The Best 2025 Driver and shaft combinations is based upon our fitting results so far in 2025. The Best of the Best are Highlighted in Red!
The usual suspects were on the 2025 Golf Digest Equipment Hot List , but a the biggest news is the Maximum MOI – 10K drivers from almost every manufacturer and DS-Adapt Fitting Tips from Cobra. Various forums, and ourselves as well publish a list of the best drivers. Some are very independent and some are not. Doesn’t matter. What our customers are looking for is what are the best driver and shaft combinations that we have fit so far in 2025. In addition, we believe that the shaft is the part of the club that has the most impact on distance, consistency and accuracy, so that is why we are including our shaft recommendations in this list.
This list will be updated throughout the year as new shaft offerings are released.
We have four distinct categories based upon swing speed and distance.
Swing Speed 106+, Distance > 250 yards
Swing Speed 95-105, Distance 211 – 250 yards
Swing Speed 80 – 94, Distance 175 – 210 yards
Swing Speed Under 80, Distance < 175 yards
We think there are more shafts and heads in the mix for slower swing speeds. We have also thrown in our Honorable Mentions in both heads and shafts. So here goes:
Swing Speed 106+, Distance > 250 yards
Fitting Tips: Typically 65 to 75 gram shafts but smoother tempos can play lighter weights. We are seeing a lot of longer hitters trying new sub 50 gram shafts from TPT, FreeFlex, Autoflex, Graphite Design, Fujikura and more! Firm mid section and low launch, low spin is the norm for more control. Driver lofts 8 to 10.5 degrees depending upon angle of attack. The new Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond is adjustable down to 7 degrees!
Best Heads: Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond, especially the new Triple Diamond Max and Draw, TaylorMade Qi 35 LS and Max, Ping G440 LST, Titleist GT 3 and GT 4, Cobra Dark Speed X and LS, and Srixon ZXi and ZXi LS
Best Shafts – Low Launch: NEW Aretera EC1 Gray or AO2 Gray 65 or 75, NEW Diamana WB 53, 63 and 73, Mitsubishi TENSEI Pro White 1K and Orange 1K 50, 60, 70, Mitsubishi Kai’Li Dark Waves White 60 and 70, ACCRA TZ Five Gen 2 60, OBAN Tour LTD Blue, Devotion 6 and 7, Project X Denali Black 60 or 70, , Fujikura Ventus with Velocore+ Black 6 and 7, Ventus TR Black 6 and 7, TPT Red Range 14 and 15 LO. NEW Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 and 7.
Best Shafts – Mid Launch: NEW Aretera EC1 or AO2 Blue 55, 65 or 75, Mitsubishi Diamana BB 53, 63, 73 , ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 60 and TZ Six Gen 2 ST 60, Project X Denali Blue 60 or 70, Graphite Design Tour AD HD and XC 6 and 7, KBS PGW Graphite 60 and 70, Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 and 7 with Velocore+, Blue TR 6 and 7, OBAN Airburst and Isawa Red, TPT Red Range 19 and 20 HI, AUTOFLEX SF505XX, BRAVA 95
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge C723
Swing Speed 95-105, Distance 211 – 250 yards
Fitting Tips: Typical shaft weights in 55 to 65 grams but some players with fast transitions may like a heavier 70+ gram shaft. If you think you are losing distance, try a lighter, 55 gram shaft or a counter balanced shaft. Typically 9 to 10.5 degree lofted drivers with face bias dependent upon swing characteristics and what appeals to the golfer.
Best Heads: Callaway Elyte and Elyte Triple Diamond Max and Draw, TaylorMade Qi 35 LS and Max, Ping G440 LST and G440 Max, Titleist GT 3 and GT 2, Cobra Dark Speed X and LS, Tour Edge Exotics Max and LS, and Srixon ZXi and LS.
Best Shafts – Low-Mid Launch: NEW Aretera EC1 or AO2 Gray 55, 65 or 75, Mitsubishi Diamana BB 53, 63, 73 , Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K PRO White, Mitsubishi Kai’Li Dark Waves White, ACCRATZ Five Gen 2 60, Graphite Design Tour AD HD and XC 6 or 7, OBAN Kiyoshi White and Devotion 6, 7, Project X Denali Black 60 or 70, Fujikura Ventus Blue with Velocore+ 6 and 7, Blue TR 6 and 7, TPT Red Range 16 and 17 LO
Best Shafts – Mid Launch: NEW Aretera EC1 or AO2 Blue 55 or 65, Mitsubishi Diamana BB 53, 63, 73 and Vanquish 5, ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 60, OBAN Revenge, Isawa Red, Project X Denali Blue 60 or 70, Fujikura Ventus Blue with Velocore+ 5 and 6, Graphite Design Tour AD DI and XC, KBS TD Graphite 60 and 70, TPT Red Range 16 and 17 HI, AUTOFLEX SF505XX, BRAVA 95 or 85
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge E723
Swing Speed 80 – 94, Distance 175 – 210 yards
Fitting Tips: Lighter shafts (55 to 65 grams) but launch and spin depend on swing characteristics and attack angle. Slightly higher lofted drivers but not necessarily draw biased as there are a lot of better golfers with low handicaps in this category.
Best Heads: Callaway Elyte, Elyte X and Max Fast , TaylorMadeQi 35, 35 Max and Lite , Ping G430 Max 10K, G440 Max and SFT, Titleist GT2, GT 3 and GT 1, Cobra Dark Speed X and Max D and Max K, Srixon Zxi and ZXi Max , Tour Edge Exotics Max and LS,
Best Shafts – Low to Mid Launch: NEW Aretera EC1 or AO2 45, 55 or 65, Mitsubishi Diamana BB 53, 63 , Fujikura Ventus Blue with Velocore+ 5 and 6, Mitsubishi Vanquish 4 or 5 , ACCRA TZ Five Gen 2 50 and 60, FX 3.0 250 and 260 , Graphite Design Tour AD DI and XC, OBAN Kiyoshi Purple 55, Project X Denali Blue or Red 50 or 60, Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 and 6, Blue TR 6, TPT Power or Nitro 18 LO
Best Shafts – Mid to Mid-High Launch: NEW Aretera EC1 or AO2 45, 55 or 65, Mitsubishi Diamana BB 53, 63 , Vanquish 4 or 5, Project X Denali Red 50 or 60, ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 50 and 60, ACCRA FX 3.0 150 and 160, Fujikura Ventus Red 5, KBS TD Graphite 50 and 60, Graphite Design UB and GC, Tour AD DI and , Veylix Alpina Black 573 and 673, TPT Power or Nitro 18 HI, AUTOFLEX SF505XX, BRAVA 85 or 75, FreeFlex 38 or 45
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge E723
Swing Speed Under 80, Distance < 175 yards
Fitting Tips: Typically lighter weight shafts, 39 to 50 grams with higher launch and spin. Head lofts at least 11 degrees and up to 17 for juniors. Try a shorter length shaft as well. For junior golfers, do NOT go to heavy standard heads too early as the swing may be harmed!
Best Heads: Callaway Elyte X or Max Fast, XXIO 13 and Prime, TaylorMade Qi 35 Max or Max Lite , Ping G430 Max 10K, G440 Max or SFT and G Le3, Titleist GT 1, Cobra Dark Speed Max D or Max K, Srixon ZXi and ZXi Max, US Kids TS5.
Best Shafts – Mid to Mid-High Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 40, Vanquish 4, Grand Bassara , True Temper Cypher 2.0 40 or 50, ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 50, FX 3.0 140 , Graphite Design Tour AD IZ and aG33-3, KBS TD Graphite 40 and 50, Project X Denali Red 40, 50 or 60, TPT Nitro 19 and 20 HI, AutoFlex 405 or 505X, FreeFlex 38 or 45
Best Shafts – Mid-High to High Launch: Mitsubishi Grand Bassara 39, ACCRA FX SRT 2.0, True Temper Cypher 2.0 40 or 50, Graphite Design aG33-3, Fujikura Air Speeder or Ventus White, TPT Red Range 20 and 21 HI, BRAVA 75
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge E723,
Once again, we feel that the shaft is of critical importance to getting optimum performance out of any club, but especially the driver. Proper length (shorter is better) weight and flex can give you more distance, accuracy and consistency!
How to Select YOUR New Clubs
Aesthetics – Look, Sound and Feel
In our experience in clubfitting over the years, you have to select a club head that looks good to your eye, sounds good when you hit it in the fitting and has the feel you desire. It is pretty strange but sometimes a golfer will not be able to make solid contact with a club that supposedly matches them perfectly from a fitting perspective but the aesthetics are not right. Be sure you take a look at 3 to 5 heads to make sure that at least 3 will give you good results. It could be as simple as top line on an iron, color of a driver, finish (glossy paint or matte finish). All of these can make a difference.
Performance – Distance, Accuracy and Consistency
Now we start getting into the meat of a fitting for new clubs. The majority of the golfers we fit are looking for consistency, but whatever you do, make sure you add a little distance as well! That is not difficult in a new fitting, however, sometimes getting added distance for a customer that has been fit within the last year or so. Our goal in a fitting is to cut shot dispersion by 50% and add 5-10% more distance. The factors we look at are club length, shaft weight, shaft flex, trajectory, spin, swing weight and loft and lie. Our BGF and Fit Quiz systems make predictions based upon your swing characteristics for each of those parameters. We then test our golfers in a fitting with clubs that are assembled to those specifications. The results of the fitting do not lie…only when the aesthetics do not match do we have to change up the testing configuration.
So pick your initial choices based on aesthetics, but the final decision based on the improved performance you get!
Dan Sueltz
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