Best Golf Driver For Beginners and High Handicappers

First and foremost, you need to make sure the total weight (including the weight of the head) is compatible with your swing, your ability to control the driver, and most importantly, make certain that the driver you choose is suitable for your physical condition and strength.

Choosing a driver that is too heavy for your body frame can cause harm to your back and possibly other body parts as well like your arm or shoulder. However, don’t go too light or you will most likely see more off-center hits than you desire to see.  

There are a few other things to take into consideration when looking for the best driver for beginners, such as forgiveness, loft, shaft, clubhead size, and adjustability.

When you have all the information available to you about how each part plays a significant role in your golf game,  it will become easier for you to decide which driver will work best for you.

Forgiveness – What Does It Mean?

In short, forgiveness can keep you in the game – it’s when the driver offers less distance and focuses on keeping your ball straight. A lot of beginner golfers rely heavily on drivers that have high forgiveness, and rightly so – it’s not fun fetching all those balls out of trees or water.

Fast forward to modern times and you will now find golf drivers that offer forgiveness with both distance and speed. For example, the TaylorMade M4 Driver superior forgiveness and increased ball speed thanks to its revolutionary design and features.  It’s truly one of the best drivers for beginners! 

Tip: The size of the head can increase the sweet spot and encourages more direct hits with the driver. The maximum head size is 460cc and we strongly suggest finding the best driver for beginners that has the maximum size head if you want to benefit from the sweet spot!

Design – How Important Is It?

The design is probably one of the most important features for the best drivers for beginners and high handicappers because not only are they new to the game, they are usually nervous and a bit scared to hit the ball in the beginning.

This is where design comes in – the design offers comfort, and when a golfer is comfortable with their driver they have a better chance of hitting the ball and driving more distance and speed. Senior golfers especially need a well-designed driver to boost their confidence and give them that extra edge in their game.

When you think about it, there isn’t another club in your golf bag that will deliver distance like a driver, making the driver the most important club you own. The design of the driver will either enhance or negatively impact your swing. So it’s important to find the best driver for beginners or high handicappers if you are just starting out.

Shaft – What Is It Used For?

Some golfers will argue that the shaft is the most important element of the driver because it determines the consistency of your shots and how the ball will fly through the air. If you have a fast swing, you’ll need a stiffer shaft than somebody who is considered slow swinging.

Knowing what type of shaft will work for you is part of the learning curve for golfers, mainly because getting the shaft right takes practice. If your shaft is too stiff you will most likely have balls that ride rather low and veer to the right more often than not.

However, if your shaft is too flexible you will most likely have a lot of inconsistency in your game and get frustrated rather easily.

But don’t worry, this is why a lot of drivers are offered with the ‘regular’ flex shaft that can help with consistency and achieving higher, straighter balls during flight.

Loft Options – Why Bother With Loft Angle?

Since loft basically equals ball height, you are going to want to pay attention to the loft option on the driver you are considering getting. If you’re a slow swinger, then you will need more loft to maximize the height of your drive to get the ball down the fairway.

You should take into consideration what your swing speed is before considering the loft size that will work best for you. However, a general rule of thumb for beginners would be to look for a loft with 12 degrees to start. This is especially true for seniors who need extra assistance in getting the ball higher.

Note: Adjustable hosel can shift the loft on the clubface giving more height for your ball with the launch angle. And if your speed is registering anywhere between 85-90 MPH, then you can consider a loft that is less than 12 degrees.

Feel – How Do You Get A Feel For A Driver?

The simple answer is – practice! Yep, get out to the driving range and hit hundreds of balls to get a feel for your driver. This is essential to know how it will feel on the golf course and how comfortable you are using your driver.

The more you use your driver, the more you will have a feel for the way it makes contact with the ball. In fact, you will know from the second you hit the ball whether or not it will give you the desired results you were hoping for.

Having a good feel for your driver, or any club for that matter – is what makes your game unique. It’s like having a relationship, it either works for you or against you, but either way, you need to decide.

Adjustable Weights – Do You Need That Feature?

Firstly, we have to state that every golfer, regardless of experience, can benefit from an adjustable driver. Consider the hook, the adjustable feature will allow you to adjust the weight for a fading effect to help prevent those shots from veering left or right.

Most drivers nowadays come with built-in adjustability, whether it be moveable weights for assisting launch or a hosel adaptor that gives you the ability to change the loft, face angle, and lie. In fact, a lot of drivers come with both – this is what we call all the bells and whistles.

If you are a beginner or a high handicapper, then the hype around all this technology can be a bit confusing and when the truth is told, you don’t really need it at this point in your game. When looking at all the different combinations offered with MOI and altering the shape of the shot, it’s best to just keep it simple and work on your swing.

Tip: By adding weight on the outside of your clubhead you can prevent it from moving too quickly and losing control over the outcome.