golf equipment reviews: Drivers

Callaway Mavrik This is the second generation of Callaways AI technology drivers, there are three models in the Mavrik range, the Standard, Sub Zero and More TaylorMade SIM The main new technology evolves around the impact area known as the speed generation zone, which is the last three feet before hances0 driver More Srixon ZX5 The philosophy behind the new Srixon ZX drivers is speed and all the technology is aimed to help you generate your maximum More   Callaway Epic Flash Artificial Intelligence Vs wet and windy Kent golf courses, James Mason puts the Callaway Epic Flash with its AI designed face to the test. More Mizuno ST190G Mizuno have put all their research and technology into producing a driver with one of the lowest spin rates and a face that enhances ball speedd this in the ST180 driver More Srixon Z785 When a professional golfer comes up and says to you that you should test the Srixon Z785, you really do have to listen and so come the One More   Callaway Rogue Callaway have kept their Jailbreak technology but redesigned the pillars using titanium and crafted them into an hour glass shape making p with TaylorMade More Mizuno ST180 Mizuno have taken their shockwave sole technology which they have been using in their fairway woods and placed this in the ST180 driver More Cleveland Launcher I had heard a lot of good things about Cleveland’s Launcher driver and I jumped at the chance at taking one on my recent press trip to ons are More   TaylorMade M2 I have been looking forward to testing the 2017 M Range of TaylorMade woods and with Rory deciding he would be signing up with TaylorMade More Mizuno JPX 900 The new Mizuno JPX900 driver has arrived just in time for me to test it in a ProAm Tournament in St Kitts. The distinctive Mizuno blue hea More Srixon Z565 Putting the Z565 down at the address position as most golfers do when they get a new club in their hands the first impressions are that I More   Callaway BB Alpha 816 Black Diamond I must admit I was looking forward to taking the Callaway Alpha 816 with me to La Manga after testing the X2 Hot last year - a driver I really enjoyed More Titleist 915 D3 I have always liked the design of the Titleist drivers the classic lines and the black finish just make them look like they mean business, so when More Mizuno JPX EZ 2016 The first thing I noticed when I pulled the head cover off the new Mizuno JPX EZ was how big the head was compared to the 2014 model that I tested in Tunisia.a. More

TaylorMade Aeroburner After testing the Aeroburner 3-wood and hybrid clubs earlier in the year on my trip down to Kent, I was looking forward to putting the driver through its More	TaylorMade R15 When the box came through with TaylorMade’s new R15, I knew there would be one press trip that this new offering needed to come on. More	Mizuno JPX 850 There is no mistaking the piercing blue heads of the new Mizuno JPX850 woods range and after nearly an hour's fitting at the Mizuno More
Callaway X2 Hot It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed any Callaway equipment, the last time being when I was on the equipment testing team at Golf Monthly. More	Wilson Staff FG M3 The first thing you will notice about the Wilson Staff FG Tour M3 is its distinctive colour. I would say it’s like a gun metal grey, which is pretty apt More	Mizuno JPX EZ To say Mizuno’s drivers have failed to match the standard and kudos of its irons in the golf world would be an understatement. More
TaylorMade SLD New Smaller Size, Same Huge Performance TaylorMade announced the release of the SLDR 430 – a more compact version of the SLDR 460 More	Adam Speedline The first thing I noticed about the Adams Super S Speedline – and you’ll probably do the same – was the lip-type design when viewing the More	Wilson Staff D100 The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up the Wilson Staff D100 driver is how light it is – which is a big surprise as most drivers now are More
TaylorMade R1 I am off to Portugal playing three courses in three days and putting the new TaylorMade R1 through its paces. I’ve been watching the More	TaylorMade RBZ S2 Straight off I have to say I enjoyed playing with these clubs and just loved the adjustability of the hybrid. And I must More	Ping K15 When I first picked up the K15 I had to admit its not the best looking driver on the block, but then again I’m more interested in hitting fairways More
Ping G20 As most of you know, I’ve been using the Ping K15 for the past year or so and really love the feel, sound and flight that it gives me, so it was going to be More	Ping i20 And as mentioned in the Ping i20 iron reviews, these are real head-turners. On the recent Golf Road Warriors trip to Scotland, I had caddies and More	TaylorMade RBZ I have hit a few white drivers and fairway woods on the range and on a couple of holes while testing them, but I have never played a full round with More

Forgiveness

Yonex Nanospeed 3i driver
Price: £199
Key Technology: The 460cc Aero-Pentagon shaped head, creates smooth airflow during the swing, this helps create maximum ball speed, stability and forgiveness. The carbon graphite crown is 20% thinner and three grams lighter than in Nanospeed i driver, which creates a higher launch and reduces spin.

Nike SQ MachSpeed
Price: £240
Key Technology: The sole has an aerodynamic channel running from the heel side of the sole to the toe. This helps encourage a smooth airflow around the head to help reduce drag. The driver offers adjustable face technology giving you the choice of face angle options, ranging from 2° open to 2° closed.

MD Golf Superstrong
Price: £99.99
Key Technology: This classic shaped head has a long and shallow clubface offering great control to shape shots with ease. The new redesigned Superstrong is easy on the eye and sits square at address, which also offers a higher launch without adding spin.

Benross VX Proto PVD
Price: £149
Key Technology: An extremely low and deep centre of gravity, forgiving 460cc head with thin crown technology. This driver gives you distance, accuracy and helps those players who love to shape their shots from the tee. The PVD finish provides a sleek look and does not peel.

PING G15
Price: £249.00
Key Technology: This has been modified and advanced since the successful G10 driver. It has a larger head profile to increase the moment of inertia by 15%. The face is also 7% larger than the previous model, helping to generate higher ball speeds for added distance.

Cleveland Launcher DST
Price: £229.00
Key Technology: This head is 25 grams lighter than standard drivers thanks to weight removed from the head and a lightweight shaft, this helps produce faster clubhead speed. In order to improve forgiveness nine grams of weight have been removed from the face and repositioned low in the head.

Wilson Smooth
Price: £230
Key Technology: The Smooth has a variable face thickness, which creates a sweet spot that is twice as wide as a constant thickness face. The Smooth is available in three lofts, all designed with different characteristics. The more loft in the head, the further back the weight is placed to help find the optimal launch.

High tech options

TaylorMade SuperFast
Price: £239
Key Technology: The total weight of the club is 14 grams less than the Burner 09 driver. This helps encourage a wide and fast swing arc for added distance. Dual crown technology lowers and moves back the centre of gravity and is combined with a large face to improve forgiveness and give a high launch.

Nike VR Str8Fit
Price: £360
Key Technology: A traditional head is combined with a compression channel in the sole, which increases the compression of the body at impact giving improved ball speed and increased distance. The Nike Str8Fit can be adjusted to 32 different face angle options to change the shot shape.

Titleist 909 DComp
Price: £335
Key Technology: The pear profile has a shallower face and is weighted to produce a medium launch with low-to-mid spin. A weighted screw in the head repositions the centre of gravity deep in the head for increased distance. Three factory-installed weight options mean the head and shaft can be tuned to match.

Snake Eyes XT
Price: £189
Key Technology: A bullet shape with steps in the heel and toe that help move weight lower. A weight in the head can be replaced with a heavier screw to increase launch angle without increasing spin. The shaft has been hand PUREd, which Snake Eyes state improves on centre hits by up to 44%.

Cobra S2
Price: £249
Key Technology: Adjustable flight technology means the shaft can be removed from the head and reinserted in open, neutral or closed positions. The impact noise has been tuned to offer a sound that is pleasing to the golfer while the headshape is the most traditional that Cobra has ever designed.

Adams Speedline Fast 10
Price: £199
Key Technology: The aerodynamic shaping of the FAST 10 creates 10% less drag and airflow turbulence than previous models. The streamline shaping is combined with impressive forgiveness thanks to a larger face area and expanded sweetspot.

Srixon Z-TX
Price: £349
Key Technology: The face has been restructured and made thinner, which creates a larger sweetspot and gives added ball speed. Srixon’s starburst variable face technology helps to provide added consistency and distance. The lightweight head allows 11 grams of weight to be redistributed to the perimeter.

Flight control

Titleist 909 D3
Price: £275
Key Technology: A 440cc head is smaller than the maximum size and the centre of gravity is closer to the face than other models to allow for more workability. The head is designed to create a mid launch with low spin. An internal rib reduces vibrations and gives a soft sound.

PING i15
Price: £289.00
Key Technology: With a 460cc head and a fade bias the i15 driver offers you a more penetrating flight with less spin giving you the confidence to shape and control the flight of your shots.

Mizuno MP-630 Fast track
Price: £299
Key Technology: An advanced version of the fast track technology means that moving the weights can affect both sidespin and backspin. The head is 445cc and sits slightly open to achieve the performance characteristics that the majority of good players look for.

Cobra ZL
Price: £299
Key Technology: There are three face angle settings (open, neutral and closed) so every golfer can find an address position that optimises ball flight for increased distance and accuracy. A new, more traditional head shape is combined with an improved impact sound.

Nike VR 420
Price: £360
Key Technology: The VR 420 has a classic pear shape and is designed to appeal to the avid golfer who is seeking lower spin and a more penetrating ball flight. The red channel on the sole increases the overall compression of the body, which produces increased ball speeds across the entire face.

TaylorMade SuperTri
Price: £329
Key Technology: The first TaylorMade driver that combines moveable weights and adjustability in a 460cc head. The movable weights allow the centre of gravity to be changed while flight-control technology means that the face angle can be adjusted. Features a black face and head combination.

Callaway Diablo Edge
Tour Price: £249
Key Technology:A conventional head shape made from 4-pieces of titanium with a more forward centre of gravity compared to the standard Diablo Edge. The aerodynamic body reduces drag to create higher impact speeds for improved distance.