Best Golf Clubs For High Handicappers 2025

In case you didn't already know, you're spoilt for choice, particularly as a high handicap golfer, when it comes to some of the excellent golf clubs that are currently on the market. That's because golf club technology has grown leaps and bounds over the last 20 years, meaning there are a ton of excellent golf clubs out there that will help you improve as a golfer. Typically, the best golf clubs for high handicappers are more forgiving, which means mis-hits aren't so severely punished.

So, no matter what club you're hitting, there's a little more margin for error, something less experienced golfers need, given that their strike pattern isn't usually so consistent. If you've ever played with one of the best blade irons you'll know these clubs are very hard to hit consistently in comparison to many of the clubs we'll be highlighting below. With the drivers and fairways, slice-correcting technology is often at the heart of the clubs' design, which is really helpful for those high handicappers who tend to suffer with a left-to-right shot shape.

Putters and wedges tend to be a little more chunky, helping to alleviate miss-hits around the greens and allow players to be more accurate and clinical when looking to hole out. Acknowledging all of this, we have tested a lot of clubs and put together a list of some of the best golf clubs we feel high handicap golfers will benefit from. We've also got a few club-specific guides if you'd like to take a more in-depth look at some of the top models on offer, including the best high handicap drivers, the best fairway woods for high handicappers, and the most forgiving irons.

The Quick List

Best Golf Clubs For High Handicappers

Drivers

Ping G430 Max 10K Driver

Another model worthy to be in this guide is the Ping G430 Max 10K, which the brand claims is the straightest and highest MOI (moment of inertia) driver it has made to-date!

Well when we tested it, we absolutely loved the performance. At impact the stability and forgiveness of the head was immediately apparent and what is truly amazing about this model is Ping has still managed to keep the spin down despite the forgiveness on offer.

The ball speed on mis-hits barely dropped a couple of miles per hour and, in terms of dispersion, the tee shots were all extremely tight. What's more, with the larger footprint and stretched out look at address, higher handicap players will enjoy the confidence-inspiring looks as well.

• Read our full Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Review

Callaway Elyte X Driver

The most user-friendly of the Elyte family, the 'X' should be a serious consideration for those higher handicap players looking for a long but user friendly driver this year.

The Elyte X is particularly strong in terms of launch, mainly thanks to the 13g adjustable weight at the back of the head that helps promote an easily achievable high launch and adds to forgiveness levels. This is also a particularly good driver for those who struggle with a slice thanks to the in-built draw bias, meaning the technology and MOI helps straighten out a ball flight despite the cut spin generated by an over the top swing, a swing very common with higher handicap players.

This is also a very pretty club to look at, especially at address. The design of the sole split opinion within the Golf Monthly testing team but we were all in agreement that this is a visually appealing golf club to look down at before we swing. The green colorway is a mini tribute to the original Epic driver range from a few years ago, whilst the shaping of the head means this sits beautifully square behind the ball, helping users feel confident before the pull the trigger.

• Read our full Callaway Elyte X Driver Review

Cobra DS-ADAPT MAX-K Driver

Cobra is a really underrated brand when it comes to golf hardware and their latest DS-ADAPT range if just further proof of that. The MAX-K driver is best suited to the higher handicap thanks to over 10k MOI packed into the head, helping users hit straighter, longer shots despite tending to miss the center of the face.During our testing we were blown away with how tight our dispersion was, trying but failing to hit truly bad, wayward tee shots.

A really neat feature in the DS-ADAPT range is the unique adjustable hosel. Named the FutureFit33, it decouples lie angle and loft to allow for up to 33 different settings, meaning you can fine tune your driver to cater to the strengths of your golf swing.

Again, when it comes to looks we think Cobra have knocked it out of the park. We loved both the look and performance of their Darkspeed drivers last year, so we were naturally excited to see if they could make notable improvements to their 2025 crop - we're happy to say they have.

• Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT MAX-K Driver Review

TaylorMade Qi35 Max Driver

The first place to start when talking about the Qi35 family is the looks - they're absolutely tremendous. They say first impressions are important and when we pulled the driver out of the box ahead of testing we were suitably impressed at the new upgraded, premium look. We particularly loved the carbon fibre finish which our driver tester Joe Ferguson aptly pointed out resembled the interior of a Ferrari or Aston Martin sports car.

We've chosen the Max driver for this guide as it provides the most forgiveness for higher handicappers, mainly through lowering the CG of the head to help stabilize the club more through impact. This is down in part thanks to a new 34g weight to the rear of the club head.

During our testing of the new crop of 2025 drivers, none could match the Qi35 Max in terms of dispersion. From both back to front and side to side we saw very little variance which is a massive green tick on the report card for drivers suited for higher handicappers. This is another really visually appealing drivers at address too, meaning those who have a mental block on the tee can help game some confidence and improve their results off the tee accordingly. However, it's worth noting that players who struggle with the dreaded slice may want to look elsewhere though as there isn't as much draw bias inbuilt into the Max.

• Read our full TaylorMade Qi35 Max Driver Review

Fairways

Ping G440 Max Fairway Wood

We had high expectations for the G440 family after how blown away we were by the performance on offer from the G430 family in previous years. Especially in the fairway woods department, Ping have delivered a fantastic golf club that will benefit a wide range of golfers.

A new and improved look is introduced via the new Carbonfly wrap on the head of the club, making this a very appealing wood to look down at before your swing. The blue and black color scheme on the sole is a tribute to the original family of 'G' clubs released almost a decade ago but might not suit the eye of every golfer - however we'd argue you can't see the sole of the club as you swing, so does it really matter? The forgiveness on offer here is as good as any of the best fairway woods on the market and we particularly loved the performance of the 4 wood - a club that could become a valuable weapon for a wide range of golfers that typically struggle with hitting a high ball.

Overall, it must be said that the G440 is an excellent option for higher handicappers wanting to upgrade their fairway wood in 2025, purely because the brand has kept much of what made the G430 so great.

• Read our full Ping G440 Max Fairway Wood Review

Titleist GT2 Fairway Wood

The GT2 features a Seamless Thermoform Crown made from Proprietary Matrix Polymer, but what does this mean for higher handicappers? Well, the weight saved has been redistributed across the head to improve the CG positioning to aid both ball speed and forgiveness. If you're someone who wants to hit woods off tee boxes but struggles to do so, this is a club that excels in that department.

In testing, we found the GT2 to be a high launching, low spinning monster! This is a great fairway wood for slow swing speeds due to the high ball speeds and launch it produces. In addition, the L-Cup face design helped promote increased stability, especially on shots we caught low in the face.

The head is a little more 'tour-refined' and smaller than other options on this list or in our most forgiving fairway woods guide, so if you like a little extra lumber behind the ball there could be better options out there.

• Read our full Titleist GT2 Fairway Wood Review

Hybrids

PXG Black Ops Hybrid

The 0311 Black Ops hybrid from PXG offers excellent levels of forgiveness whilst performing exceptionally well out of the rough. It's super user friendly and as a result can be considered one of the best golf hybrids for 2025.

This is a useful option for players who struggle to get the ball airborne with a metal club in hand. It promotes a high, towering ball flight that will appeal to players who tend to hit longer clubs into greens on the Par 4s and Par 5s. We also think it looks terrific - the black glossy finish feels premium and is complimented well by splashes of silver. This is particularly noticeable in the playing position, with the clubface sitting beautifully square behind the ball.

Overall, I think if you are a player that wants as much help as possible from the rough, then this is a hybrid you definitely need to try.

• Read our full PXG Black Ops 0311 Hybrid Review

Wilson 2025 DYNAPWR Hybrid

Here's more of a left field pick from a brand who have taken serious strides in the right direction when it comes to their hardward in recent years. The Wilson Dynapwr took the title of 'best value' in most of our hybrid buying guides this year, including the most forgiving hybrids and best hybrids for high handicappers guides. This was for a number of reasons.

Firstly, and most obviously, the price is a big factor. This comes in significantly cheaper than the more premium options but doesn't lag too far behind in performance. There is plenty of forgiveness on offer and it's a versatile option from a range of lies, be that the tee box, fairway or rough. The Dynapwr also delivers high launch with relative ease, helping higher handicappers get the ball airbone and gained distance whether they're hitting off the fairway or the tee box.

There are a few minor drawbacks, most notably the lack of adjustability and high spin rates, but this shouldn't be too limiting a factor for higher handicappers. Given the price and the performance, the Wilson Dynapwr hybrid still offers excellent value for money and a lot of forgiveness for those who need it.

• Read our full Wilson 2025 DYNAPWR Hybrid Review

Irons

Ping G730 Iron

First up we have the G730 iron from Ping, a model designed to offer ball speed and distance, and I am pleased to say, in my testing it delivered. Thanks to a combination of strong lofts, and technology like the hyper 17-4 stainless steel construction, the result is exceptionally high ball speed, along with a penetrating ball flight.

The G730 are irons designed for both ball speed and distance whilst almost promoting a user friendly experience. During testing we saw exceptionally high ball speed and a consistent, penetrating ball flight thanks partly to the combination of strong lofts, and technology like the hyper 17-4 stainless steel construction.

Vitally, the feel is impressive too. Unlike some of the best game improvement irons designed for higher-handicap golfers, I found the G730s to be neither too hard or too dull. The wider sole and thicker head will inspire confidence for the higher handicapper who likes a bit more metal behind the ball, too. The sole is particularly useful for generating positive turf interaction and increasing forgiveness.

The wider sole has a decent amount of bounce, adding to the club’s forgiveness across a variety of lies which is a crucial element to consider if you struggle with consistency of strike. All told, I believe the clean looks, superb distance and surprisingly good feel add up to a truly forgiving iron that’s hard to beat.

• Read our full Ping G730 Iron Review

Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal HL Irons

There isn't a game improvement iron that provides better feel than the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal HL iron. When we consider the brand, it's maybe no surprise to the more experienced golfers considering that Mizuno make some of the best golf irons on the market, but they've added a really valuable option here into the best game improvement irons category.

The looks are very appealing - the club sits nicely and invitingly behind the ball at address and although the size of the iron heads may be on the thicker side of things, they don't feel too clunky. Instead, they'll promote confidence and a feeling that they will help your ball towards the desired target rather than hindering your swing.

I very much enjoyed what was on offer from a data point of view as well. I liked the launch, spin and carry numbers, and as such, when coupling the performance with the confidence-inspiring looks, I think these irons are well worth considering if you are a mid-high handicap player looking for a premium iron that is not too tricky to handle.

• Read our full Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal HL Iron Review

Srixon ZXi4 Irons

Our penultimate selection in the iron category comes from Srixon with their ZXi4 iron. It's a set that features a hollow body construction, a confidence inspiring blade length, and pleasing offset at address, all of which should benefit the higher handicapper. During testing we found turf interaction to be smooth but also give off a powerful feel which was really pleasant. Stronger lofts also promote more distance whilst the looks on offer here are superb. It is as if they look like a players iron but have enough real estate to give confidence to higher handicap players, but without patronizing them.

Like the rest of the ZXi family, the ZXi4 features the Tour V.T. sole which gives us a range of widths and bounce angles whilst providing the platform for this wonderful feel and turf interaction and making them very user friendly. These, put simply, look like a friendlier, older brother version of the ZXi5.

• Read our full Srixon ZXi4 Irons Review

Titleist T350 Iron

Another iron higher handicap golfers will enjoy is the T350 from Titleist, which sees split tungsten weighting introduced to it. Also, there is Max Impact technology that sits a little higher and, with the forged face, it feels really solid and stable.

As you would expect with Titleist, the looks are premium, we particularly liked the back plate which gave a clean look, but also covered the cavity to help manage sound through impact. At address the T350 has a slight offset and looks generous down by the ball, but it doesn't have a chunky sole or thick topline, so it looks like a better players iron, but has the performance of one for higher handicap golfers.

In testing it did an excellent job of minimizing the drop off when balls were mis-struck, and the face felt springy too, across the entire face. There's no denying that the T350 slots in amongst some of the very best distance irons, capable of combining speed and playable trajectories with an explosive feel.

• Read our full Titleist T350 Iron Review

Wedges

Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge

Cleveland have proven time and time again they make some of the best wedges on the market and they have now added a new wedge the CBX Full-Face 2. This wedge looks very similar to its predecessor, the CBX wedge which was a big hit when we tested it. However, with this iteration Cleveland have taken that already great wedge and improved upon it, with full face grooving and increased forgiveness turning this into a five star wedge. The face has the HydraZip blast finish which helps to increase the spin in wetter conditions.

The sole of the wedge has a standard full sole grind on the lower of the lofts, to help with forgiveness on fuller shots. For the higher lofted wedges which is 54° upwards, they use a C shaped sole this has more relief in the heel and the toe. The wider sole gives you a greater margin for error and allows you to use a relatively straight swing with these wedges.

• Read our full Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge Review

TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge

The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedge is the latest in the Hi-Toe series and although the head shape may not suit everyone, the forgiving feel will benefit a wide range of players, not just higher handicappers.

Aesthetically the copper finish continues from previous generations, which reduces glare and we also liked the new colored bottom groove as well because it really helped down by the ball, and with alignment.

Performance-wise, the versatility and forgiveness shone through here. You get high spin and control thanks to Spin Tread technology, and this was clear from the fairway, rough, around the green and so on. The ful-face grooves helped with consistency of strike, whilst aiding forgiveness, making it easier to achieve clean contact and consistent spin. Overall, the Hi-Toe 4 delivers both reliability and forgiveness, making it a solid choice for golfers of all abilities.

• Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge review

Putters

Bettinardi INOVAI 6.5 Putter

The Bettinardi INOVAI 6.5 is one of our favorite forgiving putters at the moment because of how it performed in testing. Starting with the looks, higher handicap players will enjoy the larger footprint of the mallet, but it isn't over the top and the fang design looks excellent.

But the forgiveness is where this putter stands out though. The head shape is all about maximizing MOI, and this is combined with the redistribution of weight towards the perimeter of the head. The result is a very stable and forgiving putter. In testing it sat nice and square with the alignment really helping consistency.

The high MOI was immediately obvious to us in the head feedback and the strike. When testing performance on mis-strikes, there didn't seem to be much of a different in roll, and they travelled a similar distance to well-struck putts as well.

• Read our full Bettinardi INOVAI 6.5 Putter Review

L.A.B. Golf DF3 Putter

Finally we have the L.A.B. Golf DF3 mallet, the largest putter in this guide. It’s a center-shafted, flat-bottom model that feels very stable and forgiving thanks to "Lie Angle Balance" technology which creates true zero-torque putters, which stay square by themselves.

Our testing seemed to match up to the design claims too. The face seemed to naturally return to square whilst the large head didn't distract us either which was a surprise. Putt speed was surprisingly easy to control as well and the forgiveness across the face proved to be excellent as well. Putts sounded rather solid and felt stable, while the sheer size of the head no doubt enhances the forgiveness. The grooves worked well in dampening sound as well.

Importantly if the black isn't for you the putter comes in a wide range of colors, and there are customizations available in terms of head weight, alignment, grip and shaft options too.

• Read our full L.A.B. Golf DF3 Putter Review

How we test golf clubs

Our testing for golf irons is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the entire Golf Monthly test team. As far as the specific procedure goes, before testing, the team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer's R&D experts to understand the new technology.

When it comes to testing, we often head indoors first to try clubs in a controlled environment. This usually takes place on an indoor simulator using a premium, reputable launch monitor with premium balls. Our outside testing normally takes place both on putting greens and on course.

We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the clubs so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences.

How to choose new golf clubs

Buying golf clubs can sometimes be a tricky thing to get right. Particularly as a high handicap golfer, it can be very easy to get sucked into the trap of buying the top-spec models that will cost you a lot of money but won't necessarily help you improve. While we always recommend players get custom fitted for their clubs, sometimes it's good to have a bit of advice knowing what to look out for before you head down to your club shop. For that reason, we've set out below a couple of key points you should keep in mind if you're thinking about picking up a new driver or putter.

Price

The first thing to note about any kind of golf club is that they can sometimes be expensive, particularly their irons. While some of the best drivers on the market can come in at some pretty hefty prices but it is always worth looking at purchasing a club that fits into your budget and skill sets. As high handicap players, we recommend not shelling out for the most expensive clubs on the market. Shop around a bit and look out for deals!

Forgiveness

One thing we always say to high handicappers is look out for clubs that offer a lot of forgiveness. This is how easy the club is to use. The easier the better and the more enjoyment you'll get out of your round. From the best drivers for high-handicap golfers to best putters for high handicappers, each club will offer a certain kind of playability, from a more supple face insert to a cavity backed clubhead, that will help you play more fluid and better golf shots.

Visuals

Aesthetics aren't the most important thing to consider, but they can play a big factor in helping boost your confidence on the course. Playing with a good-looking gear always helps to boost the mental side of your game and that in turn can help you score better. Certainly there are some stunning options from Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade listed above on this list.

The clubs you already have

Take stock of the clubs you already have and the yardages they offer and try to fill the gaps in your bag that you might need. This is particularly important if you're buying a couple of new wedges or hybrids. You don't want to be purchasing the same club that you may have and be comfortable with, so try to ensure you have a good range of clubs.

Adjustability settings

Particularly when it comes to your drivers and metal woods, being able to adjust and tinker with the clubs to ensure they perform to your needs is a really useful feature to look out for. Adjustable hosels and weighting settings allow you to alter the angle of attack and delivery the club head strikes the ball at, helping you to put different shapes and lofts on the golf ball. That can often be a great way to help alleviate a bad hook or slice too!

For more advice on some of the best golf clubs on the market, take a look at our guides to the best Callaway drivers, the best TaylorMade irons or the best Bettinardi putters.

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