What drivers are the best value for money in 2023?

Looking for a great driver that doesn’t cost the earth? These affordable models are just the ticket.

Every year, Today’s Golfer carries out a huge test as they attempt to work out what is the best golf driver. They take all of the latest and greatest models from brands like Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade and more, and use a launch monitor to pit them head-to-head and measure a vast array of performance factors. The results identify which drivers create the fastest ball speeds and longest carry distances, as well as how accurate and forgiving they are. 

Knowing which drivers are the best is great, but one thing that is often overlooked is price. Many of the top drivers nowadays retail for well over £500, which is a lot of money for a club that you might only hit eight or ten times per round and that could be replaced by a newer model within 12 months. 

The budget-conscious golfer may therefore be interested to see which drivers offer the best value for money. 

There are two drivers that stand head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to delivering premium performance at an affordable price point: the PXG 0211 and the Cleveland Launcher XL Lite. 

PXG 0211 Driver

Today’s Golfer call the PXG 0211 the “best value for money driver – by some distance”. 

You might be surprised to see PXG even mentioned in a conversation about good value for money, let alone coming out on top, as the brand are famous for producing super-premium products with price tags to match. But, having made their mark selling £800+ drivers and £3,000 iron sets, PXG branched into the world of more affordable golf clubs. You can get the PXG 0211 driver for just £239, which is considerably less than half the price of the Callaway Paradym, Ping G430 and TaylorMade Stealth 2 drivers.   

Today’s Golfer calculate the cost-per-yard of each driver in their test, dividing its price by the distance it generates. The PXG 0211 driver had a cost-per-yard of just 69p, whereas the leading models from Callaway, Ping and TaylorMade all sat between £1.67 and £2.10 per yard. 

The PXG 0211 is a match for any driver in terms of distance, despite its far lower price point. The test also found the PXG 0211 to be extremely accurate and forgiving, making it a tremendous package – even before you factor in the money saving. 

Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Driver

The Cleveland Launcher XL Lite driver has an RRP of £309 but it’s widely available for under £250. 

It’s extremely forgiving and easy-to-hit, particularly for golfers with swing speeds around 90mph or below. As the name suggests, the XL Lite is lightweight, which helps increase swing speed and therefore driving distance. 

There’s also a Cleveland XL Lite ‘Draw’ model available for the same price, which is great for the many golfers who struggle with a slice off the tee. 

Whichever model you go for, the XL Lite range is the most forgiving driver range that Cleveland have ever made, which means you’ll be saving money on golf balls as well by not losing so many in the trees, water, and long grass.