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There are loads of new drivers out in 2026, but which ones actually suits a player who needs help saving shots off the tee? Here’s the only guide you’ll ever need
As a high handicapper, finding the right golf driver can be a challenging task. Fortunately, nearly every top brand offers a driver that is designed to suit, and even improve, your game.
If you’re a high handicapper, your driver can often feel like your greatest weapon one round and your biggest weakness during the next.
One good swing can set up par or better, but it can feel like you are always a good swing away from disaster. To help prevent this disaster from happening it is imperative to game a driver that helps you off the tee, not hinder you.
From high MOI offering to draw biased counter parts, there are drivers available to help high handicappers achieve greater distance, accuracy, and overall performance on the course.
Check out the NCG Top Picks for 2026 below to put those tee box worries to bed!
Not your conventional looking driver but has found its way into the bag of our Tour Content Editor Matt Chivers.
In his words… “It might not have the look and glamour of the most expensive drivers on the market, but the Cleveland HiBore XL Driver is extremely reliable, forgiving and provides great confidence with each tee shot.“
Tour Edge has produced a driver that feels more expensive than it actually is. Quite an accomplishment. Something our main equipment reviewer, Jack Backhouse, spoke highly of.
He also praised how easy it is to use. “It’s excellent playability makes it fantastic option for seniors and mid-to-high handicappers who want dependable performance off the tee without spending a fortune,” he said
Maximum forgiveness aren’t exactly know for their strong distances. But this offering from TaylorMade offers strong and repeatable carry distances with far more help and forgiveness than what you would get from a standard player’s driver. The best of both worlds.
Callaway have focused on developing their drivers into being more forgiving and stable over recent years, but that focus has now shifted back to producing drivers with quicker speeds.
“The Callaway Quantum Max driver is a fast, modern looking driver that is a revert to type for one of the biggest brands in golf,” said Jack Backhouse.
While Cleveland chose a unconventional design for this model, its results prove its worth. The HiBore XL stands out as a strong option for golfers with mid to high handicaps, including seniors, who want more reliable shots without losing significant distance.
Given its price point, it offers a much more affordable alternative to high-end clubs, all the while providing forgiveness that rivals many of the top performers currently available.
Shaft: Project X Cypher 40 and Project X HZRDS Black
Grip: Golf Pride 360 midsize and Golf Pride 360 standard
NCG Rating: 4.5 out of 5
TOUR EDGE E725 – COURSE PERFORMANCE
Forgiveness is where the E725 truly stands out. Having a high MOI, like this driver does, means more stability through impact, reducing twisting and mishits.
This certainly helped me as my numbers were astonishingly consistent. My carry distances that clustered around the 253-yard mark regardless of strike location.
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We should mention that this is far from being the lowest spinning driver on the market, but it is amongst the easiest to hit.
The Tour Edge Exotics E725 might not win any long-drive contests, but it might just win over the hearts of not just senior golfers, but a wide range of amateur golfers.
The consistency and forgiveness are hugely impressive especially considering its price point.
There’s also no doubt in our minds that this is one of the easiest drivers to hit on the market.
This is near enough the perfect driver for me. It has everything that I need and want from my big club; I love the way it looks and feels. There is something special about Titleist clubs when you have them in hand. They feel magical.
The club looks great behind the ball and offers a level of performance that finally places Mizuno alongside the major brands in the driver market.
If you factor in the feel and forgiveness it offers, there is no reason why you shouldn’t consider this as a legitimate contender to go into your bag in 2026.
There is no doubt in my mind that this will be an extremely effective driver for the right golfer. It was a genuine pleasure to use this and I’m confident it will help those who have a tendency to lose it to the right to keep the ball in play more often.
I don’t think it would be appropriate to start assessing the Ping G440 K’s on-course performance without first mentioning its forgiveness. To put it bluntly; off-centre strikes fly straight, stay in the air, and lose remarkably little distance.
Jack Backhouse explains how this is a major step forward for Mizuno and their drivers; “It successfully combines striking aesthetics with an all-new face material and a forgiving head shape to push Mizuno up to compete with the big boys of drivers.”
Amongst club golfers, slices off the tee are just as common as bogeys. They can be hard to eradicate so having a driver that works with you rather than against you is paramount.
“The Cobra OPTM Max-D driver is one of the most aggressively draw-biased drivers on the market. Built to eliminate a slice and it does that very well,” said Jack Backhouse.
“If you’re looking to hit more fairways than ever, then this is the driver for you. It’s one of the most forgiving drivers I have tested, launches the ball with ease and will get the ball in play frequently,”Jack Backhouse claims.
Previous maximum forgiving Ping drivers have seen plenty of success, especially over recent years. I’m sure the same will be said about the Ping G440 K in a few years time.
There is no escaping this is an expensive option – no getting away from it.
However if you have been experiencing a loss of yardage off the tee as you have aged then this is definitely worthy of consideration.
Read more below
TAKOMO IGNIS D1 – COURSE PERFORMANCE
The performance across the board is incredibly consistent with spin rates and carry distances being particular stand outs.
The Ignis D1 looks excellent behind the ball, with its matte black finish and carbon weave details providing a modern, confidence-inspiring appearance.
There’s no shying away from it the is one impressive entry into the driver market from Takomo. As first impressions go, they don’t get much better than this.
For golfers looking for a new driver that feels premium but costs significantly less than the big-brand options, the Ignis D1 is a fantastic choice.
Shaft: Project X HZRDS Black 60, Tensei 1K Black 65 and Tensei 1K Blue 65
NCG Rating: 5 out of 5
TITLEIST GT3 – COURSE PERFORMANCE
This Titleist driver felt really sturdy. Each strike felt as though the ball was being compressed by something and I like that feeling. I don’t want to label any other brand as being tinny and light but the Titleist GT3 feels noticeably meaty and heavy.
I found even on the off-centred strikes the club was still producing a straight ball flight and putting the ball into play. The launch really good throughout testing, no matter what setting I had the club.
Something that I tend to find with Srixon drivers is that they feel a little lighter than a Callaway or a TaylorMade which means they feel a bit faster when you swing the club. From the first strike, I was really pleased with how it felt off the face.
This is a driver that produces quite a classic sound off the face with a fairly high pitch sound. For those of you who are used to a carbon face sound then this is going to be a bit of a change, but one we think worth doing.
If you are worried about it feeling lightweight hen you swing the club then you can forget about those worries. It actually feels quite meaty at impact.
Plenty of club golfers could take advantage of the combination of the light club head and thinner face as it will likely bring that speed up to increase distance.
Without meaning to overreact, I think this is one of Mizuno’s best looking drivers to date. On the whole, the performance can’t be categorised as consistent and respectable.
Mizuno has made the face significantly thinner than any of its previous models. Equally the head shape is slightly shallower but increased in size length wise to make it more forgiving.
NCG Key Statistics
The main take-away from this driver is just how forgiving it is. TaylorMade has positioned the bulk of the mass low and deep in the head, and, I have to say, the result is exceptional stability through impact.
Off-centred strikes still retain plenty of speed and distance, especially low off the face. The majority of players who are going to be putting this in the bag will have a tendency to hit the ball low off the face, so this is a big plus.
What we should stress is that TaylorMade has produced a genuinely impressive and forgiving driver.
It delivers exactly what a driver of this calibre and description should. It offers plenty of forgiveness, a stable ball flight and dependable performance al in a premium and confidence-inspiring look.
If you’re sick of being hampered by a slice off the tee, then the Cobra OPTM Max-D driver should be at the top of your list of driver options. It offers high launch, plenty of forgiveness and exceptional directional help for golfers who struggle to keep the ball in play.
This isn’t a club that willI suit everyone, which one does, but for the right player it could be a genuine game-changer off the tee.
The ball speeds are also considerably more consistent across the face than what more player friendly options can offer.
But it isn’t just the forgiveness levels where this driver stood out, it is also incredibly easy to get airborne, even at lower loft settings. It is also an extremely accurate driver that is really stable throughout the strike.
The Ping G440 K may not be the longest driver when it comes to pure distance, but it might be one of the most effective drivers you can put in play over an entire season.
It’s forgiving without feeling slow, easy to launch without ballooning uncontrollably, and stable enough to make bad swings playable.
Shafts: True Temper Denali Frost Silver and Mitsubishi Chemical Vanquish
NCG Rating: 4.5 out of 5
CALLAWAY QUANTUM MAX – COURSE PERFORMANCE
This is a driver that is more about speed and less about forgiveness. Saying that this is still a very solid feeling driver.
This isn’t even the fastest out of the Quantum drivers Callaway are offering this year and it is still producing quicker numbers than a lot of other drivers I have tested this year.
Despite Callaway’s lack of focus on forgiveness, mishits still perform really well and the speeds are strong no matter what the contact is like.
You may be surprised to hear that this is actually Wilson’s first ever 10K MOI driver. Like you would imagine from this type of driver, it is all about providing that extra bit of stability to help keep the ball in play.
Strikes out of the toe and heel still provide admirable performance. The numbers from these types of strikes are fairly consistent across the board, with strong launch angles and effective spin rates.
Wilson is a brand that we are red hot on here at NCG. They are a quality brand both when it comes to golf and away from the sport.
The Dynapwr Max+ is further proof, if you needed it, that the brand is firmly back to competing with the big hitters in the driver market. It won’t blow your socks off in terms of raw distance, but it will get the ball in play on a regular basis.
I have to say the results were more impressive than I was anticipating. Against the gamer Triple Diamond driver, the XXIO 14 produced similar, and at times slightly faster, ball speeds.
The carry distance increased by around 10 yards, while launch angle was approximately two degrees higher.
This driver unexpectedly impressed me with its performance, launching higher and matching or exceeding the ball speed of premium low-spin models while delivering more carry and a higher peak flight.
It’s especially beneficial for golfers with moderate swing speeds, offering more playable drives in challenging conditions.
Although priced at £750, making it the most expensive on the market, it could be a worthwhile investment for those looking to regain yardage lost over time.
High handicappers need drivers that cater to their specific needs and physical abilities, and choosing the right driver can make a significant difference in their game.
With top brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist and more offering specialised golf drivers for high handicappers in 2026, there are plenty of options to consider.
With features like lightweight designs, adjustable weighting, and improved aerodynamics, these golf drivers can help high handicappers achieve greater distance and accuracy on the course.
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, something that is more forgiving 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 PGA Professional Jack Backhouse provides the Ultimate Guide to Driving…
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.
Jack has 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
