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The Best Drivers for Slow Swing Speeds
Today, we reveal our test results for the best drivers for slow swing speeds. If this applies to you, you owe it to yourself—and your game—to read on.
Our mission is to understand and discover which piece of equipment best serves each individual golfer. Our 2021 Most Wanted Driver Test featured 38 different models—34 real human testers with 34 uniquely different swing characteristics. In the end, 18,000-plus shots of data allow for a breakdown of the best drivers for three different swing speed categories: high, mid and slow.
Today, we will feature the data surrounding the best drivers for slow swing speeds (up to 90 mph). If your driver swing speed falls in this range, this article is for you.
The Best Driver for Slow Swing Speeds: Callaway Epic Speed
The Callaway Epic Speed rose above the crowd in 2021.
- 1st in strokes gained
- 1st in total distance
- 6th in forgiveness
This driver is well worth your consideration if you are in the slow swing speed category. Its performance is undeniable.
BEST TOTAL DISTANCE FOR SLOW SWING SPEEDS - CALLAWAY EPIC SPEED
At 1.84 yards longer than the closest competitor, the Callaway Epic Speed brought the speed. Topping the total distance ranks, the Callaway Epic Speed provides an undeniable opportunity to gain distance, especially for slower swinging golfers.
Driver Buying Considerations
Performance should be your primary concern when looking for the best driver for your game but there are some additional considerations you may want to think about before you buy.
Cost
The 2021 Most Wanted Driver Test features drivers ranging from $229.99 to upwards of $700, excluding any exotic shaft upgrades. The 2021 Most Wanted Driver, Callaway Epic Max LS, will set you back $529.99. If that’s more than you’re willing to spend, the PXG 0211 ($249) and Tour Edge Exotics EXS Pro offer tremendous value. Splitting the difference, COBRA’s RADSPEED and RADSPEED XB are stellar performers. Their price point of $449 makes them all the more intriguing.
EXPERT TIP - How To Improve Accuracy
Shaft selection matters. Not only can it be used to optimize launch and spin conditions, but it can also have a significant influence on accuracy. Key factors, such as, weight, stiffness, and torque can dictate how the clubhead bends and twists as it is delivered to the ball, which ultimately impacts your ability to deliver the club consistently and hit straighter shots.
Shaft Selection
Several manufacturers continue to provide low-cost, made for shafts as stock options in their drivers. The performance is often adequate (though not likely what you’d get from a properly fitted aftermarket shaft) but, make no mistake, made for shafts are usually selected to boost margins, not performance.
While we recommend working with a competent fitter, we understand that many of you will buy off the rack. With most manufacturers offering two or three stock shafts to choose from, it’s still important to find the best fit within a stock lineup.
Finally, while we always recommend taking a performance-first approach, when comparing prices, golfers should understand there’s more value to be found from brands that don’t water down their shaft offerings. Titleist continues to offer a robust selection of featured shafts. Mizuno and COBRA also deserve mention for featuring “real-deal” Fujikura Motore X F1 and F3 shafts among their stock offerings.
Distance Versus Dispersion
Distance is king. We understand the temptation to prioritize an extra yard or two but, given the similarities in distance between drivers, we believe golfers should prioritize tighter dispersion and greater consistency over minimal additional yardage.
For most golfers, it may be worth forgoing those couple of yards in favor of smaller numbers (tighter standard deviations) and smaller circles (better dispersion).
Shot Shape Correction
If you struggle with a slice, it’s important to know you have options. Dedicated draw-bias drivers (no moveable weights) are typically the most effective at reducing right-side misses. However, if you’re looking for something that will work for you as you try to improve your swing, a moveable-weight driver may be the better option.
BEST FORGIVENESS FOR SLOW SWING SPEEDS - PXG 0211
If you are a golfer who struggles to hit fairways, the PXG 0211 might be your golden ticket to hitting more fairways. Throughout testing, the PXG 0211 hit the fairway 76.19% for testers with slower swing speeds. The data tells the story.
The Best Drivers for Slow Swing Speeds: Data
To filter and compare by club, use the drop-down list and checkboxes to select only the drivers you wish to compare. Mobile users should rotate their phones to landscape mode.
EXPERT TIP - Movable Weights
Moving weight forward can decrease ↓ launch angle and reduce spin by up to 250-500 RPM. Moving weight back will increase ↑ launch and spin, while boosting MOI (forgiveness). Heel positions are less forgiving than back positions, but help golfers fight a slice.
Moving weight forward often introduces a bit of fade bias, while back weight positions tend be more draw-biased (though not as much as heel positions)
Slow Swing Speeds: What You Need to Know, Simplified.
Congratulations, you’ve read further than most of your peers. So if you’re here, you get bonus in-depth information. Tell your friends. If you swing under 90 miles per hour, take these notes into consideration
- If you’re looking for more swing speed, consider testing drivers offering lighter and longer shaft options. The XXIO Eleven, XXIO X and Titleist TSi1 all feature lighter-weight shafts. TaylorMade SIM2 Max D also comes stock with a lighter shaft option.
- Throughout our data, these lighter options tend to produce more spin. Proceed with caution in your search for speed, especially if spin is an enemy of yours already.
- Callaway Epic Speed is the No. 1 driver for slow swing speeds and rightfully so. It displays phenomenal performance across several key metrics. And, if distance is your goal, it excels in that area.
- Now, if forgiveness is your goal, PXG’s 0211 is the product for you. It is the best in forgiveness for slow swing speeds. Additionally, it ranks fifth in forgiveness overall in the 2021 Most Wanted Driver Test.
- Finding the fairway is a game changer. Many drivers in the slow swing speed category excel at finding the fairway. With this in mind, take a look at COBRA’s RADSPEED XB and XD. Although outside the top five in strokes gained, both hit the fairway more than 70 percent of the time.
Driver Tips
- Distance Versus Accuracy: Don’t sacrifice accuracy for a few more yards. Manufacturers know you want distance and often cheat distance through longer shafts. A 46-inch shaft will almost always get you more yards but it typically leads to a loss of accuracy and increased dispersion.
- Adjustable Loft: Adjusting loft changes the face angle. Adding loft ↑ closes the face while decreasing loft ↓ opens the face. By understanding the relationship between loft and face angle and the influence face angle has on where your ball starts, you can leverage loft adjustability to improve accuracy.
- Looks Versus Performance: Don’t overvalue looks. Golfers tell us all the time they can’t hit a club well if they don’t like how it looks but we’ve found very little evidence to suggest this is true. Very often, golfers produce outstanding results with clubs they claim to despise. Keep an open mind about a club that you may not find visually appealing.
- Adjustable Weights: Not all adjustable weighting systems are created equal. You can leverage moveable 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.
How We Test
Our mission is to help you find the best driver for your game.
We are 100% independent and unbiased, and we always put the #ConsumerFirst.
About our Testers
Our pool of testers consists of 35 golfers with handicaps ranging from plus to the mid-teens. As a group, they span a broad range of swing characteristics (head speed, attack angle, etc.).
Over the course of several sessions, each golfer is required to hit 10 to12 "good" shots with each club. Club order is randomized on a per-tester basis.
Limiting Variables and Gathering Data Reliably
To minimize variables, all testers hit Bridgestone Tour B X Golf balls.
Both club and head data are captured using Foresight GCQuad launch monitors.
Crunching the Numbers
Before determining our rankings, we identify and remove outliers using a proprietary detection methodology.
To arrive at our final results, we calculate the averages of key metrics (ball speed, distance, dispersion, etc.), while also considering the standard deviation and the statistical reliability of those values.
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SEE MY RESULTS
2021 Most Wanted Driver: Product Specifications
2021 Most Wanted Driver Product Specs
| Product | Stated Loft | Measured Loft | Measured Length | Measured Swing Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ben Hogan GS53 Max Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | 45.875" | D6.6 |
 | Callaway Epic Max Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | 45.5625" | D3.2 |
 | Callaway Epic Max LS Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.625" | D4.0 |
 | Callaway Epic Speed Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | 45.5" | D3.4 |
 | Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.6875" | D5.9 |
 | Cobra RADSPEED Check Price | 9 | 8.2 | 45.375" | D0.8 |
 | Cobra RADSPEED XB Check Price | 9 | 8 | 45.875" | D2.3 |
 | Cobra RADSPEED XD Check Price | 10.5 | 10.1 | 45.875" | D1.3 |
 | Honma T//World GS Check Price | 9.5 | 9.9 | 45.6875" | D2.7 |
 | Honma TR20 440 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.8 | 45.3125" | D3.2 |
 | Honma TR20 460 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.9 | 45.375" | D3.5 |
 | Inesis 500 Check Price | 12 | 11.2 | 45.375" | D4.2 |
 | Mizuno ST-X Check Price | 10.5 | 10.6 | 45.125" | D3.7 |
 | Mizuno ST-Z Check Price | 9.5 | 9.8 | 45.0625" | D3.9 |
 | PING G425 LST Check Price | 9 | 8.4 | 44.875" | D5.1 |
 | PING G425 MAX Check Price | 9 | 9.1 | 44.875" | D3.8 |
 | PING G425 SFT Check Price | 10.5 | 10.6 | 44.875" | D2.3 |
 | PXG 0211 Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.25" | D1.8 |
 | PXG 0811 X Gen4 Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.25" | D2.2 |
 | PXG 0811 XF Gen4 Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.375" | D2.2 |
 | PXG 0811 XT Gen4 Check Price | 9 | 9.5 | 45.3125" | D2.3 |
 | Srixon ZX5 Check Price | 9.5 | 9.6 | 45.4375" | D3.6 |
 | Srixon ZX7 Check Price | 9.5 | 10 | 45.4375" | D4.0 |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.625" | D6.5 |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Max Check Price | 9 | 8.9 | 45.625" | D4.5 |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Max D Check Price | 9 | 9.3 | 45.625" | D3.6 |
 | Titleist TSi1 Check Price | 9 | 9.5 | 45.625" | D4.2 |
 | Titleist TSi2 Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.5" | D4.0 |
 | Titleist TSi3 Check Price | 9 | 9.2 | 45.5" | D2.7 |
 | Titleist TSi4 Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | 45.5" | D4.8 |
 | Tour Edge Exotics C721 Check Price | 9.5 | 8.2 | 45.375" | D2.0 |
 | Tour Edge Exotics EXS Pro Check Price | 9.5 | 9.4 | 45.5" | D4.2 |
 | Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 Check Price | 9.5 | 8 | 44.9375" | D3.2 |
 | Wilson Staff D9 Check Price | 9 | 9.4 | 45.3125" | D4.4 |
 | Wilson Staff Launch Pad Check Price | 9 | 9.5 | 45.125" | D2.9 |
 | XXIO Eleven Check Price | 9.5 | 10.1 | 45.8125" | D3.8 |
 | XXIO X Check Price | 9.5 | 10.2 | 45.5" | D1.7 |
The Best Drivers for Slow Swing Speeds – FAQ
Buying a New Driver
Q: How often should I buy a new driver?
A: While on rare occasions there are quantifiable year-over-year breakthroughs, typically it takes three to five years for manufacturers to make any significant performance gains. With the USGA further tightening restrictions on manufacturers, it’s possible, even likely, that it will take longer still moving forward. Our recommendation is to buy a new driver only when it appreciably outperforms what is already in your bag. Of course, if you want a new driver because you want a new driver, that’s fine, too.
Q: With all the talk of new face technology, is there one driver that produces significantly more ball speed?
A: Across our test pool as a whole, we found no significant ball speed advantage that can be attributed to face technology. It’s true that some drivers worked significantly better for individual golfers than others but thus far we’ve found no evidence to suggest any one brand has a significant ball-speed advantage over its competitors.
Q: Does the shaft matter?
A: Absolutely. While changes to spin and launch and spin differences are rarely massive, shaft changes frequently lead to improved accuracy, tighter dispersion and greater overall consistency.
Q: What should I look for when testing drivers?
A: While golfers have been conditioned to consider distance to the exclusion of nearly everything else, we recommended looking at the little numbers and small circles. When comparing metrics like distance and ball speed, be sure to look at your standard deviations (the small numbers usually found under the big ones on the data screen). Smaller numbers mean better consistency which will usually mean more than an extra yard or two on the golf course. Similarly, look for tighter dispersion ellipses (small circles). We can’t overstate the importance of consistency with the driver.
Q: Is there any downside to adjustability?
A: Yes, but … With many designs, adjustable hosels weigh significantly more than their glued alternatives so manufacturers have to find workarounds to offset the additional weight in an area where additional weight is undesirable. Furthermore, moveable weight systems require complex physical structures that eat up otherwise discretionary mass and often have sound and feel consequences. That said, in most cases, the fitting versatility more than offsets those negatives. This is especially true for golfers who choose not to work directly with a fitter.
Upright and Flat Settings
As it does with irons, the lie angle of your driver matters. Lie angle has a strong influence on where the ball starts. If you find yourself missing right, something as simple as an upright lie angle can help. Conversely, a flatter lie angle can help mitigate a left miss.
Most Wanted
Q: How are the drivers in test fitted to each golfer?
A: We use a fitting process that we call “fit from stock.” Drivers are fitted to each tester using the stock no up-charge options from each manufacturer. We test with stamped lofts between nine and 10.5 degrees and fully utilize the fitting capability within each manufacturer’s lineup. This includes leveraging loft, lie and face angle adjustability (hosel), moveable weights and available shafts.
Q: How is the “Most Wanted Driver” determined?
A: To determine the Most Wanted Driver, we look at a variety of performance metrics based on data collected with Foresight GCQuad Launch Monitors. For each tester, we calculate strokes gained across all testers. The Most Wanted Driver is the one that produced the highest strokes gained relative to the average across the entire test cohort
Q: How do you break down the test by swing speed?
A: In order to determine the best performing drivers at a given swing speed, we broke the data down into even groups based on testers’ average swing speed. For the slow swing speeds, 12 testers in our Most Wanted Driver Test produced driver swing speeds below 95 mph.
Q: How is the “Longest Driver” determined?
A: To determine the Longest Driver, we consider the average total yards across the test pool along with the statistical reliability of that data. We also look at a narrower subset of the data that included only the longest few shots hit by each tester with each club.
Q: How is the “Most Forgiving Driver” determined?
A: To determine the Most Forgiving Driver, we focus on a narrower set of metrics that includes shot area (dispersion), accuracy and the average standard deviation for ball speed and carry yards.
Q: How much does subjective feedback like looks, sound and feel factor into your rankings?
A: ZERO. Our rankings are based purely on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.
Saturday Moring Sherpa
3 weeks agoWhy wasn’t Titleist TSi1 included in the Low Speed tests? Isn’t the Tsi1 the closest to the Callaway Epic Speed specs?
Patrick Southward
2 months agolooking for the best irons for a swing speed of around 90
Lou
2 months agoI looked at your tables just before I went to buy a new “slow swing speed” driver today. 25 drivers you listed had measured lofts of 9.5 degrees or less! 8 of them were in the 8 degree area. Those are not driver lofts for slow swing speeds. Slow swingers need higher lofts and softer shafts. That’s not what you measured. Your tables helped me not at all!,, I hit one driver ranked in the 30’s for distance 10 yards longer (Foresight monitor) than all your top distance choices.
Andy Miller
6 months agoAm i missing something re the definition of forgiveness. I have always taken it to mean that you are more likely to hit the ball straight.
Yet When I look at the dispersal chart and put in the 6 most forgiving and then put in the TaylorMade sim2 maxd ranked 23rd for forgiveness the only one club that seems entirely or mainly in the shaded central area is the TaylorMade.
Can someone explain why please?
Jim Marsh
7 months agoDo not know why my comment was removed ? So I will repeat it..HARD for me to believe that the PING 425 MAX came in “32”nd in forgiveness…My goodness all the reviews Rick shields ,Michael Newton, and many more consider The PING 425 MAX to most forgiving Driver to date,,
al
7 months agoyou either want to believe these controlled test results from a number “slow’ swing speed average golfers or you do not.
Rick Shields and the others are like 115+ mph driver speed that significantly change the the dynamics of a given club being tested.
I’m going to assume you play a Ping 425 Max and you love it, then that’s the BEST driver for you !!
This set of tests were done/measured under valid objective testing conditions and the results are nothing more than the collective performance of the testers who i think were around 20 golfers with a “slow” swing speed.
The findings are the findings !!!
Dean
8 months agoI, too, enjoyed this particular article (enjoy a great many) for those of us with a relatively slow swing speed. I am 71 years old, currently have a 7.9 index, have a swing speed in the mid 80s.
Have happily used a XXiO driver for the last 4 – 5 years am beginning to think about replacing it. Am slightly confused about buying an aftermarket shaft. Assuming you go to a competent fitter you would buy the driver with the stock shaft ( there is no just buying the head alone I assume) and the fitter would recommend an aftermarket shaft which you would purchase and he/.someone would fit into to your new driver? So, there would be two purchases: the complete club and the aftermarket shaft, correct?
Steve
8 months agoTony,
Your testing for us slow speed swingers came up with Callaway’s Epic Speed model as #1 over an impressive line of drivers. But here’s the question for you in order Inmake the right decision. I went to Club Champion to make inquiries initially, and was able to ask them a few questions. Specificallynabout the new Callaway Epic drivers. Told them my swing speed (85), before asking their head recommendation. He said the Epic Max, whereas I stated there was a study of drivers for slow swing speeds. It ranked the Epic Speed #1. He then stated that head would be the worst for my swing speed. ????????
Your comments would be really helpful.!
Steve
I miss, I miss, I make
8 months agoI don’t understand the exclusion of the Titleist TSi1 and the inclusion of the Titleist TSi4. I thought the TSi1 was the low speed model for Titleist?
Tony Covey
8 months agoI don’t know that “low speed” is the right descriptor for the TSi1. It’s lightweight, whereas the TSi4 is low spin. It’s been a constant theme in our testing that slower swing speed players who generate sufficient launch/height often see increased distance from low spin drivers. When you factor in that slower swing speed players are typically straighter (a ball that doesn’t travel as far has less opportunity to wander significantly offline) it’s not unusual to see higher strokes gained values for slower swing speed players with low spin drivers. Flight does tend to be lower, and so most fitters will err on the side of optimizing launch conditions, but it absolutely can work for slower swing speed golfers.
Conversely, the TSi1 is going to spin more, so if you’re at the higher end of the slow swing speed range – and have no issues launching the ball – the extra spin may reduce distance.
I miss, I miss, I make
7 months agoTitleist markets the TSi1 for players with a swing speed of less than 90 MPH. https://www.titleist.com/product/tsi1-driver/652C.html., I am not saying that the TSi4 is entirely inappropriate just that slower speed. (sub 90) is specified in the descriptive video. for TSi1.
Bryan K
8 months agoYour article states the PXG 0211 costs $249, but clicking the link shows it now costs $289. Was it ever really $249, and why would the price increase within days of the article being released?
GregWhoLikesGolf
8 months agoIt was $249 in February. Over the past few months, PXG has been changing prices (up or down) on a monthly basis. Went up March 1st or April 1st.
Tom Terrific
8 months agoJust replaced my Callaway Epic Flash with a Ping G425 Max, went to a 40gram shaft, It seemed more forgiving even than a used Ping G410? The AI tech in the Callaway’s face was not as forgiving for me as the Ping Drivers Face?. Both Ping and Callaway produce quality products, so it may be because I am now 74 years old and 85 to 90 mph is about all I can muster… However, if you do not hit the fairway at the correct spot, I agree distance is not as important as placement.
Luis R
8 months agoConfirmation I do not need to take the Ping 410LST of my bag anytime soon. Top 6 on all categories and I am in the border of this categories with swing speed between 89 to 93 mph.
Phil
8 months agoVery useful study. I believe a bit more detail on the effect of spin would be even more informative.
Distance, after all is carry plus roll, and on hard fast fairways, you can get plenty of roll. So, while clubhead speed can determine the carry, roll is more determined by spin, which in turn is affected by LAG. So, you can have two golfers with identical club head speeds but a lot of difference in their total distances off the tee.
Could you perhaps have a short article about the shafts that best reduce spin, and maybe combined with low spin balls. This I believe will better complete the discussion on distance off the tee.
The industry has about exhausted the technical frontiers on clubhead design. The new frontier is on shaft design….
alex
8 months agoI’ve hit some real long drives with my Mizuno ST-X (fitted by a Mizuno guy)– almost hit 2 par 5s last week– when the past times. I played that course, I haven’t done that in summer heat and firm fairways.
It’s weird that you praise Mizuno for offering real shafts, yet the numbers suggest real shafts make no difference. (unless the driver is a big hit or big miss for your testers)..
Tony Johnson
8 months agoHi Alex
I was also fitted for the Mizuno ST-X, gained 25 yards and hitting more fairways than I ever have. Got the matching 3-wood – same results. I keep having other golfers ask me what I’m hitting. No better compliment to Mizuno than that. No one ever asked me when I played Callaway.
Tony
Jonathan Compton
5 months agoDo you think it’s the Mizuno shafts or the club heads for the dramatic performance improvement? I was fitted in Dec 2019 to an Oban shaft for my old Callaway GBB. Wondering if I should get refitted, this time trying out the Mizuno.? Any advice?
Steve
8 months agoShocked that the Titleist TSI 1 didn’t perform well in your testing. I’ve been fitted twice by Titleist, once for the TS1, and again for the TSI 1. Out of all the other Titleist drivers of both gens, the TSI 1 always excelled in all respects. This was for my driver swing speed of 85mph.
?????.
Kurt
8 months agoWhy was the TSi1 not tested since it is designed for slow speed swings instead of the TSi4?
Bruce
8 months agoIt was tested and finished 36 th in strokes gained
Donn Rutkoff
8 months agoHey, thanks, I clicked on the Data section to get the data spreadsheet (or is it a dbase). You might remind readers or point to it to make sure everyone knows that the data are there if you click and you can sort on any of the columns. You probably need to point this out every time, for new readers or less-than-savvy tech wise readers.
And it looks like the spread among the top 10 or 15 in either carry or total distance is only 5 yards or less.. Good to know. I am using a Callaway original Epic, not the newer different versions. I guess I don’t need to spend $400 or more just to add 3 or 4 yards. But the dispersion measured as fairways, does seem to spread out more after the top 5 or 6 clubs. . In a round of 14 times hitting driver, the number of fairways hit might change by 1, might not, among the top 5 or 6 best.
Keep on keepin on. Good stuff.
denis bergeron
8 months agothanks for these data; there is not enough analysis for us average players and too much articles for the 120mph players. I look at the prices for PXG drivers and was surprised to see that the PXG 0811 gen4 was twice the price of the PXG 0211 with worse numbers across the board; if datas are wright shows that price is not everything.
TenBuck
8 months agoThere would be a different winner if the B21 was “allowed” to participate.
Mark C
8 months agoLate last year I attended a Titleist fitting at a local course because I was in need of a new driver after having my old Cobra 460 for over 10 years. I had tried out a demo Titleist TS3 from my clubs pro shop and was intrigued with what I experienced even though the shaft was not for me. The fitter put me in the TSI2 with the R2 stock shaft from Mitsubishi. My dispersion was much tighter and I have gained almost 20 yards in carry. This has been proven not on a launch monitor but on my course. I’m in places where I have never been before. Couldn’t be happier and my experiences seem to be backed up by your research. My swing speed is just under 90. If I really try, I have gotten it to 93 according to my clubs Trackman. No need to try harder though, a good smooth swing and I’m routinely getting 220-230 carry. Factor in some good roll out on certain holes and I’m in the 240-250 range. At 56 I can live with that!
Ken C
8 months agoIt would be nice to see the actual yardages and dispersion numbers for each club as opposed to the summary. I am surprised by the poor showing for Ping. Given that the 400 and 410 were so strong. With the actual numbers for each year, we could compare the prior products to new products. Helpful for deciding if i need to jump in this year.
Bruce
8 months agoThe yardages are all there. There are three tabs at the top. The middle one has the data
Tony Johnson
8 months agoYou mentioned how important shaft selection is but I don’t see where you noted what specific shafts were used in your testing. My driver speed is in the mid 80”s so I fall in the slow swing speed category. I have tested many of the drivers on your list and am baffled how you could possibly put Callaway Epic Speed at the top, no matter what shaft was used. TM Sim 2 Max with the Ventus Blue shaft far outdistanced any Callaway combination my fitter put me in. But the Mizuno ST-X with Riptide CB was the most consistent and forgiving of anything I hit. It was also the least expensive.
I guess you could skew the results however you wanted by giving testers the wrong shaft.
Bruce
8 months agoYou need to read the section on how testing was done. Testers were fitted to the best stock option offered by each manufacturer for each driver. No aftermarket upgrades.
Tony Johnson
8 months agoI did read the section on how testing was done. We just want to know which shafts were used. Both of the shafts I mentioned are the club makers no-upcharge stock options best suited for slower swing speeds. You gave us a lot of great data but it is missing this huge piece of information which you said was important. Especially since no one seems to have had the same results with the club you awarded the winner.
JD
8 months agoI believe each tester will have a different shaft, that was fitted to them.
Jerry Neff
8 months agoAs a 71 year old high handicapper I loved this review.. I’m using a Callaway Big Bertha 815 Alpha so I think I’m due for a new driver, however, I do hit CBBA quite well. A driver fitting would be with my current driver would be revealing.
don
8 months agoI would love to see the results for slow swing speed with more loft. Your earlier articles clearly show more loft has advantages for slow swing speeds. I understand the difficulties in doing that in this mass test but it would be fantastic to see which drivers actually perform best for slow swing speeds at optimal conditions since higher lofts are available in stock. After all the slower you swing the more often you hit a driver and the more important distance becomes.
Ken Chee
8 months agoAgree, swing speeds 10.5*. You should have included 12* lofted drivers for the slower swingers in this test pool. Perhaps results and rankings may have been different.
El
8 months agoFully agree about higher launch angle for sss. Charts I’ve seen suggest max distance achieved for sub-90 is 15* with low spin.
Important to have minimum 10.5* with head weight low & back. – which raises actual dynamic loft above stamped number.
Lee Rightmyer
7 months agoAgree completely about the lofts.
I don’r remember ever hearing/reading that a slow swing speed player should play a nine degree driver.
Ray
2 months agoOn windy days 😉
Abraham
8 months agoAs a golf junkie, I love reading these articles but I’m starting to think these test results are a little random. The data is so close that declaring a “winner” is somewhat misleading. When was the last time 5 feet of distance on a drive changed your score? I don’t think the clubs change that much year to year yet the rankings are wildly different. It would be interesting to repeat the test with a new set of golfers and a new set of testers. If the results are different, not sure you can make much of a conclusion.
Norm
8 months agoYour response is typical with this particular test. The conclusion was based on a series of metrics, most notably strokes gained. Even though the winning driver was the longest, what is most important is dispersion. If you’re a decent golfer, you want a driver that generally lands in the fairway. The data compiled in this study is exhaustive to say the least.
Drivers changed a lot the past 3 seasons. The big change is forgiveness.
Abraham
8 months agoI agree it is an exhaustive study. However, that does not equate to accuracy or precision in a test. The scientific method was not utilized to full extent. Therefore, the null hypothesis cannot be excluded (i.e. results may be misleading) . . . still fun to read.
Joe Duffer
8 months agoMyGolfSpy,
You mentioned in this article that you removed all variables possible. From that, I can only assume you used the same shaft with all of the different driver heads. My question is: what shaft did you use?
You also mentioned the importance of the shaft in regards to the performance of the driver…. This leads me to ask why don’t you do an article on the best shafts for different swing speed?
Kenny B
8 months agoMaybe the green color for the Epic Speed on the Dispersion map is NOT the best color!!!
Mark
8 months agoI’m surprised at the performance of XXiO, I sell a lot of it to slower swing speeds. It always has better numbers on TrackMan than other drivers in slow swing speed categories. Pride being the only factor why we don’t sell more.
Rick
8 months agoI agree. I spent a couple of months this spring testing a XXIO ten driver against a Ping g400 max and Titleist Ts1. with several different shafts. Using a GC Quad, for the testing, the stock 10.5 XXIO bested the other two. I consistently was getting about 2mph higher swing speed and ball speed with the XXIO.
steve s
8 months agoThanks for the data. Just a minor nit pick but I think total distance on a simulator should be discounted. Carry is what really matters. I understand the arguments about trajectory, etc. but on the course “rollout” depends on conditions. Where I play the fairways aren’t cut like the pros and the only time we get a lot of roll is during drought or semi-drought conditions….
alex
8 months agoAmen. Low spin drivers for slower swing speed is going to lead a lot of knuckleballs– which means in the pacific NW, where the fairways aren’t dry until mid July, you are not going to get any roll.
Mike
8 months agoI’m a slower swing-speed guy who has suffered from a bit higher than normal spin. I just bought a Radspeed and play with the heavier weight in the front. In theory, less forgiving and even slightly more reduced spin. So in theory It shouldn’t work, especially in terms of carry.. However, I’m carrying & hitting it farther than any driver I’ve ever played with. Check your shafts; If you’re only testing 1 or 2 of the stock shaft options, you’re probably leaving yards at the store.
JD
8 months agoThen you should discount them, meanwhile those who play in areas with a lot of roll will give it a premium. Not unheard of in San Diego to top a three wood and have it scoot 150 yards on the ground. I adjusted my driver to get a higher launch (I was launching them a bit low) and my total yardage went down quite a bit.
John Geraci
8 months agoI got fitted yesterday. My swing speed is right around 90. The epic speed was among the worst. I ended up with the sim 2 max. It was longer and just about the same dispersment as the tsi3. I didn’t consider the 0211 as it wasn’t available for fitting.