Contents
- What Should You Look for In a Driver?
- Best Golf Drivers
- Used by McIlroy – TaylorMade Qi10 Driver
- Most Forgiving Driver – Ping G430 Max 10K Driver
- Best Driver for Distance – Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Driver
- Best Sounding Driver – Cobra DarkSpeed X Driver
- Best Driver for Most People – Titleist TSR2 Driver
- Best Driver for High Handicappers – Srixon ZX5 MK II Driver
- Best Driver for Slicers – Mizuno ST-MAX 230 Driver
- Editor’s Choice – PXG O311 Black Ops Driver
- Best Driver for High-Spin Players – Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver
- Final Thoughts on the Best Drivers of 2024
Updated April 2024 to add the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Driver Review.
Let’s be honest. There’s no club in the bag you’d rather hit than your driver. I know that’s certainly the case for me. There’s nothing better than catching a drive right on the sweet spot and watching sail past your buddy’s drive. But what if I told you the driver you’re currently using probably isn’t the best driver for your game. As a result, you’re costing yourself both distance and accuracy.
The question then becomes, how are you supposed to know what driver is the best one for you? Between rapidly changing technology, dozens of clubhead options, and hundreds of shafts to choose from, it seems next to impossible to find the perfect combination for your game.
There’s good news though. I’ve spent the better part of 2024 testing out the best golf drivers and have compiled a list of what I think the best ones are for different types of golfers.
What Should You Look for In a Driver?
Without question, the first thing you need to consider when buying a driver is price. This is the most expensive club in your bag, and you need to make sure it’s something you can afford.
** An insider tip is to wait until after the driver you want has been on the market for a while. Prices come down quickly after the initial release.
Once you know how much money you can afford to spend on a new driver, you need to schedule a fitting with a PGA Professional. During the fitting, the PGA pro will determine the clubhead, loft, and shaft combination that best suits your swing.
While this step might cost you a little extra money and take some time, it’s absolutely crucial in finding the perfect club.
After your fitting, you should have narrowed down the list of drivers you’re considering. The final step in making the ultimate decision is figuring out which one you’re most comfortable with. You need to like the way it looks behind the ball at address, how it feels during your swing, and how it feels and sounds coming off the clubface. The bottom line is that the driver you choose should give you confidence to stripe it down the middle of the fairway.
Alright, now that we’ve got the boring stuff out of the way, let the fun begin.
Best Golf Drivers
Used by McIlroy – TaylorMade Qi10 Driver
It should come as little shock that a TaylorMade driver sits at the top of our list as the best-looking driver in 2024. For as long as we can remember, they’ve been making some of the most aesthetically pleasing drivers in the game.
But it’s not all about great looks with the Qi10. It’s also one of the most forgiving on the market thanks to multi-material construction that’s engineered to deliver optimal MOI.
Compared to previous TaylorMade drivers, the CG in the Qi10 has been lowered in the clubhead to help golfers get the ball in the air while increasing forgiveness at the same time.
Like all the drivers in the Qi10 family, this driver features a carbon crown that covers some 97% of the club’s top. Because the crown is so light, weight has been redistributed elsewhere in the club where it can be better optimized.
The patented 60X Carbon Twist Face is one of the lightest on the market. As such, it maximizes energy transfer between the clubhead and ball at impact. It also increases performance on off-center strikes.
The trademark Thru-Slot Speed Pocket works to preserve ball speed, especially on strikes low on the clubface.
The Qi10 also offers plenty of adjustability options including lofts that can be moved two degrees weaker or stronger from standard.
While the TaylorMade Qi10 is a sexy looking driver, there’s a whole lot more to the story in terms of performance.
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Most Forgiving Driver – Ping G430 Max 10K Driver
For years, Ping has consistently made the most forgiving drivers in golf. That’s why it’s no surprise that golfers across the board (me included) think the G430 Max 10K is the most forgiving in 2024.
As its name would suggest, the G430 Max 10K exceeds the 10,000 g-cm2 combined MOI threshold making it the most forgiving driver Ping has ever made.
Combined with a fixed back weight, oversize head profile, and a Carbonfly Wrap crown, you’ve got the ultimate recipe for helping both solid shots and mishits soar straight down the middle of the fairway.
The clubface is made from T9S+ titanium which optimizes flex for explosive ball speeds and increased distance.
Trajectory Tuning 2.0 utilizes an aerodynamic hosel sleeve that lets you customize the club in eight different positions for optimal launch and ball flight conditions.
Lastly, unlike a lot of Ping drivers that have sounded tinny in the past, the G430 Max 10K produces a more muted, solid sound that’s pleasing to the ear.
If you struggle finding the center of the clubface with your current driver, I highly recommend taking the Ping G430 Max 10K out for a test drive.
Best Driver for Distance – Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Driver
The Callaway Paradym AI Smoke line of drivers just might be the most comprehensive for 2024.
For golfers looking for raw distance above all else, there’s no better driver in 2024 than the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max driver.
Like the others in this family the Max driver’s clubface is designed by AI that’s taken into account hundreds of thousands of different swing iterations. The end result is more than 20 micro deflections that act as sweet spots all over the clubface. So, no matter where you catch the ball on the face, maximum performance is guaranteed.
The AI Smoke Max also features adjustable perimeter weighting in the back of the clubhead allowing for up to 19 yards of shot shape correction.
Lastly, the 360-degree carbon fiber chassis is 15% lighter than last year’s Paradym model. This allows weight to be concentrated in more strategic parts of the clubhead. The result is less drag, more speed, and forgiveness.
If you want to bomb it like the big boys, check out the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max driver.
Best Sounding Driver – Cobra DarkSpeed X Driver
Out of all the drivers I tested this year, the Cobra DarkSpeed X sounded the best. There wasn’t anything tinny about it, yet it didn’t sound dull or dead either. Solid is the best word I can use to describe its sound.
More than that though, this driver performs on all fronts. It packs a powerful punch of speed, forgiveness, high launch, and stability.
Like the DarkSpeed LS, Cobra’s DarkSpeed X driver was conceived by aerospace engineers using space-grade materials.
You can easily optimize your spin conditions with the DarkSpeed X thanks to adjustable back and forward weights.
The DarkSpeed X sees Cobra’s patented PWR-BRIDGE moved lower and farther forward in the clubhead than in years past. This increases ball speeds, minimizes spin, and increases club-to-ball energy transfer at impact.
The PWRSHELL L-Cup face is also 10% larger. This provides golfers more forgiveness.
The upgraded H.O.T. clubface design also maximizes the efficiency of both spin and speed across the clubface.
Out of the drivers in this year’s Cobra family, the DarkSpeed X not only sounds the best, it performs at an elite level too.
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Best Driver for Most People – Titleist TSR2 Driver
For decades, Titleist has been a stalwart in the golf club industry when it comes to producing quality drivers. The all-new TSR2 is no different.
Compared to last year’s model, the body of the new TSR2 is slimmed down, but its performance features are ramped up.
The new head shape is one of the most aerodynamic Titleist has ever produced. Golfers are able to generate more clubhead speed which results in faster ball speeds and more distance.
The Multi-Plateau Variable Thickness clubface optimizes shot performance not only on center strikes, but mishits as well.
The CG has been moved forward and lower in the clubhead eliminating unnecessary spin while increasing ball speed at the same time.
While it might not seem like there’s anything too revolutionary about this year’s TSR2 driver, it performs consistently for golfers of all ability levels.
3balls.com
Best Driver for High Handicappers – Srixon ZX5 MK II Driver
Out of all the drivers I tested, the Srixon ZX5 MK II was the most forgiving. It was also one of the hottest.
This driver’s Rebound Frame has two flex zones, while most drivers only have one. This feature elevates COR across the face for faster ball speeds.
The Ti51AF titanium alloy face is one of the hardest surfaces on earth and allows the ball to come off like a rocket.
The crown of the ZX5 MK II consists of a series of ridges and latticework that are both ultra-lightweight and stable. This allows mass to be placed elsewhere where it can be used to optimize launch and spin conditions.
On the bottom of the club, you’ll find an interchangeable 8-gram sole weight which can be customized to your specific swing.
On the whole, I found the Srixon ZX5 MK II driver to be plenty forgiving without sacrificing anything in the distance department.
Best Driver for Slicers – Mizuno ST-MAX 230 Driver
If you’re someone that’s tired of seeing your drives start out down the middle and curve violently right into trouble, the Mizuno ST-MAX 230 driver is for you.
This driver’s low profile and wide footprint make it look a lot larger than it actually is. This not only increases forgiveness, but gives you added confidence.
The clubface material is 9% higher in tensile strength compared to previous models, and multi-thickness face geometry maximizes shot performance not just on solid shots, but mishits as well.
The ST-MAX 230’s wide profile and 54-gram backweight provide incredible stability at impact. This keeps the clubface square to the target helping golfers drastically reduce their slice.
The Coretech Chamber is a stainless-steel weight with elastomeric TPU that takes stress off the clubface and provides additional energy upon contact.
Four degrees of adjustability also for plenty of loft customization.
Editor’s Choice – PXG O311 Black Ops Driver
Earlier this year, I had the chance to spend some time with the PXG staff at their headquarters at Scottsdale National Golf Club here in Phoenix. It was an amazing experience, and I had the chance to go through a custom fitting for the PXG O311 Black Ops Driver.
Designed to be a high-launch, low-spin driver, the O311’s AMF Technology is some of the most advanced I’ve ever seen in a driver. It incorporates a proprietary titanium alloy to ensure consistent and efficient transfer of energy between the clubhead and ball at strategic points across the entire clubface.
Composite crown and sole inserts are made from high-grade carbon fiber that undergoes a highly intricate compression process. The use of such lightweight material allows mass to be distributed into other areas of the clubhead where it can be used more efficiently to increase MOI and therefore forgiveness. It also moves the CG lower and further back in the clubhead promoting a higher launch.
The O311 Black Ops also comes with three interchangeable weights that allow you to optimize, spin, fade, and draw bias settings.
Non-Uniform Bulge and Roll Design strategically varies the vertical and horizontal curvatures across the clubface to not only further increase forgiveness, but optimize performance on off-center strikes.
Lastly, Natural Frequency Optimization improves this driver’s feel and sound.
Overall, the PXG O311 Black Ops driver is one of the best I’ve ever hit. I put it in my bag straight away and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
PXG.com
Best Driver for High-Spin Players – Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I hit the Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver. But I was pleasantly surprised to say the least.
This driver is perfect for players that spin the ball too much. Its carbon composite panels on the sole and crown move the CG low and forward in the clubhead. This promotes drives that come off with minimal spin and a neutral ball flight.
The variable thickness club-face is AI designed and optimized for maximum shot performance at spots across the entire clubface.
Lastly, the six-way adjustable sleeve allows for easy spin and launch customization.
Final Thoughts on the Best Drivers of 2024
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Driver Review
Titleist TSR2 Driver
Every time you turn around, it seems like there’s a new driver making waves. And as fast as technology continues to change the game we love, it’s next to impossible to stay current on the latest and greatest equipment – especially drivers.
But finding the right driver for your game doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. If you consider some of the things we talked about at the beginning of this article, and do a little of your own research, I’m confident you’ll find a driver that will have you hitting the ball farther and straighter than ever before. And if that doesn’t sound like fun to you, I don’t know what does.
