Drivers guide · 2027

Best driver for beginners

Updated November 9, 20262027 news checked November 9, 2026

Beginners need forgiveness and a fair price more than adjustability. These picks come from 2026 testing.

Coming soon

2027: coming soon

Nov 2, 2026

Ping G450 drivers and Ping's first mini driverConfirmed

The G450 MAX, G450 LST, G450 SFT and the new G450 MiniMax mini driver were added to the USGA conforming list. Ping has not announced pricing or a retail date. Reporting points to a January 2027 release at about $650 for the full-size drivers. The MAX and LST add a new FastFlex sole slot, and the MiniMax is offered as low as 7.5° loft.

Fall 2026

PXG Raptor drivers on the conforming listConfirmed

New PXG Raptor drivers, including a Raptor X10K+ model, have been added to the USGA conforming list, and a Raptor driver has been spotted on tour. PXG has not announced pricing or release timing.

We check for 2027 news daily. Last checked November 9, 2026. See every 2027 announcement.

Top picks of 2026

Placeholder list: These are the top picks of 2026, not 2027. 2027 models aren't in stores or independently tested yet. We'll replace this list as 2027 clubs are released and reviewed.

#	Club	Best for	Price
1	Cleveland HiBore XL	Best for beginners	$399.99
2	Tour Edge Exotics Max	Best value	$399.99
3	PING G440 SFT	Best for a slice	$449 (discounted)

#1 · Best for beginners

Cleveland HiBore XL

$399.99 list price

Independent Golf Reviews' beginner pick.

Source: Independent Golf Reviews, The Best Golf Drivers of 2026 (updated Oct 2, 2026)

#2 · Best value

Tour Edge Exotics Max

$399.99 list price

Fourth overall in MyGolfSpy's test at a beginner-friendly price.

Source: MyGolfSpy, Best Drivers of 2026; Independent Golf Reviews, The Best Golf Drivers of 2026 (updated Oct 2, 2026)

#3 · Best for a slice

PING G440 SFT

$449 (discounted) list price

Most beginners slice. This hit the most fairways in Independent Golf Reviews' test.