ClubTest 2020: These 6 drivers will eliminate your slice
There's a driver for everyone in the 2020 lineup, including those who want to fix a slice.
Jonathan Wall
The slice is one of the most terrifying mis-hits in all of golf. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck on the downswing and watching helplessly as your golf ball peels away into oblivion. You can find tips to help you fix the most common miss in golf. Another option to help negate the banana ball is to locate a slice-buster driver. Nowadays, manufacturers have draw-biased products that help make crooked shots playable. With more weight positioned in the heel of the head, it’s easier to turn the club over and get it back to square at impact. A straighter drive is something every golfer can embrace.
With that in mind, take a look at 6 drivers from GOLF’s jam-packed 2020 ClubTest (which included robot testing) that should help you add accuracy to your tee shots.
Callaway Mavrik Max
Lofts: 9 ̊, 10.5 ̊, 12 ̊ / Price: $499 / BUY NOW
Our take: What happens when you invest in a powerful supercomputer capable of spitting out 15,000-plus face designs in a matter of a few days? You end up with products like Mavrik Max. One of the most requested drivers during GOLF’s player testing, the ultra-forgiving, draw-biased Max is highlighted by an AI-designed Flash Face SS20 architecture (made from an exotic FS2S titanium) that’s six grams lighter than traditional materials. The red-hot face is paired with an aerodynamic crown and the company’s JailBreak Technology to improve ball speed and the overall efficiency of the clubhead. And with weight ports positioned in the heel and back of the sole, it’s possible to max out the slice-busting technology or go for even more forgiveness, depending on where you position the 14-gram weight. Landing near the top in multiple performance categories in year one of production establishes Mavrik Max as a legitimate force in the driver category. The club was a mile per hour faster than the average ball speed for all drivers tested, while also ranking near the top in accuracy. It’s the kind of combination that should appeal to a wide range of handicaps, especially those who fight a slice.
ClubTester’s take (16-hdcp): “My slice suddenly became nonexistent — as was my awful toe miss. This almost feels like cheating.”
Robot’s take: High swing speed players will benefit from ball speed, a draw bias and impressive accuracy. Slower swingers can expect more carry, draw bias.
MORE INFO ON THE CALLAWAY MAVRIK MAX DRIVER
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Draw
Loft: 10.5 ̊ / Price: $350 / BUY NOW
Our take: Designed to eliminate a slice, HB Turbo Draw offers a variable cup face that expands the sweet spot and ramps up speed. A redesigned HiBore crown lowers the center of gravity for a high launch. Also comes in a standard version without the draw bias.
ClubTester’s take (13-hdcp): “Can turn the ball over on command. I love the matte finish.”
Robot’s take: The draw bias works. Heel misses mitigated across both swing speeds.
MORE INFO ON THE CLEVELAND LAUNCHER HB TURBO DRAW DRIVER
Cobra F-Max Airspeed Offset
Lofts: 9.5 ̊,10.5 ̊, 11.5 ̊ / Price: $329 / BUY NOW
Our take: Cobra’s lightest driver comes in at a feathery 285 grams. Internal weight concentrated low and toward the heel is designed to help turn the ball over. If that doesn’t eliminate your slice, an offset hosel should correct rightward tendencies.
ClubTester’s take (18-hdcp): “Offset hosels might not appeal to everyone, but it really helped me turn the ball over.”
Robot’s take: Ranked near the top in delivering a draw-shot bias for mid-speed swingers.
MORE INFO ON THE COBRA F-MAX AIRSPEED OFFSET DRIVER
PING G410 SFT
Loft: 10.5˚ / Price: $399 / BUY NOW
Our take: You can always count on PING to create one of the most forgiving drivers on the market. But with the G410 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) forgiveness is just one part of the equation. A fixed weight on the perimeter, lighter D1 swingweight and 50 percent more heel-side CG than its predecessor (G400) all but guarantee golfers won’t see a lot of slices. If straightening out your shots doesn’t get you excited, a T9S+ precision-machined forged face and reinforced “creased crown” design dishes out all the ball speed and mishit protection you can handle. Testers commented that the G410 SFT seemed to hang in the air longer than some of the other products tested. Those findings were confirmed by the robot, where the driver spit out roughly 500 rpm more spin, on average, than the pack.
ClubTester’s take (12-hdcp): “Makes me feel like I can hit a driver again. Nukes my slice into oblivion.”
Robot’s take: Fast swingers will find a high launch, spin and plentiful heel forgiveness. Ditto for those in the sub-95 mph range.
MORE INFO ON THE PING G410 SFT DRIVER
TaylorMade SIM Max D
Lofts: 9˚, 10.5˚, 12˚ / Price: $500 / BUY NOW
Our take: Delivers the same forgiveness package as SIM Max, but with a built-in draw bias aimed at attacking slices. Low spin properties should help, too. Also features an 18 percent larger face than SIM.
ClubTester’s take (12-hdcp): “Haven’t hit one like this in years where my slice isn’t a problem.”
Robot’s take: Data confirms the Max D’s ability to reel in slices and reduce spin.
MORE INFO ON THE TAYLORMADE SIM MAX D DRIVER
Titleist TS1
Lofts: 9.5˚, 10.5˚, 12.5˚ / Price: $499 / BUY NOW
Our take: Made for moderate swing speed players who need a higher launch, more spin and a slight draw bias. The lightweight 275-gram head generates roughly 200 rpm more spin than the TS2, yet boasts the same crown, face and hosel technology as the other TS models.
ClubTester’s take (12-hdcp): “Straightened out my slice in three shots. Three. That’s incredible.”
Robot’s take: A highly accurate option for fast swingers. Mid-speed players will benefit from the TS1’s ability to deliver ample spin and height.
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