12 Degree Drivers can be a godsend for slow-to-moderate swing speed players that don’t generate enough backspin to maximize carry distance with a lower lofted driver.
The good news is that almost all the major equipment manufacturers produce 12 degree drivers, because there are so many players out there with an average clubhead speed less than 90 mph. This buyer’s guide is simply a collection of all the best 12 degree drivers currently available.
Table of Contents
Best Neutral 12 Degree Drivers
Taylormade Sim 2 Max
Forged Ring Construction: The Taylormade Sim 2 Max Forged from a lightweight and high strength aluminum that is milled to an exacting shape, Forged Ring Construction unites a massive rear weight, a full carbon sole, crown and a milled back cup face.
SIM Inertia Generator: The asymmetric Inertia Generator is designed to provide faster clubhead speed through advanced geometry and aerodynamic analytics. A full lightweight carbon sole enables the redistribution of mass for a deeper CG and enhanced forgiveness.
Speed Injected Twist Face: Speed Injected Twist Face improves ball speed by calibrating each head to the threshold of the legal speed limit with corrective face curvature also protecting against heel and toe mis-hits.
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: Taylormade’s most flexible Speed Pocket™ design is engineered to maximize ball speeds and produce additional forgiveness on low face strikes.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver
To go longer off the tee, you have to go faster. The new Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver features a Turbocharged Cup Face, Ultralight Hosel, redesigned HiBore Crown, Deep Weighting sole pad and a counterbalanced shaft. It all adds up to faster drives for more distance off every tee. The new Launcher HB Turbo Driver. Step Up, and Launch It.
Thoughts On The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo: Cleveland drivers often go under the radar, despite offering good value for money and being very easy to hit. In some respects, the Launcher HB is like a more affordable Ping G425, without loft and lie adjustability. It sets up very square to the target and the deep weighting at the back of the club makes it very forgiving (due to increased MOI).
Ping G425 Max Driver
The Ping G425 MAX elevates the moment of inertia to PING’s highest level in history. Forgiveness comes mainly from a 26-gram tungsten movable weight, made possible by weight savings from advancements in the driver’s dragonfly crown technology. The CG-shifting weight can be set in neutral, draw or fade. A T9S+ forged face increases flexing for adding distance. Available in 9°, 10.5° and 12°.
Thoughts On The Ping G425 Max: If you want a driver that inspires massive confidence behind the ball, it’s hard to look past the Ping G425 Max. It is known for being extremely accurate and extremely forgiving, without sacrificing distance. If money is no object, you should definitely consider putting the G425 in the bag. The only potential issue is price. Ping drivers are pretty much as expensive as it gets.
Titleist TSi1 Driver
The Titleist TSi1 Driver is designed for players with moderate swing speeds seeking an ultra-lightweight configuration to help maximize distance. Features super-lightweight components and a deep, face-centered CG for increased launch and exceptional ball speed.
Thoughts On The Titleist TSi1: The days of Titliest only catering to low handicap golfers are well and truly over. The TSi1 is Titleist’s super game-improvement driver, that most mid and high handicappers should find very easy to hit. In addition, Titleist drivers are no longer considered ‘short’. Since the release of the TS range in 2020, Titleist has ascended to the top of the distance race. In other words, there’s a good chance that you will hit the TSi1 further than your current driver.
Cobra Rad Speed XB
The Cobra RADSPEED XB (XTREME Back) Driver features a slightly oversized profile at address (460cc) and 20 grams of back-biased RADIAL WEIGHTING to deliver low spin, fast ball speeds and maximum forgiveness.
Thoughts On The Cobra Radspeed XB: Cobra have been making high-quality drivers for decades, and they have continued this trend with the Radspeed XB. You should find the Radspeed XB gives you great distance off the tee while being extremely easy to hit. Also, it’s a little bit cheaper than the Taylormade, Titleist and Ping equivalents, so that is worth factoring into your final decision.
Callaway Epic Speed Driver
Epic ball speeds start with Callaway’s new A.I.-designed Jailbreak Speed Frame. Previous Jailbreak architectures stiffened the body in the vertical direction. By applying Artificial Intelligence, this structure improves stability in horizontal and torsional directions for increased ball speeds across the face.
Thoughts On TheCallaway Epic Speed Driver: Callaway have been been able to sign a number of strong players in recent years due to the quality of their product range (Jon Rahm and Matt Walllace being two good examples). With the Epic Speed, you are effectively getting an out-and-out Taylormade Sim 2 rival. The green and black look is very smart, and the driver is highly adjustable in case you need to add loft, reduce loft or adjust the lie angle of the club.
12 Degree Drivers With Draw Bias
Cobra Radspeed XD Driver
The Cobra RADSPEED XD driver features a 10g weight positioned in the heel to enable easier face closure for straighter, more draw biased drives.
Taylormade Sim 2 Max D
The Taylormade Sim2 Max D Driver is very similar to the Sim 2 Max, but with one major exception. It is built to encourage a draw shape off the tee. The reconstructed SIM2 Max•D features a repositioned Inertia Generator that’s closer to the heel, encouraging a heel CG that’s low and back for more forgiveness. The end result is a draw-biased driver without compromise.
Callaway Epic Max Draw Bias Driver
The Callaway Epic MAX creates exceptionally high forgiveness, starting with a lighter, stronger Triaxial Carbon material that saves over 19 grams of weight vs. titanium. This weight is redistributed to promote high launch and more forgiveness. Th Epic MAX driver delivers an exceptional combination of a deep CG, draw bias, and higher MOI for tighter downrange dispersion and straighter drives.
Mizuno ST-X Driver
The Mizuno ST-X features a draw-biased composite construction aided by a heel side sole weight. The driver’s adjustable hosel allows for 4 degrees of loft adjustability to help you dial in the perfect ball flight. Mizuno outfits the ST-X with Project X’s EvenFlow Riptide CB graphite shaft.
Best 13 Degree Drivers
Wilson Staff D9 Driver
Hundreds of face geometries were simulated in order to create a driver that could deliver higher ball speeds, maximum distance, and incredible forgiveness. With a huge sweet spot that extends out towards the toe and heel, the Wilson D9 driver is always on, even when you’re a little off.
Wilson Launch Pad Draw Bias Driver
The Wilson Launch Pad Driver has a super lightweight design, moderate hosel offset and Variable Face technology for high swing speeds, incredible distance, straighter drives and high launch angles with every swing.
Like all golf drivers with offset, the Wilson launch pad is designed to reduce left to right spin, which means it’s a very good option for people who tend to slice the ball off the tee.
Are 12 degree drivers any good?
Put it this way. All the biggest brands in golf (Taylormade, Ping, Titliest etc) manufacture 12 degree drivers. They do so because there are a huge number of golfers that can achieve the optimal balance of carry distance, accuracy and forgiveness with a 12 degree driver in their hands.
Is 12 degree driver loft too much?
For high swing speed players that hit the ball a country mile in the air, a 12 degree driver is probably too much loft.
However, if you have a moderate or slow swing speed (ie less than 90mph), you might find that the launch conditions offered by a 12-degree driver give you maximum carry distance.
It’s all about finding the perfect apex for your particular swing speed. If that apex is too low, you will definitely be leaving yards on the table. However, if the apex is too high, you can also lose distance, due to excessive movement vertically rather than horizontally.
Image sourced from Taylormadegolf
The image above perfectly demonstrates a high ball flight compared to a low ball flight. If you struggle with distance off the tee or a low ball flight, a 12 degree driver could give you the towering trajectory you need to achieve maximum carry.
How far should you hit a 12 degree driver?
That depends on your swing speed. However, you could say that most men will hit a 12 degree somewhere between 200-240 yards. If you’re pushing above this distance, it may be worth exploring a lower lofted driver, as your swing speed is probably high enough to get extra distance with a 10.5 degree driver.
