To achieve maximum efficiency and length off the tee you will need a good driver that is suited to your game. The driver is designed to hit the ball further than any other club in the bag. It has the longest shaft and the biggest head, and while it can be intimidating for high handicap players or new golfers, it's worth sticking with it because it's the most forgiving club in your bag.
Because of its importance, the golf driver is the club which has seen the most technological innovations over the years. Companies are coming up with new ideas every year to maximize every aspect of driver performance. For many years it was all about achieving extra distance, but recently forgiveness has become the primary focus.
Along with the expertise and help of Golf Monthly's expert review team, I've put together this guide to show you what is out there. Have a read and a think about what you want from your driver and which one of the following options could suit you best. As always, the full reviews of each club are linked under each item if you want a more in-depth read on a potential addition to your setup.
In my experience I have found that each of the main brands has a model that will work well for pretty much every golfer but, if you are looking for a specific type of performance, you can take a deeper dive into some of our other guides on the most forgiving drivers, best golf drivers for distance, or even the best high handicap drivers.
The Quick List
The Qi35 from TaylorMade looks like a golf club plucked from the future. It provides solid feel and genuine playability whilst gives players adjustability with the weight ports on the sole.
A predictably strong addition to the 2025 driver market, the Ping G440 driver delivers consistent, powerful ball flights coupled with an upgraded premium look.
The Elyte driver from Callaway offers excellent all-round performance coupled with a slightly lower spin profile than some competitors ‘standard’ models. The looks will divide opinion though.
The Cobra DS-ADAPT X delivers for a range of differing swing profiles by combining high levels of forgiveness and distance via balanced front and back weighting in the 460cc head.
There isn't anything flashy about the Titleist GT4, it's simply an awesome driver with acoustics and looks to match. Ball speed numbers were some of the highest of any club on this list.
The ZXi is a real upgrade on the previous ZX7, delivering a smarter aesthetic and some nice technical refinements. This is a driver that will suit a wide range of golfers.
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When I tested the G430 Max 10K I was blown away by the performance. It matches forgiveness and club head stability with low spin rates and high ball speed, the perfect combo for a dead straight drive.
If you're looking for a driver than spins a bit more than usual, the ST-Max 230 from Mizuno could be the one for you. It delivers a satisfying feel that will appeal to many players whilst it gets a flying grade when it comes to looks.
The Black Ops is a great driver from a relative newcomer to golf equipment in PXG. Sound and feel are particularly good whilst the aesthetic with the multi-material gloss crown makes this thing feel powerful as you stand over the ball.
The Dynapower Carbon is Wilson's best driver in years. It may not pop off the screen in terms of ball speed numbers but the dull, dense sound and feel through the strike is a satisfying one.
The 'X' version of the Elyte range suits players looking for optimal levels of forgiveness and help getting the ball airborne at impact, but may be too spinny for those with faster club head speeds.
Nothing beats the C725 driver for value for money in 2025. It's a wonderful product from a left field brand that deserves consideration from golfers of all abilities.
Best Golf Drivers
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Top pick
First up we have the standard model in the new Qi35 range from TaylorMade which might be the best looking model on the market at the moment. The head is largely a light grey carbon that looks so premium and I love the overall minimalist aesthetic as well. The shape at address is significantly rounder than the previous Qi10, so much so that the Qi35 is now the identical playing profile to the higher MOI Qi35 Max product.
Performance wise it really delivers too, especially with the adjustability. There are two adjustable weights in the sole that can be switched to fine-tune launch and spin, and I played around with this to see the variations in performance I could get. In a neutral setting this is an incredibly stable, forgiving driver that will help you find the fairway. You can also set it into what I would call 'beast mode', adjusting the weights to drop rpm and increase overall distance output. Your dispersion will suffer a little but nowhere as much as I imagined so this will be up to the specific golfer as to whether the extra distance is worth the sacrifice.
The feel off the face is slightly livelier than the previous Qi10 and there is a more high-pitched acoustic that creates a touch more of a firmer feel to impact - a feature I enjoyed in testing. Overall then there’s genuinely not much I don’t like about this driver.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi35 Driver Review
Best wide appeal
One of the anticipated driver releases for 2025, the Ping G440 had big shoes to fill, replacing the excellent G430 range. From an aesthetic perspective, many will love the blue and black finish along with the new Carbonfly Wrap on the crown which really pops. Others may not as much of a fan of the turbulators or the look from the sole but the look of Ping drivers has often divided opinion so there was nothing new here.
Often Ping let's the performance of its drivers speak for themselves and the G440 is no exception. I found the G440 Max to be predictably strong especially when it came to forgiveness, my mishits were dealt with nicely and I think the biggest leap forward in this driver is the playability of shots low on the face. This is my typical miss, but the G440 has a lower CG that leads to more mass behind the ball and less of a drop of in ball speed numbers on those thinner strikes.
I think there was also a nice feel in the G440 when compared to the G430 head whilst there is a nice level of adjustability on offer thanks to the 29-gram, three position adjustable back weight that can be tweaked to suit your ball flight preference. Overall this will be a very popular driver for golfers of all abilities this year.
- Read our full Ping G440 Max Driver Review
Best for mid-handicappers
Moving from the Paradym Ai Smoke range, we now have the simpler sounding Elyte drivers with the standard head finding its way into this guide. It is suited to the widest range of golfers because it is an excellent all-rounder thanks to the forgiveness and solid feel. In my testing I found it to be exceptionally user-friendly on my questionable strikes, and erring on the lower side of spin for a mid-range driver which I really enjoyed. The feel off the face is a solid one, not as soft as something like the Cobra DS-ADAPT X driver, but with a real robustness.
This driver features a new perimeter weighting system that allows golfers to fully customize where they place the movable 13g weight to help promote or rectify a certain ball flight. I think although the two 'spare' ports do look a little unfinished when a weight isn't placed in them, but this is only a minor point looks-wise.
Speaking of which, admittedly this isn't the prettiest range of drivers Callaway have ever produced but the club sits nicely behind the ball at address and the shaping of the head inspires confidence over the ball. This head also boasts a matte carbon fiber crown on a modern-looking profile with the iconic Callaway chevron on the top for easy alignment.
Overall this is a driver that can be used by a single-figure handicapper or a once a week-type player, proving it will be a popular feature in golf bags in 2025.
- Read our full Callaway Elyte Driver Review
Best adjustability
I thoroughly enjoyed testing the Darkspeed drivers back in 2024 so the DS-ADAPT family had a lot to live up to. There are four heads in the lineup and the X features here because it is an all-rounder which will appeal to players of many levels and abilities.
Starting with the looks, it oozes shelf appeal, thanks to some subtle blue accent colors to help differentiate it from the rest of the range and the somewhat triangular head profile of its predecessor has been softened a touch which is getting closer to the look I prefer. Then from a hitting perspective, the X delivered. I experienced a nice, comfortable level of launch, with mid-range spin and strong levels of forgiveness. My predominant miss is low and from the heel which the X dealt with, maintaining strong ball speed and relatively tight dispersion. I also loved the feel of the X too, best described as smooth and with minimal vibrations.
I should finally mention the FutureFit33 adjustable hosel. It allows players to de-couple loft and lie angle for the first time ever meaning 33 unique individual settings are available to keep even the most avid tinkerer happy. The main benefit of this is allowing players to fine tune what ball flight they want from their driver.
- Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT X Driver Review
Best low spin
Are you a traditionalist? Then the GT4 from Titleist could be the model for you
Since being released, I've been a huge fan of the Titleist GT range, with their star model being the GT4, a driver that has been designed for players looking to eliminate excessive spin rates. Obviously, with a 430cc head, it isn't suited to the higher handicapper, but thanks to a new Seamless Thermoform Crown and Split Mass Construction, there is a lot of performance to be had in the GT4.
The GT4 is a very round head but gives off a clean and premium aesthetic, a look I am used to when it comes to Titleist equipment. The smaller head may not be the best fit for higher handicap players but the slight color contrast of the face of the club to the rest of the head will help with both lining up at address and the ability to see the loft as the head sits behind the ball.
Performance wise, low spin levels and high ball speeds led to incredible results during testing. The feel was sensational and the adjustability options, two adjustable weights on the sole and an adjustable hosel, mean you can really fine tune the GT4 to suit your game.
- Read our full Titleist GT4 Driver Review
Best looking
When I tested the new ZXi I wanted to see how Srixon could improve on the previous ZX7 Mk II driver and I'm pleased to report they've done just that, specifically from a looks and technical feature standpoint.
Speaking of which, the new ‘i-FLEX’ face makes it debut and I felt a lovely powerful feel off the face as a result. There are also two adjustable weights in the sole which allowed me to tweak the driver to my characteristics, and the acoustics of the ZXi are a significant improvement over the ZX7 design previously. Additionally I found great consistency and control of the clubhead as well, finding good contact to be easily attainable. When I missed the center of the face I was reassured to see impressive ball speed retention from our launch monitor as well.
In terms of looks, I think Srixon have done a great job in tidying up the cluttered looking sole that featured on the ZX7 MK II. The whole visual package feels sophisticated in the best way. The improvements continue when at address, albeit more subtly. Tint textures on the crown and extra detailing in addition to the new face detailing makes this feel like a really premium driver in your hand. I can't really ask for more from Srixon when it comes to this driver.
- Read our full Srixon ZXi Driver Review
Most forgiving
The G430 Max 10K driver from Ping has outstanding forgiveness
If you struggle to find the middle of the face regularly and you need that extra help, Ping has been the go to brand for forgiveness in recent years and the Max 10K is their most forgiving driver yet.
According to Ping, the Max 10K is the straightest and highest MOI driver it has made to date, eclipsing the 10,000g-cm2 combined moment of inertia threshold first surpassed by the G400 Max five years ago. Subsequent models such as the G410 Plus and G425 Max have built on that forgiveness, making Ping the clear number one in this category.
The G430 Max 10K has a bigger footprint than its predecessor with a fixed weight added to the back of the head and a slick Carbonfly wrap on the crown adding to the visual appeal. The weight optimizes the center of gravity position at impacts which should allow for lower speed and more ball speed preservation for increased distance.
I was stunned by the performance in testing - we don't give five star reviews out very often! The forgiveness and stability levels were terrific and when you couple this with how low the spin levels were it's genuinely remarkable. My testing showed that the ball speed numbers were comparable to anything on the market, yet the spin output stands up against any of the best low-spin drivers.
Another big plus with this driver is that it suits a wide variety of skill levels. Cameron Champ and Tony Finau have used it on the PGA Tour, but the playability makes it a viable option for much less proficient ball strikers too, which is quite rare as usually you will find that equipment used by tour pros is not suitable for the average club golfer. Some adjustment might be needed over time by players with slower swing speeds, but the patience would be worth it to get the best out of this great driver.
- Read our full Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Review
Best For high launch
The ST-Max 230 is an underrated model that more should test
Mizuno are better known for making some of the best golf irons and lesser known for their fairway woods and drivers, but the Japanese brand have worked hard to improve the quality of their longer clubs and have succeeded in doing so.
The Mizuno ST-Max 230 driver is said to be the brand's most stable driver ever. This has been achieved by lowering the profile of the ST-Max head to accommodate spreading. This has also increased the overall footprint of the driver head whilst staying within the maximum permitted 460cc head size. This beauty of this is that it allows the designers to relocate weight to more extreme locations which increases the MOI number and boosts performance.
This driver delivers a premium look, benefitting from the blue and black color scheme. It's sits pretty behind the ball at address, with the big head hopefully inspiring confidence and a bit of reassurance before you swing.
In terms of the sound and feel, I really enjoyed what this driver had to offer. The feel at impact is more subtle than some of the other most forgiving drivers on the market and the acoustics follow the same pattern.
- Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 230 Driver Review
Best feel
If you need alignment help then the Black Ops from PXG is a model to think about
A relative newcomer to the equipment industry in comparison with other brands on this list, PXG have begun making waves when it comes to the longer clubs in particular.
In terms of the tech, as you would expect the two areas of most focus are distance and forgiveness. To achieve greater distance PXG introduced a titanium alloy face that it refers to as AMF Technology. The thinking behind it is that higher strength and added flexibility increases face deflection to produce a higher launch and lower spin. The forgiveness comes from a composite construction which has been specifically designed to push mass to the perimeter to get the combined MOI reading to near 10,000 gcm2.
The look of the typical PXG club is quite a brash one and this offering is no different - there feels like there's a lot going on behind the ball at address which might not be to everyones taste but does help align the ball up correctly before you begin your swing. The look is clean but powerful, with the glossy finish, carbon crown and light grey accent graphics giving this club an angry look and suggesting it is piled with tech to make the ball fly far. The head shape is nicely rounded and it sits nice and square on the ground at address which helps promote confidence over the ball.
Impact and feedback is great also, with PXG doing a great job of catering for the different requirements of players. The adjustability available is a real strength with three adjustable weights on the sole on the head to help you fine tune the performance to your liking. Fiddle about with in and if possible, hop on a Trackman to find what suits your playing characteristics the best.
- Read our full PXG Black Ops Driver Review
Best fade bias
Wilson's Dynapower Carbon model is for the lower spin players
After testing the latest Wilson driver I was seriously impressed - this feels like a big step forward for a brand not many would consider when looking to upgrade their driver.
This is as good as it gets in the low-spin driver category and has an affordable price to add to the appeal. Launch monitor data was impressive by itself, offering excellent ball speed numbers in particular.
In the looks department, we've seen a massive upgrade from the previous Dynapower model that didn't really suit my eye. Plenty of visible carbon coupled with relatively discreet branding provides a classy visual, whilst the club sits very sophisticated behind the ball at address.
Feel is also wonderful, feeling both solid and robust at impact. This driver maybe isn't as forgiving in other areas of the face compared to competing models on the market, but you're getting plenty of bang for your buck when you factor in the price.
- Read our full Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review
Best draw bias
The most user-friendly of the Elyte family, the 'X' should be a serious consideration for higher-handicap players looking a fresh driver option in the bag for 2025. High, easy launch is one of the biggest appealing factors and the predominant draw bias will appeal to many players whilst feel remains solid and robust.
The 'X' features one less weight port in the head compared to the standard Elyte model but this will suit players who tend to miss the ball to the right. Tinkering with the 13-gram weight can help straighten out shots that have too much cut spin, leading to more fairways hit. Another nice feature is the ‘Thermoforged’ carbon crown, designed to enable fast club head speeds and facilitate optimal launch and spin outputs.
During testing I saw high launch, healthy spin numbers and reasonable distance output that will tick the boxes that need ticked for players shopping in this category. It's also a really forgiving option, with my mishits rarely losing too much distance and dispersion remaining tight.
- Read our full Callaway Elyte X Driver Review
Best value
As much as we don't like to admit it, most of us are golf snobs. We want to have one of the best golf brands in our hands at all times, whether that be Titleist, Taylormade or whoever else at the top of the equipment food chain. Most players would turn their nose up at the prospect of a Tour Edge driver, but I promise you that this driver is worth a try.
The combination of ball speed, adjustability, looks, and feel on offer here is fantastic. Looks-wise it can compete with any other driver on this list, looking premium thanks to the carbon-fibre finish. The head shape is also appealing to the eye, sitting nice and square behind the ball at address.
In terms of the data we got during testing, although we didn't reach the ball speed and distance numbers of a TaylorMade Qi35 or Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond, it was pretty close. The feel is also excellent, a pleasant surprise.
When you consider this driver is $200 less than most on this list, the performance really is impressive. Give it a try!
- Read our full Tour Edge Exotics E725 Driver review
Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and TaylorMade. With Golf Monthly he oversees driver, iron and golf ball testing.
How we test for the best golf drivers
When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Our driver testing is headed up by Staff Writer Joe Ferguson, a PGA Professional who has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years. Joe is ably assisted by other members of the review team, including Deputy Editor Joel Tadman, and Staff Writer Sam De'Ath, a professional who has competed on the EuroPro and Clutch Pro Tours.
Getting into specifics for drivers, we first attend product launches and speak to the manufacturers to get a full understanding of the technology. The next stage is test the golf clubs indoors, usually at Foresight Sports where we test the products with premium golf balls on a launch monitor.
Then it's on to outdoor testing which often takes place at Saunton Golf Club in Devon which has top-notch practice facilities and is one of Golf Monthly's Top 100 golf courses as well.
Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. Our team tells it how it is as our aim is to try and find the best golf clubs on the market and to give you some valuable insight on them, which requires us being thorough and transparent.
How to choose a new golf driver
Many of us swap and change our driver often in the quest for the perfect fit. Players are always chasing extra yards off the tee and it often feels like the next driver to come out will scratch that itch.
Even if you aren't easily influenced by the hype and marketing and may have only purchased a driver in the last few years, the chances are you will still have asked yourself whether you need to buy a new one. Maybe you do, maybe you don't, but if you do decide to splash out then there are a few key things you should consider before you do.
We've listed a few things to keep in mind as you begin the hunt for the perfect big stick off the tee.
What head type do I need?
As you will have noted above, generally when a brand releases a new driver there will be a choice of three or four different heads to choose from. Each are aimed at a specific type of golfer, so it's vital that you know what bracket you fall into. Do you need the most forgiving head, the lowest spinning or one that combines the two? You might want to look at a draw biased option if you are a slicer. Deciding on this will then help you choose which brand or model you want.
What about shaft Flex?
Getting the right flex shaft is very important if you want your driver to perform to the best of its' ability. The faster your swing speed, the stiffer the flex needed. We'd recommend getting a custom fitting to find out which is the best shaft to suit your game. Most casual players will be a regular or a stiff, but very slow swingers (less than 75mph) may be better served by a senior flex shaft. Alternatively, those who swing out of their shoes (105mph+) might need a extra stiff shaft.
Where do you need the most help?
Self diagnose your driver swing - is it too spinny? Do you tend to miss right often? Do you struggle to get the ball airborne off the tee? Once you know what you need from a driver, it's easier to find which one will and wont suit your game.
Distance
If your focus is purely on adding more yards to your drive, then there are driver heads designed specifically for that (usually the low spinning ones), but not all brands will produce the same distance and it might be different for each golfer as we all have different swings. Based on our testing this year we found the Cobra Darkspeed Max to be the best driver for distance but it might be different for you so it's worth trying out a few to help narrow down your choice.
Forgiveness
Golf is hard. It's impossible to hit the ball out of the center of the face every time, so we might need a driver that can give us a helping hand when it comes to those strikes that don't land in the sweet spot of the face. The most forgiving driver on the market right now, in my opinion, is the Ping G430 Max 10K and it is also one of the most versatile, being suited to a wide range of skill levels from Tour Pro to Sunday hacker.
Launch
Another factor to consider is do you have trouble getting the ball to go as high as you'd like from the tee? Some golfers, particularly those with slower swing speeds, need help with their launch. Increasing the loft on your driver will help with this, but there are drivers out there that have been specifically designed to help golfers get the ball into the air. If you come into that category then check out our guide to the best drivers for slow swing speeds.
What is your budget?
Golf clubs are becoming more and more expensive, particularly the premium offerings from the likes of TaylorMade and Titleist. The Srixon ZXi and Wilson Dynapower drivers come in at a lower price point, while there are some fantastic deals to be had in second hand market. If you are on a budget or you're a new golfer who doesn't want to spend too much at this stage of your golfing journey, check out our guide to the best used golf drivers to see if you can pick up a bargain.
FAQs
Which golf brand makes the best drivers?
There are lots of golf brands that make excellent golf drivers for a wide range of abilities and swings. Those brands include the likes of Callaway, TaylorMade, Wilson Staff, Ping, Cobra, Cleveland, Titleist to name a few.
What is the number 1 driver in golf?
There are lots of drivers that will claim to be number 1 this year. Some of them include the TaylorMade Qi35, Cobra DS-ADAPT, Callaway Elyte and Ping G434 line to name a few.
Which driver is the most forgiving?
You can check out our full guide on the most forgiving golf drivers, but a couple of examples are the Ping G430 Max 10K and Cleveland Launcher XL.
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