In this article we’ll cover the best drivers for beginners and high handicappers. We also explain the key benefits that will help you drive the ball straighter and further as a beginner golfer.
As a golf coach I’ve had many beginner golfers come to me for help with their driving. A sparkly new driver won’t solve all of your issues, but it sure makes it easier than using a driver not suited to your golf swing.
In this review I’ll cover the best drivers for beginners available to purchase online. Below is a quick summary, or scroll down for a full read of each driver and its benefits.
Golf drivers these days are all limited in terms of head size (460cc) and energy transfer to the golf ball (CoR), so choosing the best driver for you comes down to what suits your specific needs as a beginner golfer or high handicap player.
Some driver are best for forgiveness, others help with a slice, others provide great performance for a low price. At the end of the article we covered some frequently asked questions when buying a driver as a beginner golfer.
Enjoy.
The best drivers for beginners are:
- TaylorMade SIM Max 2 – All-round performance
- Ping G425 Max – Fairway finder
- Cobra F-max Driver – Best value
Beginner golf drivers still worth considering
- TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver – All-round performance
- Callaway Golf Mavrik Max Driver – All-round performance
- Cobra King F8 Driver – Forgiveness & adaptability
- Callaway Golf 2019 Epic Flash Driver – Performance & value
- Ping G410 Plus Driver – Forgiveness & adaptability
- Tour Edge Hot Launch 4 Driver – Great value
- TaylorMade M2 Men’s D-Type Driver – Great value
TaylorMade SIM Max 2 Driver
The TaylorMade SIM 2 range follows on from the incredible success of the original SIM range with three new models – the SIM 2, SIM 2 Max and SIM 2 Max D. Here we focus on the SIM 2 Max and SIM MAX 2 D drivers, aimed at beginner and high handicap golfers.
Forgiveness
The SIM 2 Max D driver delivers the highest launch and the most forgiveness out of the three SIM 2 models with the SIM 2 Max closely following. The faces of the SIM 2 Max and Max D are 5% larger than the original SIM Max drivers, which further increases the surface area available and makes this even more forgiving than the original.
Accuracy
TaylorMade indicate the SIM 2 Max drivers have a 15% increase in M.O.I. (resistance to twisting) compared to the original range. This is great news for off-centre hits and will ensure your drives stay straighter and lose less distance when you miss the sweet spot.
Here you also have the choice between the standard Max and the Max D options. The TaylorMade SIM Max D driver has additional heel weighting which helps close the club face and promote a draw. If you slice the golf ball or tend to strike shots out of the heel the SIM 2 Max D will be a great option for you.
Distance
TaylorMade have stripped back the driver design and rebuilt each part to optimise performance. The SIM 2 Max drivers feature a carbon crown and base, with a lightweight and high strength aluminium ring providing the stability. This has led to weight saving, better distribution of mass and less drag.
The result is higher ball speeds off the face and a high launch, low spin launch, which results in brilliant distance. In testing the Callaway Epic Speed Driver may pip it for length, but the SIM 2 drivers are up there as some of the longest on the market.
Value
All this fancy tech does come at a cost. As soon as you introduce carbon into the clubhead manufacturing costs jump and this is reflected in the price.
Summary
The TaylorMade SIM 2 Max and Max D drivers provide exceptional all-around performance. If money isn’t an issue and you want the best driver for beginners then the SIM 2 Max and Max D are well worth a look. If you’re shopping on a budget you can now pick up the original SIM drivers at some great prices.
Ping G425 Max
As with past Ping G series drivers, the G425 comes in several models – the Max, the LST (low spin technology) and the SFT (straight flight technology). The 460cc Ping G425 Max driver is the model that will best suit beginners and high handicap players, however for a detailed Ping G425 driver review comparing the different models check out this link.
Forgiveness
The Ping G425 Max driver offers the highest M.O.I. of any Ping driver ever created – 14% higher than the previous G410 Max. This is largely due to a 26-gram tungsten movable weight that shifts the CG lower and further back in the clubhead.
The results in far less twist and straighter, longer drives when you miss the sweet spot.
Accuracy
The Ping G425 Max version promotes slightly more backspin on launch compared to the LST model, and although this will cost you 2-3 yards in distance, the payout will be straighter flying golf shots with less slice or hook.
The Ping G425 driver also has an adjustable shaft sleeve that allows you to alter the driver loft ± 1.5º and make the lie up to 3º flatter. This will allow you to optimise the driver setup to create your preferred ball flight and launch.
Distance
The precision-forged face is strong, thin and designed to maximise ball speed across the clubface. As stated above, this driver will likely be 2-5 yards shorter than the Callaway Epic Speed or TaylorMade SIM 2 Max, due to the added backspin, but it will still outhit most drivers on the market.
Value
As with the TaylorMade SIM drivers, the carbon fibre design and the Ping’s fancy adjustable loft and lie to come with a sizeable price tag. Nonetheless, this driver has made progress in forgiveness from the Ping G410, which was already a great performing driver.
Summary
If you want a driver that offers exceptional forgiveness and will do everything possible to put you in the fairway then this is the driver for you.
Cobra F-Max Driver
Cobra have a long history of making great beginner golf clubs and the F-Max full set ranks highly in our best golf clubs for beginners guide. Here we focus on the F-Max Airspeed drivers – standard F-Max and F-Max Offset.
Forgiveness
The F-Max drivers feature a carbon fibre crown which has attributed to the weight-saving but has also allowed the designers to push the centre of mass even lower down and further back from the face. The result is high-launching, power drives and great forgiveness for off-centre hits.
Accuracy
The F-Max driver has a large, deep club head which pushes the centre of gravity further away from the face and low down. This further design further increases the club stability for off-centre hits and keeps the ball flying towards the fairway.
There is also an offset version that has additional heel weighting and promotes a powerful draw ball flight – an ideal choice if you tend to slice your drives.
Distance
The F-Max driver is 13 grams lighter than the previous model, which allows you to generate more clubhead speed and distance with no extra force. The standard shaft length is ~1.5 inches shorter than other drivers, meaning you will give up a little clubhead speed, but will likely find this driver easier to control.
Value
This driver leads the way when it comes to giving you bang for your buck. No, there aren’t any fancy adjustability settings, but you get a great deal of forgiveness and distance with a $200 saving on some of the other drivers featured in this review.
Summary
If you’re after a driver that is light-weight, easy to control and provides great forgiveness then the Cobra F-Max needs to be on your list. There are slightly newer and fancier drivers, but this wins outright for performance and value.
TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver
Still on our list we have TaylorMade’s SIM Max Driver. This driver builds on the success and tech TaylorMade have developed over the past decade. Love or loath the unique sole, this design has two benefits to your golfing performance.
Firstly, the elongated bar allows designers to push the mass further away from the clubface, meaning the club will twist less with off-centre strikes. The result is longer, straighter shots and fewer vibrations travelling up the club shaft.
Secondly, TaylorMade claims that this aerodynamic design reduces drag in your downswing. I personally can only see a minimal theoretical gain in this second point – but the TaylorMade driver sure is forgiving off the face, so who cares.
The speed injected twist face is another way for TaylorMade to jazz up the fact that the face has been optimised for ball speed across the hitting area, rather than just from the sweet spot. This face design, along with the forgiveness of the club described above make the TaylorMade SIM Max a great driver for beginners.
Where this driver really stands out is how a beginner can adjust and customise the setup to suit their game now and adjust this driver as they progress. TaylorMade’s Loft Sleeve tech allows you to tweak the loft by ± 2º and adjust how open or closed the clubface sits by ± 4º. Providing a beginner golfer with a serious amount of flexibility to tweak this driver to suit their game.
With this in mind, I would suggest most beginners opt for the 10.5º loft option when buying, which still allows you to add or reduce loft when you see fit. In summary, the TaylorMade SIM Max is a really forgiving, long driver with brilliant customisability.
Callaway Golf Mavrik Max Driver
In second place we have the Callaway Mavrik Max Driver. Callaway have three drivers in their Mavrik range, but their Mavrik Max Driver is the ideal choice for beginners looking for an easy driver to hit and one that provides great distance.
The Mavrik’s variable face thickness aims to maximise distance and accuracy where ever you strike the golf ball across the clubface. With added mass at the back of the clubhead to provide a high launch and maximum distance on your drives.
This driver is setup to promote a slight draw, which will be of great benefit to most beginners, but also comes with interchangeable tungsten weights. Meaning you can tweak the driver setup to promote straight shots, a slight draw, or set it to ‘max draw’ mode.
This driver is an ideal club for a beginner looking for long, straight drives and great forgiveness. If you’re unsure with which loft to pick, I would urge you to go for the 10.5º option or the 12º option if you hit your drives less than 200 yards off the tee.
Cobra King F8 Driver
If money isn’t an issue and you want a great driver to begin your golfing career with then you should consider the Cobra King F8 driver. This driver offers great forgiveness and adaptability. The blend of forgiveness and distance makes it a great driver for beginners, but also a great driver as you progress beyond beginner level.
The carbon fibre crown allows more mass to be placed lower down in the driver’s head. This creates a high launch angle and low spin that will maximise distance. Two additional weights are placed in the base and heel of the driver head, which keeps the clubface stable during off-centre hits.
All in all this driver offers a great option for beginners. Additionally, the Cobra F8 driver comes with adjustable settings that allow you to tweak the loft, and encourage a draw, or stick to a more neutral ball flight. This is the cherry on top that gives it the number two slot for best drivers for beginners. These options should be set to standard to begin with, but as you progress as a golfer, you will be able to find the settings that best suit your game.
Three shaft options are available in this driver. The Aldelia 60 and 65 grams and a light weight 50-gram Tensei option. If you consistently carry a 7-iron more than 165 yards, go for the Aldelia 60 or 65-gram shafts in stiff. If not, opt for a regular 60-gram shaft – too many beginners start with too stiff driver shafts. If you struggle to carry your 7-iron over 120-yards, go for the 50-gram shaft. The 50-gram shaft will make the driver lighter and will mean you can generate more club head speed with the same amount of force.
One little note – this driver does offer great forgiveness but generates a slightly higher ball flight than other drivers as a result. If you already hit your drives too high, check out the following drivers in this review.
Callaway Golf 2019 Epic Flash Driver
Next on our best drivers for beginners, we have the Callaway Epic Flash Driver. This driver offers new and high handicap golfers great forgiveness and a slightly lower and more penetrating ball flight than the Cobra F8.
The new head design in the Callaway Epic Flash Driver allows more weight to be placed further back in the clubhead to produce greater stability for off-centre hits and less backspin when hit out the centre.
The Callaway driver also comes with all of the adjustable fancy weights and loft alterations that have almost become standard in drivers today. The only downside…cost. I personally feel this is a great driver, but as a beginner golfer you could buy another driver on this list and save your cash for a few coaching sessions. Though as a PGA coach myself, I am of course biased.
If you are confused with all the buying options with the Callaway Epic driver, I would suggest you head for a 60-gram, regular shaft with a 10.5 degree loft. If you struggle for distance or have a slice, go for the 12 degree option with a 50-gram shaft. Check out this article for best drivers for slicers for more information on buying a driver to reduce a slice.
Buy this driver if you want great forgiveness and a lower ball flight. If money is tight, opt for the Cobra F8 or Tour Edge drivers instead.
Cobra F-Max Driver (offset)
Many beginner golfers struggle with a dreaded slice. If this sounds like you, then first read this article on how to fix a slice. If you’ve taken that advice on board you can now consider a driver to help you in your quest to find the fairway.
If you struggle with a slice as a beginner, then the Cobra F-Max Driver with an offset is the best driver for you. It’s offset, set with a closed clubface and has an additional mass in the heel of the driver head. All of these factors will help you square the club face as you approach impact.
The lighter shaft and slighter higher torque in the shaft will further reduce your slice, but also allow you to generate a slightly higher club head speed and longer drives off the tee.
The Cobra F-Max Driver comes in 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 degree options. If you are a beginner golfer who really struggles with a slice I would suggest you opt for the 11.5 degree set up. This will only launch the ball 1 degree higher than the 10.5 option, but the additional backspin will minimise the effect of any slice-spin during the golf ball’s flight.
If you’re a beginner who currently has a small slice and wants to invest time in coaching and practice, I would opt for the Cobra F8 or Callaway Epic driver instead of the Cobra F-Max. The Cobra F8 and Callaway Epic drivers will give you some tweaking ability to reduce a slice, but also the ability to make the driver more neutral as you progress as a golfer.
Ping G410 Plus Driver
If you’re looking for a high adjustable driver as a beginner then the Ping G410 Plus could be for you. The Ping G410 Plus comes in with a 455cc sized head, just under the legal limit. Which results in a large sweet spot and great forgiveness.
The forged face plate also allowed Ping to create a thinner face, which results in a higher ball speed and longer drives. However, what really sets this driver apart is its adjustability.
The Ping G410 Plus features an adjustable sliding weight at the back of the club head. This allows you to change the driver from neutral to a draw or fade bias – a useful feature if you struggle with a fade.
The driver loft can be further customised with the adjustable hosel. Allowing you to increase or decrease your driver loft by 1.5º each way. These customisations are great, but come at a cost, which is the main reason this driver doesn’t feature higher up in our review.
Overall, the Ping G410 Plus is a great option if you are a beginner looking for a forgiving driver that allows you to adjust the loft and shot shape. Yes, it is a little pricey, but these adjustments will probably mean you can keep tweaking your driver as you improve as a player.
Tour Edge Hot Launch 4 Driver
I’m a big fan of Tour Edge clubs, and their driver range is great for beginners and high handicappers. Their latest driver is the Tour Edge HL 4. The HL 4 features an entire new head design, the sloped crown and extended base gives this driver a large forgiving look.
The new shape has been combined with a rear sole weight which further pushes the centre of mass further back and increases the forgiveness of this driver where ever you strike the club face.
A new power channel has been added just behind the club face, this feature further helps move the weight back in the club head and allows the club face to flex more on impact. This increased flex on impact allows the designers to maximise the ball speed across the club face, leading to longer drives on off-centre hit.
The Tour Edge HL 4 comes in a range of shaft flexes, with all coming in a 45″ length as standard. Now, this is 1″ shorter than most manufacturers offer, but I love this move.
Yes, a longer shaft does lead to a small increase in swing speed, but it also causes most golfers to miss the sweet spot – resulting in shorter less accurate drives.
Tour Edge have deliberately gone against the larger manufacturers selling max distance. Instead, they’ve built a golf driver for real golfers, not a robot. I’ll let you in on a secret, I too play with a 1″ shorter driver, I have done since I turned pro and would never go back.
Finally, let’s get onto the cost. You may have not heard of Tour Edge, they’ve been making golf clubs for around 30 years, but refuse to pay players to use their gear. That means they can focus on building great clubs and pass the saving onto you.
Check the button before for the latest price, but this driver usually come in $150 – $300 cheaper than most other drivers in this review. As a result, they have earned a well-deserved place on this review.
TaylorMade M2 Men’s D-Type Driver
Last up in our review of best drivers for beginners we have the TaylorMade M2 Men’s D-Type Driver. This driver was released in 2017, but you can still get hold of them online. Don’t worry, despite millions spent on advertising, very little has actually changed in driver tech within this time frame. The TaylorMade M2 is now just cheaper to buy.
Its balance of value, power and forgiveness has pushed it into fifth place. This driver is aimed at a competent beginner, who is moving towards a low 20-handicap ability. It offers good forgiveness, a slightly lower and more powerful ball flight than others in our review. It also encourages a very slight draw. Also, if you want to use the same brand as Rory and DJ, then this driver is a good choice. Surely it’s the driver that makes them so phenomenal…right?
Joking aside, it is a great driver for beginners at a good price.
I suggest you go for 10.5 degrees loft and a regular graphite shaft as a beginner. If you struggle with distance, then consider the 12-degree loft and a seniors shaft (this is just a little lighter and has a bit more flex). Only opt for 9.5 degrees if you consistently hit it straight.
Having less loft reduces the backspin on your shots, meaning any slice or hook spin will have more effect.
Frequently asked questions when buying a beginner driver
The following section contains the most commonly asked questions when buying a new driver. I hope they are of use. If you have a question but can’t find the answer below just drop me a comment at the bottom of this article. I’ll get back to you and add in the question to this post.
As you’ll see when you ask what is the best driver for beginners…the response often comes down to it depends on… I’ve done my best to cover all bases with these answers.
What are the easiest drivers for beginners to hit?
All the drivers features in this review are designed with great forgiveness in mind. If you are looking for more forgiveness aim for a driver with 10.5º or 12º of loft, as the added backspin will keep your shots straighter.
Want even more forgiveness? For the past 10 years, I’ve always purchased drivers – 1″ shorter than standard. The shorter club may reduce your distance slightly, but you’ll more than makeup for it with the improved strike and consistency.
Design of beginner drivers
Beginner drivers are designed with a large head (460cc) a long face and a big surface area on the crown of the club. These features do increase the sweet spot size, but also help the driver look forgiving and easy to hit.
Beginners and high handicappers tend to struggle to launch the ball high, so most beginner drivers have a low centre of gravity to increase launch angle. This has the added benefit of keeping the club stable for off-centre hits – which is another useful benefit for beginners and high handicappers.
The feel of beginner drivers
Feel is a strange concept to explain in a golf club. Essentially the force and vibrations travelling up the club shaft can make a driver feel ‘powerful’, ‘soft’ or easy to hit.
Again, the larger the sweet spot the easier a driver will feel to hit. When you strike your shots directly out the centre of the club, with a square clubface your drives will feel powerful and effortless.
The further your ball hits away from the sweet spot the more vibrations you will feel and the drives will feel less powerful and effortless.
What loft driver should I buy as a beginner golfer?
If you’re unsure opt for 10.5º this suits most golfers very well. If you struggle to hit your driver over 210 yards and you don’t hit drives particularly high you’ll find a 12º driver easier to use and will offer you more distance.
If you have a very high swing speed (hit driver 260+ yards you may wish to consider a 9º or 9.5º driver. However, be aware that as the loft reduces, you create less backspin which can mean hook and slice spin has a great effect on your accuracy.
Is 9.5 or 10.5 driver better?
Most golf drivers for beginners come in 9.5º, 10.5º and 12º options. The ideal loft is dependent on your swing speed and shot shape. 10.5º and 12º golf drivers are usually best for beginner golfers as the added backspin only loses a small amount of distance, but keeps your drives much straighter.
Is a higher loft driver easier to hit?
Yes, the additional loft adds more backspin to your shots and will keep your shots straighter.
Golf drivers for beginners – Do I need a driver with adjustable loft?
No, you don’t need to buy a driver with an adjustable loft. As stated above 10.5º is normally ideal for most beginners, with more or less loft needed if you have a very high or low swing speed.
Drivers with adjustable loft do give you a little more flexibility to tweak your driver settings as you progress but won’t revolutionise your game. The worst mistake beginner golfers can make is buying a driver with too low a loft, which makes the club challenging to hit and keep straight.
Where in doubt opt for a 10.5º or 12º lofted driver.
Best driver for beginners – what golf shaft do I need in my golf driver?
The only way to find out which golf shaft is ideal for you is to get fitted in person. The best golf drivers will always be ones that have been fitted to match your swing speed and shot shape.
Generally speaking, regular shafts will suit 70-80% of beginner golfer and high handicappers. However, if you hit the ball 280 yards or more you are likely to need a stiff shaft in your driver.
How can I measure my swing speed?
The yardages you hit your drives are a good indicator of your swing speed. You can book a driver fitting at a testing centre to find out your exact swing speed.
If not, you can buy budget launch monitors that measure ball and clubhead speed.
What degree driver hits the farthest?
The degree driver that hits it farthest is one that will optimise your launch of the golf ball. For elite players the ball launches at around 11º and with ~2,500 rpm of spin, but as swing speed drops players will get more distance if they can launch the ball higher than this value.
The loft needed to achieve an optimal launch will vary from player to player. Most beginners should opt for golf drivers with 10.5º or 12º loft.
What is forgiveness?
Beginner golfers often search for forgiving clubs. A driver is considered forgiving when the ball still travels straight(ish) and a good distance despite missing the centre of the clubface (sweet spot).
What is the sweet spot on a golf driver?
In reality, a ‘sweet spot’ doesn’t vary in size between drivers. All golf drivers will have one singular percussion point where the mass is equally distributed. Striking this precise point with the golf ball on the clubface will send your drives off with maximum energy.
Club manufacturers have spent millions on developing clubs that twist as little as possible and maximise golf ball speed when you miss the exact centre of the face. This is what we refer to as a big sweet spot – golf drivers that have little loss in energy transfer away from their true sweet spot.
As we know, beginners and high handicappers often miss the middle of the clubface. Don’t worry, every driver in this review is geared up to launch your golf ball as straight and far as possible wherever you strike on the clubface.
What are the most forgiving drivers for beginners?
The most forgiving driver for beginners will depend on your golf swing. However, there are some simple concepts that will help you decide.
The larger the clubhead, the greater surface area you have to hit with. So buy a driver with a 460cc head size, most golf drivers these days are 460cc in size. As discussed above, greater loft leads to more backspin which can help keep your golf shots straight.
The best golf drivers for you will also consider your strike pattern on the clubface. Clubs like the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max D have more weight in the heel and are optimised for mis hits out of the heel. Other drivers, like the Ping G425 have more neutral forgiveness profiles.
Are the best drivers for beginners still suitable for high handicappers?
Yes, drivers designed for beginners are also suitable for high handicappers. High handicappers are often defined as players with a handicap of 36 – 24. Both beginners and high handicappers need a driver that is forgiving and keeps the ball as straight as possible.
Most drivers for high handicappers and beginners will be well suited to your golf game right until you become a mid-handicap player.
What is centre of gravity (CoG) in a driver?
Centre of Gravity (or Center of Gravity American English) is a position inside the driver head where mass is evenly distributed around this point – you could balance the driver head on a spike if you could locate this point.
The best beginner drivers push the centre of gravity low down in the club head and away from the face. This design minimises the driver twisting on off-centre hits and therefore increases the size of the sweet spot.
Beginner drivers with adjustable weights and lofts allow you to shift the centre of gravity inside your club. This affects how to club rotates as you move into impact at a high swing speed and affects your ball flight.
What is Moment of Inertia?
Moment of Inertia (MoI) relates to the ability of an object resistance to change when a force is applied to it. In driver design, the centre of gravity is shifted as far back away from the clubface to increase the driver’s MoI when the ball is struck off the toe or the heel of the golf club.
Divers with high MoI, like the TaylorMade’s SIM Max Driver will feel very solid when you hit the sweet spot or near to it. You’ll also find the club twists less when you hit towards the heel or the toe, leading to longer drives.
Drivers will lower MoI will twist more the further you strike away from the sweet spot. This leads to less accurate drives and less distance for off-centre hits. The best drivers will have high levels of MoI.
What do the different driver shafts stand for?
Driver shafts are categorised into the following:
- XS – Extra stiff for high swing speeds (110mph+)
- S – Stiff for high swing speeds (100 – 110mph)
- R – Regular (85 – 100 mph)
- Senior/Lite (70 – 85 mph)
- L – Ladies (60 – 80mph)
The top of the list are the stiffer shafts that require more club head speed to cause the shaft to bend. The categories towards the bottom bend under less swing speed.
The categories above are round guides, each manufacturer have their own boundaries. Along with flex you’ll also find stiffer shafts are often heavier (70 – 80 grams). Whereas senior and ladies shafts are lighter (45 – 65 grams).
The lighter shafts make the entire golf club lighter and allow you to swing the driver quicker with the same amount of force, resulting in longer drives.
What driver shaft should I look for?
Diver shafts come in women, senior, regular, stiff and extra-stiff flex. Choosing the ideal shaft depends mostly on your swing speed, but also on your shot shape. If you hit your drives less than 265 yards you should be fine with a regular shaft. Over this distance and you may wish to consider a stiff or extra-stiff shaft.
If your drives travel less than 210 yards you may wish to consider a seniors or women’s shaft. These shafts are lighter and have extra flex, which can lead to increased clubhead speed and driving distance.
Should I buy an adjustable driver?
This best golf drivers for beginners review is topped by the TaylorMade’s SIM Max Driver – this driver has great forgiveness and allows you to adjust the face angle and loft.
Do you need to buy an adjustable driver as a beginner golfer – no. A fixed driver will do you just fine. However, beginner players often make rapid progress in their ability and how they swing a golf club.
By purchasing an adjustable driver you do have the option of tweaking the setup of your driver as your swing grows and develop. The downside is that these adjustable drivers normally come at an additional cost.
How long will a driver last me?
The technology used in drivers today are close to the legal limits allowed by the rules of golf. For example max head size (460cc) and max transfer of energy to the golf ball (CoR 0.83).
The good news is that for this reason drivers are developing slower and slower every year – until the next tech breakthrough. Your driver should last you many years, mine is 8 years old (although I am ready for an update).
The main reason to replace your beginner driver is when it no longer suits your game. As you develop as a player you’ll likely increase your swing speed. As your swing speed increases you may benefit from a different shaft and possibly less loft. However, the swing speed boundaries for each shaft are quite broad meaning this won’t be something that occurs in a matter of months.
Try to buy the best driver to suit you now, allowing for a little bit of development. Some beginner golfers try to buy advanced equipment thinking they’ll grow into it. This is a bad plan and often slows their progress and makes the game less fun.
Best driver for high handicappers and beginners by manufacturer
Below is a quick table of the best driver for beginners by manufacturer.
| Best Callaway driver for beginners | Callaway Mavrik Max Driver 10.5º | Check Price |
| Best TaylorMade driver for beginners | TaylorMade Sim 2 Max Driver 10.5º | Check Price |
| Best Cobra driver for beginners | Cobra King F8 Driver | Check Price |
| Best Ping driver for beginners | Ping G425 Max | Check Price |
Best drivers for beginners – Summary
I hope you’ve found this review of the best drivers for beginners useful. In summary, the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max and Ping G425 drivers are great options for beginner golfers and high handicappers. If you are shopping on a budget then check out the Cobra F-Max driver.
If you do have any other questions just leave a comment below and I shall update this article and get back with an answer. For more guides and tips to help improve your golf game feel free to check out this guide on the best irons for beginners and this article for the best golf balls for beginners.
Also, come join the Golf Insider weekly post if you would like a free weekly article to help improve your golf game.
Happy golfing – Will @ Golf Insider
