Best Golf Drivers For Mid Handicappers 2025

Millions of people around the globe play golf and the fairways are full of players of varying abilities. One of the great things about golf compared to many other sports and pastimes is that you don't need to be brilliant to be able to enjoy it or to play with others who may be much better (or indeed worse) than you. Playing tennis against somebody much better than you is not fun, but golf can be.

In fact, only a small percentage of golfers reach a single figure handicap because golf is hard and unless you are blessed with a natural talent or you have plenty of time to spend practicing and honing your skills, the changes are you will be a mid-high handicap player. A number of statistics show that the average golfer has a handicap of 15-18 which puts them firmly in the mid-handicapper category, along with millions of others who a little above or below that handicap figure. As such, it makes sense for golf companies to make clubs aimed at that particular market, while also of course catering to the games top players and boosting their profile by having their products used on tour.

So most of the bigger manufacturers will release a new driver with multiple head and shaft options. This means if the average golfer sees Rory McIlroy using a new driver and wants to do the same, they can do, albeit the head and shaft will be geared at their ability and swing speed and not Rory's. Visually though, to the layperson it will look the same.

In this guide we have compiled a list of the best drivers that are aimed at golfers in the mid-handicap category. We have extensively tested all of these, as well as the other options on offer in each model, so we can give you an informed view of the kind of club that will help you.

There is no one size fits all solution though and you need to have a good understanding of your own game before deciding what driver you need. Not all 15 handicap players will have the same attributes and skillsets. For example, you may be a 15 handicap who swings the club very quickly and needs the emphasis to be on forgiveness. If that's the case you should check out our guide to the most forgiving drivers. Alternatively, perhaps you are a slow swinger who hits every fairway but who needs more length. If so, you'll be looking for the best drivers for distance.

Generally though, the drivers listed below combine the best of both worlds and will therefore suit most players in the mid-handicap range.

The Quick List

Best Golf Drivers for Mid Handicappers

Top pick

Our top pick is regular Elyte head,suited to the widest range of golfers regardless of ability level which makes it the natural headliner in this guide from the impressive never Callaway Elyte range. It's an excellent 'all-rounder' that delivers slightly less spin than competitors 'standard' models. This is thanks in part to increased levels of forgiveness and a solid feel at impact which will appeal to the masses.

Like the best golf drivers, the Elyte features a customizable perimeter weighting system that features a 13g movable weight for optimum adjustability. We enjoying playing around with this in testing, noting that it really did help us manipulate the ball flight - something that will help players set their driver up to compliment their strengths and hopefully iron out some weaknesses off the tee.

This is yet another really good looking driver from Callaway, even if the sole design divided opinion in the office. There's no disputing how good this looks from above though, sitting beautifully behind the ball with a head square and large to enhance confidence before you swing. 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.

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. It combines easy high launch with a lower spin profile which yielded positive results on our testing launch monitor. We also believe mid-handicappers can really benefit from the aerodynamic improvements and increased forgiveness on offer - hopefully gaining a few yards of distance as a result!

• Read our full Callaway Elyte Driver Review

Best shelf appeal

The standard model in the new Qi35 range from TaylorMade features two adjustable weights in the sole that can be switched to fine-tune launch and spin, a high-tech matte finish that looks like the inside of a supercar and brand new CG technology to enhance performance.

Without bogging you down in too much technology talk, Taylormade have moved the CG in the face as low as possible to increase what they call 'the area of opportunity', essentially increasing the size of the sweet spot. As a result, the feel off the face is more lively than previous iterations with a complimentary higher pitch that we enjoyed during testing.

We also loved the adjustability on offer here in relation to the two weights on the sole. In a neutral setting, they give the driver a real feeling of stability and forgiveness, but you can ramp up to what we called the 'beast mode' setting by adjusting the weights to drop rpm and increase overall distance output. Your dispersion will suffer a little but nowhere as much as I imagined. There really isn't much we can criticize about the new Qi35, meaning it's well worth a try for the mid-handicapper.

• Read our full TaylorMade Qi35 Driver Review

Best at address

With the new GT range Titleist's main target was to make it faster than the hugely successful TSR family. To do this their their engineers changed the all-titanium construction to something called Proprietary Matrix Polymer which seems to have done the trick as in our testing we found that the lightweight head produced plenty of power and speed!

The GT range consists of the GT2, GT3 and GT4, with the GT3 being the most adjustable model thanks to a new weight track which sits much closer to the face. This weight track allows the centre of gravity to be moved and as a result of that we found that the GT3 was very easy to flight and shape. We also found that the forgiveness on offer from predominantly low, heel misses was very impressive.

In terms of the looks, we were happy to see that Titleist chose to retain the simple aesthetics that we know and love. Despite being a multi-material crown, there are no joins or banner strips down in the playing position or, in fact, any real indication of the new technology and it's the typical classical looking driver that Titelist do so well.

• Read our full Titleist GT3 Driver Review

Best wide appeal

Ping aren't particularly known for making good looking golf clubs like Taylormade or Callaway are, so we were excited to see the new makeover look given the entire driver range. The most notable change is the new eight-layer carbon wrap on the head which helps give the club a real premium look. From the top, this is a really good looking driver.

For this guide we've chosen the G440 Max driver, the option in the middle of the range between the low spin driver - the G440 LST and the more user friendly, game improvement driver - the G440 SFT. Like the G430 Max before it, the G440 gobbles up mishits and turns them into playable drives. Data between the two drivers remains similar although I found the feel of the G440 to be improved.

We also enjoyed the adjustability is on offer here as well thanks to the 29-gram, three position adjustable back weight that can be tweaked to suit your ball flight preference. This has allowed the brains behind the operation at Ping to lower the CG and make shots hit lower on the face perform better in terms of spin and distance. As mentioned, there aren't massive differences between the G440 and G430 models, but both are excellent driver models worth trying if you're looking for something new.

• Read our full Ping G440 Max Driver Review

Best For high launch

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 aesthetics really set this model apart and we found the shape of the head to be close to perfect when looking down at address. 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.

The main selling point here is the launch - this driver delivers high levels of spin which can really benefit those who struggle to launch the ball a sufficient height, thus losing distance as a result. If you don't struggle with this, it may be wise to look elsewhere due to those high spins levels, but this is a great option for those who have shorter carry distances.

• Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 230 Driver Review

Best adjustability

The DS-ADAPT X, a driver designed to be an all-rounder and appeal to players of all levels and abilities, making it an ideal choice for the wide-range of abilities we see in the mid-handicapper range.

We'll begin by talking about the new, industry-leading FutureFit33 adjustable hosel which 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. Like the adjustability on the Callaway Elyte, this means players can fully fine tune their driver to a ball flight that their game, the golf course of the conditions the best. The neutral setting is what most player reading this will suit best, those with moderate swing speeds for example, but fast swingers of the golf club will benefit immensely from this added adjustability.

This is also a driver that is both pleasing on the eye and ear - fantastic looks are matched with beautiful acoustics, whilst the feel we felt during testing was one of the best we've had out of the 2025 range of drivers. Once again, Cobra have delivered a terrific driver that should be considered by players of all handicaps.

• Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT X Driver Review

Best sounding

The Black Ops 0311 range from PXG sees the introduction of a new AMF technology titanium alloy face that PXG claim gives higher strength and flexibility to increase face deflection, resulting in high launch and lower spin. Our testing did show an extremely strong and penetrating flight, while the ample adjustability will appeal to mid-handicap players too.

The acoustics of the Black Ops were some of the best we have heard in testing this year and the lively feel wasn't harsh whatsoever.

We would describe the aesthetics as fairly basic, but that's no bad thing and we enjoyed the clean and simple looks, which include a gloss finish, carbon crown and subtle, light grey accent graphics. Additionally, the shape is pleasingly rounded and the head sits extremely square in the neutral setting making this a nice club to look down on at address.

• Read our full PXG Black Ops 0311 Driver Review

Best value

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 driver is pretty on the eye, with a subtle red coloring complimenting the rest of the premium blackout look. It sits nicely behind the ball, giving users plenty of forgiveness, especially to those who tend get caught on the inside and miss to the left. The Max allows for players to work the ball both directions whilst keeping a very tight dispersion, something we noticed very quickly during our testing program.

Feel is also wonderful, feeling both solid and robust at impact. You're getting plenty of bang for your buck when you factor in the price with this driver.

• Read our full Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review

Most underrated

When we 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. Numbers on the launch monitor to differ too much, but there have been real steps forward in terms of both looks and feel that will please many players.

The new ‘i-FLEX’ face makes it debut and I felt a lovely powerful feel off the face during testing as a result. Two adjustable weights in the sole also let you tweak this driver to suit the playing characteristics of your game.

With the ZX7 MK II, we felt the sole of the club in particular was very cluttered. Maybe Srixon agreed with us as they decided to really upgrade the looks package in a slick but sophisticated way. This driver also looks really good at address thanks to the tint textures on the top of the crown and subtle extra detailing on the head, giving this club a real premium feel in your hand.

Consistency was the thing that stood out most to us during testing. Good contact felt easily attainable and even when I missed the center of the face it felt like I had achieved good contact. Ball speed retention was great on these mishits, meaning this is a really good option for a mid-handicapper who might be a little streaky with driver in hand from day to day.

• Read our full Srixon ZXi Driver Review

How we test

All of the content we put out is based on rigorous product testing as well as the great knowledge and experience our team has. All of our testing team play to a competent level in golf and have been using golf equipment or testing it for many years. This knowledge and experience in golf allows them to outline the pros and cons of certain products and to make sure you know what you need.

When it comes to driver testing, the process begins with attending product launches and discussing the products with their manufacturers. Next we move on to hitting these drivers both indoors and outdoors to test them on the course and to get valuable data on a simulator. This is done with premium golf balls and a launch monitor to get the best accuracy possible. Getting out there on the course and using these drivers in a real-world setting is important to the process too, so that we can ensure the feedback we give is real and based on outside factors too.

How to choose a new driver

There are a few key things to consider when investing in a new driver and hopefully answering these questions will narrow your search down slightly and make comparing between various models much easier.

When purchasing a new big stick, it is crucial to ask yourself just what you need from it. Is distance your main priority or are you looking for something to help you find more fairways? We'd always recommend a custom fitting with a PGA Pro but if you know what you're looking for you can make an informed decision.

If accuracy is your primary focus then you should go for something with a high MOI and/or adjustable weights which will help alter spin and flight characteristics to dial in your ideal setting. If distance is your priority then look at a low-spinning driver to help ensure your ball doesn't balloon too much. If you're after something in the middle, the so-called 'standard' heads in most driver ranges will suit you the best.

FAQs