We know that not everybody, not even a majority of golfers, can generate over 100 MPH of clubhead speed, but there are plenty of you who can. It stands to reason that the higher swing speed guy (and often a lower handicap guy) might require something different from a lower, or even average swing speed guy when it comes to his driver.
That could mean lower spin. It could mean a more compact shape. And while lower swing speed guys might favor ultralite models to help raise clubhead speed, we’ve found that bigger hitters often get better numbers with shafts in the 75 gram range. Our higher swing speed players put 23 drivers to the test, and these 5 were the top performers.
Adjustability, ball speed, and distance, the TaylorMade SLDR brings it all to the table. Pound for pound, the SLDR was the longest driver we tested this year. Whether you choose the standard 460 model, the 430, or the new SLDR S, you’re going to hit the ball a long way. Even with your above-average swing speed, don’t be afraid to try the 12° model.
It’s the Tour Edge Exotics XCG7 Beta, not the SLDR that produced the lowest spinning drives for higher swing speed players. Plenty well-known for their fairway woods, you should be paying attention to this Tour Edge driver as well. The XCG7 is unquestionably the best driver Tour Edge has ever produced. If it’s not on your demo list, it needs to be.
Performance evolved. That’s how we’d label the PING i25. The i20 had a solid run as the one of the top performing drivers we’ve ever tested. 2 years later we find ourselves smitten with the i25. The racing stripe alignment system is cool, but what we really like is that the i25 offers more forgiveness than you’d expect from a distance-favoring driver.
You know the G25 is an outstanding option for slower swing speed players, but it turns out, it’s one hell of a driver for faster players as well. As they were for our lower swing speed guy, accuracy numbers are stellar, and the forgiveness of the G25 cannot be questioned. If playing from the short grass is your goal, the G25 will help put even the longest of hitters there more often.
Do you love distance (and the color orange)? Sinister (creator of the Agent Orange driver) isn’t exactly a household name, but their driver showed that it can hammer the ball down the fairway with the best of them. For those not interested in lofting up, worth a mention is that the Agent Orange is the only driver on this list available in 5° and 6°.
brian manger
9 years ago
The Ping is nice but, my shaft broke three times at the hozel. All on center of the face hits. Xstiff stock shaft.