Best budget golf drivers 2023

Golf can be an expensive sport, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to find a high-quality golf driver. In 2023, several top brands are offering budget-friendly drivers designed to deliver performance and value.

In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the best budget golf drivers for 2023, including the Callaway Mavrik driver, Wilson Dynapwr driver, Cobra LTDx MAX driver, and Cleveland Launcher XL driver.

These drivers are designed with unique features to help golfers of all skill levels achieve greater distance, accuracy, and overall performance on the course without breaking the bank. 

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Best Budget Golf Drivers 2023

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Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

The Mavrik driver looks superb behind the ball, exactly like you would expect from a Callaway driver. I really liked how the black gloss fades into carbon on the crown of the club and to me, the clubface felt big behind the ball which gives me the confidence to swing confidently at the ball.

Immediately I saw a high launching, slightly higher spinning shot which seemed to stay in the air forever, which might be down to the Triaxial carbon crown that is very light, allowing weight to be distributed differently around the head promoting increased forgiveness.

I took the Callaway Mavrik driver out on the course to play with in my regular Sunday morning four ball and it performed really well. After a few shots with the Mavrik, you get a ‘can’t miss’ feeling which gave me the confidence to hit the driver on holes that normally I might not.

PROS

• Sits beautifully behind the ball
• Has that can’t miss feel off the face, so super easy to to hit the ball!
• Sounds fantastic

CONS

• Higher spin is not ideal for a player looking for all-out distance

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• RELATED: Read the full Callaway Mavrik driver review HERE

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Lofts: 9 degrees, 10.5 degrees, 12 degrees

Stock shafts:
Project X EvenFlow Riptide – regular, stiff, extra stiff
Aldila Rogue White – stiff, extra stiff
Helium Black – light, regular

More information: Callaway website

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

Straight away, the shaping is very different; it’s now much more pear-shaped than before and looks solid behind the ball. The red detailing is subtle but frames the head nicely. The head feels quite light in the swing, which encourages you to swing hard, which I really like.

On average, I carried this 262.4 yards, with my longest carry distance at 271. This is exceedingly long as I tested this club on a frosty morning at -2 degrees, so I wasn’t expecting much in terms of distance and speed.

The 156.4 mph average ball speed is pretty good, with my fastest at 162.6 mph probably one of the fasted ball speeds I’ve seen on test this year, so huge props to Wilson for that.

We can thank artificial intelligence for this impressive speed. Wilson, like many other brands this year, have enlisted the help of computers and A.I. to run thousands of calculations to produce a club face with variable thickness to maximise ball speeds.

Forgiveness is a huge factor when it comes to picking the right driver, and this has to be one of the most forgiving out available at the moment. It is also incredibly adjustable, which we didn’t see in last year’s driver, but this is a huge win for golfers who can now really customise their shot shape.

PROS

• Smaller, more classic shape
• Very forgiving, so ideal for high handicap golfers
• Centred hits gave very competitive ball speeds compared to more expensive drivers
• Will suit slower swing speeds as a game improvement model

CONS

• Non-centred centre of gravity won’t suit players who hook the ball

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• RELATED: Read the full Wilson Dynapwr review HERE

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Lofts: 9˚, 10.5˚, 13˚

Featured shafts: Fujkura Ventus Blue & Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX

Grips: Lamkin Crossline 360

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

The Cobra LTDx Max driver looks the business. Its carbon matte finish crown is subtle but accented with loud orange that really stands out. The graphics on the sole look great, and the adjustable weights contrast nicely with the head; when you stand on the tee with this club, all your playing partners gravitate towards it and want to have a look.

It took a few swings to get used to the lighter head as it does feel pretty different to a lot of other drivers I have tested this year, but as soon as I found the centre of the face I no longer had any doubts about it. It feels so solid at impact it was almost like the ball wasn’t there, the flight was high and seemed to stay in the air for ages.

Overall, this is a great option for all golfers, and shouldn’t be discounted by players who usually turn their noses up at ‘forgiving draw bias’ drivers. The distance it produces is great and with it being so forgiving all players can benefit from more shots in play off the tee.

PROS

• Long
• Extremely forgiving
• Adjustable weights allow you to set the club up with an even stronger draw bias
• High quality launch angles

CONS

• Although the centre strikes sounded amazing, the off-centre hits didn’t sound great

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• RELATED: Read the full Cobra LTDx Max review HERE

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Lofts: 9 degrees, 10.5 degrees, 12 degrees

Shafts:
PROJECT X HZRDUS Smoke iM10 60: Regular, Stiff
PROJECT X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Blue 60: Stiff, x stiff
UST Helium Nanocore 40, 50: regular, lite

More information: Cobra website

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

The Cleveland Launcher XL has a huge footprint and looks humongous behind the ball. The clever face design makes you feel like the hitting area of the club is big as well, which gives you the confidence you don’t need perfect swings all of the time.

The Launcher XL driver has a couple of features that result in high long drives. The first is 2 rebound frames that flex on impact which gives more ball speed. The other is that because the head is so big, they can move the centre of gravity lower and deeper to give a higher launch and low spin.

I also must talk about how forgiving the Cleveland Launcher XL driver is. Those recorded shots in my Flightscope were certainly not all out of the centre of the face and there really wasn’t much drop-off in distance. This forgiveness is probably down to the size of the head and the massive MOI it provides.

This is in to make the club feel more balanced and give more control to the player. It made the club feel heavier, which may be why my club head speed wasn’t as high as normal. There is also a Cleveland Launcher XL Lite driver available in the line if you do feel like you want something lighter.

PROS

• Huge sweet spot
• Impressively long
• Great adjustability

CONS

• The elongated head could be off-putting if you’re used to something more traditionally shaped

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Read the full review of the Cleveland Launcher XL driver HERE

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Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°

Shafts: Project X Cypher 50 Shaft – A, R, S

More information: Cleveland Website

Best budget golf drivers 2023

Golfers on a budget don’t have to sacrifice performance for affordability, and the Callaway Mavrik, Wilson Dynapwr, Cobra LTDx MAX, and Cleveland Launcher XL drivers prove that.

With advanced technology, innovative design, and budget-friendly pricing, these drivers offer golfers of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their game without overspending.

Consider your own preferences and skill level to determine which driver is the right fit for you and get ready to enjoy improved performance and greater confidence on the course. 

How do we test drivers?

At National Club Golfer we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and make sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each club performs.

Each driver is hit with TP5 golf balls to allow us to collect launch monitor data with our in-house TrackMan and Flightscope. After this it is time to head out onto the golf course and test the clubs in practice and competition play. We do this across a variety of golf clubs in our base of Yorkshire.

What is important when buying a new driver?

When buying a new driver it is important to know what you want from that club to help you improve.

Most people are looking for more distance, each driver model is optimised for different things. Depending on your swing and your impact conditions, you may not actually hit the model that is advertised as the longest, the furthest. So if you want more distance it is always worth giving different models a hit before you make a decision.

For most golfers, especially high handicappers, a more forgiving driver is going to yield the best performance. Most forgiving golf drivers have a slightly bigger club head with perimeter weighting for high MOI. They also have a center of gravity that is further back to help players get more height on their shots.

Do you want something that is draw bias? There are so many models out there to help with slice correction, it would be silly not to take a look if you see your ball disappearing into the right trees too often. A closed face and draw bias weighting can get you hitting straighter shots in no time at all.

Don’t forget about the shaft either. Getting the correct shaft can help dial in your spin, launch angle and can also give you some extra distance. Having a club fitting or trying different options with your local pro can really improve the performance of your new driver.

How To Use A Golf Driver

Driving the ball well is one of the most difficult skills in golf to master, but it’s a vital ingredient to improving your golf and being a good player. After the basics of tee the ball up high enough, widening your stance and moving the ball forward in your stance, how do you go about improving?

Check out this video where Equipment Editor Hannah Holden and PGA Professional Jack Backhouse go through some drills you can do to start getting better.

How To Draw The Ball In Golf With a Driver

Learning to draw the ball and fixing your slice makes driving the golf ball a lot further, as not only will you hit it a lot further, but you will be able to control your ball better in the wind and on doglegs.

Hannah and Jack have made a useful video to help you understand why the ball is not drawing, and what to work on to get it drawing properly, which you can check out HERE

You’ve probably spent a small fortune to get the set up that’s right for your game, so don’t forget to get specialist insurance from Golf Care to protect your clubs from theft, loss, and accidental damage. Plus, they even cover GPS watches, trolleys, and other golf equipment. With 30% off annual insurance starting from just £26.59, and a free golf gift bundle worth up to £365 including 12 free Srixon balls, it’s a no brainer. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.