Updated September 4, 2021. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
The Rundown:
Best Overall: Callaway Mavrik Driver
“From the innovative and aerodynamic clubhead to the Jailbreak bars, the Mavrik is perfect for golfers who want to increase their ball speed and distance.”
Best Premium Option: TaylorMade M6 Driver
“Excellent speed, distance combo with Speed Injection, increased club head speed, and outstanding forgiveness are just some of the best things the M6 driver offers.”
Best On a Budget: Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver
“The F9 Speedback features unreal swing speed coupled with a lower center of gravity and reduced spin – all at an affordable price.“
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More distance from the tee box means shorter second shots, where golfers are typically more accurate.
If increasing swing speed with forgiveness is vital to improving your game, a new driver built for adding distance can certainly increase your skill level.
Our top picks for the best driver for distance all share the ability to increase ball flight with lower spin for maximum distance – find out below which one is best for you.
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Last updated on 2021-09-17. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
6 Best Drivers For Distance in 2021
Here are our top picks for the best golf driver for distance:
- Callaway Mavrik Driver
- TaylorMade M6 Driver
- Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver
- Callaway Epic Flash Driver
- Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver
- TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver
Callaway Mavrik Driver
Best Golf Driver for Distance
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KEY FEATURES
- Aerodynamic Cyclone Aero head shape reduces drag for more swing speed that increases distance
- Internal Jailbreak Technology stiffens and strengthens the center of the face for additional power
- A.I. fueled design produces better feel with enhanced response after impact
The Callaway Mavrik is our choice for the best driver for distance. From the innovative and aerodynamic clubhead to the Jailbreak bars that stiffen the crown, the Mavrik is here to produce more yardage for your tee box game. The driver offers improvements in ball speed and distance with its design and aerodynamic head.
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The driver might bring back memories of the Callaway XR 16, but unlike that popular club, the Mavrik offers more adjustability. A loft sleeve reduces or raises the loft angle for more or less launch, great for customizing the ideal shot shape for your swing. The Mavrik is a wonderful option that meets the needs of mid and low handicappers.
When you think of a golf driver for distance, you want features that increase swing and ball speed while offering high levels of forgiveness. We’re happy to report that package is available with the innovative and special CallawayMavrik driver.
TaylorMade M6 Driver
Best Premium Option: Great for Low Handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- Excellent speed, distance combo with Speed Injection along the hitting area for hotter surface that produces staggering length
- Aerodynamic carbon sole increases club head speed to improve yardage off the tee box
- Flexible Hammerhead slot with the Twist Face feature that offers outstanding forgiveness
One of the best driver for distance is the stable, powerful club from TaylorMade, the M6 Driver. The best golf drivers for distance are lightweight, yet pack a punch, behind their carbon steel frame, something the M6 provides with value.
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The M6 is highlighted by Twist Face, a feature that curves the hitting area for more forgiveness and flexibility at impact. If you are hoping to increase swing speeds from a driver with a lower center of gravity, the M6 will increase carry for longer length.
A Hammerhead slot, behind the hitting surface, provides flexibility for more accuracy for the M6 as well, boosting distance.
A wonderful driver, worth its reputation, the M6 from TaylorMade is an impressive golf club sure to boost swing speeds for golfers of all skill levels.
Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver
Best On a Budget: Great High Launch Option for Low Handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- Dual stationary weight lifts the golf ball for additional carry and increased length
- Adjustable loft sleeve adds or subtracts loft from the hitting area for customized shot height
- Extra distance with additional clubhead speed via the Speedback Aero ead
From the good people at Cobra, the King F9 Speedback Driver earns its spot on the best driver for distance list with an aerodynamic clubhead that generates unreal swing speed coupled with a lower center of gravity. Powered by the Speedback weighting, the King F9 is a driver that pros use on tour to increase their distance while generating accuracy and precision with each swing.
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Another fun feature on the Speedback is the CNC milled hitting area. The face is incredibly fast for improved ball flight that adds yards of carry to your drives. The club also features reduced spin, great for struggling golfers who want to get rid of their slice. Adjustable dual weighting at front and back of the sole allows for direct customization of your ball flight.
For mid and high handicappers, a golf driver for distance, like the Cobra King F9 Speedback, gives players more launch, carry, and distance.
Callaway Epic Flash Driver
Best Adjustable Weight Option
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KEY FEATURES
- Rear sliding weight produces exceptional customization for improved shotmaking ability off the tee
- Powerful crown with Jailbreak bars behind the center that works with Flash Face feature behind hitting area for more power
- Triaxial crown is lighter for less drag on the downswing for better swing speed
A great driver for distance, and a real blast to play with on the course, is the Callaway Epic Flash Driver. Featuring total customization with adjustable rear weighting and loft sleeve, the Epic Flash delivers outstanding performance at an affordable price.
The Callaway Epic Flash is a true winner and worthy of a place in your golf bag.
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Regardless of your handicap, a golf driver for distance, like this one, offers accessibility that translates to premium shotmaking. This clubs delivers the ability to shape shots while increasing distance with power and low spin. It also features one of the largest hitting surfaces on our driver for distance list.
All the familiar Callaway innovations are here including the Flash Face architecture that produces a hotter, faster hitting area. Also a Triaxial Carbon Crown balances the weight distribution going into the golf ball for straighter and more accurate drives with incredibly long distance.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver
Best Distance Option for High Handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- Turbocharged cup face with variability offers larger sweet spot area for additional forgiveness and accuracy
- Fixed hosel for consistent contact with lower CG and higher launch, great for beginners
- Deeper weighting in head produces more speed over previous HB models
Some golfers like to mix adjustability with their best golf drivers, while others like the feel and launch of a fixed hosel. The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver offers a fixed hosel that doesn’t affect the quality of your shotmaking and dramatically increases distance.
Simply put, Cleveland makes some of the best golf drivers for distance that stand up over time with a performance reliability that remains unmatched by its competitors, and the Launcher HB is a testament to their craftsmanship.
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Worthy of being a best golf driver for distance, the Launcher HB generates power through its Hi Bore crown that lowers the center of gravity to a deeper position in the clubhead. The aerodynamic crown produces high swing speeds that are unmatched for a fixed hosel driver.
If you are looking for reliability from your entire club, including the driver shaft and clubhead, the Launcher HB creates minimal spin with a solid feel that adds significant yardage to your game.
TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver
Most Forgiving Option
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KEY FEATURES
- Speed Injected new face balances the entire surface area for unbelievable speed and distance
- Two-degree loft sleeve raises or lowers the hitting surface angle for customized shot height
- Twist Face technology offers a larger contact area for straighter shots that produce confidence
TaylorMade’s newest line of drivers, the SIM series, offers a wildly new club that creates far-reaching distance with optimal forgiveness in the TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver. Out of the SIM drivers, the SIM MAX works best for mid-level players looking to add a premium option to their game off the tee box.
An outstanding option, that may be a little bit on the pricier side of the driver market, the TaylorMade SIM MAX driver offers unbelievable performance.
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The driver features a multi-material design that strengthens the crown, offering reliability throughout the swing. Behind the hitting area, a speed injected insert provides more power without limiting club speed.
Unlike the SIM Driver, that offers adjustable weights, the SIM MAX only has a loft sleeve to alter your shot height. And while the lack of customization may be disappointing for advanced golfers, for higher handicappers, this just streamlines and reduces the choices for the driver
What To Look For When Buying A Driver for Distance
Ball speed
Ball speed is registered off the face of drivers. Simply put, ball speed equals distance. The higher the speed of the ball, the longer the drive will travel, although that doesn’t account for accuracy.
Regardless of where the shot lands, the rate of speed the ball leaves the face does determine total yardage. A driver that increases speed of the ball is an enormous boost to beginning golfers.
Heads
The head of a driver is responsible for everything from quality of contact to forgiveness. Most driver heads offer a form of aerodynamics that reduces the wind resistance against the head.
The volume of a driver’s head typically registers around 460cc, although smaller heads that offer more control have become popular for professional golfers. A driver’s head can also help with shot shape creating a fade bias or draw bias.
Adjustability
There are adjustable features on most modern driver’s heads. Not only do these drivers have loft sleeves that can affect face angle to raise or lower launch, but they also can provide adjustable weighting for more customization to create the ideal shot shape.
The best golf drivers for distance are rarely fixed, but provide golfers the ability to adjust their club for maximum length off the tee box.
Loft and launch angle
All drivers have a preset loft that creates a launch angle at impact. While some drivers offer a fixed lie angle, others have adjustable features, such as a loft sleeve, that can alter the loft of the face.
If a golfer is struggling to get more carry on their drives, a small tweak of the loft can provide help. With the assistance of a TrackMan or other shot tracker, golfers can discover the launch angle of their shots.
Weight
The weight of the best golf driver for distance affects everything from swing speed to accuracy. A slow swinger might struggle to get a heavy driver back to square on each swing.
The opposite is also true as a fast swinger could have a hard time getting maximum distance if the club doesn’t have the heft or weight to support the swing speed. A golfer should judge the weight by how it affects the bottom line of distance and precision.
Shafts
The shafts on a driver for distance, like the Callaway XR 16, must meet a threshold of strength and flexibility. The better the shaft, the more accuracy and distance the golfer can expect from the club.
Since golfers need low spin and piercing flight, the driver shaft is a vital part of creating long drives. Golfers must match their swing speed with the shaft flex that corresponds to get the distance and accuracy they need off the tee box.
Flexpoint
Flexpoint, or the kickpoint, is the spot in the shaft where it flexes during the swing. The flexpoint is important because it determines the launch angle of the ball after impact. The flexpoint can come high, mid, or low on the shaft.
For slow swingers, the flexpoint will be lower on the shaft. For advanced players that swing hard, the flexpoint is higher on the driver’s shaft.
Lightweight
Another benefit of a best golf driver for distance is that the club is usually streamlined to keep it lightweight. The head is typically hollow with balanced weighting around the perimeter of the carbon crown.
The low weight keeps swings speeds elevated for maximum distance. Adjustable weights don’t usually affect speed performance as the weights only weigh a handful of grams. Golf balls still travel far with a lightweight driver, even for a golfer with a slower swing.
Sweet spot
The sweet spot on a driver incorporates a wide oval that surrounds the center of the face. Shots that are impacted inside the sweet spot usually achieve maximum distances with high rates of ball speed.
Balls that hit outside of this zone usually have decreased speed with accuracy problems. Professional golfers routinely hit the center of the face with their shots, while amateurs struggle to achieve consistency with their contact.
Quality
The quality of a driver for distance, like a Wilson Staff model, is important for the club to stay light with its weight while taking advantage of its innovative technology.
Regardless of the price tag, every time you hit a quality driver, you can find its charm through the feel and response at impact. A top-rated shaft also improves the overall quality and adds to the driver’s bottom line performance.
Questions & Answers
Why is distance important?
Yes, extra distance off the tee box offers many advantages, making it one of the most important additions that any golfer can make to their skill set. Distance can be created through several avenues and a player does not need to be large to generate the swing speed and timing to manufacture exciting distance with their drives.
Increasing distance does one very important thing: Shorten the distance of your second shots into the green. Even professional golfers that struggle with hitting the fairway, as long as they register long distances with each drive, they put themselves in a position to win by reaching the green in regulation with a chance to birdie the hole.
When do I need a golf driver?
On the course, golfers should use a driver any time the hole offers a clear landing area for their golf ball at their average hitting distance. For example, a 400-yard par 4 that offers a fairway that only stretches 250 yards before the grass turns to deep rough, may not be ideal if you are hitting your driver in excess of that yardage marker.
If you are starting your golf journey and are hesitant to hit the driver on the course, you should make the driver a part of your practice sessions first before unleashing the club on the links.
What’s the difference between fairway woods and drivers?
The difference between a fairway wood and driver are slight in some areas but major in other places.
A driver has a larger club head and lower face loft when compared to fairway woods. Since a fairway wood needs more versatility, specifically the ability to hit the golf ball without the help of a tee, designers have made adjustments to the club.
A driver usually has a loft that runs anywhere from 8-to 12-degrees, while a fairway wood offers golfers a loft of anywhere between 15-and 27 degrees. A driver provides more distance with a far short shot height when compared to a fairway wood.
Final Thoughts
One of the easiest ways that a golfer can lower their score is by increasing their distance. Off the tee box, a consistently longer drive provides shorter second shots that offer the ability for more accurate shots that leave shorter putts for birdies.
Drivers, like our top choice, the Callaway Mavrik Driver, offer a sledgehammer club head that generates staggering ball speed with high levels of forgiveness. For maximum distance on swing after swing, a new driver, built for speed, can deliver the goods.
A new driver coupled with new swing fundamentals can transform the game of any golfer, especially for those players looking to make the jump to the next level.