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Best drivers for distance

Best Drivers for Distance 2024

If distance is what you are looking for, we have you covered. We’ve hit them all and compiled a list of the best drivers that will give you distance in 2023.

 

Distance is a crucial factor in a golfer’s game, and finding the right driver can make all the difference. In 2024, top brands in the golf industry are offering cutting-edge technology in their drivers to maximise distance and performance.

In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the best drivers for distance from trusted brands like Ping, Titleist, Callaway, Cobra, and TaylorMade.


Best Golf Drivers for Distance 2024


Mizuno ST-G driver

4.5 star review
Mizuno ST G driver review

Reviewed by Hannah Holden

The ST-G driver feels like a players club, and for good reason. It is a compact 440cc ultra-low spin driver option to add something different to Mizuno’s current lineup.

I was pretty happy with my numbers on the launch monitor. An average carry of 237 yards with the longest at 246 is really good for me and right where I would expect my carry distances to sit at. I have to say this wasn’t one of my faster swinging days in terms of club head speed so I could definitely get more out of this on a faster day. My ball speeds being in the mid 140’s is really good relative to club head speed.

The club face gives you that same great feel you associate with Mizuno irons. This driver’s face is made from a new material. It is a Beta Rich Ti-LFS titanium that is forged. It is lighter, faster and stronger than any titanium used in a Mizuno driver before.

Overall, I was really impressed with the performance of this driver. Obviously, it is designed for a certain segment on the market, so won’t suit everyone’s game, but if you are after a small compact players’ club that helps reduce spin, this is perfect. This could be a game changer for Mizuno, getting more drivers out on tour.

PROS

  • Compact head shaping
  • Great ball speeds
  • Consistent ball flight
  • Low spin

CONS

  • Low spin won’t suit everyone


RRP: £549

Stock shaft: Kai’ Li Blue 60S/R

Stock grips: Lamkin 360

Lofts: RH (9.5 & 10.5) & LH (9.5 only)

More information: Mizuno website

Ping G430 LST Driver

4.5 star review
best drivers for distance 2023

Reviewed by Tom Irwin

Behind that, and exclusive to the LST, is the Carbonfly wrap that covers that crown and extends around the heel and toe. This is how Ping are using carbon to position weight in the LST that lowers CG and spin.

The G430 is undeniably a Ping driver and that familiar styling continues on the sole. It is not that different from the G425 and all of this to me speaks of a brand that is fine tuning not reinventing and starting again. A big positive.

The LST is slightly small than the other two models in the range, a 440cc head vs 460cc, and this helps generate more speed than I have previously managed with Ping drivers. It is bringing Ping closer to other brands in terms of aerodynamics and out-and-out speed whilst retaining their still untouchable forgiveness.

The ball and clubhead speeds here from the Ping G430 LST driver are amazing. 171mph? I am 45, for goodness’ sake! And look at those spin rates.

It is not spinning, but it is launching, and the peak height is more than acceptable. This is a seriously efficient driver and a seriously efficient set-up

What you have got is technology that is maximum forgiveness, easy to launch and low spinning. It is an impressive combination.

And then there is that sound. Overall the Ping G430 driver LST is the sweetest sounding, fastest Ping driver I have used in 20 years of playing Ping drivers.

PROS

  • The sound! Yes Ping, at last!
  • Serious ball speeds
  • Faster than other Ping drivers
  • Consistent spin rates

CONS

  • I have to give it back

  • Read the full Ping G430 LST review HERE

RRP: £575

Lofts: 9,10.5

Shafts: ALTA CB Black 55 / 65 / 70 or ALTA QUICK 35 /75 or Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome 65 / 75 / 85 or Ping Tour 2.0 Black 65 / 75 or Project x HZDRUS Smoke Red RDX 50 / 60 / 70 or Mitsubusi KAI’Li White 60 / 70

More information: Ping website

Titleist TSR4 driver

4 star review
Titleist TSR4 driver review

Reviewed by Hannah Holden

Straight away over the ball, you can see this is a better players club. We have a smaller pear-shaped 430cc head with a deeper club face than other models in this range. Although this is very attractive, I would think for the majority of golfers; this might be more intimidating than confidence-inspiring.

The TS4 driver is basically two products in one. This is because are two ways you can configure the sole weights to either maximise spin reduction or maximise forgiveness.

I was really impressed with how much performance I got out of this, as I didn’t think it was a model that would suit my game. I got my highest club head speed of any TSR model with this, which gave me an impressive average carry distance of 238.5 yards.

Overall this is a great addition to the TSR line-up, but it works for a very specific type of player who wants to reduce spin and doesn’t need massive amounts of forgiveness.

Pros:

  • Smaller, more refined shaping
  • Low spin option
  • CG can be customised to your swing

Cons:

  • Not as forgiving on off-centre strikes


RRP: £529; £699 with premium shaft

Right-handed lofts: 8°, 9°, 10°

Left-handed lofts: 9° (8°, 10° custom only)

Titleist featured shafts: Hzrdus Red CB, Tensei AV Blue with XLink Tech, Hzrdus Black, Tensei 1K Black

Premium shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD UB, Tour AD DI, Tour AD IZ

More information: Titleist website

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Driver

4.5 star review
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

No one can argue that this is not one of the best-looking drivers ever made. The head shape is small and classic, the carbon crown gives you a premium feel and the line on the face at the address gives it an inviting look that the old Paradym Triple Diamond didn’t offer. The smokey 360 carbon chassis looks brilliant too.

My ball speed was 1 mph quicker than the old Paradym TD, but speed really isn’t the main story in the new driver. The Carbon Chassis is 15% lighter than the previous model which has allowed them to redistribute the mass in the club to different, more optimal locations. in the head for improved ball flight, sound, feel and performance.

Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke TD is definitely a “player’s” driver. The head makes you feel that you can work the ball a lot more than the standard head and old standard Paradym driver. The head is not as inviting as many lower profile clubs available including the others in the Ai Smoke range. I did personally feel like I could produce a better swing speed with the more compact head, and it did stop my shots curving as far left as other new drivers out this year.

PROS

  • Looks brilliant behind the ball
  • Strong performance from off-centre hits
  • More distance than last year’s Triple Diamond

CONS

  • A compact head is not confidence-inspiring for inconsistent golfers.


RRP: £569

Shafts: Project X Denali Black | 60 G (STF | X STF) | D4
70 G (STF | X STF) | D5
MCA Tensei AV Blue | 50 G (STF) | D3

Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 50G

Lofts: 8° (RH only) 9° & 10.5° Length: 45.75″ Lie: 57° Volume: 450cc

More information: Callaway website

Cobra DarkSpeed LS Driver

5 star review
cobra darkspeed ls driver

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

When something comes in all-black, we are conditioned to believe it is somehow better than the same product that isn’t all-black. Think about Range Rovers. Lovely cars, but when you see one in all black, it somehow feels cooler and more valuable. This is how I feel about the new Cobra DarkSpeed LS. The headcover is all black, the head is all black, it looks stealthy, it looks fast, I want to hit it hard.

There has been a significant amount of change in the tech of Cobra’s low-spin driver that goes beyond its dashing good looks. Cobra have put a new 3-port interchangeable weight system on the sole of the club to allow players to dial in their launch conditions and ball flight. I opted to keep the heaviest weight on the back for more backspin and larger sweet spot, but you could move it forward to reduce spin and help take either the left or right side of the course out of play.

I used this driver out on the course before I tested it on a launch monitor (after changing the grip) and was very pleased with the results. It felt really fast to swing with the new aerodynamic head shape and gave me good results on mishit shots. I have been able to hit different shot shapes with this driver, as well as high and low shots, with more workability success than I’ve seen or had the confidence to try with other low-spin drivers.

PROS

  • Love the compact shape
  • Quick ball speeds
  • Low price

CONS

  • The Cobra stock grip still remains too thick

  • Read the full Cobra DarkSpeed LS driver review HERE

RRP: £429

Lofts: 8°, 9°, 10.5°

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

More information: Cobra Website

TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver

5 star review
taylormade qi10 ls driver

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

This driver is probably the best-looking driver head TaylorMade have ever released. The compact head shape with the new gloss finish Infinity Crown and blue carbon face, it is the most classic driver on the market right now.

The head shape is beautiful, I love that we have moved away from the red face and I love how the face seems to just seamlessly merges into the crown and the rest of the head. Before even hitting the club I’d be quite happy to have this is my bag just for sex appeal.

Out on the course, I love how the ball feels from the face. You can barely feel when you have hit the toe or the heel of the club, which is amazing.

I have no doubt that any golfers who currently use a TaylorMade driver will immediately move into the new Qi10 driver models, as it is a straight-up performance improvement. I can also see a lot of brand loyalists switching to this, too, especially if they prefer a classic-shaped head. This might be the best driver of 2024.

PROS

  • Looks great behind the ball
  • Good performance on miss-hits
  • Extremely adjustable

CONS

  • There are no cons

  • Read the full TaylorMade Qi10 LS driver review HERE

RRP: £529

Right-handed lofts: (Degrees) 8, 9, 10.5

Left-handed lofts: (Degrees) 9, 10.5

Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Limited Blue 65 – R, S, XS

Mitsubishi Tensei AV LimitedBlack 65 – S, XS

More information: TaylorMade Website

Srixon ZX7 MK II driver

4.5 star review
Best Golf Drivers for Mid-Handicappers 2024

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

This Srixon driver definitely wants to be shaped. It sits extremely neutral at address, which will suit better players who won’t have to fight any natural shape bias that is normally built-in.

Something you notice straight away is how good it sounds. Srixon have moved away from the carbon trend and the ZX7 MKII being totally titanium, making the sound much more classic than the duller noise a carbon-based driver makes.

The big story in the ZX7 MKII is Srixon’s rebound frame which is a second flex zone in the head which makes the sweet spot 10% bigger and boosts ball speeds. This is great news for Srixon, as the first edition ZX7 just didn’t produce the ball speeds it needed to be competitive.

Interestingly, for a compact, low-launching head, I found that the spin on the Srixon was very consistent and not too low. Apart from one unusually high spinning shot, I averaged between 2800 and 2350 on each shot which is right where I want it.

If you are looking to upgrade to a new compact player’s driver, this should absolutely be on your short list.

PROS

  • Great looking compact head
  • Well-controlled flight and spin
  • Great carry distance
  • Strong acoustics

CONS

  • Low launch head may not suit low-speed players


RRP: £499

Lofts: 9.5°, 10.5°

Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Black (2022) 60/70

More information: Srixon Website

PXG 0311 Gen 6 Driver

5 star review
PXG 0311 Gen 6 Driver Review

Reviewed by Hannah Holden

At first fitting, Hannah was hitting up on the ball 5 or 6 degrees on average, so she fit into their 7.5-degree head. This is a great option that practically no other manufacturers make for general consumers, and the driver produced some ball speed and distance numbers that Hannah had never seen before. With the PXG, Hannah achieved swing speeds of over 100mph, ball speeds of 150mph and huge carry distances.

The low loft gave Hannah optimal launch and spin, which wouldn’t have been possible with a 9-degree head lofted down, as this would have affected the face angle and messed the data up. A contributor to this is the new carbon fiber crown, which we didn’t have on the old Gen5 driver. This not only improves sound and feel but reduces weight from the top of the club, which allows PXG to redistribute it to areas that help make the driver forgiving as well as long.

The ball speed numbers are impressively high and consistent, and the performance on mishits was pretty solid. She definitely recommends golfers in search of more distance from a new driver go to a PXG fitting and give it a go; they will be pleasantly surprised.

PROS

  • Top marks for looks
  • Huge ball speeds
  • Great custom-fitting options

CONS

  • Spme low spin, off-centre hits can bring trouble into play.


Sorry, no prices available at this time.

RRP: £469

Right-handed lofts: 7.5°, 9°, 10.5°,

Shafts: 53 Shafts available

More information: PXG Website


Best Drivers for Distance 2024

When it comes to achieving maximum distance on the course, having the right driver is key. With top brands like Ping, Titleist, Callaway, Cobra, and TaylorMade offering drivers with cutting-edge technology in 2024, golfers can expect improved performance and greater distance off the tee.

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 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

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