The quick answer
If you are not sure, lean toward more loft rather than less. Many golfers, especially those with slower swings, need more loft than they assume, and a driver with too little loft generally launches the ball too low to carry as far as it could.
The reliable way to choose is to hit two or three lofts on a launch monitor, ideally with a fitter, and keep the one that carries furthest with a flight you can control. An adjustable hosel then lets you fine-tune the loft without buying another head.
This guide compares 13 current drivers from Callaway, Cobra, Ping, TaylorMade and Titleist; the drivers page lists every driver we have researched. Of the 13 here, 12 come in a 10.5° head and nine are also offered at 12°. Titleist’s GTS2 comes in 8°, 9°, 10° and 11° instead.
Who this is for
Golfers buying a new driver who are not sure which loft to order, and golfers whose drives fly too low, climb too steeply or curve more than they would like.
What actually matters
What loft does. Loft is the angle of the clubface. More loft generally launches the ball higher and adds backspin. Less loft generally launches it lower with less spin. The right loft for you is the one that gives your swing the flight that carries and rolls the furthest while staying in play. Treat a small loft difference between brands as approximate.
Why more loft often helps slower swings. With a slower swing, the ball generally leaves the face with less speed and less spin, so it does not climb as high or stay in the air as long. More loft generally raises the launch and adds spin, which can help the ball stay in the air longer and carry further. That is why, for many golfers with slower swings, a 10.5° or 12° driver is worth trying before a 9°.
Why less loft can suit faster swings. A fast swing generally produces more spin, and too much spin can make the ball climb steeply and lose distance. Some lower-spin heads are sold only in lower lofts. Ping, for example, says the G440 LST “is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control,” and offers it in 9° and 10.5° only. Cobra’s lower-spin OPTM X also comes in 9° and 10.5°.
How you strike it. Golfers who hit down on the ball with a driver generally need more loft to get the same launch as golfers who hit up on it. A launch monitor shows which you do. This is why two golfers with similar swing speeds can end up with different lofts.
Adjustable hosels. Every driver here lists an adjustable hosel, but the ranges are published differently:
- Ping lists loft adjustment of ±1.5° on all four of its G440 drivers here, and an 8-position hosel on the G440 Max, K and SFT.
- Cobra lists its FutureFit33 hosel, with 33 loft and lie settings within ±2°, on its three OPTM drivers here.
- TaylorMade lists a 4° loft sleeve on its three Qi4D drivers here.
- Callaway lists independent loft and lie settings on both Quantum Max drivers.
- Titleist lists its SureFit hosel on the GTS2.
On Ping’s figures, for example, a 10.5° G440 head can be set as high as 12°. On many adjustable hosels, changing the loft also changes how the face sits at address, so look at the club behind the ball after any change.
Movable weights are not loft. Several drivers here also have movable weights. They change where the mass sits in the head, for example to favor a draw, not the loft. Callaway says of the Quantum Max, “The refined 10g weight system lets you adjust for a neutral or draw setup.”
The shaft. Shaft weight, flex and length also affect launch and spin. If you change loft, check the shaft at the same time, which is what a fitting does.
Not every loft comes in both hands. Callaway lists the 12° Quantum Max D as right-handed only and the 12° Quantum Max as custom order only for left-handed golfers. When we read TaylorMade’s Qi4D page, it was inconsistent on which lofts come left-handed, so check before ordering.
Nine drivers offered at 12°
Ping calls the G440 Max “the most forgiving G440 model.”
- Lofts
- 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- 8-position hosel: loft ±1.5°, lie up to 3° flatter than standard; 29 g back weight with draw, fade and neutral positions
$447
See at TGW: Ping G440 MaxAffiliate linkPing describes the G440 K as “our straightest and most forgiving model.”
- Lofts
- 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- 8-position hosel: loft ±1.5°, lie up to 3° flatter than standard; 32 g tungsten back weight with Neutral, Draw and Fade positions
$649
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Ping G440 KAffiliate linkTaylorMade describes the Qi4D as “the perfect blend of speed and forgiveness off the tee.”
- Lofts
- 8°, 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- 4° loft sleeve; four movable weights (9g ×2, 4g ×2)
$649.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: TaylorMade Qi4DAffiliate linkTaylorMade describes the Qi4D Max as its “first ever modern, adjustable non-titanium driver.”
- Lofts
- 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- 4° loft sleeve; two movable weights (13g and 4g)
$649.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: TaylorMade Qi4D MaxAffiliate linkTaylorMade says the Qi4D Max Lite is “perfect if you’re looking for maximum speed without sacrificing forgiveness.”
- Lofts
- 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- 4° loft sleeve; one movable weight
$649.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: TaylorMade Qi4D Max LiteAffiliate linkCallaway says the Quantum Max is for “players wanting speed, consistent tee shots, forgiveness and control.”
- Lofts
- 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- OptiFit hosel with independent loft and lie settings; 10g weight for a neutral or draw setup
$449.99
See at TGW: Callaway Quantum MaxAffiliate linkCallaway says the Quantum Max D is for “players needing forgiveness, draw bias, and easy launch.”
- Lofts
- 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- Hosel with independent loft and lie settings (eight configurations); fixed internal heel weighting
$649.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Callaway Quantum Max DAffiliate linkCobra says the OPTM MAX-K “achieves our highest MOI ever.”
- Lofts
- 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- FutureFit33 hosel with 33 loft and lie settings (±2°); fixed 11g back weight
$399
See at Cobra Golf: Cobra OPTM MAX-KAffiliate linkCobra says the OPTM MAX-D “is engineered for players who need slice correction and a more left-biased ball flight.”
- Lofts
- 10.5°, 12°
- Head size
- 460cc
- Adjustability
- FutureFit33 hosel with 33 loft and lie settings (±2°); fixed 11g heel weight
$399.98
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Cobra OPTM MAX-DAffiliate link
| Specification | PingG440 Max | PingG440 K | TaylorMadeQi4D | TaylorMadeQi4D Max | TaylorMadeQi4D Max Lite | CallawayQuantum Max | CallawayQuantum Max D | CobraOPTM MAX-K | CobraOPTM MAX-D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $447 (TGW) | $649 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $449.99 (TGW) | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $399 (Cobra Golf) | $399.98 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) |
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 8°, 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 10.5°, 12° | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 10.5°, 12° |
| Adjustability | 8-position hosel: loft ±1.5°, lie up to 3° flatter than standard; 29 g back weight with draw, fade and neutral positions | 8-position hosel: loft ±1.5°, lie up to 3° flatter than standard; 32 g tungsten back weight with Neutral, Draw and Fade positions | 4° loft sleeve; four movable weights (9g ×2, 4g ×2) | 4° loft sleeve; two movable weights (13g and 4g) | 4° loft sleeve; one movable weight | OptiFit hosel with independent loft and lie settings; 10g weight for a neutral or draw setup | Hosel with independent loft and lie settings (eight configurations); fixed internal heel weighting | FutureFit33 hosel with 33 loft and lie settings (±2°); fixed 11g back weight | FutureFit33 hosel with 33 loft and lie settings (±2°); fixed 11g heel weight |
| Launch (maker’s rating) | Not recorded | Not recorded | Mid-High | High | High | Mid-High | High | High | High |
| Spin (maker’s rating) | Not recorded | Not recorded | Mid-Low | Mid | Mid | mid to low | Not recorded | Mid-low | Mid-low |
Launch and spin are each maker’s own rating, where the maker gives one.
Four that stop below 12°
| Specification | PingG440 LST | PingG440 SFT | TitleistGTS2 | CobraOPTM X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $447 (TGW) | $447 (TGW) | $699 (TGW) | $399 (Cobra Golf) |
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5° | 9°, 10.5° | 8°, 9°, 10°, 11° | 9°, 10.5° |
| Head size | 450cc | 460cc | 460cc | 460cc |
| Adjustability | Adjustable hosel: loft ±1.5° | 8-position hosel: loft ±1.5°, lie up to 3° flatter than standard; 23 g back weight with Draw (13-yard draw bias) and Draw+ (20-yard) positions | SureFit hosel and Dual Weighting System | FutureFit33 hosel with 33 loft and lie settings (±2°); two movable weights (11g, 3g) |
| Spin (maker’s rating) | Less | Not recorded | Not recorded | Low |
| Draw bias | Not published | Built in | Not recorded | None |
Two of these, the Ping G440 LST and the Cobra OPTM X, are described by their makers as lower-spin heads. Ping says the G440 SFT is built for slice correction; it comes in 9° and 10.5°.
One maker’s launch scale
TaylorMade rates the launch and spin of each Qi4D driver on its own scale, which shows how one maker pairs launch with loft.
| Specification | TaylorMadeQi4D | TaylorMadeQi4D Max | TaylorMadeQi4D Max Lite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $649.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) |
| Lofts | 8°, 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 9°, 10.5°, 12° | 10.5°, 12° |
| Launch (maker’s rating) | Mid-High | High | High |
| Spin (maker’s rating) | Mid-Low | Mid | Mid |
| Adjustability | 4° loft sleeve; four movable weights (9g ×2, 4g ×2) | 4° loft sleeve; two movable weights (13g and 4g) | 4° loft sleeve; one movable weight |
The two models TaylorMade rates “High” for launch, the Qi4D Max and Qi4D Max Lite, are both offered at 12°, and the Max Lite starts at 10.5°. The Qi4D, rated “Mid-High”, is the one TaylorMade offers at 8°.
Who each suits
- Slower swings, or drives that fly low. Start with 10.5° or 12°. All nine drivers in the first table are offered at 12°. TaylorMade rates the Qi4D Max and Qi4D Max Lite “High” for launch, and Callaway says the Quantum Max D is for “players needing forgiveness, draw bias, and easy launch.”
- Faster swings, or drives that climb and spin too much. Look at lower lofts and the heads makers describe as lower spin: Ping’s G440 LST, Cobra’s OPTM X, which Cobra calls “a low-spin, symmetrical design,” and TaylorMade’s Qi4D, which TaylorMade rates “Mid-Low” for spin and offers at 8°.
- Somewhere in between. Titleist’s GTS2 comes in 1° steps from 8° to 11°, so you can order a loft between the usual 9° and 10.5°.
- A slice. Loft and a draw-biased head can both help. Ping’s G440 SFT, Callaway’s Quantum Max D and Cobra’s OPTM MAX-D are all built to draw the ball, their makers say. Do you need a new driver? compares two of them.
New or used
The used listings we have found are on each product page under Used prices, with the condition grade the retailer states. Loft is easy to get wrong on a used driver, because an adjustable hosel may not be set to the loft printed on the head. If you buy used:
- Check the loft on the head and which hosel setting the sleeve is in, and compare it with the maker’s adjustment chart.
- Check that the shaft is the one described, with the flex and length listed.
- Adjustable hosel adapters are specific to each maker, so a shaft fitted with another maker’s adapter will not fit.
- Check the face and crown for cracks or dents, and ask whether the wrench is included.
- Counterfeit clubs exist. Buy from a seller who will take the club back.
Where to go next
- Driver Finder: answer three questions about your budget, your miss and what matters most.
- All drivers we have researched, with their latest price checks.
- Do you need a new driver?, before you spend the money.
- TaylorMade Qi4D Max vs Callaway Quantum Max, compared on what both makers publish.
- What a home launch monitor can and cannot tell you, if you want to see your own launch and spin.
- How we research, including what our evidence labels mean.
Sources
- Evidence: Verified
Ping publishes the G440 Max lofts, hosel loft and lie adjustability, 29-gram back weight with draw, fade and neutral positions, standard length, head size and stock shaft, and calls it the most forgiving G440 model.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. Ping lists the 8-position hosel and back weight in the page’s technology section; its spec table lists loft adjustability of ±1.5° and refers to “the five adjustable loft positions indicated on the hosel”.
- Evidence: Verified
Ping publishes the G440 K head size, lofts, hosel loft and lie adjustability, 32g tungsten back weight with Neutral, Draw and Fade positions, standard length and stock shaft, and describes the model as its straightest and most forgiving.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. Ping lists the 8-position hosel and back weight in the page’s technology section; its spec table lists loft adjustability of ±1.5° and refers to “the five adjustable loft positions indicated on the hosel”. The 32 g figure is from the page’s description (“A 32g adjustable weight”).
- Evidence: Researched
TaylorMade publishes the Qi4D lofts, head size, standard length, loft sleeve, movable weights, stock shafts, list price, and launch and spin ratings.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
TaylorMade publishes the Qi4D Max lofts, head size, loft sleeve, movable weights, standard length, stock shafts, list price, and launch and spin ratings, and describes maximum forgiveness.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
TaylorMade publishes the Qi4D Max Lite lofts, head size, standard length, loft sleeve, movable weight, stock shaft, list price, and launch and spin ratings, and calls the head ultra-forgiving.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the Quantum Max lofts, head size, standard length, hosel and weight adjustability, stock shaft, list price and launch rating, and describes mid to low spin.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the Quantum Max D lofts, head size, standard length, hosel adjustability, heel weighting, stock shaft and list price, and describes a slight draw bias, high launch and maximum forgiveness.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the OPTM MAX-K lofts, head size, FutureFit33 hosel settings, fixed back weight, standard length and list price, and says the model achieves its highest MOI.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the OPTM MAX-D lofts, head size, FutureFit33 hosel settings, fixed heel weight, standard length, stock shafts and list price, and says it is designed for maximum draw bias and slice correction.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Ping publishes the G440 LST lofts, hosel loft and lie adjustability, back weight with draw, fade and neutral positions, standard length, head size and stock shaft, and says it offers less spin and suits faster swings.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. Ping’s spec table lists loft adjustability of ±1.5° and refers to “the five adjustable loft positions indicated on the hosel”.
- Evidence: Verified
Ping publishes the G440 SFT lofts, hosel loft and lie adjustability, standard length, head size and stock shaft, and says its 23-gram adjustable back weight has Draw and Draw+ positions that promote a draw for slice correction.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. Ping lists the 8-position hosel and back weight in the page’s technology section; its spec table lists loft adjustability of ±1.5° and refers to “the five adjustable loft positions indicated on the hosel”.
- Evidence: Researched
Titleist publishes the GTS2 lofts, head size, standard length, SureFit hosel and Dual Weighting System, stock shafts and list price, and describes it as maximum forgiveness with the most stability in the GTS lineup.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the OPTM X lofts, head size, FutureFit33 hosel settings, adjustable weights and their positions, standard length, stock shafts and list price, and describes a low-spin design.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.