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2021 Most Wanted Driver
The most comprehensive driver test of 2021 and the most robust dataset for those drivers.
That’s the 2021 Most Wanted Driver test in a nutshell. We spent nearly two months collecting data on more than 18,000 golf shots to help you find the best driver for your game.
It’s what we do.
At MyGolfSpy, our job is to provide independent, unbiased and objective testing so you can make more confident purchasing decisions. Our Most Wanted tests are an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for a bit of extra insight before your next fitting.
As always, we don’t recommend you spend a dollar on a new club unless it improves on what’s already in your bag.
If you are in the market for a driver, this test is for you. These are the best drivers for 2021.
2021 Most Wanted Driver: Callaway Epic Max LS
When it comes to overall performance, the Callaway Epic Max LS put on an amazing display. This driver’s outstanding performance across multiple key metrics made it the undisputed winner of the 2021 Most Wanted Driver Test. Here they are:
- 1st in Strokes Gained
- 1st in Total Distance
- 6th in Forgiveness
- 62% Fairways Hit
- 138.57 mph Ball Speed
If you are in the market for a driver, the Callaway Epic Max LS should be at the top of your demo list.
Best Distance - Callaway Epic Max LS
The Most Wanted Driver for 2021 also finished at the top of our distance chart. We can haggle over the significance of 3 feet from one drive to the next, but Callaway Epic Max LS edged out a very strong field. If distance is your goal, Epic Max LS should be at the top of your list.
Other Notable Performances
Callaway Epic Max – Not far behind the Max LS, Callaway’s highest-MOI model finished eighth overall in strokes gained and fourth in forgiveness. The Epic Max also finished fifth in ball speed, one behind the Epic Speed.
Titleist TSi2, TSi3 and TSi4 – The performance of a trio of Titleist TSi drivers suggests its days of being slow and spinny are history. The Titleist TSi2 finished second in Strokes Gained, second in forgiveness and eighth in total distance. It also led the field in fairways hit. The Titleist TSi4 and Titleist TSi3 were strong performers as well, finishing second and third respectively in ball speed. They also both cracked the top five for total distance.
COBRA RADSPEED and RADSPED XB – COBRA continues its run of strong performances. Two RADSPEED models finished in the top five overall while finishing second (RADSPEED XB) and third (RADSPEED) in Distance. Both were among the leaders in accuracy as well. Worth a mention, COBRA’s draw-biased RADSPEED XD just missed finishing in the top 10 as well.
TaylorMade SIM2 – TaylorMade’s latest flagship driver led the pack in ball speed. Had testers hit a higher percentage of fairways, it would have been among the leaders.
PING G425 SFT – PING’s slice killer again distanced itself from the pack in the draw-bias category. Testers averaged 15.64 yards off center.
Tour Edge EXS Pro and PXG 0211 – Two value models that proved that good drivers don’t have to cost as much as patio furniture. Despite their bargain pricing, both finished inside the top 10 for strokes gained and inside the top five for forgiveness.
Best for Slice - PING G425 SFT
If you battle a slice, the PING G425 SFT can help. Once again, the PING's SFT model took the right side out of play better than any club in the test, and, once again, it wasn't particularly close. With the G425 SFT, drives finished 15.64 yards left of the centerline. Its closest competitor was only 8.01 off the centerline.
Best Forgiveness - Honma TR20 460
For years, it has been preached that consistency is the name of the game. And for years (two in a row, anyway) the Honma TR20 460 has claimed the top spot for forgiveness. A strong performer overall, with the TR460 bad shots simply weren't as bad.
Driver Buying Considerations
Performance should be your primary concern when looking for the best drivers of 2021 but there are some additional considerations you may want to think about before you buy.
Cost
The 2021 Most Wanted Driver Test features drivers ranging from $229.99 to upwards of $700, excluding any exotic shaft upgrades. The 2021 Most Wanted Driver, Callaway Epic Max LS, will set you back $529.99. If that’s more than you’re willing to spend, the PXG 0211 ($249) and Tour Edge Exotics EXS Pro offer tremendous value. Splitting the difference, COBRA’s RADSPEED and RADSPEED XB are stellar performers. Their price point of $449 makes them all the more intriguing.
FIELD NOTES
During each test, we look for trends that provide insight about market direction as well as what noteworthy changes manufacturers have made to improve year-over-year performance. We also solicit feedback from our testers. We want to understand what they liked, what they didn’t like and why. While we do collect and share this subjective feedback, it is not a factor in determining the best drivers for 2021.
Trends
- While low-spin drivers continue to be prevalent in the marketplace, spin rates ticked up a bit this year. Most notable, given the results of this test, is Callaway’s decision to swap out its Sub-Zero model with the more forgiving and slightly higher-spinning Epic Max LS.
- With an aging population of golfers, it’s no wonder the ultralight segment continues to grow. Titleist is in its second generation of lightweight drivers with the TSi1. Honma also stepped into the fold with their T//World GS. XXIO carries on in the space as well. Even most manufacturers who don’t make ultralight drivers offer lightweight stock shafts for golfers looking to save weight and gain speed.
- While slightly undersized drivers (450-455cc) remain common, truly compact heads have all but disappeared from the market. The Titleist TSi4 (430cc) and Honma TR20 440 were the only undersized heads in this year’s test. While they inarguably serve a niche portion of the market, smaller heads are often the best bet for golfers who need significant spin reduction.
- Loft for (stamped) Loft, the PING G425 family (G425 LST, G425 Max and G425 SFT) were among the lowest-launching drivers in the test. It’s an excellent example of engineers reducing static loft to offset the increased dynamic loft that often comes with back center-of-gravity designs.
2020 Most Wanted vs 2021 - PING G410 LST
This year, we put our previous year's winner in the field. The PING G410 LST did not disappoint. It finished 7th in Strokes Gained, 7th in Forgiveness, and 6th in Total Distance. We continually see examples of "newer isn't alway better" and the PING G410 LST is another testament to this observation.
Upright and Flat Settings
As it does with irons, the lie angle of your driver matters. Lie angle has a strong influence on where the ball starts. If you find yourself missing right, something as simple as an upright lie angle can help. Conversely, a flatter lie angle can help mitigate a left miss.
Notes from the Testing Pool
- Without question, a large majority of the testing pool was extremely pleased with the Callaway Epic Max LS. The 2021 Most Wanted Driver not only performed well, it received plenty of praise for its feel and consistency.
- PXG made a splash with their new GEN4 driver lineup. The 0811 X, 0811 XT and 0811 XF all featured a grey Aluminum Vapor crown feature. The color scheme provided some shock and awe for testers. It’s fair to say it’s polarizing.
- Testers enjoyed the looks and feel of the entire TaylorMade line-up – SIM2, SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D.
- The head shape and the matte black finish of the PING G425 LST and G425 Max were generally well received by the testers.
- Mizuno ST-Z and ST-X were praised for their acoustics. However, testers were underwhelmed by their overall performance.
2021 Most Wanted Driver (DATA)
This year we’re providing a tabbed view of our data. The first of the three tabs contains the rankings for our three primary metrics. The Data tab contains the familiar launch monitor data (along with fairway percentage). Finally, we’ve added a scatter plot showing all of the shots in our test (sans outliers).
To make things a bit easier, we’ve colored our data using a diverging green-to-red gradient. The darkest green values will be highest (and highest/best ranked) values. The darkest red values are the lowest.
While we’ve done our best to improve the mobile experience, the data is best viewed on a desktop computer.
Driver Tips
- Distance Versus Accuracy – Don’t sacrifice accuracy for a few more yards. Manufacturers know you want distance and often cheat distance through longer shafts. A 46-inch shaft will almost always get you more yards but it typically leads to a loss of accuracy and increased dispersion.
- Adjustable Loft – Adjusting loft changes the face angle. Adding loft ↑ closes the face while decreasing loft ↓ opens the face. By understanding the relationship between loft and face angle and the influence face angle has on where your ball starts, you can leverage loft adjustability to improve accuracy.
- Looks Versus Performance – Don’t overvalue looks. Golfers tell us all the time that they can’t hit a club well if they don’t like how it looks but we’ve found very little evidence to suggest this is true. Very often, golfers produce outstanding results with clubs they claim to despise. Keep an open mind about a club that you may not find visually appealing.
- Adjustable Weights – Not all adjustable weighting systems are created equal. You can leverage movable weight to its fullest potential by looking for systems that allow you to move significant mass over a wider area of the clubhead while keeping the weight close to the perimeter of the golf club. Lighter weights moved over small distances or moved between central locations will have a minimal impact on ball flight.
2021 Most Wanted Driver Product Specs
2021 Most Wanted Driver Product Specs
| Product | Stated Loft | Measured Loft | Measured Length | Measured Swing Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ben Hogan GS53 Max Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | 45.875" | D6.6 |
 | Callaway Epic Max Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | 45.5625" | D3.2 |
 | Callaway Epic Max LS Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.625" | D4.0 |
 | Callaway Epic Speed Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | 45.5" | D3.4 |
 | Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.6875" | D5.9 |
 | Cobra RADSPEED Check Price | 9 | 8.2 | 45.375" | D0.8 |
 | Cobra RADSPEED XB Check Price | 9 | 8 | 45.875" | D2.3 |
 | Cobra RADSPEED XD Check Price | 10.5 | 10.1 | 45.875" | D1.3 |
 | Honma T//World GS Check Price | 9.5 | 9.9 | 45.6875" | D2.7 |
 | Honma TR20 440 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.8 | 45.3125" | D3.2 |
 | Honma TR20 460 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.9 | 45.375" | D3.5 |
 | Inesis 500 Check Price | 12 | 11.2 | 45.375" | D4.2 |
 | Mizuno ST-X Check Price | 10.5 | 10.6 | 45.125" | D3.7 |
 | Mizuno ST-Z Check Price | 9.5 | 9.8 | 45.0625" | D3.9 |
 | PING G425 LST Check Price | 9 | 8.4 | 44.875" | D5.1 |
 | PING G425 MAX Check Price | 9 | 9.1 | 44.875" | D3.8 |
 | PING G425 SFT Check Price | 10.5 | 10.6 | 44.875" | D2.3 |
 | PXG 0211 Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.25" | D1.8 |
 | PXG 0811 X Gen4 Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.25" | D2.2 |
 | PXG 0811 XF Gen4 Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.375" | D2.2 |
 | PXG 0811 XT Gen4 Check Price | 9 | 9.5 | 45.3125" | D2.3 |
 | Srixon ZX5 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.6 | 45.4375" | D3.6 |
 | Srixon ZX7 Check Price | 9.5 | 10 | 45.4375" | D4.0 |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.625" | D6.5 |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Max Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | 45.625" | D4.5 |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Max D Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.625" | D3.6 |
 | Titleist TSi1 Check Price | 9 | 9.5 | 45.625" | D4.2 |
 | Titleist TSi2 Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.5" | D4.0 |
 | Titleist TSi3 Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.5" | D2.7 |
 | Titleist TSi4 Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | 45.5" | D4.8 |
 | Tour Edge Exotics C721 Check Price | 9.5 | 8.2 | 45.375" | D2.0 |
 | Tour Edge Exotics EXS Pro Check Price | 9.5 | 9.4 | 45.5" | D4.2 |
 | Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 Check Price | 9.5 | 8 | 44.9375" | D3.2 |
 | Wilson Staff D9 Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | 45.3125" | D4.4 |
 | Wilson Staff Launch Pad Check Price | 9 | 9.5 | 45.125" | D2.9 |
 | XXIO Eleven Check Price | 9.5 | 10.1 | 45.8125" | D3.8 |
 | XXIO X Check Price | 9.5 | 10.2 | 45.5" | D1.7 |
EXPERT TIP - Movable Weights
Moving weight forward can decrease ↓ launch angle and reduce spin by up to 250-500 RPM. Moving weight back will increase ↑ launch and spin, while boosting MOI (forgiveness). Heel positions are less forgiving than back positions, but help golfers fight a slice.
Moving weight forward often introduces a bit of fade bias, while back weight positions tend be more draw-biased (though not as much as heel positions)
FAQ
Buying a New Driver
Q: How often should I buy a new driver?
A: Typically, it takes three to five years for manufacturers to make any significant performance gains. With the USGA tightening restrictions on manufacturers, it’s possible, even likely, that it will take longer moving forward. Our recommendation is to buy a new driver only when it appreciably outperforms what is already in your bag.
Q: With all the talk of new face technology, is there one driver that produces significantly more ball speed?
A: No. There’s definitely not one driver that produces more ball speed for everyone. We do find standouts every year (TaylorMade SIM2 led the field in ball speed) but average ball speeds among our top performers tend to be very close. However, as you move down the ball speed rankings, you will find drivers that can reasonably be described as slow.
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: Don’t focus exclusively on distance. While we all want a few more yards, don’t overlook dispersion and consistency numbers (most launch monitors display standard deviations in small print under the averages). Smaller standard deviations correlate to greater consistency which is often overlooked by golfers.
Most Wanted – Determining the Best Drivers for 2021
Q: What is your fitting process?
A: We use a fitting process that we call fit from stock. Drivers are fitted to each tester using available 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, face angle adjustability (hosel), movable weights and available shafts.
Q: How is the “Most Wanted Driver” determined?
A: After eliminating outliers, we calculate the average strokes gained values for each combination of tester and golf club. The club that produces the highest strokes gained values relative to the field average is our Most Wanted.
Q: How is the “Longest Driver” determined?
A: Our total distance metric determines the Longest Driver.
Q: How is the “Most Forgiving Driver” determined?
A: To determine our Most Forgiving driver, we compare strokes gained values for the best shots each tester hits with each driver to the worst. The club that produces the narrowest gap in strokes gained values is our Most Forgiving.
Q: How much does subjective feedback such as looks, sound and feel factor into your rankings?
A: ZERO. Our rankings are based on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.
Q: Will you publish a breakdown of the results by swing speed as you have in the past?
A: Yes. Those results will be published in the coming weeks.
Frank
2 days agoAnother very through test, and always fun to read. But, it seems from this test the average swing speed of these testers was in the mid to low 90mph range. If that’s the case wouldn’t they all have benefitted from drivers with more than 9 deg. of loft. Seems to me that this was insufficient swing speed to maximize a 9 deg driver, just my 2 cents. With the winner launching at 13.5 deg with 2350 spin, I would have thought a higher launch angle would yeild more distance for these testers.
Mike
2 days agoWell this is a mind f**k! When I tested these I was the longest and most accurate with the 8 degree Sim2 and shortest with the Callaway!
Mike
1 day agoI think that’s the point. These articles are fun reading and provide some info about the new clubs but are absolutely meaningless to me in terms of choosing my next driver.you have to test your own driver and shaft combo and see what works best for you, bottom line. Over the years I’ve bought several clubs solely based on a review. Rarely has that worked out well. Luckily I’ve done a good job selling off clubs on eBay or else I’d be stuck!
JCM
2 days agoGreat article! Love it.
Suggestion : maybe you could add a ranking for the straightest Driver?
I think the “forgiveness” definition is not the same for everyone. Some people may prefer losing 30 yards on a mishit and still find fairway than losing 5 yards and finish in the rough. Fairway % is pretty good information but don’t seems to correlate to Forginevess results (ex : RADSPEED 3rd in % fairway hit, 13 in forgiveness).
Or maybe you could just add the following information to the data set :
– Offline means value
– Offline Standard deviation
Great work!
Donn Rutkoff
3 days agoI did a fitting recently with PX G and I will be getting a PXG 0211 after I do my recovery from knee surgery .. I’m 66 years old and I swing regular Flex on shorter length clubs but I have to drop to A flex on the longer driver shaft. We did one hour. he fitted me with the Project X 40 gram I think it’s called the riptide or the firecracker or something like that a 40 gram shaft really surprises me but it was good consistent not sraying left and right. I could feel where my club head was at all times in the swing..
Henry
3 days agoCan you elaborate on the findings of the Ping anti-slice driver? What is it in its design that helps mitigate a slice? Were these good results coming from testers who are also known slicers?
I need anti-slice help, but wish to know more why that Ping may be best for me.
Thanks
Brandon
3 days agoIt, like any other draw-biased driver, uses a combination of offset and heel weighting. PING is and has always been known for forgiveness, and the 425 is no different. It does not surprise me in the slightest that the PING was recommended, however it is always smart to check out other options, like the SIM2 Max D, the RadSpeed XD, ot the Epic Max with the weight set to draw, just in case they work better for you.
dski93
3 days agoNice job on the updated charts. The overall strokes gain and forgiveness rank for all clubs was missing data in the past.
RealDeal717
3 days agowhy would Tour Edge’s Hot launch be 1..5* lower than stated loft… you”d think if anything it would measure 1.5* over stated loft to help get the ball in the air. after all its called hot LAUNCH 🙂
kevin
4 days agodid i miss where the measured results are???
whats the difference in distance between #1 and #5? hard to compare is just looking at ranking. if 1 and 2 are within a few inches and 3 is then 3 yards shorter, but all we see is 1, 2, 3 in rank it doesnt tell the story.
Desert Hacker
2 days ago3 different tabs up there skippy.. Try and keep up..
Charlie
4 days agoAnd I just noticed the Ping drivers are almost an inch shorter than the Callaway and TM shafts. Let’s say that equates to 10 yards distance, how would they finish in the distance category? And prob worse on fairways hit I assume.
Mike
4 days agoThat has to be a typo. I’ve had several ping drivers, and the stock alta shaft is length is 45.75″. It’s right there on the ping website
Ben
4 days agoGreat test and I love the actual loft measurement. My Cobra Speedzone Xtreme has stated loft of 9* and actual loft is 7.5* – so interesting to see consistently lower than the state loft. Why didn’t you normalize swingweight? Cobras were very light swingweights.
Abraham
4 days agoAs a golf junkie, I love to read these articles. I have a Ping G410 Plus which has been awesome. Last year, I looked at these reviews favorably since Ping did well. This year, I find myself thinking they are irrelevant . . . lol.
I do kind of feel every company makes a head that performs rather similarly in all categories (forgiveness, low spin, draw bias). Finding which general category of head, loft, shaft type, shaft stiffness fits your game is key. A well fitted club could be found of multiple brands. Price is also basically a wash considering how expensive golf is in general . . . 100-200 bucks probably won’t sway the average golfer considering what they invest in rounds on a yearly basis.
I do think people have brand loyalty (for me, Ping drivers). Also, the look can influence people (for me, I like matte black). Sound influences the perception people have of their shots which I guess makes a difference to some (Ping don’t sound great but it never influenced my shots).
Jelopster
4 days agoYour data is great; I love the use of strokes gained as a more composite metric. However, your assessment lacks one of the most important factors considered by a consumer – price. Highlighting a few value options is nice, but is not sufficient to show how much performance actually costs. An analysis of $ per strokes gained (or whatever better metric you can create) would be VERY interesting. When the difference between top and average performers is marginal for most golfers, price can be a huge differentiator.
El
4 days agoErrol (and other sub-90 SS),
The Ping G400 Max with the Alta DISTANZA shaft won’t show in these tests as it’s a few years old, but it is an incredibly long and wonderfully forgiving club for us in this SS bucket.
Never thought I’d spend that much for a club, but every round confirms (for ME), it is the best golf investment I’ve ever made.
Clay
3 days agoThat driver is great for a lot of people. I swing 120 with the driver and have the G400 Max in the bag., as did several tour pros a couple years back.
Big Mike
4 days agoThanks for the review. Would love to see the data behind the spin and distance number rankings. Just how much distance difference is there between number one and number 10, etc”
Reg
4 days agoTHANKS! You guys have delivered valuable “intel”! When I schedule my custom fitting, I will rearrange the drivers I’d like to test…. instead of Sim2 and ST-Z ; I will give #1 Callaway & #2 Titleist a rip!
My Golf Spy Request – Can you do a similar test for fairway woods ( I want to upgrade my woods – 2012 RBZ 3-5-7 … my money $$$ makers.)
Chris Nickel
4 days agoYes, we will be testing fairway woods again this year. Last year, due to COVID, we weren’t able to test all categories of equipment. Typically, this test will be released sometime during the summer.
Brad
4 days agoThe Exotics EXS Pro has definitely been one of the most consistent drivers I’ve ever used, and excellent value. It isn’t the longest driver I’ve ever hit (on average), although I have hit a couple of my longest ever drives with it on the course (335 yards and 339 yards). I would also agree with the forgiveness ranking as it is pretty forgiving, especially for a sub-460cc driver.
The only negative I’ve found is that it doesn’t sound quite as nice as some of its competitors, particularly and mainly on mishits. Center strikes sound and feel great, but stray from the middle and it can make a very funny sound at times.
FreeBee
4 days agoPXG best value 😂😂😂
Thanks for the testing! I hope you will bring out like last year best driver for different swing speeds.
MyGolfSpy
4 days agoSwing speeds will be coming soon! Regarding the PXG driver it is $249.
333pg333
4 days agoHow is it that nobody is mentioning the awful sound of the new Pings??? They are the worst sounding driver since…I can’t even remember that far back. Straight is nice but they look a bit bleh and sound terrible. I couldn’t buy one based on those two failings.
JB Watkins
4 days agoI have a question for you guys that know more than me. Of the Callaway Max LS, Ping G410 LST, and the Titleist TSi2, which has the largest face in terms of surface area? I can’t seem to find a driver with near the face size as my Srixon Z585. Any help?
Charlie
5 days agoSo 6 drivers beat last years winner?! And the new Ping LST got worse than last years model? Weird.
I’m awaiting the swing speed evaluations. Is there a way to also include a angle of attack category? There a lot of us that hit down on the ball, and the low spin/high launch models really help.
AWOL
4 days agoMaybe even more alarming that the Ping SFT (straight flight technology) was last place for fairways hit and was almost shorter by 15 yards…….what happened Ping. So much for SFT
ROGER N.
5 days agoPlz sign me up.
Toehold
5 days ago>> Two value models that proved that good drivers don’t have to cost as much as patio furniture
There we go folks, let’s get price of those patio sets down so we can afford more drivers!!!
Brett
5 days agoIll stick to my Rouge Sub Zero 2017 model.. 51 years old and can still keep up with the young folks, well sometimes when I can keep the beast in play hahaha.
333pg333
17 hours agoIt’s Red? What driver is Red? Oh, Rogue…gotcha. 🙂 Yeah I have similar and it’s a good driver. But have hit the new model and it feels better and is longer. I’m 60 hit it about 270.
Dave P
5 days agoDoes anyone else find it interesting that the G 410 LST out performs the G 425 LST???
Jack
3 days agoI hit both of them recently and the 425 was 10 yards longer…..
Russell
5 days agoJust wondering why the Ping drivers were tested with a shaft shorter than their standard length? Their standard length is 45.75. Is that a mistake on the chart? If not your test is not valid for the Ping divers..
Phillip Bishop
5 days agoThe PING Alta CB 55 Slate measures at 45.5″. All of their other stock offerings measure at the lengths listed in the product specs chart. A universal measuring stick is non existing between manufacturers. Not all measuring standards are the same from OEM to OEM. For example, 45.75″ at TaylorMade could vary from 45.75″ at PING. There are often times when products do not come exact to spec from manufacturers as well.
Triple
5 days agoAny chance you can publish the data with colors other than red/green? Nearly ten percent of men are red-green colorblind and it makes the data very hard to read. Thank you.
Gary
5 days agoIt’s great to see the PXG 0211 get some love. It’s sure to be the sleeper driver of the year! Awesome driver and awesome value right now.
Chris
5 days agoThis is absolute gold. Amazing set of data, thank you soooo much for doing this. I can’t wait to see the upcoming version with the swing speed segmentation.
BrianL
5 days agoRecently completed my own most wanted driver test – the only one that really matters for me and my 88 mph swing speed – and the Ping G425 Max was the easy winner. The Taylormade SIM2 Max was the longest for me but only when I nutted it. The rest of time not so good. I went in thinking I would walk out with an Epic Max but it just didn’t do it for me. Also, I’m seeing gains in feel, sound and distance with the G425 Max over my G400 Max driver. If one driver worked the best for everyone there would be only one driver company. – why would anyone buy anything else?
Paul Maisey
5 days agoWow, through test right there. I’m definitely going to buy a Ping G425 now.
Kyle J
5 days agoAccording to the data you should save your money and get a G410.
Robert
5 days agoI love the visual chart and can’t wait until it’s separated by swing speed. That will provide a good visual of consistency for each club. Great stuff and love the improvements you guys make every year.
Frank Wood
5 days agoThis shows me that testing clubs is important since all of the clubs perform so similarly. I tested the Cobra Rad and TSi2 vs the TSi3 and thought the 3 was better than both (and oddly more forgiving). While I don’t agree with the results of the test, I’m just one guy. The top clubs are very similar, so trying them out and getting fitted when paying that much money should be of importance for you.
Andy travis
5 days agoIf I do a true fit fitting will it include the 2021 drivers
Thomas
5 days agoGreat read excellent research, mucg appreciated MGS
Next most critical data will be when you publish rankings with swing speeds. Thanx again MGS
Jake
5 days agoOn your graph with the shots, is there a way to separate the “profile” of the people taking these shots? This way I can separate swing speeds/AOA/handicap to see what’s numbers are relevant to me? Almost similar to what you do with your robot tests. I know this study is to show what is best overall or “average” for the population, but is that relevant? I don’t really know, but I feel average isn’t a helpful statistic when it comes to the wide range of golf swings out there. Love seeing what you guys do and appreciate how transparent you all are.
Daryl
5 days agoAwesome job guys!! Love the test and data now provided.
Fred
5 days agoExcellent information and the comments by so many are also very informative!
Errol
5 days agoExcellent report..
As A 85 driver speed golfer, (Ping G reg), I am looking forward to seeing the Slower Speed report and data..
JAZZ15C
4 days agoI’m in the same driver, roughly the same swingspeed too. I was nailed on to buy the G425, not so sure now…lots of great options out there this year
El
4 days agoErrol (and other sub-90 SS),
The Ping G400 Max with the Alta DISTANZA shaft won’t show in these tests as it’s a few years old, but it is an incredibly long and wonderfully forgiving club for us in this SS bucket.
Never thought I’d spend that much for a club, but every round confirms (for ME), it is the best golf investment I’ve ever made.
Marklar
5 days agoGreat test MGS thank you once again!
After extensive testing with this year’s models I am keeping my G410 LST since I didn’t like the sound or the feel of the G425 offerings. G425 Max was too draw bias for me and the LST just didn’t feel like anything to me.
I will order the RAD XB in 48″ as a long drive driver, have a counterweight shafts built up for it. Will game 2 drivers this season.
Will you do the 2021 MOI report?
Steve
4 days agoI have been toying with this for some time. I have an LST @44″ with an extra weight in the head that I built as a fairway finder. I have not figured out which head for the long driver. Anyway, what shaft are you considering for the XB?
Jim Pecoraro
5 days agoI just received my Epic Max LS 9° fitted from Club Champion, so this is a welcome read! It performed best for at mitigating a hook miss. Wasn’t close. Looks great on the crown and sounds / feels amazing. Not surprised to see SIM2 down the list – my fitter at Club Champion actually said they are not impressed with that club this year. For me, it was between Epic Max LS and TSi3.
TGN Golf
5 days agoGreat move making forgiveness it’s own easy to understand category!!!
Mike J
5 days agoI switched form the Ping G410 Plus to the Ping G410 LST about 2 months ago, based on some of your research and numbers I saw on the launch monitor at PGA Tour Superstore. After reading this 2021 Most Wanted Driver report, I’ll be sticking with the Ping G410 LST!! Thanks!!
Richard John
5 days agoWelp, looks like my G400 lst will see another year in my bag..
Ditto on the excellent job on the test results. Rather quickly as well. I have been fitted twice already since January. Ping I always gravitate to, but the Epic LS was my best driver for 2021 as well. Radspeed wasn’t a good fit for me, but the I didn’t try the XB, but will try next.. Cobra is the biggest value in drivers with their stock shaft selection.
TenBuck
5 days agoGreat write-up. Curious as to the omission of the Callaway BB B21? I’m thinking it’s a 2021..a very early 2021 but still…
Phillip Bishop
5 days agoCallaway decided to omit the Big Bertha B21 from testing.
TenBuck
4 days agoI think I know the reason why. If you go on YouTube and look up B21 driver with Michael Newton, you will see the reason why. It has some of the best numbers he has ever posted and clearly beats every Epic driver….and no I don’t have a B21 but thinking about it.
Michael
5 days agoIt says the Callaway has strokes gained of .052. Is that .052 strokes a round? Is it .052 per drive? The difference is material.
David B
5 days agoThis is very well done and very helpful, as always. Answers every question I have and gives a great basis for comparison. Your analyses are so much more helpful than the “hot lists” where everything seems to be a variation of “long and straight” and “straight and long.” I don’t think I’ve EVER seen a “hot list” with a club that ws a poor performer; they’re all variations on “wonderful.”
Richard A.
5 days agoRight on Darren! I have been using what has been proclaimed in many articles including ones in MyGolfSpy as one of the best drivers in history; to wit: The Ping G400 MAX which is still being manufactured as a brand new club by Ping as of two minutes ago when I last checked.
So I must look with suspicion on there results of the testing in this instance. It’s not because I doubt some of the findings of the “expert judges” but rather whether they were afforded an opportunity to use all the current new drivers out there and apparently they were NOT.
Robert
5 days agoThe 400 Max is not a current release driver by PING and hasn’t been since at least last summer. Some stores may have it in stock, but it is definitely not being produced by PING any longer.
So there was no need or ability for it to be part of the testing, The G410 winner last year, which is actually now 2 years old, was included as a past winner.
Bill
5 days agoGreat Article and Great Job Guys! Enjoyed Reading it, guess I will be putting the new epic product up against my Mavrik Max soon to see what shakes out!
Golfinnut
5 days agoI love the fact that my Titleist TSi2 finished 2nd. And that it was top of the list in fairways hit. I can attest to this, as this has been one of the most accurate drivers I’ve ever had.
Andrew S
5 days agoDo you have the shot area data in the most wanted testing for the 2021 most wanted driver?
mizuno29
5 days agoGreat Job as always!!!!!!
Jack B.
5 days agoDoes anyone know why so many of today’s drivers have heavy swing weights (D4 and higher) more associated with wedges and putters?
Phillip Bishop
5 days agoThe swingweight on the TSi2 has been updated to D4.0
John Barry
5 days agoGreat article as always, great to see Homa being the accurate driver two years in a row, might be time for a change!
Anthony Williams
5 days agoWhat metrics did you use for the Strokes Gained Calculations?
Alex
5 days agoThanks. What is ETA for the swing speed breakouts (low, middle, high)?
Phillip Bishop
5 days agoThey will be published in the upcoming weeks. Most Wanted Blade Putter and Mallet Putter will be the next two Most Wanted Articles in the pipeline.
MattF
5 days agoGoes to show that you still need to be fitted. I went for a fitting and hit the majority of drivers listed here. The Epic Max was second last on my list of drivers hit, right above the Cleveland BB21. I ended up with the TSi2.
Mike
5 days agoI was fitted a few weeks ago & purchased the Cobra radspeed. Tried the others that were available at my store, the new Ping was just an “eh”, same w/ the TaylorMade models (but then I never have hit TaylorMade’s well), did not like the titlelist glossy finish & I didn’t want to wait for the new Callaways (& spend $100 more). I I see the recipe is good on distance but not necessarily the most forgiving. I’m honestly in la la Land regarding all this forgiveness stuff. It’s one thing, unlike distance or dispersion, I can’t quantify assembly because I’m not putting the same good swing on the ball every time. So I’ll go with the Cobra this year; if it works, it’ll be in my bag next year. If not, I’ll sell it on eBay & go w/ something else next season.since I think of my clubs as my “team”, I’ll paraphrase an old saying, “I will not lose with the same team twice”.
WYBob
5 days agoGreat information. Given I just bought a driver in the last 6 months, any chance y’all will do a golf shaft Most Wanted? As you point out in the article- shaft selection matters. With so many aftermarket shaft options, it would be helpful to have a similar test to help narrow down the options for upgrading a driver (and possibly fairway woods). Thanks again for an excellent vetting of the 2021 driver options.
Phillip Bishop
5 days agoAs we continue to grow, we continue to look for ways to improve content or produce new content for our readers. Definitely a great idea, which we may consider in the future. Thank you for your input!!
Brady
5 days agoSo all the swing weights were different and not adjusted to fit the tester?
Jordan
5 days agoYeah are we to assume these guys were swinging a TSi2 at D7?!
Phillip Bishop
5 days agoSwingweight is D4.0.
Vincent
5 days agoI was wondering, the strokes gained values are relative to what amount of shots? It’s per round of 18 holes (so assuming 14 drives), or it is strokes gained on each shot?
Rich M
5 days agoWhat happened to my Ping 425 Max? Just ordered the club and it’s an also-ran even before arrival!
Bryan h
5 days agoDont kid yourself its a awesome driver probably the most accurate out there. I hit them all and it wasnt close. . Golffigest gave it very high marks
Mayank
4 days agoWell, I’d say that if you were fitted it for it and it still came out best then it’s still the best for you! On their podcast, they talk about the ping g425 a bit and discuss both how they think about forgiveness and their plans to eventually write up a g410 vs g425 article which I can’t wait to read.
For me personally, the G425 max worked really well in the right shaft. I think it has a slight draw bias and if you need just a little bit of shape correction, their ability to increase MOI in the draw setting is unbelievably helpful for me personally. I think on a larger data set which includes those who tend to hit natural draws and the straighter hitters, the ping this year might lose a few points on dispersion, but if it fits your game it might be the home run fit.
Besides, take a look at the actual numbers. The difference between the top and middle of the pack in terms of is just a few yards.
TG
5 days ago….and they said Taylor Made always make the best drivers. Given the marcomms and cost, I’m surprised they’re nowhere near the podium.
Gerald Teigrob
5 days agoJ don’t let overall results sway me….my pocketbook is the telltale sigh. I needed to upgrade my driver because of the F8+ being too challenging for me to consistently hit fairways. I’ll be upgrading to an F9 because it is the most cost-effective, even with it being a senior’s driver head loft. I already upgraded to the F6 hybrid irons so adding an F9 3/4 wood is a necessity.
Joann
5 days agoI had the Cobra F9 driver and they have a chipping problem with the paint. I had to send it back twice. I wasn’t skying the ball either. After the 2nd time they sent me the Speedzone. I don’t like it as much as I did the F9. But that could be just me.
Richard
5 days agoNot sure what’s up with the green space illustration/video in the center of the article. It shows ‘total shots hit: 0’, and is a static image until I right-click on it. I had to turn on the controls, and hit play in the bottom left of the image before I saw the impressive time-lapse of the shots landing. The ‘loop’ control was checked when I first right-clicked, but didn’t seem to do anything even after I hit play. I’m using Google Chrome FWIW.
Jason
5 days agoPXG best value driver! I thought 2020 was a crazy year.
MyGolfSpy
5 days agoThis PXG model is $249.
Tom54
5 days agoYep. The PXG is lass than half the price of Callaway and Titleist. What a world.
JP
5 days agoBest morning coffee read of the year. Great write-up MGS team!
Impressed with Titleist consistent top end finish across all models, maybe people will stop referring to them as a “ball company that also makes clubs”
And surprised to see TM outside of the top finishers as it seems to be a brand favorite pushed by club fitters like Club Champions
Mike
5 days agoI’m not surprised. When you strip away all the marketing and pro endorsements (as MGS does), it comes down solely to the club itself. And given I’ve had TWO waste-of time club champion fittings over the past five years, their opinion means very little to me (that’s a comment for another article)..
JP
5 days agoInteresting, I am going to have my first experience with them soon. I will be really curious to see what recommendations are pushed towards me with this article in mind.
(Just, going for the fitting process, wont be purchasing through them)
Bruce
5 days agoWhen talking about Club Champion count me in for a waste of time and money. This year I’m going to try MGS true fit for my driver. I trust the data
Paulo
5 days agoReally great to see you compare to last years winner. A fantastic idea
Darren Tan
5 days agoI’m surprised Ping didn’t crack the top 3 given their track record. The TSi2 really felt great but I agree that the glossy head didn’t sit well with me. Might be worth a trip to my local fitters to test the Callaway.
Bobby J
5 days agoCan’t wait to get fit and replace the old GBB Epic SZ.. need more of a fairway finder!
Pete S
5 days agoCongrats on another great test!
Rob
5 days agoAnother big win for Callaway, can’t wait to hear what the haters who always scream MGS has a bias against Callaway say.
Also love the shot chart and the ability to isolate one driver or compare two head to head. Great addition to the report.
Nice Job
Derek
5 days agoThank you for including last year’s winner in the test.
MyGolfSpy
5 days ago👊
don
5 days agoAgreed my favorite part of this years test is comparing it, and the new ways they gave us the numbers was great too.