it’s still affordable compared to modern name-brand drivers, coming in at less than $400.
7. Srixon ZXi Driver
Many people are familiar with Srixon as one of the top manufacturers of golf balls. It turns out that they make excellent drivers too.
Their ZXi driver, which won a gold medal on the 2025 Golf Digest Hot List, is engineered for loads of ball speed, high forgiveness, and ball flight adjustability in a confidence-inspiring footprint.
The ZXi is the balanced “middle” model in the ZXi family of drivers. Its key technologies include:
- i-FLEX Face: a new variable face thickness pattern, enabled by a new internal face structure, results in more efficient energy transfer at impact. The thickness of the face in the sweet spot region is thinner than the previous generation for more ball speed.
- Rebound Frame: adds a second layer of flexibility for even more recoil at impact. The “spring within a spring” dual-flex design delivers unprecedented ball speeds, particularly in the middle of the face.
- Star Frame Crown: an internal structure of latticework and ridges allows for an extremely thin titanium crown. This frees up discretionary weight which is redistributed for higher launch and optimal spin.
- Sole Weights: two weight ports in the toe and heel regions of the sole contain adjustable weights (4g and 10g) that can be swapped to introduce draw and fade biases depending on individual preferences.
- Laser Face Milling: this adds roughness to the face, making spin more consistent and improving forgiveness in wet conditions.
- Adjustable Hosel: offers 12 combinations of loft, lie and face angle.
The ZXi driver comes stock with the Fujikura VENTUS TR Blue graphite shaft. The stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360. Custom options are available.
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5° |
| Lie | 59° |
| Length | 45.75″ |
| Swing Weight | D3 |
Pros
- impressive ball speeds
- easy to swing
- improvement in looks over its predecessor
- strong feel off the face
Cons
- only one stock shaft option
- many dislike the loud impact sound
Final Thoughts
The Srixon ZXi driver does a fantastic job of providing balanced game improvement performance for high handicappers.
This driver either matches or outclasses the previous Mk II driver in all key categories and most notably has a better feel. Its strong adjustability, between the sole weights and hosel, also makes the driver viable for a range of different golfers and swing types.
If you don’t mind going with a brand that is very reputable but perhaps not as popular as other brands when it comes to golf clubs, the ZXi should be at the top of your consideration list.
8. Titleist GTS2 Driver
You may think of Titleist as mainly catering to the professional crowd, but this isn’t really true; they also offer plenty of options suitable for high handicappers that live up to the Titleist standard of quality.
The goal of their GTS2 driver is to provide maximum distance and forgiveness at every impact point on the face — even more than the previous GT2 driver. This is unapologetically a game-improvement driver, designed to inspire confidence in every swing for golfers who don’t find the center of the face every time.
Key features and tech include:
- Full Thermoform Body: unlike the GT2 which only had a thermoform crown, the GTS2 has a thermoform chassis, allowing for even better mass distribution for MOI, speed, and launch.
- Speed Sync Face: an enhanced take on the Speed Ring of the GT2, this has a horseshoe shape designed to improve face flexion and performance on high-face misses.
- Dual Weighting System: unlike the single interchangeable weight port of the GT2, the GTS2 has two: one forward and one in the back. This enables more precise positioning of the CG to match your swing, thus optimizing spin, launch, speed, and shot shape.
- New Aerodynamics: the tail end of the crown is raised more aggressively, reducing drag during the downswing for additional clubhead speed.
The featured shafts for the GTS2 are the Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Blue, Red & White, and the Project X TITAN Black. The stock grip is the Titleist Universal 360. Many premium shafts are also available.
| Lofts | 8°, 9°, 10°, 11° |
| Lie | 58.5° |
| Length | 45.5″ |
| Hand | RH/LH |
Pros
- more forgiving and adjustable than the GT2
- appealing to a wide range of high handicappers
- impressive length
- clean looks
- especially good performance high on the face and towards the heel
Cons
- feel in mis-hit areas isn’t the most pleasant
- many prefer the look of the GT2
- pricey
Final Thoughts
The Titleist GT2 was a marked departure from its predecessor, the TSR2. Now, the GTS2 manages to continue that trend by enjoying material improvements over the GT2, particularly in the areas of forgiveness and adjustability.
While the default weight configuration will give most high handicappers an easy launch, plenty of speed and distance off the face, and fantastic forgiveness, the interchangeable weight system will allow you to refine your ball flight further.
This is Titleist’s best game-improvement driver yet, so we highly recommend giving it a try.
Buying Guide
There are many drivers on the market, and knowing which one to choose as a high handicapper (18 or above) isn’t necessarily easy, especially if you’re not sure what to look for. This guide will provide you with the education you need in that regard.
In general, you should choose a driver that provides a healthy amount of distance and forgiveness off the tee, but if you want to find the right driver, here are the most important factors to consider:
1. Forgiveness
Forgiveness is certainly one of the most important factors to consider, especially for a high handicapper who often fails to make contact with the center of the face.
Having a degree of forgiveness in your driver is highly beneficial because at these high swing speeds, minor mis-hits can be amplified into very poor results. It’s important to avoid the rough as often as possible.
Forgiveness can be divided into two subtypes: ball speed forgiveness and directional forgiveness.
Ball speed forgiveness refers to the amount of ball speed that is preserved in mis-hit regions (towards the toe or heel) relative to the center of the face. Most modern game improvement drivers strive to maximize speed across the entire face so that even moderate mis-hits might result in only a few yards of lost distance.
Directional forgiveness refers to how far a shot deviates from the target line when struck in mis-hit regions. This is closely related to a quantity called moment of inertia, or MOI.
The higher the MOI, the more the club is resistant to twisting at impact when the ball doesn’t make contact at the center of mass. The more the club (and hence the face) resists twisting at impact, the closer to the target line the ball will start.
Many modern drivers have high MOI as a selling point, and now you’re seeing manufacturers quoting MOI values of 10000g/cm² or more in the most forgiving models. This will certainly add stability to your shots and help you find more fairways, but you tend to get slightly reduced distance and higher backspin as a tradeoff.
Closely related to the concept of forgiveness is the flight bias of the driver. Most high handicappers appreciate a driver with a draw bias because it helps cancel out their chronic slice off the tee.
2. Distance
Of course, every golfer wants more distance off the tee, and high handicappers are no exception. A longer drive will enable you to hit shorter, more precise shots into the green.
Even if you miss the fairway, it turns out that distance contributes more to strokes gained driving (about 60%-65%) than accuracy does. So, however you slice it, distance is hugely important, especially in a world of lengthening golf courses.
Most modern drivers have distance as their primary focus. The two main quantities that lead to more distance are ball speed and club head speed.
Ball speed is the speed of the ball immediately after impact with the club face. Obviously, higher ball speed results in more distance. One of the primary factors that affect ball speed is a number called the coefficient of restitution, or COR.
COR is a measure of how much energy is transferred from the club to the ball at impact. The higher the COR, the higher the ball speed. The value can technically be between 0 and 1, but current USGA rules prohibit it from being any higher than 0.83 in golf clubs.
Club head speed is the speed of the club at the moment of impact. Manufacturers typically increase this through certain club aerodynamics which allow the club to move faster and more efficiently through the air.
In short, driver manufacturers strive to maximize COR across the club face and optimize aerodynamics to maximize speed. For the longest drivers, they also try to minimize spin which further increases distance.
3. Looks
One factor worth considering is how the driver looks. Aesthetic is one thing, but if you play a driver that doesn’t suit your eye, you’ll probably be less likely to make a good swing.
Many high handicappers prefer a large 460 CC head with an elongated crown and large face. This tends to inspire confidence when set up behind the ball. On the other hand, a few high handicappers may prefer a more compact head that allows for easier shot-shaping.
Related to this are adjustability features, the main ones being movable sole weights and adjustable hosels. These allow you to alter the loft & lie, introduce draw bias, or add stability depending on the position of the weights.
Adjustability is very beneficial in drivers because it gives you the opportunity to dial in a setting that works best for you, even if you might not have been seeing great performance initially. However, it does tend to come at the cost of less forgiveness because of the added weight.
4. Feel
Another factor that can affect how likely you are to make a good swing is feel: specifically, how the driver feels through the swing and how it feels at impact. For some golfers who play by feel, this is imperative.
The weight of the club should feel balanced, but more than that, it should not be too heavy or too light, as both situations will negatively impact your performance.
When it comes to drivers, you ideally want impact to feel solid and like the ball is exploding off the face. This will tend to give you more confidence and increase your speed through the shot. A hollow or “tinny” sound can work against this.
You also need to consider how much the feel degrades as the impact moves away from the sweet spot towards the mis-hit regions. Most high handicappers will prefer the feel to be as consistent as possible across the face, and in fact, most game-improvement drivers are designed for this.
However, the downside of consistent feel is reduced mis-hit feedback, which means it becomes more difficult for you to tell where the face makes contact with the ball. Achieving a balance that you’re satisfied with will go a long way.
5. Shaft
The shaft can make or break your success with a driver because of how much it influences swing weight, feel, trajectory and spin.
Graphite shafts have pretty much become the standard for today’s drivers (as opposed to steel shafts) because their increased torque, increased flex, and lighter weight help promote launch and speed.
Having said that, choosing the right shaft is a highly individual matter. These days, manufacturers pair modern drivers with one or more stock shaft options that tend to appeal to a wide range of golfers, but custom shafts are usually available as well.
The two main things to keep in mind when choosing a shaft are the weight and the flex.
If a shaft is too heavy for you, it will likely result in less control, less club head speed, and an excessively low launch. If a shaft is too light for you, it can result in excessively high launch and spin as well as a lack of precise contact with possible deceleration in the downswing.
The shaft flex that suits you is generally dependent on your swing speed, with lower swing speeds calling for more flex and higher swing speeds calling for less flex. Here’s a guideline:
| Driver Swing Speed | Suggested Shaft Flex |
|---|---|
| Greater than 105 mph | Extra Stiff |
| 96-105 mph | Stiff |
| 84-95 mph | Regular |
| Less than 84 mph | Senior or Ladies |
Playing a flex that doesn’t match your swing speed can result in sub-optimal ball flights. But if you’re in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of more flexibility.
6. Price
Drivers are pretty expensive these days and the prices seem to rise with every new season. Fortunately, there are many affordable options out there.
As a general rule, the older the driver model, the better the deals you can find on it. And it’s not at all uncommon to find that you perform better with a $300 driver than a $700 driver.
You certainly don’t have to get a current-season driver. But the problem is that as time passes, availability of a particular model gets more limited, and eventually, you lose the ability to order it custom. At that point, you may only be able to get it used. In general, we don’t recommend buying drivers that are more than three years old.
In this guide, we have included driver models that span a range of different prices and brands. But the great thing is that there are ways to reduce both the final cost and risk of the purchase.
For example, one of our top recommended online golf equipment stores, Global Golf, offers club trade-ins as well as a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. There has never been this much allowance for finding your ideal clubs, and you should take advantage.
Conclusion
A reliable, quality driver can be a huge boon to a golfer’s toolkit. Finding a model that does the job you want it to do as a high handicapper is certainly possible with some research.
At the end of the day, while high handicap golfers can play any driver successfully, they generally tend to gravitate towards game improvement drivers with large, confidence-inspiring heads, high ball speed, lots of forgiveness, and optionally draw biases.
While no driver will tick your every box, many will come pretty close.
Each of the driver models reviewed above deliver exceptional performance. We’ve given you the information you need to make a decision; now it’s up to you to go the rest of the way.
It is highly recommended to read consumer and professional reviews to acquire some useful insights as to how driver models actually perform. This will help you a lot in the decision-making process.
Thanks for reading this guide. Which drivers are you interested in as a high handicapper? Do you have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
