Best Golf Drivers 2019 – Expert Review Of The Best Drivers

Following the epic success of the, er, Epic driver, Callaway have consolidated this with the new Rogue Driver. It isn’t, strictly speaking, a direct successor, but it’s pretty clear that Callaway have leveraged the qualities that made the Epic such a hit, and harnessed this with something bigger and better.

So, what sets the Rogue apart from the Epic? In a few words: lighter, faster and more forgiving. The Jailbreak bars still link the crown and the sole, but are 25 per cent lighter. This yields a stronger structure, which returns more energy back to the ball. Ergo, faster ball speeds. Weight is shed elsewhere in the design too (eg: the shape and the Triaxial Carbon Crown).

Additionally, it sports a thinner, more-streamlined face which adds to the gains in terms of distance. The face itself isn’t as tall as the Epic, but it is wider, which really adds to the sense of forgiveness. And it isn’t just a sense: the CG is lower, and higher MOI numbers back this up too.

This club has plenty going for it. Even the lack of weight adjustability is unlikely to put too many players off. Despite carrying a significant price tag, this club is still great value.

The Ping G400 is simply incredible.

Again Dragonfly technology has been used to lighten the crown and move center of gravity lower in the clubhead to provide maximum distance and consistency. Not to mention forgiveness.

Whether you’re a low single figure handicap or high teens, this is a great fit and at $400 it’s a fair bit of money, but still beats a couple of competitors comfortably price-wise.

Our mouths were honestly watering before we sampled the M3, and, despite all the anticipation, it can honestly be said that the M3 did not disappoint.

The signature feature is the Twist Face, which is designed to impart opposite spin on mishits to keep the ball on the straight and narrow. It wasn’t actually that easy to pinpoint how big a role the Twist Face played, but, either way, you just don’t feel like you can miss a fairway with this club.

When stacked up against its M1 predecessor, it also becomes clear that there is more in the way of ball speeds on offer, and both the level of distance and the consistency we achieved was quite something.

It looks fantastic too, with incremental gains as a result of the new matte-silver colourway. There’s all the bells and whistles in terms of adjustability too. It costs an arm and a leg as you might expect. But in terms of performance, we’re just not sure how this club can be beaten.

The Cobra King F8 Driver is all about delivering accuracy, and it does so in spades. It’s nothing like its predecessor, the F7, in terms of design, and indeed it took some two-and-a-half years to construct this new gem.

The CNC Milled face, the Aero 360 system on the crown and sole and the enhanced adjustable weight system in the sole are new additions to this club, and the combination yields significant uplift from a consistency perspective – both in terms of distance and accuracy.

Forgiveness, underscored by a high launch, is also noticeable here, albeit that mishits don’t seem to go as far as other top drivers. There is also plenty to work with in loft and weight adjustability – more than good enough for us.

And there is one headline-grabber we must mention: the Cobra Connect Arccos system. We have seen it previously with the F7, but it’s a marvel how easily the sensor at the top of the grip pairs with your smartphone.

Not only is there ample in the way of stats (and course GPS), but it even helps you improve distances and accuracy by recommending specific settings. Cool, huh?

The Callaway GBB Epic Driver was our Editor’s choice for the Best Golf Driver last year and is still one of the Best Sellers on the market.

Callaway took a chance naming it Epic as if it didn’t live up to expectations it could well have been the laughing stock of current drivers on the market. It’s pricey let’s not ignore that, but it offers superb value that will add yards and consistency to your game.

A slightly unresponsive feel at impact due to the 3G titanium bars joining the crown and sole, but the sound off the clubface is fantastic.

The M4 was launched in tandem with the M3, and, primarily, is the more forgiving of the two. A natural successor to the M2, if you like.

This is underpinned by the Twist Face, which, like the M3, compensates off-centre hits with spin to limit the effects of the imperfect strike. But it isn’t just about accuracy – we couldn’t believe how far our mishits were still travelling. This can partly be attributed to weight savings in the sole, which in turn deepens CG – despite a tall-ish face.

A lower degree of adjustability with the M4 may turn heads towards the M3 instead. But this is still a fantastic club, which suits pretty much any player. And the fact that it comes in $70-$80 cheaper than the M3 doesn’t hurt either.

Forgiveness, at the end of the day, appeals to golfers of all abilities. Even the best need a hand at times. Distance-wise, we’d say it holds its own, without excelling in that category.

But, on the whole, Callaway have taken innovation to another level, with a product made of high-quality materials and the pinnacle in technology. As such, we think this puppy will have a whole lot of appeal – and not just for newbies either.

The primary factor behind the success of the M2 2017 is the lighter weighted clubface along with a lower center of gravity. The M2 is packed with power and forgiveness bringing a host of handicaps into the mix.

The original M2 was great, but this is definitely an improvement and one thing which stands out is the fantastic sound off the clubface at impact. Just so addictive!

The 917D2 has a new look about it that may not win everyone over. But the deeper-set center of gravity adds to the noticeable enhancement in forgiveness when compared to the 915D2.

The new cutting-edge weight cylinder (referred to as the SureFit CG adjustable weight) within the sole, which can be adjusted so as to optimize trajectory, direction, shape and alignment at impact, is a fine addition to the pre-existing Surefit Hosel for loft and lie settings.

You’d have to say the Z 765 is a niche club. It’s somewhat rare to see sub-450cc drivers on the market these days, and this isn’t the most forgiving driver we’ve ever sampled. In terms of performance though, you can bank on a penetrating ball flight, and better players will revel in the way you can work the ball.

It’s a little pocket rocket of a club, and this should definitely grab your attention if you’re a single-figure player.

With the Epic taking over as most recent driver in the Callaway stable, the XR 16 is at a great price so value for money wise it is superb.

The clubface has a fairly wide stance behind the ball at address so it makes the golf ball appear very small. But that of course mentally aids performance seeming like it is impossible NOT to hit it out the center!

They may have carved out their specialty in the irons sphere, but the ST180 driver is a statement from Mizuno that they aren’t simply a one-trick pony.

First and foremost, you’ll either love that blue crown, or you won’t. Dealer’s choice. But assuming you do (or can at least tolerate it), you’re definitely going to enjoy the extra distance on offer. The Amplified Wave Sole, only seen in the fairway woods until now, contracts and expands to increase ball speeds, and the 460cc head (with a Waffle Crown on the inside to shed some weight) gives you that extra sense of forgiveness when you line up the ball.

It’s obvious that a lot of technology has gone into the design, and we were very impressed with the performance of this driver. There’s enough to work with in terms of hosel adjustability for you to find the perfect setup. There’s also a huge array of premium stock shaft options, so it’s worth taking the time to get yourself optimally fitted.

All in all, a fine club at a competitive price. Good work from the folks down at Mizuno.

Callaway’s Big Bertha range has been a staple in golf drivers for decades. With their Great Big Bertha they have once again lifted their game with a driver that delivers results for any type of player.

Rated as a ‘Best Seller’ due to it’s incredible popularity with young and old players, the best and the rest, you simply can’t go wrong with the Great Big Bertha.

In our opinion, the Titleist 915D2 Driver is one of the best looking drivers on the market.

Seriously though, the design of the Titleist 915D2 Driver is impressive. Titleist have managed to design a club-head shape that reduces drag on the downswing to create more speed and stability at impact. The result: It’s Long and really forgiving!