When golfers have confidence in their driver, they can score lower. I can’t tell you that the driver is the most important club in the bag, but a day when your driver is working compared to one where it is not will feel completely different on the course.
Average golfers and mid handicappers are fortunate that most of the drivers on the market are built specifically for their needs. If you are an average golfer or mid handicapper, there are dozens of choices for you on the market.
I have compiled a list of the best golf drivers for mid handicappers across several different price ranges and playing styles; let’s see which one will work best for your golf game.
Best Drivers for Mid Handicappers & Average Golfers: Our Top Picks
Ping G430 MAX (Top Pick)
TaylorMade Stealth 2 (Runner-Up)
Callaway Paradym (Runner-Up #2)
Ping G430 SFT (Extreme Slicers)
Titleist TSR1 (Slow Swing Speed)
PXG 0211 2022 (Budget Pick)
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max (Best Older Model)
Ping G425 Max (Best Older Model Pick #2)
Ping G430 MAX
- Forgiving, consistent, yet workable
- Sounds great
- Sliding backweight to adjust for draw/fade
- Might not deliver your longest drives, which could be a deal-breaker for some.
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10.5° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: Rear sliding weight for fade/draw bias
I’m an average golfer, perhaps just like you. I was fit into the Ping G430 MAX back in February 2023, and I am extremely happy with the results.
Now, just because it worked for me doesn’t mean it will work for you. However, if you’re a mid handicap golfer who struggles with consistency off the tee, I highly recommend checking out the G430 MAX.
It’s extremely forgiving yet still has enough distance. Not only is it my best driver pick for the average golfer, but I also named it the top driver for beginners too.
This latest model from Ping’s line has slightly better performance than its predecessor, the G425 MAX. Ping really improved the sound from the previous G425, which really stood out during my testing. It’s incredibly easy to hit and boasts fantastic forgiveness, making it easy to keep your ball in play.
The G430 Max has a 25-gram tungsten weight at the back so you can adjust to a fade or draw-bias. This driver is especially ideal for golfers who want to boost their distance while still maintaining control over their shots.
TaylorMade Stealth 2
- Excellent ball speed
- Really sharp looking design
- Great sounding
- Maximum forgiveness
- No adjustable sliding weight
- Not a huge difference from original Stealth
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10.5° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: 25-gram weight in sole
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 was designed for the average golfer. It has a 25-gram weight in the sole, which helps launch the ball and provide a high level of MOI for increased forgiveness.
Much like we saw with last year’s original Stealth drivers, TaylorMade is sticking with the carbon twist face technology, which promotes more distance and helps with off-center strikes.
It doesn’t have a rear sliding weight for draw/face adjustability like the Stealth 2 Plus, but that driver is aimed at better golfers since the rear weight is only 15 grams and doesn’t offer as much forgiveness.
The black and red design really looks fantastic, although I’m not a huge fan of the gloss finish on the head.
I must say that the sound is noticeably better in the Stealth 2 compared to the original Stealth. It’s one of the better-sounding drivers on the market.
Callaway Paradym Driver
- Lightweight design and low center of gravity for high launch and low spin
- Solid sound and feel at impact with a satisfyingly muted sound
- Adjustable loft, lie, and face angle
- Sleek and professional matte black finish on clubhead
- Higher price point may be a deterrent for some golfers
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10.5° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: Rear sliding weight for fade / draw bias
The Callaway Paradym Driver is an impressive club that offers plenty of distance and forgiveness for the average golfer. The club’s unique shape is intended to provide optimal aerodynamics and maximize swing speed, resulting in long and powerful drives.
The carbon fiber crown and sole contribute to the club’s lightweight design and low center of gravity, allowing for a high launch and low spin. The club’s sound and feel at impact are solid, with a satisfyingly muted sound.
The adjustable loft sleeve and OptiFit hosel allow for customization of the club’s loft, lie, and face angle to suit the golfer’s preferences. The matte black finish on the clubhead looks sleek and professional.
One potential drawback is the price, which may be prohibitive for some golfers.
Ping G430 SFT
- Reduces slices and hooks, ideal for accuracy-challenged golfers
- Weighting system and draw-biased design promote a straighter ball flight
- Sleek matte black finish looks professional
- Sound improved from previous year
- Offers ample distance and forgiveness for all skill levels
- May not be effective for severe swing flaws
- Draw-biased design may worsen natural draw or hook tendency
Specs:
- Lofts: 10.5°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: Rear sliding weight for Draw and Draw+
The Ping G430 SFT Driver is a fantastic option for golfers looking to reduce slices off the tee.
It has an adjustable sliding weight in the sole that you can adjust from Draw to Draw+ to fight a slice and help golfers hit more fairways.
The sleek matte black finish gives it a professional look and Ping really improved the sound from the previous G425 lineup.
Despite being marketed towards mid-high handicappers and slower swing speeds, this driver offers ample distance and forgiveness for golfers of all skill levels.
Overall, the Ping G430 SFT Driver is a well-designed club that can significantly improve a player’s accuracy off the tee.
Titleist TSR1
- Ultra-lightweight design and enhanced aerodynamics for increased speed
- Good sound and aesthetics
- Lowest and furthest back center of gravity for high launch and maximum forgiveness
- Not good for faster swingers (over 90 mph)
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: None
The TSR1 is Titleist’s 2023 release targeted for golfers with slower swing speeds, generally under 90 mph. The club is approximately 40 grams lighter than the stock TSR2, making it easier to handle. The lightweight design helps increase swing speed to promote more distance.
Titleist has done a lot to improve the aerodynamics of the TSR series. That, coupled with the lightweight design, makes the TSR1 easier to swing at faster speeds. Many mid handicap golfers have slower swing speeds, and this is a driver I would recommend checking out.
The design is stunningly simple, with branding limited to a small script Titleist on the toe and modest TSR1 at the heel. It has a wonderful round shape and the gloss black crown is accentuated with a simple “TSR” as a sweet spot alignment aid.
The sweet spot of the TSR1 is also spread out across the entire face, which helps you get better contact on off-center strikes, ultimately leading to more consistency.
The TSR1 driver also has the highly regarded SureFit Hosel, with 16 loft and lie settings and a weight port at the rear of the head to promote high launch.
PXG 0211 2022
- Excellent stability
- Impressive forgiveness
- Helps launch
- Great distance
- Suits a wide range of abilities
- Amazing price
- Not the best for slow swingers
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10.5° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: No
The PXG 0211 2022 Driver is a high-quality club that delivers impressive distance and accuracy. The club’s honeycomb TPE insert helps dampen vibrations and provide a solid feel at impact, while the carbon fiber crown and titanium face provide a lightweight and durable design. The club’s sleek black and silver finish adds a touch of style to any golfer’s bag.
The adjustable hosel and weighting system allow for customization of the club’s loft, lie, and center of gravity, providing golfers with a personalized fit. The club’s ball flight is consistently high and stable, making it ideal for golfers with a slower swing speed.
It’s also a great value compared to other driver brands.
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max
- Fast ball speeds
- Awesome forgiveness
- Impressive feel and stability
- Great value
- Available for ladies
- Unique head shape takes some getting used to
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10.5° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: Rear
Average golfers and mid handicappers have come to know the TaylorMade SIM series as being a fast and long-distance golf club. With this previous generation version, the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max, you can expect the same very high ball speeds with a mix of forgiveness in the club head as well.
The new SIM Inertia Generator allows the aerodynamic design of the SIM 2 Max to help move through the air quite a bit easier. Although the SIM 2 Max works for various club head speeds, those who struggle to get the club moving fast enough will love the performance of this driver’s head.
To be honest, it was hard for TaylorMade to improve much on the SIM Max driver of last year. However, the new Forged Ring Construction and full carbon sole give the SIM 2 Max a new feel and impressive workability. You will find that even when your swing is just slightly off for the day, the SIM 2 Max can bring everything back together and deliver the performance that you need.
Ping G425 Max
- Extremely forgiving
- Built-in adjustability
- Eight-point hosel for loft and lie adjustment
- Turbulators receive varied feedback for their appearance
- Sound can be jarring to some
Specs:
- Lofts: 9°, 10.5° and 12°
- Adjustable loft hosel: Yes
- Weights: Rear sliding weight for fade / draw bias
Ping always seems to make golf clubs with a great mix of distance and forgiveness, but they never leave out the feel component. The Ping golf clubs feel better than most other drivers on the market, increasing workability. If you are an average golfer that likes to try and place your drive on a par five or work it around a dogleg, you will enjoy what the G425 MAX brings to the table.
The new T9S+ face has helped to add distance and increase the overall speed that players can get. Adding a movable tungsten weight allows players to fine-tune the Ping G425 MAX performance to their specific needs. Whether your average golf handicap is on its way down or up, the Ping G425 MAX will be a good fit.
What to look for when buying a driver as a mid handicapper?
To choose the best driver for a mid handicap golfer, consider factors such as forgiveness, adjustability, shaft options, and price. Look for a driver with a large sweet spot and a design that corrects mishits, offers adjustable settings for optimal performance, provides shaft options that match your swing speed and desired ball flight, and fits within your budget.
At this point, you should have much more confidence in your ability to choose a great golf driver. As you can see from my list, the best golf drivers for average golfers and mid handicappers will have a mix of distance, forgiveness, and feel.
The idea of these drivers is to help bring your game down to the next level. When you have to choose just one of these clubs for your game, here are a few things that you should consider before making your final purchase.
Choosing The Right Loft
Most average golfers do well with a driver that has around 10.5 degrees of loft. Many tests and studies have been done to determine the ideal loft for an average golfer. The 10.5-degree loft helps give players a perfect mix of forgiveness and distance.
When loft gets too high, you can lose distance; when loft gets too low, the club becomes much less forgiving. Most average golfers should not go below 9 degrees of loft on their driver.
Pick The Right Shaft
Custom fitting is now available on every single golf driver on the market. When you purchase a new club, you can get the stock shaft, but there are hundreds of other shaft options.
Try to know what your club head speed is and what your weaknesses are as a player. If you are struggling with the golf shaft decision, go for a fitting on a launch monitor and get the specific details that you need.
Adjustability
A golf driver with adjustability is like getting two drivers for the price of one. If you are a mid handicapper who is constantly working to improve your game, you are making swing changes that will impact the clubs you need.
A golf driver for mid handicappers with adjustability can be quickly tuned to fit your needs that day. People that purchase golf drivers with adjustability often keep them for considerably longer than those that don’t.
Forgiveness
A golf driver for average golfers and a mid handicapper must have forgiveness. Look for technology that increases the size of the face and allows for misses on both the heel and the toe. Average golfers don’t typically need a lot of offset in the clubhead so that you can look for more of a straight neck design.
Draw Bias
If you struggle with a slice, you may want to consider a driver that’s designed to help. All manufacturers have a draw-bias driver in their lineup. Typically they come with either weights built into the sole and heel which promotes a draw, or they have a sliding rear weight that you can adjust.
Performance and Distance
Every driver on our list has been manufactured to increase the distance that players can get. Ball speed is an essential factor to consider and allows golfers to get the distance that they need.
Some companies will use different materials, and others will use technology inside the club head, but the overall result is increased ball speed. Players with slower swing speeds can finally get the distance that they need from the tee.
Cost
The cost of a new golf driver is likely going to be around $500. The pricing on drivers has increased considerably in the last few years, and it has everything to do with the materials used and the overall manufacturing process.
With things like Artificial Intelligence coming to the market, you will be getting a considerably better driver than years ago. Unfortunately, this comes at a high price.
Don’t choose a golf driver for your game based on the pricing alone; look instead at performance benefits and the needs of your game.
FAQs
What is a mid handicapper?
A mid handicap golfer typically shoots between 80 and 95 strokes for 18 holes and has a handicap index ranging from 11 to 20. These players have a basic understanding of the game and are working to improve their skills, consistency, and course management.
Are there any benefits to using a draw-biased driver for mid handicappers?
A draw-biased driver can help golfers who struggle with a slice or fade. By promoting a draw (right-to-left ball flight for a right-handed golfer), these drivers can counteract the effects of a slice, resulting in straighter and longer shots.
If you consistently struggle with a slice or fade, a draw-biased driver might be an excellent choice for your game. However, if your ball flight is generally straight or you already hit a draw, a draw-biased driver may not be necessary.
How do I know if my current driver is suitable for my skill level?
To determine if your current driver is suitable for your skill level, consider the following factors:
– Are you consistently hitting the ball with reasonable distance and accuracy?
– Do you feel confident with your driver in hand?
– Does your driver allow you to make adjustments to improve your ball flight?
– Does your driver have a shaft that matches your swing speed and desired ball flight?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it might be time to consider upgrading your driver to one that better suits your needs as a mid handicapper or average golf
How often should I upgrade my driver?
The frequency at which you should upgrade your driver depends on several factors, such as your skill level, the wear and tear on your current driver, and advancements in golf technology.
Generally, mid handicappers and average golfers can benefit from upgrading their drivers every 3-5 years. However, if you notice a significant drop in performance, it might be worth considering an upgrade sooner.
How can I make sure I’m getting the most out of my new driver?
To ensure you’re getting the most out of your new driver, follow these tips:
– Get custom-fitted: A custom fitting session with a professional fitter will help you find the ideal driver specifications for your swing and game.
– Practice regularly: Spend time on the driving range to familiarize yourself with your new driver and develop consistency in your swing.
– Make adjustments: If your driver offers adjustability, experiment with different settings to find the optimal configuration for your game.
– Monitor your progress: Track your performance on the course and make note of any improvements or areas that need further attention.
– Seek professional guidance: Consider working with a golf instructor to help fine-tune your swing and maximize the benefits of your new driver.
How do I know which driver is right for me?
To determine which driver is right for you, consider your skill level, swing speed, ball flight preferences, and budget. It’s also recommended to participate in a custom fitting session with a professional fitter who can analyze your swing and recommend the ideal driver specifications for your game.
What is the best driver for a mid handicapper or average golfer?
The best driver for a mid handicapper or average golfer is one that offers forgiveness, adjustability, and shaft options that match your swing characteristics. Some top choices include the Ping G430 MAX and the Callaway Paradym, both of which offer excellent performance, forgiveness, and adjustability.
What is the best driver shaft for a mid handicapper?
The best driver shaft for a mid handicapper is one that matches your swing speed and desired ball flight. A professional fitter can help you determine the ideal shaft flex, weight, and material for your swing.
What degree driver is best for mid handicap?
The best degree driver for a mid handicap golfer typically ranges between 9 and 12 degrees, but the optimal loft depends on your swing speed, launch angle, and spin rate. A custom fitting session with a professional fitter can help you determine the ideal loft for your game.
Conclusion
By now, you should have a better understanding of the best drivers for mid handicappers and average golfers. Whether you choose the Ping G430 MAX, Callaway Paradym, or another option that suits your needs, the right driver can make a significant difference in your game.
Remember, the best driver for you is the one that fits your swing and helps you achieve your desired ball flight. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different options and settings to find the perfect match for your game. With the right driver in hand, you’ll be teeing off with confidence and watching your scores drop in no time.
Now, go out there and show the golf course who’s boss!
