Best Golf Drivers 2024

Whether you are new to the game or an experienced low handicap player, chances are you want to shoot lower scores and to find ways to improve. The two easiest ways to do that are to sharpen up on the greens or to become longer and more accurate off the tee.

While other areas of the game are important (approach shots, chipping and bunker shots for example) ultimately the key to good scoring is to put the ball in play off the tee and then get it into the hole. So good putting and driving gives you the best chance to do that. You aren't going to score well if you're regularly in trouble off the tee due to missing fairways.

WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024

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.

So whether you’re a fast swinger looking for workability, or a beginner who needs help keeping the ball on the fairway, there are a number of options out there for every level of golfer.

So much so that it can be quite confusing and selecting the right club is not easy if you don't know what you are looking for. In addition to deciding which brand or model you want, you then have to decide between three or sometimes even four different head types. These head types may seem very similar, but they are all designed to do different things for different levels of player. 

Making the right choice can be tricky but we're here to help. In this guide we have listed the best drivers currently available on the market and who they are aimed at. Rest assured, at Golf Monthly we have extensively tested the entire class of drivers out on the course, as well as on launch monitors.

The video below offers a full insight into what you can expect across the board, including our launch monitor data comparing the performance on offer. In our experience we 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. 

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The Quick List

Best Golf Drivers

Best wide appeal

As is usually the case with TaylorMade, their 2024 offering - the Qi10 - features three head options. The Max version is aimed at the player who needs maximum forgiveness, while the LS option will suit the longer hitting, lower handicap player who needs to reduce spin off the tee. Sitting in betweem them is the standard Qi10, which will appeal to the widest range of player.

The aim of the Qi10 is to maximize the MOI (moment of inertia) without compromising ball speed. To achieve this, TaylorMade re-engineered their 60X Carbon Twist Face by providing a new supporting structure which promotes faster ball speeds while also improving the durability of the face. Combine this with a new, larger address footprint and a lower CG projection, and we have to say that the Qi10 hits the mark in all the important aspects. Our testing certainly showed an improvement over its predecessor the Stealth 2.

In terms of the looks, we feel there has been a significant improvement there too. TaylorMade has ditched the red face that we saw in the Stealth range of clubs, and the Qi10 drivers feature a much more subtle and less garish navy colour. Additionally, the new ultra rounded shape of the Qi10 is a real delight and should inspire confidence when at address. We love the look of this driver.

All in all we are hugely impressed by the Qi10. It performed really well for us in testing and we think it will appeal to a wide range of golfers of varying skill levels. 

• Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Review

Best for 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.

Improving on what was already the most forgiving driver out there isn't easy, but Ping has done it. The G430 Max 10k features a significantly bigger footprint as well as a fixed back weight and a Carbonfly wrap on the crown. The back weight drives mass down and away from the face to increase forgiveness and optimize the center of gravity position, which in turn lowers spin and ensures ball speed preservation across the clubface for added distance.

The G430 Max 10K performed incredibly for us in testing. Spectacularly even. We gave it the full five stars and our tester said "this is one of the few drivers in a world of bold marketing claims that has exceeded my expectations."

Why is it so good? Well The stability and forgiveness of the head is impressive enough by itself, but achieving this while keeping the spin so low is genuinely remarkable. Our 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 both already 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 would be needed and slower swingers may need to up their loft settings to increase hang time, but this small adjustment is well worth it for the stability and forgiveness you get from this head.

The head comes in a choice of 9, 10.5 or 12 degree lofts (all with Ping’s standard 1.5 degrees of adjustability) so the Ping G430 Max 10k can handle all types of ball flights and a wide range of swing speeds. 

• Read our full Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Review

Best adjustable

The original Paradym family of drivers from Callaway was a resounding success, so the 2024 Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke had a lot to live up to. While there hasn't been huge improvements, we feel that the Ai Smoke has retained everything that was great about its predecessor and added a livelier feel and a little more forgiveness.  

There are three heads in the Ai Smoke range but we are focusing on the Ai Smoke Max, which is the standard head of the three and suitable for the widest range of players. 

Aesthetically, we love the new grey colorway, which blends nicely with the grey banner strip to create a really clean look that places it among the most attractive looking drivers currently on the market. The shelf appeal has really been improved with the smoky graphic pattern too, so credit to the design team for a nice job there.

Onto the tech now, and Callaway are always one of the most interesting brands when it comes to the latest innovations. Callaway are market leaders in the use of Artificial Intelligence and that features heavily in the face design. The tag line with this product is ‘Sweeter From Every Spot’ and that has been achieved by a bigger effective hitting area which has been created by the use of Ai Smart Face technology. 

Basically Callaway collect data from thousands of shots by real golfers and the A.I. system uses that information to design a face which Callaway says creates micro deflections across various points of the striking area. In simpler terms, it means multiple sweet spots!

Our testing confirmed this as we found the forgiveness on offer to be very impressive. We hit a LOT of balls with this driver so inevitably not everything came out of the center, but when we did miss the sweet spot slightly there was no huge drop off in results and we found that the dispersion was reassuringly tight, even from poor strikes. The sound and feel were not too different from the original Paradym but if anything the Ai Smoke felt a touch livelier off the face. 

Overall this is a really good option for those looking for great adjustability of flight and genuine playability, combined with a good level of forgiveness if you struggle to consistently find the middle of the face.

• Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver Review

Best sound

Sound is an under-rated aspect in golf. Sure, it isn't the most important thing you should be looking for when buying a new driver, but is does matter. After all, one of the most pleasing sensations for any golfer is when they hit one right out of the middle with driver, yet if the acoustics aren't right it can really ruin the moment. 

Sound is subjective though and you might even like the loud, high pitched noise of the old Nike Sasquatch drivers, even if your playing partners do not appreciate it. We're not judging though, each to their own is what we say at Golf Monthly, but it's fair to say that for most golfers there's a specific type of sound they like to hear when they smack one with the big dog. If you are one of those golfers then you will love the Cobra Darkspeed X driver.

Cobra drivers are known for the pleasing sound they produce and the sound and feel of the Darkspeed is very similar to its predecessor the Aerojet. This is no bad thing given the popularity and success of that range and indeed the Cobra drivers that went before it. Cobra have been making some brilliant drivers in recent years and they are usually considerably cheaper than some of the other main brands too. 

As well as the great sound and feel, the Darkspeed also looks sensational. When we took this driver out of the box we loved it right away as the all matte black profile gives this club a really sophisticated look. The headcover is a thing of beauty too, continuing the all black visual and adding a touch of class with some high quality embossed logos.

We think the lack of colors and graphics on the head makes the Darkspeed X look a little more compact than it actually is, which may deter some but really appealed to us. The stylish aesthetic really makes you feel you have a premium driver in your hands but from a tech perspective the Darkspeed X is not really much of leap forward from the Aerojet driver. The main improvements have been in looks, but nevertheless when in came to performance in testing, the Darkspeed X ticked a lot of our boxes. 

• Read our full Cobra Darkspeed X Review

Best traditional style

Since being released, we've been huge fans 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.

Handing this the best traditional looking accolade, the GT4 has a very round, squat profile, as well as the clean, premium aesthetics that we are used to seeing in the previous Titleist heads. As mentioned, the smaller head may not suit higher handicap players, but the brand has introduced some color contrast to the face of the GT range, which we found helped both lining the ball up and making it easier to see the loft at address.

In terms of performance, it produced low spin levels and high ball speeds, with the particular stand out being the feel, which we thought was incredible. What's more, for adjustability, the GT4 has two adjustable weights on the sole, as well as an adjustable hosel, which helps really hone in the spin rates and distance.

• Read our full Titleist GT4 Driver Review

Best for looks

For 2023, Srixon released the ZX5 MK II, ZX5 MK II LS and the ZX7 MK II, and we could have chosen any of them for this as this range offers some of the nicest looking drivers around. We went with ZX5 MK II which has a more stripped-back look, with a dark grey color being used on the crown, something which is far more restrained than some other drivers on this list. 

The ZX5 Mk II has an all-titanium head construction that also includes a very thin titanium crown, which is placed above a Star Frame structure consisting of three ribs which criss-cross on the inside to provide greater rigidity between the face, sides and rear of the head.

We should say though that there is more to this driver than just looks. In our testing we found it to be one of the best high handicap drivers because of how easy it was to launch in the air. This is important because many high handicappers struggle to get the ball airborne with driver but the ZX5 Mk II can definitely help with that as it designed to provide a higher launch. This has been achieved by saving weight in the crown and redistributing it in the rear to improve the launch.

Another reason  the ZX5 Mk II should appeal to higher handicap golfers is that there is a slight draw bias which will help those who suffer from a slice. We certainly picked up on this draw bias in testing and we feel this can help those less skilled golfers who are often plagued with a right miss off the tee. 

• Read our full Srixon ZX5 Mk II Driver Review

Most underrated

In years past, Mizuno haven't always made the best drivers and their reputation has been built on the excellence of their irons. While their irons are still some of the best around, the brand has worked hard on improving the quality of their drivers and in recent years some of their offerings have been excellent.

The new 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.

In our view it's a very nice looking driver too. The head is premium looking and features a rather fetching blue and black color scheme. We noted during our testing that behind the ball it's very appealing as the larger profile is certainly evident when you look down at address. We thought it looked much bigger than its 460cc dimensions, which will really appeal to those looking for extra reassurance over the ball. 

In terms of the sound and feel, we 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 super stable, high MOI category of drivers is a very interesting one this year with lots of great options to choose from, and the Mizuno ST-Max 230 is certainly one to consider for anybody shopping in that particular market.

• Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 230 Driver Review

Best alignment

As with Mizuno, PXG aren't necessarily the first name you think of when it comes to drivers. Perhaps they should be though, as we feel they are a very under-estimated option in the driver market and they have done some very interesting things in recent times. We absolutely loved the Black Ops 0311 driver when we tested it and it certainly ticks a lot of boxes.  

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.

Visually we'd describe it as a fairly busy aesthetic as behind the ball there is quite a bit going on. That won't be to everyone's taste but there is no denying that this does help in lining the ball up nicely. The Black Ops 0311 is easy to align and has a nice overall look, with an all gloss finish, carbon crown and subtle, light grey accent graphics. 

The shape is nicely rounded and the head sits extremely square in the neutral setting, which in our view really helps to promote confidence over the ball. At impact it feels great, sitting somewhere in that middle ground of lively but not harsh. 

One thing PXG always do a great job of is catering for the different requirements of golfers. Adjustability is a real strength of theirs and on the sole of the Black Ops driver there are three adjustable weights to help you dial in you own launch preferences. It took a bit of testing to figure it out but once we got it dialled in to our preferred setting it produced a really nice flight and impressive stability.

• Read our full PXG Black Ops Driver Review

Best for low spin players

Another brand not known for the quality of its drivers is Wilson, but that may be changing as the Dynapower driver is the best Wilson has produced in many a year and in our view it can hold its own against anything else out there in a similar price point. While the brand have made some excellent drivers for senior players and golfers on lower budgets, at the top end of the market it's been a while since Wilson had a seat at the table. Dynapower changed all that and was one of the best drivers of 2023.

There are two versions of the Dynapower driver; a titanium head and a carbon head. The general view is that the carbon is for better players and the titanium is more suitable for mid-high handicap golfers, but much of it comes down to personal preference. The biggest difference is in sound and feel rather than performance, although the carbon does spin less (hence the view it is suited to the more skilled player).

Dynapower is one of the most adjustable drivers Wilson has ever produced, so there are a number of options to change your loft settings and dial in your perfect ball flight.

In our testing, we were completely smitten by how traditional and inviting this driver looked at address. The feel from the carbon head is very pleasing as is the sound. You get a nice 'thwack' when you hit one but it's a muted, inoffensive sound.

The launch and flight impressed us and we noticed a neutral to slight fade shot shape bias that will certainly help those who have a tendency to hook the ball off the tee.

In short, there is a lot to like about the driver and it's comfortably among the best Wilson golf clubs you can buy. 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 potential from it and it will also help you to decide between the carbon or the titanium head.  

• Read our full Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review

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 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.

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 usually takes place at West Hill Golf Club, a course in Surrey with top-notch practice facilities. 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

The driver is probably the club many of us change the most and there are several reasons for this. Most golfers are always chasing extra distance so when a new driver comes out promising to deliver an extra few yards, it's a big temptation. Another big reason why golfers change driver so often is that, let's face facts, it's the most exciting club in the bag and is therefore subject to the most marketing. Most brands bring out a new driver each year amidst much fanfare, so it's easy for golfers to get swept away by the buzz and excitement generated and then want to upgrade on their 'boring old model' from the previous year!

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. 

Similarly, if you are new to the game and are buying your first driver, you will also benefit from asking yourself these questions. 

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?

Your swing speed will determine what flex of shaft you need. The faster the speed, the stiffer the flex. The best way to determine what shaft flex (and indeed shaft type) you need is to have a professional fitting, but it's fair to say that most casual golfers will either be in a regular or a stiff flex. Very slow swingers of the club (less than 75mph) will be better served by a senior flex, whereas if you swing it really fast (more than 105mph) you will need an extra stiff flex. 

Where do you need the most help?

If you are looking for an upgrade in performance then you need to ask yourself what aspect of driving do you need the most help with. This also relates to the head type, as mentioned above, and can generally be broken down into three basic categories.

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

Hitting the ball a long way is no good is you're in the trees so forgiveness is vitally important. The most forgiving drivers will not only help to keep your drives on the fairway, they will also minimise the distance losses on drives that do not come out of the middle of the face. It's worth sacrificing a few yards to be playing from the fairway and not the rough, so forgiveness has now become arguably the number one focus in driver design. The most forgiving driver on the market right now 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?

The very best drivers tend to cost an awful lot of money which might put them beyond the budgets of many golfers. There are cheaper alternatives that will perform almost as well, and some of the drivers on this list come in at a significantly lower price point than the offerings from the likes of Callaway, TaylorMade and Ping. The Srixon ZX5 MkII 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.

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