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No two golfers have identical swings. Why, then, would we assume (or be led to assume) that any two golfers would require exactly the same thing from their equipment?
It’s our mission to understand what equipment best serves each unique golfer. The desire to capture more data is why our 2020 Most Wanted Driver Test consisted of 35 real humans and captured more than 15,540 shots. The more we know about the performance of each of the 37 drivers in our test, the better we can help narrow your choices.
It’s tempting to watch the PGA TOUR and assume the same drivers that work for the pros will also serve you. The data say otherwise.
Once again, we’re segmenting our data for 2020 to provide more meaningful information to the individual golfer. We’ve broken down our driver test results into three different swing speed categories. Today, we’re focusing on slow swing speeds (less than 94 miles per hour).
Whether you’re an off-the-rack buyer, someone who’s constantly tweaking your gear or a golfer who is going to take the time to get fitted by a knowledgeable professional, we’re here to help you.
While overall results for the Most Wanted Driver test yielded small differences, the slow swing speed group showed a whopping 13.6 yards of difference between the longest and shortest drivers.
Most Wanted For Slow Swing Speeds: Honma XP-1





Expert Consultant - Lou Stagner
Lou serves as the Director, Analytics at a multi-billion dollar privately held company. He has over 20 years of experience in analytics, data architecture, and machine learning across a variety of industries, including finance, manufacturing, and energy. Lou recently partnered with Scott Fawcett, creator of the DECADE system, where together, they use stats & analytics to help improve the games of professional and amateur golfers.
Follow @LouStagner on Twitter | PlayingLesson.com
Driver Buying Considerations
Performance should be your primary concern when buying a new driver but there are additional considerations you may want to think about before you make your purchase.
ADJUSTABILITY
By leveraging the adjustability provided by club manufacturers, you can often turn a good driver into a great driver. Most everything on the market has an adjustable hosel which allows the golfer to tweak loft and face angle. Many golfers benefit from the draw and fade options available on drivers like the PING G410 Plus, Titleist TS3 and Mizuno ST200G, to name a few.
Others benefit from the launch, spin and MOI changes offered by front-to-back weight systems like those on the Cobra King SpeedZone, Honma TR20 460 and Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero. For those looking for the best of both worlds, movable weight systems like those in the Mizuno ST200G and PXG 0811 X GEN2 series offer front-to-back as well as draw and fade positions.
SHAFT SELECTION
The shaft absolutely matters. For those who buy off the rack or take a DIY approach to club fitting, having a selection of stock offerings that spans a variety of weight classes and includes – at a minimum – low-, mid- and high-launch shaft options can make the difference between a driver that doesn’t perform and one that goes into your bag.
Distance vs. Forgiveness vs. Shot Shape Correction
While most every manufacturer has its version of the fast AND forgiving story, most are trying to strike the right balance that fits within their brand’s identity. The reality is that pushing ball speed limits often comes at the expense of MOI while maximizing forgiveness often means giving up a bit of speed and adding a bit of spin. It’s up to you to weigh how much speed you want against how much forgiveness you need.
It should also be noted that to create a draw bias (anti-slice correction), weight must be moved to the heel. That means pulling weight from the back of the club which often results in draw-biased models being less forgiving (lower MOI) than standard models from the same family.
Cost
The drivers in this test range in price from $199 to $650, excluding any exotic shaft upgrades. The top performers tend to fall towards the higher end of that price range. For example, $500 can get you a brand-new Callaway Mavrik Max. While $500 is rapidly becoming the new entry-level, those leveraging a cost-per-yard formula will have a hard time justifying paying that much.

PING G410 Plus-Runner Up
PING delivered with the G410 series and the Plus is no exception. The Plus has outstanding fitting versatility and finished second overall in the Best Drivers of 2020 test. It produced consistent results in all metrics and placed third in strokes gained for slow swing speeds. No matter your stroke style, the G410 Plus is worth considering.
2020 Most Wanted DRIVER DATA
To filter and compare by club, use the drop-down list and checkboxes to select only the drivers you wish to compare. Mobile users should rotate their phones to landscape mode.
EXPERT TIP- Flat Settings
If you hook the ball look for a driver with a flat setting to help turn your hook into a mini draw. EX. Ping has created a tip that allows you to drop it into a flat setting, claiming it adjusts nearly three degrees flatter than standard.
SLOW SWING SPEEDS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN 2020, SIMPLIFIED.
Congratulations, you’ve read further than most of your peers. So if you’re here, you get bonus in-depth information. Tell your friends. If you swing under 94 miles per hour, take these notes into consideration.
- For slow swing speeds, aerodynamic features provide little to no benefit. Instead, consider longer, lighter designs such as the Titleist TS1, XXIO X and Eleven to work on gaining swing speed.
- Honma’s XP-1 is the No. 1 driver for slow swing speeds. It performed consistently well across all metrics which means improving in one category doesn’t require sacrificing in another.
- If your main concern is improving dispersion, generally expect a loss of distance with certain drivers. For example, the Inesis 500 keeps you closer to the fairway but is typically shorter off the tee for slower swing speeds.
- Perhaps forgiveness is your primary improvement focus. You certainly wouldn’t be alone and should consider a test drive with Cobra’s SpeedZone Xtreme. The SpeedZone Xtreme was one one of the most forgiving drivers in this year’s test across all swing speeds.
- You’re also not alone if you’re perpetually plagued by the dreaded slice. Callaway fans already know that if you’re looking for a draw bias option, consider the Mavrik Max. We found the Mavrik Max helps to eliminate the right side of the golf course for slow swing speeds.
- If you produce low spin rates, you probably struggle to get the ball in the air. Wilson’s Launch Pad has placed the CG further back and down, situating it near the heel of the clubhead to promote higher launch and more spin. Additionally, the Launch Pad is a draw-bias.
- Lower-spin drivers are no longer exclusive to advanced players. Data is showing that modern higher-launch designs help slow swing speed players gain distance while maintaining playability.

XXIO X Black- Slice Killer
If the slice gets you down, consider giving XXIO X Black a chance. For slower swing speed players, the draw biased weighting and upright lie angle produced the most left-favoring dispersion of drivers tested. The stock shaft is lightweight and for slower swing players, that equated to just under two miles an hour of increased ball speed compared to the group average.
MORE BUYING TIPS
- Always be aware of shaft length. Clubs that are physically longer may produce a bit more distance on your best shots but they’re also generally less accurate and less consistent. There is no industry standard for how to measure so it’s not unusual for a company’s 45.5 inches to measure closer to 46. When demo-ing, be sure to consider the actual length of the clubs you’re testing. One may generate more distance simply because the shaft is longer. In the absence of a ruler, a side-by-side examination can help you understand if a club is really longer (distance) or the shaft is just longer.
- When you use your wrench to add or reduce loft, you’re also changing the face angle. Adding loft closes the face while reducing loft opens it. While we do leverage hosel adjustments to make small changes to launch and spin, very often we use those same adjustments to alter starting direction and improve accuracy. The same approach can work for you.
- Every driver has three lofts: what’s stamped on the club, the actual loft a given manufacturer is trying to hit and the actual measured loft. When all is said and done, there isn’t as much overlap between the three as we’d hope – and that’s before we talk about center of gravity placement and dynamic loft. It’s not usual for one brand’s 9.5 to have the same loft as another’s 10.5, so if you’re a 9.5 in one manufacturer’s lineup, don’t assume you’re a 9.5 in everyone else’s.
- Not all adjustable weighting systems are created equal. If you plan to leverage adjustability to its fullest potential, look for systems that allow you to move significant mass over a wider area of the club head while keeping the weight close to the perimeter of the club.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Product | Lie | Length | Swingweight | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Ben Hogan GS53 Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D4 |
![]() | Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Check Price | 60 | 45.75 | D3.4 |
![]() | Cobra King SpeedZone Check Price | 58.5 | 45.75 | D4.2 |
![]() | Cobra King SpeedZone Xtreme Check Price | 57.5 | 45.75 | D3.8 |
![]() | Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D3.8 |
![]() | Honma TR-20 440 Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D3.7 |
![]() | Honma TR-20 460 Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D4.8 |
![]() | Honma XP-1 Check Price | 59.5 | 45.25 | D2.0 |
![]() | INESIS 500 REG Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D4.8 |
![]() | Lynx Black Cat Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D3.3 |
![]() | Callaway Mavrik Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D1.9 |
![]() | Callaway Mavrik Max Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D3.0 |
![]() | Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero Check Price | 59 | 45.5 | D4.0 |
![]() | Mizuno ST 200X Check Price | 59 | 45.5 | C7.0 |
![]() | Mizuno ST 200 Check Price | 56.5 | 45.25 | D4.5 |
![]() | Mizuno ST 200G Check Price | 56.5 | 45.25 | D3.1 |
![]() | PING G410 LST Check Price | 57 | 45.5 | D4.5 |
![]() | PING G410 Plus Check Price | 58.5 | 45.5 | D3.0 |
![]() | PING G410 SFT Check Price | 58.5 | 45.5 | D1.1 |
![]() | PXG 0811 X Check Price | 60 | 45.25 | D4.2 |
![]() | PXG 0811 XF Check Price | 60 | 45.25 | D3.2 |
![]() | Srixon Z585 Check Price | 58 | 45.25 | D3.5 |
![]() | Srixon Z785 Check Price | 58 | 45.25 | D4.7 |
![]() | Sub 70 839D Check Price | 58 | 45.25 | D4.8 |
![]() | TaylorMade Sim Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D6.5 |
![]() | TaylorMade Sim Max D Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D4.0 |
![]() | TaylorMade Sim Max Check Price | 58 | 45.75 | D4.9 |
![]() | Titleist TS4 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | D5.6 |
![]() | Titleist TS1 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | C8.0 |
![]() | Titleist TS2 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | D5.2 |
![]() | Titlesit TS3 Check Price | 58.5 | 45.25 | D4.4 |
![]() | Tommy Armour 845 Check Price | 59 | 45.25 | D3.8 |
![]() | Tour Edge HL4 Check Price | 57.5 | 45 | D1.4 |
![]() | Wilson D7 Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D2.0 |
![]() | Wilson Launch Pad Check Price | 58 | 45.5 | D2.0 |
![]() | XXIO Eleven Check Price | 59 | 45.75 | D2.9 |
![]() | XXIO X Black Check Price | 59 | 45.75 | D2.3 |
THE BEST DRIVERS FOR SLOW SWING SPEEDS 2020 – FAQ
Buying a New Driver
Q: How often should I buy a new driver?
A: While on rare occasions there are quantifiable year-over-year breakthroughs, typically it takes three to five years for manufacturers to make any significant performance gains. With the USGA further tightening restrictions on manufacturers, it’s possible, even likely, that it will take longer still moving forward. Our recommendation is to buy a new driver only when it appreciably outperforms what is already in your bag. Of course, if you want a new driver because you want a new driver, that’s fine, too.
Q: With all the talk of new face technology, is there one driver that produces significantly more ball speed?
A: Across our test pool as a whole, we found no significant ball speed advantage that can be attributed to face technology. It’s true that some drivers worked significantly better for individual golfers than others but thus far we’ve found no evidence to suggest any one brand has a significant ball-speed advantage over its competitors.
Q: Does the shaft matter?
A: Absolutely. While changes to spin and launch and spin differences are rarely massive, shaft changes frequently lead to improved accuracy, tighter dispersion and greater overall consistency.
Q: What should I look for when testing drivers?
A: While golfers have been conditioned to consider distance to the exclusion of nearly everything else, we recommended looking at the little numbers and looking for small circles. When comparing metrics like distance and ball speed, be sure to look at your standard deviations (the small numbers usually found under the big ones on the data screen). Smaller numbers mean better consistency which will usually mean more than an extra yard or two on the golf course. Similarly, look for tighter dispersion ellipses (small circles). We can’t overstate the importance of consistency with the driver.
Q: Is there any downside to adjustability?
A: Yes, but… With many designs, adjustable hosels weigh significantly more than their glued alternatives so manufacturers have to find workarounds to offset the additional weight in an area where additional weight is undesirable. Furthermore, movable weight systems require complex physical structures that eat up otherwise discretionary mass and often have sound and feel consequences. That said, in most cases, the fitting versatility more than offsets those negatives. This is especially true for golfers who choose not to work directly with a fitter.

How Adjusting Loft Impacts Launch and Spin
Did you know that adjusting the loft of your driver by 1° changes launch angle by approximately .8° and alters spin by +/-300RPM?
Most Wanted
Q: How are the drivers in test fitted to each golfer?
A: We use a fitting process that we call “fit from stock.” Drivers are fitted to each tester using the stock no up-charge options from each manufacturer. We test with stamped lofts between nine and 10.5 degrees and fully utilize the fitting capability within each manufacturer’s lineup. This includes leveraging loft, lie and face angle adjustability (hosel), movable weights and available shafts.
Q: How is the “Most Wanted Driver” determined?
A: To determine the Most Wanted Driver, we look at a variety of performance metrics based on data collected with Foresight GCQuad Launch Monitors. For each tester, we calculate strokes gained across all testers. The Most Wanted driver is the is the one that produced the highest strokes gained relative to the average across the entire test cohort
Q: How do you break down the test by swing speed?
A: In order to determine the best performing drivers at a given swing speed, we broke the data down into even groups based on testers’ average swing speed. For the low swing speeds, 12 testers in our Most Wanted Driver Test produced driver swing speeds below 95 mph.
Q: How is the “Longest Driver” determined?
A: To determine the Longest Driver, we consider the average total yards across the test pool along with the statistical reliability of that data. We also look at a narrower subset of the data that included only the longest few shots hit by each tester with each club.
Q: How is the “Most Forgiving Driver” determined?
A: To determine the Most Forgiving Driver, we focus on a narrower set of metrics that includes shot area (dispersion), accuracy and the average standard deviation for ball speed and carry yards.
Q: How much does subjective feedback like looks, sound and feel factor into your rankings?
A: ZERO. Our rankings are based purely on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.





JSC
2 months agoThe 118 ball speed is more indicative of an 82-85 mph w/ a 1.33-1..4 smash factor, which is a decent, not superlative strike. I find the data quite helpful.
scott
3 months agoSwings very so much at impact All them crazy stats mean very little . People love the Taylormade drivers for distance and Cobra too. neither worked for me. I found a low end Callaway XR Speed $140 new, best driver I ever own.. Is it the club or is it me ? Would the Epic or Maverick be even better because there Callaway and cost more , Nope crazy isn’t
Alex
5 months agoUpdate: At the Ping demo day fitting, the Ping guy compared the 410 numbers vs. the 845, he said (props to him) that he could sell me a driver, but the gains would be very small. (I told him I will be back when the 425 is demo-ed). I also got a Wilson D7 9 degree with a regular shaft from Ebay— I’ve hit some bigger drives (for me) with it but the dispersion isn’t as tight as the 845.. (Some times I’ve hit the D7 270 with firm fairways, other times 220, whereas the 845 is usually in the 230-250 range)
Scott Smith
5 months agoMany folks here will buy aftermarket shafts to adjust for their swing speed. A much more useful study would be to control for the shaft (use the same one(s) and tell us how the driver heads performs at different swing speeds.
Nick Palazzetti
5 months agoWhat does Shot Area mean? Is this dispersion? Is a higher number or a lower number better?
Thank You
alan
7 months agoWhy is the Cali EPIC STAR Flash left out of the test ??
It is specifically a senior, slow SS driver.
It is approx. 50 grams !!! lighter than a Cali Maverick.
The premium shaft is something like 30 grams with a total weight of about 260 grams with a 40 gram grip
.
THX
Johnnythunders
8 months agoYep, as my swing speed has declined, I’m 68 years old with fibromyalgia, I’m losing 2-5 mph per year over the last few years so I’m at 78-82, each year I try all the new stuff on a launch monitor using a ball I bring. I continue to stick with my Callaway fusion 10.5, this year I went down in weight from 65 to 55, replaced the 16 gram weight with an 8 and went back to regular grip, dropped 25 grams total on driver. Got two shafts, the 58 grams ventus blue velociraptor 5 Regular and the stock es 450 recoil around 55 grams. Hitting about 5-10 yards farther with a 3mph drop from last year. But a Mavrik head on my shafts, maybe a few yards but pretty much the same, so again no new driver. If you hit it in the middle, then new technology does little.
Alex
8 months agoHow come there isn’t a value pick?
Steve S
8 months agoOK, what am I missing? 118mph ball speed translates to about 79-80 mph swing speed with a 1.45-1.48 smash factor. That is no where near 94 mph or 85 or 90. They would be smash factors below 1.4 which would be pretty crappy off center strikes.
Alex
8 months agoI got the Tommy Amour 845 driver on a flash sale from Dick’s at $135. It is a low spin demon (and low launching, I had to add a degree). While I don’t hit as many big (for me) drives as my Rogue draw, the dispersion is tighter and it feels better into the wind (where I am always seemed to be fighting a balloon ball). I may consider the G410LST set to draw (the G410 plus went higher when I’ve hit it, and I worry about the balloon into the wind).
Bill
8 months agoAmazing how little real difference there is between products.
Thomas
8 months agoFinally. Why no Titleist SP1 test data
Dam good club. ? ? ?
William Dickman
8 months agoBeen a scratch golfer for over 40 years . I have tried all your tested drivers and many others. I can positively say that one driver imparts more energy on the ball and any other and that is the second generation PXG driver. With the same basic weight and the the same swing speed I saw a 12mph increase in ball speed and 30 yards more distance. NOW the strange part is , on the fly ( carry in the air) I hit the Taylormade M 5 farther with almost no roll , +/- 250 yards. Same ball, same day, same fairway, I hit the PXG only 240-245 in the air but had 30+ yards of roll. Lauch monitor data indicated the PXG driver had much less spin and lower launch angles. Both drivers had the same Fujikira shaft.
Kansas King
8 months agoIf the PXG driver makes that big of a difference for you I would imagine you could find the right shaft and loft that would provide you with huge gains. I would also make sure you are using the same ball when testing between drivers. My only other though on the huge difference could be manufacturing flaws. With manufacturers pushing the legal limits, you may have gotten tested with a nonconforming driver I’m not saying the driver was nonconforming on purpose but maybe you got a driver made wrong that caused excessive distance.
That does bring up an interesting topic of demo drivers and if they are all conforming. I’m assuming they are but it wouldn’t surprise me if OEMs goosed up their demos to sell more clubs. I wouldn’t expect demos to be tested though as the cost would be to high for too little benefit to the public. It would make for an interesting test though is if MGS got a handful of demos and had them tested for conformity. Who would ever catch a nonconforming club being sent to say Club Champion? If manufactures know they are being tested on a monitor and numbers are the only thing that matters, the incentive to cheat is real.
michael pasquill
8 months agoI am disappointed that you still are excluding the senior player market or better yet people that swing from 70-80 mph your data is not complete if you use 94 mph or less what does the or less mean not very good data gathering if you exclude that swing speed. or you just dont care about those of us that swing at that speed to help us get a better driver.
Deacon
8 months agoI totally agree. A swing speed of 80 mph is a completely different animal than a speed of 94 mph. It boggles my mind that MGS would consider swing speeds in the low 90s to be slow. They need to add a category for swing speeds less than 85 mph.
michael pasquill
8 months agoI have been saying this since the last couple of test for most wanted driver for slow speeds they just dont get it or dont care about that swing speed. and are too lazy to do the testing right for that speed
Mike
7 months agoTotally agree. Contrary to what anyone might think, and you’ve read it everywhere, the average, I said average hack drives it about 200 yards. That translates to a sub 85 MPH swing speed. I’m tired of all these testings with 110 mph speed, what low single digit % of the golfing population actually does that? Someone with that swing speed plays a completely different game than I do. Actually, when I see any sort of club or ball test, and they’re talking 110 mph swing speeds, I stop reading that article and move on. Complete waste of my time. I’m not saying those articles don’t have value, but when you have a majority of the golfing world swinging way way way less than that, I shouldn’t testing be geared evenly across the board?
Steve S
8 months agoAs someone in the “senior” demographic I get your frustration. However as swing speed gets slower the differences between clubs becomes statistically insignificant.
I have a friend that swings his driver about 80mph. He went for a fitting. After almost an hour of hitting ever club and shaft combo the fitter had the conclusion was that he might as well stick with his gamer because nothing they tested was significantly better.. I’m sure the guys at MGS know this; they just are nice enough not to be brutally honest.
Jesús Arasti
8 months agoThat´s the point.
The same thing happened to me on a trip to the USA. I tried all the brands with shafts combinations and there were no differences at all. The clubmaker honestly advised me to continue with my driver and gave me some lesson to improve my swing ….and increase my fitness.
Over ´60….have fun……
Dave T
8 months agoThe ball speeds they are showing are 118 MPH. Given a reasonable smash factor this results in swing speed of about 80 MPH. They are not as far off as your post indicates.