Updated September 29, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
As golf courses get longer and longer, there has never been a more important time for mid-handicappers to get more from their driver.
A new driver with optimized features can give a mid-handicapper up to 20 yards instantly on their drive. Simply put, longer drives can bring the golfer better birdie chances and lower scores.
Most amateur golfers use substandard or old equipment that limits ball speed and launches angle. It is vital in this modern era of golf to play a driver that lifts the ball to give the amateur golfer maximum carry for increased distance.
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Last updated on 2023-09-29. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Best Golf Drivers for Mid Handicap Golfers
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus+ Driver
Best All-Around Drivers for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 8°-10.5°
- Lie: 54°-58°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D4, D5
Pros
- Twist Face technology offers forgiveness on off-center strikes
- Sliding weight track provides customized shot shape
- Powerful distance with an inviting sweet spot
Cons
- Expensive driver for the casual golfer
TaylorMade’s delightful Stealth 2 Plus+ offers outstanding all-around performance with a forgiving, powerful sweet spot. The driver provides many features that make it one of the most impressive on the market if you are interested in adjustable features.
Along with a hosel sleeve, the driver also has a sliding weight that provides customized shot shaping with precision.
Once I got my hosel sleeve and sliding weight locked in, I felt free to absolutely rip drives down the fairway, and the driver delivered with confidence.
The face offered a premium feel and responsiveness with each swing, providing instant feedback to help me make adjustments to hit more fairways.
With a color scheme that will remind you of a Ferrari, the Stealth 2 Plus+ delivers premium ball speed with superb accuracy in a flashy, dynamic package.
Check my full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver Review
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°-12°
- Lie: 58.5°-60°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Clean, effortless distance with fast ball speed
- Excellent face flexibility for maximum energy transfer
- Low, deep CG offers a smooth launch with extended carry
Cons
- No sliding weight or adjustable weighting
Cleveland’s Launcher XL, my choice for the best value driver on the market for mid handicap golfers, offers an aerodynamic head that cuts through the air to deliver maximum power to the golf ball.
Everything about the Launcher XL is built for speed. From the contoured crown to the rounded sole, Cleveland designed the driver to get the most out of your swing.
And after spending a few rounds with this driver, I must admit they’ve been rather successful with their efforts.
If there’s a downside to this otherwise impressive driver, it’s the lack of adjustable weighting. The hosel sleeve helps, but I’d like to see some customization with the weighting to provide total control over the shot shape.
At a very affordable price, the Cleveland Launcher XL remains a top option for golfers looking to gain more consistency from the tee box.
Check my full Cleveland Launcher XL Driver Review
Callaway Paradym Driver
Best Distance Drivers for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°-12°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Powerful, far-reaching distance with a solid feel
- Adjustable weighting offers premium slice/draw correction
- Impressive ball speed with high launch
Cons
- Doesn’t have the finesse of other top-tier drivers
Callaway’s new Paradym driver offers golfers the opportunity to hit missiles all over the golf course. No matter your swing speed, this driver gets the ball into the air with a maximum velocity that turns into an eye-popping distance.
The driver carries a large footprint that helps produce the power you want from the tee box. The gigantic sweet spot minimizes side spin to tighten shot dispersion for more reached fairways during your round.
I enjoyed how smooth the driver felt throughout the swing, especially as the head passed through the impact zone. The driver’s high MOI kept the face square to help me hit more fairways, along with its jaw-dropping power.
The Paradym’s three-position rear weight offers draw, fade, and neutral shot shape. While it doesn’t offer the precision of the Stealth 2 Plus+, the correction makes the driver accessible for mid handicap golfer with a handicap number well into the double digits.
Check my full Callaway Paradym Driver Review
Ping G425 MAX Driver
Most Forgiving Drivers for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°-12°
- Lie: 58.5°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Generates staggering distance with incredible carry
- Rewards consistent contact with incredible feel at impact
- Adjustable loft sleeve offers eight different combinations for customized ball flight
- Sliding rear weight dials-in ideal shot shape for your swing
Cons
- Takes time to find the right combination of adjustable features for your game
- Included Arccos Caddie Smart Grip service requires a subscription to use
Ping has upped the power with their latest driver, the G425 Max. Built for distance, it provides a dynamic feel at impact and customizable features that offer you the ability to create your perfect shot shape off the tee box.
When you first get the G425 in your hands, the first thing you’ll notice is the lightweight feel of the driver.
After taking a few practice swings with this driver, I noticed immediately how solid the club felt throughout the takeaway and downswing.
Once I began hitting balls, it provided a pleasant sound at impact and certainly ranked high in the enjoyment of striking drives on the range.
Easily my favorite two features of the G425 Max are the adjustable loft sleeve and sliding rear weight. With a turn of the included wrench, you can fine-tune the loft of the face to eight different settings to help raise or lower ball flight.
The rear sliding weight also provides an outlet for adding more side-to-side movement to the club.
During my testing, I loved the consistency the G425 Max provided as I tinkered with placing the weight in a draw or fade position.
I also found the face to be highly forgiving on off-center strikes, reducing side spin and allowing those wayward drives to routinely find the fairway.
I could not recommend this driver more for mid handicap golfers as Ping’s reputation for crafting dynamic, well-made clubs continues with the G425 Max.
Callaway Mavrik Driver
Highly Accurate Driver for Mid Handicap Golfer
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°-12°
- Lie: 58°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D2
Pros
- One of the best drivers for feel, with each drive providing excellent response at impact
- Wide, inviting sweet spot offers plenty of distance with exceptional forgiveness
- Jailbreak Technology stiffens club head delivers maximum power to golf ball
Cons
- Golfers in the market for adjustable drivers may want more features at this price point
The Mavrik Driver is an absolute cheat code for mid handicap golfers, providing a huge leap in distance. It offers an incredible feel at impact, especially if you find the center of the sweet spot.
Its ball speed off of the face is consistently strong, a feat only achieved by elite-level drivers. Not to be overlooked, it is also one of the most attractive drivers I’ve tested, with a sleek black club head that helps shape the center with a fresh appearance.
The Mavrik’s highlight is the company’s Jailbreak Technology. With the two stiff steel rods inserted behind the club face, the Jailbreak works to increase power to the golf ball.
As it stiffens the clubhead, the Mavrik uses the Jailbreak feature to increase launch angle for more carry and length.
The adjustable loft sleeve also comes in handy by increasing or decreasing the launch angle to customize the shot height.
The rear stationary weight creates a deep, low center of gravity to help with lift and increase the carry of the drive. The aerodynamic head reduces drag, boosts swing speed, and offers increased consistency, crucial for improving a mid-handicapper.
Mavrik’s face provides a terrific sound and feel at impact that helps create confidence in the golfer. For a first-rate driver that offers an impressive appearance, the Mavrik performs even better and should be considered for any mid-handicapper’s bag.
Titleist TSi2 Driver
Best Luxury Driver for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°-11°
- Lie: 58.5°
- Shaft Length: 45.5”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Lightweight feel throughout the swing
- Effortless power extends the reach of each drive
- Adjustability offers versatile options for creating the ideal shot shape
- Stylish black matte finish offers a dynamic appearance in the golf bag
Cons
- Higher top tier cost for an elite driver
- Feels hollow on off-center strikes
If you are in the market for a frontline, PGA Tour-level driver, the Titleist TSi2 offers the look, feel, and performance you expect at this price point. With a low CG, the TSi2 provides mid handicap golfers with an exceptional launch in a sleek, matte black finish.
This driver’s design screams “fast swing speed,” After a few days with the driver, I can confidently say the club delivers with flair. The aerodynamic crown helps maximize speed on the downswing, allowing you to get to the ball at impact at maximum MPH.
When evaluating the driver, I found that it offers a lightweight feel, tremendous feedback when you strike it purely in the center of the face, and the adjustability that you’d expect to find with a top-tier driver.
Another benefit of the TSi2 worth noting is the low spin. If you carry a relatively consistent swing to the course, a driver like this from Titleist will build upon that quality, delivering more fairways with additional distance.
However, if I can post criticism here with the TSi2, the driver can be difficult to find that consistency, especially if your swing is struggling to find a rhythm.
For a driver of this caliber, routinely played by PGA Tour pros, you should note the lack of true forgiveness before taking the plunge.
In the end, the Titleist TSi2 is one of the top crafted drivers on the market and is undoubtedly worth its price tag if you are ready to take the next step in your golfing journey.
TaylorMade M4 Driver
Consistent, Accurate Drivers for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 8.5°-12°
- Lie: 56°-60°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D2
Pros
- One of the best feeling drivers we tested with great feedback on every drive
- Forgiveness is top-notch, noticed straighter, more consistent drives than with other elite-level drivers.
- Large sweet spot for maximum distance
Cons
- Lack of adjustable weights had us disappointed at times, as we wanted more adjustability
Several features of the TaylorMade M4 are worth raving over. First, the company’s new Twist Face technology has created a clubface that is curved to correct off-center hits.
Its clubface utilizes this technology to create straighter, longer, and more consistent drives than any TaylorMade previous models we’ve ever tested. This driver is quite creative and well worth the expensive price tag.
The next feature that has the golfer’s head-turning is the Hammerhead slot that rests behind the club face.
This power slot expands the sweet spot on the M4 for incredible forgiveness that pushes the boundaries of what a driver can do for a mid-handicapper.
The Hammerhead slot ramps up swing speed for lower spin and greater accuracy on off-center strikes in unison with the flexible and lightweight face.
Remarkable to feel, the Hammerhead slot alone is worthy of an M4 test drive on your closest range.
Finally, the M4 has an aerodynamic design using TaylorMade’s Geocoustic technology for an incredible feel and a strong and dynamic sound off the clubface.
Golfers love the M4 because the feedback instills confidence that carries over to every part of your game.
The Geocoustic technology aids in increasing the sweet spot for drives that carry longer than any club you’ve ever played before. For the features and the unique construction, the M4 is a driver that stands among the best.
Check my full TaylorMade M4 Driver Full Review
PGX Offset Golf Driver
Best Value Draw-Bias Drivers for Mid Handicappers
Specifications
- Loft: 10.5°
- Lie: 58°
- Shaft Length: 45.5”
- Swing Weight: D2
Pros
- Offset club face assists mid-handicappers in hitting straighter, more consistent drives
- Affordable driver, perfect for golfers on a budget
- 460cc volume for the large sweet spot helps with forgiveness
- Matte black finish makes this a sleek and sharply designed budget driver
Cons
- Not an upper-tier brand, you get what you pay for here
Carving out a niche as one of the most affordable golf equipment producers on the market today, Pinemeadow has created a driver for mid-handicappers looking to correct their slice.
The popular PGX Offset driver is a fixed hosel club with a sleek matte-black look that is interested in only one thing, giving you the ability to hit straight drives again.
It has a sizeable 460cc clubhead for an extended sweet spot that assists in maximizing distance off the tee regardless of where you hit the golf ball off the club face.
The offset in the driver is a slight alteration on the clubface that allows the face to square at impact for golfers who suffer from poor fundamentals.
Hitting a slice is about not bringing the clubface back to a square position at impact, but Pinemeadow’s PGX offset driver helps give the golfer that fraction of a second back on the downswing to allow the face to square itself when the ball comes into contact with the face.
Now, there are several knocks on the PGX Offset driver. Even though the club is highly affordable, it does not come with any adjustable features or higher-quality add-ons such as an off-market shaft or upgraded grip.
It does utilize a graphite shaft to help keep the club lightweight, but the hosel is fixed so that the offset can be sturdy and stable through impact.
Although it doesn’t have any of the upper-tier features that many drivers in this review carry, the PGX Offset driver can help you with your slice.
TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver
Outstanding Distance Driver for Mid Handicappers
Specifications
- Loft: 9°-12°
- Lie: 56°-60°
- Shaft Length: 45.75”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Lightweight multi-steel design increases club speed
- Twist Face Technology expands the sweet spot for boosted forgiveness
- High MOI increases forgiveness for longer drives
Cons
- Golfers who are working with a coach to correct their slice may want a standard driver to learn correctly for the expensive cost
On the course, TaylorMade’s SIM Max Driver delivers exceptional performance, boosting distance and accuracy.
With most mid handicappers, a driver needs to reach the fairway with far more regularity, and I’m happy to say, after my time with the club, the SIM Max delivers tight shot dispersion along your target line.
What I love about the driver is its solid construction. It feels incredibly sturdy in my hands, and that build quality translates to the course because the SIM Max crushes the golf ball.
It represents a move forward for TaylorMade in design. Along the bottom, you’ll find an Aerodynamic Asymmetric Sole. While that may cause your eyes to glaze over, I assure you the feature is worth taking note of once you hit the driver on the range.
Let’s talk about the negatives for a bit. First, the SIM Max does not have adjustable features outside a loft sleeve that helps you take loft off the face.
While the lack of sliding weight does minimize the driver’s adjustability, if you take your time getting the proper loft and shaft, you’ll find that the SIM Max performs quite well.
The lack of adjustable weighting reduces the driver’s ability to straighten out slices, but again, on the range, we noticed the top-tier features worked together to keep the drives out of the rough.
When it comes to the price, the SIM Max comes in just below the newest drivers available, so while the driver costs a bit more than the average driver, the performance certainly justifies the money.
Callaway Golf Rogue Driver
Best High Launch Driver for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°-13.5°
- Lie: 58°
- Shaft Length: 45.5”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Adjustable features are very useful and create an excellent flight path for golf ball every time
- Jailbreak Technology gives it one of the most forgiving sweet spots we’ve ever tested
- Multiple options are available on the shaft and loft specifications
Cons
- Expensive driver but worth the trouble if you are serious about improving your game
One of the most customizable drivers on the market is the stunning Callaway Rogue driver.
This driver is a marvel of technology with an aerodynamic clubhead aided by Jailbreak technology that keeps the club light throughout the swing. The Rogue delivered eye-popping drives throughout my testing, making it one of the best overall drivers I’ve ever seen.
What makes the Rogue so unique is how its technology enhances the results of your shots off the tee box.
A stiffer clubhead, boosted by the Titanium bars that fuel the Jailbreak technology, gives you excellent feedback at impact for a pleasing sound that just fills you with confidence after each drive.
The increase in ball speed and the resulting distance are unavoidable and will have you smiling from the first tee to the 18th green.
The adjustable features on the Rogue include the ability to increase the loft by two degrees as well as place the driver in a draw bias offset. These are convenient during rounds where the wind plays a factor and makes it difficult to shape shots.
For professional performance with eight different playing combinations, the Callaway Rogue driver is a remarkable piece of golfing equipment.
Check my full Callaway Golf Rogue Driver Review
How to Choose the Best Golf Drivers for Mid Handicappers
Design
For the mid-handicappers, having a driver that looks well-made is extremely important because the club’s look instills confidence in the golfer.
This may sound silly, but it is true that once the golfer has confidence in their equipment, they are free to concentrate solely on swinging the driver.
Also, when standing at the address, having a high-quality driver that contrasts nicely with the golf ball allows the golfer to see and focus on the impact area.
While it may seem superficial, by having a driver that the golfer knows will perform well on every shot, the trusted club allows them to relax and focus on the task at hand.
Feel
The driver’s feel is necessary because the mid-handicapper wants to receive instant feedback on every shot.
A high-performing driver will give the golfer strong feedback after impact, letting them know if they hit the center of the club face.
Feedback from the driver also plays a part in the mental aspect of golf. If a golfer feels confident in their equipment and then they know when they are striking the ball well based upon the driver’s feel.
When the response after hitting the golf ball is terrible, then the golfer can adjust their fundamentals such as stance or grip.
Forgiveness
For the mid-handicapper looking to make that jump into the single-digit handicap level, it’s essential to have a forgiving driver on off-center hits.
Golfers need a driver that forgives bad strikes because mid-handicappers must maintain their distance on each drive.
Mid-handicappers need to get the ball down the fairway as far as possible to hit shorter second shots.
Finding a driver with maximum forgiveness allows the golfer to focus solely on making a reliable yet powerful swing so they can hit shorter second shots into the green.
Loft Options
Choosing the wrong loft on a driver is one of the amateurs’ biggest mistakes.
When they are reading about the top golfers in the world and see that Tiger Woods is hitting an 8.5-degree lofted driver, they believe that they need a low-lofted driver.
But what they don’t consider is that most amateurs don’t generate the swing speed of Tiger Woods. So instead, the low loft on the driver keeps the ball limited in ball height and sends low liners into the fairway.
Mid-handicappers would serve their game better if they found a modern driver with adjustable loft to increase their launch angle.
Recommended: Best Driver Loft For Distance: What Driver Loft Should You Use?
Adjustable Features
Adjustable features on a driver are essential when attempting to improve the quality of your drives because you can change so many characteristics of the club.
Adjustable weights in the club’s sole can affect everything from hitting a draw or fade to improving launch angle and forgiveness.
An adjustable hosel can also place offset on the clubface to change your shot shaping capabilities off the tee box.
Adjustable features allow the golfers to play around with the specifications on the drivers so they can tailor make a ball flight that works best for their game.
Questions & Answers
What is an adjustable driver and is it beneficial?
An adjustable driver has several features that the mid-handicapper can change at any point in their round.
This ability to alter the club allows the golfer to hit shots with different shapes. This can be useful if the golfer is having problems with a slice or hitting the ball too low.
A few simple adjustments to the offset or the weights on the club’s sole can assist in correcting these swing issues. Adjustment drivers are handy for amateurs struggling to hit the ball straight or attempting to maximize their distance.
How do you know if a driver is USGA-approved?
The USGA maintains an up-to-date list of approved driver heads on their website.
Before you purchase a driver, especially if you are looking at an off-brand custom made driver, then you need to make sure that the club will meet the USGA specifications for a legal playing club that can be used in tournaments and prevent you from being accused of cheating at your next event.
How do I measure a golf driver shaft length?
First, you will need a measuring stick at least four feet in length. What you want to do next is take the driver and hold it like you would when addressing the ball for a shot.
The bottom of the driver is flush against the ground, and the shaft of the club should lie at an angle that points back to your waist. Take the measuring stick and place it underneath the shaft, first touching the area where the clubhead and ground meet.
Then run the measuring tool along the bottom of the shaft to the bottom of the grip cap. The measurement will be the length of the golf shaft.
For a mid-handicapper, should I get my driver custom fitted?
The mid-handicapper should inquire about getting their driver custom fitted because professionals will utilize your swing data to find a driver that will not only maximize your distance and launch angle but find a driver that works best for your swing.
If there is a downside to having your driver custom-fitted, it is because the cost for the fitting and driver can be very expensive.
That said, playing with a driver that has a high-quality grip, high-performing shaft, an adjustable hosel, and a weight system all tailored to your swing will give you the best drives of your golfing career.
Conclusion
My choice for the best driver for mid handicappers, the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus+, might cost a pretty penny, but the performance and results cannot be denied.
This driver is an absolute powerhouse, offering premium features that you’d expect with an elite, top-tier club that the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy use for their competitive rounds.
My favorite feature of the Stealth 2 Plus+ is the sliding weight track. With a few clicks of a wrench, I could move the weight into a new position that could raise the height of my drives and increase slice/draw correction to help me hit more fairways.
Far too many drivers fail to offer the sophistication that the Stealth 2 Plus+ provides, a benefit that can elevate a golfer’s game to new heights.