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The Best Drivers for 2021
- Golf EQ
- July 10, 2021
- 10:00 am
Golf EQ Report
Top Performing
EQ Score: 247.24
Most Valuable
VEQ Score: 41.61
The Best Driver for 2021 Highlights:
- Primarily, the best driver for the majority of golfers, is never the best driver for every golfer.
- Secondarily, the best 2021 drivers combined lower spin, longer distance with impressive stability and accuracy more so than in previous years.
- Finally, getting the proper hosel settings for loft and lie is just as important as selecting the correct driver model for getting the most out of your swing.
EQ Score Top 5
Callaway
Epic Speed Driver
1st
EQ Score: 247.24
Ping
G425 LST Driver
2nd
EQ Score: 246.69
TaylorMade
SIM2
Driver
3rd
EQ Score: 240.09
Titleist
TSi3
Driver
4th
EQ Score: 238.50
Srixon
ZX5
Driver
5th
EQ Score: 238.36
VEQ Score Top 5
Cobra
RADSPEED XD
Driver
1st
VEQ Score: 41.61
Cobra
RADSPEED
Driver
2nd
VEQ Score: 41.57
Wilson
D9
Driver
3rd
VEQ Score: 40.19
Mizuno
STz
Driver
4th
VEQ Score: 38.80
Cobra
RADSPEED XB
Driver
5th
VEQ Score: 38.33
Best Golf Drivers of 2021 Introduction
What makes a driver the best for 2021? At Golf EQ, we believe that the “best’ driver is the club that provides the best opportunity for the largest amount of golfers to shoot their best scores. Critically, this means that the “best” driver for 2021 is not the driver that is used by the best golfers, but rather, the driver that improves the game of the most golfers. In this report, you will find performance profiles for 17 different 2021 driver models. Distance, Accuracy, Launch, Spin, and Direction have all been detailed below. We take the time to compare drivers having golfers of all abilities and swing types hit drives to find our results. Real results from real amateur golfers with the only goal being to help you play better golf!
Above Average Performers
Callaway
Epic Speed
Driver
EQ Score: 247.24
Ping
G425 LST
Driver
EQ Score: 246.69
Average Performers
TaylorMade
SIM2
Driver
EQ Score: 240.09
Titleist
TSi3
Driver
EQ Score: 238.50
Srixon
ZX5
Driver
EQ Score: 238.36
Callaway
Epic Max LS
Driver
EQ Score: 238.33
Cobra
RADSPEED XD
Driver
EQ Score: 237.79
Cobra
RADSPEED
Driver
EQ Score: 237.57
TaylorMade
SIM2 Max D
Driver
EQ Score: 231.82
Callaway
Epic Max
Driver
EQ Score: 230.94
Wilson
D9
Driver
EQ Score: 229.63
TaylorMade
SIM2 Max
Driver
EQ Score: 229.05
Titleist
TSi2
Driver
EQ Score: 223.34
Below Average Performers
Ping
G425 Max
Driver
EQ Score: 221.99
Mizuno
STz
Driver
EQ Score: 221.71
Ping
G425 SFT
Driver
EQ Score: 220.57
Cobra
RADSPEED XB
Driver
EQ Score: 219.02
How the Performance Tiers Seperate the best Golf Drivers for 2021
Directly, the Performance tiers at Golf EQ separate clubs into tiers based on their overall performance. First, the best 2021 drivers are drivers that are grouped into the Above Average Performers tier. Importantly, these drivers demonstrate performance that is 1 standard deviation higher than Average Performers. Next, Average Performers are drivers that demonstrate average performance. Lastly, Below Average Performers are drivers that demonstrate performance that is 1 standard deviation lower than Average Performers.
2021 Best Drivers Summaries
2021 Best Driver Data
| Driver | EQ Score | VEQ Score | Ball Speed (mph) | Launch Angle (degrees) | Side Angle (degrees) | Backspin (rpm) | Sidespin (rpm) | Tilt Angle (degrees) | Total Spin (rpm) | Carry (YDS) | Total (YDS) | Offline (YDS) | Descent Angle (degrees) | Peak Height (YDS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callaway Epic Max | 230.94 | 28.87 | 153.67 | 12.66 | -4.46 | 3357.74 | 64.41 | -0.53 | 3418.55 | 246.04 | 264.09 | -20.98 | 42.03 | 36.08 |
| Callaway Epic Max LS | 238.33 | 29.79 | 152.44 | 12.87 | -3.17 | 3032.79 | 347.57 | 3.91 | 3122.28 | 248.66 | 268.06 | -4.36 | 40.17 | 33.88 |
| Callaway Epic Speed | 247.24 | 30.91 | 154.28 | 10.74 | -2.48 | 2938.01 | 376.00 | 4.38 | 3019.92 | 248.72 | 270.52 | -1.26 | 35.74 | 28.83 |
| Cobra RADSPEED | 237.57 | 41.57 | 152.56 | 11.92 | -3.97 | 2657.45 | 262.47 | 2.49 | 2733.67 | 248.54 | 271.05 | -8.99 | 35.83 | 29.20 |
| Cobra RADSPEED XB | 219.02 | 38.33 | 151.48 | 12.56 | -3.95 | 3392.95 | 380.93 | 4.05 | 3479.06 | 242.35 | 260.43 | -6.56 | 41.07 | 33.91 |
| Cobra RADSPEED XD | 237.79 | 41.61 | 153.56 | 12.48 | -4.07 | 2916.18 | 148.56 | 1.51 | 2979.38 | 251.80 | 271.81 | -15.25 | 39.46 | 34.43 |
| Mizuno STz | 221.71 | 38.80 | 150.62 | 12.04 | -2.51 | 2837.68 | 667.81 | 9.59 | 2978.75 | 240.39 | 262.15 | 12.40 | 36.37 | 28.89 |
| Ping G425 LST | 246.69 | 37.00 | 153.08 | 11.33 | -3.92 | 2454.26 | 108.77 | 0.32 | 2510.40 | 251.52 | 275.60 | -16.43 | 33.59 | 27.12 |
| Ping G425 Max | 221.99 | 33.30 | 151.81 | 11.29 | -4.39 | 2902.55 | 432.52 | 6.44 | 3009.74 | 242.27 | 264.21 | -3.94 | 35.95 | 28.43 |
| Ping G425 SFT | 220.57 | 33.09 | 152.14 | 12.40 | -4.05 | 3213.55 | -238.00 | -6.13 | 3305.91 | 242.88 | 261.20 | -29.79 | 40.73 | 34.09 |
| Srixon ZX5 | 238.36 | 35.75 | 152.85 | 10.92 | -2.78 | 2986.69 | 360.54 | 4.53 | 3077.83 | 244.37 | 265.74 | -0.38 | 36.46 | 29.26 |
| Titleist TSi2 | 223.34 | 27.92 | 151.69 | 12.25 | -3.20 | 2836.40 | 394.19 | 4.66 | 2928.07 | 247.31 | 268.51 | -2.15 | 37.37 | 30.41 |
| Titleist TSi3 | 238.51 | 29.81 | 154.11 | 11.06 | -3.76 | 2568.51 | 312.20 | 3.93 | 2654.39 | 248.50 | 272.39 | -5.78 | 33.83 | 27.06 |
| TaylorMade SIM2 | 240.09 | 30.01 | 153.64 | 10.83 | -4.32 | 3097.36 | 484.96 | 7.17 | 3173.79 | 246.46 | 266.62 | -1.69 | 37.55 | 30.21 |
| TaylorMade SIM2 | 229.05 | 22.90 | 153.23 | 11.67 | -3.59 | 3225.83 | 449.63 | 6.60 | 3310.46 | 244.87 | 264.27 | -0.23 | 39.20 | 32.05 |
| TaylorMade SIM2 Max | 231.82 | 23.18 | 152.51 | 12.56 | -4.68 | 3182.29 | 278.15 | 3.07 | 3253.72 | 244.99 | 264.19 | -11.80 | 40.31 | 33.95 |
| Wilson D9 | 229.63 | 40.19 | 151.29 | 12.81 | -2.09 | 2917.76 | 567.79 | 8.86 | 3030.53 | 245.17 | 264.88 | 13.91 | 39.70 | 33.19 |
About the Best 2021 Driver test
To fully evaluate the performance of each driver in our test, we conduct three rounds of testing with each club with each of our Golf EQ Testers. In total, this means that each club is tested 3 different times per golfer. In this test, driver swings ranging from 75 miles per hour up to 126 miles per hour were captured. Other swing parameters such as angle of attack, club path, club face-to-path, and strike point were captured as well. In total, over 150,000 data points go into creating our driver rankings. All data is captured on the Foresight Sports GC Quad launch monitor. Golf EQ Testers hit either Titleist ProV1 or ProV1x golf balls depending on their golf ball fit.
Beyond the numbers
Critically, all this data is useless unless it can be translated to performance on the golf course. The EQ Score is the only metric in golf capable of translating measured performance on golf launch monitors to on-course performance. Explicitly, higher EQ Scores mean higher performance on the course and lower scores. In addition to the data collected using our launch monitors, every driver was hit on the golf course with players providing feedback for the looks, sound, and feel of every club. Notably, testers selected the Titleist TSi, TaylorMade SIM2, and Callaway Epic Speed drivers as their favorites with the Srixon ZX5 and Wilson D9 being the least preferred.
How to find your best Golf Driver Online
Undoubtably, personalized performance is the biggest step for upgrading your game. Further, finding the best driver for YOU should be your only goal. Online, this is difficult to do. At Golf EQ, we have created the first-of-its-kind Driver Identifier to automatically match you with your best drivers based on our hundreds of thousands of data points – we recommend you begin there for your search for your next driver.
Driver Identifier
Swing Your Swing, Find Your Best Driver
How to find your best Golf Driver In-Person
Once you have identified your short list of driver to test based on your Driver Identifier Report, we recommend testing each driver for yourself, if possible. Finding an advanced fitting location with various club head and shaft combinations can be a great way to see how each club feels in your hands before you buy. Additionally, these locations can help you find the right loft, lie, and shaft for your new club. For golfers interested in saving money, buying online is likely your best bet.
Things to keep in mind when selecting Your Best golf Driver
Above all, matching a specific club head center of gravity, loft, and lie to your golf swing is most important. Many golfers will get great performance out of several different club heads when they are fit to their delivery patterns. Once you have found your ideal driver, matching a shaft and grip to that club can improve both performance and consistency even further. Notably, getting these different aspects of your new club can be done even if the club is not new. Used drivers can be an excellent option for most golfers. The performance of older models is often not much different than the performance of the newest models and some older clubs, like the TaylorMade M5 and Ping G400 still hold their own against clubs that are even 3+ years newer. You can find the prior generation drivers that work best for your with the Driver Identifier now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Aren't all drivers the same?
A: No, absolutely not. While some drivers may be similar, the performance of a golfer can vary wildly based on his or her match with a golf club. It is most important to get the right type of golf club for your swing. If you are unsure what driver that is, begin with the Driver Identifier.
Q: What loft do I need on my driver?
A: What loft you should play on your driver depends on a few important factors. Specifically, your driver swing speed, attack angle, club path, club face-to-path, and the center of gravity of the golf club you choose will influence your ideal loft. Generally, the faster you swing the lower loft you will need. Additionally, in lower spin drivers, you may need more loft to prevent. the golf ball from falling out of the air too quickly.
Q: What lie angle do I need on my driver?
A: The lie angle if the angle of the golf club as it rests on the ground behind the golf ball. Lie angles can be adjusted with different hosel settings if your driver is adjustable. Again, your golf swing will dictate what lie angle you need. Often, golfers will need lie angles that correspond to their club path. For example, if you swing out-to-in, you will likely need an upright lie angle. Conversely, if you swing in-to-out, you may need a flatter lie angle.
Q: What is center of gravity?
A: Simply, the center of gravity, or CG, is the average location of the mass of the club head. CG is also called center of mass. CG location has a critical influence on. the launch and spin profile of golf clubs. Directly, forward CG encourages lower launch and lower spin while rear CG encourages higher launch and higher spin.
Q: How often should i upgrade my driver
A: Based on our results year-over-year, it is unlikely that anyone should be upgrading their driver every season. While there is a subtle step forward in performance every season, it is most often not enough to warrant player spending $500+. Most golfers should look to upgrade their driver roughly every 3-4 years in order to not lose out. on significant performance gains.
Q: What is more important, the driver head or driver shaft?
A: Overwhelmingly, the driver club head influences the performance of a golfer much more than the golf shaft. Concretely, the golf club head is the only things that contacts the golf ball and thus has a larger influence. Consequently, the golf shaft delivers the golf club head into the golf ball and is very important, however, less so than the golf club head in drivers and every golf club category.
Best Golf Drivers of 2021 Conclusion
Overall, brands like Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, Titleist, Cobra, and more continue to create drivers that can be used with great success by almost every type of golfer. Furthermore, and to each of those brands credit, they all have different driver club head models that help individual player find their ideal performance results.
Knowing where to start is key and we recommend using the Driver Identifier as a free way to begin your search for your next driver. The Driver Identifier is the only place where you can compare the performance of older drivers with newer models to see if you. cansave a bunch of money without giving up performance on the golf course.
Lastly, we appreciate you checking out the Best Drivers of 2021 EQ Report here at Golf EQ. Please be sure to check out the best driver for YOU by using the Driver Identifier now. Also, take a look at our other EQ Reports and be on the lookout for more EQ club Reports coming soon.
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