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Credit: Callaway

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke
Available for £569 from Callaway
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
An impressive continuation of the previous Paradym line from CallawayPROS
- Very forgiving across the face
- Faster ball speeds than previous model
- Faster ball speeds, as you know, makes for longer drives
- Four options in the head means there is something for everyone
CONS
- There’s a new colour scheme in the 2025 model, which some may prefer
The Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is a power house the the all-new Ai Smart Face. Now this has replaced the Jailbreak technology and delivers the same strength and stability but features mini sweet spots across the whole face. Now I don’t know about you but if you mishit the centre and find a sweet spot elsewhere that sounds like a good deal to me.
The raw carbon crown finish look great and the sound and feel off the face is crisp. The impressive thing I found was on those mishits the distance and dispersion were impressive. The ball speeds only dipped a few mph on mishits which maintained the spin, kept dispersion tight and is was very straight of the tee. It’s great for the faster swing speeds looking giving you that low spinning head with fast ball speeds, this will be popular in tour.
You have more options in the Ai Smoke Range in the Max which has the adjustable weighting to really dial in the centre of gravity in the head to suit your swing.
If you suffer from what we call a “power fade”, then the draw-bias Max D model is the one for you. With a larger profile, a rear weight that stabilises the clubhead through the swing, and higher MOI, this is perfect for players wanting to straighten out those left-to-right shots.
The Max Fast, meanwhile, is a high MOI model that features a generously stretched profile at address. The fixed hosel and rear weighting system make this perfect for senior players, or golfers with slower swing speeds. By far the easiest to launch.
The raw carbon crown finish look great and the sound and feel off the face is crisp. The impressive thing I found was on those mishits the distance and dispersion were impressive. The ball speeds only dipped a few mph on mishits which maintained the spin, kept dispersion tight and is was very straight of the tee. It’s great for the faster swing speeds looking giving you that low spinning head with fast ball speeds, this will be popular in tour.
You have more options in the Ai Smoke Range in the Max which has the adjustable weighting to really dial in the centre of gravity in the head to suit your swing.
If you suffer from what we call a “power fade”, then the draw-bias Max D model is the one for you. With a larger profile, a rear weight that stabilises the clubhead through the swing, and higher MOI, this is perfect for players wanting to straighten out those left-to-right shots.
The Max Fast, meanwhile, is a high MOI model that features a generously stretched profile at address. The fixed hosel and rear weighting system make this perfect for senior players, or golfers with slower swing speeds. By far the easiest to launch.
Credit: Cobra

Cobra Darkspeed
Available for £429 from Cobra
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A super fast and sleek driver design that looks stunningPROS
- These look stunning
- Any golfer can benefit from these if they’re using the right model for them
- Aerodynamics can help you find some extra speed
- The low spin options still provides decent forgiveness
CONS
- The colour scheme might make these appear smaller than they really are
Aerodynamics. That’s what it’s all about with the Cobra Darkspeed range. It certainly works in the Darkspeed LS driver.
I’m a big fan of the Cobra Darkspeed LS driver it’s long straight and it looks amazing. I didn’t think Aerojet could be topped but I couldn’t be more wrong. A lot of brands have gone with forgiveness as their big selling point this year but Cobra have stuck with speed and distance, and it definitely delivers on that front.
Now, not surprisingly, it’s faster and longer but they are also very forgiving as well. With refinements to PWR bridge weighting and the new aerodynamic shaping, weight has been saved to give you faster speeds.
The forgiveness is great on mishits with the H.O.T Face and the distance you’ll get is really impressive. I think the LS could potentially sneak into a few tour bags this year and in to many club golfers as well.
With three head options, the LS is low spinning, the X is easier to launch with more forgiveness and the Max is the most forgiving option with a draw bias to straighten out your ball flight. At the price point of £425 you get a lot more for your money here and if distance and speed is what you’re chasing then you’ll want to try the Cobra Darkspeed drivers.
I’m a big fan of the Cobra Darkspeed LS driver it’s long straight and it looks amazing. I didn’t think Aerojet could be topped but I couldn’t be more wrong. A lot of brands have gone with forgiveness as their big selling point this year but Cobra have stuck with speed and distance, and it definitely delivers on that front.
Now, not surprisingly, it’s faster and longer but they are also very forgiving as well. With refinements to PWR bridge weighting and the new aerodynamic shaping, weight has been saved to give you faster speeds.
The forgiveness is great on mishits with the H.O.T Face and the distance you’ll get is really impressive. I think the LS could potentially sneak into a few tour bags this year and in to many club golfers as well.
With three head options, the LS is low spinning, the X is easier to launch with more forgiveness and the Max is the most forgiving option with a draw bias to straighten out your ball flight. At the price point of £425 you get a lot more for your money here and if distance and speed is what you’re chasing then you’ll want to try the Cobra Darkspeed drivers.
Credit: Ping

Ping G430 Max 10K
Available for £599 from Ping
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Stability and forgiveness are in this driver in abundancePROS
- Forgiveness is hard to beat here
- A very large head shape is a real confidence booster
- The Carbon Fly Wrap helps to distribute weight around the head more efficiently
- Did we mention it’s forgiving?
CONS
- The price point, although with a brand-new range replacing it, this will be coming down
The Ping G430 driver was incredibly well received and the Max 10K upgrade is certainly looking to go the same way.
This is up there with one of the best drivers I’ve hit this year. Let me tell you why. Its a larger profile at 460cc, which gives you that confidence setting up to the ball, and it sits perfectly square thanks to the new addition of the Carbon Fly Wrap on the crown, which is great contrast to the turbulators.
Ah, the turbulators. Yes, they’re still here. I know some of you don’t like them but I think they look great and you just know you’ve got a Ping in your hands. As for feel, the G430 is solid off the VFT face, no matter where you strike it. It’s definitely loud, which some of you may not appreciate, but the speeds are impressive, as is the distance – especially on those mishits. he fixed weight at the back gives you a low CG and contributes to the perimeter weighting for that high MOI.
With 10K MOI it’s so forgiving, easy to launch and straight. In my opinion, this is a cheat code. It does have a hefty price tag on it but if you want to life easier for yourself this the answer.
This is up there with one of the best drivers I’ve hit this year. Let me tell you why. Its a larger profile at 460cc, which gives you that confidence setting up to the ball, and it sits perfectly square thanks to the new addition of the Carbon Fly Wrap on the crown, which is great contrast to the turbulators.
Ah, the turbulators. Yes, they’re still here. I know some of you don’t like them but I think they look great and you just know you’ve got a Ping in your hands. As for feel, the G430 is solid off the VFT face, no matter where you strike it. It’s definitely loud, which some of you may not appreciate, but the speeds are impressive, as is the distance – especially on those mishits. he fixed weight at the back gives you a low CG and contributes to the perimeter weighting for that high MOI.
With 10K MOI it’s so forgiving, easy to launch and straight. In my opinion, this is a cheat code. It does have a hefty price tag on it but if you want to life easier for yourself this the answer.
Credit: PXG

PXG Black Ops
Available for £549 from PXG
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A model that offers high launch and low spin, that sounds good to usPROS
- A great looking composite crown
- Highest launching driver from PXG which will benefit almost everyone
- AMF technology makes this very forgiving all around the face
- Standard model head covers a wide range of players
CONS
- The tour head isn’t likely to appeal to many amateur players, so we are a little limited in choice
The PXG Black Ops drivers surprised me. It’s easy to hit and it’s also very high launching but there is so much adjustability with this driver.
The PXG Black Ops drivers has three weight ports, which can be adjusted to increase MOI and make these super forgiving. It has variable face technology, so you get great speeds off the face and on off centre strikes.
The carbon sole and crown is where they’ve been able to save weight and push more weight around the perimeter for higher MOI. With the adjustable weighting system, you can create a 10K MOI Black Ops head, if you really need to get that extra forgiveness. It look great feel great and it performs, it’s a great all rounder.
The Black Ops drivers is great and I think most people will fit the standard option. But if you do have the faster speed and are looking for a lower spinning option, the then the Tour 1 will be great for you.
The PXG Black Ops drivers has three weight ports, which can be adjusted to increase MOI and make these super forgiving. It has variable face technology, so you get great speeds off the face and on off centre strikes.
The carbon sole and crown is where they’ve been able to save weight and push more weight around the perimeter for higher MOI. With the adjustable weighting system, you can create a 10K MOI Black Ops head, if you really need to get that extra forgiveness. It look great feel great and it performs, it’s a great all rounder.
The Black Ops drivers is great and I think most people will fit the standard option. But if you do have the faster speed and are looking for a lower spinning option, the then the Tour 1 will be great for you.
Credit: Srixon

Srixon ZX5 MkII
Available for £499 from Srixon
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A 2024 model that will appeal to those looking for a reliable option off the teePROS
- Rebound frame technology makes for solid ball speeds off the tee
- A classic look behind the ball will be easy on the eye
- A great all round performer that will be a bargain
CONS
- There’s no doubt that the new model is better looking on the sole
With major champions such as Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama in its team, Srixon are clearly doing something right.
The ZX5 which is the most forgiving out of the three. If, like me, you’re not a major champion and you want a forgiving driver, the ZX5 MKII driver could be the club for you.
This club head has a large, flattened footprint, which makes it easy to launch the ball high off the tee. In the head you’ll find the rebound frame, which allows the face to create very high ball speeds. Rather than just one flexing component, this driver has two, which combine to make a very fast club. If you’re looking for a driver that is focused on high launch with high forgiveness, this is a great place to look.
It looks great behind the ball and the shape at address is inviting. The speeds and distances are good and its got great forgiveness and stability. It’s a great all rounder and keeps up with the big brands.
The Srixon ZX5 may fly under the radar but it is a dark horse that is definitely worth trying. There are three options to choose from, the ZX7 which is more compact in shape and ZX5 LS which is the low-spinning option.
The ZX5 which is the most forgiving out of the three. If, like me, you’re not a major champion and you want a forgiving driver, the ZX5 MKII driver could be the club for you.
This club head has a large, flattened footprint, which makes it easy to launch the ball high off the tee. In the head you’ll find the rebound frame, which allows the face to create very high ball speeds. Rather than just one flexing component, this driver has two, which combine to make a very fast club. If you’re looking for a driver that is focused on high launch with high forgiveness, this is a great place to look.
It looks great behind the ball and the shape at address is inviting. The speeds and distances are good and its got great forgiveness and stability. It’s a great all rounder and keeps up with the big brands.
The Srixon ZX5 may fly under the radar but it is a dark horse that is definitely worth trying. There are three options to choose from, the ZX7 which is more compact in shape and ZX5 LS which is the low-spinning option.
Credit: TaylorMade

TaylorMade Qi10
Available for £499 from TaylorMade
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A driver that performed incredibly well in 2024 across the boardPROS
- Super forgiving, especially the Max model
- Larger crown that is still in carbon
- Explosive ball speeds from that nice blue face
- Aesthetically very pleasing
CONS
- Some will prefer the new look from Qi35
There are three models in the TaylorMade Qi10 range, but the star attraction is the Max which is TaylorMade’s most forgiving driver ever made. I might go as far as saying it’s one of the most forgiving drivers I’ve ever hit.
Thanks to its high MOI, it is remarkably stable throughout the swing and incredibly easy to launch. The one thing that stands out the most at first glance it is the Infinity Carbon Crown, which is clean and slick at address and, personally, I think if you like what you’re looking down at then that’s half the battle won.
It still has the brand’s Twist Face technology but, in a complete change from its Stealth-branded predecessors, a blue carbon face. I’m a big fan of the new blue face and think the new Infinity Crown is going to appeal to a lot of golfers
The weight at the back of the clubhead, along with the perimeter weighting, contributes to the high MOI head design, but what surprised me the most is the speed and distance. Usually, with a more forgiving head, you’ll maybe sacrifice distance and speed for more forgiveness, but this packs a punch.
If you are wanting something forgiving that gives you some more distance the TaylorMade Qi10 is a brilliant option. For higher swing speeds you’ll enjoy the LS with the adjustable track on the sole you can dial in shot shape.
Thanks to its high MOI, it is remarkably stable throughout the swing and incredibly easy to launch. The one thing that stands out the most at first glance it is the Infinity Carbon Crown, which is clean and slick at address and, personally, I think if you like what you’re looking down at then that’s half the battle won.
It still has the brand’s Twist Face technology but, in a complete change from its Stealth-branded predecessors, a blue carbon face. I’m a big fan of the new blue face and think the new Infinity Crown is going to appeal to a lot of golfers
The weight at the back of the clubhead, along with the perimeter weighting, contributes to the high MOI head design, but what surprised me the most is the speed and distance. Usually, with a more forgiving head, you’ll maybe sacrifice distance and speed for more forgiveness, but this packs a punch.
If you are wanting something forgiving that gives you some more distance the TaylorMade Qi10 is a brilliant option. For higher swing speeds you’ll enjoy the LS with the adjustable track on the sole you can dial in shot shape.
Credit: Titleist

Titleist TSR3
Available for £529 from Titleist
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
One of the best looking lines of drivers you’ll find still performs really wellPROS
- Signature Titleist looks behind the ball
- Perfect mix of speed and forgiveness
- Satisfying sound at impact
- A low and penetrating flight
CONS
- It is hard to fault
One of the best looking drivers on the market, the Titleist TSR3 is one of best option for those who want low spin with adjustibility.
The Titleist TSR3 has that classic Titliest shape with an improved aerodynamic package, that cuts through the air, givinging you more club speed.
With a face made from aerospace-grade titanium, it’s designed to keep spin low and deliver faster ball speed. The VFT face is circular, which makes the sweet spot even bigger, and the adjustable CG track allows you to get the most out of the golf ball.
I love it can see why this is so popular with tour players and every day golfers. It’s look great, feel great and the numbers you see from it is impressive.
In 2023, this driver has been very popular on tour, and it’s no wonder. A great all-round performer for a high-level player and one of the best low-spinning drivers of 2023.
With four options in total in the TSR range the bases are covered from the fastest of swing speeds to the slowest.
The Titleist TSR3 has that classic Titliest shape with an improved aerodynamic package, that cuts through the air, givinging you more club speed.
With a face made from aerospace-grade titanium, it’s designed to keep spin low and deliver faster ball speed. The VFT face is circular, which makes the sweet spot even bigger, and the adjustable CG track allows you to get the most out of the golf ball.
I love it can see why this is so popular with tour players and every day golfers. It’s look great, feel great and the numbers you see from it is impressive.
In 2023, this driver has been very popular on tour, and it’s no wonder. A great all-round performer for a high-level player and one of the best low-spinning drivers of 2023.
With four options in total in the TSR range the bases are covered from the fastest of swing speeds to the slowest.
Credit: Wilson

Wilson Dynapower Carbon
Available for £420 from Wilson
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
These irons are great for a player who struggles with their ball strikingPROS
- A clean looking driver that inspires confidence
- A pleasing and solid feel from the face
- Ball speeds that will compete with the big boys in the market
CONS
- Only two heads to pick from
- 2025 range is a big upgrade
A real star of the best drivers 2024 rundown.
Wilson gets overlooked a lot of the time and if you are one of those people who turns their nose up at the name you’re missing out. Not only has Wilson come to play they have two models in the Dynapower range, the Carbon and the Dynapower Titanium, one low spinning and the other their most forgiving.
Wilson are beginning to establish themselves as a key player in the golf club market and the Dynapower range is a large part of that. This is another club that has been designed with the help of AI, which has helped designers make the face the optimal thickness on each section of the club. Which gives you great speed and forgiveness across the face all for under £400.
A club that features a clean design in both models, this driver will appeal to golfers of all abilities that are price-conscious, while still wanting great performance.
Wilson gets overlooked a lot of the time and if you are one of those people who turns their nose up at the name you’re missing out. Not only has Wilson come to play they have two models in the Dynapower range, the Carbon and the Dynapower Titanium, one low spinning and the other their most forgiving.
Wilson are beginning to establish themselves as a key player in the golf club market and the Dynapower range is a large part of that. This is another club that has been designed with the help of AI, which has helped designers make the face the optimal thickness on each section of the club. Which gives you great speed and forgiveness across the face all for under £400.
A club that features a clean design in both models, this driver will appeal to golfers of all abilities that are price-conscious, while still wanting great performance.
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