It’s that time of year again, the snow is starting to melt, and the grass is beginning to turn green. It’s the moment you have been waiting for all winter, time to dust off your clubs and get back out on the course. However, there has been quite a bit of activity since the last time you were able to get out and play golf. As the weather and PGA Tour is starting to heat up, and TaylorMade and Cobra have been vying to be the #1 on the Tour. We’ve broken down the top three best drivers that you the golfer should consider getting this year to help you improve your golf game.
Be sure to check out our Buyers Guides on the Best Golf Sets, Drivers, Fairway Woods, Wedges, Hybrids, and Putters that can help you take your golf game to the next level.
TaylorMade M3 Driver
The TaylorMade M3 Driver is by far one of the most technologically advanced drivers ever made by TaylorMade. The M3 has been designed to replace the very successful TaylorMade M1 Driver. The biggest features of the TaylorMade M3 Driver are its all new Twist Face, Hammerhead Slot, and Y-Track sliding weight system.
The TaylorMade M3 Driver incorporates TaylorMade’s all new Twist Face design. This innovative feature literally twists the face of the club to help correct for inherent human tendencies when striking the ball off center. See, most off center shots tend to be hit low on the heel or high on the toe. The all new Twist Face design compensates for this by altering the curvature of the club face in those areas. This new technology helps golfers reduce side spin and deliver straighter shots.
The all new Hammerhead design is a sole wide slot that help to maximize the sweet spot on the club. This technology was not available on the TaylorMade M1 Driver; however, it was available on the TaylorMade M2. This Hammerhead slot allows for the face of the club to be more forgiving, especially on low face strikes where the slot helps to reduce spin and increase ball speed.
Lastly, the TaylorMade M3 Driver incorporates a Y-Track sliding weight system. The Y-shaped track allows for the movement of two 11-gram weight, that can slide from front to back and side to side. This feature allows golfers to adjust the driver for additional forgiveness, trajectory, or speed.
The TaylorMade M3 Driver is an amazing club and is the perfect driver for a low to mid handicap golfer looking to improve their drives this golf season.
PROS
- One of the most forgiving drivers on the market today
- Tons of customization, due to the Y-Track System
- Impressive distance regardless of where you hit the ball on the club face
CONS
- A little costly, the M3 may be out of some golfer’s budget
- The adjustability can be overwhelming to some players
- Some golfers might feel that the club is too light
TaylorMade M4 Driver
The TaylorMade M4 Driver is the sister club of the M3 driver, discussed above, and is also one of the most advanced drivers on the market. The M4 differs from the M3 by that it is a slightly simpler club. The TaylorMade M4 has all the same features as the M3, minus the adjustable Y-Track system. While the TaylorMade M4 Driver is a simpler club, don’t let it fool you, it still an amazing driver that can help take your game to the next level.
The TaylorMade M4 Driver was designed to replace the highly popular TaylorMade M2 Driver and was built on the technology and innovations that helped to make the M2 driver a success. The two biggest features of the TaylorMade M4 Driver is the all new Twist Face design and the Hammerhead Slot.
As discussed above the Twist Face design takes the face of the club and slightly twists it to help correct for human tendencies to strike the ball of center. This designs hells to reduced side spin and to increase ball speed. The Hammerhead design incorporates a sole wide slot that helps to maximize the sweet spot on the club face. Working in unison, the TaylorMade M4 Driver allows golfers to hit the ball straight and far, even on mis-hits.
The TaylorMade M4 Driver is a great club that is perfect for the mid to high handicap golfer not wanting a fully adjustable club but looking to take their drives to the next level.
PROS
- A very light weight and accurate driver
- Very forgiving, mis-hits can still result in long accurate drives
- Costs less than the M3, but with all of the same technology, minus the Y-track system
CONS
- Due to the cost, beginner golfers might find it a little out of their price range
- It is difficult to determine if the Twist Face design really works, at this stage in its development
- Players that are consistent with their drives may want a fully adjustable club
Cobra F8 Driver
The Cobra F8 Driver was released in late 2017 but is becoming one of the hottest drivers of the year. The biggest features of the F8 Driver is it’s Precision Milled Forged Face and the all new Cobra 360 Aero Technology. Working in harmony, Cobra has designed one of the most of accurate and technologically advanced drivers on the market today.
The marquee design of the Cobra F8 Driver is its first ever CNC Precision Milled Face. This design not only makes the club face thinner, but also increases ball speed and distance. By CNC milling the face of the club Cobra was able to reduce the weight of the club and was able to create an even larger sweet spot. Thus, making the F8 Driver a very forgiving club.
The Cobra F8 Driver also has the all new shot tracking technology called Cobra Connect powered by Arccos. By using the Arccos App, this amazing shot tracking system allows players to use their phone to collect data on their drives. The way the system works is that Cobra has placed a sensor inside the grip of the F8 Driver that communicates directly with the Arccos App. With the Arccos App players can obtain GPS access to more than 40,000 golf courses worldwide. This technology allows players to record their drives every time, and Cobra believes that this can improve a player’s game by 3 to 5 shots on average. This technology is by the far the future of golf.
The Cobra F8 Driver is an amazing club that is perfect for the mid to high handicap golfer looking to improve their game.
PROS
- Amazing distance regardless of where you strike the ball on the club face
- Very forgiving club, that is accurate even on mishits
- Cobra Connect is truly the future of golf, this technology is nothing short of amazing
CONS
- Players may feel overwhelmed with the Arccos technology
- May create too much spin for some players
- May feel sluggish during swing, due to the oversized profile
What is the Best Choice for You?
Overall, we feel that the TaylorMade M4 Driver offer the most value out of the three recently released drivers. This is because you get the technology of the M3 driver, minus the Y-Track System, for a fraction of the price. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t like the Cobra F8 Driver. While we think the Cobra Connect system is nothing short of amazing, some players might find it a distraction from what is really important, driving the ball. So, while you are gearing up this spring for your golf season, be sure to check out these awesome drivers that really can help you hit the ball further than ever before.
About the Authors
Tony and Paul are a father and son team who are not only best friends but love the game of golf. They created the Golfers Authority, to provide unbiased reviews, guides, tips and advice in order to helkp others improve their game. Tony is also the founder and inventor of the Accuhit, one of the most recognized golf training aids in the world. The Accuhit has been recognized by Golfweek, Golf Tips Magazine, Asian Golf Monthly, and many other publications as one of the most cost effective golf training aids in the market.