Edited by: Jordan Fuller
Reviewed by: John MarshallLast Update:
For mid and low handicappers, playing with one of the best drivers can be the difference between attempting five birdies putts per round to upwards of a dozen. All golf coaches agree that more distance means lower scores.
The best drivers to buy in 2020 all share a similarity in innovative design and raw strength and are well worth your time and consideration if you want to get better off the tee box.
Featured Recommendations
Last updated on 2020-11-29. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
- Featured Recommendations
- 8 Best Golf Drivers In 2020
- Best Golf Drivers Buying Guide
- Questions & Answers
- What should beginning golfers look for in the best driver?
- Why are adjustable features so important in a driver for mid and low handicappers?
- Can I get my driver fitted after I have purchased the club?
- Should I pay attention to the length of the driver’s shaft?
- Is getting a 460cc Driver important for a golfer?
- What should beginning golfers look for in the best driver?
8 Best Golf Drivers In 2020
Callaway Epic Flash Driver
Best Overall: Exceptional Distance, Accuracy and Forgiveness
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PROS
- Flash Face Technology increases ball speed for more distance
- Jailbreak Technology gives golfer two solid internal bars to help with stability and increased distance
- Weighting is adjustable and allows golfers to easily create subtleties in their swing
CONS
- This is an expensive driver that is not ideal for beginning or inexperienced golfers
Our pick for the best all-around driver for low and mid handicappers is the Callaway Epic Flash Driver. With an tri-level adjustable loft sleeve, a sliding rear weight in the sole and the patented Jailbreak Technology, the Epic Flash is a racecar off the tee box.
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The Epic Flash boasts a crown that is aerodynamic and cuts a profile that increases ball speed. The well-balanced club head promotes improved forgiveness and additional distance.
The best feature of the driver is the Jailbreak Technology feature. Two internal bars sit directly behind the sweet spot of the club face, stiffening the club head for more stability and strength.
With a slew of dazzling features, the Callaway Epic Flash Driver is worthy of a best driver distinction.
Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver
Most Versatile: Outstanding Distance with Maximum Control
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PROS
- Low center of gravity in the club head makes F9 one of the fastest & best ones on the market
- Low profile of the driver helps with higher shots off the tee box
- The precision milled face creates a fast surface for more distance
CONS
- Although the rear weight is welcome, would much prefer sliding weights
One of the more sleek and sharp club head on our best drivers to buy list is on the very underrated Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver.
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With the F9 Speedback, the company has made a versatile club that allows mid and low handicappers the ability to adjust the loft and alter the center of gravity for maximum control over the height of their drives.
The adjustable weighting provides the golfer with several options that can help create the ideal shot height and shape they are looking for from their game.
A driver that should not be overlooked by golfers that want more distance and control from the best driver in their bag, the Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver is an exceptional club to improve your overall game.
TaylorMade M6 Driver
Best Golf Driver Runner up: Outstanding Distance Driver for Mid Handicappers
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PROS
- The club head produces more speed across the entire body of the club
- Twist Face Technology reduces side spin and delivers straighter shots
- Patented Hammerhead Slot creates a larger sweet spot with maximum forgiveness
CONS
- The driver lacks adjustable weighting to help the golfer craft more delicate shots
The TaylorMade M6, ranking historically high among the golf drivers we tested, is designed to extend ball flight with power.
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Features worth noting on the M6 include the Twist Face Technology and the Hammerhead slot. Both features improve forgiveness on off-center strikes while reducing that ugly side spin that leads to slices.
The Speed Injected club face works with the Twist Face Technology to enhance club speed while centering the club through the impact zone for crisper contact and better accuracy.
Although it’s a real shame that the M6 doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the M5, if you are in the market for a stationary driver that has an adjustable loft sleeve, then this driver should definitely be at the top of your list.
PGX Offset Driver
Most Affordable: Solid Budget Driver for Beginning Golfers With a Slice
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PROS
- Affordable budget that helps inexperience and beginning golfers with the slices
- Offset helps with clear view of golf ball for better alignment
- Matte black finish promotes a clean and sharp look to instill confidence in beginning golfer
CONS
- Explicitly made for beginning golfer suffering from too many slices off tee box
The PGX Offset Driver isn’t for every golfer. The club is geared toward a narrow, yet large, population of golfers who are having considerable trouble keeping the ball in the fairway.
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As a result of this cheaper process, the results a golfer can expect from the PGX Offset are limited. Golfers needing help with their slice will get it here, but don’t expect a bump in distance with this heavy club head.
But those warnings aside, for around the price of a green fee, you can have a best driver honoree that will definitely help correct those errant shots.
Made to help inexperienced golfers get the ball into the fairway so they can enjoy the great game of golf with more enthusiasm, the PGX Offset Driver is a very solid club.
Cobra King F8 Driver
Innovative Driver With Exceptional Distance for Mid Handicappers
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PROS
- Precision milled face creates one of the longer & best drivers that we’ve tested in recent memory
- Two interchangeable weights provide a lower center of gravity and exceptional shot shaping ability
- Adjustable loft sleeve helps with increasing launch angle and maximizing distance
CONS
- The weights cannot slide, so advanced golfers are unable to dial-in their ideal shot shape
Featuring an easy-to-use adjustable loft sleeve and interchangeable weights, the Cobra King F8 Driver is a versatile racehorse that dials up swing speeds and creates staggering distance.
The all-black driver cuts an imposing figure on the tee box and it has the muscle to back it up. The club features a razor-thin milled face that is very hot and generates dazzling ball speed.
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Another feature worth noting include a carbon fiber crown club head that lowers the center of gravity and increases the launch trajectory while boosting forgiveness.
With one of the best milled faces we’ve ever seen on a driver, the F8 reduces side spin, enhances accuracy, and keeps the ball in the fairway.
TaylorMade M5 Driver
Outstanding Adjustable Features Driver for Low Handicappers
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PROS
- Does incredible job at maximizing ball speed and distance
- The adjustable weighting system helps reduce side spin and increase launch angle
- The Hammerhead Slot works with Twist Face Technology to make larger sweet spot and assist with forgiveness
CONS
- Not much to hate with this driver, although it isn’t as fast as newer models
The TaylorMade M5 created excitement among our group of testers with a host of features that make it one of the most capable drivers we’ve ever seen.
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Starting with the Inverse T-Track, the M5 comes to play with a unique and wildly innovative collection of bells and whistles that certainly impress, but also create unbelievable performance.
Powering this best driver is the speed injected Twist Face Technology that the company has created to give the M5 one of the hottest faces in recent memory.
Great for low handicappers, the M5’s club head does not discriminate, providing unbelievable ball speed and wonderfully long distance.
TaylorMade M2 Driver
Best Balanced Driver for Mid and Low Handicappers
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PROS
- Excellent balance with a strong titanium body that helps provide higher launch
- Speed Pocket increases forgiveness and reduces spin for longer, straighter drives
- Increased distance makes this driver ideal for mid-handicapper hoping to improve off tee
CONS
- Does not have adjustable sliding weights, so it cannot create different shot shapes
Easily the winner for the best driver when it comes to balance on this list, the TaylorMade M2 is a timeless classic that works for any level of golfer, providing a clean look with top-notch performance.
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A lower center of gravity is anchored by the rear weight that acts as a hammer to the golf ball at impact and help maintain its ball speed. Our testers were knocked out by the distance and solid feel the M2 produces.
Even though the weight is not able to slide to provide more customization, the M2 does feature an adjustable loft sleeve that increases or reduces the loft of the club face for better control of the shot height.
A solid worker that is so well balanced that the club works for any skill level. Although mid and low handicappers are poised to benefit the most, the M2 is a dynamically well-made piece of golfing equipment.
TaylorMade RBZ Driver
Best Budget Option: Durable with Excellent Distance and Strength
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PROS
- Solidly build with adjustable loft sleeve that gives more height for beginning golfers
- Speed Pocket technology provides exceptional distance and more strength for weaker golfers
- Satin black finish provides excellent contrast for better look at golf ball and improved alignment
CONS
- Does not have adjustable weighting making it primarily the best driver for beginning golfers
The TaylorMade RBZ Driver boasts a thunderously powerful 460cc Titanium club head, a low center of gravity for high, long drives, and a sleek satin black finish that certainly gives the club a sense of style.
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The RBZ utilizes the adjustable loft sleeve to help increase launch angle for more distance for the beginning golfer.
This best golf driver is powered by the company’s patented Speed Pocket technology that boosts launch angle and reduces spin for better forgiveness and accuracy when you are facing a tight fairway.
The club head certainly lacks flashy features but for beginning golfers and mid handicappers, the TaylorMade RBZ is a well-built driver that will perform admirably on the links.
Best Golf Drivers Buying Guide
Adjustable Features
The adjustable features of the driver allow the golfer to find the right loft, hosel setting, and proper weight distribution to create the ideal drive. For golfers who love to shape their drives, the adjustable features of a first-class and best driver can give the golfer enormous power.
Design
The design of the driver is crucial because it instills confidence and gives the golfer a sense of direction when they’re addressing the golf ball and help to control ball speed. Design embodies the spirit and style of the driver.
The design of a driver also encompasses essential details such as adjustable features, feel, and response.
Forgiveness
When you hear golfers talk about forgiveness, this is a specific discussion about how the club corrects off-center strikes.
For example, a ball that finds the middle of the club face, commonly referred to as the sweet spot, regularly flies straight. If the ball is hit either towards the toe or the hosel, that strike is called off-center. If the driver excels with forgiveness, the ball will continue to go toward the target line despite the off-center strike.
Feel
When a golfer talks about the feel of a club, they are referring to how the driver feels from the moment it touches their hands through the moment of impact.
With a solid understanding of how the club will respond, the golfer knows what the club can and cannot do on the tee box. To trust that the ball will go in the direction they intend is a direct result of having reliance on how the club feels at all times.
Balance
The balance of the driver is significant because if the club head has too much weight pushed toward the toe or hosel, then it can become imbalanced causing the golfer to hit wicked slices or brutal duck hooks. Too much tilting in either direction increases the chances the golfer will hit a poor drive.
But a balanced driver is adept at keeping the club even through the impact zone for crisper contact and more distance.
Club head size
The typical size of a driver’s club head is measured by its volume. A standard driver has roughly 460 cubic centimeters of space in the head, and this is why most manufacturers will list this measurement as a feature of their club.
Professional golfers and low handicappers do prefer a driver with a slightly smaller size, somewhere around 450cc. The size reduction allows the golfer more control over their drives.
The oversized driver head is excellent for golfers needing more forgiveness coupled with better swing speed. Since professionals swing at incredible speeds already, they need better accuracy and control.
Club head weight
The club head weight of a driver can affect the drive’s height and the shot’s shape.
Most modern drivers offer either adjustable or stationary weighting in the club head. Adjustable weighting is more sophisticated than stationary and allows the golfer to customize their club to their specifications. Since advanced golfers want more control over the shape of their shotmaking, they prefer an adjustable weighting system in their driver.
For high handicappers and beginners, the stationary weighing provides more consistency and reliability to their game. Since these golfers struggle to recreate their best swing regularly, modern equipment can fill in the gaps. A stationary weighted driver can also reduce slices and give higher launch for better carry and more distance.
Shaft length
The standard shaft length of a driver is 45.5 inches. Equipment manufacturers typically utilize a longer driver for amateurs. They do this because there is a common belief that a longer driver equals a longer swing for more generated club speed.
A shorter driver shaft, around 43.5 inches, has gained popularity with professionals who enjoy adding swing speed with a better ability to return the clubface to square. Since professionals want to shape their shots with every club, a shorter shaft in the driver helps produce their preferred swing with maximum club head speed and outstanding control.
Club loft
The club loft of a driver provides the degree of loft the club’s face has at address. Most amateur golfers play with a loft degree that ranges from 9-12 degrees. Better stated; the lower the loft, the lower the shot height. For beginners and high handicappers, drivers starting at around 12 degrees of loft will help lift the ball in the air for more carry that equates to more distance.
If you are struggling with finding consistent ball flight on your drives, a driver with a deeper CG can dramatically improve this problem. And by the same token, if you find your game has stalled, chances are a driver with a forward, higher CG will add distance and create shorter second shots to help lower your scores.
Center of gravity
The center of gravity, also known as CG, is responsible for the launch angle of the resulting shot in a driver.
A lower, deeper center of gravity helps lift the ball quickly for better distance and carry for beginners and high handicappers. In contrast, most advanced players prefer a CG located closer to the face and higher for a lower, more piercing ball flight that reduces sidespin for improved forward roll that produces maximum distance.
Golfers having problems finding a shot shape that works best for them will find help with a new driver that offers a deeper, lower CG. This rule is especially true for high handicappers and beginners.
Questions & Answers
What should beginning golfers look for in the best driver?
It is important for beginning golfers to find a driver that is well-balanced, offers exceptional forgiveness, and has plenty of loft.
Most amateurs make the mistake of buying an ill fitting driver because they typically need around 12 degrees of loft as a starting point. The more loft the better for beginners because this feature allows them to get the ball into the air quicker for long distance and control ball speed.
Why are adjustable features so important in a driver for mid and low handicappers?
With adjustable features, the mid and low handicapper can alter such things as the loft at the hosel, the weight distribution of the club head, and the shape of their drives – all while controlling ball speed.
For advanced golfers, having the ability to hit shots that will gently fade or draw provides them better control and accuracy. Having the ability to correct slight swing flaws is one of the biggest reasons why advanced golfers should play with an adjustable features driver.
Can I get my driver fitted after I have purchased the club?
Yes, golfers can get their drivers fitted by a professional after they purchase the club. They can bring the club to a professional fitter either at a local country club or a superstore for adjustments.
Another great aspect of being fitted is that the pro can also find the right launch angle, increase the speed of your swing and examine the carry distance to get the maximum drive out for your game.
Should I pay attention to the length of the driver’s shaft?
With the standard driver shaft measuring around 45 inches in length, golfers with poor fundamentals can find themselves creating larger swing problems due to a longer driver.
Professional golfers often play with shorter shafts that measure around 43 to 43.5 inches because it allows them to get to the ball faster. Shorter shafts generate more swing speed for the professional golfer while increasing their ability to get the driver back to square at impact.
Is getting a 460cc Driver important for a golfer?
For beginning golfers, playing with a sub 460cc driver has its advantages as it allows them to play with a club with a lower profile to help the weekend warrior get under the golf ball easier and with more shot height
Bigger 460cc drivers are going to be taller and wider on the club face, so they will have more forgiveness and have a larger sweet spot and higher ball speed but that doesn’t mean all golfers should immediately jump to that level if they are not ready as these clubs are primarily for advanced golfers.