The latest drivers tested
Seven big dogs rated; do they deliver on distance promises?
Every year a plethora of new drivers hit the market, all promising extra adjustability, better aerodynamics, faster ball speeds and, of course, more distance.
Callaway, Taylormade, Cobra, Mizuno and Wilson all have brand new 2017 models arriving right now in pro shops across the country. But for you to put them all to the test to find your perfect big dog takes a serious investment of time from both you and your preferred retailer.
We’re all about helping you make better buying decisions here at TG, so we’ve tested them for you and come up with a shortlist which we reckon are worth your consideration this year.
We’ve not included current models on sale in 2016 (like Ping’s G, Callaway’s Fusion or Srixon’s Z 565); these will be tested in our massive Top Gear issue (on sale in April), where we’ll pit each new model against every other driver on sale this year. But this exclusive test does pit two of the biggest club launches of 2017 head-to-head – namely Callaway’s Epic drivers and Taylormade’s M1 and M2.
How we did it
We asked the leading manufacturers to send us their latest 2017 models in each of the tester’s specs. Each player hit shots using Foresight Sports’ GC2 launch monitor inside a controlled environment. We collected ball and club data from every shot hit. Major misses were rejected, but we monitored how shots launched into the air, what happened during their flight as well as where shots impacted the face to give a good comparison of forgiveness between each model. After some serious number crunching – as well as a couple of heated discussions – we decided if each driver was doing what its manufacturer claims it does, and how each might perform for you.
The testers
Chris Ryan, pro Senior professional at The Belfry and TG’S gear expert.
Chris Jones, 11 handicap TG’S Editor, a hard-hitting but inconsistent player.
Simon Daddow, 10 handicap TG’S Equipment Editor, a former golf club designer with a slower, consistent swing.