Using a driver is not child’s play and they bring to ground even the most trained professionals when it comes to using them. That is why many people aim to find the most forgiving driver that will support them in their game.
Drivers can improve your game and control your shots. However, one driver doesn’t work for all kinds of shots. There are a lot of intricacies involved in the game. The best drivers are designed to increase accuracy, speed, and distance which can give you an edge if you are continuously suffering from bad strikes.
The market is filled with tons of options and that is why it is not easy to choose; therefore, we have brought you this guide so you can see what your options are and how you can select the best from amongst them.
This review also includes a detailed discourse on what factors you need to consider when buying a golf driver. For example, do you want to hit the ball straight without missing? Do you throw the ball off its course all the time? You will need different drivers in both situations. For instance, bias drivers can give you the correct direction and distance, while adjustment drivers can increase your precision.
We have reviewed the 5 most forgiving drivers that will not only help you in your game but will also boost your confidence.
Benefits of using a forgiving golf driver
There are a lot of forgiving gold drivers available in the market that will have an impact on the way you hit your shots. But how do they do that and what are the benefits of using them? Here are some of the reasons why these drivers are so high in demand:
Enlarged driver face
A forgiving driver has a much larger face that gives it more surface area to hit the ball with. The center part of the driver is the best for newbies. Players who like to swing faster use these drivers a lot.
Improved distance
Trying the game for the first time and getting a good distance feels amazing. Slicing works amazingly well with forgiving drivers even when you are slowly swinging the ball. In the start, it will be difficult for you to produce much power but using a forgiving driver will give some boost to your shots.
These are an incredible choice for beginners due to the speed and distance they provide. The head is oversized and acts as a spring to the ball, which makes it go even further.
Improves control
Forgiving golf drivers not only improve your distance but also your accuracy. Whether you are swinging your ball or taking straight shots, it will give you extended control. As the head is large, the ball is seldom affected by the weight of the club, which gives you more precision during the game.
Also, don’t feel ashamed of using such a driver. Professionals will only tell you one thing: to use the right driver at the right time. Even professionals use these drivers when the time is right. They take as much advantage of the bigger clubs as they possibly can.
Confidence
Golf is all about confidence. If you are a newbie and don’t want to be demotivated by punishing drivers that will penalize you for not properly using them, forgiving golf drivers are your answer; they will aid you in learning and enable you to go through your learning curve smoothly. This way, you can build up your confidence in the game and improve yourself further.
This boost will also likely affect your overall game, especially when you have to carry out various moves like putting. Remember, it takes as much confidence as it takes your ability to learn golf!
Saves Time and Money
Fixing issues with your golf equipment can cost you just as much as buying it does. Think of it: you have to pay for golf lessons, have a bright idea of the terrain and spend time on the driving range, and even practice at home. All this requires immense time and money.
Why not purchase just one driver to eliminate all those factors? You might need lessons and still have to go see the range yourself, but it will reduce your time and effort so much more.
Features of a forgiving golf driver
Cavity Back
The cavity back is a hollow space at the back of the club head. This area helps in transferring the weight of the club head to the edges of the club and makes it easier to hit the ball. The more space the cavity has, the more forgiving the driver is. That is why it is a very important factor to consider when buying a golf driver.
Club dead
A forgiving golf driver has a different diameter and a different size that is tailor-made to be forgiving. They will be much larger as compared to normal drivers and the size of the clubs means more weight to transfer to the ball. This also reduces the resistance between the ball and the club.
Offset
An offset is a special quality of a club if the front edge of the face is set at the back of its neck. This is more of a design trend and is most common in forgiving drivers.
High Moment of Inertia
Inertia measures the resistance that the twist on the axis produces. The moment of inertia means the resistance of objects’ acceleration on twisting. The higher the moment of inertia, the more forgiving will be the club. This transfers most of the force to the face of the club, reducing the shank and giving you a sweet spot at the center of the club.
Low Center of Gravity
The center of gravity is what guides the motion of the club. It decides the weight distribution as well. Forgiving golf drivers have a low center of gravity, which means that you can hit longer and higher shots with much more ease. Some of the high-end drivers have also got the option to adjust the center of gravity so that you can move it according to the power you can put into the club.
Solve Issues with Your Game
Most people will use these drivers if they are having problems in achieving the desired distance or having problems with spin. What kind of driver you will get will depend on where you are lacking.
There can be many cases. The ball can fly for too long, in which case you won’t need this driver. The ball could have problems achieving distance or completely fly off its intended course.
To observe this, you can look for three indicators. These three indicators are:
- Slicing
- Shanking
- Shooting the ball straight up instead of in a projectile
Top 5 most forgiving golf drivers
1. Cobra F-Max Offset Driver
Many new and intermediate golfers experience slicing, where they have a swing path from left to right. This is not the normal fade. We are talking about the extreme left to right where the ball ends up in the water or trees. If you are one of those and want a more forgiving golf driver, then this might interest you.
The very first thing that impressed us was the grip. It has considerably larger grips that will lessen your effort in higher swings. The shafts are available in three sizes: the regular, large, and stiff flex type. In addition to that, the club head has an offset and the draw-biased weight in the sole in the rear and heel part allows you to fight slicing.
This promotes good rollover distance as well. The loft is not adjustable, which is a shame but that is because of the offset on the hosel. This, however, gives you another advantage: owing to the offset, the face makes the ball go straighter and minimizes the slicing, but reduces the curve.
This driver delivers the performance that it promises. With lesser slicing, it will work out with shots that are decently performed. If you have swing issues, then the driver cannot be blamed because you might just need a little more practice.
This forgiving driver is meant for those golfers who want forgiveness in slicing. If you are missing on the fairway, then better avoid this as it will only do it more. However, if you want a driver that will improve the straightness of your shots, then the Cobra F-Max Offset Driver is a good choice.
What We Liked:
- Best anti slicing driver
- Very lightweight
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Helps in increasing your distance
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not suitable for fast swingers
- Draw bias
2. Tour Edge Hot Launch HL3 Driver
Tour Edge is not one of the most top notch brands out there, but it has certainly been well-known for its high quality products for almost more than forty years. They are mostly known for their woods and hybrids, and it is rare to see them in professional equipment and that is precisely why we wanted to try them out. To be honest, we were not disappointed.
Behind the clubface, you will find the power channel which helps in low struck shots. The center of gravity is a bit at the backside as the weight is on the back of the club; this allows for even shots and to achieve small distances, as well as for high powered shots. The variable thickness is also very good for mishit shots.
For loft, you have got two options: 9 and 10.5 degrees. We would not recommend this for golfers with a slower swing. As far as looks go, we would have it in our collection just because of that. The pear-shaped design with exotic colors makes it a pleasure to behold.
We won’t expect you to see anything too fancy when it comes to its adjustability, various settings and the quality of this driver. However, we would say that the money that you will invest in this driver will allow you to go straight to the course and get going. If you want to prove that anyone can go by without having drivers with fancy technology, then this is the way to go.
What We Liked:
- Good value for money
- Mishits does not sacrifice much in terms of distance
- High launch trajectory
- Stylish look
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not adjustable
- Limited loft options
3. Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Driver
If it is something premium that you are looking for, then Cleveland is not the brand to go for. But if you want something that has a nice performance at a very competitive price, then the Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Driver is the most forgiving driver that you can get.
The shaft is a 45.5 inches Miyazaki C. Kua shaft that has a high balance point and a very low torque. By now, you should know that it is aimed at higher swing speeds. The HB is a titanium-based club head with a very large sweet spot. The thin crow allows you to move the weight from the back of the head to the bottom. The light hosel contributes to this as well.
The Cup Face Technology complements the thin crown because it allows the face to compress and give you a very high trajectory. This also contributes to a larger sweet spot and an even larger distance.
This driver has impressed us immensely and there is no reason to not be impressed. With its amazing grip and high performing face that is tailor-made for you, it gives you the convenience and forgiveness of an easy-to-use driver. With this cost-effective driver, you can go straight to the game without worrying too much about settings.
What We Liked:
- Straight hitting
- No fancy engineering involved
- High angle launch
- Reasonable price
What We Didn’t Like:
- Mishits sacrifice distance
- The rod cannot be adjusted
4. Ping G410 Plus / G410 SFT
This driver is known as one of the best drivers from Ping because of its fade correction; this is achieved by what they call Straight Flight Technology. It is built on draw bias and it will also correct your Slice. For shafts, you have multiple options to choose from. The available shafts are:
- Alta CB Red 55
- MitsibushiTensei CK Orange
- EvenFlow Black Project X
The face is finely tuned for precision. It has a much hotter impact due to an increased flex. The bias settings can be shifted in three ways by moving the tungsten weight. For neutral, keep it at the center. For fade, it is best to move it towards the heel. If you want an improvement in your angle, then it is suggested to adjust the lie angle by 1.5 degrees.
As far as the looks go, it looks sleek and elegant. Although it is a bit lighter in color and most people prefer more concentrated colors. The head is optimized for a light swing and the face has an impact. It combines a flavorful combination of accuracy and distance in one pack.
This driver is the brand’s first venture into adjustable drivers. With great accuracy and suitability for lighter swings, it will not disappoint you.
What We Liked:
- Premium looking all-black design
- Highly adjustable according to your preference
- Customizable swing with multiple shaft options
- Great for all types of swings
What We Didn’t Like:
- Wide shot dispersion
- Does not offer a lot of distance as compared to other drivers on the list
5. Taylor Made R15 460 Driver
Taylor Made is one of those names in the golf industry that every pro golfer knows about. They have been delivering quality products for years now and have maintained their name in the industry. Their products are also known for providing the best value for their price.
This driver is a perfect example of one such product. It comes with a standard shaft which is like a Fujikura Speeder 57 Evolution with a UTX grip. The head is a 460 CC head which provides a considerably larger sweet spot for the handicapped. This offers the max forgiveness you can ask from a driver.
We also liked the weight distribution on the driver and it is best suited for a higher launch angle and a reduced spin rate. This allows for more distance and an accurate straight shot. This is achieved by a low center of gravity owing to the sliding spin weight inside the sole. The hosel also allows you to change the loft up to two degrees, which is very good.
It may not be the latest available model but it still has a great value. With an impressive launching trajectory and higher distance, this driver can make any golfer proud.
What We Liked:
- Forward COG is good for improving your angle
- A larger surface area offers a larger sweet spot
- Offers a very good distance with its moveable weight options
- Can be controlled via a front tracking system
What We Didn’t Like:
- Quality is not as good as other drivers on this list
- Could have been lighter
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most forgiving driver for a high handicapper?
If you are a high handicapper, it doesn’t mean that you are a bad golfer. To know if you are highly handicapped, going above 20 makes you fall into that category. Drivers can be tricky to master no matter what kind they are. If you are new to the game and have a low swing speed, that calls for a forgiving driver.
Buy a driver that has the clubface oriented in such a way that it creates a sweet spot. You can use an adjustable hosel or a speed pocket which can increase your launch angle and lower the spin on the ball.
The Taylor Made R15 460 Driver is one of such drivers. It increases your distance and lowers the swing. It is especially good for high handicappers.
What is the easiest golf driver to hit with?
As mentioned above, drivers are the most difficult to master. The best you can do is to get a more forgiving one and try to smoothen your learning curve. You need to address the following problems: swing speed, angle, distance, and how well it forgives. If the clubface hits the sweet spot with a massive head, then it is a good driver for you to start with.
Every driver in this review has a club-shaped head with a shaft design. You can pick any one; however, we would recommend the Taylor Made R15 460 Driver.
What’s a good driver for the average golfer?
If you are handicapped, let’s say 10 to 15, then the Cobra F-Max Offset Driver will be the best choice for you. If you want something from medium to low handicap, then the Taylor Made R15 460 Driver is the most suitable golf driver from our list.
Final Words
Forgiving drivers aim to increase the speed of your learning curve. It is very rare for beginners to hit the spot and even most of the professionals struggle with drivers as they are not easy to use. That is why a forgiving driver is a must for everyone who wants to learn without being demotivated.
We compiled this list of the 5 most forgiving golf drivers to help ease your decision-making process. Although any of these drivers would work great for you, we would recommend first evaluating your needs and preferences. Only get the golf driver that falls within your budget and suits your needs the best.
