Best Budget Drivers, 2024

If you think about it, the fact that golf equipment manufacturers seem to come out with a new driver every year and sometimes even more often than that is really a benefit for golfers.

While it can be deflating to spend $600 for a brand new model only to see another more improved driver that promises more distance and forgiveness come out a year later, it also means that you can save money if you know how to play the game.

And here’s what you can do. Don’t buy the latest and greatest (if you're on a budget). Because the truth is what was promised to be the best two or three years ago is still pretty darn good. In fact, it might still be the best, or at least the best for you. And you can often get these drivers that were introduced a couple of years ago at half of their original sticker price and for much less than what’s offered this year. And they certainly aren’t close to being obsolete.

Of course, golfers have been doing this for years now, so we asked GolfPass members what they think are the best budget drivers out there. PXG, which has lots of versions it seems over the past few years, was one of the most popular responses. There were several Callaway and TaylorMade models cited as well. 

One bit of advice here is if you're in the market for a driver and even if you're trying to save a little money, hit as many of these as you can. You can often find them new or used in retail stores, many of which can let you try them out on a simulator. Pay attention to what shafts are in them, too, especially when they are used. Sometimes you can find them with something exotic, which will really enhance the performance. After all, shafts are the engine of golf clubs.

And some of these companies still offer these older models new, and might have fitting programs. There might not be a more important club to have properly fitted for you than the driver. So if there's an opportunity, at least find out what your specs are on any driver, and try to match that when purchasing either a new driver or a used one.

With all that said, here are the top 15 budget drivers you can buy, according to a poll of our readers:

If you’re looking for a solid, adjustable driver, the PXG 0311 XF Gen 5 is a great choice. It’s a step up from the 0811 Gen4 driver in that it’s probably a little more forgiving and perhaps a little longer. Unlike the Gen 4, the Gen 5 has an all-carbon crown on the head like many of the best drivers today. The XF version of the Gen 5 driver is actually the mid-spin option. Also worth noting here is that PXG has an outstanding clubfitting process, so if you can get this from a PXG facility, be sure to go through a fitting. 

Shop PXG 0311 XF Gen 5 Driver

A solid driver to be sure, this is one you’re probably going to want to find used (several sites have this club at less than $200) since the price is still pretty steep on the Titleist website, north of $500 (though we suspect it will drop soon). The Ttileist TSi2 came out three years ago, so there’s a couple of generations that have basically replaced it. Still, it’s an incredibly solid club with a sleek shape that will inspire confidence. The new technology at the time included an ATI 425 face insert, which is a strong titanium alloy designed for greater ball speed across the face as well as lots of forgiveness.

Shop Titleist TSi2 Driver

Having played the Callaway Epic Speed for a couple of years, I can tell you it’s a terrific driver that will produce distance, forgiveness and a good measure of workability. The Epic Speed looks good, sounds good, and if you marry it with the right shaft (which is super important in any driver), it will produce great results. Callaway used A.I. to create its patented Jailbreak technology for these drivers, which means they are hot all over the face. Callaway Pre-Owned has plenty of these in stock for less than $200.

Shop Callaway Epic Speed Driver

While the new Qi10 is TayloMade’s flagship driver, the ones before it were pretty great, too, like the TaylorMade SIM and SIM2, which were introduced a few years ago. The acronym stands for “Shape in Motion.” That new shape translated into an all-new Inertia Generator formed by its nine-layer carbon sole. Weight was also moved to the back of the club head to make it more aerodynamic for more ball speed and forgiveness. The SIM2 added something called Forged Ring Construction. The ring was designed to unite the critical components of the driver into a single force. Translation: The SIM2 is solid, long and forgiving.

Shop TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

Some of PXG’s earlier drivers aren't as dynamic as the company’s latest and greatest, but they are solid choices. That includes the PXG 211, which came out in 2022. This driver, in fact, was part of a movement by PXG to make its clubs more affordable, and you can still get it new for less than $200, which makes this a great bargain. While it doesn’t have the adjustability of the later and more expensive models, it’s a solid performer nonetheless. 

The predecessor to the Gen 5 obviously, the PXG 0811 shares many of the same characteristics, except that it doesn’t feature an all-carbon crown. What it does feature is some adjustability, good length and forgiveness, and a really attractive head. These drivers are lively, produce a satisfying sound, and they can be had for a really attractive price. And you can still get them new. 

Shop PXG 0811 Gen 4 Driver

This is the lower spin version of the Gen 5, which was obviously a step up from the Gen 4. Featuring a tall, deep face design, it’s adjustable with Precision Weighting Technology. You can change the loft up to 1.5 degrees, and the PWT means it has one 2.5g weight and two 7.5g weights in the head. They can be adjusted to fine tune spin, as well as draw, neutral, or fade bias. Brand new, both the XF and regular 0311 Gen 5 are selling for just $200.

Shop PXG 0311 Gen 5 Driver

If you slice the ball, the Callaway Rogue ST Max D is a great choice because the “D” stands for draw. And that means this is a draw-biased driver. That tendency comes through a combination of internal and external draw-biased weights as well as a more upright lie. Like many of the Callaway drivers, it also features the company’s Jailbreak Speed Frame, which means the ball jumps off the face. It’s very forgiving too.

Shop Callaway Rogue ST Max Draw Driver

With all the features of the SIM2, the SIM2 Max offers even more forgiving characteristics. The SIM2 Max has a higher moment of inertia, which in simpler terms means no matter where you hit it on the clubface, it’s going to twist less, be more forgiving, and lose minimal yardage, even on heel hits. Instead of the 16g weight found in the back of the club head of the SIM 2, the SIM 2 Max has a 24g weight. It also flies higher with a little more spin, which is ideal for a player with slower swing speed, allowing the longest carry distances. 

Shop TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver

Following the SIM drivers from a couple of years earlier, the TaylorMade Stealth driver indeed has a stealthy look to it with its red all-carbon face and gray crown. It also features some new technology, with 60 layers of lightweight carbon fiber in the face, which is a little bit bigger than the SIM drivers. The face is probably a little hotter than the SIM drivers, which means a little more distance and perhaps forgiveness, too. 

Shop TaylorMade Stealth Driver

The most noticeable aspect of the Callaway Mavrik driver is the orange and black color scheme of the head. So it certainly stands out. More than that, this driver, which was introduced nearly five years ago, remains a solid option for the varied Callaway line of drivers. It’s a solid-feeling driver with consistent results. It’s probably not as forgiving as the company’s newest models certainly, but it sure won’t hurt you if you put reasonable swings on it. For less than $125 pre-owned, it’s hard to go wrong. 

Shop Callaway Mavrik Driver

If you don’t need draw bias but want an incredibly forgiving driver, then the Callaway Rogue ST Max is a solid choice. It features the same Jailbreak Speed Frame as the Max D, of course, as well as all the other technology. It has a powerful titanium face and titanium unibody construction, and carbon crown for a high MOI and forgiveness.  And if you do need to adjust it for ball flight or shot shape, you do have the option to adjust the hosel. 

Shop Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver

This is a really cool driver if you can find one in good shape. Plus, you probably won’t pay that much for it. While it doesn’t have 10,000 units of MOI like the some of the latest drivers on the market, Cobra says it has 5,200 MOI, which is pretty darn forgiving on off-center hits, both in direction and distance. It features Cobra’s PWR-COR technology that produces low spin and fast ball speeds. Plus it looks great with its black carbon crown and sleek yellow, orange, and white accent markings. 

Shop Cobra LTDx Driver

This is another driver that evolved from the original Callaway Epic, and it too is a really solid option for anyone looking for a bargain on a serviceable, solid driver. It came out six years ago and is one of the first drivers whose face was designed by a supercomputer (an earlier version of A.I., if you will) to deliver forgiveness and correction all over the face. At the time, this was a higher launch driver with a good amount of spin, so it certainly played well for players who didn’t have high swing speeds. Again, this is a great choice for anyone who’s on a super tight budget looking for a quality driver. 

Shop Callaway Epic Flash Driver

When the G425 Max was introduced three years ago, it was certainly Ping’s most forgiving driver to date. It featured several advancements, including something called Dragonfly crown technology, which came from an ultra-thin crown with weight moved to the back to increase MOI and optimize the center of gravity for more distance and forgiveness. It also features a 26g tungsten weight that is movable. It can be set in neutral, fade, or draw bias, which means you can counteract your tendencies. This one is still a little pricey when buying new, so you might want to find a gently used model. There’s also a low-spin version of the driver (Ping G425 LST), which is probably better for players with higher swing speeds.