Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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The vast majority of golfers are high-handicap golfers (75% of players are unable to break 90 regularly) and therefore the lion’s share of the golf equipment marketplace actually caters to beginners and the high handicap golfer. And, other than the putter there’s no club in the bag more important, or used more often than the driver! So then what is the best driver for high handicappers and beginners?
The last 10 years have brought a lot of innovation to the driver sphere. In some sense it is trying to squeeze more from a 460cc head as manufacturers bump up against limitations set by governing bodies or the physics of the available materials. In this article we’ll look to highlight, evaluate, and review some of those newest features and de-code the marketing lingo to simplify the experience of finding the right driver for you!
Best overall
PERFORMANCE GOLF SF1
most forgiving
Ping G440 K Driver
best budget
pinemeadow pgx offset
Recommended Golf Drivers For Beginners And High Handicaps
Best Overall: Performance Golf SF1 Driver
If you are a beginner or you struggle to hit the golf ball well off the tee, then the Performance golf SF1 driver is our top pick for you. The SF1 utilizes the most advanced technology to help struggling golfers hit the ball longer and straighter off the tee.
Here is some of the technology that you will find in the Performance Golf SF1 driver.
The AeroSquare Crown - Designed to increase toe speed during the downswing to help you square the face automatically.
The Anti-Slice Face Curvature - Produces a guaranteed draw-spin — even when you miss the center of the face.
The Visual Feedback Takeaway Tracks - Designed to insure that you get the club started STRAIGHT BACK… and put you on the perfect path from the START.
The Fixed Counter-Slice Weights - Placed PRECISELY to dynamically square your face, without affecting the sweet spot.
The Draw-Calibrated Face Angle - Provides the squaring effect of an offset design, FORCING you to stripe higher, longer, straighter drives.
The Counterbalanced SF1 Shaft -Gives your clubhead more lag, more speed and the ultimate control needed to square the face to your path at impact.
This is the first driver that actually helps your golf swing, similar to a golf swing training aid, but it is completely USGA approved and legal.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Beginner golfers need a forgiving driver that will help them get off the tee and in the fairway. The SF1 is a confidence inspiring, very easy to hit driver that will benefit beginners and the average golfer.
After testing the SF1 driver, we are very confident to recommend this to you and every beginner and high handicap player out there today. It is an ideal beginner driver at a very reasonable price.
Click here to see the results of our testing and reviewing the Performance Golf SF1 Driver
Most Forgiving: Ping G440 K
Maybe our favorite pick is one of the best all-around drivers on the planet right now: the PING G440 K is a big step up from the G430 Max, which was a big a big step up from one of the favorite ping drivers of all time, the G425. You’ll see this club used quite often on the PGA Tour, with various configurations, but its versatility in design makes it the go-to for the biggest segment of high-handicap golfers, as well.
You don’t have to be swinging it 120 mph in order to benefit from this G440 MAX, however, as it is geared to provide a high launch and deep carry with a lot of forgiveness for any golfer.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
For years Ping was known for irons, but the Ping G Series drivers are iconic for golfers of all skill levels and this is one of the best drivers for beginners and high handicappers on the market right now. One thing we love is that this club suits a high-handicapper but the overall build of it as well as the moveable head weights means you can keep this same club as your game and your ball flights evolve, making it a fine investment for years to come.
Click here to see our full review of the Ping G440 K driver.
Best Titleist: Titleist GT2 Driver
The Titleist GT2 Driver improves over the TSR line of drivers by taking the great ball speed of the TSR and adding an incredible amount of forgiveness, making the GT2 one of the best drivers Titleist has offered in years.
During our testing of the GT2, we found big distance gains, while maintaining ball speeds even with shots struck off the toe and heel.
The high launch and low spin characteristics of the GT2 will help golfers of all abilities get the most out of their swing.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
We love Titleist drivers and equipment, and it was a pleasure to test the GT2 driver over several rounds of golf.
It is the best Titleist driver that we have tested yet, with impressive launch and spin numbers on the Trackman launch monitor, verified by real world testing on the course.
Click here for our the results of our testing and full review of the Titleist GT2 driver.
Best Taylormade: Taylormade Sim2 Max
The Sim 2 Max is a great choice for beginners and high-handicappers. This driver provides almost all of the distance and forgiveness of the more modern drivers, but at a drastically lower cost, making it accessible to everyone.
The SIM2 represented a genuine engineering shift for TaylorMade, and an upgrade from the Stealth models, rather than a cosmetic refresh
Our testing showed excellent distance and forgiveness with a look at address that inspires confidence and a great sound at impact, when compared to the best golf drivers on the market.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The Taylormade Sim2 Max is a very forgiving driver and is ideal for beginners and high handicap players who want more distance, the most forgiveness, and a higher launch angle at a lower price point.
There are plenty of used Sim2 Max drivers available at the ebay link above, for beginners and high handicappers that don't mind a second hand driver.
Click here to see our full review of the Taylormade Sim2 Max driver.
Best Callaway: Callaway Paradym X Driver
Callaway pushes the limits, especially when designing clubs for the average consumer. Starting with their Big Bertha series in the 1990s, they have been pioneers of maxing out the clubhead parameters to promote speed and forgiveness for the average golfer.
This club is designed not only for maximum speed and forgiveness, but also comes pre-set with a draw bias due to the (non-changeable) weight distribution in the head. In addition, it also launches higher, not just because of the face loft but again due to the placement of weight in the club head, with this design “stretching” farther back off of the ball than some other 460cc heads.
RELATED: Callaway Paradym Driver Review
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The Paradym X is their draw-biased and max-forgiveness version of their latest driver line. That makes it the choice that is suited for by far the broadest swath of average golfers as well as the coveted high-handicapper segment of the population. However, the things that make this driver suitable for a high handicapper (max club head size, high launch angle, draw bias) could also be useful for beginner golfers
Despite not having adjustability in the head weighting, it remains a versatile option that doesn’t need to be adjusted for the average golfer who wants to get the absolute most performance at any cost.
Best PXG: PXG Black Ops Driver
The Black Ops 0311 line from PXG represents their attempt to capture some of the “everyman” market while concentrating the bulk of their R&D on fine tuning TOUR-level performance equipment. PXG prides itself on straightforward designs that are backed by quality materials and craftsmanship to get the most out of their clubs possible without using gimmicks or compromising on quality.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
PXG shows us exactly how clean a modern golf club can be, with this straightforward design to produce high and straight shots. It boasts creative use of titanium alloys to redistribute weight and keeps it simple unlike some other of the newest game-improvement options.
Still, in that model there is a ton of technology in the face and setup of the CG of this club to provide a very neutral, very forgiving, high-launch, high-speed driver that is going to pinch the pockets a lot less than other name-brand drivers, so it is a fantastic option for any high handicapper.
Best Big Bertha: Callaway Big Bertha B23 Driver
The Big Bertha B23 features a max size club head, draw biased interior weighting, and an ultra-forward COG. This creates an incredibly forgiving driver that gets the ball airborne. The forward-CG of this club is going to produce even higher launch and even more speed and even lower spin. This truly optimizes distance and height over control or forgiveness, although there is still plenty of that in this size of a driver head.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The Callaway Big Bertha series is one of the most iconic in the sport, and there’s a legacy to live up to with the namesake of this B23 version. It answers the calling by providing a max size club head, and the highest launch, lowest spin, maximum distance setup possible.
Best Cobra: Cobra Aerojet Max Driver
The Cobra driver models have somewhat lagged behind the competition in recent years, with their star signee Bryson DeCheambeau struggling to find the right fit for his blast-first-ask-questions-last approach off the tee while he was partnered with them.
So in that regard, Cobra brings the full heat and features all of the game improvement design qualities that we’d find in other “Max” driver heads. This includes an emphasis on aerodynamics, draw-bias weighting, and a deep COG for maximum sweet spot size and ball speeds.
RELATED: Cobra Aerojet Driver Review
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Cobra has honestly felt like it’s fallen away from the pack slightly with its last few years of releases, but that may just be due to a limited exposure on the PGA TOUR. Or maybe TOUR players aren’t jumping to their equipment because of performance concerns.
There’s really nothing not to like about this driver, even if it’s flying a little bit more under the radar than the other top brands.
Best For Seniors: Cleveland Launcher XL Light Driver
The Cleveland Launcher XL Light driver represents a little bit of a departure or a little bit more of an extreme from what we’ve seen in other brands that continually promise more forgiveness and more distance with each model year release.
Cleveland loves making clubs based on the same quality standards as the big name golf club manufacturers, but with specs to match the weekend golfer and usually a price break to go along with it. That’s the first thing to notice about this Cleveland Launcher XL Light driver is that while you won’t see anybody on TOUR gaming it, you also don’t have to pay for anyone’s yacht fuel when you go to purchase it.
Aside from a HUGE cost-savings over the best-of-the-best from the household names, you’re also going to get an ultra-lightweight head, ultra-lightweight hosel, ¼” of extra length and a tiny counterbalance weight from this club all of which are working in favor of the highest launching, fastest swinging driver they can make.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Cleveland has players with a slow to moderate swing speeds covered here. This driver comes with the option of ¼” extra length and ultra light weight with a one-piece hosel OR an adjustable hosel option that features ½” less length for more control and adjustability.
This is a great driver. It also is unique in offering a neutral setup and a very light counterbalance weight, which aren’t seen in other game improvement models featured.
The Launcher XL Light is one of the best lightweight drivers on the market. It is ideal for senior golfers or beginners with slower swing speeds.
Best Game Improvement: Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver
The Callaway Rogue ST Max provides a fully game-improvement option from a prior model year for anyone who loves Callaway or loves the distance and forgiveness that they stand for.
This model features many of the same settings we’ve seen from other game improvement and “MAX” setups: a low CG for high launch / low spin, weight-saving carbon that redistributes material for more forgiveness, and weighting set up for a draw.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
This Rogue ST Max driver from Callaway really presents a full list of features compared to their newest models. This includes jailbreak technology, and a setup that has been just slightly tweaked to max out forgiveness, height, and speed in order to put the average golfer in a better position off of the tee.
Best Budget: PGX Offset Driver
As we’ve seen with many of the clubs in our feature, it is common for drivers that target high-handicappers to feature a little bit of “slice-fixing” or “draw-bias” in their setup. Usually this is done through moving around internal (fixed) or external (sometimes adjustable) weighting in the club head to change the tendency of the impact conditions to produce a draw (or less of a cut).
With the Pinemeadow PGX Offset driver you get another little nudge in the right direction in the form of a healthy dose of offset. This is one of the tricks that club makers have in the bag to get a player to line up with a more shut face and also create a more square face at impact, encouraging a ball that starts on-line or left and slices less.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The typical ball flight of the vast majority of beginner golfers and high handicap players is a slice. Our top pick above is the best at curing this ball flight, but if you are looking for a cheap solution, this driver is it.
The PGX Offset Driver from Pinemeadow fills a niche here that is seen in other clubs on the market, but is less common. This is a perfect club to get at a discount and give a trial to an offset driver and see if it makes a difference in your game!
If you're miss is a banana ball, but you're looking for something a little more mainstream to help you out, check out what we found in our search for the best driver for a slice!
Best Driver Loft For High Handicappers And Beginners
Many beginners, both men and women don't have enough loft on their driver.
The best driver loft for beginners and high handicap players is 10.5 to 15 degrees.
So this is another case where following the conventional wisdom might lead you astray in golf. If you are struggling with contact, it can be good to start with a 12-13 degree driver, mini driver, or better yet learn to hit a 3 wood and tee off with that before moving to driver.
Using the proper loft for your game will also promote all kinds of good swing habits, allowing you to stop topping the ball, hit more fairways, and outdrive your buddies on occasion!
What Beginners And High Handicap Golfers Should look For In A Driver
Following are a few basic guidelines of what a high handicap golfer should be looking for in a driver. For a more complete picture to aid your search for your next driver, check out our golf driver buying guide!
Forgiveness
Most forgiving drivers feature a bulge and roll face, as well as perimeter weighting to achieve the maximum distance and accuracy on off center hits.
The driver is a punishing club even for the best, and “forgiveness” is fleeting even with the most futuristic designs. However it is still one of the most sought-after attributes of a driver. Beginners should look for clubs that are less than 10 years old (preferably 5) and have a full 460cc head, as these clubs are much easier to hit than something from the 1990s.
RELATED: Best Irons For Beginners And High Handicappers
Adjustability
Beginners and some high-handicappers are always changing and evolving their swing. Buying a driver with adjustable head weights can be a huge advantage when it comes to keeping a club in the bag, or not having to buy a new driver just because they want to try a different configuration for a few weeks.
Even if you’re not a tinkerer, being able to start with some draw bias (slice correction) and then set the club back to neutral down the line if your swing changes can help keep a club in your bag for years to come, so it’s a worthwhile investment.
Distance
Almost all forgiving drivers are geared to focus either 100% on distance or about 95% on distance, so there’s not a ton to worry about here. The main thing a beginner can assess is whether or not they need help from their equipment when it comes to swing speed. If you do, look for lighter weight drivers.
If you do not, try to avoid an ultralight model, as it will be harder to control and result in diminishing returns on ball speeds in most cases if you are trying to play on a course and not entering a long-drive competition.
RELATED: Does The Golf Ball Make A Difference
Look and Feel
One of the most underrated aspects of golf club selection - and one that might seem a little whimsical for the uninitiated - is the psychological components. Many average golfers keep clubs that just look or feel comfortable to them for years over newer options that perform better on-paper.
This is mostly a confidence thing.
Some people look down at a club and it doesn’t look aimed properly just because of the head shape or paint job. Other clubs might fly just the same but they don’t give as rewarding of a sound when hit pure. These things might seem silly but in a world where there are so many really amazing club options, there’s literally no reason to put a club in the bag that you aren’t absolutely in love with.
Shaft Flex
Beginners just getting started playing golf can generally benefit from a regular flex shaft, but as you progress, you will want a shaft that matches your swing speed.
The chart below is intended to help you find the right shaft flex based on your swing speed and carry distance with the driver:
Swing Speed | carry distance | shaft flex |
|---|---|---|
<75 mph | <150 yards | light |
75-85 mph | 150-190 yards | senior |
86-104 mph | 191-230 yards | regular |
105-115 mph | 231-270 yards | stiff |
>115 mph | >270 yards | x-Stiff |
A beginner or high handicapper can really play any shaft flex. As long as you are within one “flex” of your actual ideal, you will be fine. Somebody who should be playing stiff can “get away” with an x-stiff or a regular flex even if it’s not ideal, especially while learning, but could develop some bad habits playing with a senior flex club.
People obsess over shaft flex a lot, but ultimately it’s just one factor in club fitting, and since there are absolutely no standards in the industry most of the labels aren’t even really meaningful (i.e. one company’s stiff could be another company’s regular or x-stiff). Just make sure you’re in the ballpark and get fitted once your handicap starts to come down or you hit a plateau in your development.
Budget
Honestly, the driver is one place that it’s good to make a moderate investment for a high handicapper. It’s good to have a club that you like, that you like practicing with, and will be able to use for a few seasons at least. There is a bigger drop off than in other clubs if you try to go cheap with your driver.
That said, one of the best buys in golf is a used driver that is not very old. Companies release so many new clubs, often something that is a couple years old will still be an extremely useful golf club for the next several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a draw driver help my slice?
A draw driver will help your slice, but it will not necessarily cure it. Draw drivers are set up with internal (fixed) or external (sometimes adjustable) weighting that puts more weight in the heel of the club than the toe. This causes the face to dynamically “close down” faster through impact and create a “draw bias.”
This helps with a slice because the ball will start more left and stay straighter. Even if you don’t end up playing a draw with this club, it can help you play less of a slice just as easily.
Our advice is to look for a driver with an adjustable draw bias. You want to be able to neutralize it as you improve your game to avoid hitting a hook!
How do I know if I need a draw driver?
You know you need a draw driver when you hit a cut or slice nearly every single time. If most of your shots are straight, but the occasional mis-hit is a slice, you might just be frustrated by a draw driver and would be better off figuring out what is different about your swing mechanics on the misses.
Before making the move to a draw driver, we highly encourage that you check to make sure you are using the proper golf grip. Believe it or not, something as simple as a minor adjustment to the way you are holding the club can go a long way towards curing your slice without spending any money on a driver or taking lessons.
However if you are the guy who ALWAYS aims down the left and is known for playing a reliable fade that loses distance, a “draw” driver could be ideal for you. Many draw biased drivers are not adjustable so you want to make sure you are fairly set in your slicing ways before investing in one.
Final Thoughts
Golf is hard and as a beginner, it is essential to get a driver that is easy to hit and allows you to get off the tee and into play with as few missed fairways as possible.
We have rated and reviewed all of the current best drivers for beginners and high handicappers so that you can start with the right equipment and begin to improve your golf game.
Pick your favorite from the list above and start hitting it long and straight!
