Being left-handed can be annoying at times. You will walk into a golf shop and 90% will be right handed golf clubs. You can sometimes feel like a forgotten minority within the game.
Manufacturers have made great strides to cater for that minority in recent years, increasing the number of left-handed options on some of their top-performing clubs. Right-handed golfers still have it much easier when looking to pick up one of the best golf drivers, but this is good news for lefties nevertheless.
Getting a custom fitting at your local pro shop or golf retailer can be an excellent way for you to get a feel for the left-handed options out there, but we've put together this guide to walk you through some of our favourites from the readily available stock on the market right now - kindly tested by our very own lefties in the Golf Monthly review team.
Finally, if you're after a more specific type of driver, check out our guides on the best drivers for slicers or best drivers for beginners for an even wider range of options. Also, if you're a left-hander and are struggling to find other clubs, check out our best left-handed putters guide too.
WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024
The Quick List
One of the best all-round performing drivers on the market, the Qi10 is extremely forgiving and will appeal to players across all handicap levels.
Ping make some of the most forgiving drivers available, and the G430 Max 10k is no different. Stability, low spin levels and high ball speed combine to make this a really fantastic option for right and left handed players.
Titleist have brought the boom with the new GT4 drivers, one of the best performing and advanced drivers we have tried so far this year.
This driver will feel like a million bucks when it's in your hand. A quality, premium feel combines with striking looks to deliver a powerful driver with plenty of weight customization options with the sliding weight on the back of the head.
A great driver from an under-appreciated brand, the golf ball sounds like a rocket when smashing off the face of the Darkspeed X driver. A great all-rounder.
This driver feels like it's made for distance, and delivers with the results. A multi-material glossy finish on the crown means it looks great, while the acoustics provide wonderful audio feedback after the strike.
Mizuno may not be the first brand to come to mind when people start searching for a new driver, but the ST-Max 230 is well worth sampling if you're getting a custom fitting for the acoustics alone!
Srixon clubs are becoming more and more popular, and the ZX5 Mk II is an example of why. A no-nonsense design offers great performance and a lot of forgiveness, while the head shape is pleasing on the eye.
The Dynapower Carbon is a tech-advanced, visually appealing driver that, well fitted, should perform admirably alongside what’s in your bag.
Best Left Handed Golf Drivers
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Best wide appeal
TaylorMade are one of the most popular brands for right-handed golfers, and we're happy to announce the quality performance of the Qi10 range extends to the left-handed production, too.
Sitting in the middle of the Qi10 range in terms of its spin and forgiveness levels, in theory the Qi10 will appeal to the broadest range of players. One thing that is for certain is that the tech story is pretty simple; TaylorMade has aimed to maximize the MOI without compromising ball speed. During testing we found our dispersion numbers to be tight and low spin numbers allowed us to produce a lovely flight off the tee as well as a penetrating lower flight when needed, to help with those shots into the wind.
The Qi10 was nicely forgiving for those not-so-good swings where the ball doesn't find the centre of the face, whilst the club looks fantastic at address which will help both right-handed and left-handed players with confidence levels over the ball.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Review
Best for forgiveness
The G430 range ranks amongst the best Ping drivers money can buy and, arguably, the best model is the Max 10K, which scored five stars out five in our review. Like the Qi10, we're happy to report that the performance on the left-handed option matched that of the right-handed.
The clubhead on the G430 Max 10k feels unbelievably stable through the swing and impact which helped us produce a really right dispersion in testing through impressive forgiveness. The forgiveness doesn't compromise on power or ball speed either, something that really impressed us in testing. We found only a 2mph ball-speed drop off for off-center hits, easily putting it in the category of the most forgiving drivers.
The G430 Max 10K has a slightly larger footprint but, overall, the aesthetic blends cohesively with the rest of the G430 family, which includes the G430 LST driver and G430 Max driver. We must also add that the Max 10K has a fixed back weight and a Carbonfly wrap on the crown, adding to the premium feel. It's a must try for all lefties, especially if you're looking for a custom-fitting and have the chance to try a range of different drivers.
- Read our full Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Review
Best traditional style
Titleist has taken all the best aspects from the best Titleist golf drivers and made them even better. We've been big fans of the Titleist GT range, and the GT4 is the best of the bunch.
The 430cc head won't necessarily suit the higher handicappers, both left and right handed, but the Seamless Thermoform Crown and Split Mass Construction make this one of the best performing Titleist drivers we've ever tested. The look is a no-nonsense one. It's a clean but premium look, much like other Titleist drivers and woods, but some color contrast has been added to the face of the GT range which helped us line up the ball at address.
When testing the driver, we saw low spin levels and high ball speeds, whilst the feel is incredible, and two adjustable weights on the sole and an adjustable hosel means players can customize this driver to hone in on the strengths of their game. The distance and usability on offer here makes this one of the best drivers on the market.
- Read our full Titleist GT4 Driver Review
Best adjustable
The Paradym Ai Smoke Max sits between the low-spin, tour-influenced Ai Smoke Triple Diamond driver and the more spinny, draw-biased Max D driver. This means that it should suit a wider range of player, hence why we have included it in our left-handed guide.
In both right and left handed options, we fell in love with the looks of the Ai Smoke. It's crammed full of tech, including the Ai Smart Face technology which uses swing dynamics - swing speed, club delivery and face orientation, from real players to create a bigger effective impact area on the clubface.
Like the Ping G430 Max 10k, we were impressed by the forgiveness on offer. The ball flight remained consistent on those poorly hit efforts, whilst a lively feel and quality feedback means this is a powerful club to have in your hands off the tee box.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver Review
Best sound
Naming your club the Darkspeed comes with the added pressure of delivering performance to match the flashy name - thankfully Cobra deliver in both right and left handed options with this in mind.
The all-matte finish looks awesome. It's both minimalist but powerful looking, with the club sitting nicely behind the ball at address to inspire confidence. Visually, Cobra has created a 'less is very much more' feeling and we're fully on board.
Performance-wise, the X produced the numbers we were looking for, with launch and spin sitting around the ideal target. Thanks to the high ball speed, we also saw a really neutral ball flight that had no real curvature bias. We must mention that, although the feel and sound were similar to that of its predecessor, the Aerojet, that didn't matter given that both are amongst some of the best Cobra drivers available right now.
- Read our full Cobra Darkspeed X Driver Review
Best alignment
Being the 'new kid on the block' in terms of golf equipment in comparison to the other more trusted brands, the jury was out on PXG equipment for a while - not anymore.
PXG like flashy golf clubs, something the Black Ops is not, but we're OK with that. It's a driver that will give lefties both forgiveness and distance off the tee.
Distance is provided via the titanium alloy face, referred to as AMF technology. The brand claim the increased strength and flexibility adds to face deflection, producing higher launch and lower spin as a result. This showed when testing the left-handed model, but it's worth noting that the distance didn't match the some of the other models we've reviewed in this category.
Overall though, we did like the Black Ops an awful lot. The three adjustable weights on the sole of the club helped dial in launch conditions precisely and the flight and stability were really impressive. Lastly, along with the premium looks and solid acoustics, this is a driver that will help many with their game, especially with the alignment on the top of the head.
- Read our full PXG Black Ops 0311 Driver Review
Most underrated
Mizuno make some of the best left-handed irons in golf, and the quality of their woods and drivers is only getting better. The ST-Max 230 is their most stable driver yet, with tight dispersion and a premium feel really impressing us during testing.
The premium feel comes from the looks - it's no secret Mizuno make very pretty golf clubs on the eye. The larger profile of the lefty head is evident and will really appeal to many players. Once in your hand, it doesn't feel like there are many better drivers on the market when it comes to feel.
In terms of performance, the impact feel is more subtle than some of the other most forgiving drivers on the market and the audio follows suit. Overall though, the high amounts of forgiveness, MOI and stability make this a very appealing option but, be warned, it only features in 9.5° in the left-handed category.
- Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 230 Driver Review
Best for looks
The ZX5 Mk II driver is an impressive release from Srixon and, compared to its predecessor, the Srixon ZX5, the Mk II version is one of the best Srixon drivers around. It features an all-titanium head construction instead of a carbon crown, with the weight saved being used to help launch the ball off the tee.
An under-appreciated brand when it comes to clubs, especially left handed options, the ZX5 should be considered as one of the best high handicap drivers given the levels of forgiveness on show during our testing. Srixon use titanium on the clubface to help improve energy transfer from club to ball, increasing distance levels. Sound and feel was awesome on both left and right-handed clubs, also. Variable face thickness patterns helped add more speed onto each shot, whilst the trailing edge is cleverly situated a little higher than the standard drivers to help keep the club's center of gravity in the right place for optimum performance.
Along with helping high handicappers, this could be classed as one of the best drivers for slicers as the slight draw bias in the head was subtle enough to keep our shots flying pretty straight. The lightweight feel of this club will also benefit those who seek an extra few yards off the tee box when looking for a new driver to add to the bag.
- Read our full Srixon ZX5 Mk II Driver Review
Best for low spin players
The Dynapower Carbon driver is a highly advanced golf club that delivers bags of shelf appeal thanks to its stunning clubhead design. It is one of the best Wilson golf clubs on the market due to the fact that it is one of their most adjustable drivers. What's more, it's available in both Carbon and Titanium head options.
Lefties and righties will notice the club looks very traditional at address, in a good way. It sits nicely and is inviting, inspiring confidence before the swing. In testing the left-handed model it produced a slight fade bias with the ball flight which can help players control the ball off the tee, potentially allowing user to hone in that 'fairway finder' type shot that can prove invaluable when they have a good score going down the final few holes. Forgiveness was plentiful and we didn't see massive drop off in terms of the numbers on our trackman when shots were struck outside of the center of the face.
There really is a lot to like about the driver and it's comfortably among the best golf drivers on the market right now. One thing we would recommend though is to get fitted for the Dynapower so that you will be able to get the maximum amount of performance from it.
- Read our full Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review
How we test the best left handed 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 our test team. Getting into specifics for left-handed drivers, we regularly attend product launches and club release events to speak to manufacturers to understand more about the technology that goes into each product. We then get our hands on the clubs, typically hitting them indoors first, and use some of the best launch monitors with premium golf balls to test the products out.
We then put them to the test outdoors on the range, before putting them through their paces on the course in a variety of conditions that will give us an understanding of how each club performs in real-life conditions.
We really pride ourselves at Golf Monthly for our reviews because they are made for golfers, by golfers. We've thousands of different products from every brand you can think of, so we've seen both the good and the bad. We want our readers making the best informed decisions on what to add to their golf bag, so if we tell you a club is good or bad, it's because we're comparing it directly to many of the competition we have already reviewed. We want to try and find the best golf clubs on the market and give you some insight on them, which requires being thorough and transparent.
No brand can 'buy a review', nor do any manufacturers get preferincial treatment when it comes to our buying guides and testing scores - we simply call it how we see it, a verdict honed by years of experience in the field and a passion for the game for our testing team.
What to consider when buying a left handed golf driver
As left-handed golf clubs are generally harder to come by, you'll want to spend a bit of time looking for the driver that best suits you. Whether you're an experienced golfer and have a faster swing or are looking for something a little more forgiving to get rid of your slice, we recommend testing each product first before you buy it. During your testing and fitting process, there are several things you need to keep an eye out for to ensure that you get the best left-handed driver for your abilities. For that reason, we've set out five key considerations below that you need to make when buying your next left-handed driver.
As mentioned in our intro to this buying guide, it can be a frustrating process trying to buy a left-handed driver given they are generally harder to come by. With this in mind, it's worth taking a extra bit of time trying to find the right one for your game.
This guide can be your starting point, keep this few points in mind before heading to your pro shop or local golf retailer and looking at the selection they offer - it will make a potentially stressful process a lot more managable.
1. Loft
Do you tend to struggle to get the ball into the air? Or are you a player who wants a lower, more penetrating ball flight for those windy days?
Drivers tend to range from around 8.5º to around 13º in loft, ball and club head speed will determine what loft is right to get the best out of your game off the tee.
Higher handicapped players tend to go for higher lofted drivers because if they play a lower loft they can struggle to get enough power on the shot to get the ball airborne. Having an extra few degrees on your driver can help mitigate this issue, particularly if you're a golfer who doesn't tend to create a lot of speed through the ball at impact.
Better players would be more suited to less loft. Professionals on the PGA Tour would tend to have drivers between 8.5º and 10º in loft in the attempt of generating more power through the strike. This is because your higher clubhead speeds will add more power on the golf ball, enabling you to generate much better ball flights with a lower lofted driver.
2. Forgiveness
There sin't much point generating heaps of distance if the ball isn't landing on the fairway, so forgiveness is an equally important aspect of the best performing drivers.
The size of the sweet spot on a driver will determine how forgiving it is - bigger sweet spots ensure the performance drop off from a poorly hit shot does not deviate too much from a shot hit out of the center of the face.
That can also be helped if your club has a high Moment of Inertia (MOI). MOI means how much a clubhead turns on impact, and the lower the MOI of your club, the more fluid and true your golf shot will be.
The last thing to consider is the weight distribution of the club. Ideally, you'd like the center of gravity of the club head to be centered towards the back of the club. This helps to keep the face open and square on impact and promotes a strong ball flight.
3. Adjustability
One of the best features of modern golf clubs is how many subtle tweaks we can make with them to hone our clubs to the strengths of our games. If you struggle with a slice, you can move adjustable weight to give your clubhead a draw bias with the hope of straightening out that flight.
Perhaps you want to hit a low draw through the wind or want to smash a high cut on a hot day - some clubs will have adjustable weights to allow you to do so.
It's worth noting that not all drivers will have this option, and those that do will have more adjustability than others. If this is something you want from your driver, keep this in mind when comparing models.
4. Shaft flex
Getting the right shaft flex is crucial. You cannot get the best out of your driver if you have the wrong shaft in it as you will lose distance and often control.
If you swing out of your shoes, you'll likely need an x-flex shaft to get the best performance off the tee. The older or higher handicap players might suit a senior or regular flex driver.
The shaft that suits your game best can be found during a custom fitting, which we recommend when you're searching to buy one of the most used clubs in your golf bag - thus making it one of the most important!
5. Looks
Looking good on the first tee inspires confidence to hit bombs down the center of the fairway and if you've got a driver you like the look of, then you're more likely to send your golf ball rather than slice it. Looks aren't everything in golf, but if you're going to fork out for a brand new driver, getting one that looks the business is vitally important.
For more advice on picking out your next driver head over to our guides on most forgiving drivers, best drivers for slices and the best drivers for mid-handicappers.
FAQs
What loft driver do Tour Professionals use?
As professional golfers are generally able to generate high swing speeds, they tend to use lower lofted drivers. This means they typically use drivers that are around 8.5º-10º in loft.
Does driver shaft flex make a difference?
Yes, driver shaft flex is one of the most important factors to consider when picking a new driver. Golfers who have slower swing speeds will struggle to use drivers that have stiff shafts and are better off using a club with a lot of flex in it to help them generate more speed through impact. Meanwhile, golfers who are able to generate high ball speeds should look to use stiffer shafts, as that will allow them to rip through their shot and strike the ball longer.
Are there any left-handed professional golfers?
Yes there are many left-handers playing on the professional tours. The most notable of them is Phil Mickelson who, thanks to his left-handed swing, earned himself the name Leftie over the years. Bubba Watson is also another of the most notable left-handers, as well as Mike Weir, Brian Harman, Garrick Higgo and Robert MacIntyre.
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