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There is no other shot in the entire game of golf that produces as much heart-pumping thrill as the drive. That initial swing will foretell a lot about the rest of your journey on a hole, and may even give you the chance to move straight to the next pin if executed correctly. And because the drive is how most players get their bragging rights, it comes as no surprise that the market for the big dog has gotten pretty wide throughout the years.
But as you scour the available options, it becomes apparent that many of the drivers for sale are targeted at either beginners or at advanced golfers. What about the humble, average, mid handicapper? Although finding a driver for an amateur golfer might not seem all that easy. There are some pretty impressive models out there that tout the perfect features to make them the best drivers for mid handicappers.
You probably already know by now that not all drivers are made equal. Even the slightest changes in their anatomy, construction, and material can completely change the way they behave on the tee box. The obvious reason that manufacturers do this is to make sure that every kind of player has access to a club that meets their specific needs and play style. That said, mid handicappers should be careful to select a driver that lets them leverage their growing skill without over-complicating the shot.
First things first - there’s how much your club’s shaft bends as you whip it through the air. There are various flex ratings, and each one caters to a unique kind of golfer by adapting to their average swing speed. Keep in mind that before you choose the right shaft flex rating, it would be important to have an idea of how fast you actually swing your club. This is important since these flex levels will depend heavily on your specific performance.
The stiff flex golf club is perhaps one of the most common you’ll find. Ideal for mid to low handicappers, the stiff flex also makes a good choice for players who might experience a little jerkiness off of the tee. On average, the stiff flex shaft works best if you swing at a speed of 95 to 105 mph with total carry of about 240 to 275 yards.
The firmest of shafts. The extra stiff flex doesn’t bend a lot during the swing and performs best in the hands of an ultra-long distance hitter. It’s also because of this that they’re not that easy to find, since very few people match its ideal statistics. In general, the extra stiff shaft works well for individuals with a swing speed of over 110 mph and distances of more than 275 yards.
The regular flex shaft is particularly popular because of its forgiving performance. It’s a typical choice for high to mid handicappers who enjoy using a club that helps improve their distance. According to experts, the regular flex shaft should be the choice for players with lower swing speeds of 85 to 95 mph. Or ideal for those who can launch their ball over distances between 200 to 240 yards.
Senior flex driver shafts are designed to accommodate the strength and speed of an older golfer. They bend a little more than regular flex shafts to help maximize total carry. Players with swing speeds of 75 to 85 mph or who consistently generate around 180 to 200 yards of distance are the best fit for senior flex shafts.
The most flexible of them all. The ladies flex shaft levels the playing field by giving more power and speed to the swing of a lady golfer who falls within the average statistics for her height, size, and age. These are adapted to perform best with speeds of 75 mph or less, and with distances of less than 180 yards.
Loft refers to the angle of the club face in relation to your ball. A higher loft angle makes the club face tilt towards the sky. While a lower loft angle tilts the face towards the front. As a general rule, a club face with a lower loft angle is harder to hit and will produce far less lift than high lofted drivers.
Again, choosing the right loft angle depends mainly on your swing speed. The faster you swing, the easier it should be for you to manage a club with a higher loft.
SWING SPEED | LOFT ANGLE |
|---|---|
100 mph or over | 9 to 11 degrees |
80 to 95 mph | 11 to 13 degrees |
79 mph or less | 13 to 14 degrees |
As a mid handicapper, you might find yourself somewhere in the middle, but that doesn’t really apply to everyone. There are some mid handicappers who can swing at faster speeds, and similarly, others who tend to swing a little slower. Make sure you choose a club that matches your performance.
Another factor that has something to do with launch angle is flex point. As you swing your driver through the air, you’ll notice that its head lags behind the shaft. This bent period is when the driver ‘loads’ energy, and as it straightens out during impact, it ‘unloads’ its power to impart its force on the ball.
The area where the club bends the most is called the flex or kick point, where it sits on the shaft will tell you more about the launch angle that the club produces. The higher on the shaft the kick point is, the lower the launch angle. Conversely, the lower it is, the higher the ball is tossed into the air.
If you’re noticing that you struggle to get your golf ball airborne, then you might benefit from a driver shaft that incorporates a lower kick point. In general, a launch angle of 11 degrees or less is unlikely to produce enough lift off the tee, and may require certain adjustments to increase your ball’s height.
Driver shafts can be made from various materials but will typically use one of three distinct metals. These include steel, graphite, and titanium. Each one behaves differently, and may thus impact your performance either for better or for worse. Knowing how each one works will help you choose a club that’s just right for your skill and handicap.
Steel driver shafts use either graphite steel or stainless steel, but since graphite steel tends to be more durable, it has become the more common choice for most manufacturers. In general, all steel-crafted drivers clock in on the heavier side, and are thus ideal for players with more strength and swing speed.
Because they’re also stiffer, steel shafts are less likely to twist during the swing keeping your club face square against the golf ball during impact. This helps to reduce the risk of hooks and slices which can be tough to avoid with more flexible materials.
There are two distinct types of steel driver shafts, and they differ by the way they’re designed and shaped:
A stepped steel driver shaft will showcase a tapering design that uses ‘steps’ to narrow down the shaft diameter towards the club head end. These steps work as kickpoints that make the material more flexible.
While rifle shafts are also tapered towards the club head end, they’re designed to be smooth. They’re easier to customize to more specific stiffness ratings. Also they can be designed to generate launch at varying angles by way of ‘flighted’ versions.
Next to steel shafts, graphite shafts have become more and more popular on the market. They’re lightweight and especially flexible. Making them the ideal choice for lady golfers, seniors, and high handicappers who might prefer something that increases swing distance. On the downside however, graphite shafts tend to be the least durable among all the available choices.
Finally, we have titanium shafts. Another lightweight choice, they’re fare more durable and long-wearing compared to graphite. But because they’re also particularly stiff, they can be unpleasant to use on full swing shots. Producing a strong clap of feedback upon impact, titanium tends to disenchant players who prefer the soft, dampened clang of a softer material like graphite.
There is no single best driver shaft for mid handicapper. Instead of choosing a material that’s the general choice for your handicap ranking, you should be more interested in buying a shaft that matches your own unique performance and play style.
You’re going to find adjustable drivers that can be manipulated to change various angles and measurements with a twist or turn here and there. Certainly, these clubs sound like they’re worth every penny, allowing extreme versatility that most other clubs are incapable of providing. But they’re not all as impressive as they seem.
The difficulty with an adjustable driver is that they can be taxing to adapt. In most cases, players end up spending too much time trying to figure out how to move a piece or how much to change an angle as opposed to improving on their own skill. Another thing is that with an adjustable driver, it becomes nearly impossible to really figure out how you’re performing since your performance will vary depending on how you calibrate your club.
For mid handicappers, it’s always ideal to stick to a fixed driver. At this point where you’re trying to further build upon the bedrock of skill that you’ve developed over time, the last thing you’ll want is a club that further complicates matters and takes your eyes off of the real priority while you’re on the tee box.
As our top pick, the Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo Driver touts a turbocharged cup face that delivers explosive speed for maximum total carry. Providing a high coefficient of restitution, this club face transfers 1.5 times the power of your swing to get your ball flying farther and faster over a straight trajectory. Its enlarged impact area is easy to hit, but still provides just enough of a challenge to test your skill and improve your technique.
Using a deep weighting mechanism. The Launcher Turbo Driver aims to increase moment of inertia to help your ball rise through the air at a greater launch angle. And because its center of gravity is centered 2mm deeper and lower than the usual driver. Therefore this design basically scoops up your ball for just the right amount of forgiveness, without making you feel like a beginner all over again.
The Cobra Golf Speedback Driver uses the brand’s very own Speedback technology that doesn’t only optimize aerodynamics. But it also lowers down the designs center of gravity to make it the fastest Cobra driver to date. Its carefully engineered head design significantly reduces resistance and drag during the swing. Allowing your club head fly faster through the air as you whip the club off of the tee.
Incorporating a CNC milled face, the Cobra Golf Speedback Driver effectively holds on to your golf ball to launch it higher and produce more lift on the upswing. All of this works hand in hand with the club’s Dual Roll technology that aims to square off the club face every time to prevent hooks and slices, thus maximizing the total carry of each shot.
Not to be outdone, the MAZEL Titanium Driver is the brand’s response to the growing clamor for suitable mid handicap drivers. The design incorporates a large 460cc titanium head with a low center of gravity that’s pulled back to the rear. This placement allows more lift during launch, and enlarges the sweet spot for more forgiving performance. But even then, the MAZEL Titanium Driver lets you enjoy your improving skill by giving you better opportunities to shape your shot through its intuitive cup face design.
Along the sides of its face, this driver utilizes speed channels which are essentially trenches that help to increase ball speed. Being super lightweight and easy to wield, the MAZEL Titanium Driver makes the entire driver experience far more pleasant. Also satisfying with its light construction, versatile performance, and long, straight launch.
The driver is perhaps one of the most important clubs in your bag. Indispensable to the game, the big bad dog is one that produces the most power and distance to land your ball as close to the pin as possible in one shot. As a mid handicapper, it can be tough to find a driver that matches your skill level and technique. But as our list of the best drivers for mid handicappers proves, you just need to know what you’re looking for.
The Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo Driver is an impressive driver for amateur players hoping to take advantage of their growing skill without losing the familiar feel or a more forgiving club. Easy to use but still relatively versatile and dynamic. This club guarantees long distances and immense power that makes the most of your improving play style and technique.
