Best Draw Drivers 2022

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What are the best draw drivers to help keep your slice in check? Our in-depth test reveals all.

JUMP TO: Draw Drivers | Test Data | How we tested | What we learned

To view the latest moels, check out our pick of the best draw drivers 2023 or the best golf drivers.

Draw-biased drivers are designed to stop the unwanted slice that plagues the majority of amateur golfers. Different draw drivers do that in different ways, but in general they’re all trying to help you square the clubface to stop the glancing impact that causes the dreaded curved ball flight.

Realists and slower swing speed players who appreciate a bit of help keeping their slice in check will find their best options in our draw driver category.

RELATED: Full 2023 Drivers Test

This year the excitement surrounding one new driver, the TaylorMade Stealth, has been the noisiest we’ve ever heard, helped significantly by Tiger Woods declaring it the best driver he’s ever used. To say golfers are going nuts for the Stealth’s new carbon fibre face is a massive understatement.

Our draw drivers test puts the Stealth HD model up against the very best competition, with 12 models going head-to-head. Our goal is not just to show how the Stealth compares to its peers, and confirm whether it does what the adverts promise, but also show how all the leading draw drivers out there perform, so you can make a better buying decision.

The best draw drivers will help you combat the dreaded slice.

Should I use a draw driver?

Around 80% of golfers are battling an unwanted left-to-right (in right-handers) shot shape with their driver… the dreaded slice.

If your swing speed is anywhere near average, and you find the right rough more often than not, a draw-biased driver will do a brilliant job of helping keep you in the fairway more often.

If you struggle with losing the ball to the right and your swing speed is on the low side, an extra light, draw-biased driver will not only keep your drives straighter, but add a little distance, too.

And you’re in the market for any other new equipment this year, make sure you read our guides to the best fairway woodsironswedges, and putters and use our recommendations to narrow your shortlist. If you can, always get fitted for your clubs, as that’s the only way to optimise new models for your game.

But without further a do, let’s delve into into the best draw drivers. Click any driver name to read our full review.

EXPLAINED: How we test golf equipment

Best Draw Golf Drivers Test

The TaylorMade Stealth HD is one of the best draw drivers.

TaylorMade Stealth HD

RRP £469 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 9° / 10.5° / 12° | Stock shaft Fujikura Air Speeder 45

What TaylorMade say

Welcome to the era of the Carbonwood. The Stealth has a 60 layer carbon fibre face to remove inefficient mass from the front of the driver. TaylorMade say the idea gives better energy transfer at impact and additional ball speed.

HD stands for High Draw, which means the model is specifically tailored to eliminate the distance-zapping slice spin that afflicts tons of club golfer drives.

TaylorMade say some draw drivers have weight lumped in the heel, which inadvertently lowers MOI forgiveness (as the CG is closer to the face), a trap the Stealth HD doesn’t fall into.

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

Avid equipment fans will know full well that new driver technologies that offer truly improved performance don’t come along that often. Instead, what tends to happen is annual updates and refinements that lead to incremental gains each year. So, if you update your driver every five years it’s highly likely you’ll see an improvement in ball speed and/or forgiveness performance.

The last recognised serious driver breakthrough was back in 2017, when Callaway connected the sole and crown (Jailbreak) of the Great Big Bertha Epic. Lots of golfers didn’t realise at the time, but Jailbreak was a technology that made the rich, richer. So if you already had club speed in abundance, by forcing the head to take on more load (which you needed plenty of speed to do) you got more out of Jailbreak. It meant more moderate speed players typically didn’t gain nearly as much as their faster swing speed neighbours.

What our test results shows is that Stealth’s carbon fibre face doesn’t just improve energy transfer at higher swing speeds. There’s additional ball speed performance to be had here for more moderate speed players too. And that’s really exciting.

Compared to this year’s other draw drivers the Stealth HD was the fastest for ball speed by 0.6 mph (over the Cobra King LTDx Max, and 2.2mph faster than our average). It was also Equipment Editor Simon’s longest carrying driver by four yards. But what’s more impressive is how those numbers compare against Simon’s current driver (the Ping G400 SFT). .

Through testing both we can see there’s a 1.6mph ball speed gain and, thanks to the difference in spin, that could add up to a huge 21 yard carry distance gain, which of course is hugely significant.

RELATED: We gained 65 yards with Stealth!

The Cobra LTDx Max is one of the best draw drivers.

Cobra King LTDx Max

RRP £399 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 9° / 10.5° / 12° | Stock shafts Project X HZRDUS RDX Blue 60, Project X HZRDUS Smoke iM10 60, UST Helium NanocoreCobra King LTDx Max Deals

£299.00

£299.97

What Cobra say

Thanks to back and heel side weight ports, the Max can be either a very stable and forgiving driver or a very good draw-enhancing model. Cobra say that by switching the weight into the heel, golfers can expect 11 yards’ worth of draw bias, plus a further seven yards (so 18 yards in total) from the adjustable hosel’s draw settings.

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

Many moons ago Cobra used to be the go-to brand for more average swing speed players. Our results highlight they could be heading back in that direction. The Max is a really friendly driver and we love it’s ability to be both a super forgiving model and a draw biased option, it means it is a very versatile choice.

If you think the Max could be the right choice for you make sure you choose your shaft carefully in a regular flex, as there’s a huge amount of difference in performance between the HZRDUS Smoke and UST Helium.

While we have the model in the Draw category it can also be a super forgiving option, so we tested in that set-up with our test pro. If you happen to be an average or above speed player our test pro’s numbers suggest (with the same stiff flex HZRDUS Smoke shaft and weight in the back port not the draw position) the Max gives up 3.3mph of ball speed compared to the standard King LTDx, and that equates to 11 yards of carry distance. That’s a lot and highlights brilliantly the price paid for playing a more forgiving back weighted driver.

The Max is a lovely forgiving or draw option, there’s no longer a shot tracker in the grip, but it still represents excellent value of money in our book.

RELATED: The Old Course – Hole-by-hole guide

The Wilson Launch Pad is one of the best draw and anti-slice drivers of 2022.

Wilson Launch Pad

RRP £305 | AVAILABLE MARCH 14
Lofts 9° / 10.5° / 13° | Stock shaft Project X Evenflow

What Wilson say 

Wilson’s second-generation Launch Pad driver goes all out to fix a slice, while also boosting ball speeds and maximising carry. A 5.2% larger face is optimised for toe strikers, and the manufacturer say 68% of all driver shots hit by average handicap players are struck from this side of the clubface.

Increased face bulge disguises the closed face angle, an upright lie angle starts shots further left and weight moves progressively more towards the heel and back, depending on which loft you choose.

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

To some the Launch Pad will have the appearance of an offset driver from the 1990s, but that’s fine by us if the tech works and keeps drives on the mown grass more often. Expect a big, forgiving, friendly, pan- shaped head. It’s certainly not a traditional beauty, but it’s the shaping that creates the model’s forgiving traits.

We reckon a lot moderate swing speed players who have a tendency to swipe curving shots down the right side of the golf course will benefit from Wilson’s toolbox of anti-right technologies. For us the Launch Pad was really easy to flight, it sounds decent and feels stable enough on off centre hits at reasonable speed.

It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea (draw drivers rarely are), but for those golfers who are willing to put their hands up and say “just give me a driver that helps me hit it straight” then this has a lot to offer.

If you’re after the most draw biased driver of the year on a budget, the Launch Pad is your model.

RELATED: What does The Open champion win?

The Cleveland Launcher XL Lite is one of the best draw drivers.

Cleveland Launcher XL Lite

RRP £309 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 10.5° / 10.5° Draw / 12° | Stock shaft Project X Cypher 40Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Deals

£247.97

£248.95

What Cleveland say

The new Launcher XL driver family targets the needs of everyday club golfers. The XL’s head size is 6.7% bigger from front to back, and Cleveland say that change alone ups MOI by 11% above the previous Launcher HB Turbo.

The Lite model is 12g lighter than the standard Launcher XL (there’s no adjustable hosel), which means the shaft can be 0.25” longer (at 46”) to boost club speed.

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Cleveland among our favourite drivers, particularly as the brand likes to work on a two-year product life cycle nowadays.

Although, in theory, equipment aimed at club golfers should be tested by club golfers, we’ve seen before how using amateurs leads to analysing how a golfer performs with each product, and not offer accurate insight into how each product performs.

If you examine our test results and discover the Launcher XL Lite is not amongst our fastest or longest models that’s because we feel there’s a degree of the club not quite fitting the tester involved within our result. That doesn’t mean the XL won’t not be an excellent driver choice for many players.

Simon loved how the head sits at address. There’s no sign of a closed face angle and it’s a driver he enjoyed hitting and felt he hit particularly well.

We reckon golfers who’ve got a repeatable and rhythmical golf swing that’s under 90mph and gives a reasonably consistent impact location will find the XL Lite to be a top-drawer performer for very sensible money.

You will of course need to like the feel of slightly lighter golf clubs generally, which means this model isn’t going to suit everyone. If you don’t like the lighter feel, Cleveland also have the similarly shaped but heavier Launcher XL. And if you like the idea but often slice your drives, there’s a Launcher XL Lite Draw, too.

The Mizuno ST-X 220 is one of the best draw drivers.

Mizuno ST-X 220

RRP £399 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 10.5° / 12° | Stock shaft Choose from 14 premium options

What Mizuno say

The ST-X produces slightly higher spin rates than its lower spin, more distance focused ST-Z sibling.

At lower, more moderate speeds that extra spin helps keep shots in the air for longer to maximise carry distance. A 20g heel biased back weight creates a deeper centre of gravity to improve forgiveness and shot-to-shot consistency.

Mizuno say this is an ideal fit for players looking for a higher, right-to-left ball flight, as low-spin drivers can be a serious distance killer at more moderate swing speeds. A carbon crown and two sole panels free up weight to maximise impact efficiency.  

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

The new ST-X looks absolutely nothing like most golfers’ perceptions of a draw driver at address. The big wide head has a lovely square face and it looks really friendly sat behind the ball, just begging to be hit. We reckon the model is so well disguised as a draw model (there’s no mention of the model being draw biased on the head) lots of club golfers would never know they’ve got a draw bias driver in their hands. That’s a sign of the progress we’ve seen in draw drivers over the last few years.

Simon really enjoyed hitting the model. He liked the sound, feel and the confidence the head shape gave and, despite the data not highlighting the model as one of his top performing models, plans to try it on the course with a view to using it in his own bag in 2023.

Don’t make the mistake of writing this model off as just a performer for slower swing speeds. Yes, at slightly above average speeds you will give up a little ball speed – we had our test pro hit the ST-X alongside the slightly lower-spinning ST-Z, and he gave up just 0.1mph and four yards of carry distance, which is nothing. But the more natural right-to-left shot shape tendency is just what lots of club golfers ultimately desire.

Mizuno drivers have come a very long way in just a few years.

The Ping G425 SFT is one of the best draw drivers.

Ping G425 SFT

RRP £450 | VIEW OFFER
Loft 10.5° | Stock shaft Ping Alta CB

What Ping say

The ultimate slice buster; 23g of draw weighting means you can dial in 10 yards more left bias than the previous G410 SFT, and 25 yards more than the G425 Max.

The SFT’s counter-balanced stock Alta CB shaft is great for many average speed players, but if you really need help rinsing extra zip from a slower swing speed, Ping’s soft, regular 40g Alta Distanza turns the SFT into a very strong, lightweight, draw-biased driver. 

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

The last two generations of SFT have seen the model morph from a cracking ‘keep-a-slice-in-check’ driver into a flat-out slice-busting machine. And Ping are happy to heap extra focus on helping golfers at this end of the scale as they know there are very good levels of draw bias available for less severe slicers from their G425 Max (with the sole weight in the draw position).

That means not all players who’ve been fitted into an SFT before will need the same model now, illustrating brilliantly how the SFT is the most draw-capable driver we’ve hit over the last two years.

If you want to keep a severe slice in check this year, you cannot afford to ignore this model. We don’t say that lightly of course, as very few draw drivers we hit actually give a full-on raking draw. The G425 SFT really is an exception to that rule.

TG’s Equipment Editor didn’t quite hit it as well as in 2021, but the SFT still sounds louder than its rivals, and there’s no mistaking the driver’s calling card of naturally being able to turn shots over and produce that big, high, looping draw.

If your game would benefit from staying out of the right rough more often, the G425 SFT really can help you out.

Best Draw Golf Drivers: Also consider…

The PXG 0811 XF Gen 4 is one of the best draw drivers.

PXG 0811 XF Gen 4

RRP £285 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 9° / 10.5° / 12° | Stock shaft Choose from five premium options

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

PXG’s previous XF (Xtreme Forgiveness) driver was the highest MOI driver available when it launched back in 2019, but chasing such extremes of forgiveness meant using a really big footprint (that’s what’s needed to hit the heights of forgiveness) which naturally slows the head through the air.

This latest Gen4 model isn’t quite as big as its predecessor, so speed is improved whilst maintaining a high MOI. We love how the XF sits at address, there’s a really attractive head shape and at this end of the market it’s also really useful to have three sole weight ports. It means golfers can dial in slightly less spin, a higher more forgiving ball flight or ultimate draw bias all from a single forgiving model.

The XF was well placed for ball speed and carry distance within our test, without being our fastest or longest, and offers a hell of a lot of driver for under £300.

PXG are still keen to fit golfers (which we’d always advise) but you can also buy direct from their website and get the ability to choose the drivers shaft length (anywhere between 44” – 46”) which will be a real bonus for some.

A lot of club golfers will find themselves choosing between this model and the more affordable 0211 (£205), with the pair very evenly matched at average speeds. The benefit of opting for the Gen4 XF is the ability to dial in the ball flight or draw bias you want, which you can’t do with the single sole weight on the 0211.

The Callaway Rogue ST MaxD is one of the best draw drivers.

Callaway Rogue ST Max D

RRP £479 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 9º / 10.5º / 12º Stock shafts Mitsubishi Chemical AV Blue, Project X CypherCallaway Rogue ST Max D Deals

£399.00

£399.00

£399.00

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

With Callaway’s Rogue ST Max driver having a smidgeon of draw bias built in this year we reckon a ton of golfers will choose that model over this. Just remember if you’re anywhere close to having a severe slice you should definitely look at the Max D instead.

Callaway are really good at setting up their driver heads differently to cater for varying target golfers. It’s an idea they say they’ve taken to the max to ensure very personalised performance this year. The Max D is noticeably wider than the Rogue ST Max frp, front to back, which should boost confidence, and is one of the best looking drivers in the category.

The Max D’s performance was solidly out in front of Equipment Editor Simon’s current driver (by 0.4mph ball speed and 3 yards of carry distance). On any other year those numbers would represent a reasonable switch, but it isn’t though quite enough to match the Stealth HD this year.

The Honma T//World GS is one of the best draw drivers.

Honma T//World GS

RRP £499 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 9.5° / 10.5° / 11.5° | Stock shaft Honma Speed Tuned

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

Honma have been at the forefront of the lightweight draw bias driver movement for a while now, and we rated the GS among our favourites last year. The model hasn’t changed for 2022, which means it’s just as good an option now as it was back then.

We’re not sure how they do it but the Honma engineers have an uncanny knack for creating a cracking head set up for slower speeds, and they’re brilliant at getting lightweight shafts to load and release more power at impact.

If you’re a fan of traditional pear-shaped heads you’re guaranteed to warm to the GS. The Speed Tuned shaft is very lively, so you’ll need the ability to ‘time’ shots to get the best from it. If you can, we reckon it’s a really friendly driver for reasonably consistent players who like the feel of a lightweight draw set up.

This year we can’t say the GS was our longest or fastest but we certainly haven’t fallen out of love with it just yet.

The MacGregor V-Foil Speed is one of the best draw drivers.

MacGregor V-Foil Speed

RRP £149.99 | VIEW OFFER
Lofts 10.5° / 12° | Stock shaft MacGregor Dynamic Launch Technology

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

Many golfers won’t have come across MacGregor for a few years and this is the brand’s first appearance in a TG test for some time following some significant changes and a rebirth.

The V-Foil Speed isn’t actually a draw driver, but because our sample wasn’t available in our test pro’s spec (we could only get a regular flex shaft) it only seemed fair to include this forgiving model within the draw category.

For £149.99 the model is a decent entry-level driver, but be under no illusion that the model benefits from the same hi-tech cast titanium and carbon fibre construction of some of our other models.

This is a full-on forged and welded driver so there will be weight tied up in inefficient places, which of course affects overall forgiveness. It wasn’t our fastest, longest or favourite driver, but yit sits nicely and address, produces a solid sound and is a a great price, especially if you’re just getting into golf or only play occasionally.

The XXIO 12 is one of the best draw drivers.

XXIO 12

RRP £699
Lofts 9.5° / 10.5° / 11.5° | Stock shaft XXIO 12 MP-1200

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

XXIO set themselves up as the ‘moderate swing speed’ brand, as nobody owns that space yet. The company are determined to bring better performance to ‘moderate speed players’ and they do that through using higher spec materials, which explains the super-premium prices.

The 12 is brand new for 2022 and there’s a new ActivWing on the crown which XXIO say improves stability to tighten a golfer’s impact position by 17%.

We can’t say the tech made much difference for us, but we can say the model was our Equipment Editor’s fourth longest draw driver in our test.

We like how the 12 sits at address, and the whippy and loose shaft is ideal forthe intended audience as it has the potential to launch shots higher, faster and farther.

At a quid under £700, it’s a huge ask here in the UK, but there’s a much bigger market in Europe.

The XXIO X is one of the best draw drivers.

XXIO X

RRP £699
Lofts 9.5° / 10.5° | Stock shaft Miyazaki AX-11

Today’s Golfer draw drivers test verdict

Where the XXIO 12 is aimed at ‘swing easy’ golfers, the new X has slightly stouter shafts and lower spinning heads to cater for more accomplished golfers who like the idea of using lightweight clubs to boost their club speed.

Like the 12, the X has a stability improving ActivWing on the crown and a lower profile head to help aid easy launch at moderate speed. A four layer Rebound frame also has alternating stiff and flexible zones to enhance overall efficiency.

Obviously XXIO’s £699 price tag will be a sticking point for many average speed players, particularly when there’s so much competition out there that will set you back significantly less.

For those well-heeled enough to be drawn to the model you’ll find them really easy to launch high to maximise carry distance, especially at below average speeds, which certainly isn’t always the case with all draw drivers we hit.

If you buy into XXIO you’ll do so because you like the ‘moderate speed’ message. Be sure to visit an XXIO fitting centre (you’ll find them at Srixon’s Centre of Excellence) to get a set that suits you perfectly – at this price do not buy off the rack.

Data: Best Draw Golf Drivers 2022

The launch monitor data from our best draw drivers test.

How we tested the best golf draw drivers

– We created an indoor test lab at Keele Golf Centre to ensure a controlled environment

– The leading brands supplied their drivers in our Test Pro Neil Wain’s spec. Draw models and those aimed at more moderate speeds were sent in Equipment Editor Simon Daddow’s spec.

– We used premium TaylorMade TP5x golf balls and a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor to create the most reliable data possible.

– We rejected major misses but recorded how shots launched, span, peaked and dropped out of the air, before crunching the numbers to come up with our conclusions.

RELATED: Best Golf Launch Monitors

TG's test pro Neil Wain hits drivers for our 2022 test.

What we learned from our Best Draw Drivers Test

Matt black is in! 

Ping have insisted matt black paint is the right finish for their drivers for a few years, but now it seems other brands agree. TaylorMade’s Stealth, Callaway’s Rogue ST and Cobra’s LTDx models all have matt black crowns this year. It’s a look we like, and they’re much more subtle than the chalk white, nardo grey and shiny gloss black of recent years.  

Draw bias is mass market

Lots of golfers find it tough accepting they need a draw driver, especially if their slice isn’t too severe. So we really like how Callaway built a touch of draw bias into their standard Rogue ST Max. It’s a feature few will even know is there, but the design will really help tons of golfers hit the shot shape they’ve always wanted. 

There’s no embarrassment in opting for a draw driver. Draw drivers have been alive and kicking since Ping’s G30 SFT in 2014 and now every major brand now has three (or more) drivers in their line-up.

Draw drivers are now an integral part of the driver menu and with companies saying most golfers generally fit into a low-spin, forgiving or draw category, there’s no stigma attached to using draw-biased models anymore. If the truth be known, they’re exactly the drivers the majority of club golfers should be using.

Stealth IS fast

It’s had a lot of hype, but you can’t escape TaylorMade’s Stealth being consistently at the top of our ball speed charts. A significantly lighter face means there’s more weight at the back of the head, and much like a crash when there’s a big weight in a car boot, there’s bigger impact forces at play during a collision. It tells us TaylorMade are onto something with carbon faces. 

Are titanium’s days numbered in golf drivers?

Possibly. But expect them to have legs for a little while yet. Think about Ping, who traditionally are slower than most to move into trendy tech. Until now they’ve resisted using carbon in their drivers (they’re still full titanium heads), a decision which has taken away virtually nothing in terms of performance against the stiffest of competition. Who knows what’s around the corner, but it would be a huge step for other driver brands to start making carbon drivers exclusively any time soon.

Watch the weight of your driver shaft

Switching our Test Pro between 50, 60 and 70g shafts illustrated brilliantly how different weights affect performance. For our pro at least (results will be different for you), the 50g models were faster, but more inconsistent; the 70g options were slower, but more stable; and the perfect blend of speed and stability came from the 60g shafts. With so many shaft options available, it’s crucial to get the right weight and profile to suit your game. Get it wrong and you’ll give up speed and consistency. 

Our final drivers test verdict

Never buy a driver based on our data alone; a proper fitting session on a launch monitor, with a qualified fitter, will always help you better understand which models work well for you, and why. Our consistent-striking pro’s data does highlight an excellent array of top-performing models, though, and also shows what’s at stake by choosing more ‘value’-led options. Only you can decide if they’re a sound investment for your game and ability.

Finally, if you really want to optimise driver distance and playability on the course, don’t just chase high launch and low spin. Brands are now talking about tour pros moving away from low-spin drivers, in favour of a more rounded approach to power and playability, and we’re very much in favour of the movement. 

READ NEXT: Tested: Best Irons

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