Best Golf Drivers For Beginners: Quick Menu
If you are new to the game of golf it can be a slightly daunting prospect picking out a new golf club, especially a driver. Firstly, you’ve got to work out what driver is right for you, with brands offering different versions of their standard models, and that’s even before you go through the various shafts and set ups.
Ideally, a beginner golfer needs as much help as possible when it comes to hitting the ball off the tee, with one of the most forgiving drivers a good starting point for when you need to make a selection. The golf driver is probably one of the most fun clubs in the bag to use, but it is also one of the most difficult to master consistently. If you’ve borrowed a friend’s or rented one at the driving range you’ll know how much fun they are to hit when it goes right, but how frustrating it can be to strike well.
This is just one of the many reasons that a beginner may need a driver that can be adapted, with adjustable hosels and strategized weighting providing all the help you need to get the ball flying straight and far.
Mastering the tee shot can be difficult but, with the drivers we have listed here, they will certainly help speed up the process. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best golf drivers for beginners. We also recommend taking a look at our guides on the best high handicap drivers and the best golf drivers for distance.
WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024
The Quick List
Top pick
Cobra Darkspeed Max Driver
The Cobra Darkspeed Max is one of the best draw-bias drivers we have ever tested. It does exactly what it says on the tin and we found it next to impossible to produce a fade or slice. Wrapped up in a very sophisticated aesthetic, if you struggle with a slice, the Darkspeed Max is a must try.
Most accurate
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver
The Max model really is the headline product of the new Qi10 range. With a vastly different head shape to the TaylorMade norm and exceptional levels of forgiveness, this driver could be a real market disruptor.
Best for launch
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Driver
An excellent driver for those seeking a draw bias flight and maximum launch. Seriously easy to get in the air and extremely forgiving on mishits. The new grey crown really hits the mark visually.
Best value
With its simple, refined aesthetics and impressive overall all-round performance, PXG’s new 0211 driver has to be one of the best value for money products on the market right now.
Most forgiving
There’s a lot to like about the Ping G430 SFT driver – it’s easy to launch, forgiving and surprisingly long. It’s a model that will have broad appeal, and is especially worth trying if you struggle with a slice.
Best for slicers
Wilson Launch Pad 2022 Driver
One of the easiest-to-launch drivers we’ve hit this year, this delivers impressively on its promise of making the game easier for people off the tee. The simple, sleek aesthetics make this a very desirable option.
Best looking
Cleveland Launcher XL Driver
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 simple model
An excellent driver at a superb price. The powerful ball flight and high levels forgiveness combine to make this a very playable driver that we see benefitting a range of different abilities.
Best for distance
From a performance standpoint, the Tour Edge C522 is long, forgiving, and consistent, and it’s one of the best values in golf in any category at its price point.
Best Golf Drivers For Beginners
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Top pick
When it comes to looks of the Darkspeed Max, just like the rest of the Darkspeed family, is excellent. The dark theme that Cobra has taken with these drivers is beautiful and they have removed almost all color. With only a little color on the sole the Max looks great behind the ball, the head is not quite as compact as the other models but the carbon effect top and minimal logos give this driver a very sophisticated look.
When it comes down to performance the Darkspeed Max has delivered strongly across all measurements. When we tested it the ball speeds were very strong with the carry distances being very pleasing. As expected in comparison to the other models the launch and spin with the Max was higher but not to excess. With this club, Cobra has really done wonders to make sure this club fit its intended market by adding in that launch and spin, but has struck a balance so they have not put off those with a higher swing speed. Another feature with this driver is that it has a draw bias setup so should you be someone fighting a slice then you can help to straighten it out with this driver.
Most accurate
Another addition for 2024 comes from TaylorMade with their Qi10 Max, which we were able to get a full briefing from TaylorMade themselves on. And it was made very apparent that the big product for them is the Max version of the Qi10. This build from TaylorMade was all about creating that 10K MOI to increase overall forgiveness.
This was done by stretching the head shape which created an 8mm longer profile from front to back. This allows the CG to be repositioned deeper into a more MOI-friendly position. When it came to testing we could clearly see this in full effect as the Qi10 Max was very forgiving, some poor strikes that we hit were made to look a lot better in the data thanks to that increased MOI.
We found the ball speed to remain very consistent whether we were striking it out the heel or the toe, we saw the dispersion on these shots also stay nice and tight. With this model, the spin was slightly on the higher side but this is expected with this higher launching driver. TaylorMade really delivered on what they were advertising here with a highly forgiving and stable driver for 2024.
Best for launch
Even though Callaway did well with the Paradym range they released last year they have now tried to better that with the new Ai Smoke family. The Max D is the high MOI and draw bias model which would be comparable with last year’s Paradym X, but with some new alterations made.
The first changes you will notice are the looks, they have now gone for a grey finish and smoke pattern. With the Max D, it has a great confidence-inspiring head with a larger footprint behind the ball. The head is a 460cc but with stretching, it really does look bigger than this and this has allowed the increase in MOI from Callaway.
As it says in the name this driver has had input from Ai and this is in the face of the driver. Callaway has inputted 1000s of regular golfers’ swing data into their Ai system to help develop the face on all their clubs for the Ai Smoke range. This, along with the higher MOI and draw bias weight setting, has made a high launching and very forgiving club for 2024. If you are someone who struggles with spin and launch then this highly user-friendly driver is worth a look.
Best value
PXG has mainly been linked with having very high price points but with the 0211 2022 driver, they seem to have moved away from that. This driver is one of the best budget drivers you can get, making it appeal to a lot of beginners thanks to its premium performance at an affordable price.
When we tested this driver we were impressed with the playability all around and that it performed so similarly to the more expensive models around it. It had plenty of distance, but also offered a great level of control, the ball flights were also strong and stable which should help the beginner in all weather conditions.
Most forgiving
Ping’s G430 SFT has to be one of the best drivers for slicers out there. The SFT is their draw bias offering with a moveable weight in the back offering a draw or draw+ setting. With a bias of seven yards when compared to the G430 Max in neutral, this driver can really help to straighten you out.
Even with this model, you get all the tech you see in the other G430 models and for a draw bias driver the head sits flush behind the ball. This is better we think as the toe in heads you see in other drivers can look a little weird at address.
Once we got this driver into testing that draw bias was really noticeable, as our dispersion was left of center by a few yards. We think for someone that is using this driver, thanks to the square face at address you can swing freely, like with the other models, straightening out your slice or creating a draw.
Best for slicers
The Wilson Launch Pad was released in 2022 and still sits as a great driver for someone who is a slicer of the ball. This driver has been designed to be a game improvement club mainly in part due to the face design. Wilson has researched the average golfer and found that 68% of shots are hit from the toe half of the face. So for the Launch Pad, they have created their PKR face geometry to make the striking area 5% bigger than the previous model.
If you are someone with a slower swing speed then this is the one for you, it has a lightweight head and shaft that helps you to swing a bit faster making it one of the best drivers for slow swing speeds. In testing, we found this driver very easy to hit and get a good launch without losing any shots out to the right.
This driver is full of little features that will benefit the beginner golfer, including the lie angle, which is two degrees upright which helps golfers to square the face at impact. The face itself is toed in at address which you notice as soon as you set up behind the ball, and the heel side weighting sets up that draw bias to help you straighten out your slice.
Best looking
This driver is aimed at the mid to high-handicapper meaning the Launch XL from Cleveland would be ideal for the beginner golfer. This driver has a larger head to inspire confidence at address.
The overall length of the head has been increased by 6%, combined with the different finish for the crown and face, you can really see the loft when you put the driver behind the ball, instilling more confidence. This driver performed well for us when we tested it, giving us solid carry distances even when swinging it easier. The spin rate has been increased for this driver to promote a longer ball flight and increase carry which is great for the golfer this is geared towards.
With the price of this driver undercutting the bigger brands on the market but offering great performance, this is a great value driver for the beginner golfer.
Best simple model
The 900 model from Inesis is the more expensive driver they have to offer, but is still great value compared to more premium brands.
So does the performance live up to the price point? Well, we think the 900 managed to keep up with the more premium models. Especially on ball flight, it was consistent across the face, on mis-strikes, and out the middle. Even if we did miss the middle of the face the ball span up out the heel and toe, making sure the carry distance was not affected too much.
The overall look of this driver is very clean, it has moveable weights in the sole as well to help with adjustability. The heavier and lighter weights can be interchanged to help change the spin profile of the driver to what suits your game better. The face itself is made from a different titanium alloy to the body of the driver and Inesis has given it a bee’s nest structural design which apparently gives an improved trampoline effect, which we did notice in testing.
Best for distance
When it came to driver testing we were pleasantly surprised by the Tour Edge C522. To begin with, it is set at a very reasonable price, while still delivering well on performance, which you would get from the more expensive premium drivers. In our testing, the most notable point was how forgiving this driver was for off-center strikes, but the ball flight also remained strong and the carry was good.
We also think this driver looks great address, the overall profile inspires the user with confidence while maintaining a traditional shape. The aesthetics give a premium look, which is unexpected with the cost of this driver. We found the noise off the face to be a bit loud, but more in an explosive way than an off-putting tinny sound.
One thing to be aware of with this driver is that there is no adjustability to this driver and you can only choose from one shaft option at purchase. But, for the retail cost of $200-$250 that is not something you would really expect anyway. Because of this, it may well put some people off, but the vast majority of beginners on a budget would suit this driver.
How we test for the best golf drivers
Our product testing for all our reviews and buying guides is carried out by a test team full of knowledge and experience. it is with this testing that we can build up this content and help you the consumer to make informed decisions when it comes top your next driver purchase. All our testers are passionate about the game of golf and have picked up great experience in the game over the years, some our ex-pros and others are amateurs with years of playing and testing out products. What this gives us is a wealth of knowledge across various levels of golf so we can cover more aspects of the game.
With our driver testing, we are lucky enough to get invited to product launches and discussions with the manufacturers. It is with this initial research we can start to build an understanding of the drivers we are testing. After this, we get hold of the gear and get to testing out, first indoors using premium balls and launch monitors to get valuable data. This allows us to compare data on the day to see where these clubs stack up against each other.
We then move on to the all-important outdoor testing, this could be on the range, or the course. Which ever it is, it is important to get these drivers out into the elements and get some real-world feedback on how they react on the course and when in real conditions.
How to choose a new driver
When it comes to investing in a driver there are a few things to take into consideration, especially at the beginner level, where you want something to help your game. With the questions answered below, we hope we can make sure you go into purchasing a new driver making an informed decision that will benefit you long term as well as short term.
You need to ask yourself why do you need to upgrade or get this driver specifically. Are you looking for more distance, something to correct a slice, or something that could find more fairways? One thing we would recommend is getting a fitting from a trained fitter, however, if you know what you need and you are informed enough then you should be fine.
As you are likely a beginner or shopping for a beginner, hence why you are reading this, then we would advise going for something forgiving. Some drivers that tend to be long-distance drivers can be unforgiving a detrimental on off-center strikes. We have a guide on the most forgiving drivers that will help you if you are stuck for ideas.
FAQs
How do I choose a golf driver?
There are a lot of factors that will influence your decision, such as looks, feel and your swing. If you swing it slow, then a more flexible shaft will work but, if you swing fast, then a stiffer shaft will suit. Also, you may need a driver with more loft or adjustability so, overall, it’s crucial that you get fitted for your driver.
What is the best driver for a beginner?
Obviously this will vary but, if you are starting out fresh with the game of golf, then we would say a driver that provides forgiveness in the face is needed. Ideally, the driver will have a large head and face which will also inspire confidence at address.