Check out full reviews of 18 new drivers below.
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For the latest edition of GOLF magazine’s ClubTest, we relied on a two-pronged approach to deliver valuable insights into the new crop of drivers so that you can make better informed purchasing decisions. Our own editors thoroughly tested all the new drivers from golf’s major manufacturers, and we completed extensive robot testing of each club with the help of Golf Laboratories founder Gene Parente. Read all about this year’s ClubTest testing process here.
Below you will find our full reviews and test results of 18 new drivers from the top manufacturers in the game. See something you like? Click through and buy your new driver on Fairway Jockey today. For additional exclusive robot-testing insights on new drivers from TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping, Cobra and other leading brands, join InsideGOLF for only $40/year.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.
BEST NEW DRIVERS OF 2024
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Drivers
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Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Drivers
$599.99
Click through to purchase a new Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke driver today!
MODELS: Callaway Ai Smoke Max, Callaway Ai Smoke Max D, Callaway Ai Smoke Max Fast and Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond
NEED TO KNOW: The biggest innovation in Callaway’s new Paradym Ai Smoke lineup is the Ai Smart Face, which is designed from upwards of 50,000 face iterations — not to mention innumerable player-fitting data. The end result is a driver that caters to specific attack, path and face angle attributes for each model. Think of it as a “swing code” for your game.
The simulations and fitting data revealed golfers using the draw-biased Max D and lightweight Max Fast would most benefit from a face technology that favors an out-to-in path, slower swing speed and a downward attack with low heel to high toe misses. For golfers with a bit more speed in the tank who don’t necessarily find the center of the face, the Ai Smart Face on the Max is built for mid-speed, upward attack and a slightly out-to-in path. And for the better player on the higher end of the speed spectrum, the low-spin Triple Diamond caters to those who can move it with an even more upward angle of attack and neutral to slightly left path.
Club Comparison
Compare Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke models below.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond
Player Type
The standard Max model is best suited for golfers with mid-speed swings in need of mishit protection.
Forgiveness
The Max driver offers a load of forgiveness for golfers, though not as much as other models.
Player Type
The Max D model is designed for golfers with slow swing speeds who need help with slices.
Forgiveness
The Max D offers a high level of forgiveness for golfers looking for a draw bias.
Player Type
The Max Fast is best for suited for golfer with slower swing speeds looking for a distance boost.
Forgiveness
The Max Fast offers the most forgiveness in the Ai Smoke line, especially for slow swing speeds.
Player Type
The Triple Diamond model is designed for expert golfers with high swing speeds and an upward angle of attack.
Forgiveness
The TD driver registers low on the forgiveness scale as expected from a Tour-targeted model.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF CALLAWAY’S PARADYM AI SMOKE DRIVERS
Cleveland Launcher XL2 Drivers
Cleveland Launcher XL2 Drivers
$449.99
Click through to purchase a new Cleveland Launcher XL2 driver today!
MODELS: Cleveland Launcher XL2 and Cleveland Launcher XL2 Draw
NEED TO KNOW: As far as technology is concerned the Cleveland Launcher XL2 and XL2 Draw models share the same platform but are configured to meet the needs of different golfers. The two big technologies are the A.I. designed mainframe XL variable face thickness to help increase the overall size of the effective sweet spot for higher ball speeds, and the rebound frame to help the entire driver head beyond the face flex to more efficiently transfer energy.
When Cleveland says XL for its Launcher XL2 drivers, they mean it. The geometry of the driver has been pushed to the limit to boost MOI (as mentioned 2 percent heel-to-toe and 12 percent top-to-bottom) which not only helps golfers hit more fairways but also helps inspire confidence behind the ball. This larger profile design is made possible because of the extremely lightweight all-titanium framework that makes up the head construction and also helps save weight to reposition it around the perimeter for as much forgiveness as possible.
Club Comparison
Compare Cleveland Launcher XL2 models below.
Cleveland Launcher XL2 Driver
Cleveland Launcher XL2 Draw Driver
Player Type
The standard Launcher XL2 model is designed for golfers looking to fully dial in ball flight.
Forgiveness
Both the Launcher XL2 and XL2 Draw offer a larger overall face profile to boost MOI by 2 percent heel and two, and a whopping 12 percent top to bottom.
Player Type
The XL2 Draw is a draw-biased model built for more moderate speed players to — as you can probably guess — help reduce a fade.
Forgiveness
The Draw model adds an extra layer of forgiveness for players who struggle with hitting slices off the tee.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF CLEVELAND’S LAUNCHER XL2 DRIVERS
Cobra Darkspeed Drivers
Cobra Darkspeed Drivers
$549.99
Get yourself a new Cobra Darkspeed driver with custom shafts and specs from Fairway Jockey today!
MODELS: Cobra Darkspeed X, Cobra Darkspeed Max and Cobra Darkspeed LS
NEED TO KNOW: All three of the new Darkspeed drivers feature more aerodynamic shaping, a re-engineered PWR-Bridge structure behind the face (to help transfer energy and position mass) as well as a 13-percent larger PWRSHELL H.O.T. Face insert, which has been re-engineered with the help of A.I.
The drivers also feature a multi-material construction with lightweight carbon sole and crown plates to go along with the reinforced titanium body. The carbon fiber plates are 30 percent lighter than the titanium they replace and allow more discretionary weight to be positioned around the head for increased MOI. All of these technologies have been optimized for each of the models to deliver the maximum benefit to the target golfer, and each driver comes with Cobra’s MyFly adjustable hosel.
Club Comparison
Compare Cobra Darkspeed models below.
Cobra Darkspeed X Driver
Cobra Darkspeed Max Driver
Cobra Darkspeed LS Driver
Player Type
The Darkspeed X model is designed for golfers looking for speed and low spin, but with plenty of forgiveness.
Forgiveness
The X model features lots of forgiveness, though not as much as the Max driver.
Player Type
The Max model is designed for slower swingers looking for lots of forgiveness and help with slices.
Forgiveness
The Max features the most forgiveness in the Darkspeed line to help deliver distance and accuracy.
Player Type
The Darkspeed LS model is designed for expert golfers looking for maximum workability and control
Forgiveness
The LS features the lowest amount of forgiveness among the Darkspeed models by design.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF COBRA’S DARKSPEED DRIVERS
Mizuno ST-G and ST-Max 230 Drivers
Mizuno ST-G 230 Driver
$599.99
Get yourself a new Mizuno ST-G driver with custom shafts and specs from Fairway Jockey today!
MODELS: Mizuno ST-G 230 and Mizuno ST-Max 230.
NEED TO KNOW: A lot of people forget that Mizuno was the first OEM to produce a driver with an adjustable sliding weight track, and although it has gone through a number of iterations, it is back with the 2024 ST-G to help adjust ball flight and dial-in spin. The sliding weight track isn’t the only adjustable technology either, because both the fairway woods and the driver are also outfitted with Mizuno’s quick switch adjustable hosel.
You need to hit the ball with something, and to help the face of the ST-G driver better deliver more energy across a larger area the engineers at Mizuno utilize a beta-rich Ti LFS material. This titanium alloy offers up a 9 percent higher tensile strength compared to SAT2041 which allowed designers to push the multi-thickness face geometry further.
Club Comparison
Select the Mizuno driver models you want to compare with the tabs below.
Mizuno ST-G 230 Driver
Mizuno ST-Max 230 Driver
Player Type
The Mizuno ST-G driver is popular among pros and best-suited for better recreational players.
Forgiveness
The ST-G is designed to offer players lots of workability and options for mid-low to super-low spin.
Player Type
The ST-Max driver is designed to deliver ultra-stable performance without sacrificing speed.
Forgiveness
The ST-Max features a higher level of forgiveness than the ST-G driver model.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO’S ST-G AND ST-MAX DRIVERS
Ping G430 Max 10K Driver
Ping G430 Max 10K Driver
$599.99
Get yourself a new Ping G430 Max 10K driver with custom shafts and specs from Fairway Jockey today!
MODELS: Ping G430 Max 10K
NEED TO KNOW: When it comes to drivers, Ping already has a robust lineup with the G430 series that features the LST, Max, and SFT. But with the new G430 Max 10K, they’re bringing together several key technologies and design features from the G430 family into one to create their most forgiving driver ever.
The dimensions of the driver (front to back and side to side) have been pushed to the USGA limit to boost the MOI. From there, the challenge becomes making a driver with such a large footprint appealing to the eyes. With the help of subtle geometry changes, Ping was able to make the G430 Max 10k easy to look at — and perhaps more importantly, to align. One other thing you’ll notice about the G430 Max 10K compared to the others in the G430 line is the lack of adjustable weighting. That’s because the 28-gram fixed weight in the rear of the club is designed to keep the center of gravity as low and as deep as possible.
Club Comparison
Select the Ping driver models you want to compare with the tabs below.
Ping G430 Max 10K Driver
Ping G430 Max Driver (2023)
Player Type
The G430 Max 10K is designed for all types of golfers, but especially those looking for loads of forgiveness.
Forgiveness
With the G430 Max 10K, Ping has created its most forgiving driver ever.
Player Type
The Ping G430 Max fits every skill level, from Tour players to higher handicaps.
Forgiveness
The G430 Max doesn’t skimp on forgivness. It’s the most forgiving G430 model after the new G430 Max 10K.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF PING’S G430 DRIVERS
PXG 0311 Black Ops Drivers
PXG 0311 Black Ops Drivers
$599.99
Get yourself a new PXG 0311 Black Ops driver with custom shafts and specs from Fairway Jockey today!
MODELS: PXG 0311 Black Ops and PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1
NEED TO KNOW: The breakthrough advantage the Black Ops drivers have over the previous generation comes down to one simple thing — advanced material science, specifically when it comes to the driver’s face. The stronger yet more flexible titanium used in the face allows for greater compliance (fun engineering term for flex) which helps to generate more ball speed and less spin.
To test what PXG calls Advanced Material Face (AMF for short), they used it in the Gen6 driver instead of the stock T-412 titanium usually used in the face. The result was .5 mph faster ball speeds and 200 less RPM from the same head. That was the sign they were onto something. When combined with the new geometry of the Black Ops and Black Ops Tour-1 head, the robotic face polishing for precision control of the non-uniform bulge and roll face design (not to mention COR), and finally the weight-saving carbon composite panels, you get two drivers that are faster, lower spinning, more forgiving and powerful sounding to boot.
Club Comparison
Compare the PXG 0311 Black Ops driver models below.
PXG 0311 Black Ops Driver
PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 Driver
Player Type
The standard Black Ops driver works for players of all types, especially those looking for forgiveness.
Forgiveness
The extremely large size of the standard Black Ops model helps provide maximum forgiveness.
Player Type
The Black Ops Tour-1 model is best suited for better golfers with faster swing speeds.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not the primary feature of the Tour-1, which is the lowest-spinning PXG driver ever.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF PXG’S 0311 BLACK OPS DRIVERS
TaylorMade Qi10 Drivers
TaylorMade Qi10 Drivers
$599.99-629.99
Get yourself a new TaylorMade Qi10 driver with custom shafts and specs from Fairway Jockey today!
MODELS: TaylorMade Qi10, Taylormade Qi10 Max and TaylorMade Qi10 LS
NEED TO KNOW: When the original Stealth driver was introduced a few years ago, TaylorMade promised that they were putting titanium face drivers out to pasture. With the new Qi10 series, they are once again committing to that promise. The 60X layer carbon twist face is back with a new supporting structure on the inside of the head to further improve ball speed on mishits. The redesigned support structure that holds the face to the rest of the body has been engineered to flex more, a change that should help to produce higher ball speeds and better distance off the tee than the previous Stealth generation.
In addition, there’s more carbon than ever before, but as far as forgiveness and MOI are concerned, there is one more big change TaylorMade utilized in the Qi10 series: geometry. The original SIM was all about “Shape in Motion” to help lower spin and increase clubhead speed through aerodynamics. But the engineers at TaylorMade decided to make another change to the shape of the head with all three models, specifically the Qi10 MAX, to improve forgiveness across the board.
Club Comparison
Compare TaylorMade Qi10 driver models below.
TaylorMade Qi10 Driver
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver
TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver
Player Type
The standard Qi10 is for all types of golfers who are looking for lower spin on tee shots.
Forgiveness
The Qi10 registers high on the forgiveness scale, but not as high as the Qi10 Max.
Player Type
The Qi10 Max is designed for golfers looking for straight distance without being overtly draw-biased.
Forgiveness
The Max model features the most forgiveness of any TaylorMade driver to date.
Player Type
For golfers looking for low-spin performance and workability, look no further than the Qi10 LS.
Forgiveness
Given that it’s best-suited for better players, the Qi10 LS has the least forgiveness in the line.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF TAYLORMADE’S Qi10 DRIVERS
XXIO 13 Driver
XXIO 13 Driver
$699.99
Get yourself a new XXIO 13 driver from Fairway Jockey today!
MODEL: XXIO 13
NEED TO KNOW: When the original Stealth driver was introduced a few years ago, TaylorMade promised that they were putting titanium face drivers out to pasture. With the new Qi10 series, they are once again committing to that promise. The 60X layer carbon twist face is back with a new supporting structure on the inside of the head to further improve ball speed on mishits. The redesigned support structure that holds the face to the rest of the body has been engineered to flex more, a change that should help to produce higher ball speeds and better distance off the tee than the previous Stealth generation.
In addition, there’s more carbon than ever before, but as far as forgiveness and MOI are concerned, there is one more big change TaylorMade utilized in the Qi10 series: geometry. The original SIM was all about “Shape in Motion” to help lower spin and increase clubhead speed through aerodynamics. But the engineers at TaylorMade decided to make another change to the shape of the head with all three models, specifically the Qi10 MAX, to improve forgiveness across the board.
Club Comparison
Compare XXIO driver models below.
XXIO 13 Driver
XXIO Prime Royal Driver (2023)
Player Type
The XXIO 13 driver is designed to add speed and consistency to golfers with slower swing speeds.
Forgiveness
The new XXIO 13 puts an emphasis on forgiveness to slower golfers gain distance and accuracy.
Player Type
Crafted for golfers who’ve lost some speed over time but are still looking to add distance and maintain accuracy.
Forgiveness
The XXIO Prime driver offers an exceptional amount of forgiveness for golfers with moderate swings speeds.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF THE XXIO 13 DRIVERS
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