Most Forgiving Golf Drivers 2024
There are loads of new drivers out in 2024, but which ones actually suit a player who struggles for strike consistency? We’ve got you covered with our list of most forgiving drivers 2024
When it comes to golf drivers, forgiveness is a key factor for many players, especially those who are just starting out or looking to improve their game.
Luckily, there are many forgiving golf drivers available on the market today. This year see’s Ai technology becoming a huge part of the golfing industry with many brands producing drivers with 10,000 MOI.
Below we’ve listed what we think are the most forgiving drivers 2024 and that will help you get more shots in play off of the tee.
Most Forgiving Drivers 2024
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver
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.
PROS
- Confidence Inspiring Design
- Extreme Forgiveness
- High Launch
CONS
- None
- Read the full TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver Review
RRP: £449
Shafts: Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 50 (S, R, A) and Mitsubishi Diamana T+ 60 (X, S, R)
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.
More information: TaylorMade Website
Titleist TSR1 Driver
I hit a few more shots with it and was really impressed with how easy it was to hit and how effortlessly I was able to get the ball in the air higher than I ever have. The first shaft I tried was the TSR1 specific shaft which is only 40g, and I loved it. The ball was spinning way too much to be optimal, but I didn’t want to stop using it as it was just so much fun.
The TSR1 is 40g lighter than any of the other TSR drivers, with weight savings in the head shaft and grip. This will allow players to move the club quicker and hit it further. It also has the lowest and furthest back centre of gravity, which provides a high launch and maximum forgiveness.
Overall this is a great addition to the TSR line-up; it will help slower players hit it higher and further whilst also helping low-spin players enjoy hitting driver more often. It won’t be for everyone, but it will help many golfers enjoy their games more.
PROS
- Higher launch angles than other models
- Super light
- Really forgiving
CONS
- Not the best option for high-spin players
- RELATED: Read the full Titleist TSR1 review HERE
RRP: £529
Right-handed lofts: 9°, 10°, 12°
Left-handed lofts: 10° (9° and 12° custom only)
Titleist featured shafts: Mitsubishi MMT SpeedMesh 40 (Men’s) and 35 (Ladies)
More information: Titleist website
Callaway Big Bertha driver
The 2023 Big Bertha edition is big. The elongated crown has a generous profile and is a completely different shape from the Paradym models, which have been a huge success already this year. Putting it behind the ball gives you confidence.
I absolutely loved hitting this driver. I love the lightweight design, the draw bias, and just how easy the club felt to hit. I personally find some of the low-spin ‘good players’ drivers don’t have the same feel from the face as the more forgiving drivers do. I don’t like that harsh, fast feeling as It just makes me feel like I am going to toe the ball straight left, which is not a good thought when you are standing over the ball!
The Big Bertha has a big weight on the sole that’s close to the heel, which makes the driver draw biased. This may mean the driver might not suit hookers of the ball, but it’s really going to help those golfers who suffer with a slice.
I genuinely feel like I could put this in the bag, and it would help my game. It may not be the driver that fitters want me to play, but at the end of the day, golfers need help from the club. Yes, long distances on the driving range are nice, but I need fairways out on the golf course, and I believe the Callaway Big Bertha 2023 driver will deliver that for me.
PROS
- High launching
- Super light
- Really forgiving
CONS
- Not sure there are any!
- Read the full Callaway Big Bertha 2023 driver review
RRP: £499
Right-handed lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Left-handed lofts: 10°, 9°
Featured shafts: There are too many shaft options to count!
More information: Callaway Website
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Driver
Straight away, I loved how the club sat behind the ball. I just wanted to hit it and see how it performed.
The club face is an AI Smart Face and offers something new to golfers, whereby it uses real player data to develop and provide golfers with a number of sweet spots on the club face. I would say that if you are looking to hit a controlled draw, this club definitely helps.
Overall, I was really impressed with this driver’s performance. When you are over the ball, you just want to hit it, and so it gives you confidence before you even hit the ball. Though I tend to play mainly with a fade, I was impressed with the results when trying to hit a draw. I felt the ball was under control and would be happy to use this when finding the fairway – be it with a fade or a draw.
Developing a driver with the new AI Smart Face is definitely an exciting move by Callaway, and though it is pricy, it will definitely provide you with control and consistency off the tee.
PROS
- Consistency
- Sits great on the eye
- Great for those wishing to draw the ball
CONS
- Premium price point
- Read the full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Driver Review
RRP: £569
Shafts: Project X Cypher 2.0 | 40 G (LGT) | D2
MCA Tensei AV Blue | 50 G (REG | STF) | D3 & 60 G (STF ) | D4
Lofts: 9°, 10.5° & 12°
More information: Callaway website
Wilson Dynapwr Driver
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 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
- Centred hits gave very competitive ball speeds compared to more expensive drivers
- Will suit slower swing speeds
CONS
- Non-centred centre of gravity won’t suit players who hook the ball
- RELATED: Read the full Wilson Dynapwr review HERE
RRP: £370
Lofts: 9˚, 10.5˚, 13˚
Featured shafts: Fujkura Ventus Blue & Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX
Grips: Lamkin Crossline 360
Cobra DarkSpeed X Driver
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
- Read the full Cobra DarkSpeed X Driver Review
RRP: £429
Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
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).
More information: Cobra Website
Callaway Paradym X Driver
I loved how easy-to-hit this model felt, and I think this would really suit mid to high-handicap golfers, but personally for my game, it launched too high and spun too much to put in play. I do think this could be dialled in with a proper custom fitting though.
So how does this perform compared to the rest of the Paradym range?
It definitely launched the highest. My highest shot launched at 121.4ft with the average of just over 100ft which was 14ft higher than the Paradym and 18ft higher than the Triple Diamond. If you struggle to get enough height on your driver, this would be a great option to launch the ball higher. It also spun the most, which was to be expected given the CG location is further back.
PROS
- Great dispersion
- Very consistent carry distances
- Forgiving on off-centre strikes
CONS
- Ball flight may be too high for some
- Bigger head than other Paradym options
- RELATED: Read the full Callaway Paradym X Driver review HERE
RRP: £599
Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Stock shafts: MCA Aldila Ascent PL Blue, Project X Hzrdus Silver
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 or WMS Lamkin ST Soft Undersized
More information: Callaway website
Mizuno ST-X 230 driver
If you love classic-shaped drivers, you are going to love the Mizuno ST-X 230. Its head is really deep, and the head is very round compared to its pear-shaped sister, ST-Z 230. It certainly feels a lot more workable when you stand at address.
At address, the shape of this driver is as good as it gets. I love its compact size and super deep face. The blue detail lets your playing partners know it’s a Mizuno and the glossy carbon crown gives you a real premium feel.
The head somehow looks big behind the ball, which is confidence inspiring. I don’t know if this is because the head is big or because the shaft is shorter than many other brands at only 45 inches; it just feels big. I like it, but I fear it will put some players off.
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.
Mizuno have put a new carbon plate on the driver’s sole, allowing them to redistribute the weight further back and around the head, making it extremely stable and long from centre, toe and heel.
PROS
- Slight draw biased round head
- Very forgiving
- Higher spin and very workable
CONS
- Head feels really big
- Read the full Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver Review
RRP: £499
Lofts: 9.5˚, 10.5˚, 12˚
Grip: Lamkin ST+2 Hybrid 360
Shaft: UST Helium Nanocore 40, UST LIN-Q M40X Red 50
More information: Mizuno website
Ping G430 Max 10k driver
Visually, this is Ping’s largest profile driver ever. That doesn’t mean the volume of the driver has increased, but rather, the shaping has been stretched for more forgiveness.
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.
Ping has added a heavier back weight (28 grams) and a lighter Carbonfly Wrap Crown, which allows more weight on the back and perimeter of the club to drive up that MOI and give you more forgiveness.
The real difference, though between the G430 Max and the 10k is with the off-centre strikes. I actually felt I struck the ball worse with the 10k model, but still managed to get better data, which is definitely a win.
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.
- Read the full Ping G430 Max 10k Driver Review
RRP: £599
Right-handed lofts: 9°, 10.5° & 12°
Left-handed lofts: 9°, 10.5° & 12°
Stock shafts: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) Black 55 (SR, R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45 (HL build only)
More information: Ping Website
Most Forgiving Drivers 2024
No matter your ability, a forgiving driver can be a great addition to any golfers bag. Getting your ball in play off of the tee is crucial and so there are lots of new drivers out in 2024 packed full of tech to assist you with this.
Although all of these drivers are great, a custom fitting to help find the perfect shaft for your game is certainly what could knock a few shots off your card each round.
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 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
Nicola Slater
Nicola recently graduated from Stirling University where she studied Sports Studies, she wrote her dissertation on barriers to participation for women in golf.
Nicola plays her golf at Hickleton and she currently plays off +3. Having played for Yorkshire Ladies and has represented England at junior and senior level, she will soon be beginning her professional career on LETAS.
