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Why We Like It
The standard model—the most forgiving of the two—features more stability on off-center hits from heel to toe (by a little) and top to bottom (by 25 percent). This means some off-center hits have ball speeds consistent with center hits. The way the new titanium alloy in the face deflects at impact yields higher flight with less spin. Meanwhile, the lightweight carbon-composite sections on the crown and sole result in a lower and deeper center of gravity compared to last year’s extra-forgiving XF model.
Characteristics
- 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.
- 8, 9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
Highlights
- Top 5 best-looking drivers, high-handicaps
- Top 10 quietest drivers, high swing speeds
- Top 5 best-rated drivers, high-handicaps
Price
$600
HOT LIST PLAYERS FEEDBACK
Ratings are based on players’ assessments in three key performance areas.
Reviews
1 / 3
I like the consistency of the visible carbon across the crown and the way the paint frames the face—overall a great aesthetic. It rewards your best swings. Incredibly easy to achieve the launch numbers you want.
Wei, 54, Handicap: 132 / 3
My numbers showed that I'm swinging it five miles per hour faster than my regular driver, and the results match. More punch off of the face, less spin, and the feel of the ball jumping. A yardage adder.
Jamie, 51, Handicap: 53 / 3
Really consistent, especially on misses. It rewards you when you find the center of the face but is still forgiving. The forgiveness instills confidence and encourages you to swing harder without fear of losing control.
Ricky, 45, Handicap: +2Max-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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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 use of carbon composite in the crown and sole saves more than six grams from past models.
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The most stable head in the family uses a 10-gram sliding weight to dial in ball flight.
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It has the largest face area in the Ai Smoke driver family.
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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.
Loft is adjustable between 9 and 12 degrees.
7 / 33
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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.
An eight-gram weight in the butt end of the grip enhances control and speed in the downswing by helping the club feel lighter on the takeaway.
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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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10 / 33
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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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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.
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12 / 33
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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.
Mass saved from the large carbon-composite crown and sole is pushed to the perimeter.
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13 / 33
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A channel cut in the front part of the sole creates better overall face flexing.
The carbon-composite crown and sole sections free extra mass for a 14-gram weight in the heel section of the sole.
The center of gravity is closer to the shaft. This makes the head easier to manipulate to help those who like to work the ball as well as slicers.
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14 / 33
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A low center of gravity reduces spin, and a centered rear weight adds stability.
The deep center of gravity also yields a higher launch.
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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15 / 33
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Its relatively compact shape targets better players seeking low launch and spin.
A 22-gram tungsten weight fits into one of three positions in the rear perimeter to provide forgiveness and tweak a draw or fade.
The key to forgiveness and low spin is the weight-saving and CG-lowering carbon-composite wrap in the back half of the crown.
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16 / 33
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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.
A thin T9S+ titanium alloy in the face reduces the overall face thickness for better energy transfer.
More of a neutral ball flight in the standard setting compared to the other models.
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17 / 33
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The at-the-limit size makes for the company’s most stable head.
A fixed 28-gram rear weight boosts stability, and a carbon-composite crown section lowers the center of gravity.
This driver's forgiveness is a boon for aggressive swingers.
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18 / 33
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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.
Its lighter weight gives slices more control, and it’s offered in a 15-percent lighter HL build for moderate-swing-speed players.
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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.
Two different weights for ports in the heel and toe allow players to tweak ball flight.
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22 / 33
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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.
9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with a 12-way adjustable hosel)
23 / 33
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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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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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GD HOT LIST SCORE
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26 / 33
Titleist
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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
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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.
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29 / 33
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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.
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30 / 33
Tour Edge
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$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
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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
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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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
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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)