The Best 2023 Driver and shaft combinations is based upon our fitting results in 2023. The Best of the Best are Highlighted in Red! We will be creating a new list for 2024 starting in March, 2024.
The usual suspects were on the 2023 Golf Digest Equipment Hot List , but a couple of entrants in the Gold were pretty notable…Mizuno and Srixon. 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 2023, even though it is early in the season. 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 50 gram shafts! 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 Paradym Triple Diamond 8 degree is adjustable down to 7 degrees!
Best Heads: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, TaylorMadeSTEALTH 2 Plus, Ping G430 LST, Titleist TSR4 and TSR3, Cobra Aerojet LS, Mizuno ST-Z 230, Srixon ZX5 MKII LS
Best Shafts – Low Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 and 70, Mitsubishi TENSEI Pro White 1K and Orange 1K, Mitsubishi Kai’Li White 60 and 70, ACCRA TZ Five Gen 2 60, OBAN Tour LTD Blue, Devotion 6 and 7, Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Green and Smoke Blue RDX 60 and 70, Fujikura Ventus Black 6 and 7, Ventus TR Black 6 and 7, TPT Red Range 14 and 15 LO
Best Shafts – Mid Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 50, 60 and 70, ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 60 and TZ Six Gen 2 ST 60, Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black, Graphite Design Tour AD CQ, HD and XC, KBS TD Graphite 60 and 70, Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 and 7, Blue TR 6 and 7, OBAN Isawa Red, TPT Red Range 19 and 20 HI, AUTOFLEX SF505XX, BRAVA 95
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge C723
Look At What The Top 10 Drivers Are on the PGA Tour!
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 Paradym and Paradym Triple Diamond, TaylorMade STEALTH 2 and STEALTH Plus 2, Ping G430 LST and Max, Titleist TSR2 and TSR3, Cobra Aerojet and Aerojet LS, Mizuno ST-G and ST-Z 230, Srixon ZX 5 MKII and ZX7 MKII.
Best Shafts – Low-Mid Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 60 and 70, Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K PRO White ACCRATZ Five Gen 2 60, OBAN Kiyoshi White and Devotion 6, 7, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 60 and Smoke Blue RDX 60, Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 and 7, Blue TR 6 and 7, TPT Red Range 16 and 17 LO
Best Shafts – Mid Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana TB and Vanquish 5, ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 60, OBAN Revenge, Isawa Red, Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red, Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 and 6, Graphite Design Tour AD DI, TP , VR 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 Paradym X , TaylorMade STEALTH 2 and STEALTH 2 HD, Ping G430 Max and SFT, Titleist TSR2 and TSR1, Cobra Aerojet and Aerojet Max, Srixon ZX5, Tour Edge E723, Mizuno ST-X 230,
Best Shafts – Low to Mid Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 50 and 60, Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 and 6, Mitsubishi Vanquish 4 or 5 , ACCRA TZ Five Gen 2 50 and 60, FX 3.0 250 and 260 , OBAN Kiyoshi Purple 55, Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red, Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 and 6, Blue TR 6, TPT Red Range 18 LO
Best Shafts – Mid to Mid-High Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 50 and 60, C6 Red and Blue, Vanquish 4 or 5, 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 Tour AD HD, GP and VR 5 and 6, Veylix Alpina Black 573 and 673, TPT Red Range 18 HI, AUTOFLEX SF505XX, BRAVA 85 or 75
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge E723, Mizuno ST-X 230 , Srixon ZX7 MK II
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 Paradym X, XXIO 12 and X, TaylorMade STEALTH 2 and STEALTH 2 HD, Ping G430 Max, SFT and G Le2, PXG 0811XF Proto , Titleist TSi1, Cobra Aerojet Max, Mizuno ST-X 230, US Kids TS3 Launch
Best Shafts – Mid to Mid-High Launch: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 40, Vanquish 4, Grand Bassara , ACCRA TZ Six Gen 2 50, FX 3.0 140 , Graphite Design Tour AD HD4 and VR 4 and 5, KBS TD Graphite 40 and 50, TPT Red Range 18 and 19 HI
Best Shafts – Mid-High to High Launch: Mitsubishi Grand Bassara 39, ACCRA FX SRT 2.0, Graphite Design Tour AD UB 4 and 5, Fujikura Air Speeder, TPT Red Range 20 and 21 HI, BRAVA 75
Honorable Mention Heads: Tour Edge E723, Mizuno ST-X 230, Srixon ZX5
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 club fitting 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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