Buying a new driver seems to get more expensive each year. In the race to be the best, golf manufacturers have invested heavily into research and development, new materials to improve performance as well as huge advertising campaigns, the net result of which has seen the average price of the best golf drivers begin to reach the heights of $600.
There is no question that the quality of today's driver is better than ever before and if your current driver is five or more years old then you would notice a difference in distance and forgiveness if you invested in a newer model, but these improvements are not as noticeable year on year as any advancement tends to be incremental.
Some golfers just want to have the latest gear though and if you can afford it then why not. In terms of performance benefits, the more accomplished golfer will gain more from regularly changing to an expensive new driver than a high handicap player will, simply because the new technology will allow them to get the best out of their long game on course. Changing every year is not necessary though as recent testing of the best new drivers has shown increases in performance are only really significantly noticeable every three or four years.
Not everybody can afford the high end, high tech latest drivers though. Not only that, many golfers at the higher end of the handicap scale won't really see too much difference between the best driver and a lower priced offering. Having a driver that works well for your swing is essential to playing your best golf, but it doesn't always have to mean spending more on a driver than you have on the rest of your entire set.
So we have come up with this list of the best budget golf drivers on the market right now in order to help you find something that can help your game as well as your bank balance. So to compile this list of the best budget golf drivers, we've set ourselves the challenge of testing and finding the drivers that represent excellent value for money.
WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024
While most of the drivers on this list are the newest models, as a general bit of advice we would suggest keeping an eye out for some models that are one or two years old, as these will have come down drastically in price but are still packed with modern technology and often there is only minimal differences in performance when compared to the newer model brought in to replace it. If you buy a 2022 driver in 2024 you'll save a couple of hundreds bucks while still getting a comparable product. If you are after something even more specific for your game though, check out our guides on the best drivers for slicers, best drivers for beginners or best drivers for seniors.
The Quick List
The 0211 driver is one of the best value for money products on the market right now thanks to its simple, refined aesthetics and impressive overall all-round performance,
The Wilson Launch Pad delivers impressively on its promise of making the game easier for people off the tee and is one of the easiest-to-launch drivers we’ve hit this year.
Packed with technology and delivering strong results, the value for money on offer here is staggering. The C524 is a seriously impressive driver at an even more impressive price point.
The MacGregor V-Max driver delivers an awful lot of performance for the price. The aesthetic will split opinion but in terms of value for money this is a tough driver to beat.
The Inesis 900 provides a powerful ball flight and high levels forgiveness, making this a very playable driver that will suit golfers of a wide range of skill levels.
In a market where many prices are going up, the Launcher XL 2 Draw driver from Cleveland offers a more digestible price point, with good performance and a nice attention to detail in engineering.
Best Budget Golf Drivers
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Top pick
No, this is not a mistake. Surprising as it might be to find a PXG driver on a budget list, the 0211 driver is indeed our top pick. PXG have always been known for their notoriously premium prices, and while the brand still mostly swim in the deep waters of the high end of the market they are no longer averse to padding in the budget pool.
The 0211 driver is a seriously good product that is available at a fairly compelling price, easily making it one of the best budget drivers out there.
One of the things we like most about PXG is the customisation options available and it's no different with the 0211, despite it not being at the top end of their product line. There are countless shaft options available, in five different flexes, while PXG also offers three stock loft options for both right and left handers. However, just because this driver has a cut price, doesn't mean you lose out on any performance and we were mightily impressed when we tested this product.
In our testing we found that it was keeping up with premium models that cost $300 more! In addition to the impressive distance, we also noted that there is also a huge amount of control to be had and we saw a nice strong flight that excelled in windy conditions. Finally, the aesthetics of the driver have been refined from the previous model making this an aspirational, inviting-looking driver at a fantastic price.
- Read our full PXG 0211 2022 Driver Review
Best for slicers
We love this driver because of what it can do for golfers who need the most help. Specifically golfers who slice the ball who who struggle to get the ball airborne off the tee.
The Launch Pad is designed to be an all-out game-improvement offering and it has been developed considerably since the previous generation. One of the main areas of improvement is in the face design, which features PKR face geometry. What is this? Well Wilson's research showed that average handicap players hit 68% of their tee shots towards the toe side of the club face. So to counter this, Wilson introduced their PKR face geometry that actually makes the striking area 5% bigger than the previous Launch Pad.
The technology is all geared towards getting the ball in the air and reducing the left to right miss, and we saw for ourselves in testing that this is exactly what it does. We also think this driver has a very appealing aesthetic. It has a mid-sized profile down behind the ball and although the off-set look probably won't appeal to better players, they aren't who this club is aimed at and we feel that there will be plenty of golfers who will benefit from the confidence this inspires.
Coming in at under $300, it is not only one of the most forgiving drivers on the market, but it is also one of the best drivers for slow swing speeds as well as being a great option for golfers fighting a slice.
- Read our full Wilson Launch Pad 2022 Driver Review
Best for distance
The Tour Edge C524 driver provides an impressive combination of performance and value and is a worthy inclusion on this list. It comes in at an incredibly competitive price point despite delivering performance on par with what you will find with far more expensive drivers. This is a great-looking driver with the ridgeback technology framing the ball nicely, while we really liked the carbon effect crown too, which provides a premium feel to the finish.
In terms of feel, we noted that the C524 produced a lively and solid thud with a reasonably high-pitched impact noise. In our testing it also produced good ball speed, which translated into some good distances. We also found the durability to be solid and we think there is some serious value to be had here. While not necessarily aimed solely at this market, we would have no hesitation in recommending the C524 driver as one of the best drivers for beginners we have tried.
In terms of negatives, the C524 does not have an adjustable hosel and is only offered with one stock shaft choice so better players might be put off by that. Still, at around the $200 - $250 range there are going to be some trade offs and the lack of adjustability is the main one, but the value here remains as strong as the distance numbers.
- Read our full Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 Driver Review
Best value
The MacGregor V Max driver features an ultra-slim face to help with ball speed, while its lightweight, regular flex, graphite shaft is designed to help maximize club head speed.
Looks are subjective and the looks of this head are very subjective! The matt black and bold red color scheme is certainly eye-catching and very much falls into the "love it or hate it" bracket. The head shape overall is pretty good, although we found the top edge to be alarmingly straight when compared to more premium drivers which have a gentler curve and taper to the top line. Still, on the 10.5-degree version we tested there is plenty of visible loft to inspire confidence, while the 460cc head looks fairly inviting behind the ball. It also sits very squarely which is important for beginners who can struggle to line up effectively.
In terms of performance we felt that the V-Max achieves exactly what it set out to. Strikes across the face are not punished too harshly and it is very easy to get this driver airborne. We didn’t detect a particular ball flight bias one way or the other but the tight dispersion patterns caught our eye and we feel this is of the best drivers for high handicappers.
The V-Max driver is only available in right hand, and while there are two loft options, there is only one shaft, which is regular flex. While that is not ideal, it's fair to say that players shopping in this area are probably not at the stage where they need an abundance of options anyway. In short, it's easy to launch, it's very forgiving, and it's durable. For the price, MacGregor has done very well with this.
- Read our full MacGregor V Foil Speed Driver Review
Best simple model
While the 900 model is the most expensive driver offered by Inesis, it still comes in at a significant saving in comparison to the premium offerings such as the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max, TaylorMade QI 10 and PING G430 Max 10k. Lookswise it's fairly basic and clean, with a glossy black crown and a dark face that smartly highlights the simple arrow-style alignment aid.
In tersting we would say it outperformed its price point. Whilst the ball speed was slightly down versus the TaylorMade Stealth, the launch and spin were both in the right window for us which ensured a strong flight that may have lacked a little carry when compared to more expensive products but still ran out well to deliver a good overall distance. The strength of the flight was something we were impressed with out on the course too.
One slight negative is the high-pitched sound at impact but this is only a minor gripe when you consider the overall value on offer with this driver.
- Read our full Inesis 900 Driver Review
Best looking
We believe this is one of the best golf drivers for mid handicappers as the Launcher XL 2 Draw benefits from a larger driver head and an incredibly confidence- inspiring look at address, that will certainly provide help to golfers who suffer with the dreaded slice off the tee and/or who with a slow to moderate swing speed.
The tech in this driver is impressive and the face has been created using Ai, with variable face thickness implemented in conjunction with impact data from thousands of golf swings.
In testing we found the sound and feel are a touch on the harsh side, but this is to be expected from an all titanium head that lacks the dampening effect of the ever more prevalent carbon you will find in more premium models. Despite the firm impact and loud noise at impact, there is a certain robustness when you connect with the ball and that will appeal to the slightly less accomplished player as it boosts confidence.
The most impressive thing we noted in testing was the high ball speed produced which came from a slightly increased club head speed. This can probably be attributed to the counterbalancing work Cleveland has done and the overall lighter weight of the driver. The draw version comes in a full 9 grams lighter than the standard Launcher XL 2 driver, which could also account for some extra juice!
In addition to the high ball speed we also found this driver to be exceptionally easy to launch (as the name would imply!) and that should nicely fit the target demographic here.
- Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL 2 Draw Driver Review
How We Test Drivers
Our overall testing ethos at Golf Monthly is to put all products through a rigorous testing procedure in order for us to give you crucial insights into how they perform, how they compare to their predecessors and also how they stack up to the competition. To do this we regularly attend product launches so we can meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to get a good understanding of the new technology.
When it comes to testing the product then our first port of call is usually the indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, where the team can test in a controlled environment using premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We then do outdoor testing mainly at West Hill Golf Club, a course in Surrey with excellent practice facilities.
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 technical editor Joel Tadman, and both Joe and Joel have been testing golf clubs for many years and are able to efficiently test the vast majority of the biggest product releases and convey the pros and cons eloquently.
Our equipment specialists have hit most drivers out on the market, in testing, practice and competition play, and deduced the above models are our top picks for budget models.
How to choose a new driver
When it comes to making sure you get the right driver for your game, there are several factors to consider, chief among which is the size.
Size - The larger the clubhead, the more forgiving it tends to be. When hitting, try and take note of where you are striking the golf ball with the face of the club and see if there is any performance drops. Many drivers these days are designed to perform regardless of where you strike them off the face and you being able to see and understand that in person will help you be more confident with one model over another.
The other thing to acknowledge when looking at the size is also the looks. It is important you get a driver that suits your eye especially when it is down behind the golf ball. If it is too big, that may put you off, but if it is too small this may dampen confidence.
Draw-biased? - If you are a slicer of the golf ball then a forgiving, draw-biased driver could be the way to go to eradicate the big slices. These types of drivers won't all of a sudden have you hitting roping draws down the fairway, but they'll do a lot to encourage a draw shape or at least a little but less slice.
Weight - Weight has become a big factor when it comes to drivers, with most brands making models that have a weight towards the back of the head to aid forgiveness and launch. When it comes to whether you want a forgiving driver, it is worth acknowledging whether this is important to you because if not then manufacturers usually make a model without a weight there.
Adjustability - Often, the weights in drivers are moveable and adjustability of drivers has become a huge part of modern golf. Being able to tinker and change loft, lie, and many other factors, has become all the rage and if you like to try new things then a model with adjustability is worth considering.
Shaft - Some shafts have been designed to help players get as much distance as possible so it is worth thinking about which models will help you achieve those extra yards. Also check out our guide on the best driver shafts too.
Budget - Price is obviously an important factor and thankfully there are lots of drivers coming in at different price points. As you have seen in this piece, there are some great drivers out there for well under $300.
If you want to invest in the best drivers from 2022 though, you'll be looking at around 450-500 units of your local currency. There are benefits to be had from investing this extra cash, but setting yourself an initial budget will make the search much easier.
FAQs
What is a good cheap driver?
A good cheap driver should cost you no more than $300. For this price you can still get high quality performance and a high quality look and feel. All the drivers in our guide should cross each of those factors off.
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