GolfWRX 2021 Best Drivers - Discussion Thread

[GolfWRX]

OK, WRXers....What is the best driver for 2021? We can't answer that for you specifically, but we can help you narrow down your list. We did ask top club fitters to answer that question for three different speed profiles and then asked for the best overall.

 

Why ask the fitters? They are the experts! All day, all year they are grinding in fittings. The list comprises of the best fitters in the industry. All they do all day is work with launch monitors and golfers to determine what driver is the best for that golfer. Here is a link to the article on the front page. With so many great options from all of the manufacturers, it was impossible not to find a driver that got you excited about its performance. We here at GolfWRX wanted to create our list of the Best Drivers for 2021 and share it with you.

 

Check out the Best Driver of 2021 article here!

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by GolfWRX

[Imp]

Shafts used? 

[knudson81]

2 minutes ago, Imp said:

Shafts used? 

 

Not a single shaft, this is all based off top fitters data and what they are seeing players get fit into. 

[mmaloney23]

I did a fitting earlier in the year and was fitter into a TSi3. But then did a re-fit after more drivers were released and was fit into a Sim2 and so far a very good driver. I have it paired with a Graphite Design Tour AD XC. Great feel.

[knudson81]

6 minutes ago, mmaloney23 said:

I did a fitting earlier in the year and was fitter into a TSi3. But then did a re-fit after more drivers were released and was fit into a Sim2 and so far a very good driver. I have it paired with a Graphite Design Tour AD XC. Great feel.

 

How do you feel the TSi3 and SIM2 compare? Graphite Design XC in both? Feeling like I will see a ton of both of those drivers when the summer hits here! 

[Imp]

1 hour ago, knudson81 said:

 

Not a single shaft, this is all based off top fitters data and what they are seeing players get fit into. 

Just wondering if they saw a pattern into the same shafts paired with the driver data. Can't swing just a head... 😉 

[Wardonation]

So what is the best combo of ball speed and forgiveness? Also anyway to get in order how fade bias these heads are?

[knudson81]

29 minutes ago, Imp said:

Just wondering if they saw a pattern into the same shafts paired with the driver data. Can't swing just a head... 😉 

 

Maybe we can talk to some of these fitters and see if there is some data on shafts that they can share.

[Imp]

That would be cool. Also, it wasn't a complaint, just a request for "mo data!" 🙂

 

 

[heavy_hitter]

My junior was fit into the Sim2 with Graphite Design XC-6 shaft.  The driver is hot and the dispersion is fantastic with that shaft.

[Germain00]

I am surprised that the Driver  Srixon ZX5 is not in the list. 

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

So they are basically listing the big 5 and tell us they’re the best. Not very original!

 

What about Mizuno, Tour Edge, Srixon and so on? Pretty sure they at least caught up to the big names. 
Feels like an advertisement to me, not a fair comparison. 

[Donn Rutkoff]

Ditto LukeDonaldsTiger:  did the test include other brands, including PXG?  I am a mid 80s mph OOF (Official Old Fart, 66 yrs).  Did a fitting with PXG and the 0211 driver on a 40 gram shaft from Project X  Riptide worked best.   It felt different:  I could tell where the club head was thruout the swing, more so than other shafts.  Am now in recupe from total knee replace surgery and I might actually go back to do fitting again if I find my shorter clubs gained more speed.  Am lucky to live where a PXG fitting $50 for a full hour is avail.   Re: Ping, I have seen another OOF guy whip his Ping driver (several yrs old)  with their 40 gram shaft for 230+ yrds in the fairway on almost every drive.  

[snagy2000]

8 minutes ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

So they are basically listing the big 5 and tell us they’re the best. Not very original!

 

What about Mizuno, Tour Edge, Srixon and so on? Pretty sure they at least caught up to the big names. 
Feels like an advertisement to me, not a fair comparison. 

There are plenty of options out there and just not the big name OEMs which will perform equal or better. As expensive as drivers are these days, you're doing yourself a disservice by not taking the time to get fit and explore all the options. Even if you're stuck on one brand, still get fit to maximize your performance. This will help you ignore the marketing jazz and find the right head and shaft combo instead of dropping serious coin for a product with a watered down replica shaft some OEMs try to push onto the golfers.

[RyanBarathWRX]

For those that have asked, yes other drivers from OEM including Mizuno, Srixon, and PXG were included and from all the conversations I had with each of the fitters also perform extremely well, but this comes down to who the fitters' vote for based on "in the fitting bay results" and we have no influence on that - absolutely ZERO.

 

We state right from the top

 

"In 2021, OEMs have continued to impress us with their ability to utilize new technology and manufacturing methods to create drivers that offer forgiveness and faster more consistent club faces, along with better adjustability and fitting options. These fitting options are key elements because with more drivers being offered, it’s now easier than ever to find the right one for you.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find your personal best golf driver is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you."

 

To answer some other questions - 

 

The reason shafts aren't included as a part of this process is because that comes down to fitting each player and we are attempting to make this process as easy for golfers outside of the realm of "gear heads" to understand. Shafts are also often related to budget and since the majority of clubs are bought in some sort of stock configuration it's not possible to test everything on the market.

 

As for fade and draw bias ( which someone asked about) I highly suggest taking a look at the comments about adjustability because the same driver can be made both draw and fade bias ( unless we're talking about the SIM2 Max D, Ping SFT, Cobra XD, of B21 ) which are all inherently intended to draw the ball. 

 

Very happy to answer any more questions.

 

[SoonerSlim]

I'm 73, have two bad knees, a back back and left hand.  Used to play to low single digit handicap but swing speed now under 80 MPH.  My current driver is a 12* Ping G410 plus with the Alta CB soft Reg shaft.  My ball flight is a strong draw with a total distance of about 185-190 on best shots.

Because I'm limited with these physical problems, does anyone out there with similar swing speed, have a driver combination they believe could give me a little more distance?

[toc]

This is a little better than other club tests, but it always boils down to "You know what club is great?  All of them!" 

[jeffrey r]

Thank you for the write-up.  Like any of these "best of" articles, I think that we, as readers, should (a) appreciate the time and effort you guys (and your fitters) put into coming up with these lists, and (b) take these lists not as gospel, but as good information that we can use however we see fit.

 

As someone who has been active in the new Epic drivers thread, I had noticed that I was in the minority in that I preferred the Epic Max over the other Epics.  As is often the case at WRX, lower spinning (Max LS) and smaller footprint (Speed) tend to dominate the discussion.  Yet, in demos and out on the course, the Epic Max was so much easier for me to hit, while still keeping spin in check.  Good to see those results validated in this article, for whatever it is worth.

Edited March 15, 2021 by jeffrey r

[WhostherealSlimShady]

Over and over it states the G425 Max was long and straight ... who needs more than that?

[MPAndreassi]

The weather has finally began to turn here and I’ve had the chance to play my TSi3 for a handful of rounds now. It’s been incredible to say the least. I moved on from a Ping G410 LST and was expecting to give up some stability, but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve put some ugly swings on this thing already and the misses are just as good as they were than the 410. The TSi3 is noticeably longer than the Ping for me as well. I’ve always struggled slightly off of the tee, with accuracy, but I have a ton of confidence in the Titleist. 

[Donn Rutkoff]

44 minutes ago, SoonerSlim said:

I'm 73, have two bad knees, a back back and left hand.  Used to play to low single digit handicap but swing speed now under 80 MPH.  My current driver is a 12* Ping G410 plus with the Alta CB soft Reg shaft.  My ball flight is a strong draw with a total distance of about 185-190 on best shots.

Because I'm limited with these physical problems, does anyone out there with similar swing speed, have a driver combination they believe could give me a little more distance?

Well, if you have access to a fitter you might give them a try ( I did a PXG fitting), but unless you get your knees fixed, 190 yards might be all she wrote.  The new Ping might get you a few yards or a slightly better dispersion, but I also suggest you try learning the Alexander Technique, a gentle body movement technique to relax the tensions in your back.  Alexander gave me back my golf after 3 elbow surgeries, 3 years on disability, and severely curved spine.  Look on line for a teacher.  I can reach 240 yards now, age 66.  I swing shorter clubs fast enough to use regular flex clubs, but A flex on 3 woodie and Drive My Car.

[mmaloney23]

12 hours ago, knudson81 said:

 

How do you feel the TSi3 and SIM2 compare? Graphite Design XC in both? Feeling like I will see a ton of both of those drivers when the summer hits here! 

Yes same shaft. I bought the TSi3 first. Center hits feel soft off the face and vice versa  feel hard when not. When I tried the Sim2 (NOT the ma. I had better balls speeds across the face, (for me). I tend to miss more near the toe and this driver did better in that area. Also while it does not feel as soft on center hits as the TSi3, I can feel it flying off the face. It is softer thought than the M5/M6 as I remember. I also had about a 2-3mph diff in ball speed but that was not the reason for the change. I am happy with my distance I wanted better feel and dispersions with lower spin. The Sim2 spun about 400rpm or so less than the TSi3. But seriously you cannot go wrong with either.

 

Sim2 for me with same shaft I had better dispersion as less drop off on off center hits. (twist face a marketing gimmick or some truth behind it? I don't know)

 

I think the reason for me is the 2nd forward weight in the SIM where the TSi3 is all in the rear. I came off of my long standing Callaway Rogue SubZero.

 

All in all both are great drivers and even if you do not get a full fitting, at least try the mutable shaft they should have at most stores in the bays.

 

A definite honorable mention is the Ping G425 LS. That things pops. I just don't like the feel off the face but it is nice at address and great ball speeds.

Edited March 16, 2021 by mmaloney23

[Imp]

16 hours ago, toc said:

This is a little better than other club tests, but it always boils down to "You know what club is great?  All of them!" 

"What club should I get?" 

"Try them all. It may come down to just the sound you like at impact."

[leezer99]

My son went from the TS3 (9.5°) with a GD HD shaft to the TSi3 (8°) with a GD XC shaft and gained 4 mph ball speed.

[sociojeje]

Choose any big 5 driver and go for lower spin models if your swing is faster... End of the story? 

[awtryau89]

Just went through a professional fitting about a few weeks ago. We tried everything from Mizuno, TM Sim2, Titleist, Cobra, Ping but missed the Callaways as his fitting heads were not in yet. I had already "self fit" myself on a Ping G425 LST. I traded up from a 410 LST and it was a different enough driver to make me want to be sure on the fitting. The 425 ended up being on the fringe of too low spin the way I had it set up so we lofted up. The surprise for me was the Titleist. Had no intentions or idea when I went in it would be the winner but it won the whole show. The Cobra RadSpeed was the longest for me but dispersion wasn't as good as the TSi3. The Titleist just won on everything for me. Sound, feel, looks and it is just soooo straight and surprisingly forgiving for my toe miss. I am too comfortable with the Ping to let it go but I did go in on a TSi3 to test and it arrived yesterday. Only one range session so far and its going to be tough to beat. Rain all week here and I am jonesing to get it on the course for a real test.

 

Final note is these fitters and this article is always good to read and work from. They see so many different swings and the trends cannot lie. For me, the TM driver was in dead last and it was "the One" going in for me. I left the fitting disappointed in a way but once I got away from it all and looked and the reports, I warmed up to where we landed. Just be open minded and realize there is no "best one" driver.

Edited March 16, 2021 by awtryau89

[third-times-a-charm]

20 hours ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

So they are basically listing the big 5 and tell us they’re the best. Not very original!

 

What about Mizuno, Tour Edge, Srixon and so on? Pretty sure they at least caught up to the big names. 
Feels like an advertisement to me, not a fair comparison. 

 

Not to mention the Callaway drivers are so far behind and not even in the top 5 in some of the recommendations. This year's epic is pretty universally the best of the Callaway releases since the original Epic.

[getair23]

My biggest takeaway from the article are the 19 fitters and where they provide their expertise.  This is a great reference list of who and where we should look to find our best results.  

[dcm325]

This is the polar opposite to what MGS did... and at least they provided more data. 👎🏼

[Afternoon Spray]

On 3/15/2021 at 7:31 AM, mmaloney23 said:

I did a fitting earlier in the year and was fitter into a TSi3. But then did a re-fit after more drivers were released and was fit into a Sim2 and so far a very good driver. I have it paired with a Graphite Design Tour AD XC. Great feel.

Same thing happened to me. Was fit into a Tsi3 in December and got refit in February and was fit into the Cobra Radspeed and was not only seeing greater distance numbers (clubhead speed slightly faster but ball speed significantly faster) but much tighter dispersion as well. Sim2 was a close second to the Radspeed. I've been loving it so far. 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Afternoon Spray