The 8 Best Drivers of 2023

The marketing that goes into today’s drivers is bonkers, and all that hype and hoopla doesn’t make it easy for golfers to figure out what driver is actually best for their game. We’ve been ranking the best drivers of 2023 for the largest segments of golfers, and the best drivers that meet specific criteria (ahem, best value). Here is our list of the best drivers of 2023 in every category.

Almost all beginners shopping for a new driver have a couple top priorities in common: they need a driver that’s affordable, and easy to bomb. That’s why, at just $249, the Cleveland Launcher XL took the top spot on our Best Drivers for Beginners list.

The Launcher XL’s adjustable hosel allows you to tune the loft in half-degree increments from 9 degrees all the way up to 12 degrees. That’s some serious control over your launch, and once you find the ideal loft for your swing speed and optimize your launch, you’re well on your way to getting the maximum distance from your swing speed. 

The Cleveland Launcher XL is down to $249 for 2023. If you’ve seen the TaylorMade Stealth lineup or the XXIO 12 driver, you know today’s drivers easily span into the $600 and $700 range. That makes the Launcher XL’s price tag even more attractive.

Pros:

• Highest MOI of any Cleveland driver (5,200 g-cm2)
• 8g counterbalance (CB) weight promotes sound swing mechanics
• Easy to launch
• Various shaft length options to favor distance or accuracy

Cons:

• The large footprint of the head can be a turnoff for some players

Let’s get this out of the way: the company name is pronounced ZEK-SEE-OH. 

Now, let’s look at GolfLink’s winner as the Best Driver for Seniors of 2023, the XXIO 12. XXIO has a strong reputation for making clubs that fit slower swing speeds and produce incredible distance.

The XXIO 12 driver is made from only premium components and designed to feel high-end and easy to swing, while producing serious distance.

“This driver is easy to swing fast, it’s a whole lot less strain on your body, and it’s one of those rare-but-wonderful club purchases that instantly changes how you play the game,” said Noelle Zavaleta, PR and Social Media Marketing Manager for the company. 

Pros:

• Premium look and feel
• Great ball flight
• Satisfying feel at impact

Cons:

• Premium price

The aerodynamics built into the AeroJet club head directly lead to more clubhead speed, which helps you boost your distance without boosting your effort. 

The head features a carbon fiber crown and player-preferred shape. That light-weight crown allowed Cobra to optimize the Center of Gravity (CG) for more ball speed. Meanwhile, the satisfying shape will appeal to the entire spectrum of golfers at address. 

The standard AeroJet includes an adjustable hosel, allowing you to manipulate the loft up or down up to 1.5 degrees. It’s also available in a “Tour Length” edition, which features a shorter shaft with the goal of giving players a more consistent strike off the center of the club face and increasing average distance.

Pros:

• Maximum club head speed without swinging harder
• Confidence-inspiring look at address with player-preferred shape and carbon fiber crown
• Standard and tour-length shaft options
• Adjustable hosel
• Forgiveness across the club face

Cons:

• No adjustable weighting on standard AeroJet driver

The Callaway Mavrik driver is arguably the best driver of 2020 and one of the best of the last five years. Given that drivers are only getting better with time, it’s fair to say that Mavrik is one of the best drivers ever made. 

You’d never know it by simply comparing prices. The Mavrik is down to just $244 on Amazon at the time of publishing, and around $249 most other places. Compared to the $600-plus drivers being released today, how can you say no to Mavrik?

Pros:

• Around one-third the cost of many drivers released today
• Distance, forgiveness and accuracy as good as any driver released this year

Cons:

• Limited supply
• Specific specifications may be hard to find

The Callaway Paradym driver has a ton of benefits for mid-handicap golfers. Aside from performing among the best of the bunch in both distance and forgiveness, Paradym’s new AI-designed face creates maximum ball speed regardless of where you strike it.

On top of that, Paradym is fully adjustable. Use the rear weight to dial in your preferred shot shape – or fight your miss – and adjust the loft and lie to hit your launch window.

Pros:

• Design results in fastser club speed
• Top-end distance
• Forgiving all over the club face
• Fully adjustable

Cons:

• Top-end price

Callaway’s Big Bertha REVA 2023 driver is our top choice driver for ladies. The REVA is made for a woman’s golf swing in every aspect, from the head to the grip. Callaway designed the 460cc head, shaft, and face for maximum distance and high launch, and even used AI to create the face, relying on the machines to determine the best formula to create the biggest sweet spot.

The Big Bertha REVA’s components are a big factor in performance and comfort. The RCH 40/50 shaft is super-light and the Lamkin women’s ST Soft grip provides a great, confident feel.

Pros:

• Chevron alignment aid
• Effortless launch
• Distance

Cons:

• Natural draw-bias requires hosel adjustment to get dialed-in

The most forgiving driver of 2023 might not be the driver you expected. The Srixon ZX5 driver produced the best dispersion and most overall forgiveness of any driver that we tested last year, and the ZX5 Mk II adds to that prowess.

New for 2023 is the star frame crown, which enables 8g of weight to be repositioned into the back of the sole. The ZX5 Mk II also has a variable thickness face to improve performance across the entire face, to go along with a slight draw bias.

All Srixon drivers have a technology called Rebound Frame, which Srixon likens to "a spring within a spring" to boost the so-called trampoline effect, resulting in significant distance increases. Rebound Frame helps forgiveness and total distance because it allows for maximum distance on off-center hits. 

We were impressed by how straight toe-shots traveled and didn’t spin wildly into a massive slice. This driver is a fantastic choice for amateur players, and it’s no wonder why it receives so much play on professional tours.

Pros:

• Deep weight results in high MOI
• Distance
• Project X HZRDUS Smoke stock shaft options
• High launch with a slight draw bias

Cons:

• Players who already hit it too high may need the Low Spin (ZX5 Mk II LS) edition

The 849 Pro definitely requires a higher swing speed to rip it, but those who have that extra gear will love how easy this driver is to hit.

“After hundreds of fittings at The Seventy, we are confident that either model can compete with any driver option on the market,” said Jay Armour, Sub 70’s Director of Marketing. “We take extreme pride in making sure each player gets the head, shaft, grip, and specs that will perform best for their swing.”

The 849 Pro driver showcased a penetrating ball flight in our test. That got us thinking that players with extremely fast swing speeds will most likely opt for the 9-degree head, which can notch down to as low as 7 degrees. There are also 20 grams of adjustable weight on the sole of the driver, located in the heel, toe, and rear which allows you to fine-tune to your specs.

Pros:

• Low spin profile gives faster swing speeds (105+ MPH) the best distance output
• Among the best value drivers at just $279
• Workable

Cons:

• Lack of alignment aid