Getting Started: The 6 Best Drivers for a Beginner in 2023

If you’re a beginner golfer, one club is more fun to hit than any other – the driver. Who doesn’t love to swing hard and feel the greatness when you hit one dead center. You’re impressed, your buddies are impressed, heck even the starter and cart girl are impressed.

But if you’re a beginner, hitting the big stick isn’t easy. As it has the lowest loft and the longest shaft of any clubs in the bag, things can go bad quickly. To help beginners have a better buying experience, we found the best drivers for high handicappers and beginners currently on the market.

Our Picks for Best Beginner Golf Drivers

1. Cobra Air X Straight Neck Driver – Top Choice
2. Callaway Paradym X Driver – Runner-Up
3. Titleist TSR1 Driver – Best Premium Beginner Driver

On our quest to find the best driver for beginners, without being super creepy, we checked the bags of several beginning golfers after a long round. We found two types of drivers in these bags.

First, there is the driver that still has its head cover snugly on and appears untouched because the new golfer, unable to accurately harness the firepower of the big stick, safely stuck to a 3-wood or 5-wood off the tee all day.

The second type of driver dangling out of the bag of a beginner is that club missing its lost head cover and with enough dings and scuffs to look like it had been sparring for 18 holes with Conor McGregor. This happens when a high handicapper insists on using the driver, despite their clear inability to use it. Hole after hole, the frustration builds until finally the driver is hurled towards the ladies’ tee box.

Any of this Sound familiar?

The good news for beginners is that we have all been through this learning curve. When starting out, I once scorched a shot that hooked into a tree 20 yards down the fairway and ricocheted back to the tee box where it smashed off my playing partner’s shin. Thankfully, the iPhone had not been invented yet or else the video evidence might have landed me in jail for assault with a deadly weapon.

Even better news for beginners is that it gets easier, especially when learning to use your driver. 

But without spending a lot of time on the practice tee, the key is to make sure you are putting the best driver for beginners in your bag to start with.

If you want to know more about the thought process behind beginner club selection, make sure to continue reading past the driver reviews. But if you’re only here for the drivers, here are the best golf drivers for beginners:

Best Drivers for Beginners in 2023

1. Cobra Air X Straight Neck Driver 

In 2022 Cobra has pushed a lot of their marketing toward the new LTDx drivers. But the Cobra Air X might be the better fit, depending on the type of player and swing speed you have. 

The Cobra Air X is one of the lightest drivers on this list and ideal for beginners. Or, individuals who don’t have as much natural swing speed as they would like. This club is so light at only 277 grams, it’ll make adding extra distance to your drives easy! 

Every swing should feel effortless with this lightweight design and should help create faster speed at impact. More speed equals more distance! This Cobra driver also has heel weighting to correct that slice and find the short grass a little more frequently.

Keeping with the lightweight theme, this driver has a 50 gram shaft that is offered in lite, stiff or regular flex. Plus, three loft options – 9.5, 10.5, or 11.5 degrees. While there isn’t much customization compared to other drivers, multiple loft options do help. 

Pros

• Three loft options.
• Lightweight design should lead to more distance. 
• Straight neck is easier for some players to look at in address position (but doesn’t help with the slice as much). 

Cons 

• Only one stock shaft option available.
• No adjustability or sliding weight features (which is one of the reasons why it’s such a lightweight club). 

>>You can grab your Air X driver here or here.

2. Callaway Paradym X Driver

If you want a high launching and highly forgiving driver, the Callaway Paradym X (which stands for extreme forgiveness) is a great choice. So, what makes this driver different from the previous Rogue ST Max in 2022? 

A few things… starting with the look and design of the clubhead itself. Unlike the former black clubhead, this club is navy, carbon fiber, and black design. A drastic switch from the green, black, white design of previous drivers. 

Looks aside, it also has the first 360 carbon chassis clubhead. Here’s what Callaway said about this upgrade, “360° Carbon Chassis promotes unprecedented weight redistribution for maximized distance. The Triaxial Carbon crown and Forged Carbon sole is 44% lighter than a titanium chassis. This massive weight savings is repositioned for higher MOI and increased forgiveness.”

Other new upgrades to these drivers include:

• Newly designed A.I. face. This helps create more speed, launch, and consistent spin rates for a together shot dispersion. 
• Speed-enhancing face cup and forged titanium face for more speed and distance. This provides clean sight lines at address too. 

Plus, the X model has a forgoing shape that is built with high handicappers in mind. The high launch, high MOI design makes this great for golfers who want maximum forgiveness. Not to mention the built-in draw bias to find more fairways.

Finally, this model has an extra 5 gram weight to help increase launch and lower spin for the most amount of carry distance. Sadly, there is no sliding weight feature like the standard Paradym model. 

Pros 

• Three stock shaft options. 
• Built-in draw bias to hit more fairways. 
• Adjustable hosel to change loft/lie settings. 
• New Jailbreak A.I. technology makes it 33% lighter for even faster ball speeds (and distance) off the tee. 

Cons 

• No sliding weight feature like the standard Paradym model. 

Overall, this is a great golf club for mid to high handicap golfers who want forgiveness above all else. The 460 cc stretch profile will give you a ton of confidence and the extra 5 gram weight will promote higher launch for longer carry distance. Plus the draw bias should help you hit a straighter ball as will the adjustable hosel. 

>>You can order this amazing driver here. Check out our full hands-on Paradym driver reviews here.

3. Cleveland Launcher XL Lite

The Cleveland Launcher XL Lite is another top-rated driver to help the everyday player. It features all the same benefits of the Launcher XL including:

• Ideal for players with moderate swing speeds 
• Rebound frame for maximum speed on every shot
• XL head design for higher launch and maximum forgiveness 

But there is one big change, it’s substantially lighter to help maximize speed even more! Thanks to a bonded hosel without a weight adding sleeve (meaning you can’t adjust the loft), it’s lighter than ever. In fact, 12 grams lighter and .25 inches longer than the original version. These changes should lead to more distance off the tee without any tinkering with the club settings on your end. 

Their idea behind these clubs is simple, “The lighter the club the faster the swing.” These clubs are very lightweight and great for mid to high handicappers. They’re also great for seniors and those individuals who don’t generate as much clubhead speed naturally.

Another way to make the club even lighter is with a different shaft. The XL Lite driver series is available with the Project X Cypher 40 Shaft (in A, R, or S flex). This is one of the lightest shafts on the market which will also help with swing speed. 

While these clubs are also lighter, they’re also slightly cheaper as well. Plus, they still have the “Action Mass CB” at the end of the grip for extra balance. 

Pros

• Right and left hand + 12 degree launch option.
• Even cheaper than the normal Launcher driver. 
• Super lightweight shaft and multiple flex options.
• “Accuracy Build” it, which is a custom feature. This makes the driver one inch shorter and doesn’t include the counterbalance for even more tee ball control. 

Cons

• One shaft option without extra upgrade fees. 
• No adjustable hosel so make sure you get the right loft for your swing. 

If you want something you don’t have to mess with and can just play right out of the box, this is a great choice.

>>To order your new Cleveland Driver, go here or here.

4. Titleist TSR1 Driver 

Need a new forgiving, easy to hit driver this year? Check out the awesome looking TSR1 from Titleist. 

The new TSR series replaces the former TSi driver, fairway woods, and hybrids. The previous design was very successful with pros and amateurs alike and these are even better! 

What makes Titleist so great is that they offer four driver heads to ensure it’s perfect for your swing (most brands only offer 2-3). The TSR1 is the largest and most forgiving of the four new drivers. This club is best for higher handicapper and golfers with slower swing speeds who need maximum forgiveness. 

Titleist has always made great looking drivers but these have exceptionally clean design. Looking down at it from address position it’s hard to beat the simple logo for alignment and all black design. The sight lines on the face make it easy to square at setup position as well.

Looks aside, this new golf driver has tons of technology to warrant the upgrade from the TSi series. This is the lightest driver of the series to help players gain more speed and distance. As Titleist said, 

“Every unnecessary gram, from head to grip, has been eliminated from the design of TSR1. It is strategically engineered to be as light as possible while still providing maximum launch and distance dynamics.”

The new variable face thickness creates a larger sweet spot and more forgiveness. The face-centered CG also helps add speed not to mention a higher launch and longer total distance. While the Surefit hosel gives you tons of fine-tuning to get the most out of your driver with the ideal ball flight and lie angle. This is pretty rare for a driver to be so light but still have adjustable hosel and a big perk.

Lastly, the MMT Speedmesh shafts are 45 grams in all flexes making the lightest shaft possible. Most shafts increase weight with flex but this MMT option keeps it the same which is a great benefit for players with moderate swing speeds. It’s also a high launching shaft and should help you hit it longer even without fast swing speeds.

Pros

• Simple, clean design.
• Available in three lofts (9, 10.5, and 12) 
• Adjustable hosel, despite the lightweight design. 
• Incredibly lightweight design from head to shaft to help increase ball speed.

Cons 

• Only one stock shaft option available (although it’ll work for a majority of the golfers this club is targeted for).

Overall the new Titleist TSR1 is a great upgrade from the previous design. The four clubhead choices and adjustable hosels make it easy to find the perfect club for your swing. Not to mention this is the lightest design and ideal for beginners who need help with extra forgiveness.

>>Click here to read our full hands on TSR driver review or you can pick up your TSR1 here. 

5. Cobra Aerojet Max Driver

Need a new forgiving driver to help your golf game? Then look no further than the Cobra AeroJet Max driver. Cobra made a drastic change from the LTD series in 2022 with the Aerojet series in 2023. 

They have three models; the Aerojet, Max, and LS. The LS (low spin) model is reserved for aggressive players who swing at 105 mph or more and need to minimize spin. While most amateur golfers will opt for the Max or standard version.

The Max is great because it is a draw bias driver that will help you straighten out a fade (or slice). According to Cobra,“Adjustable back and heel weight positioning allows you to fine-tune the draw bias in our most forgiving driver head.” Not only is it more forgiving, it also makes it easier to hit a straighter ball. 

The forward positioning of the PWR-BRIDGE WEIGHT also allows more speed across the entire face. If you miss the sweet spot you’ll have better misses which mean more distance, even on your forgettable drives of the day. 

This high launching driver is available in 9, 10.5, and 12-degree loft options. You can also change the loft and lie settings with the adjustable hosel as well. This club also two stock shafts to match your swing:

• MCA Kal’li Blue 60: This is a stable shaft that is mid-launch, mid-spin and great for the everyday golfer. It’s a 60-gram shaft that is available in regular or stiff flex.
• MUST Helium Nanocore: While slower swinging players will likely use this shaft it’s very lightweight and easier to swing faster. This shaft is available in A or R flex only and only weights between 45 and 55 grams. 

Pros

• Adjustable weights and hosel.
• Three lofts to help improve ball flight.
• Draw bias, high launching driver is great for recreational golfers.
• Tour length option available to hit more fairways and not give up much distance. 

Cons 

• None – this club looks great and is awesome for most amateur golfers who want to hit bombs.

You don’t need to be a long drive guy to benefit from these new Cobra drivers. The Max version is great for amateur golfers who want higher launch, more speed, and more distance. Plus, the built-in draw bias and maximum adjustability make it easy to fine tune to your swing. 

>>Click here to learn more now. 

6. Wilson Staff Launch Pad Driver Review

Rounding out the list of best drivers for 2022 is the Wilson Staff Launch Pad driver. While the Callaway and TaylorMade editions might have more features, they’re also quite a bit more expensive as well. This cloud is about 40% less than most new 2022 drivers from big brands.

The Launch Pad driver is designed to solve golf’s most frustrating problem; the dreaded slice that kills distance and accuraccy off the tee. With a moderate hosel offset, combined with 13 grams of weight in the heel side of the club and an upright lie angle will put an end to the slice in your game.

Pros

• Appearance: While technology is important, let’s not forget that you want a good looking club. This club’s design of black, white, and gray make it look similar to a TaylorMade and sets up well at address.
• Ultimate Forgiveness for Beginners: This innovative tech is built into the Launch Pad head and delivers high ball speeds and high launch angles, regardless of where on the face they make contact.
• Lightweight design makes it one of the best golf drivers for high handicappers. The lightweight components of the club including the head, shaft and grip result in a total club weight of just 272g total!
• Increased club head speed: Since it’s so light weight, the Launch Pad driver translates into an effortless increase in club head speed for greater launch angles and distance.
• Price. This one of the best deals in 2022!

Cons

• No adjustable loft features. This model only comes in 10.5 or 13 degrees (which is closer to a 3-wood) but is great for beginner, high handicappers
• Offset model only. While some of the clubs on this list are offset, they also offer straight neck golf drivers as well. So if you aren’t looking for a slice-reducing driver, this might not set up as well for your game.

Another top pick for high handicappers is the latest from Wilson. It delivers plenty of technology to increase ball speeds.

Click Here to Order the Wilson Staff Launch Pad driver today.

Best Previous Model Drivers For Beginners (Best Drivers on a Budget)

If you’re a beginner and want a new driver, don’t discount last year’s selections either. There are some awesome choices for great distance and lower prices for high handicappers. While you might miss out on a couple of yards with these new clubs, you will also likely save hundreds of dollar as well.

One of the best things you can do to save money on any new driver is grab last year’s model. Here’s a couple of really nice drivers from last year that can still be purchased.

1. Callaway Epic Max Driver Review

Since 2019, Callaway has really upped their game and released some of the best drivers of all skill levels. First was the Epic Flash in 2019, then the Mavrik driver in 2020, and in 2021 the new Epic series. 

In 2021, they unveiled three models; the Callaway Epic Speed, Epic Max, and Epic Max LS. Lookwise, they’re more similar to the Epic Flash from a few years ago than the Mavrik but have even more technology to help your game. 

So what’s Callaway’s secret to success?

A.I. That’s right, artificial intelligence continues to help them create some of the most popular drivers for all golfers. 

According to Callaway, “We used Artificial Intelligence to engineer a NEW formula for speed. It’s built on a simple equation: max ball speed (with the new Jailbreak A.I Speed Frame) + maximum forgiveness (with high MOI and adjustable weighting) = the ultimate max driver.”

In essence, it’s all about speed! And since this post is all about the best drivers for beginners, we’ll focus on the Epic Max, not the Speed or Epic Max LS models. 

Here’s why it made our list for 2021. 

Pros

• Available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees. Remember, loft is your friend – opt for a higher loft to get the ball higher, especially if you’re just starting out in your golf journey. 
• Amazing clubhead design. Lookwise, this club is clean at address! From all angles, it’s one of the best looking clubs on this list. Plus, it has a slight draw bias to help reduce a slice and turn the ball over from right to left. 
• Increased ball speed. What made the original Epic Flash so great was its “Jailbreak” technology” to help with mishits. But now this has been upgraded with horizontal and torsional direction for even more speed on off center hits. 
• Adjustable weight. One big perk that Epic Max had over the Epic Speed is the adjustable weight. Similar to the 2019 version, you can slide the weight to help promote a draw or fade. According to their website, “Combined with the OptiFit hosel, the Epic MAX provides up to 20 yards of shot shape correction.” 
• Better sound. The one downside that myself (and a lot of others had with the Epic Flash) was the ting sound when you hit the golf ball. The Mavrik made it better and I think the new Epic series sounds even better.  
• Most forgiving driver yet. The new lighter and stronger Triaxial Carbon material helps save 19 grams of weight. This weight gets redistributed to promote a higher launch and even more forgiveness. 

Cons

• Only two shaft options. Some of the others on this list have 3-4 stock options. But I will say that the two shafts that are offered from Callaway are solid choices. 

Verdict 

Callaway has another surefire hit on their hand. If you didn’t buy the Mavrik and still have your Epic Flash, this is a much-needed upgrade. And if you do have the Mavrik, this is still a great upgrade for more distance and forgiveness. 

The newest driver from Callaway is simple but effective. I like the two-tone white/green color scheme on the top of the club and simplicity at the bottom. When you look at the club at address it’s pretty easy to have confidence that you’re going to hit bombs.

To check out our hands-on review of the Epic family of drivers, click here.

You can pick up your new Epic Max driver here or here.

2. Titleist TSi1 Driver Review

Titleist might be the #1 ball in golf but they’re also becoming a top name with drivers too. Paired with a Titleist ProV1, you might start hitting it further than you thought possible.

Last year, Titleist unleashed four awesome new drivers; the TSi1, TSi2, Tsi3, and TSi4. Since we’re focusing on clubs for higher handicappers and beginners let’s focus on the TSi1 and it’s geared toward players with lower to moderate swing speeds. 

Pros

• Available in 9, 10, and 12 degree lofts. Plus, the hosel is adjustable so you can tweak it even further by one degree either up or down. 
• Super lightweight design. Every inch of this club was geared toward creating a lightweight driver that is easy to swing and still provides maximum launch. This should help golfers with very slow swing speeds get the ball to carry and roll out further. 
• Looks great. Compared to the TaylorMade or Cobra, I think this driver is substantially better looking with its sleek, all black design. Plus, at address it’s got a great shape and with 460cc, it should inspire confidence on the tee box. 
• Comes with Aldila Ascent shaft. This ultra lightweight shaft is designed to make it easier to turn the ball from right to left thanks to additional weight in the butt-end of the shaft. 

Cons

• No sliding weight rail on the back like the Callaway Epic Max. 
• Only one shaft option (albeit a good one for higher handicap players).

Verdict 

With so many choices from Titleist, the TSi1 is the clear winner for beginners and high handicap golfers. Titleist drivers used to have a stigma for being more geared toward lower handicap golfers but the TSi1 is ending that for good.

And if you want a little bit of a lower launch angle, check out the TSi2. It has different loft/shaft options plus a different design as well. 

>>Click here to purchase a new TSi1 Driver or go here to read our full hands on review of the Tsi drivers.

3. Cobra Radspeed XD Driver Review

Ready to bomb it like Bryson? Well, at least your version of bombing it (without all the protein shakes and gym sessions)? If so, you’ll love the Cobra Radspeed XD driver.

Replacing the Cobra Kingspeed, the new version is even more advanced and geared towards beginner golfers. Thanks to its unique radial weight, it has tons of technology to help you hit it straighter and further with off center hits. 

The XD version is geared toward golfers who want a mid-spin driver with mid to high launch capabilities. Not to mention, those who want to shape shots from right to left. 

Here’s why we like the XD (extreme draw) driver from Cobra: 

Pros

• Lower price. Compared to Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway, this driver won’t be quite as steep of an investment.
• Two shafts available. You get to choose from the Motore X F3 shaft with medium stiffness or Project X Even Flow Riptide. The Project X is significantly lighter (52 grams) and available in lite and regular flex.
• Updated lightweight design. Thanks to a refined T-Bar Chassis this driver is now seven grams lighter than previous models. 
• CNC milled infinity face technology. This helps expand the milled area so that you can hit it further even on off center hits. 
• Comes with a 90-day trial to Cobra Connect. The Lamkin grip that comes standard is equipped with tCobra Connect which connects with an app to help you learn more about your game. 

Cons

• Interesting color choices. Not everyone will enjoy the neon yellow but you can get a red/black design as well.
• Only available in 10.5 and 12 degree options. Almost all the other options from 2021 also offer a 9 degree with adjustable hosels. 

Verdict 

You don’t have to bulk up like Bryson to hit bombs. Even as a beginner you can use the Radspeed XD to get some serious distance and accuracy off the tee. 

This club is lightweight and geared to help golfers hit it high and minimize the dreaded slice. Since it has tons of technology to help you draw it (or at least straighten out your slice), expect more distance!  

The 90-day trial for Cobra Connect is a nice touch that I’m sure Bryson “The Mad Scientist” definitely approves of. More data for each shot makes it easier to figure out what to work on so you can hit it further and straighter off the tee. 

You can order your Radspeed XD driver here or here. 

4. TaylorMade Sim 2 Max Driver Review

If you loved the TaylorMade Sim driver from 2020, you will love the 2021 version. The TaylorMade SIM2 Max driver is great for higher handicap golfers and players who are just starting out. The great thing about this club is that you can grow into and it still provides plenty of forgiveness.

Here is why this driver from TaylorMade made our list in 2021. 

Pros

• Aerodynamic design. All of the new drivers of the SIM family are lightweight and strategically designed to help increase clubhead speed at impact. More aerodynamic means more speed which equals more distance! 
• Higher launch. If you have troubles getting the ball airborne, that problem will be solved pretty much overnight. The new SIM2 Max has a 24g tungsten weight located on the sole of the club to help promote high launch and optimal spin. Paired with its design, expect some big gains on your overall driving distance. 
• Maximum forgiveness. Thanks to its Twist Face technology and Thru-Slot Speed pocket, your misses just got a lot better. Not only is it long it’s forgiving too. With the Twist Face it will help straighten out off center hits on the heel and toe, while the Speed Pocket helps with low face mishits. Talk about a win-wind scenario to help your accuracy off the tee! 
• Two head options designed for the everyday golfer. If you really struggle with slicing the ball, opt for the Sim2 MAX D version. It has the same head size, the face is even more forgiving and has a built-in draw bias. 

Cons

• The head shape isn’t for every golfer. If you’ve already played the original SIM, then no big deal. But switching from another brand might take a little getting used to. 
• Color scheme. Similar to the head shape, it’s not for every golfer (unless you love blue).

Verdict 

The SIM2 Max driver is perfect for golfers who want distance but need some more forgiveness. And you don’t have to be Dustin Johnson to hit it well either. It’s designed for the masses and there’s a reason it’s gained popularity to start the new year. You should get more distance and forgiveness off the tee. 

If you’re on the fence, I think it’s worth testing out to help you gain distance and accuracy off the tee. Thanks to some new technology, it’s a great update from the highly popular SIM model in 2020.  Plus, having the Max and Max-D option is great for guys who want to minimize the slice and improve accuracy off the tee.  For more on these drivers, read our full review of the SIM 2 lineup of drivers.

Since it is a little oder, this one may be tough to find. But you can click here or here to purchase your Sim 2 Max Driver.

FAQ: Drivers for Beginners

Shouldn’t you just select the best driver on the market?

Seems reasonable… right?

The short answer is no.

A lot of big-ticket, high end drivers are usually built for players with more advanced skills and aren’t made for beginners. You certainly can use one of the newest models but you will be paying top dollar for bells and whistles that you most likely are not ready to take advantage of (yet).

As a new golfer, you want to find the most forgiving driver possible because the driver is the most difficult club to master (apologies to sand wedges everywhere)! Hitting your tee shots can be the difference between finding the fairway instead of plunking into a water hazard and carding a snowman.

The fact that you don’t need the latest model is actually to your advantage, as golf manufacturers like to slash prices on previous models as soon as they release their newest line. Just like car dealers do each year as well. Now, we aren’t saying you have to go to your local flea market and hunt down an Old Tom Morris hand-carved wood driver (but if you do, give us a ring)!

I know all those new clubs advertised on the Golf Channel look tantalizing. But at the end of the day, you want to find clubs that are easy to hit above all else.

Let’s take a closer look at the attributes that you want to find in the best driver for beginners.

Golf Driver for Beginners Infographic

Check out this infographic to learn more about what you need when you’re just starting out.

Focus on Forgiveness Above All Else

Forgiveness in golf terms is basically the ability of the club to provide both distance and accuracy when the ball is mishit. For beginners, this is everything!

The more forgiveness your club has, the easier it is to play this incredibly difficult, yet rewarding game. The most forgiving driver is the one that will make your life a lot easier. A forgiving driver reduces side spin, a massive sweet spot, and ideal for high handicappers to easily hit the golf ball.

As a beginning golfer, you are likely to have more off-of-center tee shots each round than you will have smashes off the sweet spot. For that reason, forgiveness should be your top priority when beginners are choosing a driver.

To put it in terms of another sport, such as bowling, think of it as a less-than-perfect release down the lane. Is the result going to be a gutter ball, a complete zero, or will the roll result in enough pins knocked down to give you a shot at a spare? 

In golf, you want a driver that has enough forgiveness to keep your ball reasonably close to the fairway when you mishit it. Sadly, in golf there aren’t any bumpers, but I think that you get the point.

Take Advantage of Technology

In designing a driver to be forgiving, the modern golf club makers take into account clubhead design, material used, and the weighting of the club. As far as clubhead design, bigger is better, as beginners will benefit from using a driver with more surface area for contact on mishits. Most drivers today are all 460cc which is the largest a driver can legally be by the USGA.

But size alone isn’t the only component in creating a forgiving club.

Some clubs are designed with offset, this will help you tame that wild slice but can also lead to a hook. Read more about offset in golf clubs here.

The material used to make clubs plays a huge impact as well. The best drivers for beginners have a large clubhead, are made with lightweight material, and cater to a lower swing speed.

In the last 20 years, this part of the game has been revolutionized with the development of titanium, new shafts, and other lightweight materials that give you the advantage of a faster swing and larger sweet spots. The lighter the club, the easier it is to generate swing speed which creates more distance.

Don’t make the game more difficult by playing heavy, old, outdated golf clubs. Finding the right graphite shaft for your game can make all the difference!

Understanding the Sweet Spot

Yes, the golf industry likes to use a lot of terms like “sweet spot” and it can be tough for amateurs to wrap their minds around all of them. While you probably don’t have a degree from M.I.T., you can tell you that the sweet spot is precisely the optimum point on your clubhead where when you strike the ball.

If you find this spot, the golf ball will fly straight and true to achieve maximum distance for your swing. But for beginners, you’re not going to find the sweet spot that frequently, so you need to find a forgiving golf driver that makes your mishits better.

What is CG (Center of Gravity)?

To understand the sweet spot, you need to understand CG which is the “Center of Gravity.”

In a driver, the CG is that point of the clubhead where the weight is balanced. Golf club makers are finding ways to adjust this CG, by design and moveable weights, and it can make a difference in how your drives perform. 

For example, a shift of the CG of a driver forward can lead to lower loft and less spin. But moving the CG back will result in higher loft and more spin.

Simply put, CG helps amateurs, seniors (with less swing speed), and high handicappers find more fairways!

What is MOI (Moment of Inertia)?

Finally, while you have your thinking cap on, we should explain MOI or Moment of Inertia as well.

In golf language, the MOI has to do with the ability of an object to resist being twisted. The more an object resists being twisted, the higher its MOI.

In golf terms, MOI addresses what happens when the golfer mishits the ball. Since the clubhead will be making impact off center, it can lead to the twisting or rotating of the club with a result of lower ball speed and poor accuracy.

The reason is that the club will come into the ball with a shut or open face which will result in a slice or hook. Drivers designed with a high MOI are more resistant to this twisting, thus making your mishits more likely to retain ball speed and fly straighter.

All of these factors, including clubhead size, material used, CG and MOI all add up to factors that can make a club forgiving (or not forgiving). The more forgiving a club is, the more distance and accuracy you will get out of your drives.

This started back with the original Big Bertha models, and they just keep getting better. Now, with the right graphite shaft and loft angles, you will barely lose any distance with your bad shots.

Remember golf is all about making your mishits better and straighter!

>>Click here for a much deeper conversation on MOI in Golf.

Understanding Driver Loft

So what happens when you do make contact with the ball? Will it launch high into the air or take a lower flight angle that rolls out?

Each golfer is different, but ultimately this is determined by your swing and the loft of the driver. Today’s club are manufactured with loft options anywhere from 8 to 13 degrees.

Ideally, for a beginner player you are looking for the highest loft possible because a higher loft angle usually translates into longer distance. Higher loft angles will also result in less side spin and more backspin which will mean a better chance your drive stays in the fairway. Side spin moves the ball left or right depending on the face at impact.

Beginners also have a slower swing than more experienced players which makes it harder to get the ball up into the air. So starting with a driver that has more loft will help make up for this shortcoming and also keep your ball in the fairway.

Many of today’s drivers come with adjustable loft features so you can fine tune your loft angle to suit your swing. If you happen to be a beginner with a naturally fast swing then you can choose a loft angle below 10 degrees. Otherwise, you want a higher loft angle of 11-12 degrees.

Loft is key for high handicappers drivers so make sure it has plenty or you can adjust the loft as well. Luckily, most clubs are adjustable so even if you buy a 9-degree loft driver, you can increase it pretty easily.

These clubs allow each golfer for more testing and experimenting on the driving range.

Understanding Shafts in Your Golf driver

Sometimes, there is so much focus on the head of a driver and loft that we lose sight of the shaft. But this part of the clubs plays an instrumental role in how your driver performs and the shots you hit.

One change to your shaft and everything can change in your game. Shafts come rated either X for extra stiff, S for stiff, R for regular, or A/M for senior or light flex.

Experienced players with wicked fast swings can take advantage of today’s stiffest shafts, but it’s more likely that the beginning player is going to have a slower swing. The slower the swing speed, the more you will want to use either a regular shaft. And if you are a senior golfer, you may want to opt for an “A” flex or lighter shaft that helps the slowest swing.

Having the correct driver shaft is crucial to playing your best golf but remember, each golfer is different. Just because it works for your friend, doesn’t mean it will be the one for you!

The bottom line is that if your shaft does not match your swing speed, then your shaft will not flex to its capacity on your swing. The result will be a loss of distance and trajectory.

When selecting from the best driver for beginners, make sure to pay attention to the stock shaft that comes with the driver and any upgrades available at no-charge.

Each golfer should test, test, and test!

Understanding Size of Drivers

When you start your search for a driver, you might notice that most of the clubs look very similar on the market and the reason for that is that the United States Golf Association (USGA). The USGA is the governing body of golf in America and has rules about how drivers used in competition can be made.

Clubheads can’t be greater than 460cc and shafts can’t be longer than 48 inches (or shorter than 18 inches). There are also rules for manufacturers on how the club face looks and the type of grooves on the club face and how much effect on spin they may have on wedges. So don’t expect to purchase a “trampoline driver” any time soon.

Keep in mind, that you may find clubs that don’t conform to USGA rules on the market, but if you ever wanted to enter a friendly completion, you would have to leave them at home.

If you do choose a driver that has adjustable features, such as loft and moveable weights on the sole, any adjustments must be done prior to the start of a round. No adjustments can be made once the round has started even if your driver has a loose shaft or clubhead. Of course, your local foursome isn’t going to turn you into the USGA if you tinker during a round but be mindful in tournament play.

And the Best Golf Driver for High Handicapper and Beginners is …

So what is the best driver for high handicapper and beginners?

As you can tell, each golf driver has a lot of differences but any of them are likely to make your game a lot better! Beginning golfers can’t go wrong with any of the best drivers this year. But for us, the Cobra Air X Straight Neck is our choice with second place being the Callaway Paradym X. If you have a little extra cash, make sure to check out the Titleist TSR1. If you are on a budget, opt for the older model Callaway Epic Max.

Remember, the right driver isn’t always the most expensive or the newest driver. It’s the one that matches your swing, path, and golf goals. With all the drivers for beginners, it’s never been easier to hit more fairways and shoot lower scores.

Some drivers can help reduce slice, while others can increase distance. But the purchasing decision starts by understanding your ball speed, swing speed, and what you need to hit the ball consistently.

While these clubs will help, don’t forget that you still should improve your swing by finding a coach, taking lessons, and/or hitting the range. After you improve your swing, don’t be afraid to sell your old driver and use that money to move up to the next level of drivers.