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The most comprehensive driver test of 2024 backed by more than a decade of experience from 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.
Whether you’re the market for a driver or just curious about how the latest models perform, this test is for you.
These are the best drivers for 2024.
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 repeatedly blew us away. Each of these drivers is the leader or among the leaders in our three scoring categories – distance, accuracy, or forgiveness. These are our data-driven results – the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.
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 opinion doesn’t always match reality.
Review Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Distance Score
Price
The PING G430 MAX 10K is absurdly straight. Likely the straighest we've ever tested, it's a runnaway winner as the best driver for accuracy. It finished in the Top 5 for accuracy for 31% of the test pool – by far the highest percentage in the test.
Not only is the PING G430 MAX 10K accurate but it consistently ranks in the Top 10 for our distance and forgiveness scoring categories.
It is difficult to truly knock the PING G430 MAX 10K. It is that good. However, distance is PING G430 MAX 10K's lowest ranking out of our three scoring categories – distance, accuracy, and forgiveness.
Year after year, we test drivers to see which is the best for a majority of golfers. For 2024, PING G430 MAX 10K is that driver. Our driver testing is broken down into three core categories: Accuracy, Distance and Forgiveness. PING G430 MAX 10K excels in each of these categories, specifically accuracy. It is a driver head that we confidently recommend to a large portion of golfers, including faster swingers.
Do not let this maxed-out MOI driver head fool you. It’s DAMN GOOD. When the fastest swinging tester turns around smiling and says, “I would walk out of here right now with this driver”, you know it is special.
“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.”
Defining moments are make or break. You see this everywhere in sports, especially golf. PING G430 MAX 10K had a defining moment in testing. One of our fastest testers (120 mph+ swing speed) hit it alongside 2 other high MOI drivers. The PING G430 MAX 10K’s performance blew everything out of the water in the grouping. Our tester hit 11/14 fairways with a carry distance average of 304.4 yards. The shortest driver in this grouping had an average carry of 273.7 yards. This tester hit a “max MOI” driver 30.7 yards longer than another “max MOI” driver. Let that sink in.
With the right shaft, if you can’t hit this driver straight, you can’t hit anything straight. Go get a lesson because something is off and it isn’t this driver.
Review Score
Distance Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Price
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond excels in the distance category. The Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond was in the Top 5 for carry and total distance for 34% of the test pool – among the highest in the test.
Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond isn't a one-trick pony. It ranks inside the Top 10 for accuracy and forgiveness. Most noticeably, it is the 2nd best driver for dispersion percentage (which falls under our forgiveness category).
At 450cc, the Triple Diamond is a slightly undersized driver with a more compact, better-player-preferred profile.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is designed as "low-spin" driver. Data collected during this test suggests it's one of the lowest spinning on the market this season.
While testers didn't spray the ball with the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond, there are better options for golfers prioritizing accuracy.
Our data suggests the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is one of the best drivers for distance in 2024. It was among the longest for over a third of our testing pool while producing the longest average distance in the test. In addition to the distance benefits, the Triple Diamond produced slightly average accuracy and was surprisingly forgiving.
“Quite impressive. Some of my longest drives are with this driver.”
“Love the overall design, especially the sole of the driver. The address is clean and sits well with my eyes. The best part is that the driver is workable.”
“Streamlined and visually appealing.”
Since it has come to retail, Callaway’s Triple Diamond drivers have been among the top-performing drivers. Our data suggests this once again and from the eye-ball test, it was apparent from the beginning of testing. There is zero surprise that it finishes 2nd overall in this year’s test. The Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is long and very versatile. Subjectively, it is one of the highest rated golf clubs according to our testing pool for looks, feel, sound and likelihood of purchase.
Despite being a low-spin driver, Triple Diamond does deliver consistent spin ranges without producing a dreaded knuckle ball. There are other low-spin drivers that make for a more difficult fitting experience versus the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond.
Review Score
Distance Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Price
A somewhat surprising leader in the Distance category, the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D was in the top 3 for average distance and was in the Top 5 for our distance metrics for more testers than any other driver in the test.
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is draw-biased, which can help mitigate a slice. In testing, it was among the best at keeping the ball on the left side of the course.
With a bit of draw-biased baked in, the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D may not be the best option for golfers who already move it right-to-left.
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is merely average when it comes to accuracy. It places middle of the field when we analyze our straight shot percentage efficiency metric.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is the best driver for distance and offers plenty of upside when it comes to forgiveness. We define “forgiveness” as how consistently a golf club produces similar outcomes for ball speed, carry distance and dispersion. The Paradym Ai Smoke Max D performs well in this respect in addition to its top distance ranking.
“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.”
Don’t let this “draw” bias driver fool you. It packs a punch. For consecutive years, Callaway’s “draw bias” driver is one of the best. It blew us away, and is the best for distance. It performs for a multitude of golfers – high swings speeds, low swing speeds, and everyone in between.
Good players who suffer with a block right or left (depending on which side of the ball you stand on) shouldn’t overlook this draw biased head. This driver offered both distance and forgiveness to most of our testers.
Distance is king. When you are looking for a new golf club, what’s the number one 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 both carry and total distance. Below are the best drivers for distance.
Review Score
Distance Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Price
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D has a distance score of 9.4/10. The Paradym Ai Smoke Max D was in the Top 5 for carry distance for 40% of the test pool – by far the highest percentage in the test. This helps propel it past the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is draw-biased. By design, it is suppose to help limit a slice or fade. The driver adaptor sleeve also allows for a "draw" setting. In testing, it was the fourth best driver at producing a shot outcome left of the target line.
Since the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is a draw-biased driver, we recommend you avoid it.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is the best driver for distance because it excels in distance overall. For us, distance is a combination of carry and total distance. In testing, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D was the best driver for carry distance. Its performance in this specific metric was much greater than its counterpart, Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond.
“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.”
Don’t let this “draw” bias driver fool you. It packs a punch. For a consecutive year, Callaway’s “draw bias” driver is one of the best. It is the shock and awe driver of 2024, and the best for distance. It performs for a multitude of golfers – high swings speeds, low swing speeds, and everyone in between.
You good players who suffer with a block right or left (depending on which side of the ball you stand on) shouldn’t overlook this draw biased head. This driver offered both distance and forgiveness to most of our testers.
Review Score
Distance Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Price
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond has a distance score of 8.9/10. The Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond was in the Top 5 for carry and total distance for 34% of the test pool – by far the highest percentage in the test.
Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond isn't a one-trick pony. It ranks inside the Top 10 for accuracy and forgiveness. Most noticeably, it is the 2nd best driver for dispersion percentage (which falls under our forgiveness category).
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is designed as "low-spin" driver. According to our efficiency metrics, Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is the 2nd lowest spinning driver.
Our data proves the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is one of the best drivers for distance in 2024. It was one of the best drivers for distance for over a third of our testing pool. Not only is it long, but the design of the club offers versatility to fit a plethora of golfers regardless of swing speed.
“Quite impressive. Some of my longest drives are with this driver.”
“One of the more consistent drivers I’ve hit. Plus, it seems forgiving across the face despite being perceived as a “better player’s” driver.”
“Streamlined and visually appealing.”
Since it has come to retail, Callaway’s Triple Diamond drivers have been among the most consistent drivers available to consumers. Our data suggests this once again and from the eye-ball test, it was apparent from the beginning of testing. There is zero surprise that it finishes 2nd overall in this year’s test. The Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is long, and very versatile. Subjectively, it is one of the highest rated golf clubs according to our testing pool for looks, feel, sound and likelihood of purchase.
Despite being a low-spin driver, Triple Diamond does deliver consistent spin ranges without producing a dreaded knuckle ball. There are other low-spin drivers that make for a more difficult fitting experience versus the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond.
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 shooting lower scores. As golfers, we are always chasing after the perfect driver or searching for that magical unicorn. Instead, finding a driver that is accurate is the first step to bettering your golf game. After all, if a driver is both accurate and long, that is a recipe for success.
Below are the best drivers for accuracy.
Review Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Distance Score
Price
PING G430 MAX 10K has an accuracy score of 9.6/10. It's the best driver for accuracy. The PING G430 MAX 10K was in the Top 5 for accuracy for 31% of the test pool – by far the highest percentage in the test.
Not only is the PING G430 MAX 10K accurate but it consistently ranks in the Top 10 for our distance and forgiveness scoring categories.
PING G430 MAX 10K is one of the newer drivers and retails for $599.99.
Accuracy is king. Why? You’re putting the golf ball in play. It’s even better if there is distance to supplement the accuracy. This is exactly what the PING G430 MAX 10K does. It excels with accuracy and, by “accuracy”, we mean it is STRAIGHT. Furthermore, it produces above average distance. It is the best driver for a reason.
“I love everything about this driver. It performs and I love the look.”
“It sits square at address and the results are good across the board.”
“One of the easiest drivers to hit and backs that ease up with solid numbers off the face.”
Defining moments are make or break. You see this everywhere in sports, especially golf. PING G430 MAX 10K had a defining moment in testing. One of our fastest testers (120 mph+ swing speed) hit it alongside 2 other high MOI drivers. The PING G430 MAX 10K’s performance blew everything out of the water in the grouping. Our tester hit 11/14 fairways with a carry distance average of 304.4 yards. The shortest driver in this grouping had an average carry of 273.7 yards. This tester hit a “max MOI” driver 30.7 yards longer than another “max MOI” driver. Let that sink in.
With the right shaft, if you can’t hit this driver straight, you can’t hit anything straight. Go get a lesson because something is off, and it isn’t this driver.
Review Score
Accuracy
Forgiveness
Distance Score
Price
Tour Edge Exotics E723 has an accuracy score of 8.8/10. Accuracy is critical for keeping the golf ball in play. It's the 2nd best driver for straight shot percentage.
Tour Edge Exotics E723 won't break your bank. It is one of the more cost-friendly drivers on the market.
Although Tour Edge Exotics E723 is accurate, it lacks for distance. It ranks towards the bottom for distance among our testing pool.
Accuracy is important and Tour Edge Exotics E723 produces straight and playable shots. You’ll be able to keep this driver in play. Unfortunately, Tour Edge Exotics E723’s lack of distance may turn some away. Check it out for yourself.
“Not the longest club, but it is a fairway finder.“
“Subjectively, it isn’t appealing to me. But, I can’t argue with how straight it is. It does lack distance though.”
“It is loud and a bit busy on the crown, however, it is forgiving and accurate.”
Tour Edge Exotics E723 isn’t going to blow your mind, especially in terms of distance. But, if you need to hit a fairway or keep the golf ball in play, this can be your game changer. With the right golf shaft, this has the potential to be someone’s secret weapon off the tee. It offers adjustability that can help you dial it in and make it your own.
Tour Edge Exotics may not be the first name you think of when you’re looking at drivers, but if you put a premium on accuracy, you may want to reconsider.
“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.
Review Score
Forgiveness
Accuracy
Distance Score
Price
PXG 0311 XF GEN6 has a forgiveness score of 9.8/10. It is extremely consistent with ball speed numbers, carry distances and dispersion. It ranks 2nd for ball speed deltas and 3rd for dispersion.
PXG has a "Thank You" program for former and current military and first responders. It is a phenomenal program that offers special pricing on applicable products.
The PXG 0311 XF GEN6 is good and has plenty of potential. However, it is a driver you should get fitted for. If you don't have access to a fitting location or service, you may want to avoid it.
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. It won’t be for everyone so if you’re considering it, we strongly recommend a professional fitting.
“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.“
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.
Review Score
Forgiveness
Accuracy
Distance Score
Price
PXG 0311 GEN6 has a forgiveness score of 9.4/10. It isn't the longest driver on the market. However, it is the 2nd best driver for carry distance deltas, and ranks well for dispersion and ball speed deltas.
PXG has a "Thank You" program for former and current military and first responders. It is a phenomenal program that offers special pricing on applicable products.
The PXG 0311 GEN6 is solid and actually scores slightly higher than PXG 0311 XF GEN6 overall. However, it is a driver you should get fitted for. If you don't have access to a fitting location or service, you may want to avoid it.
Overall, the PXG 0311 GEN6 is slightly better than its counterpart, 0311 XF GEN6. With the PXG 0311 GEN6 driver, you can expect consistent carry distance numbers. Again, it is one of the best PXG drivers we have tested.
“Great looks, feel and sound. It produces consistent numbers to top it off.“
“Personally, the ball flight appeals to me. Very pleasantly surprised by this driver.”
“It is a solid driver, but it did lack ball speed.”
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 GEN6 offers extreme consistency, especially carry distance numbers. With plenty of adjustability, it is a driver that has untapped potential.
With a comprehensive fitting, we believe the PXG 0311 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.
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.
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 composite blends.
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.
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.
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.
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 are typically made from either 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.
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 effect.
This may seem obvious, but a damaged driver isn’t going to perform as well. Just like 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 in a golf bag with a protective cover to safeguard the head. Proper care extends the life of the driver and ensures consistent performance.
Testing drivers is not an easy task. Our 2024 Most Wanted test took 420 testing hours to complete. The magnitude of our driver test is remarkable and, oftentimes, overlooked.
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 :
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.
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:
These three categories are weighted with distance taking a slight priority.
Maximizing driver distance is every golfer’s goal. For our distance category, we evaluate two specific metrics:
Being accurate off the tee can be a game changer. For our accuracy category, we analyze two specific metrics:
We label forgiveness as how consistent a driver is at producing consistent shot outcomes. For our forgiveness category, we asses three specific metrics:
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 5 percentage. For this secondary view into the data, we look at the rate at which each club was among the Top 5 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% of the overall score, while most of the remaining amount comes from the Top 5 percentage.
In both cases, scores are weighted with 40% of the score coming from distance metrics, 35% from our accuracy metrics, and the remaining 25% from our forgiveness metrics.
Finally, we reserve a very small percentage of the score to account for things like fitting considerations, excessive amounts of outliers, and other details that fall outside the scope of the data.
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-5 percentages, and the full scoring table below.
Our driver test is one of the longest, most extensive tests we do throughout the calendar year. Here are 7 key takeaways after 420 hours of testing:
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.
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.
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.
2024 is the year of 10K (MOI) but that needs to be put in proper context. At the end of the day, 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.
While differences at the top of the table can be minimal. Looking strictly at the launch monitor data, the top 3 longest drivers (based on average Total Yards) are separated by less than a foot. Looking deeper, 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 5 for 35-40% of the test pool, while the laggers weren’t in the Top 5 for anyone.
A similar pattern emerges for every metric we consider.
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.
For some golfers, for sometimes many golfers, drivers don’t do what they’re supposed to. There’s design and there’s perception. What I mean by that 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 why 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.
Here are some quick insights to help you better navigate your next hitting bay experience.
The table below contains the relevant data from the 2024 Most Wanted Driver Test. 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-5 percentages (the rate at which a driver was among a tester’s Top 5 for a given metric) , and the full scoring table. Each of the tables is sortable.
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.
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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.
| Driver Titleist TSi3 | 3-Wood Titleist TSi2 13.5° |
| 5-Wood Titleist TSi2 18° | 7-Wood Titleist TSi2 21° |
| Irons (5-9) PXG 0311 GEN5 T | Wedges Vokey SM9 (46° F, 50° F, 54° D, 60° T) |
| Putter PXG Blackbird | Ball Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash |
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.
| Driver Titleist TSR3 | 3 Wood Titleist TSR3 |
| Driving Iron Titleist U505 | Irons (5-6) Titleist T200 |
| Irons (7-PW) Titleist T150 | Wedges (50, 56, 60) Titleist Vokey SM10 |
| Putter L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max | Ball Titleist Pro V1x |
4 weeks ago
Tony – A brilliant article with well balanced metrics, and controls. This is a key reason I value “MyGolfSpy” so highly. It was a long first read… and then required a re-read. While “No system is perfect” you’ve really gone to exceptional lengths to be as neutral as possible. Thank you.
So…! How to control for variables? Old, Short. Stiff. Uber fit. Total couch potato. And of relevance to me.. Left handed. A number of clubs simply do not come in a left handed version. Ummm.. How many of your testers were left handed? Any…? Then height. Shaft length is meaningless… until you relate it to the golfer’s height. I’m 6ft 2in. I often play with people that are 5ft 2in. So how does shaft length relate to each of us? Sure you say “Get a fitting” but for a general club purchase we are not all in the position to get fitted for every club in the bag!
Please keep going these reasoned activities and articles. Simply the best available.
With thanks… and long may your shots track true and your approach shots pull up within five feet of the hole…
4 weeks ago
“When you adjust loft, you change the face angle.” Is that really true for all adapters. Callaway has two cogs, that work separately, and it looks like when you put +1º it tilts the clubhead/adapter upwards. Can´s see any closing there. Taylormade is a whole different story.
1 month ago
Would love to see a test comparing drivers year to year. Maybe in 2025 test the top drivers from 2020-2025? Not everyone wants to spend $600 on a new driver, and it would be awesome to have some data showing how much you are missing out on by buying a driver that is two years old.
4 weeks ago
Totally agree. A year on year review of measured improvements would be fascinating.
1 month ago
Was glad to see the Gen 6 included in this testing. Was fitted for this back in September and really enjoy this driver. I’m not surprised that it is the most forgiving even into its second year.
Thank you for the unbiased, scientific review.
1 month ago
I am firm believer of different driver would fit different types of player/swing, but this is by far the most comprehensive and objective comparison ever done on driver. Good job and well done!
1 month ago
Great write up. I have been VERY interested in the Tour Edge E723 because of MGS. Admittedly, the brand was never really on my radar before.
I’m gaming an old Cleveland Turbo, so cost is a factor, and I’m not bothered by loud noises or brand identity.
1 month ago
If the longest carry distance is 236 yds and the highest ball speed and 143 mph, it “appears” that the people in this test don’t have the club head speed to push these clubs to their potential. I’m a long hitter and when I carry my 7 wood almost as far as the TOTAL distance in your driver test something is flawed with your the process. You watch online reviews and everyone loves Darkspeed LS – longest and fastest. In your test it doesn’t rank top 10 in carry or total distance. PXG Black Ops is getting a lot of hype too for distance and it’s not on the list. Each year it gets harder and harder to value the information you publish. Just saying…
1 month ago
Steven,
First, For F*ck sake. That’s not directed at you personally, but there seems to be this feeling that since DARKSPEED LS didnt’ win, we must have ranked it poorly. I’ll get into the details of the rankings below, but just look at the table. Of the new for 2024 crop of drivers, it finished Tied for 5th in the overall rankings. In a field of 37 drivers, I’d say that’s really good, and so I’m not quite sure what the issue is.
236 is the longest AVERAGE carry distance across a test pool of 35 golfers, it doesn’t mean all of our testers average 236. Included in the test pool are guys who average under 200 yards carry and guys who average over 300 yards carry. We want our test pool to represent the golfing population as a whole.
Congrats on your prodigious 7-wood distance, but I’d be remiss not to point out that the average TOTAL driving distance for a male golfer is aproximately 220 yards (Shot Scope, Arccos, and the USGA are all in agreement on this), so while we continue to make every effort to represent the golfing population as a whole with our test pool, quite frankly, we’re still running a little fast.
With that said, we will be providing breakdowns at low, mid, and high swing speed within the coming weeks.
“Everybody” may in fact love DARKSPEED LS (I like it quite a bit myself), but I doubt you’ll find any tests where more golfers have it hit head-to-head with everything else on the market. I can’t speak for how everybody does things, but we’ve put a lot of effort into developing a meaningful mathematical approach to handling outliers. Bottom line, we try and keep as many shots as reasonably possible, so we’re not just looking at the good stuff.
If you read the post, you know I’m not an MOI is everything kind of guy, but objectively, DS LS is one of the lowest MOI drivers in the test. Typically, that means something will suffer when impact isn’t perfect. Looking at the data, DS LS was in the bottom 3rd for our ball speed delta metric (basically, it wasn’t super awesome at preserving ball speed). When ball speed drops, distance will drop and averages dip accordingly. I suspect, that if we looked at just the very best shots, it would move up the table, but that’s not a realistic representation of how golf is played.
I’d also suggest it’s an approach more golfers should take with them to the fitting bay. On the course, everything counts, and you can’t delete, delete, delete to a better result.
A little bias perhaps, but I love the new addition to the scoring this year where we look at how each driver performed for each golfer in the test pool at the individual level. By the averages, DS LS was on the high end of the average range for distance. Looking at how it performed in the hands of individual golfers – again, better than average for distance (in the top 5 for 20 and 22 percent for carry and total respectively). That’s good, but the leaders performed better for more golfers. It’s really that simple.
Regarding Black Ops, we did everything we reasonably could to get them into the test, but PXG declined to provide samples in time for testing.
1 month ago
TC is right. This guy should be patient and wait to read the info for the higher swing speed, just like I look forward to the slower speed info. I have not missed an episode of No Putts Given since it launched and always look forward to Wednesday for the new episode. TC and CN are always informative and entertaining.
1 month ago
I really like MyGolfSpy and it’s nice to see PXG getting some shine, but I’m puzzled as to why you’re reviewing last year’s Gen6 model when the new Black Ops model has been out for over two months…about as long as other drivers released this year.
Driver technology is coming out at a lightning-quick pace, but you’re comparing last year’s PXG model to other OEM driver models which have come out THIS year?
Unfortunate or intentional?
Thanks much.
1 month ago
Steve,
Tony gave a response to your question on an earlier post, but here it is in case you missed it –
“Hi Steve,
Most Wanted Driver testing started in December. Because of the nature of how we test, grouping, randomization, 35 testers, etc., it’s not possible to slip something into the test much after it starts.
Every manufacturer other than PXG provided new for 2024 drivers to MyGolfSpy well ahead of the retail launch so they could be included in testing. PXG was given the same opportunity but declined.
So as to your question, no it wasn’t our choice not to include Black Ops but given that GEN6 launched after testing last year and that they’re available for an excellent price, we figured they’d be worth including.”
1 month ago
Would be interesting to see the top drivers sold at the big club fitters and compare to these results to see if there is any coorelation.
1 month ago
After endless golf club “reviews” on other sites that is only marketing copy from the manufacturers, its good to read REAL comparison reviews! Perfect? Not possible with so many variables, but the best there is. An insider at a major golf publication told me any “reviews” involve advertising $$ and politics.
Proud to announce I donated to My Golf Spy, and can only suggest others consider the same. The question always come up “If you didn’t have their reviews on equipment, where would you go”?
1 month ago
Another enjoyable and informative read. Thank you Tony and MGS. I understand that the data shows Ball Speed but CHS determined the variety of Ball Speeds for your tests? I was fitted by my local Golftec fitter for the new PING-G430MX-DVR-LH-10.5, Shaft-PING-PING-ALTA-CB-SLATE-55-DRV-R at 44 inches. This would replace my Mizuno ST190 Driver. The net effect was an increase of 12 yards in carry distance and similar dispersion. My only wish was that Golftec had a greater supply of manufacturers to compare. Mizuno, Srixon, Wilson, XXIO, PXG to make a more informed decision.
1 month ago
Looking at Data the Dark speed X seems like a winner. Within 2 yards of the longest. Among the tips in straight and dispersion and ball speed. Yet somehow not ranked anywhere. Sheesh
1 month ago
Let me start by reiterating that we have our scoring system, but not only do we expect that some will prioritize different things, but I encourage it. We have our approach, but you should always focus on the metrics that are most important to you.
I think we did a good job of laying out how we get to the scores (both in the text and in the video), but I’ll tackle this in the context of the DARKSPEED LS to see if it helps explain how we landed where we did.
The quick version is that while LS was on the longer side of the average range, distance values (both carry and total) nevertheless, fall within the average range.
While a few (the clubs at the very top of the table) eclipsed the average for distance, as you’d expect, regardless of the metric, the majority of clubs fall within the average range.
From there, we look at the rate at which a club was among the 5 best across the test pool.
Again, using DARKSPEED LS as the example, it was in the Top-5 for carry yards for 20% of the test pool and in the Top-5 for total yards for 23% of the test pool. That landed it in the upper third of the table.
That’s pretty good, but for full context, the Ai Smoke Max D was in the Top-5 for carry for 40% (2x that of LS) and in the Top 5 for total yards for 31% of the test pool. Triple Diamond was in the Top 5 for 34% for both.
Again, DARKSPEED LS was good for distance, but relative to the clubs above it, our testers didn’t find the same level of distance success.
I’ve used distance as the example here, but the same approach applies to the other metrics that go into the scoring system.
1 month ago
I believe a great feature would be the ability to put one’s current driver into the line up via previous data. Obviously we understand that not everything can be equal in any matchup. But the fact that virtually every golfer reading these tests want to know if it’s worth replacing their current club. Not quite sure on the specifics of how this could be attained but assuming you have a pretty deep data bank surly there’s a way of e.g. clicking on the last years Cobra LS and throwing it into the mix to see where it slides into the rankings. Just a thought.
1 month ago
too bad the PXG black ops isn’t on the testing grid, as I found it to be longer and more forgiving than the Ping 10K.
1 month ago
I hope no one buys a driver based on these “rankings“. You have to get fit for your driver. It’s way too an expensive purchase to leave the chance. I tried to ping G430 max 10 K in multiple shafts and did not get along with it at all. I tried the entire Callaway line and found them to be way too draw biased. The winner ended up being a Taylormade QI, LS, which I did not see coming. Go and get fit, preferably at an independent fitter and not at a big box store where they are trying to move inventory rather than trying to actually fit you into the right club.
1 month ago
We always recommend fitting. Also, congrats on being fitted into one of the top-performers in this year’s test. Among the current models tested, our “rankings” had the QI10 LS 5th.
1 month ago
Well, I’m amazed about the Krank Fire.
I bought a head, and (Mevo+ data) noticed a drop of speed and distance of about 10m, but dropped my 2SD dispersion by 25m.
Did not expect to see it DFL in the accuracy.
1 month ago
I’m not surprised that the Qi10 Max failed to impress. One of my worst purchases.
1 month ago
Thanks for your great work. Can you expand upon the difference between accuracy vs. forgiveness/dispersion? To me accuracy and dispersion are similar – can you explain your distinction? Thank you very much! (As you can tell, I’m just trying to keep my tee ball in the fairway!!!)
1 month ago
There’s definitely some overlap – at least in how golfers view them.
Our accuracy metrics evaluate the straightness and, to an extent, the playability of the shot. We think of them as better versions of fairway percentage.
Our forgiveness metrics are more consistency-focused. How often did a driver achieve the same (or, realistically, a similar result)? Specifically, we’re looking at the consistency of ball speed and carry distance (without regard for straightness), as well as how tight the grouping of shots is.
1 month ago
Thank you Tony for your prompt and succinct reply – I understand the difference much better. My game suffers dramatically when I am missing fairways, and improves dramatically when I am hitting fairways. Now I’m certain some reader is going to write “Now there’s some earth shattering news”. But missing fairways may have a greater effect on my game than it does for other players because it brings into play my game’s biggest weakness – playing from off the fairway. I’ve played a long time, and most parts of my game – long irons or hybrids, pitching, chipping, wedge play, putting, hold up pretty well. But my play from off the fairway is horrid. At my age I just don’t have the strength and skill and hand/eye coordination and creativity to make those recovery shots – getting the ball up quickly to clear a tree, or hitting a ball between trees, or bending a ball around a tree and back into the fairway, etc. It is a real weakness of my game – a round killer. So I recognize that I need to be playing from the fairway and therefore my interest in accuracy. By the way in my league I play with a couple guys I call “Houdini” because they are so adept and so consistent getting out of trouble. But one guy can’t make a 3 foot putt to save his life and the other guy is lucky if he gets out of a bunker with one stroke 50% of the time so I guess things even out – what a game!
1 month ago
where can i find the data?
1 month ago
Well, I’m amazed about the Krank Fire.
I bought a head, and (Mevo+ data) noticed a drop of speed and distance of about 10m, but dropped my 2SD dispersion by 25m.
Did not expect to see it DFL in the accuracy.
1 month ago
I understand the BlackOps drivers weren’t available, but I’d be interested to see how they perform in comparison in a near future test. This is al intriguing. ABSOLUTELY love the fact that 2 elements are elucidate, the individual, and shaft matters; it could very well be that a shaft NOT offered by an OEM makes all the difference to YOUR performance. Thanks again MGS.
1 month ago
So, compared to the 2021 Driver testing winner, the 2024 triple diamond is 10 yards longer than the Max LS?
Am I comparing apples to apples? Same conditions and testing, ball (Bridgestone or Titleist) etc?
1 month ago
Testing conditions/methodology/protocols would be nearly identical. I believe we used a different ball in ’21.
The biggest difference – and why year over year comparisons can be tricky – is that the testing pool evolves, so having different testers in the mix will always factor in performance differences.
1 month ago
I note that the ping Max 430 had approx same ball speed as 430 Max 10k. It launched a fraction lower, with a fraction less spin and landed in the same spot with a slightly shallower land angle. It then finished 3 yards shorter?? That’s not in keeping with the laws of physics?!? 🤔🤔🤔#justanobservation
1 month ago
To an extent, the laws of physics don’t apply – or more accurately, don’t play nicely when applying how things work for an individual shot vs. how they come together when averaging thousands of shots from 35 golfers.
It’s not remotely the same. The metrics almost need to be treated in isolation – this one was faster, this one flew higher, this one spun less, etc. If you plug the composite launch conditions into a trajectory tool, for example, the distances won’t match either, because again… data derived from 35 testers doesn’t work the same way data from a single shot does.
1 month ago
Really glad to see that you included last year’s winner in the data charts. I helps put in context any improvements over last year.
1 month ago
where is the pxg black ops driver?
1 month ago
They didn’t get the drivers in time for testing. They will be testing them in the future.
1 month ago
The Ai Smoke and Black Ops drivers were released within a week of each other. Frankly, it seems a little irresponsible to compare last year’s PXG model to drivers released at the same time. We’re not in the past when news released for a printed magazine, etc. had a strict deadline.
1 month ago
Hi Steve,
Most Wanted Driver testing started in December. Because of the nature of how we test, grouping, randomization, 35 testers, etc., it’s not possible to slip something into the test much after it starts.
Every manufacturer other than PXG provided new for 2024 drivers to MyGolfSpy well ahead of the retail launch so they could be included in testing. PXG was given the same opportunity but declined.
So as to your question, no it wasn’t our choice not to include Black Ops but given that GEN6 launched after testing last year and that they’re available for an excellent price, we figured they’d be worth including.
1 month ago
Who at Callaway thought that “CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE TRIPLE DIAMOND” was a good name for a driver? I don’t care if it adds 100 yards, that’s a stupid name, my buddies would laugh me off the tee box if I told them “hey guys, I bought a CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE TRIPLE DIAMOND” YUCK!
1 month ago
I think they let the AI name it too.
1 month ago
Maybe I missed it but can you comment on what loft was used for the drivers tested? Were they different or all the same? I think that matters for comparability of the data and results.
1 month ago
They are all different, because none of them can be matched to the exact same loft/lie/face angle. They can come close, but they can never be EXACT, so these tests are always taken with a measure of salt.
The other thing that don’t match are the LENGTHS of the clubs, head weights of clubs, the weight and flexes of the clubs as well as the grip weight and type, as well the movable weights in the same location to create as close a match as possible of the CG and MOI, and what the spin lofts would be to cause these spin and launch numbers as tested against the lofts that you want to know about, because it would be more interesting to see what would happen at the lowest loft setting with the weights forward for the lowest MOI and spin setting but swung at the zero line spin loft for maximum compression and energy transfer.
They’re only taking what’s given to them “off the shelf” as it were, since it’s not possible to have all the clubs match exactly, even if most of them have the same shaft offerings, some of them don’t offer the same shafts.
1 month ago
We request and test stock lofts of 9° or 9.5° AND 10° or 10.5° (these vary by OEM), and use those lofts accordingly based on a tester’s need.
1 month ago
Great test. I look forward to it every year. I’m always interested to see how drivers compare from one year to the next when they are tested in consecutive years (like Titleist). Last year the TSR2 was nearly last in Forgiveness and Dispersion (29th I believe) and this year they came in at 4th and 3rd, respectively. What would cause such a change in performance ranking? Do you get new heads to test in 2024 or did you use the same ones from last year?
I would love to see a quality control test on driver. Test the loft and weight of identical drivers to see differences. Even run the Most Wanted Test where each driver model has two heads and instead of each tester hitting 10 balls (or however many are hit) with one driver, they hit half with one and then swap it out with an identical head (same model, loft etc) and hit the other half. It would be interesting to see how much the results would vary.
1 month ago
Interested in hearing more about the issues with sliding weight drivers. Is it an issue where testers weren’t custom fit to the proper settings?
1 month ago
In testing, we have two main objectives 1) hit the fairway 2) optimize launch conditions. Each tester goes through a “fitting” prior to each session to help fine tune the drivers in their corresponding session. In some cases, we observed noticeable performance differences when the weight was moved forward and therefore adjusted accordingly to fit the tester. In general, any time the CG is pushed forward, it can result in a lack of control or loss of “forgiveness”. But, it is done to potentially optimize spin, launch and ball speed.
1 month ago
Do you ever publish test results by handicap? I am not the worlds best golfer, but I run a golf league and there is a significant difference in a 7 Handicap and a 15, 20, 25 Handicap. I would be more interested in results of a lot of tests based on the handicap. I want to know what the 5-10 Handicappers think specifically. Publishing results by handicap might give each group more specific insight.
1 month ago
excellent point, i was thinking the same thing. It would be interesting to see the final test results broken down in groups of handicaps and clubhead speed.
1 month ago
Are you going to do best by low, middle, fast swing speed? There wasn’t one last year but it was promised IIRC.
1 month ago
Hey Alex! We will definitely be posting those ASAP.
1 month ago
Darn shame PXG BLACK OPS didn’t get there in time….
1 month ago
Yeah, I’ve been reading such great things about their drivers this season, and I don’t think they were released much later than the other OEM’s. Bummer they couldn’t make it into the test this year.
1 month ago
Haven’t seen a CG location study in years. Are you going to do that anymore? (Found my current driver thanks to that)
1 month ago
Great observation and question, Jason! Plenty of moving parts here right now, but hopefully we can release a study in the near future. Thank you for taking the time to read the article!
1 month ago
this is great. My favorite day on MGS.
1 month ago
Qi10, Darkspeed, BlackOps?
1 month ago
Darkspeed and Qi10 are listed in the drivers tested in expandable faqs and bottom faq indicates blackops wasn’t available for testing but other pxg is listed in drivers tested. Will be interested to see data when available to see how much worse qi10 was. Not a good sign Stealth2 ranked higher.
1 month ago
Thank you for checking in, TJ! All of the new TaylorMade and COBRA drivers are in the test. You can check out the entire list in the FAQ section and in the data section. PXG’s Black OPS 0311 and 0311 Tour weren’t available at the time of testing.
1 month ago
Qi10 and Darkspeed were included in the testing….just didnt make the cut for the top options. Gotta look at the full data set to see it.
Titleist ProV1 Golf Balls
PatrickG
3 weeks ago
Curious why the winning Ping G430 Max 10k driver only gets a average distance score of 7.9 when the Callaway P Ai Smoke Max D gets 9.4 yet there only seems to be 3 yards carry and 2 total difference. Initially I thought the Ping must fall out of the sky by comparison. Sorry if I’m missing something here.