Another golfing year is complete, one where the emergence of rookies such as Cameron Champ and Matthew Wolff have placed an even greater emphasis on the need to hit it long in order to truly compete in the professional game. For amateurs (aka mere mortals) meanwhile, we're still looking for that club that can give us consistent forgiveness off the tee so we can swing to our heart's content and still be able to find the ball afterwards.
Ball speed has once again been the buzz term this year, as brands attempt to combine this with aerodynamics and better face design for ultimate performance. With manufacturers looking for more ways to gain distance off the tee there has also been lots of talk about 'tolerance' and 'legal limit' as the powers that be attempt to clamp down.
So let's dive in and see which of the drivers we tested in 2019 have made it into our list. In no particular order:
Released: 01/02/2019
RRP As Reviewed: £499
Quick Hit: Epic name and colours return with even greater ball speed.
The Tech: Callaway's new $5 million AI computer produces Flash Face with optimum design for ball speed, whilst a new Carbon Crown combines with Jailbreak Technology for hot hits off the tee.
Golfalot Says: "Consider upgrading in a Flash for the better look, forgiveness and extra ball speed that the new model offers."
Read the FULL REVIEW here
Released: 07/02/2019
RRP As Reviewed: £450
Quick Hit: Ping adds adjustable weights to their driver for the first time.
The Tech: The 455cc head has a 15% higher MOI than competitors' drivers, and a 16g tungsten weight at the back of the head can be positioned to add up to 10 yards of shot bias for either fade or draw. The eye-catching dragonfly crown is added to help with aerodynamics for better clubhead speed.
Golfalot Says: "With the right shaft in, the G410 Plus feels a very stable driver and the forgiveness and sound is excellent."
Read the FULL REVIEW here
Released: 15/02/2019
RRP As Reviewed: £449
Quick Hit: A new 'Speed Injected' face takes M6 driver heads to the limit for added ball speed.
The Tech: A special resin is injected to the face which takes it as close as possible to legal tolerances for extra ball speed, whilst Twist Face technology remains to improve accuracy on off-centre hits.
Golfalot Says: "Compared to the M4, the M6 driver sounds a little better and delivers that extra performance through an optimised face and a lower spin set up."
Read the FULL REVIEW here
Released: 18/01/2019
RRP As Reviewed: £349
Quick Hit: Improved aerodynamics give this club extra speed with Cobra's usual driver forgiveness.
The Tech: The CNC Milled face is 3% thinner and 10% lighter than last year, whilst the reduced aerodynamic drag comes from softer edges, a raised crown at the back, Pwr Ridges and 360 AeroTrips which promote faster swing speeds.
Golfalot Says: "With a seriously competitive price, the Cobra King F9 Speedback offers great value for money and is going to be one of the drivers to beat this year."
Read the FULL REVIEW here
Released: 30/11/2018 (Reviewed in April 2019)
RRP As Reviewed: £559
Quick Hit: A new adjustability system allows the hosel to be adjusted without moving the shaft, which has been pured for better performance.
The Tech: Along with this non-rotating system, there is also an extremely light ribbed ET40 carbon crown for lightweight speed, and two pairs of fangs sit at the top and bottom behind the clubface to produce greater ball speeds.
Golfalot Says: "The TW747 driver is forgiving with good distance, is well designed with quality materials, the hosel keeps the shaft aligned and it has the reflected glory of that premium brand positioning."
Read the FULL REVIEW here
Released: 26/07/2019
RRP As Reviewed: £499
Quick Hit: Lightweight and fast option for golfers with slower swing speeds looking for some extra power.
The Tech: The TS1 weighs just 275 grams thanks to a lighter grip, shaft and head, and the centre of gravity has been moved lower and deeper in the head for easier launch.
Golfalot Says: "The featherweight of the driver world, aimed at seniors, ladies, juniors or anyone else who can't create the swing speed required to fight the ball far enough."
Read the FULL REVIEW here
Best of Drivers 2019 Summary
So there we have it, our best drivers of the year. We'd love to hear your thoughts if you've tested or purchased any of the drivers on this list - or if you think there's anything we've missed out.