I'm A PGA Pro And Here Are The 5 Best Prime Day Deals On ‘Forgiving Drivers’ I Have Personally Tested...
These drivers offer maximum playability, but has driver expert Joe Ferguson found them at minimum price?!
Let’s face it, most of us don’t get to practice as much as we would like, if at all in many cases. Because of this, we need a little help from our drivers, a little forgiveness when we aren’t at our most physically coordinated. Fortunately, the golf equipment space has us covered and there are plenty of options out there that can offer us that leeway.
I have tested hundreds of the best drivers, and some of my absolute favorites of the past few years, in terms of the most forgiving drivers, are currently on offer!
Callaway Paradym X Driver
With the original Paradym family, Callaway completely reimagined how a driver is built from the ground up. The Paradym Construction featured an industry-first 360 Carbon Chassis that eliminates titanium from the body, allowing Callaway to push weight and stability to the limit.
One of my favorite features of the original Paradym family was the brilliantly dull acoustics. A really low-pitched and subtle thud is apparent at strike and I can’t get enough of it.
The Paradym X model is built for a high launch with high MOI, along with a generously stretched profile at address. This model is best suited for golfers seeking extreme forgiveness and a slight draw bias from their driver. If you are looking for playability at an affordable price, then this could be what you are looking for.
Callaway Paradym X Driver | 33% off at PGA Tour Superstore
Was $599.99 Now $399.98
The Callaway Paradym X model is built for a high launch with high MOI. Along with a generously stretched profile at address, this model is best suited for golfers seeking extreme forgiveness and a slight draw bias from their driver. Looks great and sounds better.
Read our full Callaway Paradym X Driver Review
Ping G425 Max Driver
Up until the release of the G430 Max 10K this year, I would have said this was Ping's most forgiving and playable driver of all time, which is praise indeed, as they’ve made some gems over the years.
The impressive MOI in the 460cc head comes mainly from a 26-gram tungsten movable weight, which is made possible by weight savings on the crown. The CG-shifting weight can be secured in one of three settings - neutral, draw, or fade - to influence forgiveness and shot shape and it genuinely works.
It is a little louder and more high-pitched than some other drivers on the market, which won’t be to everyone's taste, but the performance renders that slight negative almost irrelevant. Ping makes some of the most robust and high-performing drivers money can buy and this most definitely fits into that category. Available for under $400, I think this represents some great value and is certainly worth a look.
Ping G425 Max Driver | 27% off at PGA Tour Superstore
Was $549.99 Now $399.98
A huge MOI number in the 460cc head comes mainly from a 26-gram tungsten movable weight, which is made possible by weight savings attributed to advancements in the driver’s dragonfly crown technology. The CG-shifting weight can be secured in one of three settings -- neutral, draw or fade -- to influence forgiveness and shot shape for maximum performance
Read our full Ping G425 Max Driver Review
Titleist TSR1 Driver
Here’s one for the more moderate swingers amongst you. The Titleist TSR1 was specifically designed for players with swing speeds under 90mph, which is roughly a third of all golfers. It features a super lightweight construction and a really deep CG to boost that all-important MOI reading.
I actually forced this into the hands of my Dad who fits the sub-90mph speed demographic and I haven’t been able to wrestle it off him since! Anyone who I have spoken to about their usage of the TSR1 highlights just how little work it is to swing and also how stable it is from shots struck off the heel and toe.
Slightly less of a dramatic reduction than some of the other drivers selected here at 25% of its RRP, but I have a personal connection with this one and still feel it’s a great deal.
Titleist TRS1 Driver | 25% off at PGA Tour Superstore
Was $599.99 Now $449.98
The Titleist TSR1 is designed to help players with swing speeds under 90 mph – which roughly equates to a third of all golfers. Its ultra-lightweight design is the key to creating extra speed. The deep center of gravity in TSR1 is in an improved position that promotes a higher launch and exceptional ball speed.
Read our full Titleist TRS1 Driver review
Cleveland Launcher XL2 Driver
I have tested an awful lot of drivers over the past 12 months and somewhat surprisingly, the Launcher XL 2 has actually produced the third fastest ball speed for me of everything, behind only the TaylorMade Qi10 and the Ping G430 Max 10K.
One reason for this might be the counterbalancing work Cleveland has done and the overall lighter weight of the driver helping to increase clubhead speed. Cleveland has continued on with its 'Action Mass CB', which is essentially an 8-gram counterweight in the butt of the club that reduces the overall swing weight of the driver and, depending on your swing dynamics, can actually increase club head speed.
I found this to be an exceptionally stable driver through impact on all sorts of strikes and - as you might expect from the name - it is one of the easiest drivers to launch that you could imagine. There is a lot of performance to be had for under $350…
Cleveland Launcher XL 2 Driver | 22% off at PGA Tour Superstore
Was $449.99 Now $349.98
In a driver marketplace where many prices are going up, the Launcher XL 2 Draw driver from Cleveland offers a more digestible price point and is packed with tech. Great sound and some good performance with nice attention to detail in engineering.
Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL 2 Driver Review
TaylorMade Stealth Driver
An old friend that I am happy to see again! The Stealth driver saw the beginning of the ‘carbonwood’ era that TaylorMade is still operating in currently. The OG of carbon faces and that vibrant red! While the color was a little divisive, the performance was and still is beyond question.
The muted impact sound still holds up a couple of years on and the standard model was exceptionally forgiving in my testing sessions. One of the lower spinning “forgiving” options, there are plenty of loft choices and TaylorMade's loft sleeve to help you tune it into your specific requirements. With current TaylorMade options being sold for upwards of $600, this is a great option for the shrewd purchaser to get nearly identical performance for around half the price!
TaylorMade Stealth Driver | 40% off at PGA Tour Superstore
Was $579.99 Now $349.98
We found this to be a hugely impressive, all-round performer. The standout gain was in the consistency of ball flight and distance, especially on shots struck away from the sweet spot. The red face, matt black crown combination might put some off but we loved the striking, premium aesthetics on show here.
Read our full TaylorMade Stealth review
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
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. He’s excited to bring his knowledge of hardware to Golf Monthly in the form of equipment reviews and buying advice.
Joe lives in North Devon and still plays sporadically on the PGA West region circuit. His best round in recent years came earlier in 2023 where he managed a 9 under par 63 at Trevose GC in a Devon & Cornwall PGA Tournament.
Joe's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Switch between Ping G430 Max 10K & TaylorMade Qi10 - both with Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X
Fairway wood 1: TaylorMade BRNR Copper Mini Driver - Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X
Fairway wood 2: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD 5 Wood - Fujikura Ventus Black 8-X
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB 3-PW with Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts
Wedges: Callaway Opus 50, 54, and 60 degrees - Project X LS 6.0 shafts
Putter: Odyssey Toe Up #9
Ball: TaylorMade 2024 TP5x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R
Bag: Vessel Player IV Pro DXR Stand
-
The Three Most Confusing Rules In Golf And How To Interpret Them
At times, golf’s rules can be complex and confusing. Here we look at three of the most confusing rules in golf and give you the info you need to understand them.
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
There's A Growing Divide Between Club Members And Nomadic Golfers When It Comes To Handicapping... And I'm Concerned About It
Some golfers believe competition play should be a pre-requisite to achieving a ‘valid’ handicap, while others feel you should be able to submit a card whenever you want
By Nick Bonfield Published
-
I'm A Golf Tech Nerd, And These 9 Garmin Deals Are Too Good To Ignore Before Black Friday
If you're looking to add some useful golf gadgets to your setup, a good place to start your search is at Garmin. Here are a few gadgets I'd recommend from the brand.
By Dan Parker Published
-
I Tested 6 Products From America’s Most In Demand Premium Apparel Brand - And They Seriously Impressed Me
Content director Mike Harris tests a range of garments and accessories from Turtleson - a brand making big waves in the US and UK apparel categories
By Mike Harris Published
-
Where Can I Buy the Garmin R50... and How Much Does It Cost?
We don't think its hyperbole to say that the Garmin R50 could be a complete game changer for the launch monitor and golf simulator markets, but where can we buy one and for how much?
By Conor Keenan Published
-
Rory McIlroy Wins Again, And I've Just Spotted His Golf Ball Is On Offer Ahead Of Black Friday
It's rare to see such premium golf balls on sale so this deal on Rory McIlroy's golf ball from PGA TOUR Superstore is hard to pass on.
By Conor Keenan Published
-
47 Amazing Early Black Friday Golf Deals At PGA TOUR Superstore
PGA TOUR Superstore has just revealed its November deals for Black Friday and there are plenty to consider, as you can see from this list of our favorites.
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
Act Fast! We've Found This Secret Deal Where You Can Get A Dozen Titleist Pro V1s For Under £40
Offers on Titleist Pro V1s can be hard to find but, here at Golf Monthly, we have managed to scout out this incredible deal where you can grab a dozen for under £40!
By Matt Cradock Published
-
We’ve Tested Over 30 Women’s Winter Golf Apparel Items And These Are Our 12 Favorites
Here's some of the best women's clothing to ensure enjoyable winter golf
By Alison Root Published
-
Christmas Has Come Early! Two Of 2024's Best Drivers Are At A Crazy Low Price!
Deals With up to 29% off these early Black Friday Cobra Darkspeed driver deals are worth grabbing fast
By Paul Brett Published