Table of Contents
Drivers

Best Drivers For Low Swing Speed Golfers

Phillip Bishop
Phillip Bishop
Hard Goods/Golf Club Testing Manager
Tony Covey
Tony Covey
Employee #2, Editor, Jack of All Trades

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Best Drivers For Low Swing Speed Golfers

The most comprehensive driver test of 2024 is backed by more than a decade of experience from MyGolfSpy, the industry leaders in independent golf club testing.

Our 2024 Driver Test is among the largest we’ve ever conducted. This year, we tested 37 models from the largest brands of golf alongside smaller brands vying for your attention and dollars.

In total, our team spent more than 240 hours collecting and analyzing data from a test pool of 35 avid golfers just like you. To identify the best drivers, we considered a variety of distance, accuracy and forgiveness metrics. We looked at averages while also seeking to identify which drivers were among the very best for each of our testers.

The results of this test serve as an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for a bit of extra insight before your next fitting. Whatever you’re looking for from your next driver, you’ll it here.

This article is specific to low swing speed golfers. We categorize low swing speeds as below 90 mph. If that is you, these results are for you.

These are the best drivers of 2024 for low swing speed golfers.

Best Drivers of 2024 – Low Swing Speeds

Best Overall – PING G430 MAX 10K

Runner-Up Overall – Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D

PING G430 MAX Driver review

3rd Place Overall – PING G430 MAX

PING G430 MAX Driver review

Best For Distance – PING G430 MAX

Best For Accuracy – PING G430 MAX 10K

Best For Forgiveness – PXG 0311 XF GEN6

Best Value – Kirkland Signature Driver

Show All


Best Overall DRIVERS – LOW swing speed Golfers

You want to play the best driver. We want you to play the best driver for you.

It is that simple.

In this year’s test, there were drivers that consistently blew us away. Each of these drivers is the leader or among the leaders in our three scoring categories: distance, accuracy, forgiveness. Check out the best drivers overall for low swing speeds.

We’ve included subjective feedback from our testers. However, it does not factor in the rankings. Performance should always trump opinion when it comes to purchasing a new golf club. Backed by more than a decade of golf club testing experience, we can confidently state that popular opinion doesn’t always match reality.

*Please note that category scores may differ in the products listed. Full results are found in the data section below.*


Best Overall PING G430 MAX 10K

score icon Review Score
9.8/10
accuracy icon Accuracy
9.7
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.8
distance icon Distance Score
7.9
dollar icon Price
$599

Buy This If

  • You prioritize accuracy off the tee:

    PING G430 MAX 10K dominates the field from an accuracy perspective, which is why it is the best driver for accuracy in our low swing speed test results. It was the highest performer for straight shot percentage and it was in the top-five percent for over half of the testing field.

  • You want the best of both worlds:

    Yes, PING G430 MAX 10K is the best driver for accuracy for low swing speeds. On top of that, it is above average for distance and forgiveness. The combination of accuracy, distance and forgiveness makes this driver the best for slower swinging golfers.

Don't Buy This If

  • You don't like a larger head profile:

    Overall, PING G430 MAX 10K ranks highly for looks. However, we know every golfer has different buying priorities. PING G430 MAX 10K pushes the limits in appearance with a larger head profile. Some of you may not like this.

Bottom Line

If your swing speed is below 90 mph and you want the best driver on the market, the PING G430 MAX 10K is the possible solution. It is the best driver for accuracy and excels for distance and forgiveness. If you want a triple-threat driver, PING G430 MAX 10K is the one you need to check out.

Testers' Feedback

Do not let this maxed-out MOI driver head fool you. It’s DAMN GOOD. Listen to our testers:

“I would recommend this driver to a bunch of my golfing buddies.”

“Very consistent with tight dispersion. Misses are forgiving and well-struck shots produce stellar numbers.”

“Streamlined and visually appealing.”

Expert Take

PING G430 MAX 10K is the best driver for golfers who swing below 90 mph. This reiterates just HOW GOOD the PING G430 MAX 10K driver is for a multitude of golfers. This is a carryover from our Most Wanted Driver results where the PING G430 MAX 10K won. It is adept at accuracy, no matter a golfer’s swing speed. This is a driver that you need to add to your demo list.


Runner Up (Overall) Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D

score icon Review Score
9.4/10
distance icon Distance Score
9.4
accuracy icon Accuracy
7.2
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.4
dollar icon Price
$599.99

Buy This If

  • You want distance off the tee:

    Once again, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D excels in distance. It ranks second overall in distance for our low swing speed test results. For our top-five percent evaluation, Paradym Ai Smoke Max D was the best driver for carry and total distance. Despite this, it narrowly misses out on first place for distance due to its base distance score.

  • You prioritize accuracy over forgiveness:

    Another strength of Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is its accuracy. It finishes fourth overall for accuracy and barely misses out on the top three in our accuracy scoring category due to its straight shot percentage score. In terms of playable shot percentage, it is one of the best drivers for low swing speeds.

Don't Buy This If

  • You prioritize forgiveness:

    For our forgiveness scoring category, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is average at best. It isn't consistent enough with its dispersion, ball speed, and carry distances in comparison to other top-performing drivers.

Purchase at

Bottom Line

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D continues to impress for 2024. Not only was it one of the best drivers overall in our testing, it is the second-best driver in our low swing speed test results. It ranks in the top four for distance and accuracy in the low swing speed category. Additionally, it does offer a draw-bias design, which will certainly help a lot of golfers.

Testers' Feedback

“Feedback across the face is great. It lets you know where you hit it.”

First Callaway driver I’ve liked in some time. I was pleasantly surprised.”

“Stellar balance, very workable and the distance is there. It also sits great despite being a draw-biased driver.”

Expert Take

If you’ve seen a dip in your swing speed and your distance, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D shines for distance throughout our testing in 2024. Most recently, it is the second-best driver for distance for low swing speed golfers based on our testing. It also places fourth for accuracy. A driver that offers both distance and accuracy is hard to beat. This is why you should try out the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D.


3rd Place (Overall) PING G430 MAX

score icon Review Score
8.3/10
distance icon Distance Score
9.2
accuracy icon Accuracy
7.4
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.1
dollar icon Price
$549.00

Buy This If

  • You want a driver that is consistently long:

    PING G430 MAX is the best driver for distance in our low swing speed test results. If you swing speed is below 90 mph, G430 MAX is worth trying . In our testing, it excels in distance from a base score standpoint and scores well enough for our top-five percent metric to secure its place as the best for distance.

Don't Buy This If

  • You don't like a busy crown on a driver:

    Driver profile is always a love/hate relationship when it comes to PING drivers. Most of our testing pool are not fans of their Turbulators. If your eye is offended by a busy crown, this driver isn't for you.

Bottom Line

Traditionally, most golfers probably don’t think of PING drivers as being the best for distance. But PING G430 MAX puts the doubters to rest in our low swing speed test results. It claims the title of best for distance in our evaluation of testers who have a swing speed below 90 mph. Across the board, it is a balanced driver for slower swinging golfers, especially for those who crave distance. And, let’s admit, most of you are looking for extra distance off the tee. Check this driver out if that is you.

Testers' Feedback

“Very consistent and makes hitting the fairway easy”.

“One of my favorite drivers in the test. It is extremely consistent with its performance and offers distance”.

“The feel off the sweet spot is appealing and it is super forgiving”.

Expert Take

If you are a slower swinger, PING G430 MAX is worth checking out. It is a well-balanced driver in addition to being the best for distance. Accuracy might be its lone downfall as it finishes 15th overall in that metric. We know it offers distance and forgiveness. Accuracy is an area that can improve with time.


BEST Drivers FOR DISTANCE – LOW Swing Speed Golfers

Distance is king. When you are looking for a new golf club, what’s the No. 1 thing you’re looking for?

Distance.

Being long off the tee is a huge advantage. Anyone who says distance doesn’t matter is delusional.

Distance is an advantage. However, consistent distance is more important. The best drivers for distance are consistently longer tester to tester. They excel in carry and total distance. Below are the best drivers for distance for low swing speeds.

*Please note that category scores may differ in the products listed. Full results are found in the data section below.*

Best For Distance PING G430 MAX

score icon Review Score
8.3/10
distance icon Distance Score
9.2
accuracy icon Accuracy
7.4
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.1
dollar icon Price
$549.00

Buy This If

  • You want a driver that is consistently long:

    PING G430 MAX is the best driver for distance in our low swing speed test results. If your swing speed is below 90 mph, G430 MAX is worth trying if you want consistent distance. In our testing, it excels in distance from a base score standpoint and scores well enough for our top-five percent metric to secure its place as the best for distance.

Don't Buy This If

  • You don't like a busy crown on a driver:

    Driver profile is always a love/hate relationship when it comes to PING drivers. Most of our testing pool are not fans of their Turbulators. If your eye is offended by a busy crown, this driver isn't for you.

Bottom Line

Traditionally, most golfers probably don’t think of PING drivers as being the best for distance. But PING G430 MAX puts the doubters to rest in our low swing speed test results. It claims the title of best for distance in our evaluation of testers who have a swing speed below 90 mph. And, let’s admit, most of you are looking for extra distance off the tee. Check this driver out if that is you.

Testers' Feedback

“Very consistent and makes hitting the fairway easy.”

One of my favorite drivers in the test. It is extremely consistent with its performance and offers distance.”

“The feel off the sweet spot is appealing and it is super forgiving.”

Expert Take

If you are a slower swinging golfer, PING G430 MAX is worth checking out. It is a well-balanced driver including being the best for distance. Accuracy might be its lone downfall, as it finishes 15th overall for accuracy. We know it offers distance and forgiveness. Accuracy is an area that can improve with time.


Runner-Up (Distance) Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D

score icon Review Score
9.4/10
distance icon Distance Score
9.4
accuracy icon Accuracy
7.2
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.4
dollar icon Price
$599.99

Buy This If

  • You want distance off the tee:

    Once again, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D excels in distance. It ranks second overall in distance for our low swing speed test results. For our top–five percent evaluation, Paradym Ai Smoke Max D was the best driver for carry and total distance. Despite this, it narrowly misses out on first place for distance due to its base distance score.

  • You prioritize accuracy over forgiveness:

    Another strength of Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is its accuracy. It finishes 4th overall for accuracy and barely misses out on the Top 3 in our accuracy scoring category due to its straight shot percentage score. In terms of playable shot percentage, it is one of the best drivers for low swing speeds.

Don't Buy This If

  • You prioritize forgiveness:

    For our forgiveness scoring category, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is average at best. It isn't consistent enough with its dispersion, ball speed and carry distances in comparison to other top-performing drivers.

Purchase at

Bottom Line

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D continues to impress for 2024. Not only was it one of the best drivers overall in our testing, it is the second-best driver in our low swing speed test results. It ranks in the top four for distance and accuracy in the low swing speed category. Additionally, it does offer a draw-bias design, which will certainly help a lot of golfers. You need to check out this driver by Callaway.

Testers' Feedback

“Feedback across the face is great. It lets you know where you hit it.”

First Callaway driver I’ve liked in some time. I was pleasantly surprised.”

“Stellar balance, very workable and the distance is there. It also sits great despite being a draw-biased driver.”

Expert Take

If you’ve seen a dip in your swing speed and your distance, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D shines for distance throughout our testing in 2024. Most recently, it is the second-best driver for distance for low swing speed golfers based on our testing. It also places fourth for accuracy. A driver that offers distance and accuracy is hard to beat. This is why you should try out the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D.

BEST DRIVERS FOR ACCURACY – LOW SWING SPEEDS

While we acknowledge distance is a priority, accuracy shouldn’t be discounted, especially with a driver. Keeping the golf ball in play off the tee is critical to lower scores. As golfers, we are always chasing after the perfect driver or searching for that magical unicorn. In reality, finding a driver that is accurate is the first step to bettering your golf game. A driver is both accurate and long is a recipe for success.

Below are the best drivers for accuracy for low swing speeds.

*Please note that category scores may differ in the products listed. Full results are found in the data section below.*


Best For Accuracy PING G430 MAX 10K

score icon Review Score
9.8/10
accuracy icon Accuracy
9.7
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.8
distance icon Distance Score
7.9
dollar icon Price
$599

Buy This If

  • You prioritize accuracy off the tee:

    PING G430 MAX 10K dominates the field from an accuracy perspective. It was the highest performer for straight shot percentage and it was in the top-five percent for over half of the testing field.

  • You want the best of both worlds:

    PING G430 MAX 10K is the best driver for accuracy for low swing speeds. On top of that, it is above average for distance and forgiveness. The combination of accuracy, distance and forgiveness make this driver the best for slower swinging golfers.

Don't Buy This If

  • You don't like a larger head profile:

    Overall, PING G430 MAX 10K ranks highly according our testing pool for looks. However, we know that every golfer has different buying priorities. PING G430 MAX 10K pushes the limits in appearance with a larger head profile. Some of you may not like this.

Bottom Line

If your swing speed is below 90 mph and you want the best driver on the market, the PING G430 MAX 10K is the possible solution. For 2024, it thoroughly impresses and continues to do so in our low swing speed test results. It is the best driver for accuracy and excels for distance and forgiveness. If you want a triple-threat driver, PING G430 MAX 10K is the one you need to check out.

Testers' Feedback

Do not let this maxed-out MOI driver head fool you. It’s DAMN GOOD.

“I would recommend this driver to a bunch of my golfing buddies.”

“Very consistent with tight dispersion. Misses are forgiving and well-struck shots produce stellar numbers.”

“Streamlined and visually appealing.”

Expert Take

PING G430 MAX 10K is the best driver for golfers who swing below 90 mph. This reiterates just HOW GOOD the PING G430 MAX 10K driver is for a multitude of golfers. This is a carryover from our official Most Wanted Driver results where the PING G430 MAX 10K won. It is adept at accuracy, and this can be said no matter what a golfer’s swing speed is. This is a driver that you need to add to your demo list.


Runner-Up (Accuracy) PING G430 SFT

score icon Review Score
8.9/10
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.2
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
9.9
distance icon Distance Score
7.3
dollar icon Price
$549.00

Buy This If

  • You prioritize accuracy and forgiveness:

    PING G430 SFT ranks second for accuracy and eighth for forgiveness in our low swing speed test results. Each metric plays a role in having a playable driver that may allow you to play better golf.

  • You want a reliable, draw bias driver:

    Every year, PING's SFT driver model is the most draw-biased driver we test. The G430 SFT is no different. It offers a reliable draw-bias outcome that can help mitigate a slice or fade.

Don't Buy This If

  • You prioritize distance:

    Despite its stellar accuracy performance, PING G430 SFT will leave you wanting more from a distance standpoint. It is average to below-average for distance in our low swing speed driver results.

Bottom Line

It comes as no surprise that the PING G430 SFT driver is accurate. “Accuracy” can be a little misleading because that doesn’t necessarily mean a driver is straight down the middle of the fairway. It can be in the fairway or within a range that is accessible and playable, which is the case of PING G430 SFT. It is stupid-easy to hit with a reliable draw bias outcome or, for some, a straighter outcome. PING G430 SFT is worth trying if you prioritize straighter and more playable drives.

Testers' Feedback

“Super consistent. Forgiving. Every time I picked it up, I felt like I was going to hit the fairway.”

“Too busy on the crown for my liking, however, it is a stupid consistent and good driver.”

“If you are looking for a draw bias driver, this is it. You’ll have no trouble hitting draws with it or managing a slice.”

Expert Take

PING G430 SFT certainly isn’t for everyone. However, it is stupid consistent with a draw-bias design. For slower swing speed golfers, it produces accuracy and forgiveness. Another key point is that the amount of draw is more manageable than year’s past. So it is versatile enough to add draw shaping or mitigate your fade/slice.

 


BEST Drivers for FORGIVENESS – LOW swing speed Golfers

“Forgiveness” is a nebulous term in the golf industry. It’s used often but rarely defined. As a golfer, do you want a driver that performs consistently? Your answer should be a definitive “yes.” You should desire a driver that produces similar results off the club face shot to shot. Are the ball speed deviations tight? Are the carry distance deviations minimal? Are the dispersion ellipses compact? These are metrics we analyze when it comes to forgiveness.

Below are the best drivers for forgiveness for low swing speeds

*Please note that category scores may differ in the products listed. Full results are found in the data section below.*


Best For Forgiveness PXG 0311 XF GEN6

score icon Review Score
8.5/10
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
9.8
accuracy icon Accuracy
7.8
distance icon Distance Score
7.2
dollar icon Price
$449.99

Buy This If

  • You prioritize forgiveness and consistency:

    PXG 0311 XF GEN6 is the best driver for forgiveness in our low swing speed test results. In our main Most Wanted Test, it was also one of the best drivers for forgiveness. PXG 0311 XF GEN6 excels in dispersion, ball speed consistency and carry distance consistency.

  • You want a driver with distance potential:

    PXG 0311 XF GEN6 places seventh for distance in our low swing speed test results. Our staff believes it is a driver that offers "untapped" distance potential and the results backup this belief. 0311 XF GEN6 has one of the best total distance base scores in the testing field.

Don't Buy This If

  • You prioritize accuracy:

    PXG 0311 XF GEN6 overall performance is hindered by its accuracy score. It hovers in the middle of the pack for accuracy. However, it does offer versatility due to its adjustable hosel and movable weights. These components can potentially increase accuracy with proper attention.

Purchase at

Bottom Line

We don’t say this lightly: the PXG 0311 XF GEN6 is one of the best PXG drivers we’ve tested. It is super-consistent with performance off the driver face and produces effective dispersion. This  continues in our low swing speed evaluation. It won’t be for everyone so, if you’re considering it, we strongly recommend a professional fitting.

Testers' Feedback

“Inspires confidence with the shaping and design.”

“It is my favorite driver of the grouping for today’s session. It is surprisingly good.”

A really good driver and surprisingly lower spinning. Best PXG driver I’ve ever hit.

Expert Take

PXG tends to be one of the most forgiving drivers year to year. With the GEN6 lineup, PXG solidifies their reputation for forgiveness within our testing. The 0311 XF GEN6 offers extreme consistency. With plenty of adjustability, it is a driver that has untapped potential.

With a comprehensive fitting, we believe the PXG 0311 XF GEN6 driver could go from a consistent driver to a bomber. It produces consistent numbers across the face and it’s $150 less than some of the newer drivers on the market.

Runner-Up (Forgiveness) PING G430 LST

score icon Review Score
9.5/10
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
7.3
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.6
distance icon Distance Score
9.5
dollar icon Price
$579.99

Buy This If

  • You want a forgiving and consistent driver:

    PING G430 LST is the second-best driver for forgiveness in our low swing speed test results for a reason. The reason is simple: it is the best driver at producing absurdly consistent ball speed numbers. It is the only driver to record a 10 for our ball speed delta base score.

  • You want distance:

    In our low swing speed results, PING G430 LST is the third-best driver for distance. It packs a punch. This spills over from the remarkable ball speed consistency it offers, which is evident in our forgiveness scoring category.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want accuracy:

    Accuracy is the PING G430 LST's weakness in the low swing speed test results. It is below average for straight and playable shot percentages. These two metrics are the heartbeat of our accuracy scoring category. Your accuracy could suffer if your swing speed is below 90 mph with this driver.

Bottom Line

For low swing speed golfers, PING G430 LST shines for forgiveness and distance. It finishes in the top three for each scoring category. Most golfers will prioritize forgiveness and distance and PING G430 LST is a great starting point if your swing speed is below 90 mph. One of the performance highlights is PING G430 LST’s ability to produce extremely consistent ball speed numbers. This is a testament to PING’s “Optimized T9S+ Forged Face” technology.

Testers' Feedback

“Best feeling PING driver I’ve hit in years. Love it.”

“Felt good no matter where I hit it on the face. Very impressive performance as well. Hard to beat.”

“Very nice feel and it produces consistent results across the board.”

Expert Take

Top to bottom, PING G430 LST is one of the best drivers for low swing speeds. It offers distance and surprisingly, forgiveness and consistency. Some may not like its aesthetics but you can’t knock its performance.

Low-spin technology but manages spin well without knuckling. For low swing speeds, it offers impressive forgiveness and consistency with distance to boot.


How to Choose a Golf Driver

Our mission is to cut through the subjective BS and encourage golfers to buy based on performance. Performance should be your top priority. However, there are other things you need to consider when purchasing a new driver.

Key Components

If you’re new to golf, it can be useful to understand the parts of a driver. Golf drivers consist of several parts: the clubhead, the shaft and the grip. The clubhead is the portion that actually strikes the ball and is often made from materials such as titanium or composites.

The hosel connects the head to the shaft, which can vary in length and is commonly constructed from steel or graphite. The grip can be chosen separately and you can always regrip your clubs. And if you really want to go the custom route, you can add a unique ferrule, too.

Cost

Pricing from top manufacturers appears to be consistent with 2023. Is this a positive? Depends on your perspective. You will likely be dishing out $600 give or take for the newest drivers.

Best Value Driver

The price for brand new drivers is at an all-time high. Fortunately, the Kirkland Signature driver is our choice for best value. At $199.99, you can purchase a brand-new driver Kirkland Signature driver.

Kirkland Signature Driver Review

Phillip Bishop
Phillip Bishop
Hard Goods/Golf Club Testing Manager

Shaft Selection

Selecting the right shaft for your golf game is critical for optimal performance. The proper shaft can positively impact launch conditions and overall accuracy.

Shafts typically are made from graphite or steel with the former being lighter and aiding in faster swing speeds. The shaft flex corresponds to swing speed and affects the trajectory.

Beginners often benefit from lighter graphite shafts that offer more flex, while seasoned players may prefer the precision of stiffer steel shafts suited for more powerful swings.

Legal Considerations and Regulations

The USGA sets regulations for club design and performance. These rules are in place to maintain the integrity of the game and set limits on factors like head size, shaft length and “spring-like” effect.

Driver Maintenance and Care

This may seem obvious but a damaged driver isn’t going to perform as well. Just as we found in our scuffed golf ball test, a pristine driver performs best.

With that in mind, we recommend that you regularly clean your golf driver and inspect for damage. Store it in a golf bag with a protective cover to safeguard the head. Proper care extends the life of the driver and ensures consistent performance.

How We Test Drivers

Testing drivers is not an easy task. Our 2024 Most Wanted test took 420 testing hours. For 2024, the testing pool includes 37 different driver models including the winner of our 2023 driver test – TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus.

MyGolfSpy’s test program is powered by three crucial components :

  • Foresight GC Quad – Foresight is the gold standard in camera-based launch monitor technology. Why? Because it produces data we can rely on with every shot hit. And since we can’t say it enough, for this test, our GC Quad’s captured more than 18,000 shots.
  • Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls – The Titleist Pro V1 is MyGolfSpy’s ball of choice for Most Wanted testing. Three generations of MyGolfSpy testing (both robot and Ball Lab) have shown the performance and quality to be outstanding.
  • The Indoor Golf Shop’s SIGPRO Premium – Indoor golf is taking the world by storm. All of our testing is done indoors at our HQ in Yorktown, Va. With each test, our screens take an absolute beating. Thus, we need high-quality, durable impact screens to handle the workload. SIGPRO Premium exceeds our expectations.

For driver testing, we have 35 testers. Since a driver is marketed to all golfers, our testing pool includes golfers of varying swing speeds and skill levels. Due to the scale of this test, each tester committed to 12 appointments to complete the driver test. All 35 testers hit each of the 37 drivers.

Best Drivers of 2024 – Scoring

Providing you, the golfer and consumer, with insights into the best drivers on the market is our No. 1 goal with this test. We can’t do that without taking a diligent, in-depth approach to analyzing the data we collect throughout this process.

Our scoring categories remain the same and we will review those below. However, we are taking a new, more extensive approach to our scoring categories.

Overall scores will now be labeled as an MGS Score. The MGS Score is on a 10-point scale.

Driver testing is comprised of three scoring categories:

  • Distance
  • Accuracy
  • Forgiveness

These three categories are weighted with distance taking a slight priority.

Driver Swing Speed

Distance

Maximizing driver distance is every golfer’s goal. For our distance category, we evaluate two specific metrics:

  • Carry Distance
  • Total Yards

Accuracy

Being accurate off the tee can be a game changer. For our accuracy category, we analyze two specific metrics:

  • Straight Shot Percentage – An enhanced take on Fairway Percentage. The target area widens the further a shot is hit. This ensures longer shots aren’t penalized and allows us to fairly compare results for big hitters with those of shorter ones.
  • Playable Shot Percentage – You want playable shots. We identify a playable shot as one that is in or within 10 yards of the edge of a 35-yard-wide fairway.

Forgiveness

We label forgiveness as how consistent a driver is at producing consistent shot outcomes. For our forgiveness category, we asses three specific metrics:

  • Carry Distance Deltas – The difference between the longest and shortest carry distance for a given driver.
  • Ball Speed Deltas – The difference between the fastest and slowest ball speed for a given driver.
  • Dispersion – Previously called Shot Area, dispersion is a measurement (yards/squared) of the elliptical distribution of a series of golf shots.

How the MGS Score is Calculated

Scores are derived from two sets of metrics. The specific metrics we use have been detailed above.

The highest percentage of the score is derived from the data displayed in the launch monitor data sheet (see data below). These are based on the data collected during the testing process and the related calculations for metrics such as dispersion, straight shot percentage, etc.

Any metric that falls within the average range is given a score of 8. As scores fall above or below the average range, scores increase to a maximum of 10 and a minimum value of 6.

Said another way, for each metric we score, every club will receive a score of 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, depending on how far from the test average the value is. 10s and 6s are rare.

New for 2024, a small percentage of the score comes from the top-five percentage. For this secondary view into the data, we look at the rate at which each club was among the top five best for every golfer in our test pool for each of our metrics.

These additional insights help us identify clubs that not only produce outstanding results on average but also are consistently among the top performers for the golfers in our test pool.

The launch monitor averages account for approximately 90 percent of the overall score while most of the remaining amount comes from the top five percentage.

In both cases, scores are weighted with 40 percent of the score coming from distance metrics, 35 percent from our accuracy metrics and the remaining 25 percent from our forgiveness metrics.

Finally, we reserve a very small percentage of the score to account for things like fitting considerations, excessive numbers of outliers and other details that fall outside the scope of the data.

How Category Scores Are Calculated

Please note that while we leverage the same two-factor approach to our category scores, the calculations are slightly different because there is no weighting within the individual categories.

With that, overall scores will be higher than the average of the individual category scores.

Fundamentally, the purpose of the score is to keep it simple for those who want it that way. For the rest of you, we’ve provided data, including our key metrics, top-five percentages and the full scoring table below.

Best Drivers of 2024 – 7 Key Takeaways

Our driver test is one of the longest, most extensive tests we do throughout the calendar year. Here are seven key takeaways after 420 hours of testing:

1. Bonded, Non-Adjustable Drivers Are Obsolete

Of the 37 drivers, only one offered no adjustability. With custom fitting becoming increasingly relevant, consumers are unlikely to find the right driver for them if they opt for a bonded, non-adjustable driver.

2. Don’t Sleep On Non-Mainstream Drivers

Nearly every golfer is familiar with, and to some degree, trusts, the big brands: PING, Callaway, Titleist, TaylorMade, etc. That said, there are several outside-the-mainstream drivers you should consider based on our data-driven results. Among them, the Srixon ZX7 Mk II is a standout, especially for distance. Mizuno ST-G is our favorite Mizuno driver to date. The Wilson Dynapower Carbon is one of the best drivers for accuracy.

3. Moveable Weights Sometimes Cause More Problems Than They Solve

We noted that with lower-spinning models like the COBRA DARKSPEED X and LS, the Titleist TSR4 and the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke, our test struggled to produce consistent results with the heavy weight in the forward position. Fortunately, few golfers benefit from the absolutely lowest achievable spin.

Conversely, the sliding weight of the Mizuno ST-G provided a more gradual approach to spin reduction. We were able to dial that in more efficiently.

4. MOI is Just a Number

2024 is the year of 10K (MOI) but that needs to be put in proper context. MOI is just a number. It’s an element of forgiveness, but it’s not the whole forgiveness story. It’s a static measurement that influences a dynamic result (the things that happens when you hit a golf ball).

At the most basic level, MOI serves to preserve ball speed on off-center hits. It doesn’t always mean a more consistent driver and it definitely doesn’t guarantee straighter drives.

The most forgiving driver will always be the one you hit closest to the sweet spot most often. With that, while it’s true that some higher MOI drivers ranked among our most forgiving, models like the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke, COBRA DARKSPEED LS and PXG 0311 GEN6 that aren’t typical talked about as forgiveness leaders performed well for some forgiveness metrics.

5. They’re Definitely Not All the Same

Looking strictly at the launch monitor data, the top three longest drivers (based on average Total Yards) are separated by less than a foot. However, there’s nearly a 16-yard difference between the longest and shortest drivers in the test.

At the individual level, the best drivers for distance were in the top five for 35-40 percent of the test pool, while the laggards weren’t in the top five for anyone.

A similar pattern emerges for every metric we consider.

6. The Shaft Matters

It’s neither a surprise nor a secret that not all manufacturers put the same effort (money) into their stock shaft lineup. While having more options doesn’t guarantee better performance (the head still has to perform), even for the off-the-rack buyer a more robust shaft lineup is an advantage.

7. There’s Design and Then There’s the Golfer

For some golfers, sometimes for many golfers, drivers don’t do what they’re supposed to. There’s design and there’s perception. What I mean is that if something in the design of a driver – things like face angle, lie angle, even the way the top line presents at address – causes a golfer to change something in his setup, the real-world result can differ from the design intent.

It’s the reason we sometimes see draw-biased drivers produce fade-biased results and why “better player” drivers with small shapes and open faces can sometimes go left.

Best Drivers of 2024 – Hitting Bay Basics

Here are some quick insights to help you better navigate your next hitting bay experience.

  • Shaft Length – 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. 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.
  • 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.
What are the best drivers?
  • 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.
  • 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.

Best Drivers For Low Swing Speed Golfers – The Data

The table below contains the relevant data from the 2024 Most Wanted Driver Test that is specific to low swing speeds only. We’ve done our best to provide the data that serves as the foundation for our scores, while giving you the opportunity to focus on the metrics that matter most to you.

Using the dropdown menu, you can toggle between the Launch Monitor Metrics and related calculations, our top-five percentages (the rate at which a driver was among a tester’s top five for a given metric) and the full scoring table. Each of the tables is sortable.

ATTENTION MOBILE USERS:

While we’ve done everything we can to make the data viewable on mobile, table data isn’t particularly well-suited for the platform. If you really want to dig in, we’d suggest hopping in front of a desktop.

FAQ: Best Drivers For Low Swing Speed Golfers

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Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Cancer Survivor. Amputee Golfer. Essentially, a OneLeggedBoss. When he isn't facilitating testing or analyzing data, Phillip enjoys his family time, practicing and playing golf, unwinding with video games, capturing photos of nature, or devouring pretzels.

Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

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Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

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    Tony is the Editor of MyGolfSpy where his job is to bring fresh and innovative content to the site. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he was instrumental in developing MyGolfSpy's data-driven testing methodologies and continues to sift through our data to find the insights that can help improve your game. Tony believes that golfers deserve to know what's real and what's not, and that means MyGolfSpy's equipment coverage must extend beyond the so-called facts as dictated by the same companies that created them. Most of all Tony believes in performance over hype and #PowerToThePlayer.

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        Joe K

        7 days ago

        Does “dispersion” apply only to forgiveness, or overlap both accuracy and forgiveness?

        Reply

        Peter

        2 weeks ago

        Hi, why didn’t you tested the high launch or slow swing speed version of each brand since it specially aimed for slow speed golfers. It would be interesting to see the data .

        Reply

        Chuck

        2 weeks ago

        Thank you for the reply. I went to my local golf shop fully intending to treat myself to a $600 driver. Shocked when their fitting landed on the $350 Cobra Air X 2. Probably even more shocked they didn’t try to sell me something more expensive. Chuck

        Reply

        Linda Cook

        2 weeks ago

        Did you do any test on women’s drivers for slow swing speed? I am 70 and always looking for distance.

        Reply

        Mr Jonathan Farrington

        2 weeks ago

        Hello
        Were the test conducted at a 90mph swing speed?
        Thanks

        Reply

        Alex

        2 weeks ago

        Just out of curiosity, MGS/True Golf Fit recommended the Kirkland driver as ideal for me, yet it is poo-pooed here. Which is the better predictor (since getting a Kirkland driver is tough unless you want to overpay on eBay)

        Reply

        Julian

        2 weeks ago

        I read the charts and realize they are averages from swing speeds below 90. This is fine, but why don’t you show the swing speed average. It would mean more to me if I knew it was 89,85, or 79. I’m sure if you know the average ball speed, you must know the average swing speed. All the figures shown would have more relevance if you showed the one figure that produced them.

        Reply

        Bob

        2 weeks ago

        I appreciate the article and thank you for all your hard work, but at the same time I’ll stay with my XXIO driver

        Reply

        Johnny Simpson

        2 weeks ago

        Thank you so much Bob for letting us know. I know myself and thousands of other were wondering what you were going to do!!!

        Reply

        Shane Myers

        2 weeks ago

        I know you don’t do, or typically don’t, have women’s club reviews. But an entry level type golf swing, not much speed. Would they benefit from this review even if it’s not the women’s version of the club that was tested?

        Reply

        Phillip Bishop

        2 weeks ago

        I would definitely encourage any type of entry level golfer to read this if they have a slower swing speed (female or male). It is a great starting point, but not an end all be all result either. There is little difference in technology between a “men’s” driver and a “women’s” driver. However, a “women’s” driver will likely have a shorter playing length, so the driver head weight maybe be different than a “men’s” driver head to balance out swingweight.

        Reply

        Indyvic

        2 weeks ago

        So how is it a company changes it’s driver head weight? If a driver in senior has a swing weight of D0 what is changed in the same model of a woman’s driver at C8 besides maybe a lighter shaft minus an inch in length? Are you saying the driver head is built differently for a Ladies model? I often see besides swing weight, not much difference in say a senior model compared to a ladies model or a regular model to a senior model except for the shaft model and weight. I play a Callaway Epic Speed “forty 5.0” shaft in senior but notice many Callaway models have sub 50gm. shafts now in different flexes. Was not aware if it’s so, that the heads were any different. Appreciate your explanation.

        Willie T

        2 weeks ago

        As a low swing speed person, the article is good read. Been playing a G400 SFT the past few years, may be time to update to a new driver. Excellent food for thought…

        Reply

        Härtel Jens - Jürgen

        2 weeks ago

        At what loft did you set up the drivers and tested them in the category „Slow Swing Speed“ ? Asking, because of slow swing speed Golfers may benefit from higher loft and the mostly associated higher spin in their case.

        Reply

        Phillip Bishop

        2 weeks ago

        Great question! So, every golfer is different and delivers the driver differently. For testing, we utilize 9°, 9.5°, 10°, or 10.5° (depends on the OEM’s offerings) driver lofts. From there, we adjust loft accordingly (if need be) for each tester. More often than not, we do add loft for our testers with lower swing speed to hit optimal launch conditions. You’ll see that fairly often with the low-spin drivers.

        Reply

        Härtel Jens - Jürgen

        2 weeks ago

        Thanks for your reply. Having your recent testing experience in the background, please advice: Taking the PING 430 max or the 430 10K @ 90 mph ( +\- 3 mph) would you recommend to buy a 10.5 or a 12 degree head? I will pair it with a TPT Hi 19 shaft. Looking forward to your reply.

        Phillip Bishop

        2 weeks ago

        I don’t feel comfortable making a recommendation without knowing your typical launch conditions. If you have access to the shaft and the heads, definitely hit them side by side.

        Ken B

        2 weeks ago

        I think your reviews are very good, but am somewhat confused by this one, which states that in regards to distance, the Callaway AI Smoke Max D “narrowly misses out due to its base distance score” but later on you state “For our distance category, we evaluate two specific metrics: • Carry Distance • Total Yards.” When I look at the table listing of all the drivers, there is no column for “base distance”, just carry yards and total yards.

        The individual driver reviews give the following distance scores: the Paradym AI Smoke Max D (9.4), the 430 Max (9.2), and the 430 Max 10K (7.9). However, the table data has the Paradym AI Smoke Max D at 177.70 carry and 193.90 total; the 430 Max at 180.70 carry and 196.60 total; the 430 Max 10K at 181.70 carry and 196.00 total.

        It appears that the review numbers don’t correlate with the raw data in the table. The Pings are virtually identical for distance, so why are the scores so different?
        The Callaway should have a lower distance score than BOTH the Ping 430 Max and the Max 10K.

        Thanks!

        Reply

        Phillip Bishop

        2 weeks ago

        Hey Ken! You’ll see a note at the bottom of each results section that states the scores may differ on some of the products listed. This is because some product’s scores reflect their overall score from our main, Most Wanted Driver article. This is purely due to how our website is formulated currently. The tableau display with the data is correct regarding this specific article. Apologies for the confusion.

        Reply

        Chuck

        2 weeks ago

        I have an upper 80s swing speed (85-88) and did a driver fitting this Spring. Hit the Ping, the Callaway AI Smoke Max, the Big Bertha, Cobra Darkspeed, TaylorMade Qi10, and Titleist TSR1 . The clear winner for me – none of the above. The Cobra Air X 2 (Hot Face). The fact that it was lighter and increased my swing speed a bit was enough to make it longer with no loss of accuracy. Sorry to see you didn’t test it. Would have been curious to see how it held up.

        Reply

        Phillip Bishop

        2 weeks ago

        Hi Chuck! Thank you for letting us know about your experience and happy to hear the COBRA AirX 2 is your driver of choice. Certainly a driver to consider in this swing speed category. Unfortunately, COBRA did not include it as part of their driver submissions this year. Hopefully, we can test it in the future.

        Reply

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