When it comes to finding the right driver, it’s an indisputable fact that what works well for the guy who swings 110 mph, may not work for the guy who swing 85 mph or less. And you guys hovering around 85 mph, guess what? You are the majority.
Regardless of what you might have read elsewhere, not everybody hits it 300 yards. Hell…statistically, almost nobody hits it 300.
So how do you know what drivers offer you the best chance of success? You’ve come to the right place. We have all the data. We have the ability to explore all the numbers and figure out what really works for a given segment of the golfing population.
You lower swing speed guys…and perhaps more accurately, you average swing speed guys, our testing results tell us that these are the best 5 drivers for you.
If you want distance, regardless of your swing speed, take note. The TaylorMade SLDR was the longest driver we tested this season. Sure, you might need to shelve your pride and take more loft, but the distance gains will help you get over it. With 12° and 14° models available in the original SLDR, and now a 16° option in the SLDR S, high launch and low spin – the recipe for extreme distance – has never been more attainable for the slower swing speed player.
If you want to play the outstanding driver that nobody else has, the ONOFF Type D is for you. Not particularly well known in the US, ONOFF is a popular choice in Japan and parts of Europe (and was popular with our testers too). For those seeking outstanding distance and great feel in a more traditional package (and without all that complicated adjustability), you simply can’t go wrong with the Type D.
When it comes to accuracy and forgiveness, nothing we’ve tested in 2014 can touch PING’s outstanding G25. Boasting the highest MOI of any offering from a large golf company, the G25 is the best option for the guy who has a tendency to venture away from the center of the face. You’ll positively litter the fairway with your drives and distance loss on less than perfect shots will be minimal. It’s an absolute can’t-miss driver.
Some hear Nitrogen-Charged and think it’s a gimmick while others will have the good sense to put aside their pre-conceived notion and give this outstanding offering from PowerBilt a chance. While the PowerBilt was unquestionably the best offering among the smaller brands we tested this year, what will surprise many of you is that the Air Force One DFX bested offerings from several larger, and more widely-played companies.
Lots of companies talk about ultralite performance, but Cleveland is the company that gets it right. While the 588 Altitude was an outstanding performer in general, for guys looking to fulfill the promises of a super-lightweight driver (whether for swing speed gains, or because you just like the feel), without feeling like you’r swinging a flyrod, they simply don’t come any better than the Cleveland 588 Altitude.
Michael
7 years ago
I have a swing speed that is lower than the 80 mph and I play a driver that 12 degrees loft and to me I think that its the combination of the shaft and the head that is the key. I have a callaway xr that I moved up to and it has a bassara e regular shaft in it. Which to me the upgrade in the driver and the shaft will help me. My previous driver was a Nickent evolver 4dx with a ust regular shaft 12.5 degrees loft. I hit it pretty good but I also knew that it was almost 9 yrs old and definitely needed an up grade. I would like to see more about people that have slower swing speeds and how they can benefit from the shaft, head and ball. Those are things that to me are key.