For some golfers, the driver is the most difficult club in the bag to perfect. In this guide, we take a look at the 5 most forgiving drivers that you can buy today.
These drivers have been tuned in a way to keep the ball straight and prevent you from slicing or hooking. New technology is placed in each driver to improve your golf game.
Below, I’ll go over;
- The most forgiving drivers today.
- Key features in each driver that help you keep your drives straight
- How to buy each driver
Golfers automatically swing faster as soon as they put a driver in their hands. This can lead to lots of distance and great drives, or it can lead to a big mess for a player off the tee.
Sometimes golfers need just a bit of extra forgiveness regardless of if they are a high or low handicap player.
Here are five drivers that we consider to be the most forgiving drivers on the market.Â
Our Most Forgiving Drivers in 2022
- Callaway Mavrik (Best Overall)“The Callaway Mavrik Max is one of the longest and easiest to hit drivers that Callaway has ever produced; if you slice the ball, if you are inconsistent, and if you need a change in your game, the Mavrik Max is an excellent club for you.”
- TaylorMade SIM 2 Max-D (Best For Distance)
- Callaway Rogue ST MAX D (Premium Forgiving Driver)
- Cobra Speedzone Xtreme (Best on a Budget)
- Callaway Big Bertha B21 (Upgrade Pick)
Most Forgiving Drivers
Callaway Mavrik
Best Overall
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KEY FEATURES
- Jailbreak technology
- Tons of distance and forgiveness
- Adjustable weights
- Draw bias
- Available in many different shafts
KEY DRAWBACK
- Expensive
The brand new Callaway Mavrik driver for 2022 doesn’t come in the previous variations: the Sub Zero, the Mavrik, and the Mavrik Max. Instead, Callaway has simplified the line because the features are the same and the differences are negligible.
The Mavrik is an enormous clubhead. There are some great benefits to having a large club head. You will get a much larger sweet spot and a higher moment of inertia as well.
The Mavrik has plenty of launch for those golfers that feel as though their launch angle is not ideal. One of the reasons we consider the Mavrik the most forgiving is the fact that it is slightly draw bias.
A draw bias driver helps golfers who slice the ball. The draw bias is created using internal weighting. In addition to the internal weighting that initially makes this club draw bias, it also has two interchangeable weights that you can use to increase the draw spin on the ball.
The biggest advances for Callaway with this club were the new SS20 Flash Face to help get much faster ball speeds and improve the sound and feel from prior models. Sometimes sound and feel is something you have to choose to give up when you go with a forgiving golf club; that is not the case with the Callaway.
If you are a golfer that struggles with forgiveness, the Mavrik is the best choice on the market.
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Draw
Best For Distance
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KEY FEATURES
- Adjustable loft
- Low center of gravity
- Great for all swing speeds
- Very forgiving driver
KEY DRAWBACKS
- Slower swing golfers should look more at the Mavrik
Just because a driver is forgiving does not mean that you should have to sacrifice distance. Distance and forgiveness can work together in some drivers. Some clubs will allow you the forgiveness you need to help you start getting the distance that you are capable of.
With the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Draw, you will get the distance your swing is capable of and then some. The ball speeds coming off of this golf driver are higher than many of the drivers on the market. The 2 SIM Max D drivers have some great forgiving features to allow golfers to drop their handicap down.
The new Sim Max D has an inertia generator that is supposed to help get golfers speed at the most critical time in their swing, impact. A 16 gram weight has been placed in the back of the club. With all of this clubhead speed that TaylorMade puts in their drivers, they need to make sure that the sweet spot and face are equally high performing.
The SIM 2 Max D has an adjustable loft, and it comes in a draw bias design. If you struggle with a slice, the SIM 2 Max D will work to straighten it out for you. The internal heel bias weighting will naturally promote a draw, and the way the club is painted will help golfers close the clubface up at impact.
A draw bias club head is not for all players, but the fact that the SIM 2 Max D is adjustable will help you set this forgiving driver to the point that it will deliver the perfect launch angle and maximum distance. The only downside of the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max D is the higher pricing.
Callaway Rogue ST Max D
Best Premium Forgiving Driver
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KEY FEATURES
- High MOI
- Premium tungsten speed cartridge design
- Jailbreak speed frame
- Low spin
KEY DRAWBACK
- High price
The Callaway Rogue ST MAX D Driver is a premium driver released by Callaway Golf. It is a collection of drivers with four different models available. Instead of having the same head with movable sliding weight options, each model has a distinct design for different player types.Â
Callaway is promising many things with the Rogue ST Driver, including:
- Fastest, most stable driver yet
- High MOIÂ from an all-new Tungsten Speed Cartridge design
- Jailbreak speed frame provides extra stability and speed
- Low spin, high distance
The Rogue ST MAX D driver is designed for golfers who want high launch angles, as well as maximum forgiveness off the tee. This model is great for a variety of golfers without looking at particular skills.
The ST MAX D has internal and external draw weighting that aims to help golfers hit a high draw shape off the tee rather than the very common slice that most amateur golfers have. Compared to the other 3 models, the MAX D is definitely larger while looking at from above. Having such a big head does inspire some confidence off the tee, as it should give you distance even on mis-hits.
If you want a driver that PGA tour professionals are using, but made for high forgiveness, then check out the Callaway Rogue ST MAX D.
Cobra Speedzone Xtreme
Best on a Budget
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KEY FEATURES
- Low center of gravity
- Low spin
- High launch
- Large sweet spot
KEY DRAWBACK
- Lower handicappers may want something slightly smaller or more traditionally shaped
The Cobra Speedzone Xtreme is a newer release from Cobra, but it is very reasonably priced. The Speedzone Xtreme is not just built for forgiveness; it is designed to go a long way as well. The modern aero shaping and the perimeter weighting helps to achieve a very high moment of inertia.
The face on the Cobra Speedzone Xtreme Drivers is CNC Milled. The CNC Milling helps to improve the feel coming off the face. This is one of the things that we love most about Cobra drivers. They can provide plenty of forgiveness and distance but still,, feel like a high-end players club.
The Cobra Speedzone Xtreme has a newly designed T-Bar Chassis. This is lighter and stronger than some of the previous Cobra models and has helped to increase stability at impact. Stability is an essential factor that is not spoken about often enough. Many higher handicap players will admit to feeling the clubface move at impact, and the stability helps to eliminate some of this movement.
The Cobra Speedzone comes in a standard model in addition to the Xtreme, but it is not quite as forgiving as this Xtreme driver. If you have a slower swing and tend to struggle with very few center strikes, the Speedzone Xtreme is a great choice.
The Cobra Connect technology that comes with the Speedzone Xtreme will allow you to keep track of how your efforts are progressing to increase the consistency of your drivers. The Speedzone is a highly technologically advanced driver with maximum forgiveness, offered at a very fair price.
Callaway Big Bertha B21
Upgrade Pick
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KEY FEATURES
- Brand new technology
- Higher launching
- Draw bias
- Lots of forgiveness
KEY DRAWBACKS
- Premium pricing
- Modern shaping takes a bit to get used to
If you have been around the game of golf for a while, you are probably familiar with the Big Bertha line of clubs. Big Berthas are designed for mid to high handicap golfers that seek the ultimate forgiveness that a club can give.
The brand new B21 series of clubs takes everything that Callaway has learned in the past, combines it with their new Artificial Intelligence capabilities, and puts together an amazingly forgiving driver choice for golfers.
We love that the B21 driver offers a ton of distance in addition to the forgiveness. The combination of the Super Strength Titanium and the Flash Face SS21. Of course, Callaway did not get rid of their Jailbreak Technology on the B21. The face of the club is very hot, and the ball will jump.
One thing that is often overlooked when it comes to forgiveness is the fact that forgiveness and distance sometimes go hand in hand. If a golf club is forgiving enough for a player, they will get more distance on their shots. The Big Bertha B21 has worked very hard to offer a huge sweet spot that will then convert into more yards for players.
The B21 has an ultra-low forward center of gravity that helps golfers get lots of launch but low spin. The draw bias in the B21 is going to help golfers that tend to slice the ball from time to time. The B21 is a driver built for forgiveness that still offers tons of distance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are a few questions that golfers often ask when it comes to choosing a golf driver that offers lots of forgiveness. As much as people want the club to be easy to hit, they often want quite a few other features included as well.
What Makes A Driver Easy To Hit?
There are a few main things to look out for when you are looking for a driver that is easy to hit. The first is that the driver has a large sweet spot. A large sweet spot will help to accommodate a shot that missed the center of the club face.
Another essential thing found in a forgiving driver is a low center of gravity. The low center of gravity helps to give players the launch that they need off the tee. Part of hitting an incredible drive is that it can fly in the air for a very long time. With the lower center of gravity, it’s easy to get a higher launch.
Another key factor is the loft of the driver. The more loft that a club has, the higher the launch angle but, the more forgiveness and more consistency that driver can offer as well. Choosing an adjustable loft is also a great option if you want to be able to change the settings on your driver from time to time.
A heel bias or draw bias driver will also make the forgiving driver list. These drivers are built to help a golfer that has a hard time closing down the clubface through impact. These drivers will often have a slightly close clubface, and they will help to eliminate the slice.
These are the main factors and components of forgiving drivers. Each manufacturer will have certain technologies that they consider to be more helpful in straightening out a drive; however, they are all based around these core ideas.
What Shaft Should A Forgiving Driver Have?
The most important thing about choosing a shaft for your driver is making sure that it matches your swing speed. If your golf shaft matches your swing speed and is a good fit for your game, it will add to the driver’s forgiveness.
If you start playing with a driver that has a golf shaft that is too stiff or too flexible for you, then you will notice that the shots are going to become very erratic.
As an example, a golfer with a slow swing speed could choose the most forgiving driver on the market and put a stiff shaft in it. Since this golfer has a slow swing speed, the stiff shaft will be difficult for them to hit. Even though the clubhead is one of the most forgiving and high performing on the market, the shaft can make it nearly impossible for this player to succeed.
Before you purchase a forgiving driver, try to have your swing speed measured. Most people will fall clearly in the range of a certain shaft type. Also, don’t be so set on getting your swing speed measured before a golf round. It is essential sometimes to get it measured after a round of golf.
When you are tired, your swing speed may slow down, but you will need an accurate number to ensure that your driver stays forgiving throughout your entire round.
What Loft Is The Most Forgiving Loft?
The more loft that a driver has, the more forgiving that it will be. Most golfer drivers are around 9.5 to 10.5 degrees of loft. The majority of golfers looking for ultimate forgiveness will want something with approximately 10.5 degrees of loft. Senior golfers that are losing the launch on their drives may go for something closer to 12 degrees.
Many people believe that the more loft a driver has, the higher it will go, and there will be no roll or forward movement once the ball lands. This is not true. Just because a driver is hit high does not mean it cannot go far. In fact, the ball has to travel at a certain height in the air to get its full distance potential.
Drivers with high loft will usually have low spin, which will cause the driver to release and move forward when it hits the ground.
Are Adjustable Drivers Forgiving?
Drivers with an adjustable hosel have become very popular. These drivers allow players to change the loft and sometimes the lie angle or clubface angle. They can help players who have a slice or players who have a hook. Since the adjustable drivers can be changed and manipulated to work for each player, we consider them very forgiving.
If all of a sudden, you start to develop a slice or a fade, you can try closing the clubface a bit on your driver to see what it will do. Although you will want to work out this problem on the driving range and make changes, the driver can help you get through the issue.
The only downside to the adjustable hosel is that it adds weight to the club. If you happen to be looking for the lightest driver on the market, the adjustable driver may not be the best choice. The club will not be heavy, but if you need help with swing speed, you are better off going with a fixed weight, fixed loft golf club.
Testing Criteria used for evaluation
Now that you have a much better idea of which drivers are the most forgiving drivers for golf, how will you choose the proper choice for your golf game? Here are a few things that you should consider before making your final purchase.
Offset or Draw Bias
Many forgiving drivers will be labeled as offset or draw bias. Before purchasing one of these drivers, it is important to understand exactly what this means. Offset and draw bias can sometimes be referred to as the same thing, but they are different.
An offset driver will have the clubhead set slightly behind the club’s grip and the club’s shaft. When you stand at address with an offset golf driver, it will look as though the driver is a little further behind the ball than a standard straight neck driver.
The idea behind the offset club is that it will be easier to release and club as the golfer comes through the impact position. Many players who slice the ball find that the offset club head will make all the difference when it comes to learning to release and hit the ball straight. For golfers that hook the ball or lower handicap players that can hit the ball straight, an offset driver is not a great idea.
The draw bias golf club can have several different features that make it easier for a golfer to draw the ball. Sometimes, the driver’s clubface is slightly closed; other times, there is internal weighting that will help the toe of the golf club square up as the golfer gets to the impact position.
Another way that you will sometimes see a club being draw bias is when the clubhead is painted a bit differently. The paint on the club will mask the fact that the driver’s head is set up to be closed at impact and eliminate the slice.
Many adjustable drivers are going to give players the ability to adjust weights and lie angles and lofts to help the driver promote more of a draw as opposed to a fade.
Adjustability
Many of the most forgiving drivers are going to have adjustability. Adjustability in a driver will allow you to change the face or the loft to help promote more center strikes. Having some adjustability is a great feature because it will allow the driver to grow with you. As your game changes, you can change the club to match.
Knowing how to set your driver is a bit tricky in the beginning. There will be a trial and error period that you must be aware of and plan for. Spend some time on the driving range, learning what is best for your game.
One of the best adjustable drivers are those made by Cobra. Cobra allows players access to their Cobra Connect technology, which lets you see how you perform with your driver. When you log in to your app, you can see if having your driver set at 10.5 or 11.5 is a better fit for your game. The Cobra Connect gives you the information you need to set your driver so that you get maximum distance and forgiveness.
Clubhead Size
The USGA sets a limit that a driver cannot be larger than 460cc. This is what the USGA has deemed fair and gives all players an equal shot at distance, high launch, and forgiveness. There are illegal or non-conforming golf drivers on the market that will have larger than 460cc club heads but cannot be used in tournament play.
Some players who have not updated their driver in a long time may be surprised by these club heads’ size. Although they look very large and take a bit of getting used to, the larger sweet spot driver will make a big difference when it comes to dispersion.
The lower your dispersion rates, the more accurate you are, and the better chance you have of the ball ending up in a great spot. Golfers looking for forgiveness in their driver are going to want a driver that is 460cc.
Shaft
You will want to choose your shaft based on the speed of your golf swing. Here are a few other factors that should come into your decision about what shaft to choose.
Weight
The heavier a golf shaft, the harder it is to release, the lower the launch angle will be.
Kickpoint
High kick point golf shafts are going to have a lower launch, low kick point golf shafts will have a higher launch.
Flex
Most driver shafts will be offered in Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior, and Women’s. Some people swing their driver faster than their other golf clubs and need to step up a flex in the driver shaft. This is understandable and something that you see quite often in distance drivers. When choosing a forgiving driver, make sure that the flex matches your swing speeds.
Torque
The torque on the shaft will be based quite a bit on the flex, weight, and kick point. Unless you go for a fitting, the Torque is probably not a factor that you will need to worry about too much when choosing a forgiving driver.
Conclusion
| NAME | EDITOR'S CATEGORY | PRODUCT |
|---|---|---|
| Callaway Mavrik Max | Best Overall |  |
| Cobra Speedzone Xtreme | Best on a Budget |  |
| Callaway Big Bertha B21 | Upgrade Pick |  |
| Callaway Rogue | Best For Beginner |  |
| TaylorMade SIM Max-D | Best For Distance |  |
Hopefully, our guide to the most forgiving drivers golf has to offer has helped you narrow down your selection. Some golf drivers are built for distance, others for feel, and then some are designed to offer pure forgiveness. We love all of the drivers that we reviewed, but the Callaway Mavrik Max stands out as the best choice.
The Mavrik Max is a new release, but the technology included in this club design has been around for many years. The newly engineered face helps golfers increase ball speed and makes the Mavrik Max the most forgiving driver there is. The large sweet spot will only help to increase consistency in your game. Lastly the adjustability of the Mavrik Max will make it a fit for your game, not just right now but in the future as well.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
