10 golf equipment expert testers reveal the driver they use in their own game – and why
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The TG team does an extensive test of every single driver model – but which ones have stayed in our own golf bags long-term?
We do a heck of a lot of driver testing here at Today’s Golfer. We test every new model on a launch monitor and on the course to review it and see how it compares to the best golf drivers available. Our extensive testing also lets us identify the longest golf drivers, the most forgiving golf drivers, the best anti-slice drivers, the best low-spin drivers, and plenty more.
Once the initial testing is done, we are lucky enough to be able to keep most of the drivers for an extended period, which means we can test it across multiple rounds, on different courses and in different conditions, to see if our first impressions and launch monitor data are backed up by real world, on-course performance.
The sum of all this is that we’re rather discerning when it comes to choosing the drivers we keep in our own golf bags. Here’s a breakdown of the models we can’t let go of and why.
What drivers do the TG test team actually use?
Sarah Pyett, Deputy Digital Editor, 4 handicap
I currently use the Cobra Darkspeed MAX driver. It’s a ladies’ spec driver head but with a men’s regular flex shaft.
I like the forgiveness that the ladies’ head offers, and the adjustability which allows me to tweak loft and weighting options. My swing is too quick for the ladies’ flex shaft that comes as standard, so I swapped it for a men’s regular flex, which is much more suited to my game.
It’s the first driver I’ve hit for a long time where I feel I can place the ball where I want it from the tee.
The most forgiving and draw-biased Cobra Darkspeed driver
Best draw-bias Cobra driver
Rrp: $549.00
Rrp: $549.00
By moving the heavier 12g weight further back you will also increase the forgiveness as the MOI is heightened. Depending on how bad your slice is, the MyFly adjustability can produce even more draw-bias when the heavier weight is in the heel.
Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Max driver review.
Chris Jones, Magazine Editor, 12 handicap
When PXG opened their new fitting center in Surrey earlier this year, I was invited down for a full bag fitting. I tried the 0311 GEN6 drivers, before settling on the distance and forgiveness combo on offer from the PXG 0311 XF – with a larger head optimized to deliver max forgiveness and adjustable weight ports to make it easier to square the face.
After almost eight months in the bag – no mean feat considering I can sneak into the TG gear cupboard to try any driver whenever I want – I absolutely love it. Distance-wise it’s no slouch. But the big bonus for me is the forgiveness. This driver gets me out of trouble, all the time. The head is undoubtedly forgiving, but the combination of head (which looks great) and an aftermarket Fujikura Ventus Black shaft (a £200 upgrade) mean I’ve had one of my most consistent seasons off the tee in a long, long time. There have been rounds when I’ve hit EVERY fairway, which is unprecedented. It’s going to take something special to get this out of my bag.
I’ve tried all the 2024 drivers, but this head/shaft combo hits the sweet spot for my swing.
Rob McGarr, Contributing Editor, 3 handicap
Despite not being a fan of its long and fairly ridiculous name, I use the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond and can’t fault it.
I went for an extensive fitting and tested all the big boys – TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Callaway, Mizuno, maybe some others I’ve since forgotten – and the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond unequivocally delivered the best results. I’ve always been fitted into low-spin drivers so it wasn’t a big shock.
I tested plenty of the more “forgiving” models – from Callaway and other brands – but none matched the numbers I got from the Triple Diamond. Driver is typically the strongest part of my game and I don’t tend to miss the middle of the face by miles very often so I wasn’t too worried about needing extra off-center forgiveness. Besides, a mate I play with regularly has the exact same model and often hits it so far off the toe or heel that the whole ball print isn’t even on the face; much to my frustration, those drives typically still end up in play and don’t seem to give up much distance, so I feel confident that the Triple Diamond will be plenty forgiving if I ever start spraying strike locations all over the face.
I’d been using the Callaway Epic Sub Zero for seven years before making the switch and the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond has added 5-10 yards, so it was worth making the change.
I did a second fitting session to dial into shafts more deeply and ended up buying a Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue. It’s an extra stiff which I probably don’t have the speed to justify – I’m clocking in at 100-105mph – but it immediately felt extremely solid and the results were impossible to argue with.
Callaway's smart-faced and low-spinning offering for 2024.
If you do fit the bill and your game is based on consistent hitting at high speeds, our test data highlights the TD as a brilliant performing low spin driver in 2024. At 276 yards carry distance, it was just a single yard back from the very longest and was our test pro’s 2nd longest low-spin driver, posting an overall shot area (593 yds2) just inside our test average. This is a seriously fast, powerful, and strong low-spin driver option, so strong it ranks among our top two performing low-spin drivers of 2024 (alongside the TaylorMade Qi10 LS).
TG Test Pro Data (Denali S shaft – Back Weight):
Ball Speed: 161.9 mph | Backspin: 2099 rpm | Carry: 277 yds | Shot Area: 424.5 yds2
Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond driver review.
Pros
- The new Smart Face concept is a really clever idea to tailor drivers more to your game.
- With four models to choose between, there's a driver solution in the Ai-Smoke family for everyone.
- Expect a good-looking, fast, and lovely-sounding driver.
Cons
- Remember this is the least forgiving driver in the Ai-Smoke family.
| Lofts | 8° / 9° / 10.5° |
| Stock shafts | Project X Cypher 2.0 (High Launch), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue (Mid Launch), Project X Denali Black (Low Launch) |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 |
Simon Daddow, Equipment Editor, 10 handicap
As a really short hitter, I put a huge premium on hitting the fairway, as I know if I don’t I very rarely score well. I’ve played the PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver for a couple of years now and really like its simplicity.
The XF sits really well at address; I like how its big footprint inspires confidence and how the crown is matt black and not shiny or distracting with loud woven carbon fiber up top.
Over multiple range and course sessions the model has proven its worth over my previous Ping G400 SFT, so much so I’m confident in my ability to now consistently shape shots back into the fairway from the left-hand side.
No driver is going to help me hit 300-yard bombs, and at my speed after being fitted for tons of drivers I know there’s not huge amounts to choose between the leading models when fitted correctly, but it’s the confidence I get from finding fairways that says the XF is good for my game. I love it when opponents comment on how I’m always hitting second shots from the cut grass.
If you’re a short hitter buying a driver, pay full attention to the shaft you buy into. If you can explore premium options then do so. They won’t make your centered strikes any faster or longer, but your off-center hits are more likely to find the fairway as premium shafts are more stable than lower-spec stock options.
A powerful and stable option that stands up to the best in this category.
I played the XF throughout 2023 and loved how its super forgiving set-up helps me find a ton of fairways, a trait my short-hitting game is based around. The head sits beautifully square behind the ball and its big profile looks incredibly forgiving without ever being distracting. Admittedly at my swing speed, there’s not a ton of gains to be had in terms of ball speed or carry distance between the nine different models tested. That said, the PXG did produce my longest carry distance and 3rd smallest dispersion area within the category. If you’re looking for a forgiving easy to square driver in 2024, the XF is an exceptional option. Just make sure you get fitted to maximize your fairway finding potential.
Read our full PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver review.
Pros
- These are the best-looking drivers PXG has made.
- There's a good selection of stock shafts plus lots of premium upgrade choices.
- PXG's weight and length fitting capability is second to none.
Cons
- Keep an eye on the PXG website as prices can fluctuate regularly.
| Lofts | 9° / 10.5° / 12° |
| Stock shafts | Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue, Mitsubishi Diamana S+, Aldila Rogue Elite Blue, Project X Cypher, Project X Smoke Blue RDX, EvenFlow Riptide. |
| Stock grip | PXG Z5 Black. |
Michael Catling, Features Editor, 10 handicap
Shortly after I joined TG in 2016, I was given a brief to do a feature on custom fitting at Ping’s national center in Gainsborough. They fitted me for a brand-new set of clubs and I’ve had the Ping G Driver in my bag ever since. We’ve all heard the saying, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’… Well, my driving has always been s*** regardless of what club I use. Or so I thought… hence the twist in my tale.
After returning to golf this year following a long layoff, curiosity bit the Cat(ling) and I dabbled with a few newer models. And yet… I couldn’t find anywhere near the same level of comfort I got with the Ping. The Ping G sits lovely at address and the ball flies off the face like a missile when I do occasionally find the sweet spot. I’m sure a newer model could gain me a few extra yards, but is it worth shelling out an extra 400 quid when that money could be put to better use in improving me, the inconsistent golfer? I would suggest not!
James Hogg, Golf Equipment Writer, 5 handicap
A driver is 100% my Kryptonite at the moment, which is incredibly frustrating because my performance off the tee is what helped me achieve my handicap.
I was forced to make the difficult decision to remove a driver from the bag altogether because I can’t launch it high enough or stop it from hooking.
I don’t want you to feel too sorry for me because I do have a Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Ti-340 Mini Driver in play that’s much more predictable.
Obviously, with launch being the main issue for me, the Mini Driver having more loft than a driver definitely helps. Also, the shorter shaft gives me more control.
I don’t lose much distance from a driver, maybe 10-15 yards at most; but, because I’m hitting this better than a driver, it often actually ends up going farther and straighter.
The two drivers I’ve decided to ditch completely are the Callaway Mavrik Zub Zero – which worked well for me for a long time but now it’s completely the wrong set up being a low-spin head – and the PXG Gen 5 0311, which I prefer to the Mavrik SZ but I still have a massive issue in getting the ball in the air with it. I think this is more a shaft-related problem but for now I’m steering clear of drivers and sticking with the Mini.
Will Shreeve-Peacock, Golf Equipment Writer, 6.2 handicap
Earlier this year I had the chance to replace my TaylorMade Stealth thanks to the kind folks at PXG. After spending the full day at the range with one of their master fitters I came away with not only a new driver but a full set of clubs! It was going to take a lot to dethrone the Stealth that I’d gamed for the past two years but the PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour Golf Driver was welcomed into the promised land (aka my golf bag) as soon as it was delivered.
Having fallen in love with the TaylorMade it was hard to let it go. A combination of distance and accuracy was why I had the Stealth in the bag and going into the fitting this is what I was after with the Black Ops. I tend to spin the ball a lot with my woods and my miss was high and right so if I could lose some of that and get a tighter distribution it might be enough to convince me to switch.
I’ve gained some speed in my swing this year, so I knew a change in shaft was on the horizon, but I didn’t quite know what a difference it could make. I got fit for the Fujikura Ventus Black, and it made such a difference to my ball flight that I was really impressed. This shaft and 8° Black Ops head combination worked a treat for lowering my spin and keeping my dispersion tighter.
Designed to deliver maximum forgiveness without compromise.
While we've yet to get Black Ops into the hands of our test pro, PXG's comparative data shows the Tour-1 as spinning almost 600 rpm less than the GEN6, launching 1° lower, and with an increased ball speed of 1 mph. A larger shot area than the GEN6 is a good reason to still consider 2023's breakthrough model, although reading too deeply into dispersion data can be dangerous. The early uptake of the Tour-1 by PXG’s tour staff however is a good early indicator that the driver will stack up well at the elite level, and will be competitive with the best low-spinning drivers on the market in 2024
Read our full PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver review.
Pros
- The Black Ops Tour-1 is PXG's most complete high-performance driver to date.
- The unique launch characteristics appear to help mishit performance.
- There's a good selection of stock shafts plus lots of premium upgrade choices.
- PXG's weight and length fitting capability is second to none.
Cons
- Keep an eye on the PXG website as prices can fluctuate regularly.
| Lofts | 8° / 9° / 10.5° |
| Stock shafts | A range of premium shaft options are available. |
| Stock grip | PXG Z5 Black as standard. |
Rob Jerram, Digital Editor, 9.9 handicap
I thought I’d go to the grave as a Ping man, but one eye-opening 2023 fitting session later and my ten-year relationship with Mr Solheim’s brand was over. I was lured into Callaway’s Paradym driver thanks to some serious distance gains and dispersion improvements, not only over my beloved gamer, but all the year’s other models.
However, while the performance (and sound) benefits were magnificent, I never truly loved the look of Paradym at address, its dark blue crown and contrasting leading edge not quite suiting my eye, especially when the rarely spotted UK sun hit it.
Paradym Ai Smoke launched at the start of this year with a more subtle, grey crown and, like an adulterous husband, I immediately felt my eye wandering to this younger, better-looking model. Thankfully, the performance lived up to the looks.
I tested the standard and Max heads against my Paradym on our launch monitor and could easily have gamed either of the new models, but the Max just edged it thanks to a slightly higher level of forgiveness and control.
My head is 10.5º, knocked down to 9º and, after a fair bit of tinkering, I have the adjustable rear weight between neutral and the heel to help my shape. I’d happily keep Ai Smoke Max in the bag for the next season and am far from an equipment tinkerer, but…
While we can’t talk about the 2025 products yet due to embargoes and NDAs, I spent some time testing Callaway’s new models in Sotogrande in October. After a full morning on the range hitting the drivers and crunching numbers, I then found 13 of 14 fairways with one of the new models during an afternoon round at La Reserva Club. My head had again been turned. I plan to switch into the standard head of the new model when it’s released early next year. I gained clubhead speed, my carry distance went up by just under five yards on average, and my dispersion tightened marginally. But it was the consistency across the face and the ease with which it got the ball out there that means the excellent Ai Smoke will prove to be nothing more than another year-long fling.
A sweeter performance no matter where shots hit the face.
At 272 yards the Max was our test pro's longest-carrying forgiving driver of 2024 (with and without a non-stock shaft). Unexpectedly this model (with the stock Tensei Blue shaft) also gave our test pro his tightest shot area across two test days. With shots being grouped into an area 37.6% smaller than our second-placed driver (the TaylorMade Qi10 Max) and 61.8% tighter than the test average. Just bear in mind though that dispersion figures usually change from session to session, so we can't say this model will necessarily be more accurate on the golf course over a season than a 10K MOI driver.
TG Test Pro Data (Tensei S shaft):
Ball Speed: 161.5 mph | Backspin: 2212 rpm | Carry: 272 yds | Shot Area: 210.6 yds2
Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Max driver review.
Pros
- The new Smart Face concept is a really clever idea to tailor a driver more to your game.
- With four models to choose between, there's a driver solution in the Ai-Smoke family for everyone.
- These are good-looking, fast, and lovely-sounding drivers.
Cons
- These are some of the most costly drivers on the market.
| Lofts | 9° / 10.5° / 12° |
| Stock shafts | Project X Cypher 2.0 (High Launch), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue (Mid Launch), Project X Denali Black (Low Launch) |
| Stock grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 |
Lewis Daff, Golf Equipment Writer, 7 handicap
The Titleist GT3 driver I play has the perfect shape for my eyes. It’s classical in its looks, with a more compact, all-black pear shape that I like to help focus my eyes on the ball without any excessive graphics to distract me.
For performance, I’m looking to maximize my center strikes. Ball speed protection on mishits is fine but if I’m hitting it that poorly I’d rather work on my game to correct the strike than lose out on any distance from the middle.
Because of how I deliver the club, I can lose distance from too much height and spin so I end up in low-lofted drivers (8º or sometimes less) to optimize the flight, but that also makes it harder to find fairways. The GT’s design has allowed me to play with more loft for control without adding spin and losing distance.
I’m using a Diamana WB shaft in the driver, which keeps my ball flight penetrating yet neutral (again, helping me move it either way with less effort) but there’s a smooth yet stable feeling with the WB that is hard to replicate.
Dial in your distance
Best for Adjustability
Pros
- The ultimate driver in adjustability
- Ball speed retention off-center hits is noticeably better than TSR3
- The best-looking driver on the market
Cons
- GT2 is better for total forgiveness
| Lofts: | 8º / 9º / 10º / 11º (RH/LH) |
| Shafts: | Project X Denali Red, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue, Project X HZRDUS Black 5th Gen, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black + Premium Upcharge Graphite Design Tour AD-VF, Tour AD-DI, and Tour AD-UB |
| Grip: | Titleist Universal 360 Grip |
| Weight Options: | 4g / 6g / 8g (Standard) / 10g / 12g / 14g |
- Proprietary Matrix Polymer material
- Thermoform Process Crown
- Split Mass Internal Technology
- Improved Aerodynamics
- Enhanced SpeedRing VFT
- Tour-Inspired Graphics
Ross Tugwood, Senior Digital Writer, Handicap 13.8
I was fortunate enough to be fitted for the PXG 0311 Black Ops Driver at the back end of 2023. Driving is the “least worst” part of my game so I didn’t want to take any backward steps by swapping out my trusty Cobra King SpeedZone, but 12 months down the line I haven’t looked back.
I’ve no doubt that being in an optimized set-up has been more beneficial than anything else, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the powerful muted sound of this driver when I catch one out the middle.
I’ve not seen a noticeable change in yardage, but I’m convinced my mini-slice is starting to cling on to more fairways than it deserves. Our test-pro also agreed that this is one of the most forgiving drivers on the market.
Also, looks are far higher on my agenda than they should be. The Black Ops large tear-drop profile is confidence-inspiring behind the ball and I’m not sure there’s a better-looking model out there at the moment.
Maximum forgiveness without sacrifices for all abilities
Best for all abilities
With CG now able to sit lower and further back, engineers have been able to create a high launch angle and low spin rate combination that reportedly delivers increased distance performance and forgiveness. We've yet to get Black Ops in the hands of our test pro, but from our initial hit-out in PXG's London South simulator, the driver appears to deliver on its high launch-low spin promise, producing competitive ball speeds and most importantly, tightening dispersion.
Read our full PXG 0311 Black Ops driver review
Pros
- PXG Black Ops drivers look the business, sound explosive, and feel exceptional
- The unique high launch and low spinning combination is highly appealing
- There's a good selection of stock shafts plus lots of premium upgrade choices
- PXG's weight and length fitting capability is second to none
Cons
- Keep an eye on the PXG website as prices can fluctuate regularly
| Lofts | 8° / 9° / 10.5° / 12.5° |
| Stock shafts | A range of premium shaft options are available |
| Stock grip | PXG Z5 Black as standard |
So there you have it. Four PXG drivers means 40% of the TG team are using Bob Parsons’ creations, while Callaway are second with three, if you include James ‘Why can’t I stop topping driver?’ Hogg’s mini variant. Cobra, Ping, and Titleist each have one model represented. I was surprised to see no TaylorMade drivers, given their popularity on tour, and no modern Ping models, considering how forgiving their latest releases are.
READ MORE: Equipment experts reveal the golf ball they use – and why
READ MORE: How to choose the best driver shaft for you
About the author
Rob McGarr – Contributing Editor
Rob has been a writer and editor for over 15 years, covering all manner of subjects for leading magazines and websites.
He has previously been Features Editor of Today’s Golfer magazine and Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com, and held roles at FHM, Men’s Running, Golf World, and MAN Magazine.
You can follow him on YouTube where – depending on what day of the week it is – he’ll either be trying his best to get his handicap down to scratch or shoving his clubs in a cupboard, never to be seen again.
Rob is a member at Royal North Devon, England’s oldest golf course, where he plays off a three-handicap.
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We do an extensive test of every single driver model – but which ones stay in our golf bags long-term?
