Ranking the best drivers of 2026.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:31 Ranking Criteria
2:30 #10
4:14 #9
6:35 #8
8:24 #7
10:18 #6
12:25 Big Giveaway
13:38 #5
16:15 #4
18:00 #3
19:54 #2
20:57 Best Driver of 2026
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29 Comments
Did you adjust your rankings to account for weather? Florida had an unusually cold winter.
Man, I was hoping Wilson ranked higher. I bought both the Qi4D and Max Plus. The Wilson ended being more efficient for me. The Qi4D worked well for me too, but the Wilson got the edge due to the feel.
timing couldn't be better for this — gear brain is in full overdrive with Augusta week starting tomorrow and now I'm down a rabbit hole at midnight 😂 the actual course testing is what separates this channel from everyone doing it on a simulator
I really enjoy your videos and your reviews I just wished you waited for the New Titleist to come out and I wouldn’t be surprised if you already have it but can’t talk about it yet, since I’m still gaming the TSR2, I’m waiting until I have a chance to try it and hear what you and others think Thanks
Would love to see a list of clubs that didn't make your top 10
Bit confused Gabe as to why the QI4D driver is not the one you have in the bag….. without a doubt the best driver you used over all these tests.
Huh cobra at 9?
One thing I think you missed on the Staff for value is they included a premium shaft (PowerCore) as standard. For everyone else that’s a massive up charge. 160+
Cobra OPTM LS won the driver battle in my fitting this year. Callaway Quantum TD Max was a close second. I just wish Cobra had better resale value.
Qi4D was the easy #1 for me this year. I got the core model in a 9 degree with the low rotation Reaxx shaft. It’s fast, it’s gorgeous, and it’s just a great driver. 👍
From a TaylorMade Fanboy – I thank you. My TM SIM 2 has been a loyal wingman for a few years and now I an convinced of its worthy successor.
I got the Qi4D after the first review. I freaking love it!!!!!
Why are you YELLING!
At $449 brand new, GT2 should be #1 ranked here in April 2026
Elyte TD still the best driver ever made
Maybe I missed it somewhere in another video, but how do you rate the club to get a "92" or 90 or whatever. If you have 5 categories with 5 points each, wouldn't the highest rating be a 25 and on down from there ie: 24 1/2 and on down? Just kind of confuses me, and that is not a hard thing to do sometimes.
Great review as always Gabe! Thanks for all the info and enthusiasm!!
Good vid but maybe a slight problem with the value category. If both one and 2 score the same on the first 4 categories and cost the same how can one be 4.5 and the other 4? Now with the titleist being reduced in price should the value score change.
You're missing one thing to make this testing format fully comprehensive… You need me to hit those drivers to know how forgiving they are.
i went in for a fitting WANTING to buy the tm QI4D, came out with the Ping g440k, who knew, why you do a fitting!!!!!!
Gabe, you touched on something that I can't understand. SO many people speak to their love of the matte finish of drivers+, yet, their favorite looking driver is Titleist …NOT MATTE. "I love this or that driver but I don't like the gloss" for me that is hard to fathom.
I wonder if he knows that GT dropped its price by $200 honestly that’s the best driver you could buy right now $450 f
Any time you want to test / film at MacDill, let me know. Presumably you have access? Semper fi!
I owned a cobra optm ls for about 30 days. I had qc issues with 2 heads. The crowns cracked on both of them without any abuse. After that debacle, I settled on the Ping g440k anr i have to say i am thoroughly impressed with it. Excellent forgiveness and consistency. Essnetially a point and shoot driver for me. I will also admit i still have the qi35 in the rotation still. I personally had a great experience despite mixed reviews last year. Its long and forgiving. And luckily i didnt have any qc issues like some other folks had. Maybe after this season ill pickup a qi4d for fun but i will keep my ventus velocore. The stock qi4d shafts didnt impress me unfortunately.
Would love to see know where last years dtc drivers compare, takomo ignis, sub 70 859, maltby, hogan etc? Would like to think that the sub 70 based on your review of it would still stand up well this year like the titleist gt and make it into the top 10?
I finally got the Cobra OPTM that I won from you on Whatnot. Got lost in the mail for a week! Thanks so much for that! Cannot wait for the rain in Chicago to let up so I can get out on the course and try it out.
The SECOND the QI4D goes on sale to 549$ it's going straight in the bag… I know, it's a 100 bucks, but I have just set the my personal bar at 550 dollars, I can't go above it I'll game my Elyte until last summer lol.
Best reviews in the biz!
I liked the Qi4D, hate the REAX shafts, I think they are kind of crappy. I still like the GT2, but keeping my DS Adapt X from last year. I haven't hit any of the others here. My fitting last year came down to the DS Adapt X and the GT2, I was slightly better with the DS Adapt so went with it, plus it was $100 cheaper, had GT2 been $449, it would have been a no brainer.