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Best Golf Drivers 2023

Best Golf Drivers 2023

Our Job Is Your Game

The wait is over! Based on our extensive, industry-leading testing, these are the best golf drivers of 2023.

This is the most in-depth driver test and data-driven review in the business. If you are considering investing in a new driver, you must read on.

Best Drivers 2023

How We Test

In total, with 35 testers and 30 driver models, it required 315 individual sessions to complete testing for the Most Wanted Driver 2023. This exhaustive process is just one reason we reach 17 million readers annually. You trust our research and results.

All of our shots are hit using Titleist ProV1 golf balls because our testing shows the ProV1 is the most consistent and reliable golf ball on the market.

Titleist ProV1

Every Most Wanted Test is conducted indoors. Therefore, we use a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor for accurate and reliable clubhead and ball data for each shot.

 

Each Most Wanted Test requires thousands of golf shots. Indoor Golf Shop’s SIGPRO Premium Screen’s durability is unmatched and allows our testing to run uninterrupted.

These three key components allow us to limit variables and produce the most extensive and reliable golf club tests.

Most Wanted Scoring

Our scoring is based on three categories: distance, accuracy and forgiveness. Each category includes underlying metrics.

Distance

The distance category is broken down into three metrics.

Carry Yards – Average carry yards

Total Yards – Average total yards

Peak Distance – Peak distance measures the distance potential of a driver. This is done by comparing the best drives hit by each tester with each club.

Accuracy

For most golfers, distance is the priority. However, we firmly believe accuracy’s importance needs to be emphasized. The purpose of our accuracy category is to help you identify the golf clubs that fly straight, helping you avoid penalty strokes.

Straight Shot Percentage – Think of this as an adjusted Fairway Percentage. However, shots aren’t penalized for missing the fairway simply because they were a few yards longer. The target area widens the further a shot is hit.

Playable Shot Percentage – Obviously, a playable shot is ideal. We identify a playable shot as one that is in or within 10 yards of the edge of a 35-yard-wide fairway.

Strokes Gained – Strokes Gained was our main metric for determining overall results. Now, it is integrated into our accuracy category. Strokes Gained combines distance and accuracy to determine how well a club is in comparison to the rest of the field. The further a shot moves offline, the more severe the penalty.

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Forgiveness

Typically, forgiveness is tied to MOI (moment of inertia) or how much MOI a golf club has. Our forgiveness category takes a deeper dive into what forgiveness means to us.

Carry Delta – The difference in yards between the longest and shortest shot hit by each tester with each golf club.

Ball Speed Delta – The speed difference between the fastest and slowest shots hit by each tester with each golf club.

Shot Area – In its simplest form, dispersion. Picture the ellipse associated with most launch monitor software that surrounds a grouping of shots. The tighter the circles, the better. However, at the same time, a club can have a tight grouping and not be the straightest.

Scoring

Each individual metric is weighted within each corresponding category. From there, categories are then weighted (slightly favoring distance) and aggregated to form the overall rankings.

Every golfer is different. Determine your area of weakness and identify the best-performing drivers in that area. Whether you are seeking more distance, accuracy or forgiveness, there is a driver out there for you.

Most Wanted Driver 2023: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

Best Golf Driver 2023

Best Drivers Overall

TOP PICKS: TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 PLUS, COBRA AEROJET LS, TITLEIST TSR3

Best Drivers for Distance

TOP PICKS: COBRA AEROJET LS, TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 PLUS, SRIXON ZX5 LS Mk II

Best Drivers for Accuracy

TOP PICKS: PING G425 MAX, TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 PLUS, PING G430 MAX

Best Drivers for Forgiveness

TOP PICKS: TOUR EDGE EXOTICS E723, PING G430 SFT, CALLAWAY PARADYM X

 

Best Golf Drivers 2023 Scores

Best Golf Drivers 2023 Scores

 PRODUCTOVERALL SCOREDISTANCE SCOREACCURACY SCOREFORGIVENESS SCORE
TaylorMade Stealth 2 PlusTaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

Check Price
97.594.196.784.1
Cobra AeroJet LSCOBRA AeroJet LS

Check Price
95.497.490.582.4
Titleist TSR3Titleist TSR3

Check Price
9591.291.190.4
Callaway Paradym XCallaway Paradym X

Check Price
93.987.492.991.5
Srixon ZX5 LS Mk IISrixon ZX5 LS MK II

Check Price
92.792.986.788.5
Callaway Paradym Triple DiamondCallaway Paradym Triple Diamond

Check Price
90.992.887.882.8
Tour Edge Exotics E723Tour Edge Exotics E723

Check Price
90.879.991.797.5
PING G430 MaxPING G430 MAX

Check Price
90.785.493.186.8
PING G425 MAX

Check Price
90.279.397.489.4
Srixon ZX7 Mk IISrixon ZX7 MK II

Check Price
9088.488.886.3
Titleist TSR4Titleist TSR4

Check Price
89.887.990.584.3
TaylorMade Stealth 2TaylorMade Stealth 2

Check Price
88.192.884.880.2
PING G430 LSTPING G430 LST

Check Price
87.187.985.385
Cobra AeroJetCOBRA AeroJet

Check Price
86.791.383.880.7
PXG 0211 22'PXG 0211 22'

Check Price
8680.489.388.9
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HDTaylorMade Stealth 2 HD

Check Price
85.580.287.890
PXG 0311 XF Gen5PXG 0311 XF Gen5

Check Price
85.481.789.285.5
Wilson Dynapower CarbonWilson Dynapower Carbon

Check Price
84.288.583.679.4
Mizuno ST-Z 230Mizuno ST-Z 230

Check Price
83.182.384.885.1
Tour Edge Exotics C723Tour Edge Exotics C723

Check Price
79.983.781.180.2
Titleist TSR2Titleist TSR2

Check Price
79.886.880.476.3
Wilson Dynapower TitaniumWilson Dynapower Titanium

Check Price
79.481.277.188.9
Titleist TSR1Titleist TSR1

Check Price
79.377.882.886.1
PXG 0311 Gen5PXG 0311 GEN5

Check Price
78.7778484.1
Callaway ParadymCallaway Paradym

Check Price
77.784.37779.8
Srixon ZX5 Mk IISrixon ZX5 MK II

Check Price
76.682.874.682.8
Cobra AeroJet MaxCOBRA AeroJet Max

Check Price
7681.679.876.2
Mizuno ST-X 230Mizuno ST-X 230

Check Price
74.981.273.882.6
PING G430 SFTPING G430 SFT

Check Price
73.273.171.794.4
NEXGEN NS210NexGen NS210

Check Price
71.478.972.279.9
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Buying Considerations for the Best Golf Drivers 2023

Performance should be your primary concern when looking for the best golf driver for your game but there are other components you should consider before buying a new driver.

Cost

In most cases, be prepared to shell out $500-plus for a new golf driver in 2023. These prices aren’t going down any time soon so your buying decision is based on whether the performance is worth the cost.

Having said that, for $300 or less, you can buy PXG’s 0211, 0311 Gen5 and 0311 XF Gen5. PING’s G425 MAX (last year’s Most Wanted driver) is currently $399.99 and that price may drop further as the year progresses.

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Shaft Selection

Each golfer delivers the golf club to the ball differently. This is where shaft selection plays a vital role in achieving consistent outcomes.

The golf shaft can assist with better accuracy, tighter dispersion and encourage better contact. In an era where golf driver technology is becoming more consistent, combining the right driver head and golf shaft can help you. Once you get that perfect combination, put it in your golf bag.

Distance Versus Everything Else

Rightly or wrongly, distance always piques golfers’ interest more than accuracy or forgiveness. However, finding the right driver for your swing can lead to the best performance in all three categories.

COBRA’s AEROJET LS soars as the best driver for distance in 2023. Unfortunately, it isn’t suitable for every golfer.

COBRA AeroJet LS

Ultimately, you must decide if distance is your main priority. Or is the optimum combination of distance, accuracy and forgiveness a better goal?

Adjustability and Shot Shape Correction

Arguably a first in Most Wanted Testing history, every driver in this year’s test features adjustability. From a fitting perspective, this allows for more precision.

Adjustability is three-fold: loft and lie adjustment and/or movable perimeter weighting (depending on the driver). Through adjustability, ideal launch conditions are more obtainable (in most scenarios) versus using a bonded driver. A fitter can either add or take away loft to find optimal launch or spin for every golfer. The lie angle can be adjusted to help with initial shot-shape direction.

As for perimeter weighting, it can help with launch, spin, ball speed and shot shape correction. PING G430 SFT, TITLEIST TSR3 and TSR4, TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 PLUS and COBRA AEROJET LS are a few examples that showcase dual adjustability: adjustable hosels and movable perimeter weighting.

Best Golf Drivers 2023 Field Notes

During each test, we look for trends that provide insight about market direction as well as what noteworthy changes manufacturers have made to improve year-over-year performance.

We are taking a new approach to tester feedback. As always, it will not play a role in our overall rankings. However, subjective feedback from our testing pool allows us to provide more definitive answers regarding sound, feel, looks and likelihood of purchase. Our testing pool now gives a rating on a scale of 1 to 10 for sound, feel, looks and likelihood of purchase.

Testers' Choice Award - Titleist TSR3

Testers' Choice Award - Titleist TSR3

Consumer feedback is important and this year we are revamping tester feedback. Titleist TSR3 comes out on top with a clean sweep.

Best for Sound

Best for Looks

Best for Feel

Best for Likelihood of Purchase

Titleist TSR2, TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 PLUS, PING G430 LST and PING G430 MAX were among the leaders for sound. Titleist TSR2, COBRA AEROJET LS, TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 PLUS and Titleist TSR4 offer excellent feel. PING G430 MAX, Titleist TSR2, PING G430 LST and Titleist TSR4 all rate highly for looks. Titleist, PING, TaylorMade and COBRA are at the top of the list for likelihood of purchase according to our testing pool.

Titleist TSR3

Trends

Most noticeably, the entire golf driver testing pool consists of adjustable drivers. Having adjustability in a driver is a game changer. We hope that this continues the trend where most OEMs only offer drivers with adjustability. Callaway’s Paradym lineup is the hot ticket item over the past several weeks. They’ve rolled out their new 360 Carbon Chassis and a bold new look. Carbon properties continue to be a trend, i.e,. Paradym and Stealth 2 lineups. Time will tell if other manufacturers enter the carbon generation.

Best Golf Drivers 2023

Hitting Bay Basics

Here are some quick insights to help you better navigate your next hitting bay experience.

Shaft Length – The equipment industry still can’t agree on the definition of an inch so one manufacturer’s 45.75 is often another’s 46. Pay attention to the actual shaft length of the clubs at your next hitting bay experience. A 46-inch shaft will almost always get you more yards but it typically leads to a loss of accuracy and increased dispersion. A shorter shaft typically won’t cost you many (if any) yards because you’ll hit the sweet spot more often. Adjustable Loft – When you adjust loft, you change the face angle. Adding loft ↑ closes the face while decreasing loft ↓ opens the face. By understanding the relationship between loft and face angle and the influence face angle has on where your ball starts, you can leverage the loft adjustability to improve accuracy. Adjustable Weights – Not all adjustable weighting systems are created equal. You can leverage movable weight to its fullest potential by looking for systems that allow you to move significant mass over a wider area of the clubhead while keeping the weight close to the perimeter of the golf club. Lighter weights moved over small distances or moved between central locations will have a minimal impact on ball flight. Speed Versus Forgiveness – Despite promises of breakthrough technologies, run-of-the-mill physics, namely center-of-gravity location, remains the greatest predictor of ball speed. Clubs with more forward centers of gravity like the COBRA AEROJET LS, Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, and other low-spin designs will typically produce the fastest ball speeds but with that comes lower MOI and often diminished forgiveness. Good Looks Don’t Equal Good Performance – Don’t overvalue looks. Golfers tell us all the time they can’t hit a club well if they don’t like how it looks but we’ve found very little evidence to suggest this is true. Very often, golfers produce outstanding results with clubs they claim to despise. Keep an open mind about a club that you may not find visually appealing.

Best Golf Drivers 2023

Best Golf Drivers 2023 Product Specifications

Best Golf Drivers 2023 Product Specs

 OEMStated LoftMeasured LoftSwing WeightLength
Callaway ParadymCallaway Paradym

Check Price
98.7D 5.845.75"
Callaway Paradym Triple DiamondCallaway Paradym Triple Diamond

Check Price
99D 3.045.75"
Callaway Paradym XCallaway Paradym X

Check Price
98.8D 3.845.75"
Cobra AeroJetCOBRA AeroJet

Check Price
98.4D 4.745.625"
Cobra AeroJet LSCOBRA AeroJet LS

Check Price
98.6D 4.745.75"
Cobra AeroJet MaxCOBRA AeroJet Max

Check Price
98.7D 3.945.625"
Mizuno ST-X 230Mizuno ST-X 230

Check Price
9.59.4D 6.846"
Mizuno ST-Z 230Mizuno ST-Z 230

Check Price
9.59.5D 6.946"
NEXGEN NS210NexGen NS210

Check Price
9.59D 3.946"
Best Driver 2022PING G425 MAX

Check Price
99.4D 3.145.625"
PING G430 LSTPING G430 LST

Check Price
99D 5.145.75"
PING G430 MaxPING G430 MAX

Check Price
98.9D 3.145.75"
PING G430 SFTPING G430 SFT

Check Price
10.510.5C 8.145.75"
PXG 0311 Gen5PXG 0311 GEN5

Check Price
99D 4.245.5"
PXG 0311 XF Gen5PXG 0311 XF Gen5

Check Price
99D 4.545.5"
PXG 0211 22'PXG 0211 22'

Check Price
99.1D 4.745.5"
Srixon ZX5 LS Mk IISrixon ZX5 LS MK II

Check Price
9.59.3D 3.246"
Srixon ZX5 Mk IISrixon ZX5 MK II

Check Price
9.59.4D 2.946"
Srixon ZX7 Mk IISrixon ZX7 MK II

Check Price
9.59.4D 2.546"
TaylorMade Stealth 2TaylorMade Stealth 2

Check Price
98.8D 3.846"
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HDTaylorMade Stealth 2 HD

Check Price
99D 5.546"
TaylorMade Stealth 2 PlusTaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

Check Price
98.8D 3.845.75"
Titleist TSR1Titleist TSR1

Check Price
99.1D 3.846"
Titleist TSR2Titleist TSR2

Check Price
99D 4.745.75"
Titleist TSR3Titleist TSR3

Check Price
99D 4.645.75"
Titleist TSR4Titleist TSR4

Check Price
99D 5.145.75"
Tour Edge Exotics C723Tour Edge Exotics C723

Check Price
98.9D 6.145.75"
Tour Edge Exotics E723Tour Edge Exotics E723

Check Price
98.9D 6.445.875"
Wilson Dynapower CarbonWilson Dynapower Carbon

Check Price
98.8D 3.245.75"
Wilson Dynapower TitaniumWilson Dynapower Titanium

Check Price
99.2D 3.545.75"
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Best Golf Drivers 2023 Data

Most Wanted Driver 2023

If you’re like us, you love diving into data. You can check out data for each golf driver HERE.

FAQ

Buying a New Driver

Q: How often should I buy a new driver?

A: Typically, it takes three to five years for manufacturers to make any significant performance gains. Though we all want something new from time to time, our recommendation is to buy a new driver only when it appreciably outperforms what is already in your bag.

Q: With all the talk of new face technology, is there one driver that produces significantly more ball speed?

A: No. As has been the case in every year of testing, there was not one driver that produced more ball speed for everyone. We do find a handful of standouts every year but average ball speeds among our top performers tend to be very close. That doesn’t mean they’re all the same. As you move down the rankings, you will find drivers that can reasonably be described as slow.

Q: Does the shaft matter?

A: Absolutely. While changes to spin and launch and spin differences are rarely massive, shaft changes frequently lead to improved accuracy, tighter dispersion and greater overall consistency.

Q: What should I look for when testing drivers?

A: Don’t focus exclusively on distance. While we all want a few more yards, accuracy and forgiveness matter. Most launch monitors display standard deviations in small print under the averages. Smaller standard deviations correlate to greater consistency. That shouldn’t be overlooked.

Best Golf Drivers 2023

Most Wanted – Determining the Best Drivers 2023

Q: Where is the rest of the data?

A: We don’t want to overwhelm the average reader with intimidating data tables. For the hardcore among you, more data is available here. We’ve added some filters to help you isolate the strongest performers for your swing characteristics.

Q: What is your fitting process?

A: We use a fitting process that we call fit from stock.  Drivers are fitted to each tester using available stock no up-charge options from each manufacturer. We test with stamped lofts between nine and 10.5 degrees and fully utilize the fitting capability within each manufacturer’s lineup. This includes leveraging, loft, lie, face angle adjustability (hosel), movable weights and available shafts.

Q: How is the “Most Wanted Driver” determined?

A: After eliminating outliers, we calculate scores for our distanced, accuracy and forgiveness metrics. Those values are weighted and then aggregated to determine the Most Wanted Driver.

Q: How is the “Longest Driver” determined?

A: The three metrics that determine the longest driver are total distance, carry distance and peak distance (see Most Wanted Scoring section above for more detail)

Q: How is the “Most Accurate Driver” determined?

A: The metrics that determine the Most Forgiving Driver are straight shot percentage, playable shot percentage and Strokes Gained (see Most Wanted Scoring section above for more detail).

Q: How is the “Most Forgiving Driver” determined?

A: The metrics that determine the Most Forgiving Driver are carry delta, ball speed delta and shot area (see Most Wanted Scoring section above for more detail).

Q: How much does subjective feedback such as looks, sound and feel factor into your rankings?

A: ZERO. Our rankings are based on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.

Q: Will you publish a breakdown of the results by swing speed as you have in the past?

A: Yes. Those results will be published in the coming weeks.

The post Best Golf Drivers 2023 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

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