I Bought A Cheap Driver From Amazon... Here's What Happened!

The benefits of playing with a premium driver, one that’s been fitted for your own swing, are well documented: more distance, more control, and greater accuracy; it’s why we always recommend going for a custom fitting. It also explains why the many of more expensive models, with more varied fitting options available, tend to dominate our list of the best golf drivers.

But what if you were to buy a cheaper driver off the shelf? What performance benefits would you be giving up? We decided to do just that – and the results, which we discuss in the video below, are very interesting. 

I went online to buy a driver that cost a little over $100. What I settled on was from Mazel, a brand that has its own store on Amazon, and offers a few different models. There were a few options to choose from so I opted for a Mazel Z35 driver with a 10.5˚ head and a stiff shaft set up, which was as close as I could find to my fitted spec. 

I tested it against my fitted TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver (the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver has since been launched), one of my favourite clubs of 2022. 

For testing, I put both drivers through their paces indoors on a TrackMan launch monitor, using the Titleist Pro V1x golf balls, and I also took them out onto the course at the London Club. Below, you can see the data from my indoor testing, which makes for interesting reading. At a glance, the stats suggest that my Mazel Z35 driver performed well.

In terms of the profile down behind the ball, the Mazel Z35 driver has quite a deep face. I like the fact that the face is silver, as it highlights the loft on offer and it doesn’t look too hard to hit. The blue finish on the crown might not suit everyone, but I didn’t find it too offensive. I also like the simple alignment aid.

 
The TaylorMade Stealth Plus is a stunning driver with a beautiful compact shape at address. There's no doubt it was one of the most aspirational drivers of 2022. If I have one criticism, it’s that the dark red face and matte black crown could seem a little intimidating for some. Ultimately, these elements are down to personal preference.

The Mazel Z35 produced quite a high-pitched impact sound, which wasn’t unexpected. I swing the club at around 112mph, and the sound was a little too loud for me, but if you have a slower swing, this higher pitch might help you feel as though you can launch the ball without too much effort. The grip, meanwhile, felt a little thin, and the shaft was a bit too soft for my liking, which perhaps explains the relatively spin rates. 

Even so, I was encouraged by the numbers from the indoor testing. The cheap driver produced quite a strong ball flight, and I found that I was able to hit a nice draw. However, the flight was quite low for a 10.5° set up, and I did lose a couple of drives quite badly to the right, which was a concern. 

OUTDOOR TESTING   

For a fair comparison, and after I was nicely warmed up, I hit some drives with each driver on the golf course using the Garmin Approach R10 launch monitor. I got what I expected from the TaylorMade driver – good accuracy and distance, and a consistent ball flight. 

The cheaper driver stacked up well in terms of distance during my on course testing (the video with this review shows what happened). And whilst I did hit some good straight drives, I was also much less consistent with the big misses I saw on the launch monitor, reappearing on the course. I hit one 35 yards right. The club also felt lighter and to me, just not as solid. 

CHEAP VERSUS PREMIUM DRIVER: THE VERDICT

I appreciate this comparison isn’t one a lot of golfers will be making for themselves, but it is interesting to see what you get at both ends of the price spectrum if you’re looking for a new driver.

In terms of distance, the cheap driver performed really well. It wasn’t quite as long as my TaylorMade Stealth Plus, but the spec wasn’t 100% right for me. However, it consistently offered pretty good speed. I did struggle a bit more when it came to control, which is what really sets a fitted, premium driver apart. I know I can hit my fitted driver straight under pressure (most of the time!), and as an avid 3-handicap golfer that's important to me. 

For those people who are just starting out, there is something to be said for this Mazel driver. If you make a good swing and catch it well, then the Z35 will perform for you. It will get you up and away off the tee and provide a good platform to build on.

For me this was an interesting test, on that highlights just how good premium drivers are, while at the same time proving there’s a space in the market for cheaper models.