Regardless of age, everyone likes to hit it long and straight, right? Personally, I think it’s half the reason that we play this addicting game, we want to prove to ourselves that we can still hit bombs. There isn’t a much better feeling than making a great swing on your driver and seeing it pierce through the air and end up in the short stuff.
Thanks to advanced technology for seniors (and all players for that matter) , age doesn’t matter like it used before. Now, there is a huge selection of golf clubs and specific shafts designed for the senior player in mind.Hitting it long and straight has never been easier.
So what is the best golf driver for a senior golfer?
In this post, not only will you learn the best drivers for seniors but also how to decide which driver is right for your game.
Our Pick for Best Senior Golf Driver
- Callaway Great Big Bertha – Best Premium Driver for Seniors
- Taylormade Stealth 2 HD – Also Very Good Driver for Senior Golfers
- Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Draw Driver – Best Value Driver for Seniors
5 Factors For Picking the Best Golf Driver For Seniors
Before diving into the latest and greatest technology, let’s break down the biggest factors that go into purchasing a new golf driver.
(Not quite ready for a senior driver? Head to this article instead.)
Forgiveness
The first thing to consider when choosing a new driver is the overall forgiveness. Always ask yourself, how big is the sweet spot on this thing before buying? Ultimately, you want a driver that has a ton of forgiveness and allows your mish*ts to still be very playable.
The worst thing you can do is get a driver that is hard to hit and has a small clubhead. When your tee offs are short or constantly in the rough, the game only gets harder. Instead, make sure your driver has a large sweet spot and plenty of forgiveness for those off center hits.
Forgiveness is almost directly correlated to clubhead size so make sure to look for 460cc (the largest allowed the by the USGA).
Distance
The second thing to think about is distance.
As you get older, your speed naturally decreases, which means it’s harder for the golf ball to travel or roll as far. Luckily, technology is reversing the aging process and making clubs that are easy to hit and still carry a long ways.
Phil Mickelson just joined the Champions Tour and is hitting it 340+ yards at age 50! Sure, Phil is God among us amateur golfers but you get the point, technology matters.
Your driver should give you tons of confidence and still allow you to hit it long and straight, regardless of age.
Loft
Next, you want to think about the loft of your driver.
While most standard men’s drivers are between 9-10.5 degrees, senior drivers usually have an extra degree or two of loft. The additional loft makes it easier to improve the launch angle even with a lower swing speed.
Too many senior golfers try to use the same loft they did in their 30s or 40s and their game suffers. Instead, opt for a driver that has at least 11 degrees of loft or more. While you might need to adjust your fairway woods based on your new driver loft, it’s well worth it.
Having the right amount of loft will help you hit it higher off the tee and ultimately longer as well. Plus, a lot of the drivers on this list also allow you to adjust the loft with a club wrench so you can test out different loft for performances.
Shaft Flex
Another factor that so many senior golfers skip out on entirely is the shaft flex. In terms of shaft flexes, there is lite (sometimes called senior), regular, stiff, and extra stiff.
Playing the wrong shaft flex is another mistake so many seniors make. Too many senior golfers try to keep playing a regular or stiff shaft, instead of opting for a senior flex shaft.
Senior flex shafts work great for golfers with a lower swing speed and help get the ball airborne. While it plays the biggest role in drivers, it’s also something that you want to think about with your irons as well.
If a driver shaft flex is too stiff, you’ll likely find it hard to square up the face and suffer a lot of wayward drives. Don’t let your ego win when deciding between a regular or senior flex shaft!
Adjustability
Finally, don’t forget about the adjustability of your driver.
Some golfers love to be able to slide weights, add/remove weights, and adjust lofts. This is 100% personal preference but it’s something that you should think about before investing in a new driver.
No need to worry about grip as you can always add on your favorites to any driver for a few bucks.
Best Golf Driver For Seniors
Now that you know what to look for in your next driver, let’s jump into the best golf driver for seniors on the market:
1. Great Big Bertha Driver (Best Premium Driver for a Senior Golfer)
Losing out on precious distance as you get older isn’t fun but Callaway has a solution. While the new Pardaym drivers are some of the best out there, they might not be great for all senior golfers as they’re a tad heavy. But don’t worry, there is an alternative from Callaway with theGreat Big Bertha.
The Great Big Bertha drivers put Callaway on the map decades ago but their newest driver is a hit for senior golfers. The secret to this driver is the incredibly lightweight design.
Here’s how Callaway described it,“This easy-to-swing driver is engineered with an ultra-lightweight design for unmatched distance characteristics. It’s nearly 30g lighter than a tour driver, and it’s an ideal option for golfers who want to increase their swing speed.”
That’s right, 30 grams lighter than most drivers!
But don’t worry, you won’t lose out on any accuracy either thanks to the Jailbreak Speed Frame which provides a ton of stability. Even if you gain speed with the light shaft/clubhead, you’ll still find the short grass with horizontal and torsional stable frames. That means longer and straighter drives every time you pull out the driver.
Aside from being lightweight and accurate off the tee, it’s also super forgiving thanks to the high MOI (moment of inertia) characteristics. As Callaway said,“To increase MOI, our engineers paired a lightweight Triaxial Carbon Crown with a Forged Carbon Sole. With all this discretionary weight, our engineers moved the CG lower and deeper to enhance forgiveness while the steel soleplate makes it easier to hit a draw.”
This club is also great because it has an adjustable hosel which isn’t that common with lightweight, senior drivers. Normally manufacturers eliminate this as it adds extra weight but you can still adjust loft, lie, and flight settings (draw, neutral, or fade).
The final benefit to this senior driver is the incredibly lightweight shaft – theUST Mamiya Helium Nanocore IP. This 50-gram shaft (regardless of which flex you choose) is high launching thanks to the low kick point. Paired with multiple loft options (including a 12-degree driver head) you should have no issue getting this ball high to optimize distance.
Pros
- Adjustable hosel.
- 460 cc forgiving head.
- Three loft options available.
- Right and left-hand options.
- Semi-draw bias to help straighten out that slice.
Cons
- 12-degree only available for right-handed golfers.
- Only one stock shaft (which is common for ultra lightweight clubs).
- Expensive – this new driver costs even more than the Paradym drivers which aren’t cheap to begin with.
Overall, it’s a good way to help you offset some distance losses even if the price is higher than most drivers. Everything about This driver also comes with a Winn Dri-Tac grip which is one of the most comfortable for seniors.
The lightweight club and shaft make this a great option for senior players who don’t want to lose out on precious distance. Plus, the adjustability makes this a great club to fit perfectly for your swing tendencies.
>> You can order a Great Big Bertha Driver here or here.
2. Taylormade Stealth 2 HD Driver
As you know by now, golf is easier when you can hit it longer and every yard counts. But if you’re like a lot of senior golfers you might be losing a few yards over the past few years. However, I think the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD driver might get you back to hitting it longer than ever.
If you played the TaylorMade Stealth from last year you know these clubs are a big switch from the previous SIM and SIM2. The Stealth 2 improves upon last year’s model in terms of technology while still keeping the red/black aesthetic. The first reason this driver is great for senior golfers is that it’s extremely forgiving (or “fargiving” as TaylorMade says in their commercials).
This club has 2X as much carbon as the previous Stealth which helps increase ball speed for longer distances. As TaylorMade said,“Stealth 2 HD features nearly twice the amount of carbon. It is constructed using a new Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring and collectively utilizes more of the lightweight material than any driver in TaylorMade history.”
Another reason we love this driver for seniors is the 60X carbon twist face. Here’s how they described the new design.“Building on the speed producing success of the original 60X Carbon Twist Face™, the new design features an enhanced version of Inverted Cone Technology to help maintain ball speed on off-center strikes and increase forgiveness.”
The third reason this driver is great for seniors is the draw-bias design. The engineers reconstructed the weight from the new carbon design to make it more stable and easier to hit straighter. If you struggle with a nasty slice, there is no doubt this TaylorMade driver can help you out.
While there is no sliding weight track (that’s only available in the slightly more expensive “Plus” model) you can adjust the loft with the sleeve. This allows you to add or remove loft to make sure it’s a good fit for your swing and not losing out on any distance.
Finally, the stock shaft is a Fujikura Speeder NX red shaft. This is a high launching shaft that is available in S, R, or A flex and super light weight (48–62 grams depending on flex). This will also make the driver easier to swing faster and hopefully add more distance to your long game.
Pros
- Draw bias.
- 12-degree loft option (also 9 and 10.5).
- Most forgiving driver of the new Stealth 2 lineup.
Cons
- No sliding weight track.
- Only one stock shaft option.
The 460 cc design, adjustable loft sleeve, and draw bias should make this driver a no-brainer for senior golfers.
>> You can order the Stealth 2 HD driver here or here.
3. Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Draw Driver
If you want to reduce your slice (or even hit a draw) and save money on a new driver, check out the Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Draw. As the name suggests, this driver is all about helping you hit a draw (or at least, make that slice a lot more playable).
The XL Lite draw is a spinoff of their new Launcher which has an XL head for more MOI – which equals more forgiveness. It’s also lighter than the original design as they removed the adjustable hosel and is 12 grams lighter than the original.
The XL Lite Draw model has all the benefits of the XL Lite and a built-in draw bias. This will help you hit a straighter ball flight without trying to rotate your hands or make any extra swing changes.
This driver has a Project X Cypher 40 shaft that is 48 grams. It has a high launch and high spin to help you bomb it off the tee.
Pros
- Lightweight head with a built-in draw bias.
- XL head design for higher launch and more forgiveness than ever.
- “Accuracy Build” it, which is a custom feature. This makes the driver one inch shorter and doesn’t include the counterbalance for even more tee ball control.
Cons
- Only available in a right-hand model with regular or A flex.
- Only available in 10.5 degree (they should have a 12 based on the player profile of this club).
This club is ideal for seniors and those who don’t generate as much natural swing speeds. The built-in draw bias will also help find more fairways and hopefully, easier approach shots to the green. For the price, this club is hard to beat for higher handicap players.
>>To order your XL Lite Draw Driver, go here or here.
4. Callaway Epic Max Star
If you’re looking for a lightweight driver, the Callaway Epic Max Star is for you. Callaway did some engineering magic to make this driver an astonishing 52 grams lighter than the Epic Max driver. That is impressive!
Despite being super lightweight, the driver still has tons of great features of other Callaway drivers, making it the perfect driver for senior golfers:
- A.I. Flash face design for maximum distance and forgiveness.
- Jailbreak Speed Frame technology helps straighten out off center hits and improve accuracy.
- Incredibly forgiving thanks to Triaxial Carbon toe patch with draw bias.
This driver is available in 10.5 or 12 degree loft options and is 46 inches standard length. This is a little longer than most drivers but it’s so lightweight it shouldn’t be much of a problem. It will likely take some getting used to in terms of address position though.
While the head is incredibly lightweight, they didn’t stop there. Callaway also paired this club with a UST Mamiya Attas graphite shaft. It only weighs 30 grams and has a high launch.
Plus, they even added a lightweight 25 gram Winn grip too. Overall, this is the most lightweight driver ever offered from Callaway.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight design.
- Draw bias to help correct slices and hit more fairways.
- One of the lightest shafts ever. At only 36 grams and a D1 swing weight, this should help any golfer get tons of speed.
Cons
- Too light for most golfers. Ideal for beginners and seniors who don’t have as much natural swing speed.
This club is lightweight and definitely not for everyone. If you have a moderate to fast swing stay away from this option as it has too much flex. Instead, opt for the new Rogue ST series instead.
But if you need a super lightweight club to help increase distance, this is a great option. Everything about this driver makes it easy to swing and max out your distance.
>>You can pick up your Epic Max Star driver here or here.
5. Cobra Golf Speedzone Xtreme Golf Driver
Cobra is always coming out with innovative golf equipment. Specifically, their new line of drivers, the Speedzone series. For senior players, we want to focus on the Speedzone Xtreme driver.
This is the lightest driver from Cobra and has a UST Helium shaft at only 55 grams. This will help create a high launch with minimal spin off the tee.
Pros
- Ultra-clean design
- 460cc club head size.
- Available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degree lofts.
- Made for golfers between 10-25 handicaps.
- Highest MOI and most forgiving Cobra driver ever.
- Lower CG in the clubhead makes a higher launch and lower spin driver.
- CNC Milled Infinity Face design increased ball speed without needing to swing harder.
Cons
- No senior flex, only light flex shaft options.
- Lamkin Crossline grip has a lot of cords making a poor fit for seniors.
>>Click here to find the best price on the Cobra Golf Speedzone Xtreme driver today.
Alternate: PGX Offset Golf Driver (Best Budget)
If you’re looking for drivers for seniors that are a lot smaller of an investment than the ones above, check out the PGX Offset Golf Driver. Pinemeadow golf makes a lot of great clubs for extremely low prices, including this driver.
This 460cc clubhead is made to help you reduce your slice with it’s offset shaft settings. While it doesn’t have nearly as much technology for distance and forgiveness, it’s still a good club for beginners or recreational golfers. It also comes with a matching headcover and available in left-hand model as well.
>>Click here to pick up a Pinemeadow golf driver today.
FAQs
Do you have more questions about finding the best driver for seniors? If so, we got answers on the right drivers for seniors!
What loft driver should seniors use?
Most seniors should use a driver loft of at least 11 degrees. While some players might get away with 10 or 10.5 if they still have a higher swing speed, most golfers should between 11-13 degrees.
This additional 1-3 degrees makes it easier for senior players to hit it high off the tee and get an extra 5-15 yards of carry. The extra distance can play a huge factor when hitting into par 4s and turn a hybrid into a mid iron instead.
If you’re looking to play your best golf, make sure you have plenty of loft as you get older!
What is the longest driver for seniors?
Distance, distance, distance.
That’s the #1 focus in the golf world (thanks Bryson) and it’s making some iconic courses becoming obsolete. But distance is very important, especially as you get older.
Distance wise, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the five drivers from above. All of them have the latest technology to make it easier for seniors to gain distance even with a slower swing speed. Plus, they all have high MOI settings built in which means more forgiveness and straighter shots.
What is the average swing speed of a senior golfer?
According to a study done by My TPI, the average speed for 50-60 year old golfers is between 72-86 mph. For golfers above 60 years old, it’s between 71-79mph.
Remember, speed is bound to slow down as you get older but with the right technology, it doesn’t have to affect your distance. Keep upgrading your clubs and each shaft to notice less of an effect on the course.
What is the best driver for slow swing speed?
If you have a lower swing speed it’s not specifically the driver that matters as much as the shaft and loft. With a lower swing speed, you want a driver that has plenty of shaft flex. The stiffer the flex, the more speed is required. This is why most club manufacturers make a senior (or A flex or lite flex) to help with decreased swing speed.
Plus, you want to consider the amount of loft of the club. The lower the swing speed, the harder it is to get the ball airborne. This is why you want to invest in a driver with more loft (11-12 degrees), so you can get it flying high without trying to get more clubhead speed.
What type of grip should seniors use?
This is another great question as your grip plays a huge role in making consistent contact with your driver. For seniors, you want to make sure that you have a golf grip that is comfortable and soft.
Usually, I would suggest staying away from full cord grips as they’re much firmer and harder to grip. Instead, I would recommend using rubber grips (like Winn grips) as they’re a lot easier to grip throughout the round.
Plus, don’t forget about the size of the grip as well. If you suffer from arthritis or don’t have the grip strength you once did, opt for a larger grip. If you’re playing standard grips, try out midsize and see how that impacts your grip pressure.
Ultimately, you want a driver grip that allows you to comfortably grip the club without adding tension in your forearms.
Final Thoughts on Best Golf Drivers
So what is the best driver for seniors?
As you can tell, there are so many great options for senior golfers making the game more enjoyable than ever. Remember, as you get older your speed will decrease (sorry guys) but that doesn’t mean you have to lose distance.
Instead of playing your old, outdated driver that’s too heavy, too stiff of flex, and not enough loft, make the switch. Play a driver that fits your new swing speed (plus ball speed) and I promise, you won’t regret the decision.
When choosing your new driver, make sure it has at least 11 degrees of loft and a light flex shaft. This alone will help you hit it longer and straighter without making adjustments to your swing. Then, pick the brand you like (as each clubhead has a different style) and start swinging.
Finally, don’t forget to make sure that your grip is comfortable for your hands. A lot of stock options are cord style which aren’t suited for senior players so plan accordingly. A lot of golfer will want to opt for a rubber and/or larger grip to make it easier on your hands.
