According to True Spec Golf and Golf.com, swing speeds below 83 mph are slow. Golfers in this category often struggle to generate the ball speed required for a powerful launch, and as a result, lose distance.
That is why you need a club that helps you optimize your clubhead and ball speed for a high and long tee shot. In this post, we are reviewing our selection for the best driver for slow swing speed in 2021. Let’s get straight into it.
What’s The Best Driver For a Slower Swing Speed?
The Overall Best Driver For Slow Swing Speed In 2021 – Callaway Epic Speed
Most Forgiving Driver For Slow Swing Speed – Titleist TS2
The Best Value For Money – Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo
The Easiest Launching Driver – Callaway Big Bertha B21
The Lightest Driver – Cobra F-Max Offset Airspeed Driver
The Overall Best Driver For Slow Swing Speed In 2021 – Callaway Epic Speed
Value for Money | 6 |
Shaft Flex | 9 |
Head Options | 8 |
Workmanship | 9 |
Overall Score /100 | 91 |
Rating: 4 ½ stars
Like MyGolfSpy, the Epic Speed tops our list as the best driver for slow swing speed, thanks to its ability to generate rapid ball speed off the face. A feature vital for helping those who struggle to launch long tee shots
The driver’s head features a cyclone aerodynamic construction to maximize swing and clubhead speed. The streamlined setup reduces drag and improves the coefficient of restitution (C.O.R) at impact, leading to a powerful launch.
Callaway’s engineers also employed A.I. to create the Jailbreak Speed Frame and Flash Face. These features combine to provide stability at impact and optimal forgiveness and ball speed from heel to toe.
Besides the speed of this semi draw-bias driver, it offers plenty of forgiveness and promotes straighter shots. Furthermore, you have the option to adjust the perimeter weighting and degrees of loft.
Although the Callaway Epic Speed is the best in its category for slower swingers, it does carry a hefty price tag. Plus, the mid-level spin it generates can cause players with faster swings to balloon their tee shots and lose distance.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High forgiveness
- Adjustable weights for your preferred launch setup
- Delivers explosive ball speed across a wide area
- Increases clubhead and swing speed
- Promotes straighter shots
Cons
- The mid-level of spin may cause fast swinging golfers to balloon shots and lose distance
- Expensive
- The semi-draw bias setup can cause you to hook the ball if your tempo is off.
Most Forgiving Driver For Slow Swing Speed – Titleist TS2
Value for Money | 6 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 7 |
Workmanship | 9 |
Overall Score /100 | 87 |
Rating: 4 stars
2013 Masters Champion Adam Scott suggests that the TS2 is a fast driver that offers maximum stability and feel at impact. Titleist enlarged the surface area on the face that generates explosive ball speed for heightened forgiveness on off-center strikes.
Contrary to other TS models, the engineers fitted a single weight low and back to reposition the CG. Thus, making it easier for you to launch your shots higher and straighter. Plus, the driver includes an adjustable swing weight to set up for your ideal launch and shot shape.
Although the TS2 lacks the technology in other modern-day game improvement drivers, it performs among the best in explosive ball speed generation.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Stable construction promotes a square face at impact
- Enhanced sweet spot
- Forgiving
- Promotes rapid ball speed
- Adjustable swing weight
Cons
- High price tag
- The oversized head profile is not appealing to everyone
The Best Value For Money – Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo
Value for Money | 9 |
Shaft Flex | 7 |
Head Options | 8 |
Workmanship | 7 |
Overall Score /100 | 86 |
Rating: 4 stars
After reviewing two premium-priced golf drivers, next up is our most affordable option. The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo is half the price of the first two products that we review. But it performs admirably in helping slower swingers launch their drives further.
Cleveland applied their Turbocharged Cup Face to the driver to maximize your C.O.R across a larger surface. That increases the forgiveness and accelerates ball speed to increment your distance.
Furthermore, the Hi Bore Crown design lowers the CG to make it easier for you to launch your tee shots high and far.
Finally, an ultralight hosel coupled with internal weight reduction enabled the engineers to place additional weight around the face, optimizing the moment of inertia (M.O.I).
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo is a forgiving golf driver that accelerates ball speed, optimizes launch, and delivers exceptional distance. As a slow-swinging golfer, it possesses everything you need to thrive off the tee at an affordable price point.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Produces higher C.O.R
- Easy to launch
- Enhanced forgiveness
- Promotes a high launch
- A bigger head provides increased M.O.I
Cons
- No moveable weights
- It does not feature an adjustable hosel
The Easiest Launching Driver – Callaway Big Bertha B21
Value for Money | 7 |
Shaft Flex | 6 |
Head Options | 7 |
Workmanship | 8 |
Overall Score /100 | 84 |
Rating: 3.5 stars
Equipment manufacturers often suggest that the best way to achieve a high and powerful launch is to position the CG low and back. However, Callaway’s engineers believe that the answer to consistent ball flight and exceptional distance is a combination of low-forward CG and minimal spin.
Added to the unique CG positioning, is an A.I. designed SS21 Flash Face that expands the area of the face that prompts swift ball speed. The draw-bias driver profile is set up to optimize your launch angles and promote straighter ball flight for increased accuracy off the tee.
The materials used to construct the Big Bertha B21 deliver adequate spin, and exceptional ball speed to induce a high launch for longer carry. Finally, two Jailbreak Bars stabilize the head at impact to ensure consistent ball speed and a square face for straighter ball flight.
As a premium-priced product, the Callaway Big Bertha B21 is not for everyone. However, if you can fit it into your budget, you will enjoy an easy launching, forgiving and long driver, built for the slower swingers in our game.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Combats slices
- High level of forgiveness
- Low spin
- High launching
- Promotes rapid ball speed across the face
Cons
- Not suited to players looking to shape their tee shots
- Not ideal for players that suffer from a hook
- Expensive
The Lightest Driver – Cobra F-Max Offset Airspeed Driver
Value for Money | 7 |
Shaft Flex | 7 |
Head Options | 7 |
Workmanship | 6 |
Overall Score /100 | 85 |
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Cobra F-Max Offset Airspeed is the lightest driver in their portfolio, containing 50 grams less mass than the standard construction. A carbon fiber crow design enabled engineers to enlarge the clubhead to increase the M.O.I for optimal forgiveness.
Cobra included PWR Ridges to give you a visual alignment aid to help you set up and aim at your desired target on every tee shot.
Furthermore, weight is positioned low and back in the crown to make it easier to launch straighter and longer drives. Plus, an offset hosel helps you square the face up at impact for improved accuracy.
If you struggle to generate optimal swing and clubhead speed, take the Cobra F-Max Offset Driver for a test. Reduced clubhead and swing speed makes it challenging to optimize your C.O.R, which lowers your ball speed and leads to a low, spinning drive with limited distance.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- It helps you increase your swing speed
- Offers high MOI for high forgiveness
- High launching
- Alignment aid keeps you on target
- Promotes straighter shots
Cons
- Moderately expensive
- The offset face reduces your ability to shape your shots
- The draw-bias setup can cause you to duck-hook your drives
What Are the Advantages Of Golf Drivers For Slow Swing Speeds
Shaft Flex
Drivers suited to slow swinging golfers require lighter and more flexible shafts than those targetted to faster swingers.
In this article, Zephyr Melton suggests that slow swinging golfers should play with a senior flex shaft. The additional flex helps you increase your clubhead speed on the downswing, giving you a higher chance of generating optimal ball speed at impact.
If your launch is still too low with a seniors shaft, it might be time to start playing with ladies flex, the whippiest shaft option on the market.
Loft
The other area where drivers for slower swing speeds are set apart from the rest is loft. Clubs in this category feature clubheads with weaker loft to make it easier for you to get the ball in the air consistently.
While I agree with Golfweek’s Jackson Lewis that slower swingers play with more loft, a 14-degree driver is not easy to come by. The weaker the loft. The better it is for slow swingers.
Clubhead Speed
As a slow swinger, you need all the help you can get to generate optimal ball speed for a long tee shot. We have touched on the need for a lighter and flexible shaft. However, an aerodynamically designed clubhead only increases your chance of maximizing speed on the downswing.
The Callaway Epic Speed is an example of a driver for slow swing speeds with an aerodynamic clubhead to optimize speed.
Ball Speed
Without sufficient ball speed, we cannot launch our drives high and long. That is a struggle faced by slow-swinging golfers. It is why drivers in this category often promote explosive ball speed across a wider area of the clubface, minimizing the loss of distance on mishits.
Those looking for a driver that generates faster ball speed should take a closer look at the Callaway Big Bertha B21.
Forgiveness
This article has focused on the importance of clubhead and ball speed. But the forgiveness of golf drivers for slow swing speeds cannot go unmentioned. The expanded sweet zone on clubs such as the Titleist TS2 means that you still generate optimal ball speed and low spin. Even on heel and toe mishits.
Distance
The final advantage of drivers for slow swing speeds is the distance potential that it offers. The lightweight driver construction, combined with maximum clubhead and ball speed, set you up to achieve more distance off the tee.
It is easier to launch these drivers than a standard design. Thanks to the flexible shaft and weaker loft. That enables slower swingers to achieve a longer carry and extra total distance.
Those who seek optimal distance should take the Cobra F-Max Airspeed driver for a test drive at the range.
FAQ
What Is The Best Shaft For A Slow Swing Speed?
Based on the information provided in Zephyr Melton’s article on shaft flex, it is apparent that a seniors shaft is the best flex for a slow swinging player.
The extra flex offered by a senior shaft helps slower swingers optimize their clubhead speed on the downswing to achieve more whip at impact. That helps to generate rapid ball speed off the face for a powerful launch.
Should a senior shaft doesn’t provide the flex and launch needed off the tee, there is the option of playing with a ladies’ shaft.
Is 80 mph a Slow Swing Speed?
Once again, I refer back to Melton’s article on Golf.com. He goes on to explain that a driver swing speed between 72 mph and 83 mph is slow.
Therefore, 80 mph is a slow swing speed. However, if you are in this range, you are only 4 mph off of an average swing speed. You can achieve that with the correct equipment and consistent practice.
How Do I Increase My Swing Speed?
When one of the PGA Tour’s longest hitters offers advice on how to increase your swing speed, you zip your lips and start taking notes. Although Cameron Champ provides five tips to hit the ball longer, I will recap four of them.
First up, Champ recommends adjusting the height of your tee to match your preferred launch angle. Teeing the ball higher can cause some players to balloon their shots. Conversely, teeing it too low increases the difficulty for slower swingers to get the ball airborne.
Conversely, Champ finds that teeing the ball down enables him to achieve his preferred lower ball flight.
The second tip is to get wide on the takeaway. Create width between your clubhead and the shoulder to induce optimal rotation and power on the downswing. The next step is to rotate your hips on the downswing. Power and accuracy come from your hip rotation, not your arms.
The final piece of the puzzle for increasing distance is to clear your hips at impact. Your clubhead should lag the hips. Champ explains that lag creates power, and power leads to distance.
Conclusion Of The Best Driver For Slow Swing Speed In 2021
To enjoy golf, you need a combination of mental strength, distance, accuracy, and a killer short game. But, success in these areas is challenging when you lack swing speed and struggle to launch your shots high and long.
Fortunately, with modern technology and innovative designs, manufacturers have created a variety of options to help you optimize your speed and distance.
Our review revealed that the Callaway Epic Speed is the best driver for slow swing speed golfers. The reasons we selected this driver came down to its forgiveness, accuracy, and versatility offered by the adjustable weights.
We also looked at the best drivers for slow swing speeds in individual categories. In case you desire specific qualities. Titleist’s TS2 ranked number one for forgiveness. While the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo came out as the best value for money buy.
Callaway made a second appearance on the list with their easy launching Big Bertha B21 driver. And, the Cobra F-Max Airspeed driver was a pick for the lightest design in its class.
In conclusion, if you are classed as a slow swinger and are in the market for a new driver, I suggest researching the Callaway Epic Speed more.