I tested every 2025 driver – and here’s the straightest one
Last updated:
Want a driver that keeps you on the straight and narrow? We put every 2025 model to the test, and one stood out as the most accurate of them all.
When you’re trying to choose the best golf driver for your game, it’s easy to be seduced by distance. Go for a custom fitting and your eyes will constantly glance towards the ‘Carry Distance’ metric on the screen.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. Hitting drives as far as possible is enjoyable and the facts show a clear correlation between driving distance and scores/handicap.
But distance isn’t everything.
It’s no good gaining 20 yards if it just puts you constantly 20 yards further into the trees. In fact, new research suggests that hitting one extra fairway per round is worth foregoing 10 yards of distance.
That’s why, when testing all the 2025 golf drivers, we looked at dispersion as well as distance. And one driver stood out as the straightest of them all.
How we tested the 2025 drivers
We’re dedicated to making sure we are clear and transparent on how we test equipment, so you know you can trust the data.
- For drivers, our test pro hits balls with each driver until we have six good shots, while we track every piece of data on a GC Quad launch monitor. Any drives that our test pro felt weren’t a fair representation of the club – severe mishits, etc – were discarded and replaced with another shot. Thanks to our test pro’s remarkable consistency, this was a very rare occurrence!
- Our test pro, Neil Wain, is a very consistent golfer, having played for England as an amateur before turning pro off a +4 handicap. He’s a highly regarded player, coach, and custom fitter.
- The test was conducted under strict conditions, overseen by a former Team GB bio-mechanist, at an indoor facility. We chose to test indoors to eliminate the influence of wind or temperature changes.
- We used the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball.
- All of the drivers were tested in the same loft and using the same shaft.
Although the testing was as consistent as can be, it’s worth noting that metrics like dispersion are heavily user-influenced and can vary from day to day. You only have to look at the best players in the world to see that. One day they can’t miss, the next they’re struggling (in relative terms). Anyone who’s played golf will understand the endless mystery of why your swing produces different results from one round to the next.
We share this dispersion data to give you an idea of which drivers might be the straightest, but can’t make any promises that buying one means you’ll never miss another fairway!
The straightest driver of 2025
The Wilson Dynapower LS emerged as the straightest driver in testing. It had an incredibly tight left-right dispersion of just 13.6 yards, meaning less-than-perfect drives stayed within a very manageable range. While its carry distance of 286.4 yards wasn’t the longest, it more than made up for it with its accuracy.
Why the Wilson Dynapower LS stood out
- Consistent Spin: A stable spin rate of 2228 rpm helped maintain control and predictability.
- Optimal Launch: A 12.8° launch angle produced a solid, reliable ball flight.
- Tight Dispersion: With just 13.6 yards of left-right dispersion, it was a fairway-finder like no other.
- Decent distance: The Wilson DynaPower LS averaged 286.4 yards of carry, ranking it 11th of all drivers for distance.
- Value-for-money: Whilst not a factor in our testing or results, the DynaPower is significantly cheaper than the newest drivers from leading brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, and Ping. If you can save some money while losing fewer balls to the jungle, that’s a win-win.
| Make | Model | Club Speed (mph) | Ball Speed (mph) | Carry Distance (yds) | Spin Rate (rpm) | Launch Angle (°) | Peak Height (yds) | Descent Angle (°) | Offline (yds) | L-R Dispersion (yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | Dynapwr LS (back) | 114.6 | 161.6 | 282.1 | 2408 | 12.9 | 36.8 | 41.4 | 2.9 | 15.9 |
| TaylorMade | Qi35 Max | 115.8 | 162.3 | 275.4 | 2825 | 11.4 | 35.7 | 41.3 | -19.1 | 16.7 |
| TaylorMade | Qi35 Core (back) | 115.9 | 162.4 | 275.8 | 2856 | 11.7 | 36.7 | 41.9 | -7.0 | 17.9 |
| Wilson | Dynapwr Max | 113.9 | 161.5 | 273.2 | 2887 | 12.6 | 38.8 | 44.0 | 5.7 | 18.7 |
| Cobra | DarkSpeed X (back) | 116.7 | 161.4 | 276.8 | 2777 | 12.9 | 39.6 | 44.0 | -7.7 | 21.5 |
| Cleveland | HiBore XL | 113.6 | 160.3 | 277.9 | 2561 | 12.5 | 36.7 | 41.9 | -15.0 | 24.7 |
| PXG | Black Ops (forward) | 113.7 | 163.1 | 280.1 | 2610 | 11.2 | 34.0 | 40.3 | 1.5 | 25.6 |
| Titleist | GT2 | 115.5 | 163.1 | 280.4 | 2728 | 12.1 | 37.9 | 41.9 | -9.2 | 26.2 |
| Callaway | Elyte X | 116.0 | 163.9 | 282.2 | 2585 | 11.9 | 35.4 | 40.5 | -11.1 | 26.7 |
| Cobra | Max D | 117.7 | 163.3 | 276.1 | 2963 | 13.0 | 42.1 | 45.3 | -14.3 | 29.2 |
| Ping | G440 Max | 115.1 | 163.1 | 281.8 | 2702 | 12.9 | 39.9 | 43.7 | -12.0 | 31.9 |
| Mizuno | ST-Max | 115.1 | 162.4 | 281.7 | 2519 | 12.8 | 37.3 | 42.1 | -3.5 | 32.3 |
| Srixon | ZXi LS (back) | 116.4 | 161.8 | 282.6 | 2337 | 11.8 | 33.3 | 39.4 | -21.3 | 33.0 |
| Cobra | Max K | 114.6 | 160.6 | 276.1 | 2646 | 12.2 | 36.0 | 41.8 | -3.3 | 33.5 |
| Cobra | DarkSpeed X (forward) | 116.2 | 161.1 | 281.4 | 2443 | 12.9 | 37.1 | 42.1 | -22.7 | 36.7 |
| PXG | Black Ops (back) | 113.2 | 162.5 | 278.0 | 2696 | 12.0 | 36.7 | 42.1 | -7.1 | 41.9 |
| Ping | G440 SFT | 115.9 | 161.8 | 275.3 | 2859 | 13.7 | 41.9 | 46.8 | -39.4 | 42.5 |
| Srixon | ZXi Core | 115.3 | 161.1 | 275.4 | 2822 | 13.4 | 40.9 | 45.0 | -9.9 | 48.4 |
| Titleist | GT4 (back) | 117.2 | 163.1 | 277.7 | 2876 | 12.8 | 39.7 | 43.5 | -0.9 | 50.9 |
Honorable mentions
While the Wilson Dynapwr LS took the top spot as the straightest driver of 2025, a few other drivers performed exceptionally well:
- Ping G440 LST: With a dispersion of 17.7 yards and a carry distance of 289.8 yards, this was one of the most forgiving drivers.
- TaylorMade Qi35 LS: Offering a best-in-test carry distance of 298 yards and a dispersion of 23.3 yards, it provided an impressive balance of distance and accuracy.
- Titleist GT3: Combining a 25.2-yard dispersion with a carry of 292.8 yards, the GT3 is a great all-around choice.
So, should you buy the Wilson DynaPower LS?
Whilst it’s important to do your own testing, if you’re looking for a driver that keeps you in the fairway without sacrificing too much distance, the Wilson Dynapwr LS is well worth trying. Its accuracy and reliability make it a fantastic choice for golfers who prioritize staying in play.
In his extended review, TG Golf Equipment Writer James Hogg said: “I was astonished by how forgiving the Wilson DynaPowe LS driver is. Usually, low-spin drivers are punishing if you miss the middle or don’t quite put a perfect swing on it – not with the Dynapower LS. I was never scared of a bad shot because I knew the results wouldn’t be terrible.
“I would go as far as to say that the Dynapower LS is the best driver Wilson have ever made. It has it all.”
Pros
- Extremely confidence-inspiring for an LS head
- More forgiving than I would have expected
- Very similar performance to the Carbon with the option to reduce spin and launch further with the weighting system
- Looks and feels amazing
- Distance is very competitive
- Good choice of shaft and grip options
- Really well-priced
Cons
- Not going to have as much appeal as the Carbon
- Doesn't have the same Tour approval as other brands
| Lofts | 8° / 9° / 10.5° |
| Head Sizes | 8° & 9° - 445cc | 10.5° - 450cc |
| Shaft Flex Options | Regular | Stiff | X-Stiff |
| Standard Shaft Length | 45.75” |
| Stock Shaft Option | True Temper Denali Black 60 |
| Stock Grip | Lamkin Crossline 360 Black |
| Lie Angle | 57.0° |
- Optimized aerodynamic shaping
- Sound engineered
- PKR-360
- Open Hosel Construction
- Maximum Adjustability
READ NEXT: These are the drivers that will gain you the most yards in 2025… but there’s a catch!
-
Testing the TaylorMade Qi35 vs. the Callaway Elyte
