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Why We Like It
This low-spin head has two seven-gram weights that can slide in two heel and toe channels in the sole. The angled channels converge at the rear center of the sole and allow for an infinite range of heel- or toe-biased weighting. The channel cut into the front of the sole maximizes the way the face flexes. Also helping is a new titanium alloy that makes the face lighter, faster and stronger. The weight-saving carbon-composite crown and a steel bar in the channel’s polymer filling help to lower the center of gravity.
Characteristics
- The compact, pear-shaped head (440 cubic centimeters) has a deep face.
- The carbon-composite crown section wraps around the upper-toe region to provide more discretionary weight and balance the draw/fade bias.
- A new beta-rich titanium alloy in the face is lighter and stronger for better ball speed.
- 9.5, 10.5 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
Highlights
- Top 5 best-looking drivers, low-handicaps
- Top 10 quietest drivers, moderate swing speeds
- Top 10 quietest drivers, high swing speeds
- Top 5 best sound/feel drivers, low-handicaps
Price
$600
HOT LIST PLAYERS FEEDBACK
Ratings are based on players’ assessments in three key performance areas.
Reviews
1 / 3
Larger head inspires confidence and looks good at address. Makes me feel like I can really go after the ball. Don’t have to fight any offsets with this club.
BK, 41, Handicap: 12 / 3
I like the two-tone look on the top. Getting consistently longer-than-average yardages with this club. Able to hit low-spinning bombs and high launching shots with the adjustable settings.
Jack, 34, Handicap: 13 / 3
Clubhead sits comfortably behind the ball. Forgiving on mis-hits and incredibly pure on center strikes. Reliable and consistent ball flight and dispersion.
Josh, 28, Handicap: 1Max-out Your Speed and Carry Distance with The Driver
Whether you want more distance or a consistent shot shape, you need one skill above all others: the ability to make flush contact with the ball. It’s the No. 1 fundamental in golf, and without it, this game can be an eternal mystery. Here, Sean Hogan, one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Florida, helps you improve your impact with the driver.
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The deep center of gravity on the largest frame in the Mizuno driver family exudes stability on off-center hits.
The large channel cut in the sole extends fully to heel and toe to create more flexing in the face on extreme misses.
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A channel cut in the front part of the sole creates better overall face flexing.
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A low center of gravity reduces spin, and a centered rear weight adds stability.
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The high-strength, titanium-alloy face and the polymer-filled channel cut in the front part of the sole maximize distance.
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The use of carbon composite in the crown and sole saves more than six grams from past models.
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The large head size and face area emphasize forgiveness.
The variable-thickness pattern on the face has been tweaked to save even more weight that can be used to improve stability and lower the center of gravity.
The face pattern is designed to line up with how an average golfer makes contact to improve distance on mis-hits.
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A slightly extended area toward the heel, along with internal heel-biased weighting, helps slicers find more fairways.
The alternating flexible and rigid sections in the perimeter of the face and body offer a ball-speed boost.
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10 / 33
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The sleek shape, including a taller trailing edge and a softer leading edge, enhances speed for the fastest swingers.
Large carbon-composite panels make room for two forward sole weights and another in the rear to balance forgiveness and spin.
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The use of extensive carbon composite in the crown and sole results in a driver with low spin with forgiveness.
Neutral shaping and internal weighting with a large face area should appeal to the largest segment of golfers.
Golfers can tweak launch and spin through centered adjustable weights in the front and rear.
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13 / 33
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A 22-gram tungsten weight fits into one of three positions in the rear perimeter to provide forgiveness and tweak a draw or fade.
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Among the most stable heads in the game, this driver offers draw-fade adjustability with a 25-gram perimeter weight in three settings.
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This driver fights a slice through the use of two adjustable-weight positions slightly to the heel side of the rear perimeter.
A thinner variable-thickness face provides more potential ball speed and distance.
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This driver is forgiveness-focused thanks to weight-saving carbon-composite panels in the crown and sole.
New titanium-alloy face insert deflects more for higher launch with less spin.
Three extreme perimeter weights in the center, heel and toe of the sole (up to 20 grams) add stability and direction control.
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18 / 33
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This compact, low-spin model places two adjustable weights toward the front of the sole to lower the center of gravity.
Carbon-composite panels in the crown and sole create room for a low back weight that adds stability on off-center hits.
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The forward eight-gram weight in the sole helps to reduce spin and lower launch compared to the standard ZX5.
Expect a more neutral to slight fade-biased ball flight compared to the standard ZX5.
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The shorter front-to-back measurement favors players who prefer to work their tee shots.
The lowest launching of the three drivers in the family.
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22 / 33
TaylorMade
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The carbon-composite face and body balances forward and rear weighting for low spin and forgiveness.
The face size is the same as the Qi10 LS, but this driver is deeper front to back for more stability.
The redesigned sole channel gives at impact in unison with the face for faster ball speed.
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23 / 33
TaylorMade
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The lowest spinning of the three models also has the lowest and most forward center of gravity.
The sliding-weight track houses a 19-gram weight to tweak fades and draws.
The aerodynamic sole still accommodates a 19-gram rear weight for better off-center-hit performance.
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24 / 33
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Qi10 Max
$600
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The extreme front-to-back length and 30-gram rear weight creates the highest stability on off-center hits in company history.
Heel-biased shaping and weighting make it easier to square the face and maintain clubhead speed.
A special lightweight low-torque shaft helps create more draw than last year’s Stealth 2 HD.
9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with a 12-way adjustable hosel)
25 / 33
Titleist
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$600
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26 / 33
Titleist
TSR2
$600
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The larger overall size emphasizes forgiveness, but the shape improvements help optimize aerodynamics to maximize swing speed.
The variable-thickness face design targets players whose misses cover a larger area of the face.
This model maintains the higher launch of past versions with less spin.
8, 9, 10, 11 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
27 / 33
Titleist
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A rear sole panel allows for weight to be shifted between heel and toe to better align with a player’s natural impact location.
This model targets consistent players who want to maximize performance on center-face hits.
Aerodynamic enhancements maximize potential clubhead speed within the compact shape better players prefer.
8, 9, 10, 11 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
28 / 33
Titleist
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This model has the most forward center of gravity of any TSR model and tends to produce the lowest spin.
A movable weight in front and back allows for extreme and moderate spin-reduction settings.
The variable-thickness face favors similar ball speed across a wider area of the face.
8, 9, 10 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
29 / 33
Cobra
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The Air-X targets moderate to slow-swing speeds through a lighter head, shaft and grip.
Internal weighting on the heelside and deep in the perimeter fights slicing and encourages a higher launch.
Lofts measure higher than the number on the sole to encourage higher launch for slower swingers.
9.5, 10.5 (straight neck); 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 (offset); with fixed hosel
30 / 33
Tour Edge
Exotics C723
$500
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$500
Compact shape appeals to better players seeking lower spin.
Four carbon-composite sections in the crown and sole save weight to make room for movable rear and front weights in the sole.
Switching the positions of the heavy and light weights can add or subtract spin, but the center of gravity will still be more forward than in E723.
8, 9, 10.5 (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
31 / 33
Tour Edge
Exotics E723
$450
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$450
This model is the largest of the two and features a 20-gram rear weight for the highest stability in a driver in company history.
The rear weight can be positioned in draw, fade or neutral positions to tweak left or right misses.
Three 40-gram shaft options provide higher launch possibilities for slower swingers.
9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
32 / 33
Wilson
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$500
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Golf Galaxy
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Hot List Silver
$500
Lightweight carbon composite in the crown and toe section of the sole lowers the center of gravity to reduce spin.
Expect a more neutral to fade ball flight with a lower trajectory compared to the Dynapower Titanium.
Designed for players who prefer to work the ball on tee shots.
8, 9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with a six-way adjustable hosel)
33 / 33
Wilson
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$430
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$430
The more forgiving of the two models uses a 16-gram rear weight for extra stability on off-center hits.
Expect a higher flight and a built-in slight draw bias to minimize a slice.
Designed for most average golfers with swing speeds of less than 100 miles per hour.
9, 10.5, 13 degrees (with a six-way adjustable hosel)