Every year, golf equipment companies release their latest and greatest in the driver category, each packed with an abundance of speed and performance.
In a market that’s jam-packed with an ever-revolving door of new options, it’s natural for consumers to want to reduce the noise and simply test the “best” driver out there. The problem is there’s no one-size-fits-all driver that’s ideal for every individual golfer. Instead, the more useful question to ask is, “What’s the best new driver for my game?”
ClubTest 2021: 22 innovative new drivers tested and reviewed
Each manufacturer has different design philosophies, materials and technologies. Most companies also release more than one model to help golfers with differing needs.
Simply put, a holy grail of drivers does not exist to suit the gamut of players whose swing speeds vary from modest to super-fast. Moreover, one particular driver model from a certain company can’t be the highest spinning and lowest spinning at the same time, nor the most draw-biased and the most fade-biased or the highest launching and lowest launching — all things you should take into consideration.
Therefore, the first step to finding your perfect driver is to figure out what problems you need to address. Are you a fast-speed player who hits the ball too high? A slow-speed player who slices the ball? Self-awareness is key when buying a new driver. To help in your search for the best big stick, consider these five top performers from our 2021 ClubTest. Here’s to longer and straighter drives.
BEST FOR LOW SPIN: Ping G425 LST
Ping’s G425 “LST” model, which stands for Low Spin Technology, has a compact 445cc clubhead and interior weighting that’s built to reduce backspin for penetrating drives.
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Titleist TSi1
Weighing in at 40 grams lighter than Titleist’s standard TSi2 or TSi3 drivers, the TSi1 helped our slower-speed testers find more distance and height.
BEST FOR DRAW BIAS: Callaway Epic Max
Due to the new weighting structure of Callaway’s Epic Max, our testers found this driver helped reduce a pesky slice with ease.
BEST FOR HIGH LAUNCH: Srixon ZX5
Srixon’s Rebound Frame Technology and triangular rear weight helps deliver higher and straighter drives for golfers who need more carry and forgiveness.
BEST FOR FADE BIAS: TaylorMade SIM2
Not every golfer wants to draw the ball. For those who need help controlling a hook, testers found the TaylorMade SIM2 to induce the most fade spin during flight.
