A 90 mph swing speed creates the best environment for selecting a driver. The clubs you see in the store are almost all designed off the rack for your swing speed. I'll show you a few things in this article beyond the ordinary.
We'll find which shaft is right for your swing, which lofts carry further as well as a list of the best drivers for 90 mph swing speeds. They're easier to hit than ever and with the right one, there is no limit on how low you can go. There may be some brands you haven't heard of on here, but this is hands-down the best collection for average swings.
The Best Drivers for 90 mph Swing Speed
- Cleveland XL Lite(best lightweight driver for more swing speed)
- Wilson D9(best value-per-yard driver)
- Ping G425 Max(best and easiest to hit driver for any handicap)
- Taylormade STEALTH HD(best looking new driver)
- Cobra Air X(best for pure forgiveness)
- Callaway Big Bertha B21 (classic model for top value distance)
How to pick the right driver for your swing speed
The correct shaft for 90 mph swings is MOST IMPORTANT
With a 90 mph swing speed, you're around the average swing speed of golfers worldwide. That makes life incredibly easy for you! Your swing speed fits a REGULAR driver shaft perfectlyand with a regular shaft, your tee shots will fly straighter and longer more often.
Stiff shafts will produce low ball flight and a lot of slices. A softer than regular shaft will cause shots to fly left and right at random. I suggest you get a driver with aREGULARshaft.
If however, you have a very quick rhythm to your swing but the speed is still around 90 mph, there is a newer shaft introduced in the golfing world calledSR - STIFF REGULAR.This is fantastic if you have a fast, jerky kind of swing to be able to actually give you more rhythm with a bit more stiffness.
The best thing you can do for your game is to get fitted for a shaft by a fitting professional if you find nothing seems to work. You can pick your favorite club online and take it to the club fitter and he'll install a shaft more appropriate for your exact swing. It's easily the best investment you can make.
Loft is 2nd most important
Loft is the 2nd most important aspect. While 9° or 10° are good lofts for professionals or 100 mph+ swingers; at 90 mph, I strongly suggest 11° to 13° of loft in a driver. The additional loft makes the club much more forgiving and far more accurate. Increased launch angle also means you'll get more carry on your drives for more distance.
Imagine hitting a 3 iron. Ouch! Now imagine hitting the PW. Oh, that feels good right? Increased loft is evidently more forgiving just from our personal experience. The only thing keeping guys hitting low lofted drivers is ego.
Drop all ego to find the right shaft and loft
Lots of guys have shafts that are too stiff, loft that is too low and clubs that are too long.
Be honest with yourself and look at your shot-shape. Are you getting a straight ball flight or a little fade or a little draw? Or are you slicing and hooking erratically? Are you using an X-stiff or stiff shaft?
Are you still totally full-strength or losing power? Perhaps a super-lite regular shaft will help you instead of the stiff one you've had for 15 years!
New drivers are more forgiving than ever
Paired with the right golf ball, modern drivers can add significant yardage to your long game. Some guys even notice 20 yard gains. Below are the best drivers for a 90 mph swing speed.
Some drivers are also adjustable so you can change the loft of the club yourself and become your own club fitter. It all depends on how much you want to tinker.
It's important for me to note: I DO NOT advocate for drivers that adjust to infinite amount of settings. I don't mind perhaps a fixed interchangeable weight plate or the ability to adjust the loft up or down, but sliding weights and infinite settings is a surefire way to doubt yourself all the way round the course when you hit them offline.
Let's keep it simple as possible so you never have decision paralysis, and so that you an swing freely off the tee instead of worrying about your settings.
The Best Drivers for 90 mph Swing Speed
Super option for senior golfers and golfers below 90mph swing speed
The Launcher XL Lite is the newest addition to long line of lightweight Cleveland drivers. There are multiple loft options including a higher lofted 12 degrees, providing a higher launch with medium amount of spin. A lightweight head coupled with the shaft mean you can generate more club head speed which translates into longer carry.
With the lightness and the deeper face of the driver, which is a Cleveland hallmark, most golfers notice a higher ball flight, needing less rollout to actually obtain any distance. The bonded hosel and lightweight shaft being this driver in at a whopping 12.5 lighter than the standard Launcher XL.
After having played with three Cleveland drivers in my life, their offerings are always near the top of my list to check out. Their drivers always look totally clean on the crown and this one is equally beautiful with aa simple alignment aid and matte finish.
You won't be able to adjust the loft of the driver nor are there any weights to move around. 9° 10.5° and a 12° option are all available and with a 90 mph swing, the 9° can be excluded from the selection. Like all Cleveland clubs, they won't be as hyped as Taylormade or Callaway but this driver is the business and will work if you are a slower swinger.
Pros
- Lightweight for more swing speed
- Deeper face for higher ball flight to increase carry distance
- Very forgiving and easy to hit with a lovely ping sound
- Muted alignment aid and classic looking crown
- Very well priced
- High quality Japanese Miyazaki shaft
Cons
- Low in the face not as forgiving
- Quick tempo golfers should avoid
Best value driver - pound for pound
The Wilson D9 has a very tall dominating face and setting up to the ball, it looks like a Cleveland of old. Classic shape and tall face with a massive sweet spot. Definitely in the sleeper category, not many guys will know about this driver and at this price, it's a best kept secret.
It's the best looking driver that they have designed so far. In fact it even looks like a Titleist TSi1!
The club is light and by light, I mean REALLY light. That might not appeal to everyone but it can definitely help pick up an extra couple mph in your swing. If you're hovering around 85 mph, this little beauty can bring you up to 90 mph and give you a few yards more off the tee.
If you find the big brands do not fit your style or budget, the D9 is comparable in every way besides brand-recognition. The flight is easy to launch and with the correct loft, you'll find forgiveness and distance with the Wilson D9 golf driver.
Pros
- Carbon looking crown makes it look very high end like the top brands
- Very lightweight for increasing swing speed
- Well priced - dollar to extra yards ratio is low
- Premium shafts are included despite the low price - top value
Cons
- Clangy loud sound
In every group of golfers there is always a PING man and then there are the guys who haven't tried them. What the PING men will all attest to is just how easy it is to hit a PING. They may not be the most used on Tour but they're certainly a mainstay of amateur golf for decades.
Steve who can be seen in the Golf Sidekick videos on Youtube, just purchased himself a G425 Max and is hitting the ball better than ever with this driver. It replaced his G400 which he left in a car park leaning against his car.
It's a simple looking golf driver with simple colors and the shape is very classic-looking. A nice long and tall face with a tear drop shaped head. They've changed the color from a black to a lighter black almost dark grey color.
The ball genuinely flies higher than most other drivers with its high launch properties. PINGs are renowned for the high and penetrating ball flight giving guys a lot more carry to get over more hazards and bunkers more confidently.
At address, the crown is a pretty matte finish but there are a few kind of spike looking things on top. They are not entirely distracting and do help with alignment but if you prefer a very clean crown, this one might not be to your liking.
There is a weight at the back of the sole to move around for different shot shapes. The hosel is also able to be moved around to increase or decrease loft depending on how low or high you would like to hit the ball.
Overall, a game-changer. Simply the best driver out there for 90 mph swingers who hit it too low. I can stand behind a recommendation for any golfer to try a PING.
Pros
- High yet penetrating ball flight
- Matte dark grey finish for classy look at address
- One of the best in the range
- Extremely forgiving - misses left and right are severely improved
Cons
- Loud sound at impact
- They use a new hosel in this so you cannot use your shaft from your G400 in this one.
Simple point-and-shoot forgiveness golf driver
The STEALTH caused a massive buzz in the equipment world due to its RED carbon face and (outlandish) ball speed claims. What's not up for debate is that TaylorMade consistently produce some of the best drivers with every new release and the STEALTH is no exception.
The HD model is one of the first TaylorMade drivers targeted at the slower swinger and those struggling with a slice. The carbon face is 40% lighter and lot and shaft options make it easy to find you perfect combination.
The club really is a head turner on the course. The red face is a talking point and the sound of the face is supreme, as you expect from TaylorMade.The Taylormade STEALTH HD comes in 9°, 10.5° and 12° loftsand can add a new dimension to your tee game. Adjust the loft and you have a driver that can be 12.5° and 14° drivers if you please. There are no complicated set ups, just pick it up and smash.
Pros
Cons
- Tinkerers who want adjustable weights won't like
- Color scheme isn't for everyone
Maximum forgiveness and ball speed
Everything about this driver is geared toward maximizing swing speed. The shaft is light, the head is light and the face is forgiving. In the Air X range, there is also a draw model with an offset shaft. This will help you to correct a slice.
The best part of this range that Cobra releases is that these clubs are just dead simple to hit. They come in 9.5 and 10.5 degree options. That may sound a bit low, but the tall face and large footprint of the driver helps to get that ball way up in the air.
Brian, from the Golf Sidekick Youtube channel used to play with the older model of this driver to learn to hit driver. He struggled a lot with standard drivers but after playing this one, he learned and then moved onto the Cobra Speedzone and eventually a G410. That's the power of using a simple driver like the Cobra Air X. You get confidence to hit the ball solid, then upgrade when you stripe the pipe.
Teaski, my sister, also enjoys her Cobra Air X but hers is in the women's clubs. The idea is the same though. Light and fun, easy to hit with a maximum forgiveness and high handsome ball flight. It's a no-brainer whenever someone wants a 'first nice driver'.
As a stickler for alignment aids not being distracting, this one is a perfect improvement on a Ping crown. The top of the club at address subtly helps to keep the club aimed where you want to go.
The ultralight construction is designed to give you more speed in the downswing but what it also does is give you the feeling of not needing to hit the ball so hard because it is just so light. This gives you rhythm and with rhythm, you increase swing speed sub-consciously.
Pros
- Very lightweight for more swing speed and more distance
- Incredibly well priced driver
- Massive sweet spot for total forgiveness
- Offset version can help with slices
- Super alignment aid on the crown that does not distract
Cons
- Tinkerers who want adjustable weights won't like
- A bit more of a beginner or novice driver hitters club
Classic name brings classic forgiveness and distance
The B21 driver is Callaway’s first high launch driver. Great options of 9, 10.5 and 12.5 degrees available. If you're a low hitter, or a slicer, this is a great golf club for you.
Exactly like Callaway’s headliner model drivers, the B21 driver has the famous Jailbreak bars behind the clubface for increased ball speeds at your swing speed. The face was designed using AI (artificial intelligence) so you know you're getting the best new technology on the market.
The head shape is more triangular, being long from face to the back . The look at address is always confidence-building as the club looks as though it can cover the ball and drive energy from behind. There's a built in draw-bias in the clubhead so the club reduces the distance loss from big slices.
The grip and shaft have been selected especially for more forgiveness and distance. The driver is a result of deep research by Callaway into how higher handicappers actually hit their driver. This investigation led to the B21 to help these golfers, usually slower swing speeds, to get the ball higher, further, longer, more fun.
Common questions from 90 mph golfers
What golf ball is best if I have a 90 mph swing speed?
If you want more distance, use a a ball that is firmer and has more rollout. They are much cheaper and durable. You will need to factor in the extra rollout on your approach shots.
You need spin to shape your shots sometimes and eventually you may want to look at some good golf balls for 85-90 mph swing speeds to take advantage of some urethane balls.
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
A stiff shaft is recommended for swing speeds between 95-110 mph. If you’re not sure what your swing speed is, you can go to a fitting facility, or a pro shop or a place that rents bays by the hour. You can test it out on trackman. It's best to warm up a bit before hand and remember not to try CRUSH every ball. You want to get a good representation so you can always be sure the shaft you have works well for the golf club in hand.
What's the best shaft for 95 mph golf swing?
If your swing is 95mph with the driver on a consistent basis, you should use a stiff shaft for your driver and probably your irons. The best shafts in the business are Miyazaki, Speeder, Ping stock shafts, Tour AD and Fujikura. The exact model of these shafts depends on your swing tempo but if you swing just under 100 mph, you should use a stiff golf shaft.
Conclusion
With so many drivers out there to choose from that are designed for the average golfer with an average swing speed, it can get confusing.
Without a doubt, the best drivers for average swing speeds are the ones on this list. You don't need to splurge an insane amount of money to hit the ball well. You don't even need the latest year's models to enjoy your tee game.
PING, Taylormade, Srixon, Wilson and Cobra are definitely in the top manufacturers for the average weekend golfer. Try and find a driving range or golf club store that will let you try a few clubs out and see which is best for your golf game.
Other golf driver articles
- Best drivers for mid handicappers
- Best drivers for beginners
- Best budget golf driver
FAQs
What is the best driver for a 90 mph swing speed? ›
Discover BombTech Grenade 3.0 Driver – the best driver for 90 - 100 mph swing speed! Many golfers, amateurs and semi-pros alike, consider the drive to be the single most important shot in any game of golf.
How far should I hit driver with 90 mph swing speed? ›A good starting goal is 230 yards. This means that you are at or above 90 mph in clubhead speed — check out our article about how clubhead speed and ball speed affects distance — which is a reasonable and attainable swing speed.
What loft driver should I use with a 90 mph swing speed? ›60 to 70 MPH = 12-13 degrees of loft. 70 to 80 MPH = 10.5-11.5 degrees of loft. 80 to 90 MPH = At least 9 to 10.5 degrees of loft. More than 90 MPH = Lowest loft available.
What driver is best for 85 to 90 mph swing? ›- The Overall Best Driver For 85 mph Swing Speed In 2021 – Cobra Radspeed XB.
- Most Forgiving Driver – TaylorMade SIM 2 Max.
- The Best Value For Money – Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo.
- The Longest Driver – Cobra Speedzone.
- The Most Accurate Driver – Callaway Mavrik Max.
Driver Swing Speed & Distance Chart
So to hit your driver 250 yards, you'll need to swing at around 100mph.
As a general rule, a low compression ball should be used by golfers that swing the club less than 85 MPH, a mid compression ball is for swing speeds between 85-100 MPH, and a high compression ball is for swing speeds above 100 MPH.
What swing speed for 300 yard drive? ›Rice conducts lots of studies using launch data, which you can read on his website, and tells golfers that if they want to hit the ball over 300 yards, they need to swing their driver about 108 mph.
What swing speed for Pro V1? ›The #1 ball in golf, the Pro V1 is a three-piece golf ball meant for swing speeds of 98-105 mph. With superior spin control and flight consistency, its cutting-edge design stabilizes flight like never before.
What swing speed is a 270 yard drive? ›If your swing speed is 100 mph, your distance potential could be as high as 270 yards.
What is the easiest golf driver to hit straight? ›- Ping G425 Max (Most Forgiving Top Choice)
- Callaway Rogue ST Max (Close Second Most Forgiving Top Choice)
- Cleveland Launcher XL (Best for High Handicappers and Beginner Players & Budget-Friendly)
- Mizuno ST-Z 220 (For Better Players Seeking Some Forgiveness)
Do any pros use a 10.5 degree driver? ›
But there are obviously a lot of pros who would play this. In fact, many pros do play 10.5 drivers, even on the PGA Tour. Nick Watney, Camillo, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, are some examples of pros who have used 10.5 drivers. Others like Tiger Woods, use less loft on their drivers.
What degree driver hits the farthest? ›(The average male-golfer swing speed is in the mid-90s.) Participants in our tests achieved more distance when they used drivers with less than 10 degrees of loft. In fact, swings often got the most distance with driver lofts at 9 degrees or less.
What is the longest new driver 2023? ›Ping G430 LST Driver
With a carry distance of 282 yards, the Ping G430 LST was the longest golf driver of 2023 in our test.
Most seniors should use a driver loft of at least 11 degrees. While some players might get away with 10 or 10.5 if they still have a higher swing speed, most golfers should between 11-13 degrees.
What driver gives you the most distance? ›- 4 TaylorMade Stealth + (Best for slow swing speeds) ...
- 5 Ping G425 LST (Best for lowering high spin rates) ...
- 6 Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS (Best For Higher Swing Speeds & Low Handicap) ...
- 7 Titleist TSi3 (Best For Feel) ...
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions. ...
- 9 Conclusion.
The average club head speed for many male, amateur golfers is between 80-90 mph. Leading LPGA players come in around 90-100 mph. Tour pros tend to have average golf swing speeds in the 120 mph range or even higher, and long drive competitors are all the way up in the 140s or higher.
How far should a 95 mph driver swing go? ›How far should a 95 mph swing go? This average swing speed is attributed to the average distance of approximately 214 yards, which does satisfy the average golfer's appetite for driving distance.
Does swing speed increase distance? ›It's very important. Simply put, the more swing speed you have, the farther you'll hit the ball.
What swing speed do you need for extra stiff? ›Golfers with a driver swing speed of more than 105 miles per hour will need to consider an extra stiff golf shaft.
What compression is a Pro V1? ›Titleist Pro V1 — Compression
On our gauges, the Titleist Pro V1 has a compression of 87. While that's three points softer than we measured the previous version, across the market as a whole, it's still solidly within the firm category (though it is a bit on the softer side for a ball played on Tour).
What compression ball should a senior play? ›
The Titleist AVX golf ball is very similar to the most popular ball in golf (Pro V1's) but has lower compression so senior golfers can get more distance out of their normal swing speeds. First and foremost, the Titleist AVX is a distance golf ball.
What swing speed is needed for Pro V1X? ›Only golfers with high swing speeds north of 100mph should play the Pro V1X golf ball, as it will allow them to compress the golf ball better.
What is Tiger Woods driver swing speed? ›What is Tiger Woods' swing speed? Tiger Woods' average golf swing speed clocks in just over 120 mph. This is closer to tour average now versus near the upper end of club head speeds you see on the tour these days which approach 130 mph.
What is the best Titleist golf ball for 90 mph swing speed? ›Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball
Its rather high compression rating of around 90 is suitable for driver swing speeds of 90 mph and above. The Pro V1 delivers proven performance that includes big distance, low long-game spin, a penetrating trajectory, and unmatched greenside spin control.
The Pro V1 is a ball designed for the mid to high swing speed player that wants tremendous distance, penetrating ball flight, and soft feel around the greens. The Pro V1x is for a faster swing speed player looking for maximum spin around the greens and great control.
Do Pro V1 balls go further than Pro V1x? ›The Pro V1x will have a higher launch angle, higher trajectory, and an overall higher flight in general. These factors could lead to more distance, or more danger, depending on how accurate you are with your longer clubs.