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Has PXG made a genuine contender for 2026’s best driver? Find out here as Jack Backhouse put the PXG Lightning Tour Mid driver through its paces
PXG claim they have pushed the ball speed right up against the USGA limit. A bold claim and one that could be a game changer for a brand that has started to make more and more noise over the last few years with their drivers.
I’m usually someone who tends to go with a TaylorMade, Callaway or a Titleist driver but has this latest offering from PXG swayed my stance at all? Find out in our full PXG Lightning Tour Mid Driver review.
NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
This is a real standout performer. It combines tour -inspired shaping with real-world forgiveness and exceptional ball speed. If you have used any of the previous PXG driver models you’ll be interested to know there is a considerable jump in speed with this one.
The PXG Lightning Tour Mid also offers a clean, classic look behind the ball. For golfers wanting a blend of speed, precision, and even adjustability, the Lightning Tour Mid is a serious contender for Driver of the Year.
PROS
Exceptionally high ball speed
Strong all-weather performance
More forgiving than past PXG Tour-inspired models
CONS
Performance is heavily dependent on correct weighting and shaft pairing (which really is a plus point rather than a negative – go and get fitted!)
I don’t think it is out of place to say the design is somewhat reminiscent of the Black Ops family. But, the cleaner line and better proportions do make it look a lot more modern.
There aren’t many reasons why all golfers won’t like the look and style of the PXG Lightning Tour Mid driver. It is an aesthetic that I’m sure will appeal to a wide range of golfers. I loved how it has a classic shape behind the ball. For me, there are too many drivers that just don’t sit naturally enough at address and this certainly isn’t one of them.
NCG Verdict
Right, let’s get down to the nitty and gritty. First off, I found the ball speed and distance, for a mid-profile head, to be outstanding. Throughout testing ball speed consistently hovered around 162–164 mph, whilst I was able to cross the 280 yard marker multiple times.
My launch angles sat between 14° and 15° and spin rates were good, operating at a highly playable level. These numbers indicate that this is a driver that delivers quick speeds and optimised launch conditions without requiring tour-level precision.
Another thing I did notice is that although this isn’t the most forgiving model in the line-up it is more stable than the previous Black Ops model. PXG have made a conscious effort to increase the levels of forgiveness across the entire range, including the Tour and Tour Mid heads.
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The increased forgiveness levels worked well as I was able to hit a repeatable ball flights and actually found it difficult to lose the ball to the right. It’s not often I get a chance to say that!
Off-centre strikes impressively retained quite a lot of ball speed, which isn’t always expected from a tour-inspired driver.
Now for bit of tech talk. PXG has introduced a new frequency-tuned face for more speed, that has been designed to optimise energy transfer at impact. The brand believe they have created a more efficient strike that produces high speeds across the face by adjusting the way the face vibrates.
An increased use of carbon fibre compared to the Black Ops line and the inclusion of an internal spine has also helped create what I found to be a noticeably quicker driver.
A key characteristics of many of PXG’s drivers of the past has been their adjustability. The Lightning range has taken this even further.
Instead of relying on three fixed stock weights, PXG fitters use weights ranging from 2 to 14 grams. It allows for a more personalised fitting – something I would recommend.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the PXG Lightning Tour Mid and the Lightning series as a whole, is a genuine leap forward for the brand. PXG are known for the fitting ability, they won’t sell you a driver without it being somewhat tailored to you, so the adjustability of this is really cool.
After what I saw from testing, I wouldn’t be surprised if golfers seriously consider opting for a PXG driver, in comparison to future releases from Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway. Without doubt, this is, for me, is PXG’s most complete driver to date.
