Mid-handicappers can improve their drives by using the correct driver for their skillset. But the wrong driver can restrict you from maximizing the results of your swing every time, or you won’t feel much improvement over time.
Considering you’ll use the driver at least 14 times in a round, a subpar driver can bring a massive loss to mid-handicappers.
Our team reviewed more than 25 of the most-used drivers for mid-handicappers before drawing our analysis of the best ones.
Our review contains everything you need to know about drivers, including their weight distribution, build quality, flexibility, and easy handling for a mid-handicapper.
Dive deeper into the article to learn more about choosing the ideal driver for yourself as a mid-handicapper. Our top five picks will be perfect if you run short on time.
So, let’s get straight into it!
Best Drivers for Mid Handicappers
Golfible Picks:
Editor’s Choice: TaylorMade M4 (click to see)
Budget Option: Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Driver (click to see)
Best Mid Handicap Driver For A Slice: Cobra Men’s F-Max Offset (click to see)
Most Forgiving: Callaway Golf Rogue Driver (click to see)
Best For Slow Swing Speeds: TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Black Driver (click to see)
Short on Time? Here’s A Quick Product Synopsis
| Driver Name | TaylorMade M4 | Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Driver | Cobra Men’s F-Max Offset | Callaway Golf Rogue Driver | TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Black Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.2/10 Editor’s Choice | 8.9/10 Budget Option | 9.0/10 Best Mid Handicap Driver For A Slice | 9.1/10 Most Forgiving | 9.2/10 Best For Slow Swing Speeds |
| Pricing | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section |
| Head Size | 460cc | 460cc | 460cc | 460cc | 460cc |
| Grip | TM Dual Feel 360 Round | Lamkin Cleveland Blue Cap Grip | Lamkin REL 360 Midsize | Callaway Men’s Universal | Lamkin Black 0.620 Grip |
| Face Angle | Adjustable | Draw Bias | Draw Bias (Offset Model) Or Neutral Bias (Straight Neck Hosel Model) | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Loft Angle | Adjustable | 9 degrees, 10.5 degrees, 12 degrees | 9.5 degrees, 10.5 degrees , 11.5 degrees | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Golf Shaft | Fujikura Atmos Red | Miyazaki C. Kua 50 | Cobra Airspeed 40 | Aldila Synergy/Aldila Quaranta/Project X EvenFlow/Project X HZRDS | Matrix White Tie 55 |
| Shaft Length | 45.75″ | 45.5″ | 46″ | 45.5″ | 45.5″ |
| Shaft Material | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite |
| Shaft Flex | Stiff/Regular/Senior | Stiff/Regular/Senior | Stiff/Regular/Senior | Regular/Stiff/Senior | Stiff/Senior/Regular |
| Read Review | Jump To TaylorMade M4 Review | Jump To Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Review | Jump To Cobra Men’s F-Max Offset Review | Jump To Callaway Golf Rogue Review | Jump To TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Black Review |
TaylorMade M4 Driver
Editor’s Choice
Rating: 9.2 /10
USA Suppliers (Also Deliver To Canada. Globalgolf.ca Is Canadian Delivery Only)
Canada Suppliers
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Pros
- Reduced side spin allows for straighter drives.
- Huge sweet spot creates better contact.
- Available in a variety of options.
Cons
- Pricier than most drivers on the market.
- Two-colored metallic clubhead might be distracting upon address.
The TaylorMade M4 has been used by many tour players and amateurs looking to increase distance and accuracy. Its features and performance was the reason we selected it for our editor’s choice award as the best golf driver for mid handicappers.
The driver has Twist Face Technology that presents a new curvature to the clubhead and face that restricts sidespin when mishit on the sides of the face. Sidespin contributes to fixing errant shots including hooks and slices off the tee.
Taylormade upgraded this driver compared to the previous “M” editions with a Hammerhead Slot in the sole which allows it have a huge and easy-to-hit sweet spot as well as the clubface having more flexibility. The slot also takes away unwanted spin to increase roll for longer drives.
The club also includes an adjustable hosel so a golfer can choose their desired loft and preferred launch. Geocoustic technology creates an explosive sound at impact and a sole shape promoting more solid contact.
The club is available in four lofts including 8.5 degrees, 9.5 degrees, 10.5 degrees and 12 degrees. It also can be purchased with five shaft options: ladies, senior, regular, stiff or extra stiff.
The M4 is available for both left and right-handed golfers and features a metallic silver and black look to it.
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Driver
Budget Option
Rating: 8.9 /10
uSA Suppliers (Also deliver to Canada)
uK Suppliers
Pros
- Available for purchase with three different lofts: 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees.
- Multiple features make it very forgiving.
- A lot cheaper than many other drivers made by competitors.
Cons
- Not adjustable like other drivers.
- Doesn’t have an alignment aid so might be difficult to aim down the fairway.
- Not available for women.
Cleveland Golf are notoriously famous for their top-of-the-line wedges. The company’s Launcher HB driver has plenty of features to help increase performance off the tee. The lightweight, bonded hosel allows the weight of the club to be moved where forgiveness will significantly improve.
The driver has a HiBore Crown that puts the center of gravity in a low and deep spot helping increase the ball launch high into the air when struck. Cleveland’s Cup Face Technology increases ball speed from no matter where on the face you make contact with.
The Flex-Fin technology is similar to the M4’s feature that allows players to hit the ball relatively straighter when mishitting the ball off the toe or heel.
When purchased, the Launcher HB is equipped with a Miyazaki C Kua 50 graphite shaft and a Cleveland Blue Cap grip made by Lamkin. The club also includes a headcover.
The club can be purchased with a stiff, regular or senior flex and is made for left or right-handers.
Cobra Men’s F-Max Offset
Best Hybrid Mid-handicap Driver For A Slice
Rating: 9.0 /10
uSA Suppliers (Also deliver to Canada)
uK Suppliers
Pros
- Available for both right and left-handed dexterities.
- Sleek black and gold design.
- Ultralight allowing a fast swing speed.
Cons
- Not available for women.
- Not adjustable.
- Only three shaft flexes to choose from.
The Cobra F-Max Offset driver is our choice for the best fix for golfers who tend to slice the ball right off the tee.
The club features a Forged TI-6-4 titanium face insert that enables golfers to achieve increased distance and speed on mishits.
Cobra’s made the driver with an offset hosel to aid with launch as well as draw off the tee to help players hit the ball straight and increase their accuracy.
The back of the club head and heel’s center of gravity is positioned in a fixed setting so the club feels forgiving when swung.
The clubhead is primarily jet-black featuring gold features. The alignment aid is cobra spelled out vertically in gold and is dead straight making it very easy to line up the ball and pick a target to hit at.
The club loft can be purchased in 9.5 and 10.5 degrees as well as an untraditional 11.5 degrees which is appealing to golfers who believe 12 degrees is slightly too high.
Callaway Golf Rogue Driver
Most Forgiving
Rating: 9.1 /10
USA Suppliers (Also Deliver To Canada. Globalgolf.ca Is Canadian Delivery Only)
Canada Suppliers
Pros
- Jailbreak technology helps increase distance.
- Boeing Aero Package helps club swing smoothly.
- Triaxial Carbon Crown allows for high forgiveness.
Cons
- Unadjustable.
- Not available for women.
- Highest loft option 13.5 degrees and second lowest is 10.5 which golfers may find to be too dramatic of a change.
The Callaway Rogue is one of the top drivers available on the market according to many golf outlets.
The club features Jailbreak Technology that allows players to increase their ball speed after smashing their drive. Not only does the Jailbreak technology increase distance but it also increases forgiveness X-Face VFT technology that adds a higher moment of inertia.
Callaway added a Triaxial Carbon Crown to the driver that helps golfers keep forgiveness when hitting off-center. The lightweight club allows golfers to feel smooth when taking a full swing trying to go for a long drive.
Callaway’s implementation of the Boeing Aero Package raises clubhead speed and maximizes the Speed Step’s effect which helps produce a higher comfort level when hitting drives.
There are over 12 options for weight and brand configurations for the shaft at purchase.
The club is available in three different lofts including 9, 10.5 and 13.5 degrees.
TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Black Driver
Best For Slow Swing Speeds
Rating: 9.2 /10
uSA Suppliers (Also deliver to Canada)
uK Suppliers
Pros
- Costs less than many of the newer Taylormade products.
- Adjustable.
- Lightweight shaft helps players swing faster.
Cons
- Not available for women.
- Not available in a loft lower than 9.5 degrees at purchase.
The TaylorMade RBZ features a massive 460cc titanium head that allows you to adjust the loft sleeve for launch and trajectory preferences.
The club’s speed pocket helps with high launch and reduces spin so it’s easier to hit high arcing long drives down the fairway. The club features a Matrix White Tie 55 shaft to help with smoothness during swings as well as getting the club to feel light.
The RBZ driver is available for both right and left-handed golfers and is available in 9.5 degrees, 10.5 degrees or 12 degrees of loft.
The club comes in a black, white and yellow finish and incorporates TaylorMade’s classic “T” alignment aid for aiming at their target.
What are Mid-handicappers?
A mid-handicapper is usually a golfer who can shoot in the range from 7-over to 18-over. This means that occasionally they can shoot around 80 and other times 90. They aren’t a low handicapper because they aren’t shooting only a few strokes over par and they aren’t a high-handicapper because they aren’t consistently shooting in the 90s or 100s.
Club Characteristics for Mid Handicappers
Club Shaft/Flex
It’s important to have the correct club shaft for your driver. Depending on your swing speed and skill level you can choose from a regular flex shaft, stiff flex shaft, or senior flex shaft. There are also ladies flex shafts available. Depending on your swing and preference, a lighter or heavier shaft can be selected as well.
Head Size
Different drivers have different size clubheads. Many are similar featuring large clubheads with massive sweet spots so golfers can feel confident when hitting driver. Having a larger sweet spot enables golfers to mishit their shots off to the edge of the face and still have a desirable result.
Loft
There are different degrees and lofts available for the driver. The lower the loft on the club, the lower the ball flight will usually be. Driver lofts typically range from 9-12 degrees. There are some drivers that go as low as 8.5 degrees and as high as 13.5 degrees but these are uncommon. If you hit a higher lofted driver well and are able to control the accuracy then purchasing an 11 or 12 degree driver would be ideal. Same goes for 9 and 9.5 degree loft drivers. The most common drivers you will find on the market are 10.5 degrees.
Swing Speed
A golfer’s swing speed can play a role in what kind of driver they should buy. If a golfer has a slow swing speed they should be looking to buy a lightweight driver that they are able to swing faster and feel comfortable holding. A heavy driver will likely decrease their swing speed and make them hit shorter drives. Golfers who have high swing speeds might prefer a bigger heavier clubhead and stiffer flex shaft because they might earn more control.
Adjustable weights
Adjustable weights can be extremely helpful for players. Drivers that have adjustable weights allow the driver to promote a draw, fade or neutral ball flight. If a golfer is struggling off the tee hitting it a certain direction, a change in weights can make a huge difference.
Verdict on Best Golf Drivers For Mid Handicappers
After assessing the different clubs, the TaylorMade M4 was voted as our overall editor’s choice pick for best golf driver for mid handicappers.
Despite its cost, the features in the club make it worth it for many consumers. Being adjustable and having a huge sweet spot where mishits can be good shots make it a top of the line driver. If on a tighter budget and seeking a TaylorMade driver then the RBZ might be a better fit.
The other three drivers in our reviews have their own perks and help different sets of golfers with their needs and preferences. Having the right driver in your bag can lead you to loads of confidence off the tee.
FAQ
What loft driver for mid handicapper?
A 10.5-degree loft is the best option for a mid handicapper. The 10.5 degrees offers a combination of forgiveness and accuracy. A lower-lofted driver will be more difficult to hit and a higher-lofted one will increase the spin and trajectory limiting distance.
What Is the Easiest Driver to Hit for a Mid Handicapper?
The easiest drivers to hit for a mid handicapper are the following options: TaylorMade Stealth, Ping G425 MAX and the Callaway Epic MAX LS driver. These three options deliver huge sweet spots that promote forgiveness even on mishits. The drivers are lightweight and most come stock at 10.5 degrees of loft.
Which Callaway Epic driver is best for mid handicapper?
The Callaway Epic MAX LS driver is the best for mid handicappers. The LS stands for “low spin” which means the ball is going to travel further and rollout more when it lands. The driver is adjustable and can be used in a “draw” setting that promotes draws off the tee.
