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There are loads of new drivers out in 2025, but which ones actually suit a mid-handicapped player? We’ve got you covered with our list of best drivers for mid handicapped players
If you’re looking to elevate your game on the course in 2025, exploring the Best Golf Drivers for Mid-Handicappers is here to help. These drivers are designed to enhance your performance, providing the distance and accuracy you need to lower your scores.
Investing in one of the Best Golf Drivers for Mid-Handicappers can significantly impact your tee shots, allowing you to navigate the fairway with confidence. Whether you prefer a lightweight design or advanced technology, there are options tailored to every style of play.
Don’t underestimate the importance of choosing the perfect driver—doing so could be the key to unlocking your true potential on the course. With the right equipment, mastering the fairway becomes easier than ever, so take the time to explore the Best Golf Drivers for Mid-Handicappersthat will help you play your best golf yet!
Below we take a look at what we think are the best options for mid-handicap players this season, including all of the latest additions from leading brands such as Cobra, Callaway, Ping, Titleist, Srixon, Mizuno, Wilson and TaylorMade. There is also a suggestion from the Benross range, an underrated yet great performing driver and now available at a reduced price.
Be sure to scroll through the list as most of the older models are now available at discounted prices – yet still fantastic golf clubs.
It’s fair to say this is a bold return to radical driver shaping. The Cleveland HiBore XL is a forgiveness-focused powerhouse that might not be visually to everyone’s taste, but absolutely deserves a spot in the bag of anyone struggling with consistency off the tee. With a triangular footprint, massive face, and thoughtful weighting, this driver delivers dependable distance even on mishits.
PROS
Excellent forgiveness across the face
A massive sweet spot thanks to a larger driver face
Consistent spin and launch conditions
CONS
Unconventional shape won’t suit all eyes
RELATED: Read our full Cleveland HiBore XL Driver review here.
Tour Edge has produced a driver that feels far more expensive than it is. The Exotics E725 is an exceptional offering for golfers who prioritise forgiveness, consistency, and customisability. While it may not be the longest driver on the market, it earns top marks for its ease of use and playability.
It’s a fantastic option for seniors and mid-to-high handicappers who want dependable performance off the tee without spending a fortune. Whether you’re looking to gain confidence with the driver or just want to keep it in play more often, the E725 is an option that simply makes sense.
PROS
Outstanding levels of forgiveness
Surprisingly consistent carry distances
Excellent value
CONS
Not the longest driver on the market
RELATED: Read our full Tour Edge Exotics E725 Driver review here.
A big profile driver head that will give golfers of all abilities confidence on the tee to swing hard. Boasting an impressive 9K MOI, there is plenty of forgiveness on offer that doesn’t effect the distance.
Aerodynamically, the Qi35 has developed massively from the previous Qi generations for quicker speeds.
Being a low handicap golfer this the core head I wouldn’t be fitted into out of the Qi35 range. Although, I do see how this can be a big asset to golfers who requiring a forgiving and confidence inspiring driver that still delivers great distances.
I headed down to Titleist’s performance centre at Woburn to get fitted for the new GT driver last month. I was eager to see what was new as I was unsure how they would improve from last year’s TSR2 model.
The interesting tech here is the new proprietary matrix polymer which makes up the seamless thermoform crown. This is a fancy way of saying the previous titanium crown has been replaced with a new lightweight material which saves weight and allows more weight to be put at the bottom of the club head and on the perimeter to drive up forgiveness.
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It is very impressive how they have managed to combine this into the club head seamlessly and still maintain that classic Titleist gloss crown look we all love.
Not only was the ball going higher it was also more consistent helping my shots become more repeatable.
The biggest difference I saw was in the dispersion. I was extremely accurate with the GT2 to the point where I wondered if I was ever going to break that tiny little grouping. This consistency would really help out on the golf course, as the shots are so predictable that it makes it really easy to control your ball.
The good news for you Ping fans is that this driver still looks like a Ping with its classic modelling. Since its introduction the Ping G series hasn’t changed its design much, the turbulators, shape and sole design are all still evident in the G440 range.
In comparison to those previous Ping drivers, there is a considerable and evident improvement. There is loads more tech in the G440, the head is significantly lighter, it’s more forgiving than any G series driver and is hotter than any Ping driver I have tested.
Overall, I was extremely impressed with the Ping G440 MAX driver. It’s performance on off-centre strikes was phenomenal, its long out the centre of the face and its still straight out of the rest of the face.
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For those golfers who don’t practice much and are more of a weekend warrior then this is the perfect driver. I felt like I couldn’t hit a bad shot with it. There aren’t many better qualities to have in a driver than turning up to the golf course after a week or two of no golf and still have full confidence in the big stick.
I think the Ping G440 MAX driver is a really high performing option. I found it easy to swing quickly, it felt great off the face and its straight. I’m sure the dispersion range will be better than most golf club golfers will have experienced before with their driver.
I loved the feel of this Srixon ZXi driver. Additionally I was impressed with the club head speed and ball speed I achieved throughout testing.
The light nature of the club head is a real positive and I felt I could swing really hard with the club in hand. Differently from Carbon driver heads this produced a more classic sound, which I also loved.
Overall, I was really happy with how the Srixon ZXi felt and performed. If you are in the market for a new driver then I would recommend getting out and testing this model, the combination of the light club head and thinner face will likely bring that speed up to increase distance.
This driver is a great option for club golfers everywhere. Low spin rate will help you to develop a lower and more penetrating ball flight for extra distance.
A firm feeling driver that looks excellent both at address and in the golf bag. Ball striking was made a joy and I loved the ball flight I was finding on a consistent basis.
A driver that does what it says on the tin. Throughout my time testing drivers this is not always the case. Performance wise, I have no complaints. Delivered good distances, strong ball speeds and an impressively low, consistent spin rate.
I believe the Callaway Elyte driver is one that can be utilised by a range of golfers. A great option for those who are looking to extract a further carry off the tee.
Featuring Cobra’s all-new, revolutionary FutureFit33 hosel this driver is sure to be able to fit your game and swing. I am a big fan of the way this driver feels, it’s fast of the face and I felt as though I could give it the beans when swinging.
The Cobra DS-Adapt X also felt strong at impact and avoided the tinny feel and sound some drivers produce. The added lines on the face of the club also helps with set up and are a confidence inspiring in knowing where the centre of the club face is.
I have tested most of the mainstream drivers and I can tell you this driver surprised me the most. This is a really good driver!
Hands up, at first glance, I was sceptical. I mean, Benross isn’t necessarily a big name in the golf world, and I wasn’t expecting much from a driver that didn’t come with a hefty price tag.
As soon as I took my first swing and connected, I knew I was totally wrong.
For me, this club not only produced improvements on my club head and ball speed, but the dispersion was also mighty impressive.
In short – you would be mad not to test this driver against the more expensive alternatives provided by the more famous competitors.
PROS
Looks fantastic at address
Produced fantastic club head speed
Consistent ball flight and dispersion
Great price when compared to other (premium) drivers
CONS
None
RELATED: Read the full Benross BR-Pro driver review HERE.
Simply put, the Cobra DarkSpeed X has been designed so the widest range of players will experience great ball speed off the club combined with forgiveness that will ensure even the off-centre hits still end up okay. To do this, they have weighted the club in such a way in order to create the desired outcomes – the Corba recipe being a suspended weight that is positioned lower and more forward. In addition to this, they have made the sweet spot across the face larger in order to improve ball speed.
In summary, Cobra has definitely come up with a winning recipe with the Cobra DarkSpeed X Driver. As Batman famously said – “All Men Have Limits…I Ignore Mine” – the DarkSpeed X just might help you reset your own driving limits!
This is a club to seriously consider for 2024. Irrespective of which club you go for, though, it is definitely worth getting a custom fit to get the most suitable shaft and loft.
PROS
Pleasing to the eye at address
Produces good performance data
Low price when compared to other major brands
CONS
Ball goes slightly higher than normal – which might not suit some
Stock Shafts: UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X White (XS and S); Project X Hzrdus Limited Edition Matte Black Gen 4 (S), UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X Blue (R and S); MCA® KAI’LI Blue (R and S).
The Max driver has the largest profile in the Qi10 range, but it still looks great behind the golf ball and is likely more confidence-inspiring for the majority of golfers. I love the new infinity carbon fibre crown and how seamless the top of the club looks behind the golf ball.
I was really impressed with the high ball flight I got with this and the consistency of the flight. My ‘worst shot’ dispersion-wise finished only thirteen yards from my target, and from left to right, my dispersion was only 25 yards wide, which is absolutely insane. I’m not sure I have ever hit a driver so straight with a variety of strikes.
This driver is going to make an impact in the golf market this year. It offers serious levels of forgiveness that could improve the game of all golfers, from high handicappers to tour pros and it is going to be a serious contender for going in my bag this year.
Shafts: Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 50 (S, R, A) and Mitsubishi Diamana T+ 60 (X, S, R)
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip Black/Blue 0.600 52g
Lofts: 9°, 10.5° & 12°
The Qi10 Max also comes in a women’s version at 10.5° and 12.0° lofts with Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 40 shaft. A lightweight High & Light (HL) version of the Qi10 Max both at 10.5° and 12.0° lofts, will be available in custom.
The club face is also shallower and slightly thinner than we saw in the Ping G430 Max, which gives it a bit more flexibility to help boost your ball speed.
The 10k name in this driver is all about the forgiveness story. It refers to something called the MOI of the driver, which has come in at over 10,000g-cm². Basically, this is a measurement of how forgiving the club head is. MOI stands for moment of inertia, and it is all about how much the club head twists when you hit the ball out of the toe or the heel.
Given the slightly larger profile, I expected my club head speed to slow down with the 10k model. As it turns out, this couldn’t have been further from the truth. My club head speed went up nearly 2mph on average, and I saw a 1mph ball speed increase.
Importantly, this driver doesn’t just deliver forgiveness. I also got great club head and ball speed data, giving this a real all-around package. Definitely a club for amateur golfers to give a try this season!
PROS
Extremely Forgiving
Good Ball Speeds
Flys high
CONS
The slightly bigger club head may not suit everyone’s eye
After a quick warm-up, I took this to the range where I teach and blasted my first shot 264.4 yards through the air with ease. I normally don’t hit any drivers with ease, so this was a big deal.
I thought that my dream of having a smaller profile head with high spin characteristics was something I could only dream of, but Mizuno have managed it in the ST-X 230.
The spin on my miss hits dropped to around 2200rpm, which is still a very playable number, and my good hits were up over 2600rpm; this felt like the ball was in the air forever. My average carry of 265.1 yards and ball speed of 160.6mph is seriously good compared to other drivers I’ve hit this year.
The great distance I achieved with the Mizuno ST-Z 230 driver is thanks to a new forged SAT 2041 beta Ti face is boosted by the Cortech Chamber on the sole. The new tech makes strikes feel solid from all over the face and keeps ball speed and distance up.
The dispersion with the Mizuno ST-X 230 driver is slightly left-biased, which is what you’d expect from a head with the adjustable weight slightly off-centre towards the heel. This could be counteracted by lowering the loft and opening the face. Still, Mizuno are saying that professionals and elite amateurs are averaging more ball speed with it being slightly draw-biased, and that is something I am here for.
We always recommend getting a club fitting before purchasing new equipment. Did you know American Golf offers free fittings across its UK stores? Find your nearest store today!
I first hit this on a freezing cold range at Formby Hall, and despite the temperature and strong crosswind, this club performed really well. I then took this to Portugal for some more thorough testing and was still impressed with the results.
A big positive for me was how stable the ball flight was at all times in both the still and windy weather I felt I could keep could control of the ball flight.
Across the board, the data is pretty optimal here. 235-yard carry is just where I like to see my driver and the ball speed of nearly 140 mph from 93 mph of club head speed is very efficient.
My longest shot got up 242.6 yards which is pretty much up there with some of the longest shots I have hit this year when testing drivers.
The majority of the shots stayed under 100ft of height which I was very pleased with as I can often get the ball going too high in the air which can make the ball hard to control when you are playing in any significant wind.
The 0211 driver is PXG’s easy-to-hit, entry-level price point driver, but there is nothing budget about it. The head is matte black, no wacky designs on the crown on the sole, it’s a great shape a looks really hittable. It passes my purist test.
To ensure maximum forgiveness, in addition to the variable face technology PXG have moved the mass in the head further back to ensure the center of gravity is in the optimal place for all abilities of golfers. This is an adjustment from the previous 0211 model, which also improves sound and feel.
To go from a golfer who fears a toey low spin hook to being a golfer who just wants to swing harder with more and more confidence, the 0211 completely changed my feeling towards golf drivers at the moment. At a reasonable quick swing speed, I often get put in the low spin maximum distance, which just doesn’t suit my on-course tendancies.
It was great to be fit into something that I feel will actually help my game. I love the PXG 0211 driver and I’m sure that if golfers can get it in their hands they will love it too.
PROS
High launching
Super light
Really forgiving
CONS
For a performance like this you feel guilty you haven’t spent more!
Visually, this isn’t miles away from what we saw with last year’s Paradym range. I like that Callaway has kept the forged carbon sole, as I love the unique patterned look this creates. True to the ‘Smoke’ name, this year’s model has a smokey colour scheme with a grey sole and crown compared to last year’s navy blue colourway.
Overall, I was pretty happy with the data. I was content with an average of 229 yards carry, especially given the colder winter weather. I was also very pleased with how consistent the carry distance was across my testing. My left-to-right dispersion was just over 40 yards, which I would be exceptionally happy with out on the golf course.
Personally, it wasn’t the distance data I was most impressed with. I stood on the tee of the 232-yard 17th hole at Ganton and hit five balls straight onto the green with this driver! The consistency of ball flight was a lot better, and my dispersion grouping was incredible. Personally, accuracy is more important to me than extra yardage, and this driver stood out in this category.
PROS
More distance
Higher launch and total height
Very tight dispersion
CONS
Slightly larger shape than last year’s Paradym model
As it turns out, the re-shaping of the club head has made a massive difference in performance. I gained 3.5 mph of club head speed when moving from the TSi2 to the TSR2. That’s seriously impressive. It also meant I got some lovely carry distance gains.
On average I carried this 239.6 yards, with my longest shot carrying 248.5 yards. How did this stack up to last years TSi2 model? It was about 14 yards longer.
The smaller design had less MOI meaning my off strikes weren’t as good as with the TSi2 and the spin was also quite low.
The TSR2 offers me the best of both worlds and one of the most impressive things was just how consistent my data was throughout testing. Ball speed, carry distance and direction was much more consistent than with my previous TSi3.
We always recommend getting a club fitting before purchasing new equipment. Did you know American Golf offers free fittings across its UK stores? Find your nearest store today!
Best Golf Drivers for Mid-Handicappers 2025
Mid-handicap golfers require 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 Srixon, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Wilson, Cobra, Ping and Titleist offering specialized golf drivers for mid-handicap golfers in 2025, there are plenty of options to consider. With features like adjustable weighting, carbon fibre construction, and improved aerodynamics, these golf drivers can help mid-handicap golfers 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 and Hannah Holden 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.
Jack and Hannah 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
