The driver is a vital component of every golfer's bag. Not only can you use it to hit the ball further than any other club, but it's also often the first club you'll use on a hole. That first shot you hit after teeing up sets up the rest of the game, and so if you want more birdies than bogies, it pays to have a great driver, particularly since they're the trickiest clubs to get to grips with.
Whether you're a beginner looking for a cheap set or an experienced golfer looking for some new clubs, this buying guide is here to help you out. We'll walk you through everything from loft angles to shaft flexibility before counting down the top ten best golf drivers in the UK. We've got something for every golfer, from budget options to big-name premium powerhouses like Callaway, all available from Amazon and Decathlon.
Quick List - Top Golf Drivers
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One of the terms you'll most frequently encounter when searching for a new driver is 'loft'. Loft measures the angle of the clubface. While some drivers have nearly vertical faces, others are more sloped. Loft is measured in degrees, usually between 7 and 12, with the former being more upright than the latter.
This means nothing if you don't know how loft affects your shot. A club with high loft has a face that's more sloped than that of a low loft club. As it hits the ball, it lifts it higher into the air. This also results in more backspin, which is great if you're looking for increased control when taking shorter shots, but not so great if you want as much distance as possible.
Naturally, low loft has quite the opposite effect. The more vertical clubface will result in a much lower ball trajectory, increasing overall shot distance, and the amount your ball rolls once it hits the ground. However, lower loft clubs are generally more difficult to use, and you'll most commonly find them in professional golfer's bags.
Every golfer knows that some clubs just feel 'right' when you use them. That's swing weight coming into play. Swing weight is a measurement that offers a general indication of how heavy a club feels when you swing it. It takes four critical factors into account: the clubhead's weight, grip and shaft, and the club length. Essentially, swing weight is the reason every club feels different.
The most common method used to measure swing weight is with an extraordinary balance scale invented by clubmaker Robert Adams. It gives swing weight measurements as a series of letters ranging from A to F, with numbers from 0 to 9 providing exact measurements within these frames. The average men's club is around D1, while the average women's club is around C6.
So what swing weight should you look for? Well, if you're relatively new to golf, it's best to start with a middling swing range and see how you go from there. However, you should review your past golfing experiences if you're a veteran. If you frequently get tired, go lighter; if you've previously struggled to control the club or keep it on the proper swing path, go heavier!
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The best place to start when describing shaft flexibility is with the shaft itself. The shaft is the long part of the golf club that connects the grip to the head. It can be made of many different materials, including steel, aluminium and carbon. These materials affect the club in numerous ways, from how much it weighs to its flexibility when you swing.
Shaft flexibility varies between clubs, but there are several predetermined flexibility categories, including extra stiff, stiff, regular, senior and ladies. Despite their name, senior and ladies shafts can be used by all ages and genders and are super flexible, meaning they bend more with your swing and add an extra boost of power upon impact, while stiff and extra clubs bend significantly less.
The best shaft flexibility all depends on your swing speed. If you have a slower swing and require some extra power, a flexible shaft may help you achieve that extra distance. However, if you have a powerful swing and regularly reach considerable distances, a flexible shaft is likely to overpower your shot, making it difficult to control. For you, a stiffer shaft is preferable.
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Every golfer remembers the first time they performed the perfect swing, and the club seemed to slice through the ball like butter, sending it hurtling as though it were made of air. Golfers call this hitting the 'sweet spot', the central part of the club that results in powerful, perfectly straight shots.
The sweet spot is so sought after that many manufacturers now attempt to increase the 'forgiveness' of their drivers. Essentially, they try and make the sweet spot as large as possible, meaning a higher chance of straight, long-distance shots and a decreased chance of mishits and slicing.
Naturally, a forgiving club is worth seeking out, and even some of the pros use them. But how do you find one? Unfortunately, forgiveness is not given as a specific measurement. Sometimes a manufacturer will advertise how forgiving their club is in the product description, but otherwise, you'll need to consult reviews to find out exactly how forgiving a driver is.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Titleist TSI2 | ![]() | A Well-Balanced Driver That Offers Consistent Distance | |
2 | Callaway Rogue ST Max | ![]() | A High-Range Driver That Looks, Feels and Sounds Amazing | |
3 | MacGregor V Foil Speed | ![]() | A Budget Driver With Performance That Exceeds Its Price Tag | |
4 | Callaway Big Bertha B21 | ![]() | Combat Slice With Callaway’s Draw Bias Driver That Feels Incredible | |
5 | Cobra King SZ SpeedZone Ladies Hybrid Driver | ![]() | A Hybrid Driver That’ll Help You Fearlessly Face the Rough | |
6 | TaylorMade M4 Women's Driver | ![]() | A Reasonably-Priced Mid-Range Driver That’s Perfect for Beginners | |
7 | Srixon ZX5 | ![]() | A Simple, Well-Balanced Driver That’s Easy to Use and Offers Higher Launch | |
8 | Wilson D9 | ![]() | A Beginner's Driver With Tons of Launch and Plenty of Forgiveness | |
9 | Inesis Junior Golf Driver | ![]() | A Miniature Driver That’s Perfect for Little Ones Aged 8-10 and 11-13 | |
10 | Inesis Golf Driver 500 | ![]() | A Customisable Driver That’s the Ultimate Beginner Choice |
Titleist has evidently put the work into making their TSi2 the best it can be. Its titanium face provides plenty of elasticity for high forgiveness, and it offers impressive distance with a head shape designed to reduce drag.
Consistency is the name of the game here, and it's surprising how easy it is to hit consistently good shots with this club. The price tag is a little high, but the TSi2 is an excellent all-rounder that's more than worth the money.
The Rogue ST Max offers significant distance but combines this with plenty of forgiveness to ensure you hit the best shot every time. The slight draw bias may not be for everyone, but it'll help if you frequently fall prone to slicing.
It also looks and sounds excellent, with a bronze speed cartridge in the rear and a nice quiet 'pop' upon impact. All in all, this is a perfect choice for those with higher budgets that are looking to upgrade their set.
Not everybody wants to pay a premium price for a driver, but it's rare to find budget drivers that perform well. The MacGregor V Foil Speed is an exception to that rule, offering performance that exceeds its low price point.
Its expanded sweet spot offers plenty of forgiveness, and its black and yellow colour scheme looks pretty great too. The only real downside is in its shaft, which is both short and soft, though the latter may not be such a bad thing for those looking for a little extra shot speed.
Callaway advertises the latest iteration of their famous 'Big Bertha' driver as an anti-slice driver. There's no doubt that it's a draw bias driver - a driver that's weighted towards the heel - that'll help reduce slice, but whether it'll prevent it all together is another question.
One thing's for sure, Big Bertha feels excellent and looks pretty good too. There's no denying that it's a tad expensive, but if slice is a frequent problem for you when teeing off, it may be worth your consideration.
This version of Cobra's King SZ SpeedZone is actually a hybrid driver, meaning it combines features of both woods and irons. This makes it easy to get plenty of lift while also maintaining control when hitting out of the rough.
This model increases forgiveness even further with an enlarged head. Its weighted back also increases spin to send your ball even higher and have it stop faster on the green. An excellent choice if you're in need of a rescue club.
TaylorMade's M4 is a reasonably priced mid-range driver that's perfect for beginner golfers. It offers plenty of forgiveness and a satisfying combination of high launch and low spin.
It also feels and sounds excellent and looks good too. All of that said, however, the M4 barely differs from its previous model, the M2. It may be worth going for that one if you're looking to save a few pounds.
The ZX5 is Srixon's simplified version of their highly successful ZX7. It offers higher launch and slightly more spin than the low-spin professional model. It also provides plenty of forgiveness, which is always a good thing.
All in all, it's easy to acquaint yourself with the ZX5, and you'll find yourself hitting great shots with it almost immediately. The only real downside is that it doesn't offer much feedback, and it can sometimes be difficult to feel when you've hit that sweet spot.
Wilson put a ton of work into finding the most effective driver design, and the result is the D9. It's an excellent option for beginners as it's easy to get good launch with it, and its reduced weight offers plenty of forgiveness.
The D9 offers plenty of spin too, but the downside is that your ball likely won't carry as far, especially as the hosel isn't adjustable. However, the D9 is an excellent option for beginners or intermediates with a mid-range budget.
If you've got a golf-obsessed little one, you know that it can be challenging to find drivers that they can use adequately. Luckily, Inesis have got you covered with this junior golf driver, which is available for kids aged 8-10 and 11-13.
It's not likely to win any trophies, but it's got all the hallmarks of a great adult driver, such as a lightweight, flexible shaft and ergonomic grip. It's incredibly cheap, too, making it the perfect addition to a child's golf bag - until they get a little bigger, that is!
Inesis is Decathlon's golf equipment line, and the 500 is their flagship driver. One of the best things about the 500 is that it comes in two different shaft sizes and three different shaft speeds. That customisability is especially important at the beginning of your golfing journey when you're becoming accustomed to swinging a club.
It goes without saying that the 500 driver can't compete with those by better-known golf brands, and its cheaper construction is apparent in the loud 'clunk' it makes upon impact. However, it comes at a great price, and it's an excellent choice for those looking to build their first set.
No. 1: Titleist|TSI2
No. 2: Callaway|Rogue ST Max
No. 3: MacGregor|V Foil Speed
No. 4: Callaway|Big Bertha B21
No. 5: Cobra|King SZ SpeedZone Ladies Hybrid Driver
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