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OUR JOB IS YOUR GAME
The most comprehensive driver test of 2022.
Since late December, we’ve been working hard inside our test facility. It’s taken nearly 3 months with 38 drivers, 35 golfers, and more than 18,000 shots but the MyGolfSpy Most Wanted driver test is finally here.
How We Test
For our 2022 driver test, over the course of more than 400 individual sessions. 35 golfers tested 38 different driver models. Data was collected using Foresight GCQuad Launch monitors. To minimize variables, all testers hit Titleist Pro V1 golf balls. Outliers were removed and data was aggregated before scores were calculated.
MOST WANTED SCORING
For 2022 (and beyond) Most Wanted testing will use a new 100-point scoring system.
The new system will make it easier than ever for you to identify clubs that can help you shoot lower scores.
Most Wanted Driver scoring is spread over four categories: Distance, Accuracy, Forgiveness and Strokes Gained.
Using the data we collect during testing, we’ve created some more intuitive scoring metrics and, for those who want to dive deeper, we’ve provided filters that allow more granular access to our data. The new system will dramatically simplify the results of our tests.
2022 MOST WANTED DRIVER: PING G425 MAX
BEST DRIVERS OVERALL
TOP PICKS: PING G425 MAX, Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS, TaylorMade Stealth HD
The Top of the Board
- PING G425 MAX The highest overall score across the 2022 Most Wanted Driver Test. The G425 MAX was near the top for most metrics and finished on top of the Accuracy category.
- Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS An impressive display of distance and accuracy propelled the Triple Diamond to a very close runner-up spot.
- TaylorMade Stealth HD A bit of an upset, the slightly draw-biased Stealth HD showed as the most well-rounded of the Stealth line and claimed the bronze thanks to its compelling blend of distance and forgiveness.
BEST DRIVERS FOR DISTANCE
Distance scores are derived from three key metrics: carry distance, total distance and peak total distance.
TOP PICKS: TaylorMade Stealth+, PING G425 LST, COBRA KING LTDx LS
OBSERVATIONS
- In the distance category, the TaylorMade Stealth+ lived up to the hype, finishing top-five in each of the distance categories and posting the best distance score in the test.
- The PING G425 LST topped the table in total distance category.
- Rounding out the top three, The COBRA KING LTDx LS led the field in Peak Distance, suggesting it might just have the greatest distance potential of any club in the test.
BEST DRIVERS FOR ACCURACY
Accuracy scores are derived from Straight Shot Percentage and Playable Shot Percentage.
TOP PICKS: PING G425 MAX, Tour Edge Exotics Pro 721, Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS
OBSERVATIONS
- One of the main reasons why PING G425 MAX is the overall winner of the 2022 Most Wanted Driver Test is accuracy. Its Playable Shot score was the highest in the test and its Straight Shot score was in the top five.
- Tour Edge Exotics Pro 721 is perhaps still flying under the radar but again was a strong Most Wanted performer. It had the highest Straight Shot score in the test and nearly matches the G425 MAX for total accuracy.
- Again, the Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS shows up in the contender’s circle. Propelled by its straight-shot score, the Triple Diamond LS is among the most accurate drivers.
BEST DRIVERS FOR FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness scores are determined by three metrics: Carry Delta, Ball Speed Delta and Shot Area.
TOP PICKS: Mizuno ST-Z 220, PING G425 MAX, Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2
OBSERVATIONS
- Top-five for all three forgiveness metrics (No. 1 for Carry Delta), the Mizuno ST-Z 220 posted the highest Forgiveness score.
- The leader in Ball Speed Delta and Shot Area, the PING G425 MAX was a very close second in overall Forgiveness.
- With its combination of high launch and high spin, Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2 is one of the most consistent clubs in the test. Available at retail March 14 for $349.
BEST DRIVERS FOR STROKES GAINED
TOP PICKS: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS, Titleist TSi3, PING G425 LST
OBSERVATIONS
- The Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS combines distance with accuracy to secure the best Strokes Gained score.
- Titleist TSi3 boasts one of the best distance scores in the test coupled by a quality Accuracy score. These combine to propel it to second place for Strokes Gained.
- PING G425 LST had the second-best distance score which puts it third in Strokes Gained.
BUYING CONSIDERATIONS
Performance should be your primary concern when looking for the best drivers of 2022 but there are some additional considerations you may want to think about before you buy.
Cost
Like everything else we buy, golf clubs—and that includes drivers—are getting more expensive. This year’s pricing makes a strong case for buying last year’s model. Inarguably among the longest drivers on the market, the flagship. TaylorMade Stealth+ leads the mainstream category at $599.99. Another $100 can put you into a XXIO X or XXIO 12. For those looking to break the bank, Proto Concept C01D is $1,100.
All this being said, Sub 70, Tommy Armour, COBRA, Wilson, Tour Edge and Cleveland all have drivers available for less than $400.
The best value in the driver category may well be the previously tested PXG 0211 (not tested in 2022). It’s a solid, all-around performer that sells for $199.
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 2022.
Trends
- Adjustable drivers are the standard (and that’s not likely to change). In this year’s test, 31 drivers offer some measure of adjustability. Some offer loft/face angle and lie adjustability while others enhance their fitting capabilities with movable weights. One specific highlight: the loft sleeve on the Cleveland Launcher XL offers 12 unique settings.
- Boundaries are meant to be pushed or at least explored. The TaylorMade Stealth family (most notably the Stealth+) provided fast ball speeds and long distances.
- Zero CG is the story of the COBRA LTDx. It struggled a bit with accuracy but was otherwise a strong performer while the LTDx LS showed it can hang with anything in the speed category.
Notes from the Testing Pool
- Without question, TaylorMade’s Stealth lineup has been the talk of the golf industry since its debut. Stealth, TaylorMade Stealth HD and Stealth+ all feature a red carbon face (as most of you know). Overall, the Stealth family was well-received. Both feel and sound were positive talking points. The carbon face got mixed reviews but testers liked the personalization options available through the MyStealh+ program. A few testers noted that feedback off the face is lacking and it was difficult to distinguish between solid and poor strikes.
- Head shape and profile were critical features for most of the testing pool. Testers loved what they saw with the Mizuno ST-Z 220 and ST-G 220, Callaway Rogue ST MAX LS and Triple Diamond LS, TaylorMade Stealth+, Titleist TSi3 and TSi4, Proto Concept C01D, COBRA KING LTDx and KING LTDx LS.
- The most highly rated for drivers for feel include the Stealth+, Stealth, Stealth HD, Mizuno ST-Z 220, Mizuno ST-X 220, COBRA KING LTDx, COBRA KING LTDx LS, Titleist TSi3, Callaway Rogue ST MAX LS and Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS, PING G425 LST, PING G425 MAX and Tour Edge Exotics C722.
BEST FOR SLICE - PING G425 SFT
Too many golfers are familiar with a slice. It is a distance killer. However, PING continues to defy the odds. PING G425 SFT was once again, the most left sided bias club in our test. If you are looking for a product to potentially limit your slice, the SFT is the way to go.
2022 MOST WANTED DRIVER (DATA)
The table below shows the individual category scores as well as the overall rankings. For those looking for more data, we’ve published an accessory data page that offers a set of filters to help find the clubs that performed best for your individual swing characteristics.
To better accommodate our mobile users, we’ve limited the initial display of this chart to the top-10 clubs (based on the overall ranking). By clicking on the sort icon next to each category name, you can sort the column in either ascending (top-10) or descending (bottom-10) for that category.
The Show Top X slider can be dragged (or you can just type in a number) to show more or fewer clubs in the table. To show all 38 clubs in a single view, drag the slider all the way to the right.
Hitting Bay Basics
Here are some quick insights to help you better navigate your next hitting bay experience.
- Shaft Length – Manufacturers know you want distance and will cheat a bit to get it. A 46-inch shaft will almost always get you more yards but it typically leads to a loss of accuracy and increased dispersion. A shorter shaft typically won’t cost you many (if any) yards because you’ll hit the sweet spot more often. On a related note, the equipment industry still can’t agree on the definition of an inch, so one manufacturer’s 45.75 is often another’s 46. Pay attention to the actual shaft length of the clubs at your next hitting bay experience.
- Adjustable Loft – When you adjust loft, you change 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 the loft adjustability to improve accuracy.
- 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.
- Speed Versus Forgiveness – Despite promises of breakthrough technologies, run-of-the-mill physics, namely center-of-gravity location, remains the greatest predictor of ball speed. Clubs with more forward centers of gravity like the Titleist TSi4, COBRA KING LTDx LS and other low-spin designs will typically produce the fastest ball speeds but with that comes lower MOI and often diminished forgiveness.
- Good Looks Don’t Equal Good Performance – Don’t overvalue looks. Golfers tell us all the time 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.
2022 MOST WANTED DRIVER PRODUCT SPECS
2022 Most Wanted Driver Product Specs
Product | Stated Loft* | Measured Loft* | Swing Weight | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Callaway Rogue ST Max Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | D3.2 | 45.75" | |
Callaway Rogue ST Max D Check Price | 9 | 8.8 | D3.7 | 45.75" | |
Callaway Rogue ST Max LS Check Price | 9 | 8.7 | D3.5 | 45.75" | |
Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Check Price | 9 | 8.8 | D3.7 | 45.75" | |
Cleveland Launcher XL Check Price | 9 | 8.7 | D5.7 | 46.5" | |
Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Check Price | 10.5 | 10.5 | D2.2 | 46.5" | |
Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Draw Check Price | 10.5 | 10.5 | D1.7 | 46.5" | |
Cobra KING LTDx Check Price | 9 | 8.8 | C9.3 | 45.375" | |
Cobra KING LTDx Max Check Price | 9 | 9 | D2.9 | 45.5" | |
Cobra KING LTDx LS Check Price | 9 | 8.6 | D1.8 | 45.375" | |
Cobra AirX Check Price | 9.5 | 9.6 | D0.8 | 46" | |
Mizuno ST-G 220 Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | D0.9 | 45" | |
Mizuno ST-X 220 Check Price | 10.5 | 10.5 | D1.3 | 45" | |
Mizuno ST-Z 220 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.5 | D1.7 | 45" | |
PING G425 LST Check Price | 9 | 8.7 | D4.6 | 45.75" | |
PING G425 Max Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | D3.1 | 45.625" | |
PING G425 SFT Check Price | 10.5 | 10.6 | D1.0 | 45.75" | |
Proto Concept C01D Check Price | 9.5 | 9.2 | D2.4 | 45.25" | |
Srixon ZX5 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.5 | D2.7 | 45.75" | |
Srixon ZX7 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.8 | D3.7 | 45.75" | |
Sub 70 849-D Check Price | 9 | 9 | D3.7 | 45.75" | |
Sub 70 849 Pro Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | D4.4 | 45.75" | |
TaylorMade Stealth Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | D4.9 | 46" | |
TaylorMade Stealth+ Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | D6 | 46" | |
TaylorMade Stealth HD Check Price | 9 | 9 | D3.1 | 46" | |
Titleist TSi1 Check Price | 9 | 9.1 | D3.6 | 46" | |
Titleist TSi2 Check Price | 9 | 9 | D4.5 | 45.75" | |
Titleist TSi3 Check Price | 9 | 9 | D3.9 | 45.75" | |
Titleist TSi4 Check Price | 9 | 9 | D5.1 | 45.75" | |
Tommy Armour 845 MAX Check Price | 9 | 9 | D5.4 | 45.25" | |
Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.5 | D3.2 | 45" | |
Tour Edge Exotics C722 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.5 | D5.8 | 45.625" | |
Tour Edge Exotics E722 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.7 | D4.3 | 45.625" | |
Tour Edge Exotics Pro 721 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.5 | D7.5 | 46" | |
Wilson Staff D9 Check Price | 9 | 9.8 | D5.0 | 45.625" | |
Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2 Check Price | 9 | 9.8 | D0.2 | 44.75" | |
XXIO 12 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.7 | D4.9 | 46.25" | |
XXIO X Check Price | 9.5 | 9.5 | D3.6 | 46" |
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. Though we all want something new from time to time, 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. As has been the case in every year of testing, there was not one driver that produced more ball speed for everyone. We do find a handful of standouts every year but average ball speeds among our top performers tend to be very close. That doesn’t mean they’re all the same. As you move down the 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, accuracy and forgiveness matter. Most launch monitors display standard deviations in small print under the averages. Smaller standard deviations correlate to greater consistency. That shouldn’t be overlooked.
Most Wanted – Determining the Best Drivers for 2022
Q: Where is the rest of the data?
A: We don’t want to overwhelm the average reader with intimidating data tables. For the hardcore among you, more data is available here. We’ve added some filters to help you isolate the strongest performers for your swing characteristics.
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 scores for our Distanced, Accuracy, Forgiveness and Strokes Gained metrics. Those values are weighted and then aggregated to determine the Most Wanted Driver.
Q: How is the “Longest Driver” determined?
A: The three metrics that determine the longest driver are Total Distance, Carry Distance and Peak Distance (see Most Wanted Scoring section above for more detail)
Q: How is the “Most Accurate Driver” determined?
A: The two metrics that determine the Most Forgiving Driver are Straight Shot Percentage and Playable Shot Percentage (see Most Wanted Scoring section above for more detail).
Q: How is the “Most Forgiving Driver” determined?
A: The three metrics that determine the Most Forgiving Driver are Carry Delta, Ball Speed Delta and Shot Area (see Most Wanted Scoring section above for more detail).
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.
*We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.
Kf
7 months agoI noticed that in 2021, they tested the 2020 most wanted ( ping 410) alongside the 2021 group and it scored 7th. Very curious as to where 2021’s most wanted (callaway epic max ls) would have scored vs 2022.
Joe Domill
9 months agoThanks to your great work testing the above clubs I went and bought a ping g425 max driver and woods . They are great clubs for me. I also got the ping g425 irons and they work well for me. Thanks again
Scott
10 months agoI love reading club stats but one stat I’d love to see. Balls hit in the middle of the drivers sweet spot. With COR limits at the max which driver goes the farthest .
Chase
10 months agoGreat in depth article! I currently use a Cobra Long Tom. It has a 48 inch shaft. Looking into upgrading to a Ping G425 max!
john a Smith
11 months agoJust returned a Callaway Max LS- No discernable difference when compared to my Maverick LS. I am convinced that year to year promised gains from “new technology” is a myth. Think about it, if every year the manufacturers gained 3-5 yards via R and D and materials we would all be hitting it 50 yards further in 10 years. Nonsense when you also consider COR is rules limited so where are the gains achieved? Answer they are NOT. I suggest the focus shift to shafts and shaft/head combinations that actually do have discernable gains that can be significant and are subject to little or no rules restrictions. You will never get much from the “head for the year” but you may gain significantly via fitting combined with optimal club/shaft combinations. OEM shafts offer significant gains when fit properly and combined with heads that have correct weight/geometry to maximize
speed/launch etc. Back to the Mav for 2022. Maybe I will dump the dollars on a autoflex shaft to see if that pushes the numbers a bit.
Jack
11 months agoI data on the Cobra Air-X is correct..It is a very poor performing Driver.
I made the mistake of buying one online before demoing this new release from Cobra
scott
10 months agoDo you like the driver ? does it go where you aim ? is it longer then your last driver ? If yes you got a great driver .Just because a pair of size 10 shoe looks better cost more and the stats say it’s better then your driver doesn’t mean it fit’s your size 12 foot. ..
Gabriel
11 months agoDo you have dates for when the Mid speed (100MPH) ranking will be made available?
Any chance is this week? Going to buy a new driver next week and will really love this information to narrow my options a little bit.
Michael
11 months agoFirst, my thanks to MGS for the time and effort that goes into gathering, compiling and presenting the data on these drivers. Coupling the knowledge gained from your testing with a club fitting by a qualified fitter is the best way to find the right driver in my opinion. I know getting fit is something MGS has promoted for years.
For myself, finding the right shaft has the biggest impact on driver performance. That said, the section “Buying Considerations-Shaft Selection” caught my eye. In that section a number of statements are made regarding what’s available as “stock”, “no charge upgrades”, after market and quality or lack thereof. The word “shady” is even used. I would like to suggest, as a great service to your readers that you consider a more in-depth article on the subject of shafts available as stock, no charge upgrade or aftermarket as well as the quality and “shady” practices you mention.
MyGolfSpy
11 months agoHere is one for you Michael 😉
https://mygolfspy.com/made-for-shafts-a-closer-look/
TravisV
11 months agoPing’s G425 Max and Callaway’s Rogue ST Max LS and Triple Diamond LS stood out as top performers. But we really really need more clarity on the length of the shafts the bulk of the testers used. It looks like all of Callaway’s stock shafts were 45.75 inches in length. Meanwhile, all of the stock shafts Ping offers are 45.25 inches in length with the lone exception of the 45.75 inch Alta CB 55. So did the vast majority of testers hitting the G425 Max use a 45.25-inch shaft?
If so, that fact alone might explain why the G425 Max generally had substantially more forgiveness (and straight shots?) than the Callaways. And that fact alone might also explain why the Callaways generally had substantially higher total distance and ball speed numbers than the G425 Max.
Conclusion: we really really need more clarity on the length of the shaft the bulk of the testers used, particularly for the G425 Max, Rogue ST Max LS, and Triple Diamond LS drivers.
Thanks!
Dave S
12 months agoLet me preface this by saying I really appreciate all the work that I’m sure goes into this testing each year; I know it’s tough to pull off so thanks to MGS for the informative content.
That said, as a long time reader from back before Most Wanted testing was a thing, it seems that some of the same issues continue to plague this testing, notably: (1) Confusion on scoring methodology due in large part to continually changing the metrics year-over-year, (2) not enough clarity on how tester pool impacts a club’s performance, year-over-year, and (3) an unsatisfactory explanation as to why robot testing isn’t included as PART of the data set used to rank clubs.
Until these issues are sorted out, it’s very difficult to trust these rankings year in year out b/c you don’t know if the club you got this year based on the testing, will underperform the following year under the revised metrics. (see G425 this year as example of the opposite situation).
scott
12 months agoTAYLORMADE STEALTH+ was Among the leaders for Strokes Gained yet Poor Forgiveness score .. Is it me but that doesn’t make sense ..If you hit it perfect you’ll score lower ( which applies to every club ) but it’s not as forgiving which would lead to higher scores . .Maybe the term strokes gain might be right but not the way you mean it..
David
11 months agoHad the stealth plus. Switched to cobra ls just as long way more forgiving.. I judge forgiving and accuracy together. The stealth might be longer on tow hits but but went straight right cobra stay somewhat on line and in play.. I’ve never like the aggressive twist face. Just me.
Jamie L
12 months agoI don’t think the Ping 425 Max should have been removed from last year’s tests. Rather it should have an asterisk beside it with an explanation of what happened. If 1″ in shaft length difference is what turns a bottom performing driver into the top one, that should be highlighted, not hidden.
With the exception with a handful of drivers at the bottom, all of these drivers are good. And most of them could be the “Most Wanted” with the right combination of testers.
Bruce
12 months agoThe ping G425 max is number 14 on last year‘s list. Nobody has removed anything the data is all there
Jared
11 months agoIt looks like only the G425 SFT is listed on the 2021 testing results as of 2/28.
FrankW
12 months agoInteresting study as usual. I would have liked to have seen which shafts were selected for each head. As shaft tech gets better and better, I would have to say that some of these small margins might just be the difference of shaft choice.
Another thing, when I did a deep dive on the data I noticed some of the carry yardages were actually longer than the total yardages, how is that even possible???
JB
12 months agoFirst, thank you for doing these tests and publishing results.
Second, I’d like to see a grid to show comparisons in current and previous models. Or even take the top contenders from the last 3-4 models and put those up against the new drivers (both with real golfers and the robot). How do they fair and how do the numbers change or do they?
Maybe that would show the manufacturer that really does marry technology advances with new models and constantly shows real gains vs hype.
Robert
12 months agoThey already test 38 drivers, adding another half dozen or drivers would take more time and money and delay the resuls even longer.
Most of the golf club buying public, buy off the rack and don’t buy a new driver every year, it’s every 5 to 10 years for most. So it would serve the samllest percentage of players to do such a test that would take more time, effort and money.
As they say, the juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.
JB
12 months agoI didn’t say delay these results or test it with these 38 drivers. They already have the data from drivers from previous years, just pop a grid up assuming they test the same each time. And they do this for a living based on customer demand.
I was not asking due to any buying trend of the general public, I was asking to see real gains vs hype through the years. If real gains year after year I’m betting more would be tempted to buy more often. If hype, then it would expose just marketing magic.
People do buy a lot of drivers, else they would not be making the drivers they are making and staying in business. So I’m not sure your assumption about the golf club buying public is true; it is not with me and my golfing buddies. I’m not trying to be controversial as I know you were just giving your opinion, but please don’t speak for the whole club buying public; you can’t do that. Plus I asked our local PGA Superstore manager and he said their trends show people replace drivers every 3-4 years, not 5-10.
Trusty rusty
12 months agoSo it appears the most wanted drivers, most are draw bias. Meaning even your RH testers of all abilities are not missing right and a straighter drive. Makes sense….. As others are pointing out a break down by swing speed, slow , medium & fast would be ideal. Perhaps that is coming out shortly?
ChristianR
12 months agoI would like to see a robot test like you did with balls.
Stock shaft, three swing speeds.
Then a comparison of the heads using same shafts, like the 7-8 more used for top speed, and at least 2-3 options for mid and low speeds.
Lot of work, but eliminate human bias and gives you true numbers.
Jimmy Choo
12 months agoI always think that there are so many technology build onto Driver but they will never escape the tight control of the rules. Meaning that a new driver may not be always the best. Can we at least have the last 2 year top 5 driver included in the test so we as consumer can decide whether to spend extra money on the latest driver. Isn’t this is what MGS’s mission? Independent, unbiased and always put the #ConsumerFirst.
Alan
10 months agoI hit my 2015 aeroburner much better than the stealth. The aeroburner has a much cheaper Graffaloy blue shaft in it.. I think its different strokes for different folks.
BodeenJCS
12 months ago” Good Looks Don’t Equal Good Performance ” Fail … while this may be true for you , I wont buy a ugly driver or a driver with bad feel or sounds like a tin can (ping , cleveland) and since most if not all of these are so close in performance , your splitting hairs here . I always say you cant really go wrong with any of these drivers so looks,, feel , and sound are the driving force in a lot of golfers eyes .
Trusty rusty
12 months agoOoops, forgive me I saw the advanced settings of several clubhead speeds, 3 handicap levels, and 3 attack angles…….Excellent thank you
Gabriel
11 months agoWas testing a few new driver the other day, one of them the most expensive one gave me best result, didnt try a few brand but if that expensive piece of red face tech make me a better golfer, I will live with the red face, if I have very siomilar result with another one, well the red face might not get the sell… as simple as that
Sighball
12 months agoAny chance of posting tester comments / tidbits about each of the brands? Would love to hear the thoughts about the Cleveland XL lineup.. I see the data – how about some footnote comments about the testing.
Jeremy
12 months agoWhen did you realize that the Ping G425 Max and LST for the 2021 test was not off-the-rack and retail specs?
Damon
12 months agoSuper weird for sure, not good to just pull data
clayton petree
12 months agoWait, what? Can you please explain what you are referring to? I haven’t heard about this. I bought the 410 LST based on the last MW but curious what this is about.
Jeremy
12 months agoI’m told that Ping has different shaft lengths based on what shaft you buy. Some are 45.25” and others are 45.75”. This must have skewed the data. The 2022 model tested way better than the 2021 version, possibly because of the shorter shaft that was used last year. This is explained in the 2021 driver testing notes. I just don’t know when MGS noticed this and took the underperforming models out.
Jmav
12 months agoThanks for the review.
Remembering the comment that stated that Stealh made personal bests in speed for “EVERY staff member of MGS”. Maybe was the 46″ shaft?
That statement doesn’t match at all with the data shown. Maybe the red face hype? : /
MyGolfSpy
12 months agoStealth won for Best Distance.
Gabriel
11 months agotested it in a store and had better speed with it too, I trust that result 100%
Mike W
12 months agoJust got fitted for the G425 Max last week. Can’t wait until the snow melts!
Brandon M
12 months agoWhat is the range and/or average value for Attack Angle in the Negative, Neutral, and Positive buckets?
For example, is neutral -2 to +2 and positive is +2 and above? Or is the average of the neutral group 0, +1 or some other number?
Adam
12 months agoAre the high MOI drivers generally performing better in the forgiveness rank? Does removing outliers hurt the rankings of the high MOI drivers more than it would the lower MOI drivers?
Logan Charles
12 months agoI’m interested to see what the lifespan of an average Taylormade Stealth driver is compared to other woods. I’ve already seen some people notice that demo models have been seen with significant face wear (visible dimple imprints on the face, not just marks). It seems money right off the rack (or fitting), but I’m skeptical about the mileage they’ll have.
Brian Parkinson
12 months agoDid they shut down the comments? I made a comment, don’t see it., nor any other recent comments….
Anyway – could someone give me a pointer on what the data means or how to read it, or how to use it to look for the driver characteristic for your swing?
JB
12 months agoIts slightly concerning that testers are picking a high draw driver, Stealth, over others. Some of other choices and data has me questioning this. Even the 3x Diamond. even callaway says its not for 90% of the golfing public. I think they gave a much smaller number but i wanted to err on the side of caution.
My last concern is the shaft, generally speaking the head isnt going to do all that much….. well compared to the shaft. I just dont know what to make of a test where a Draw driver is in the top 5 of any category. Makes me think the testing pool isnt consistent which is proven out with the choices and lack of a shaft.
I say this just returning from a fitting where the shaft made all the difference. The club head was pretty much a personal choice., of course minor differences in forgiveness and distance.
Scotty 2 Hotty
12 months agoThis is possibly the worst comment I’ve ever read on here 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Jeff
12 months agoLove the supplemental data. For me, that’s where the story is. For instance, a BIG dispersion in total yardage for low handicap/high swing speed golfers versus little to none difference for mid handicap/mid swing speed golfers.
VERY different results based on how you filter the data for what type of golfer you are.
Terry
12 months agoThanks MSG for the information. The comments are almost as interesting to read as the test results.
NOTE: There is a typo where the Wilson driver picture should be. It says EMBRAGO vs EMBARGO. The A and R are inverted.
Jack
12 months agoI have a Cobra Air-X coming in the mail in the next two or three days
needless to say I’m dismayed to to see it at the bottom of the list for distance !?
Dave Henderson
12 months agoI really look forward to this test each year but now I am not sure what to think. I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into this kind of test but the disparity of results between last year and this for Ping G425 leaves me questioning how reliable these tests are. Did all of the other manufactures take a step backwards this year or were (are) your procedures flawed? I’ll probably be less excited for the results next year.
Thomas
12 months agoThe only 425 tested last year was the SFT.
Chris
12 months agothe other ping 425 models were in last years test when i checked yesterday, seems like someone is seeing all these comments and trying to remove the other models because of all the commentary on this thread.
I really hope this gets addressed in NPG, cause im interested to hear more.
Bruce
12 months agoI don’t know what you’re looking at but the other 425s are there. The max is listed as number 14 on last year’s list. Nobody is removing any data
Mike Lankston
12 months agoI just checked last year’s most wanted driver results. The ping g425 max, lst and sft are listed in the slow and mid swing results. The ping g425 max and lst do not appear in the results for high speed or the over all test results.
Thomas Green
11 months agoThat is not true. If you look in the data section you will see the Ping G425 Max in last years testing. I don’t know why it NO LONGER appears in the Most Wanted Rankings.
Andrew
12 months agoThis note appears on last year’s test now, although I don’t know when it appeared relative to the release of this 2022 test.
“Editor’s Note: The PING G425 MAX and G425 LST drivers were originally included in this test. Subsequently, we learned that the clubs tested did not match the off-the-rack, retail specification. As a result, we have removed them from the test.”
Chris
12 months agoThanks Andrew for confirming and clarifying, i missed that note at the bottom, only looked at the chart, maybe bruce had a cached or locally stored older version of the page on his browser.
Rich
12 months agoIt’s there in the detailed stats. You can choose from high, mid, or low handicap. The swing speed changes accordingly.
Rex Diamond
12 months agoI’ve gotta say I happily agree with the results. I got fitted for a Ping G425 max several months ago and have been finding a lot more fairways.
TravisV
12 months agoAlso re: the data tables: what are the defined ranges for low handicap vs. mid handicap vs. high handicap? And what are the defined ranges for positive attack angle, neutral attack angle, and negative attack angle?
dr. bloor
12 months agoI remain mystified as to why XXIO gave you drivers to test. Their shafts and overall weight are so poorly suited for any tester who would game any of the top finishers that they’re doomed from the start..
dave
12 months agoi can’t get more than 5 clubs on the low-mid speed, mid handicap setting, perhaps only 5 clubs work for my level of bad golf…..
good stuff as always!!
Phillip Bishop
12 months agoToggle the Handicap Setting and Angle of Attack Settings. This will allow for more clubs to process. A majority of our slower swinging testers have a more positive angle of attack.
Andrew
12 months agoI’m having a harder time following the results from year to year. Last year the PJNG 425 LST finished very low and near the bottom in distance. This year, it’s towards the tiptop.
Also, why no comparison to last year’s winner?
I’ve owned both Callaway Drivers (8.5 ◇◇◇ LS) and the PING 425 LST.
Phillip Bishop
12 months agoNew scoring metrics, which are explained at the beginning of the article. Testing 38 Drivers takes time. With each product addition, it adds to the testing length. Hence, why it was not included.
Richard
12 months agoShould you go back and redo last year’s results, then? Many of us purposely use last year’s drivers, not this years.. Interesting to see if you allow this reply to be posted. You chose not to post my comment from earlier today.
Andrew
11 months agoSorry, I did not mean that this year’s test/results were hard to understand. I just had a hard time understanding why/how the PING LST finished near the top in distance this year; as compared to last year’s test when MGS basically berated the driver and said it was worse compared to the 410 LST. That type of disparity makes me scratch my head for a variety of obvious reasons. It just seems like a big 180.
TravisV
12 months agoAlso, I’m thinking about how differently Ping’s G425 drivers performed overall in last year’s test compared to this year’s. If I recall correctly, most if not all of the G425s you used last year had shorter shafts than the G425s you tested this year.
Based on that fact, is it reasonable to conclude that a significant majority of your testers would not get better driver performance out of, say, a 44.75 inch shaft than a 45.5 or 45.75 inch shaft?
Phillip Bishop
12 months agoIn our testing, we fit from stock for each of our 35 testers. PING’s Alta CB 55 Slate shaft plays to 45.75 according to their website (https://ping.com/en-us/clubs/drivers/g425-max). However, they also have additional offerings – Aldila, PING TOUR, and Mitsubishi Chemical. These shafts play to 45.25 (based on their website). Each tester is different, thus, different shafts are utilized where we deem fit to hit ideal launch conditions. Same shaft options were used in last year’s test. Different scoring metrics lead to different results in an effort to make testing more understandable for all levels of golf consumers. That is always our number one goal..to educate all golf consumers to potentially get the best products in their hands, that fit to them since we are all different.
Dan
12 months agoInteresting that the Triple Diamond ended up as the most forgiving Callaway driver in this test when they market it as their least forgiving model.
Dave
12 months agoYea, I mean some of this just feels so counter-intuitive to what the manufacturers say that I’m not sure what to think. How the smallest head in their lineup with the most fade bias is the most forgiving is beyond me. Also, the Max LS is ostensibly a very similar version to this with the standard 460cc head and it has a full 10 points less forgiveness. Huh?
Ryan
12 months agoDon’t confuse accuracy with forgiveness. Tighter dispersion is what it ranked highly in. Not distance on mishits. Try reading again. But more slowly this time.
TravisV
12 months agoIn your data tables, how much should one focus on Shot Area (Yards)?
When y’all calculate forgiveness and/or accuracy, do you put more weight on Shot Area than Straight Shot %, Playable Shot %, Carry Delta, and Ball Speed Delta? Or do you put equal weights on all five of those categories when calculating forgiveness and/or accuracy?
Phillip Bishop
12 months agoShot area can equivocate to dispersion, so it’s certainly worth paying attention to. For example, Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 is widely inconsistent in terms of dispersion. Couple that with poor carry delta and ball speed delta (as explained in the article), it makes for a poor result.
TravisV
12 months agoThanks for the reply, Philip! Still wondering, though: when y’all calculate your overall forgiveness rating, do you put more weight on Shot Area than Carry Delta and Ball Speed Delta? Or do you equal weight on all three of those categories?
Brian Parkinson
12 months agoInteresting that they eliminated the best value category.
But what I’ve really noticed is that I don’t understand the data at all this year. I looked at the table and I have no idea what any of it means. I never could find a strokes saved category. I think this year I’ll have to rely on other sources for what clubs fit my swing characteristics the best.
Phillip Bishop
12 months agoThere weren’t any products worthy of a best value award this year. Last year, PXG 0211 performed exceptionally well under our previous testing metrics. Thus, we mentioned that in this year’s article. Every club within the Top 10 is substantially priced.
Len Nosal
12 months agoWhat does “IMAGE EMBRAGO” mean?
Bennett Green
12 months agoThe Wilson Launch Pad 2 is not yet available to the public. Image embargo means that we were unable to show you before release date!
Mike
12 months agoGreat article! Thank you for all of the work you do to provide these results to consumers! Ping seems to be a consistently high performer year after year so they are clearly doing something right. I was happy to see Mizuno and Cobra rank highly in a few categories, also nice to see the “smaller” guys compete more.
don
12 months agoAbsolutely love the data of hitting up vs down. Never realized it could be so driver specific. The same driver that gave you 13 extra yards if you hit down was one of the worst hitting up. Thats crazy cool to know.
David Silkroski
12 months agoI’ll stick to my 13.5 degree/>400cc (Golfsmith or Wishon heads) with the old 3-wood length shaft. At seventy-two and playing the forward tees, I can save my $$$ for beers at the 19th.
Seam
12 months agoIs there any real value in comparing the CALLAWAY ROGUE ST TRIPLE DIAMOND LS with a 45.75″ shaft and the TAYLORMADE STEALTH+ with a 46″ shaft.. Surely the miniscule difference in distance score between the clubs is due the the shaft length rather than anything else. Also its likely that the accuraracy discrepency in favour of the Callaway is due to its shorter shaft.
The bottom line for me from the data is that the only noticable difference between the top 10 or so is in forgiveness. Both the Callaway and the Taylormade leave a bit to be desired in that category
MarkM
12 months agoDo your really think 1/4″ longer shaft makes any difference whatsoever with the golfers in this test? C’mon
Deacon
12 months agoThe most glaring omission is the Titleist Tsi 2 driver. It is the most popular driver in the Titleist line and is advertised as having the greatest distance potential for most players. I bought the Tsi 2 last year and found it to be an exceptional driver. I recently tested it against the new Taylormade and Callaway offerings. In my hands the Titleist produced the greatest distance of all on the Trackman.
chris
12 months agoits in the list just not in the top 10, if you go to the most wanted driver data table and use the pagination arrows at the bottom youll see it.
Bri
12 months agoHad a go on a launch monitor this weekend testing my existing TM M3 vs TM Stealth, Callaway Rogue ST and Cobra Ltd XS.
Around 105pmh swing speed and the new drivers average strikes matched my old M3’s best strikes (about 9 yds carry extra on similar hits at around 245-255 yds carry).
The Cobra was a slightly better than Callaway and both a good bit ahead of the Stealth which was the opposite of which I was expecting! All using same shaft (X Tensei White 65 with my existing shaft being X Tensei White 70).
So while these test are good you should always get fitted as some clubs that work out lower on these ratings may fit your swing better.
EJ
12 months agoWhich driver provides the most head feel? This may sound nuts, but i miss the smaller head sizes because they seemed to provide more feel than the new larger heads. That said- is head feel more of a shaft function?
Dr Tee
12 months ago“Best Driver” is a very individual thing–looks, accuracy, sound, price, and most important shaft and FITTING play a role. For example, of the five previous gamers (amongst which several are in your rankings) in my “collection”, a $235 PXG 0211 is the longest straightest driver I have ever owned —-and it doesn’t even show up in your testing. I would take everything you have written here with a big grain of salt !
JB
12 months agoI think the 0211 got mentioned in last year’s test but is a real sleeper IMO and was down to $189 a few weeks ago (assuming a new version is about to drop). My whole group plays the 0211 and hands down is our favorite.. It worked better for me than the G425 driver (using exact same shaft) when on Trackman and I own the G425 fairway wood and love that wood!. As you say, it all depends. The 425 driver seemed to fall off on distance for me while not offering more on accuracy. but everyone is different.
Tony Covey
12 months agoApologies everyone, we’re having a caching issue with the data page. You can try accessing it directly with this link:
https://mygolfspy.com/most-wanted-driver-2022-data/
Nolan Hughes
12 months agoBlows me away that the TSi3 is still amongst the leaders in a lot of these categories. Validates my purchase decision almost 2 years ago
Tom54
12 months agoPrice is now a factor for me. The last new driver I bought was the Callaway XR-16 Pro, and it was $400. This past November, I bought last year’s Most Wanted, the Epic Max LS, for about $200 less than new retail buy going with “like new” on Callaway Golf Pre-Owned. It’s the way to go now.
Andrew
12 months agoInteresting to see that strokes gained is now one of four metrics vs. the one total metric, especially since previous versions of these tests have argued that because it combines distance, accuracy, and dispersion into a single number, it is the only metric needed. Curious to hear a more detailed explanation of this choice.
I do like the scores being broken down by category, as it helps golfers choose clubs that may be better suited to help their weaknesses.
Ki
12 months agoSIM2 vs Stealth please
Matt Gallo
12 months agoAgreed! Need to know if it’s worth the purchase or not. Can always use a new driver haha
Clayton Petree
12 months agoSo, with the G410LST coming in above the G425LST last year, that means the G410LST would still be top 10. That’s quite notable IMO. Seeing this, I have zero desire to make a change. Still want to try the 2021 top driver – the Epic Max LS. Haven’t had a chance to hit it.
NorthGolfer
12 months agoYou are right about G410 LST being still really good and even better than G425 LST….. AND G425 MAX for the right swing. I compared extensively these three models and G410 LST remains in my bag.
Clay
12 months agoTaylormade’s Stealth+ had great distance, poor accuracy, and the longest shaft in the test. That all checks out.
Paul Infanti
12 months agoTo me, its all about the shaft. I have demo’ed most of the clubs in this test. While most worked for my swing, I found that the shaft had the greatest effect on the overall performance of the club. It was rare that I would find a head that was correctly set up with the right shaft producing less than desirable results. I just purchased a driver 4 months ago after a proper set up with a good club fitter and it produces what I call my “most wanted driver”.
Dave G
12 months agoWas it too early to test any of the Cobra Ltdx line?
MyGolfSpy
12 months agoWe tested 4 Cobra drivers, including 3 LTDX models.👊
MSG
12 months agoI love you guys but the G425 Max was not really great last year then this year it came out top. Weird but it is indeed a solid club when I tried it. But that sound really is annoying.
Peter
12 months agoI agree completely with your comments.
Two of my golf partners play with the G425 Max. They are very happy with their purchase. and they find it to be accurate. I did try their club and found it gives a good straight flight BUT the acoustics are probably the most unpleasant of any current drivers. Maybe the sound is a personal thing? The Ping produces a hollow, tinny sound.
Bill
12 months agolove that TM spends a billion dollars on advertising and hype and loses to a 2 year old ping! nothing could be more stratifying!
David N Heath
12 months agoI switched to G425 Max from the G400 Plus towards the end of last year. I went with the Ventus Blue 60 (s) and it’s been a killer combo for me. I’m at the point where I care more about performance than appearance & acoustics. The Ping drivers don’t look or sound all that great but damn, they just work.
Noel
12 months agoWhy no PXG models in the testing?
MyGolfSpy
12 months agoThey were not available for testing. We tested too early to include any 2022 models.
fozcycle
12 months agoWhy not then include the last year’s model. This would tell us a lot.
Mike
12 months agoWasn’t the Gen 4’s in last years test?
Ryan
12 months agoThanks for all the hard work!
mike massello
12 months agoHave had a serious stroke yet still playing. Once a low handicapper (7) and now high (25). At sap I would like to see a “rating” covering a swing speed decrease from about 100 to 70………which is the best driver as well on thru the entire set. For eg: is lighter better? is shorter better? is more flex better? is a reduction of 30 in swing speed vs a reduction of swing speed call for different specs?
Eric G
12 months agoIf you use their TrueGolfFit website, you can plug all those numbers in and get a driver fitted for those specific numbers.
Ryan F
12 months agoEvery year I look forward to this test, but every time I see a most wanted test, the more I think it is just a statistical reflection of the testers that year. I know this is the most extensive test out there but I’m wondering if there are really enough testers to make this an accurate assessment of the clubs. Last year the G425 Max was a middle of the road driver and now somehow in it’s second year of production it’s the best?
Like the disclaimer MGS alwas puts on their tests, this is just a starting point and each golfer should go and get fitted to see which one is best for them. Obviously, the G425 fit this year’s group of testers better than last year’s group but when you see big swings in rankings it makes you wonder just how dependent the test results are on the specific group of testers.
Robert Randow
12 months agoSame. Just throw some heads in the air and see which one lands in the fairway. 2022 Most Wanted done
David
12 months agoThis was my thought as well. A middle of the road driver last year is now better than all other drivers 2022 offerings. I’m sure MGS will be able to speak to it, but the lack of consistency is weird. If it’s so dependent on a group of testers what’s the point? “Last year it was meh, but with this group it was great”… Not exactly a stamp I’d put on my most wanted.
Hopefully they’ll speak to this on NPG.
Clay
12 months agoAccording to the specs the shafts in the G425 lineup this year were almost 1″ longer than last year. Certainly could contribute to speed and distance and may have played a significant role in their performance.
*Also just noticed the specs for every Ping but the SFT have been removed from last year’s test page.
victor
12 months agoIf I remembered correctly, the G410 did better than the G425 during the test last year, I guess G410 is still the king then
Cory
12 months agoTotally agree here, nothing about the driver changes but it’s ranking soars? Shows how random this can be depending on the player and why nobody should take any test as a determination for what is good for them.
Chris
12 months agoThis ^ and all the associated comments.
Doug
12 months agoCool that youve changed up the criteria and made it a little easier to understand vs strokes gained.
But, now we have a driver, from last year, that finished middle of the pack compared to last year’s offerings; suddenly becomes this year’s winner? Do we have a decrease in performance from the current field, or habe the metrics changed everything?
Any chance of re-crunching last year’s numbers thru this new formula to find out???
TR1PTIK
12 months agoI don’t believe the testers are the “exact” same every year. I could be wrong about that and I do know there are several who regularly participate in Most Wanted testing. More importantly, golfers on an individual basis change and pretty much most drivers from the major OEMs (and a few from DTC brands) are really, really good. So, it makes sense that you might see things like this in an annual test where CURRENT MODEL drivers are pitted against each other.
Tom
12 months agoI’m curious as to why no PXG drivers in the tests?
MyGolfSpy
12 months agoThey were not available for testing. We tested too early to include any 2022 models.
John
12 months agoNo real data this year I see. Not your best work this year…
MyGolfSpy
12 months agoActually more data than ever before John.
Here you go if you missed it in the article:
https://mygolfspy.com/most-wanted-driver-2022-data
don
12 months agoAnd proof positive hitting up is not always longer. On the data set the mid handicaps lose 8 yds with the TSI1 hitting up vs down and 14 yds with the TSI2
Tim
11 months agoThe data is my jam!!. Just one suggestion/request. Can you provide a finer grouping in the swing speed area? As usual, my swing speed and ball speed fall exactly between two of the speed categories. this is also verified by my own carry and total distances compared to those on the test data… one set is too low, the other is too high.
Understanding that a) you do give the option to select one or more speed categories, but that is a pretty wide range from the bottom of one swing speed to the top of the other; and b) the finer the filter, the more variability on the individual testers comes into play… but since you have the data, and the filter features……
That said… love this testing and data My next driver will come from this research… as soon as I navigate how to apply my own swing characteristics to the data presented.