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If you’re in the market for a new driver in 2018, don’t even think about getting your wallet out until you’ve been through our rundown of the best models…
Best golf drivers 2018. This is the most comprehensive test you will find of all the latest and greatest drivers on the market for 2018.
Click through for individual reviews and videos of each driver and check out the results table on the final page which shows which ones carried the furthest.
This test effectively started 18 months ago when some of these were released and has continued right through this winter with testing sessions in Abu Dhabi, Leeds and Sheffield.
Best golf drivers 2018 – Callaway Rogue, Draw, Sub Zero
In a nutshell: The heads look bigger so inspire more confidence than the Epics.
But there’s that same explosive feeling off the face. Across the board we found the performance was better on mis-hits than with the Epics.
Three heads makes fitting easier and it allows the regular model in particular to max out on forgiveness by doing away with the sliding weight track.
Of the three, I actually got the best numbers with the Sub Zero but if I was choosing one to go into battle with, it’d be the regular Rogue all day long.
Click through to the final page to see a full results table with the best carry numbers.
In a nutshell: Light, easy to launch and loads of fun to hit. Probably a bit too light for me but this driver will give so many players lots of pleasure because it’s so user-friendly.
If you’re in need of a bit more air-time off the tee then this is a fantastic value-for-money option.
See the best carry numbers I got with the Launcher by clicking through to the results table on the final page.
Another great effort from Benross to produce a driver that competes against models nearly £200 more expensive.
Numbers could have been even better with a stronger shaft.
The overall look is a tad on the busy side but for less than £200, I cannot knock this driver at all.
Click through to the final page to see a results table with the best carry numbers.
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SRP: £199
Shaft used: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 50g Stiff
Best golf drivers 2018 – Vertical Groove Driver
The wildcard entry in this year’s test and it’s the longest driver on the PGA Champions Tour in the hands of the Wild Thing John Daly.
A fairly compact look at address but loads of helpful alignment.
A low-flying, low-spinning flight with plenty of run out.
Despite its compact look it was surprisingly forgiving on heel and toe strikes. We think the technology makes sense and, most importantly, it works.
SRP: £399
Shaft used: Aldila Tour Green 65g Stiff.
Best golf drivers 2018 – Results table
Firstly, a little more on how this test was conducted.
How the drivers were tested
Every driver here has been tested using a launch monitor on at least two separate hitting sessions. Every driver was hit until I felt I had made the best possible swing and struck it right out the middle.
Was every driver fitted?
No. Most were sent in a spec that I had been fitted into previously. Some were simply sent in with stock stiff shafts. I’m certain the performance of the non-fitted drivers could have been improved via a custom-fitting. My strike patterns and technique has changed since some of the earlier fittings so the specs aren’t as relevant any more.
What did I learn?
This was as much a shaft test as it was a test of the different heads. I was far more likely to get good numbers with a shaft I liked in a head I wasn’t keen on than the perfect head in the wrong shaft.
There’s the million dollar question. The launch monitors were telling me that the Ping G400 Max was producing the best numbers on a more consistent basis than anything else.
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But I can’t help being drawn towards, seduced even, by the TaylorMade M4 as I’m very confident I have been fitted into the right spec with it.
In the few rounds I have played with the Ping, I’ve liked what I’ve seen so will stick with it, for now…
And as for the below results, they were all very player-dependant and often more about the shaft than the head but make of the below table what you will. See you next year, I’m off for a back massage.
