Callaway produce some of the best golf equipment on the market and their drivers are some of the top performing models in the game. From premium models to game-improvement big sticks, the brand designs and builds models that will rival some of the best golf drivers on the market, including some of the best Titleist drivers and best TaylorMade drivers.
In the last 30 years, the brand has produced some of the most iconic drivers in golf, from the Big Bertha to the Mavrik. More recently, we've seen the Epic Speed, Rogue and now the stunning Paradym and Ai Smoke ranges - all are high-performing drivers that have helped many golfers of all abilities, from Tour pros and scratch golfers, to mid handicappers, and beginners improve their game.
So which models are the best? Well we have tested a lot of models over the years and in this guide, we'll be walking you through some of the very best models Callaway have produced over the years, giving our views on how each club can help you perform. Each review includes comparisons to older models as well as other models in the current ranges to help you decide which driver will best suit your game. Also, if Callaway is not for you, we have also created guides for other brands too - such as our best Ping drivers guide and our best Cobra drivers guide.
WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024
The Quick List
The standard Ai Smoke Max is an all-round performer at the excellent end of the spectrum, whilst it looks fantastic too. We liked customization of the head as well thanks to the sliding weight.
It may be slightly debatable how much it has improved from the Paradym TD, but it is still an exceptional model in low pin market. We enjoyed the look, sound and feel as well.
An excellent driver for those seeking a draw bias flight and maximum launch. We found it to be very easy to launch and it is forgiving on mishits, whilst we really like the new grey effect on the head.
Providing a great balance between power and forgiveness, the Paradym driver strikes a lively feel off the face, with new aesthetics certainly eye-catching.
The Callaway Paradym TD is a great driver that really performs how you want it to. It is more compact at address and the more traditional of the three in the range.
A beautiful-looking driver that has the performance to match. Fast, forgiving and consistent, this lightweight driver has the wow factor golfers crave out on the course.
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Delivers high levels of stability and consistency while maintaining competitive distance. The Rogue ST Max will appeal to a range of player types.
Part of Callaway's 2024 Paradym Ai Smoke range, this luxurious-looking driver delivers ultimate forgiveness for high-launching and powerful shots.
Callaway has packed this driver with new technology to give women golfers every opportunity to consistently hit drives with improved accuracy and distance.
Best Callaway Drivers
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Paradym Ai Smoke models
After the resounding success of the original Paradym family from Callaway, 2024 sees the launch of the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke family. The first model to discuss here is the Ai Smoke Max, which is the standard head of the three, and there are a few key changes to mention.
Starting with the looks, when we first put it down we were really pleased to see the new grey colorway. We feel that it blends so much better with the grey banner strip, creating a really clean aesthetic that, from a visual perspective, places it among the best drivers on the market. Callaway has really improved the shelf appeal with the smoky graphic pattern too.
In terms of the tech story, Callaway's tag line with this product is ‘Sweeter From Every Spot’. Essentially, this means a bigger effective hitting area, a concept it has created by advancing its Ai Smart Face technology, using swing dynamics from thousands of real golfers. This information has then been inputted into its Ai system and has produced a whole new face which Callaway says creates micro deflections across various points of the striking area, essentially producing multiple sweet spots!
But how did the Max perform? Well the forgiveness was impressive. We hit an awful lot of balls with the Max so inevitably missed the center on occasion, but when we did, we were really pleased with the results. While there was good feedback of strike location, it was in no way unpleasant and the dispersion even from my most questionable hits was reassuringly tight. Sound and feel were not worlds apart from the original Paradym, which is no bad thing, but - if anything - we found the Ai Smoke felt a touch livelier off the face. Overall the Callway Paradym Ai Smoke Max is a really good option for those looking for great adjustability of flight and real playability.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver Review
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Driver
Moving on to the Triple Diamond model in the Ai Smoke driver range, this head is for the better players, much like the Paradym TD model. However there are a few noticeable changes between the two drivers once again. To start, the grey finish and smokey pattern on the sole continue from the Max head and look fantastic. The new strip on the Smoke TD remains a lot more parallel to the top edge which, again, looks a lot neater to me than the on the original Paradym Triple Diamond where this tapered away more dramatically.
Moving onto the technology, the moveable weight track on the Max has gone, but the Ai designed face remains, and this is where we see a big improvement from the original Paradym. On well-struck shots, ball speed, launch and spin numbers were basically identical to its predecessor, with good hits producing very low spin numbers and a really strong, penetrating ball flight.
However with the original TD we really felt it was a driver you needed to be at your best with. Any mishits were punished fairly severely for me, which is often the case with many of the best drivers for distance, however, the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond gave me a bit more peace of mind. Some of our poorer strikes (which come predominantly out of the heel) really weren’t punished too harshly from either a ball speed or directional point of view. Additionally the Smoke has a notable fade bias to it thanks to the slightly open face angle at address.
Admittedly from a feel and sound point of view, we didn’t notice any dramatic change from the Paradym Triple Diamond original, which we were very pleased with as we had very much become a fan of the muted thud it produced.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Driver Review
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Driver
The Max D in the latest Ai Smoke range from Callaway is most comparable with the Paradym X from last year with its high MOI and slight draw bias, but there are some clear alterations the brand has made to improve the head.
Starting with the looks, the grey finish and cool, pattern design on the sole aids shelf appeal a lot in our opinion. The head is also extremely confidence-inspiring with a very large overall footprint which Callaway has achieved by stretching it outwards in all the right places. This presents a genuinely larger looking head than the 460cc it actually is, and the stretching backwards has allowed Callaway to increase the MOI in the quest for stability.
The Ai technology continues here and along with the stretching of the club head, a rear weight has also been strategically placed to further increase MOI and create a draw bias. What were the results of this in testing? Well the forgiveness of this model is off-the-charts good. Rarely have we found a driver so extremely easy to get off the ground.
For the right category of player, we think this could be an absolute game-changer. One of the most user-friendly drivers we have ever picked up, if you struggle with launch and spin then this is a must try.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Driver review
Paradym models
Over the last few years, golfers have become accustomed to Callaway’s use of recurring product names. The Epic and Mavrik have become common names among some of the options the brand are producing. However, for 2023, the California-based brand unveiled a completely new look for its latest product range, the Paradym. Styled as the 'paradym in performance' this range of clubs was exciting when they were released thanks to their stunning new aesthetics, and brilliant technology that works to make this one of the most forgiving drivers on the market.
It's clear there has been a significant shift in what's on offer here from the brilliant Rogue ST Max driver. Engineers have for the first time ever, done away with any titanium in the clubhead, introducing a 360º carbon chassis. That helps to save weight around the club to make it more forgiving. We loved the feel this offered, with the Paradym also using brand new Jailbreak technology and an A.I. Optimized face for greater downrange dispersion and ball speeds.
We loved how playable it was and the ball felt very hot off the face of the club. Compared to the Rogue ST Max, the club was very long and easy to hit and that is a vital point to note. Without having to swing the club too hard, we felt we were able to clock-up consistently straight drives with good distance. For that reason, it got the nod as one of the best golf drivers we tested in 2023, thanks to its visuals, stunning performance and feel off the tee.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Driver Review
Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver
If you’re a confident ball-striker and looking for a workable driver, then Callaway's Triple Diamond version of the Paradym is a viable option for you. To begin with, it has a 14g back weight which can be positioned in the front for even lower spin and maximum workability. What's more, it has a 450cc clubhead and, although it is the more compact version, which won't be to everyone's tastes, it still has those traditional looks that we've gotten to know and love from the brand. We loved the yardage gains on offer here and felt this was one of the best golf drivers for distance.
During our testing sessions, we found those impressive yardages came from the lower spin rates the club produced that leads to greater carries than what we were getting on the Rogue ST. It is important to say that we did lack some consistency with this club; we were not as straight with each shot as we were with the standard model, which will be a huge consideration if you're a low handicap player looking to keep the ball in play. It might not be the one of the most forgiving drivers, but out of the centre of the face there aren't many better clubs on the market that will give you the same power and control.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver Review
Callaway Paradym X Driver
As with the standard Paradym driver, this club oozes class thanks to its carbon blue clubhead. It offers up a premium look and plenty of shelf appeal thanks to its glossy sole plate and superb crown. The noticeable difference here between this club, the standard Paradym is that it doesn't come with the golden, adjustable weight on the heel. The weight at the back of the X is still adjustable though and adds to the stretched out head profile that makes this club look more inviting to hit at address. That weight also helps to add a little more draw bias to each shot which we benefitted from and think less-experienced players, prone to slicing the ball, will too!
We were lucky enough to get a full custom fit for this driver, something we think you should do to (here's why!) and felt the distance on offer here was impressive. So much so that we think it will be a real game-changer for those who struggle to get a lot of speed on the ball to help them make long par 4s much shorter and bring the green into a scoring position on par 5s. This is one of the best drivers for slow swing speeds as it certainly felt hot off the clubface, and was very accurate too!
We felt it was very easy to get the ball up in the air and were confident ripping through tee shots with a lot of power, knowing that we'd still send the ball in the direction we wanted. Our slice was not really present either thanks to the draw bias on the club. While it does come in at a hefty price, for those looking to improve their game, this is a value for money option that'll help you cut your handicap right down.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym X Driver Review
Rogue ST Max models
The Rogue ST family of drivers was released in 2022 to replace the Mavrik range and was included on our Editors Choice Awards list for 2022. In our opinion, we think the Rogue ST Max is the option that will suit the broadest range of golfers as it extends its use of A.I. to optimize its Flash Face for launch and spin as well as ball speed. It is one of the best golf drivers for mid handicappers, and offers up bags of shelf appeal thanks to its stunning head design. In fact, we loved the black and gold colorway on the glossy clubhead, with the stunning 11.5g tungsten weight, positioned at the rear of the club helping to improve spin, launches and ball speed consistency.
During our testing sessions, it produced a very stable flight and the sound and feel were definite improvements over the outgoing Mavrik models. It also had a very neutral trajectory in comparison but we were still able to draw and fade each shot if we wanted to - even with the semi-draw bias built into the club. Overall the flight was much more stable and seemed to curve offline much less when we missed the middle of the face. Down at address, the Rogue ST Max has a new matte crown and that combines nicely with the face, that looks flatter and is lighter in color, making it more visible and therefore easier to align.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver Review
Women's models
Callaway Women's Paradym Ai Smoke MAX Fast Driver
To go along with the three Paradym Ai Smoke models above there is also the women’s MAX Fast which is best suited to those players that want a lightweight driver that can launch the ball with ease with maximum forgiveness.
It’s an attractive looking driver with a clubhead design, colorway and soft and tacky grip that boosts confidence on the tee from the get-go. It is also nicely weighted too which made it effortless to swing.
The Ai Smart Face is one of the key features and with sweet spots across the entire face, our tester found it almost impossible to hit a bad drive, which makes it one of the most forgiving drivers on the market. It also delivered powerful shots with noticeable accuracy, so there is little to fault with this offering.
- Read our full Callaway Women's Paradym Ai Smoke MAX Fast Driver Review
Callaway Big Bertha Reva Women’s Driver
A model that featured in our best golf drivers for women guide, the main aim of the Reva is to help women hit longer tee shots and find the fairway more often. In order to achieve this, Callaway has engineered a large clubhead with internal draw bias weighting. By also incorporating Callaway’s Jailbreak technology, which helps to make the clubface more efficient, two internal bars stiffen the body to allow the face to flex more, while the lightweight crown permits weight to be redistributed for higher MOI.
In addition, the advanced design of the clubface means there’s a greater area to promote faster balls speeds, so even shots that aren't middled will still travel a long way. In testing I loved the look and feel of the driver because it really inspired confidence, whilst it was also incredibly easy to launch. Accuracy and distance were also right up there with some of the best golf drivers for women I have tested as well.
- Read our full Callaway Big Bertha Reva Women’s Driver Review
How we test drivers
The first thing we should mention is our overall testing ethos at Golf Monthly which is to put all products through a rigorous testing procedure to give you crucial insights into how they perform, how they compare to their predecessors and where they stack up in relation to the competition. As such we regularly attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology.
Then the first port of call to test golf clubs is usually the indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, where the team can test in a controlled environment using premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We then do outdoor testing mainly at West Hill Golf Club, a course in Surrey with excellent practice facilities. Getting more specific, our equipment specialists have hit most drivers out on the market, in testing, practice and competition play, and deduced the above models are the most forgiving models out right now.
How to choose
You've probably already asked yourself whether you need to buy a new driver or whether a new driver can help you improve as a player. And while there is plenty to think about when playing with a new big stick, there are a few key considerations to you'll want to think about before investing in a new club. To help you in your buying decision, we've set out a few key considerations below that'll help you
1. Size
The first thing to think about is how big your driver should be. In order to conquer this conundrum we recommend heading down to a club fitting session to get the right size and length of driver for you. You're also going to want to think about the size of the clubhead on your potential new driver. Do you want a larger head to help you feel more confident over the ball, akin to some of the models on our best drivers for high handicappers guide, or are you a more experienced player looking for something a little more compact?
Forgiving drivers tend to be slightly larger than other models for the basic reason of giving them a larger clubface and larger footprint. When hitting, try and take note of where you are striking the golf ball with the face of the club and see if there is any performance drops. Many forgiving drivers these days are designed to perform regardless of where you strike them off the face and you being able to see and understand that in person will help you be more confident with one model over another.
2. Forgiveness
On that note, it is vital to consider how much playability each driver offers. Some of the most forgiving drivers on the market help you consistently strike the ball right down the middle of the fairway no matter where you hit the ball on the clubface. That can also be helped by buying a driver that has a built-in draw bias, that'll help you eliminate a slice.
3. Style
Confidence can come from the equipment you're playing with, so, if you're using a driver that looks and feels the business then, more often than not, that can help put you in the right mindset to play better! There are plenty of drivers out there that offer bags of shelf appeal, with some of the best golf drivers offering glossy and matte finishes that look stunning behind the ball.
4. Weight
Weight has become a big factor when it comes to forgiving drivers, with most brands making models that have a weight towards the back of the head to aid forgiveness and launch. When it comes to whether you want a forgiving driver, it is worth acknowledging whether this is important to you because if not then manufacturers usually make a model without a weight there. If you're looking for better launch angles and longer carries, look for clubs that have the weight pushed towards their heel, a design feature that moves the center of gravity lower, helping you to hit upwards on the golf ball.
5. Adjustability
Often this weight is moveable too and adjustability has become a huge part of modern golf. Being able to tinker and change loft, lie, and many other factors, has become all the rage and if you like to try new things then plenty of the models above, like the Titleist TSi2, will cater to that. However if that doesn't interest you one bit, there are also models which keep things more simple, like the Ping G425 Max.
While there are plenty of fantastic options on this guide, we have been hard at work testing some of the top driver models in the game right now. We have come up with some definitive walkthroughs on the best golf drivers for distance, best budget golf drivers, and best golf drivers for beginners, which you should check out if you're in the market for a new club!
FAQs
What Callaway drivers do pros use?
Most professional golfers on Tour will use the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond. This is the driver of choice for Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele.
What is the difference in Callaway drivers?
In the Paradym range, the Paradym is the 'standard' head, while the Paradym X is the draw-bias model and the Triple Diamond is the low-spinning option.
What loft driver is best for me?
That depends on your swing speed and the type of ball flight you're looking to create. The lower the loft of a driver, the harder it is to hit. Faster swingers might want to opt for a lower lofted driver as the face is flatter and they can really rip through the ball to launch it into the air. Slower swing speeds may want something a little more lofted to help them project the ball into the air off the club face.
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