Best Golf Drivers For Mid Handicappers: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Faster swingers
3. Average swingers
4. Slower swingers
5. How we test
6. How to choose
7. FAQs
Golf is a game played by millions and millions of people worldwide, with players of all abilities walking the fairways every single day. It's no secret that it's a tough sport to master, with only a small percentage of individuals holding a single-figure handicap. In fact, according to a number of statistics, the average golfer holds a handicap of between 15-18, putting them into the mid handicapper category.
Currently, companies are releasing multiple models of drivers to help those on the golf course and, in this piece, we have taken a look at the best ones for an array of different mid handicappers. Whether you are a fast swinger of the golf club and after one of the most forgiving drivers, or perhaps a slow swinger of the club and looking for the best drivers for distance, this handy guide will help point you in the right direction to pick your next big stick.
In the video below, we run through our favorite drivers of 2023. Whilst this might not feature all the models in this article, it provides a good overview of what to expect from the market this year.
The Quick List
An excellent all round driver that is ideal for anyone who wants a compact, but not intimidating, look at address and the ability to move weights to dial in a specific shot shape.
The TSR3 is a premium looking and performing driver that provides a powerful feel, as well striking the ideal balance of control with competitive ball speed and distance.
A hugely impressive driver that does a great job of balancing distance with consistency. This is a low spin driver but, like most Ping's, it still has a lot of forgiveness.
By neatly balancing power with forgiveness, Callaway’s Paradym driver has a truly broad appeal. Throw in some new, aspirational aesthetics and a lively feel and you have a serious contender at the premium end of the market.
With the Aerojet, Cobra has built on its reputation for producing top performing drivers at a more affordable price. We were particularly impressed by the increase in speed and distance on offer from a head that still has a classic profile at address.
The Ping G430 Max looks, feels and plays like a premium driver. We noticed a modest bump in distance without any loss of control. With its’ high tech aesthetic and improved feel, the Ping G430 Max driver is a superb all rounder.
The Dynapower Carbon is a tech-advanced, visually appealing driver that, well fitted, should perform admirably against what’s in your bag. A little lacking in ball speed but we certainly enjoyed the dull, dense sound and feel at impact.
In the ST-X 230 you have a draw-biased driver that sits beautifully square behind the ball. A solid, consistent flight and powerful feel through the ball combine to make this a worthy contender for many golfers.
The TSR1 is visually appealing, super lightweight and effortless to swing. It certainly helps players with a moderate swing speed to generate power for high-launching drives.
The Srixon ZX5 Mk II driver combines a lot of forgiveness in a no-nonsense design that offers very good performance in a good looking head. Ideal for mid to slower swing speed players, the ZX5 Mk II also sounds better with the all titanium head.
A driver that stands out for its feel, the Launcher XL will suit a wide range of golfers looking for a combination of forgiveness and carry distance off the tee.
Best Golf Drivers for Mid Handicappers
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Fast Swing Speeds
We begin with the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus which, for 2023, has seen a slight makeover in that the technology has been refined from the groundbreaking Stealth. How you may ask? Well, to help aid forgiveness, it has been given a carbon composite ring at the back of the head which has allowed weight to be saved and used to aid performance.
It is worth noting that, of the three new models, the Stealth 2 Plus driver has the most compact footprint at address (the Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD are slightly bigger to look down on), although the Plus does offer a 460cc head and a 15g sliding weight to help golfers dial in their ball flights, as well as their spin numbers.
Compared to the original Stealth Plus, the Stealth 2 Plus is slightly longer than its predecessor, but the main takeaway is that TaylorMade have focused on forgiveness with this new model, something which will benefit the mid handicapper who is unlikely to find the centre of the face every time.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Driver Review
Titleist TSR3 Driver
Like all models in the TSR range, the TSR3 features the classic-shaped head at address, with the main aim of the driver being to make it faster through the air. Titleist have done this by installing a smoother sole, smaller hosel opening and a taller back section.
However, looks wise, it is certainly slick and almost Tesla-inspired with how the weight track and silver strip form a T-shape on the sole. What's more, the five-position SureFit CG track has been neatened up so the weight sits more flush in the extreme positions and a new Variable Thickness Face (VFT) pattern, which Titleist is calling Speed Ring, is tailored towards mid handicap players that strike the ball within a more centred area on the face.
In testing, the numbers were extremely consistent, with the TSR3 minimising drop offs in speed even from off-centre strikes. However, it's the playability that is the most impressive aspect, as it is the easiest driver to manipulate the flight of. Arguably, it's also one of the best drivers for slicers.
- Read our full Titleist TSR3 Driver Review
Ping G430 LST Driver
Ping returns in 2023 with its brand new range, the G430. Available in three models (G430 Max, G430 SFT & G430 LST), it's the latter we are focusing on here, as we believe it will suit the fast-swinging mid handicapper.
Firstly, there are significant differences between the LST and the other two models, with the low spin version of the new driver the o