Blog Post: https://golfstead.com/best-golf-drivers-for-mid-handicappers
Narrowing down a driver that would suit you as a mid handicapper can be tough. Do you prioritize distance, forgiveness, low spin, workability, or a mix of everything?
In this video, we’ll highlight our top 2025 recommendations for golf drivers ideal for mid handicappers and provide a brief buying guide on what to look for when choosing a model.
Note: Golfstead is viewer-supported and this video description may contain affiliate links. When you buy through such links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
🛒 *Drivers Featured in This Video:*
Callaway Elyte Driver: https://prf.hn/l/0eEzNaN/
TaylorMade Qi35 Driver: https://imp.i366014.net/55M6nN
PING G440 MAX Driver: https://globalgolf.pxf.io/K0W1je
PXG 0311 Black Ops Driver: https://pbgnrl.cc/0311bops
Cobra DS-ADAPT X Driver: https://pbgnrl.cc/dsadx
Cleveland Launcher XL 2 Driver: https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/k06nR3
PING G440 LST Driver: https://globalgolf.pxf.io/JKWGQQ
Titleist GT2 Driver: https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/Wy0nzO
Timestamps
0:00 Opening
1:05 Callaway Elyte Driver
1:43 TaylorMade Qi35 Driver
2:28 PING G440 MAX Driver
3:16 PXG 0311 Black Ops Driver
3:54 Cobra DS-ADAPT X Driver
4:42 Cleveland Launcher XL 2 Driver
5:26 PING G440 LST Driver
6:07 Titleist GT2 Driver
6:51 Buying Guide
8:00 Closing
Disclosure: the voiceover in this video was created with AI. All products listed have been tested and/or researched. The availability of listed products may change, and we suggest checking out our blog post for a more detailed, up-to-date version of this guide.
Disclaimer: this video is for informational purposes only, and while we strive to ensure its contents are accurate at the time the video is created, we make no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the video or the information or visuals contained in it. Images, video, and B-roll footage may be used for illustrative purposes and may not depict the actual products or subjects being discussed.
narrowing down the ideal driver for a mid- handicapper isn’t easy since every player is different however you could say that a typical mid- handicapper might have a driver swing speed of 88 to 100 mph and appreciate some combination of game improvement and better player performance so if you’re looking for a driver to put in the bag which one do you go for as a mid- handicapper do you prioritize distance forgiveness low spin workability or a good mix of everything in this video we’ll simplify the selection process for you we’ll highlight our recommendations for the best drivers on the market for mid- handicappers share some essential buying tips and provide insights to make your decision easier full disclosure GFED has tested and/or conducted in-depth research into the products featured in this video our editorial process for these rankings takes into account a mix of many factors and our recommendations may change over time links to the products featured in the video can be found in the description below now let’s dive into our top picks for drivers suited for mid- handicappers one the Callaway Elite Driver callaway’s Elite Driver takes speed and forgiveness to unprecedented levels with a new AI 10X face thermmoforged carbon crown and aerodynamic head shape a new discrete perimeter weighting system with a 13 g movable weight offers fade neutral and draw positions we feel the Elite driver would appeal to golfers across the skill spectrum who are seeking the next generation of speed off the tea along with forgiveness workability and sleek looks the adjustability and exceptional overall performance make it an ideal choice for mid- handicappers two the tailorade Qi35 driver the Qi35 is the middle model in Tailormaid’s Qi35 family of drivers designed to provide a blend of forgiveness and distance with the Qi35 Tailor Made carries forward their latest cuttingedge technologies including the Infiniti carbon crown and carbon twist face but makes several enhancements and introduces new innovations such as a near zero CG projection a multiaterial construction contributes to a complete performance package and two interchangeable sole weights can be swapped to alter the CG and flight characteristics the Qi35 is just as long as its predecessor the Qi10 but has better forgiveness and more adjustability three the Ping G440 Max driver the G440 Max is designed for incredible forgiveness with more speed and distance than the previous generation our tests indicate that it has a slight performance edge over the G430 Max at the same time the lighter configuration with a longer 46-in shaft helps foster more club head speed a higher launch and more carry with a carbonfly wrap crown free hosel tungsten back weight and low face height the driver maximizes distance off the tee and gets the ball airborne while providing some of the best feel and sound of any ping driver the G440 Max can be a fantastic choice for mid- handicappers who want to hit fairways more consistently off the tea while keeping their distance up four the PXG0311 Black Ops driver the 0311 Black Ops is a versatile driver built for high launch as well as extreme power and forgiveness pxg has innovated to unlock the best performance of any PXG driver yet kek includes an advanced material face carbon fiber crown and sole natural frequency optimization for a desirable feel and sound and interchangeable sole weights the 0311 Black Ops is a true gem of a driver that doesn’t really have any weaknesses golfers of any skill level including mid- handicappers can have great success with it five the Cobra DS Adapt X Driver the DS Adapt X driver by Cobra can be considered the middle model in the DS Adapt line providing a blend of distance forgiveness launch and trajectory part of this is a new adaptive waiting system and new future fit 33 hosal adapter which makes the DS Adapt the most adjustable Cobra driver ever an advanced aerodynamic design maximizes club head speed and interchangeable weights in the sole allow golfers to increase forgiveness or reduce spin as desired the DS Adapt X is an awesome driver but perhaps its greatest strength is its powerful adjustability whatever your shot tendencies are as a mid- handicapper you have a great chance of finding the perfect setting for you six the Cleveland Launcher XL2 driver the Cleveland Launcher XL2 is designed for distance and forgiveness with a mid-launch and spin it’s most recommended for players with a moderate fast swing speed of around 90 to 100 mph this driver builds on the first generation of the Launcher XL by introducing a new optimized mainframe XL face and reworked head design with a low and deep CG players also benefit from distance-enhancing tech and an internal grip weight those mid- handicappers looking for plenty of forgiveness and great all-around performance at an affordable price can’t go wrong with the Launcher XL2 seven the Ping G440 LST driver ping’s G440 LST driver is geared towards faster swingers who want to keep their spin down to maximize distance off the tee a hot face lighter configuration and longer 46-in shaft helps foster more club head speed while preserving forgiveness features and tech are more or less the same as the Max model and include a free hosal carbonfly wrap crown lowface movable tungsten back weight and hosel adapter the G440 LST may be a low spin driver but it’s one of the most accessible and forgiving low- spin drivers on the market making it a good option for many mid- handicappers who have above average swing speeds eight the Titleist GT2 driver in practice the GT2 driver is gamed by players of all skill levels and it’s actually very popular on tour the goal of the GT2 is to provide top performance at every impact point on the face meaning ball speeds stability and forgiveness it’s designed to inspire confidence in every swing for golfers who don’t find the center of the face every time a new suite of technologies including a thermofformm crown split mass construction and speed ring VFT face along with an interchangeable back weight give the GT2 everything that you could want off the T with an easy launch that is not too high or too low plenty of speed and distance off the face and fantastic forgiveness this is Titalist’s best game improvement driver yet now that we’ve made our recommendations let’s touch on some important factors to consider when choosing the right driver as a mid- handicapper you should consider several things including the driver’s forgiveness distance looks and feel you should also factor in the shaft and your budget having both ball speed and directional forgiveness in your driver is highly beneficial because at these high swing speeds minor mish hits can be amplified into very poor results distance is also hugely important and is a function of club head speed ball speed and co all of which should be as high as possible while still maintaining control and accuracy in terms of feel the weight of the club should feel balanced and impact should ideally feel solid and responsive consider the weight and flex of the shaft the shaft should not be too heavy or too light and higher swing speeds typically call for a stiffer flex also consider any adjustability features movable sole weights and adjustable hoses allow you to alter the loft and lie introduce draw or fade bias or add stability depending on the position of the weights don’t forget to take into account your budget as this will dictate the options available to you to wrap this up a reliable quality driver can be a huge boon to your golfing toolkit and finding a model that does the job you want it to do as a mid-andicapper is certainly possible with some research mid- handicap golfers can play many drivers successfully but they tend to seek out game improvement drivers or drivers with both game improvement and better player traits this might mean a good amount of forgiveness distance solid feel or a certain degree of workability you may have to test various models to find the best one for you and a fitting can be highly beneficial on this front if you’re ready to make a move click the links in the description to explore our recommendations and check current pricing keep in mind that pricing and availability are constantly changing if you want our most up-to-date buying guide and more details on featured products we recommend visiting our blog post which is linked in the description if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them down below don’t forget to like share and subscribe so that you’re notified as soon as a new video drops until next time
