We’ve been on the lookout for the best golf drivers for mid handicappers and have curated the very best options into this comprehensive guide to assist you when deciding your choice for a new driver.
Having the right driver in the bag is crucial for a beginner golfer and can be a hugely influential factor in the difference between success and failure when looking to increase driver distance. In our guide as well as showing you the very best golf driver for mid handicappers, we’ll cover a whole range of important buying factors that are crucial to know as part of the driver selection process.
Driving a golf ball with accuracy can be a challenge for golfers of all abilities whether it is a beginner golfer or experienced golfer. Therefore, it would make perfect sense to ensure that your driver is built around the strengths and weaknesses of a Mid Handicappers game. Ensuring that you have the right pick for you can reduce the amount of shots taken on a hole which will help you to reduce your golf handicap faster and increase your average driver distance.
Best Driver For Mid Handicappers
- TaylorMade SIM 2 Driver – Top Pick
- TaylorMade M4 Driver
- Callaway Epic Flash Driver
- TaylorMade M5 Driver
- PGX Offset Driver – Best Bang For Your Buck
- Callaway Rogue Driver
2023 Top 3 Quick Comparison
Best Golf Drivers For Mid Handicappers In 2023
Now that you know why having the best golf drivers for mid handicappers is essential and what to look for we’ll go into more detail about each of our choices below.
Choice #1: TaylorMade SIM 2 Driver
The TaylorMade SIM 2 Driver is a great all round driver that is made from high quality materials and built to promote long drives.
- New Technology
- Great For Distance
- High Quality
Firstly, if you are looking for a mid handicap driver from a leading premium brand then look no further than the TaylorMade SIM Driver. This makes our list thanks to it’s great design and premium feel.
Additionally, it is adjustable which means that you can tailor the launch angle to your own specific needs and tweak it based on your own clubhead speed. This is something that is a huge pro of adjustable drivers.
It also comes with speed pocket technology which is designed to help you to have a higher launch and generate more ball speed with your drives.
It provides a great all round performance that can not only help you to hit it long off the tee but also hit it straight too. If you want something with more forgiveness they also have a SIM Max offering for those who struggle with accuracy. The SIM Max driver will allow you to use a driver with a larger sweet spot and is a more forgiving driver than the general SIM Driver. It would also be a good choice if you are an average golfer with a slower swing speed than average.
Find Out More: TaylorMade SIM Driver Review
Pros
From our experience, these are some reasons why the TaylorMade SIM 2 stands out:
- Design: With a great design and a unique driver head you can be sure that you have a large sweet spot that is both aerodynamic and able to perform well.
- Durability: As a leading golf driver brand, you can be sure that the TaylorMade SIM Driver is made of quality materials that will last for the years ahead.
- Adjustability: As with other adjustable drivers, you can tweak the driver for suit your needs. Additionally, the adjustable weights found in this adjustable driver will allow you to fine tune shot shape.
Cons
From our experience the below con is holding this driver back:
- Affordability: Generally, this driver is well priced. However, it isn’t the cheapest on the market so you may wish something that comes at a lower price point if you are on a tight budget.
Choice #2: TaylorMade M4
The M4 is one of the best mid handicapper drivers. Unlike the M2 which we recommend for beginners. We believe that the M4 Driver is suitable for mid handicappers as it is designed with so many flexible options starting with it’s adjustable loft and modern club technology.
Additionally, out of all of the selections on this list it is built for a nice mix of forgiveness and distance. With this golf driver in your bag it will help your mishits go straighter. Finally, if you have an average swing speed then this club is perfect for optimizing your potential distance off the tee and will help you to increase that club swing speed.
Pros:
- Superior Quality: As you would expect from a TaylorMade golf driver, the M4 is made from superior quality materials.
- Adjustable Loft: This is a huge pro for many golfers as it means that the driver can be tweaked to fit their own specific needs.
- Forgiveness: This golf driver has a large club face which means that it is forgiving and beneficial for intermediate golfers.
Cons
- Wear & Tear: Despite being durable and high quality, you might notice visible signs of wear and tear with the M4 after continued use.
Choice #3: Callaway Epic Flash
The Callaway Epic Flash Driver is a great fit for experienced golfers who are looking to add distance to their drives.
- Flash Face Technology
- Graphite Shafts
- Highly Durable
This such a popular driver, especially if you are looking for increased distance and one that you may have either heard of or seen before. Instantly recognizable and designed with peak performance in mind, we love this club. With their epic flash face club technology they are able to increase swing speed and reach higher ball speeds and you should see extra yards of carry. Additionally, something that is new with the Epic Flash driver compared to older models is that Callaway have factored in forgiveness more so than before which makes it a more suitable option for mid handicappers.
The major drawbacks to this driver are that despite the high performance, jailbreak technology and near perfect design, it is a premium option as a high quality driver. If you are really looking to invest in an epic driver then this is a great choice but it is one of the most high end drivers that we feature on this list.
Pros
From our experience, these are some reasons why the Callaway Epic Flash Driver stands out:
- Design: With a green design that stands out you can be sure that you will look great with this driver in your bag when you are on the golf course.
- Distance: This driver is all about generating ball speed. It is built for long drivers who want to crush drives as far as possible.
- Adjustability: As with other adjustable drivers, you can tweak the driver for suit your needs. Additionally, the adjustable weights found in this driver will allow you to fine tune shot shape.
Cons
From our experience the below con is holding this driver back:
- Affordability: As a premium option you should really only choose this driver if you are committed to regular golf.
- Less Forgiving Than Alternatives: This Callaway Epic Flash is great for distance but you should ensure that you have a solid swing plane if choosing this option.
Choice #4: Taylormade M5
As we’re sure you can tell by now, we do love Taylormade drivers... and it is for good reason! An advanced offering from a leading golf brand means that it is potentially a great fit. This club is interesting in that it comes with both advanced twist face technology which is designed to help with forgiveness and also a Hammerhead 2.0 feature which helps to keep ball speed on non perfect shots (which we all know can happen from time to time!)
Pros
From our experience, these are some reasons why the TaylorMade M5 Driver stands out:
- Distance: This is a long driver that is great for mid handicap golfers who are able to hit the ball far off the tee.
- Lightweight: With a lightweight design, you will be able to generate a great club head speed.
Cons
From our experience the below con is holding this driver back:
- Requires Faster Swing Speed: To really experience the benefits that this golf driver offers you need to generate higher swing speeds. If you generate slower swing speeds you probably won’t find as much success as you could with alternative options.
Choice #5: PGX Offset
The PGX Offset Driver will allow you to hit more accurate tee shots and prevent slices. It is an affordable option for golfers looking to save money.
- Budget Friendly
- Easy To Use
- Anti Slice Technology
Now we did promise you a cheap option for mid handicappers and it is here. It is also an excellent choice for high handicap golfers. Sure you may not have the performance of other drivers on this list which cost more but for the price that you pay this offers great value for money.
The club itself claims to have anti-slice technology which promotes straight drives and is something that casual golfers should have at the top of their list and is a top cheap driver for a slice. The downsides to this club are that it isn’t as durable, the loft isn’t adjustable and it won’t be as high performing to facilitate improvements in your drives. However, compared to either purchasing a random driver or cheap golf set without prior research this club is a must have if you are looking for maximum performance with minimum outlay.
Find Out More: PGX Offset Golf Driver Review
Pros
From our experience, these are some reasons why the PGX Offset Driver stands out:
- Price: If you are looking for the best driver for an average golfer on a budget and are in a hurry to get out onto the golf course then this driver will likely fit the bill.
- Forgiving: The anti slice technology means that you will hit more fairways, even on off center drivers.
Cons
From our experience the below con is holding this driver back:
- Durability: As this driver is so much cheaper than alternatives, despite being a good choice at its price point it is less durable than more premium alternatives.
- No adjustability: With the PGX Offset driver you won’t be able to tailor the driver to your own golf game.
Choice #6: Callaway Men’s Rogue
Callaway is the final brand on our list of the best drivers for mid handicappers and despite featuring last we certainly believe it can be ranked high in your buying choice. This is because in a similar way to the Taylormade M2 driver, it is an all-round choice that has it’s place in the market.
Compared to the Epic Flash Driver highlighted earlier in this guide, the Callaway Men’s Rogue Driver is more affordable but as a result comes with lower quality spec. However, if you are a fan of Callaway and want a great option that still has a low center of gravity for significantly less then we would recommend this driver.
Pros
From our experience, these are some reasons why the Callaway Rogue Driver stands out:
- Price: The Callaway Rogue is more premium than the PGX Offset but more affordable than the latest models on the market.
- All Round Performance: From forgiving tee shots to great ball speeds that promote long drives, the Callaway Rogue is an option that is a great all rounder at a solid price point.
Cons
From our experience the below con is holding this driver back:
- Older Model: As an older model the specifications of the Callaway Rogue aren’t as up to date and innovative as the newest intermediate golf drivers on the market.
Why It Is Important?
It is important to choose a good driver as you move through the gears of improving your golf handicap. This is because during a round you will realistically have 14-15 tee shots that you may at the very least consider using a driver on and by having distance and accuracy off the tee you will increase the likelihood of a good score on these holes. This is especially the case for using a driver on the longer holes and par 5’s.
You may also look for more advanced features for your golf driver as you get more experienced such as measuring the driver shaft length or looking for the best driver shaft for distance.
Key Buying Criteria For Intermediate Drivers
These are forgiveness, pricing, loft and distance. The difference for mid handicap golfers is that the factors on each of the criteria are different. This is due to mid handicappers having different needs than beginner golfers.
Criteria #1: Forgiveness
If you don’t feel 100% confident in your driver swing despite having a reasonable mid handicap then you may still want a driver with forgiveness. This will help to support you game and is something that we’d advise at the mid handicap golf level. Otherwise you may find yourself slicing your drives and costing yourselves shots on the golf course.
Criteria #2: Pricing
As a mid handicap golfer you may be willing to invest more in your driver than many beginner golfers who are purchasing more based on value. In this guide we do cover a couple of great value choices. However, we find that at this level golfers are more invested in their game due to playing regularly but this can often come at an investment cost.
Criteria #3: Loft
As we discuss in our article on different driver lofts and distance, the highest loft doesn’t always mean the greatest distance. This is especially the case as your handicap improves. That is why a great option for mid handicappers may be to purchase an adjustable loft. As your golf swing speed improves you may look to lower the loft of your driver to increase distance off the tee.
Criteria #4: Distance
As with pretty much all golfers, you will be looking for something that complements your game. A long driver that incorporates distance within their specifications can be an advantage for a mid handicapper as it will increase their swing speed, especially if they feel that distance is where they can gain a competitive advantage over driving accuracy. A good choice here would aid a faster swing speed while not compromising on accuracy off the tee.
In Summary: Which Choice Should An Average/Intermediate Golfer Pick?
Our top pick for the best golf driver for Mid Handicappers in 2023 is the Taylormade SIM Driver. We chose this choice because it is the best all-round choice that offers everything for mid handicappers without breaking the bank. However, it is important to note that everybody has different needs. Therefore, if you are on a strict budget then our choice would be the PGX Offset Driver and if you are happy to invest in the very best then we would choose the Callaway Epic Flash Driver.
However, there are plenty of modern drivers on the market and other occasions where you may consider our other comparisons of best drivers. Depending on your skill level, these may be a better fit for your golf game.
Finally, once you have your mid handicap driver selected you will probably want to consider the best intermediate golf set for your golf rounds.
