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 driver)
- Cobra Air X (best for pure forgiveness)
- Callaway Big Bertha (a total classic updated)
Super option for senior golfers and golfers below 90mph swing speed
The Launcher XL Lite is a great addition to the 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 a simple alignment aid and matte finish.
With the Launcher XL it's all about ease of use. 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
Cons
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 Wilson have designed for years. I think it looks like a Titleist TSi1 which is a stunner of a club.
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
Cons
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
Cons
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.
Pro Mo on my channel is a STEALTH convert after playing Callway for years. He is meticulous with his equipment so if he's gaming something oyu can be sure that it's the best out there on the market in terms of performance.
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° lofts and 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
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
Cons
Classic name brings classic forgiveness and distance
The Big Bertha is a famous name in golf. It was one of the first "proper" drivers of the modern golf era and changed the way clubs were made forever. The new Big Bertha replaces the excellent B21 driver and has 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 Big Bertha 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 Big Bertha design to help these golfers, usually slower swing speeds, to get the ball higher, further, longer, more fun.
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 perfectly and 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 a REGULAR shaft.
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 called SR - 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.
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.
