While it’s obviously important to be able to keep your tee shots in play, the data shows that there’s a direct correlation between how far you hit your driver and the scores you shoot. More distance means you will be using shorter clubs for your second shots, which makes the game easier. Not to mention the fact it’s fun to hit your drives past your friends’!
So, when choosing the best golf driver 2023, distance is clearly a major factor. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as naming one driver that will generate the maximum distance for all golfers. A golfer with a fast swing speed will likely get the greatest distance from a different driver that’s different to the one best-suited to someone with a slow swing speed, for instance. A golfer who hits a big slice off the tee may find a draw-biased driver that straightens their ball flight leads to considerably longer drives than a model designed for outright speed.
Let’s look at the different types of golfers and which drivers are most likely to give them the most distance.
Maximum distance if… you have a fast swing speed
Golfers with fast swing speeds have the potential to create a lot of distance on their drives. The main consideration is usually keeping the spin rate down, as fast speeds tend to generate a lot of spin, which can rob you of distance.
Most brands offer a low-spin model aimed at these high-speed players who are typically (but not always) also very good golfers.
Among low spin drivers, the Ping G430 LST is a standout performer. In their testing, Today’s Golfer found it to be the longest driver amongst all 2023 models – not just the low spin variants. The Ping G430 LST generated a carry distance of 282 yards, which was four yards longer than the second-longest driver in their test.
The Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond is another excellent option, creating even lower spin than the Ping G430 LST in the Today’s Golfer test. The Titleist TSR4 and TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus also produced excellent distances, with the latter also proving to be the most accurate low-spin driver in the test.
Maximum distance if… you have a normal or slower swing speed
Golfers who don’t have a problem with generating too much spin can look to standard drivers for maximum distance. These models are typically the most forgiving in a driver range, which is an added bonus.
Among these forgiving drivers, the TaylorMade Stealth 2, Mizuno ST-X 230 and Yonex Ezone GS i-Tech created the maximum distance in the Today’s Golfer test, all carrying 276 yards. The Ping G430 MAX, Callaway Paradym Max and Benross BR-PRO were all within two yards of that distance, so it’s worth testing them to see which one generates the maximum distance for you.
Maximum distance if… you tend to slice your drives
A sliced drive not only tends to leave you hitting your next shot from the rough or the trees, it also costs you a significant amount of distance. If your tee shots tend to curve a lot from left-to-right (for right-handed golfers), finding a driver that helps straighten your ball flight will keep your ball in play more often and give you extra distance.
The longest draw-biased drivers in the Today’s Golfer test were the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD, Callaway Paradym X, and the Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Draw.