Best Golf Drivers 2024 - I pick out the best on the market

To achieve maximum efficiency and length off the tee you will need a good driver that is suited to your game. The driver is designed to hit the ball further than any other club in the bag. It has the longest shaft and the biggest head, and while it can be intimidating for high handicap players or new golfers, it's worth sticking with it because it's the most forgiving club in your bag.

Because of its importance, the golf driver is the club which has seen the most technological innovations over the years. Companies are coming up with new ideas every year to maximize every aspect of driver performance. For many years it was all about achieving extra distance, but recently forgiveness has become the primary focus.

WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024

Along with the expertise and help of Golf Monthly's expert review team, I've put together this guide to show you what is out there. Have a read and a think about what you want from your driver and which one of the following options could suit you best. As always, the full reviews of each club are linked under each item if you want a more in-depth read on a potential addition to your setup.

My video above also offers valuable insight into what you can expect across the board, including our launch monitor data comparing the performance on offer. In my experience I have found that each of the main brands has a model that will work well for pretty much every golfer but, if you are looking for a specific type of performance, you can take a deeper dive into some of our other guides on the most forgiving drivers, best golf drivers for distance, or even the best high handicap drivers.

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The Quick List

Best Golf Drivers

Best for forgiveness

If you struggle to find the middle of the face regularly and you need that extra help, Ping has been the go to brand for forgiveness in recent years and the Max 10K is their most forgiving driver yet.

According to Ping, the Max 10K is the straightest and highest MOI driver it has made to date, eclipsing the 10,000g-cm2 combined moment of inertia threshold first surpassed by the G400 Max five years ago. Subsequent models such as the G410 Plus and G425 Max have built on that forgiveness, making Ping the clear number one in this category.

The G430 Max 10K has a bigger footprint than its predecessor with a fixed weight added to the back of the head and a slick Carbonfly wrap on the crown adding to the visual appeal. The weight optimizes the center of gravity position at impacts which should allow for lower speed and more ball speed preservation for increased distance.

I was stunned by the performance in testing - we don't give five star reviews out very often! The forgiveness and stability levels were terrific and when you couple this with how low the spin levels were it's genuinely remarkable. My testing showed that the ball speed numbers were comparable to anything on the market, yet the spin output stands up against any of the best low-spin drivers.

Another big plus with this driver is that it suits a wide variety of skill levels. Cameron Champ and Tony Finau have both already used it on the PGA Tour, but the playability makes it a viable option for much less proficient ball strikers too, which is quite rare as usually you will find that equipment used by tour pros is not suitable for the average club golfer. Some adjustment might be needed over time by players with slower swing speeds, but the patience would be worth it to get the best out of this great driver.

• Read our full Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Review

Best wide appeal

The Qi10 comes with three head options to suit golfers of all abilities. The Max helps deliver maximum forgiveness, the LS suits those with lower handicaps who want distance off the tee whilst the standard head sits between the two, appealing to the widest range of player.

The aim of the Qi10 is to maximize the MOI (moment of inertia) without compromising ball speed. To achieve this, TaylorMade re-engineered their 60X Carbon Twist Face by providing a new supporting structure which promotes faster ball speeds while also improving the durability of the face. Combine this with a new, larger address footprint and a lower CG projection, and I have to say that the Qi10 hits the mark in all the important aspects. My testing certainly showed an improvement over its predecessor the Stealth 2.

It feels like TaylorMade have taken a step forward in terms of looks in 2024 as well. The red face on the Stealth driver has been discarded, replaced by a more subtle navy color. The rounded head shape of the Qi10 looks fabulous and should inspire confidence as the player addresses the ball. This is a really impressive driver from a brand that typically smash it out of the park when it comes to golf clubs off the tee.

• Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Review

Best adjustable

The original Paradym family of drivers from Callaway was a resounding success, so the 2024 Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke had a lot to live up to. While there hasn't been huge improvements, I feel that the Ai Smoke has retained everything that was great about its predecessor and added a livelier feel and a little more forgiveness.

There are three heads in the Ai Smoke range but we are focusing on the Ai Smoke Max, which is the standard head of the three and suitable for the widest range of players. I think the new grey colorway is an awesome look. Ultimately, it's important to get yourself a driver that looks good so you can feel confident over the ball before you swing.

Callaway are the market leaders in the use of Artificial Intelligence for making their clubs and that method has been used with this offering. Their tag line 'Sweeter From Every Spot' has been achieved through their Ai Smart Face technology. The brand collect data from thousands of golf shots hit by golfers of a range of skill levels. That data is then used by their Ai system to help design a club face that creates micro deflections across various parts of the face - a.k.a, multiple sweet spots.

My testing confirmed this as we found the forgiveness on offer to be very impressive. I hit a LOT of balls with this driver so inevitably not everything came out of the center, but when I did miss the sweet spot slightly there was no huge drop off in results and I found that the dispersion was reassuringly tight, even from poor strikes.

Overall this is a really good option for those looking for great adjustability of flight and genuine playability, combined with a good level of forgiveness if you struggle to consistently find the middle of the face.

• Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver Review

Best sound

Sound may not feel like an important part of golf, but I swear it's a very under-rated aspect of the game. Other than the feeling of the club in your hand, it's the main way we judge feedback after the strike. If you hit one out of the middle of the face with a driver, it should sound good!

For most players there's a specific type of sound they like to hear when they smack one with the big dog. If you are one of those golfers then you will love the Cobra Darkspeed X driver.

Cobra drivers are known for the pleasing sound they produce and the sound and feel of the Darkspeed is very similar to its predecessor the Aerojet. This is no bad thing given the popularity and success of that range and indeed the Cobra drivers that went before it. Cobra have been making some brilliant drivers in recent years and they are usually considerably cheaper than some of the other main brands too.

This is a great looking driver too - I fell in love with it the moment I took it out of the box. The matte black finish is classy and gives off a powerful but sophisticated look, whilst the headcover is neat as well!

It's a lot less colorful a head compared to other options, but I think that is what makes it look so good. It terms of performance, there isn't a massive jump between the Darkspeed X and the Aerojet driver. The main improvements have been in looks, but nevertheless when in came to performance in testing, the Darkspeed X ticked a lot of my boxes.

• Read our full Cobra Darkspeed X Review

Best traditional style

Since being released, I've been a huge fan of the Titleist GT range, with their star model being the GT4, a driver that has been designed for players looking to eliminate excessive spin rates. Obviously, with a 430cc head, it isn't suited to the higher handicapper, but thanks to a new Seamless Thermoform Crown and Split Mass Construction, there is a lot of performance to be had in the GT4.

The GT4 is a very round head but gives off a clean and premium aesthetic, a look I am used to when it comes to Titleist equipment. The smaller head may not be the best fit for higher handicap players but the slight color contrast of the face of the club to the rest of the head will help with both lining up at address and the ability to see the loft as the head sits behind the ball.

Performance wise, low spin levels and high ball speeds led to incredible results during testing. The feel was sensational and the adjustability options, two adjustable weights on the sole and an adjustable hosel, mean you can really fine tune the GT4 to suit your game.

• Read our full Titleist GT4 Driver Review

Best for looks

For 2023, Srixon released the ZX5 MK II, ZX5 MK II LS and the ZX7 MK II, and I could have chosen any of them for this as this range offers some of the nicest looking drivers around. I went with ZX5 MK II which has a more stripped-back look, with a dark grey color being used on the crown, something which is far more restrained than some other drivers on this list.

It looks fantastic, but there is more to this driver than just looks. In our testing I found it to be one of the best high handicap drivers because of how easy it was to launch in the air.

Many higher handicap players struggle to get the ball airborne, resulting in a loss of distance and confidence from the tee. This is the exact type of driver that can be used to battle against such issues. The weight saved in the crown has been redistributed around the face, particularly to the rear of the head, to help improve launch and get that ball flying higher from impact.

The slight draw bias will also help higher handicaps, with a slice or right miss a common miss from players of this ability. I certainly picked up on this draw bias in testing and I feel this can help those less skilled golfers who are often plagued with a right miss off the tee.

• Read our full Srixon ZX5 Mk II Driver Review

Most underrated

Mizuno are better known for making some of the best golf irons and lesser known for their fairway woods and drivers, but the Japanese brand have worked hard to improve the quality of their longer clubs and have succeeded in doing so.

The Mizuno ST-Max 230 driver is said to be the brand's most stable driver ever. This has been achieved by lowering the profile of the ST-Max head to accommodate spreading. This has also increased the overall footprint of the driver head whilst staying within the maximum permitted 460cc head size. This beauty of this is that it allows the designers to relocate weight to more extreme locations which increases the MOI number and boosts performance.

This driver delivers a premium look, benefitting from the blue and black color scheme. It's sits pretty behind the ball at address, with the big head hopefully inspiring confidence and a bit of reassurance before you swing.

In terms of the sound and feel, I really enjoyed what this driver had to offer. The feel at impact is more subtle than some of the other most forgiving drivers on the market and the acoustics follow the same pattern.

• Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 230 Driver Review

Best alignment

A relative newcomer to the equipment industry in comparison with other brands on this list, PXG have begun making waves when it comes to the longer clubs in particular.

In terms of the tech, as you would expect the two areas of most focus are distance and forgiveness. To achieve greater distance PXG introduced a titanium alloy face that it refers to as AMF Technology. The thinking behind it is that higher strength and added flexibility increases face deflection to produce a higher launch and lower spin. The forgiveness comes from a composite construction which has been specifically designed to push mass to the perimeter to get the combined MOI reading to near 10,000 gcm2.

The look of the typical PXG club is quite a brash one and this offering is no different - there feels like there's a lot going on behind the ball at address which might not be to everyones taste but does help align the ball up correctly before you begin your swing. The look is clean but powerful, with the glossy finish, carbon crown and light grey accent graphics giving this club an angry look and suggesting it is piled with tech to make the ball fly far. The head shape is nicely rounded and it sits nice and square on the ground at address which helps promote confidence over the ball.

Impact and feedback is great also, with PXG doing a great job of catering for the different requirements of players. The adjustability available is a real strength with three adjustable weights on the sole on the head to help you fine tune the performance to your liking. Fiddle about with in and if possible, hop on a Trackman to find what suits your playing characteristics the best.

• Read our full PXG Black Ops Driver Review

Best for low spin players

Another brand not known for the quality of its drivers is Wilson, but that may be changing as the Dynapower driver is the best Wilson has produced in many a year and in my view it can hold its own against anything else out there in a similar price point. While the brand have made some excellent drivers for senior players and golfers on lower budgets, at the top end of the market it's been a while since Wilson had a seat at the table. Dynapower changed all that.

The Dynapower comes with the options of two different heads: one titanium and one carbon. The carbon is suited to more skilled players whilst the titanium is targeted more for the mid to high handicapper player. Sound and feel are the biggest differences between the two rather than out-and-out performance, albeit the carbon option does spin less and thus suited to the better players out there.

There is load of adjustability available, more than I've ever seen on a Wilson driver before. During testing I fiddled about with this to find the right results and was impressed with what I saw in the numbers. I also loved the traditional, no-nonsense looks. Launch and ball flight numbers were impressive and I noticed a tiny baby fade shot shape bias which should help players who tend to miss left with driver in hand.

In short, there is a lot to like about the driver and it's comfortably among the best Wilson golf clubs you can buy. One thing I would recommend though is to get fitted for the Dynapower so that you will be able to get the maximum amount of potential from it and it will also help you to decide between the carbon or the titanium head.

• Read our full Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review

Joe Ferguson

Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and TaylorMade. With Golf Monthly he oversees driver, iron and golf ball testing.

How we test for the best golf drivers

When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Our driver testing is headed up by Staff Writer Joe Ferguson, a PGA Professional who has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years. Joe is ably assisted by other members of the review team, including Deputy Editor Joel Tadman, and Staff Writer Sam De'Ath, a professional who has competed on the EuroPro and Clutch Pro Tours.

Getting into specifics for drivers, we first attend product launches and speak to the manufacturers to get a full understanding of the technology. The next stage is test the golf clubs indoors, usually at Foresight Sports where we test the products with premium golf balls on a launch monitor.

Then it's on to outdoor testing which often takes place at Saunton Golf Club in Devon which has top-notch practice facilities and is one of Golf Monthly's Top 100 golf courses as well.

Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. Our team tells it how it is as our aim is to try and find the best golf clubs on the market and to give you some valuable insight on them, which requires us being thorough and transparent.

How to choose a new golf driver

Many of us swap and change our driver often in the quest for the perfect fit. Players are always chasing extra yards off the tee and it often feels like the next driver to come out will scratch that itch.

Even if you aren't easily influenced by the hype and marketing and may have only purchased a driver in the last few years, the chances are you will still have asked yourself whether you need to buy a new one. Maybe you do, maybe you don't, but if you do decide to splash out then there are a few key things you should consider before you do.

We've listed a few things to keep in mind as you begin the hunt for the perfect big stick off the tee.

What head type do I need?

As you will have noted above, generally when a brand releases a new driver there will be a choice of three or four different heads to choose from. Each are aimed at a specific type of golfer, so it's vital that you know what bracket you fall into. Do you need the most forgiving head, the lowest spinning or one that combines the two? You might want to look at a draw biased option if you are a slicer. Deciding on this will then help you choose which brand or model you want.

What about shaft Flex?

Getting the right flex shaft is very important if you want your driver to perform to the best of its' ability. The faster your swing speed, the stiffer the flex needed. We'd recommend getting a custom fitting to find out which is the best shaft to suit your game. Most casual players will be a regular or a stiff, but very slow swingers (less than 75mph) may be better served by a senior flex shaft. Alternatively, those who swing out of their shoes (105mph+) might need a extra stiff shaft.

Where do you need the most help?

Self diagnose your driver swing - is it too spinny? Do you tend to miss right often? Do you struggle to get the ball airborne off the tee? Once you know what you need from a driver, it's easier to find which one will and wont suit your game.

Distance

If your focus is purely on adding more yards to your drive, then there are driver heads designed specifically for that (usually the low spinning ones), but not all brands will produce the same distance and it might be different for each golfer as we all have different swings. Based on our testing this year we found the Cobra Darkspeed Max to be the best driver for distance but it might be different for you so it's worth trying out a few to help narrow down your choice.

Forgiveness

Golf is hard. It's impossible to hit the ball out of the center of the face every time, so we might need a driver that can give us a helping hand when it comes to those strikes that don't land in the sweet spot of the face. The most forgiving driver on the market right now is the Ping G430 Max 10K and it is also one of the most versatile, being suited to a wide range of skill levels from Tour Pro to Sunday hacker.

Launch

Another factor to consider is do you have trouble getting the ball to go as high as you'd like from the tee? Some golfers, particularly those with slower swing speeds, need help with their launch. Increasing the loft on your driver will help with this, but there are drivers out there that have been specifically designed to help golfers get the ball into the air. If you come into that category then check out our guide to the best drivers for slow swing speeds.

What is your budget?

Golf clubs are becoming more and more expensive, particularly the premium offerings from the likes of Taylormade and Titleist. The Srixon ZX5 MkII and Wilson Dynapower drivers come in at a lower price point, while there are some fantastic deals to be had in second hand market. If you are on a budget or you're a new golfer who doesn't want to spend too much at this stage of your golfing journey, check out our guide to the best used golf drivers to see if you can pick up a bargain.

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