This article was originally published by nationalclubgolfer.com
Eight of golf’s most significant brands introduced us to a whopping 20 new drivers for the 2023 season, and our team has tested them all to let you know which one will best suit your game.
We’ve hit them in the sun, in the rain, abroad, at home, in the heat, in the snow, on the course and in a simulator room with TaylorMade TP5 golf balls using TrackMan to create honest reviews you can actually trust.
We have scoured through all the shot data we’ve collected and dove deep into the new technology to assemble our list of the best drivers of 2023.
Oh, and there’s more where that came from. A lot more. We’ll cover the best golf drivers for beginners, the best golf drivers for high handicappers, the best golf drivers for mid handicappers, and the best golf drivers for seniors.
Then we’ll answer that burning question: what are the best golf drivers of all time?
Best Titleist Drivers 2023
The brand’s latest TSR range of drivers are designed to be the best golf drivers for distance, whilst at the same time they also prove to be the most forgiving drivers that money can buy.
This lineup consists of the TSR1 driver, TSR2 driver, TSR3 driver and, you guessed it, the TSR4 driver – each with their own unique characteristics to suit different players’ demands.
And the favorite Titleist driver goes to…
The Titleist TSR2 Driver!
Straight away I was blown away by this driver. I love how Titleist has made the club head more compact, it definitely has more of a player’s feel at address and makes you feel like you are going to be able to get the club head moving fast.
As it turns out, the re-shaping of the club head has made a massive difference in performance. I gained 3.5 mph of club head speed when moving from the TSi2 to the TSR2. That’s seriously impressive. It also meant I got some lovely carry distance gains.
The smaller design had less MOI meaning my off strikes weren’t as good as with the TSi2 and the spin was also quite low.
The TSR2 offers me the best of both worlds and one of the most impressive things was just how consistent my data was throughout testing. Ball speed, carry distance and direction was much more consistent than with my previous TSi3.
PROS
- Smaller more refined shaping
- Fast ball speeds across the face
- Forgiving on off centre strikes
CONS
- Not as workable as other models
Right-handed lofts: 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°
Left-handed lofts: 9°, 10°, 11° (8° custom only)
Titleist featured shafts: Hzrdus Red CB, Tensei AV Blue with XLink Tech, Hzrdus Black, Tensei 1K Black
Premium shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD UB, Tour AD DI, Tour AD IZ
Callaway Drivers 2023
Callaway has already made its mark on 2023 with the superb Paradym range of clubs, their three drivers that have seriously impressed our reviews team.
The name comes from the word ‘Paradigm’ which has a few meanings. Callaway’s take is “a set of ideas or way of looking at something” a name that signifies thinking outside the box.
Currently, there are a grand total of 42 PGA Tour players among the top players in the world gaming Callaway equipment – most notably Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele. Jon Rahm definitely loves his new Paradym Triple Diamond driver. He has won three times on the PGA Tour already with it this season.
And the favorite Callaway Driver goes to…
The Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver!
This driver is a thing of beauty. I love how Callaway has rounded the head and made it more compact; it looks smaller than it actually is. It definitely has a player’s feel at address with the super deep face; you certainly feel like you can swing it hard.
I much prefer the way the Paradym Triple Diamond looks compared to the Rogue ST model. The new color scheme gives you a real premium feel, a similar feeling you get when you see a Rolls Royce.
Straight away, the driver feels really powerful at impact, and the ball rockets off the face. Compared to last year’s Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS, the Paradym produced ball speeds 2-3mph quicker, which is brilliant news for players looking for more distance.
I was able to average nearly 3mph more club head speed with the Paradym Triple Diamond driver, which is thanks to the new 360-degree carbon chassis. The triaxial carbon crown and forged carbon sole make it 44% lighter than drivers with the traditional titanium chassis, which means weight can be redistributed.
PROS
- Looks amazing behind the ball
- Really impressive ball speeds
- Will play brilliantly in the wind
- Reduces spin
CONS
- Will not suit low-speed players or slicers
- Low spinning head will mean proper custom fitting is a must
Lofts: 8°, 9°, 10.5°
Featured shafts:
Project X Hzrdus Black 60g R
Mitsubishi Chemical Kai’li White 60g S, X – 70g S, X
Ping Drivers 2023
Ping is back for 2023 with the replacement to their popular G425 range, the G430, a line-up that includes three drivers. The Ping G430 SFT, Ping G430 LST, and Ping G430 Max, each with their own unique characteristics that will suit every golfer’s needs.
Ping staffers such as Tony Finau, Harris English, Cameron Champ, and Corey Conners are all already gaming Ping’s latest G430 models.
In case you haven’t read up on Ping’s latest innovations, we’ve got everything you need to know about the Ping G430 drivers and why they might just be the brand’s best line-up yet.
And the favorite Ping Driver goes to…
The Ping G430 Max Driver
I couldn’t believe how much different the new Ping drivers sound, and I’m not sure the difference came across as much on camera in my YouTube review as it did in real life.
I think this is a game changer for Ping this year as there is no longer an element of the driver that puts people off the rest of the performance
In terms of ease of use, this felt exceptionally easy to launch and get down the fairway even with the 9° club head I tested.
Spinsistency is a huge story in this range and it was really interesting looking at the consistency of the data here. The spin rate only varied by 350 rpm across all my shots which are very consistent.
PROS
- Excellent carry distances
- Really consistent data
- Maximum forgiveness on off-center strikes
- One of the top drivers of 2023
- Sound seriously improved vs G425
CONS
- Bigger clubhead than some other brands
Right-handed lofts: 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°
Ping stock shafts: ALTA CB BLACK 55 / 65 / 70, PING TOUR 2.0 CHROME 65 / 75 / 85, PING TOUR 2.0 BLACK 65 / 75, ALTA QUICK 35 / 45
Optional shafts (no upcharge): PROJECT X HZRDUS SMOKE RED RDX 50/60/70, MITSUBISHI KAI’LI WHITE 60/70,
TaylorMade Drivers 2023
TaylorMade has produced a plethora of high-quality drivers over the years. They have consistently delivered some of the most innovative designs that the golf industry has ever seen.
Their most recent range of revolutionary drivers is the Stealth 2 models, which look to build on the success of last year’s Stealth driver line-up.
Similar to the Stealth range, this year’s Stealth 2 roster offers players three different iterations of the driver: the Stealth 2, Stealth 2 HD, and Stealth 2 Plus. The best part? Our reviews team has tested the lot so you can find the best new TaylorMade driver to game in 2023.
And the favorite TaylorMade Driver goes to…
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Driver
TaylorMade is right on the money with the new Stealth 2 HD driver. The driver’s head has all of the looks of a players club that golfers want, with all the technology to straighten out the ball flight, which is what all golfers need. I love that the draw bias is subtle and not so in your face as it can be with other brands.
The point of the Stealth 2 is to give players who struggle with tee shots a driver that is easy to launch, performs well on off-center hits, and gets the ball in play more often, and that is exactly what the Stealth 2 HD delivers.
TaylorMade has added more carbon to the Stealth 2 and have been able to save weight around the head, which allows them to add more to the heel and move the center of gravity further back and closer to the heel to provide maximum launch and maximum draw.
PROS
- Hugely forgiving, so ideal for high-handicap golfers and mid-handicap golfers
- Great launch characteristics
- Draw features really work
- One of the best drivers in golf
CONS
- Limited stock shaft options
Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Featured shaft: Fujikura Speeder NX Red: S (60g) R & A (50g)
Cobra Drivers 2023
Cobra has some big-hitting players gaming their drivers, most notably Bryson DeChambeau, Kyle Berkshire, and Rickie Fowler.
Cobra’s newest range of innovative and performance-packed drivers is the Aerojet line, which replaces the LTDx range from last year. It includes three different types of heads, all of which our reviews team has tested: the Aerojet, Aerojet LS, and Aerojet Max drivers.
This year’s big story behind the Aerojet driver range is new aerodynamic shapings to drive up club head speeds. The sole and crown of the driver are much more curved to make the club head more streamlined and reduce drag as you swing the golf club.
And the favorite Cobra Driver goes to…
The Cobra Aerojet LS Driver
As a result of all of those curves, the Aerojet driver is seriously aerodynamic. The sole and the crown have more curves than the 2022 Cobra LTDx LS, and it shows in the speeds. My club head speeds are variable depending on the state of my back and how cold it is and on a damp range.
I hit it all over the face, who doesn’t, and was extremely surprised with my ball speeds on off-center strikes. The black titanium on the sole adds a lot of performance benefits, Cobra calls it a Titanium Power Bridge. In this LS model, it moves the center of gravity forward for more speed and connects the heel and toe for more forgiveness. In practice, that was giving me a variable of just 4mph in ball speed on my best and worst strikes.
Interestingly, this LS model is flatter than a standard driver. I hate seeing the ball going left, and as you can see from the Trackman data below, this was helping me stay on or right of the target. Even huge toe strikes weren’t nose-diving left.
PROS
- Very cool looks, screams go faster!
- Flat set-up = anti-left!
- Very compact head
- Fast club head speeds
- Very consistent ball speeds
CONS
- Needs a re-grip for my average hands
Lofts: 9° & 10.5°
Stock shafts: MCA Kai’li Blue 60, Project X Hzrdus Black Gen 4, MCA Kai’li White 60
Grip: Lamkin Crossline
Mizuno Drivers 2023
If there’s one brand whose clubs have undergone serious development in recent years, it’s Mizuno. Their drivers have come on leaps and bounds.
Mizuno’s new line-up of drivers for 2023 includes the Mizuno ST-Z 230 and Mizuno ST-X 230, which, like year after year, are clean, classic, and great-looking drivers.
In case you haven’t brushed up on what Mizuno has brought to the table this year, find out everything you need to know about the new Mizuno ST drivers.
And the favorite Mizuno Drivers goes to…
The Mizuno ST-X 230 driver review
This driver will shock you. Its beautiful head will make you take it off the rack in your pro shop, but it’s the results that will make you keep it in the bag for 2023.
I could not believe how well this driver performed. Mizuno is going to change a lot of golfers’ minds when they get the ST-X 230 in their hands for a fitting, as not only does it look superb, you can’t argue with how the shots perform.
I tested the ST-X 230 driver a few weeks after using the lower spinning ST-Z driver as my gamer, and I made a huge mistake not trying both of Mizuno’s new heads at the same time because as much as I loved the ST-Z, the ST-X is much more suited to my game.
The dispersion with the Mizuno ST-X 230 driver is slightly left-biased, which is what you’d expect from a head with the adjustable weight slightly off-center towards the heel. This could be counteracted by using the adjustable hosel to lower the loft and open the face. Still, Mizuno are saying that professionals and elite amateurs are averaging more ball speed with it being slightly draw-biased, and that is something I am here for.
PROS
- Slight draw biased round head
- Very forgiving
- Higher spin and very workable
- Ideal for beginner golfers
CONS
- Head feels really big
Lofts: 9.5˚, 10.5˚, 12˚
So what is the best driver of 2023?
Per Hanna “I have had the Titleist TSR2 driver in my bag since July 2022 and have been really impressed with the performance. So I was interested to see if anything could replace it in 2023.
I have hit every new driver on the market this year in various conditions. In warm weather, cold weather, dry, wet, and windy weather. On the range and on the golf course to make sure I knew what the performance was like in all circumstances.
The first club to pique my interest was the Ping G430 Max driver. I was really impressed with the stability, forgiveness, and consistency of the ball flight. It was also longer than previous Ping drivers I have tested, with the added bonus of new and improved sound and feel. The only thing that kept this out of my bag was a slightly higher launch and spin rate than I would ideally want. In warm, calm conditions, my performance was fantastic but with my very high ball flight, I struggled slightly to control the ball in the wind. This would, however, be perfect for those with a lower ball flight who want to flight the ball higher.
The second driver I wanted to test against my TSR2 was the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver. Interestingly it took me a few goes to get used to this club due a slightly heavier custom fit build.
In the end, it produced 1 mph quicker club head speed on average, which helped increase ball speed by 2 mph with an average carry distance of 240, which is about 7 yards longer than the Titleist. Interestingly the average smash factor (strike efficiency) with the Paradym Triple Diamond was more than the Titleist despite being a lower spinning, less forgiving design. I think this comes down to the new head construction, which increases forgiveness.
I also liked that it was hard to lose the ball to the left with the Paradym Triple Diamond. This won’t suit everyone, but I have struggled with a hook the past couple of years and this gives me the confidence to swing hard when on the tee and keep my desired shot shape.”
My favorite drivers of 2023
4 – TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD driver
3 – Ping G430 Max driver
2 – Titleist TSR2 driver
1 – Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver
Best Drivers 2023
How do we test drivers?
Each driver is hit with TP5 golf balls to allow us to collect launch monitor data with our in-house TrackMan and Flightscope. After this, it is time to head out onto the golf course and test the clubs in practice and competition play.
What is important when buying a new driver?
When buying a new driver it is important to know what you want from that club to help you improve.
Most people are looking for more distance, each driver model is optimized for different things. Depending on your swing and your impact conditions, you may not actually hit the model that is advertised as the longest, the furthest. So if you want more distance it is always worth giving different models a hit before you make a decision.
For most golfers, especially high handicappers, something that is more forgiving is going to yield the best performance. Most forgiving golf drivers have a slightly bigger club head with perimeter weighting for high MOI. They also have a center of gravity that is further back to help players get more height on their shots.
Do you want something that is draw bias? There are so many models out there to help with slice correction, it would be silly not to take a look if you see your ball disappearing into the right trees too often. A closed face and draw bias weighting can get you hitting straighter shots in no time at all.
Don’t forget about the shaft either. Getting the correct shaft can help dial in your spin, and launch angle and can also give you some extra distance. Having a club fitting or trying different options with your local pro can really improve the performance of your new driver.