Golfers who swing at a slow tempo are the target audience for the lightest golf drivers, which are designed to accelerate on the downswing in order to achieve maximum energy transfer and ball speed. Because of this piece, you will be aware of the top six lightweight drivers for 2024 and will be able to determine whether or not they are suitable for your golf swing.
Here’s an overview of the 6 lightest golf drivers for 2024:
Cobra Air X Offset – Best Overall
Wilson Staff Launchpad – Most Forgiving
Mizuno ST-X Platinum – Most Accurate
Cleveland Launcher XL Lite – Most Stable
XXIO Prime 12 – Lightest
XXIO 12 – Best For Ladies
Seniors and golfers with high handicaps stand to profit the most from light drivers, despite the fact that every player could benefit from the speed aid that they provide. For the sake of this analysis, we will examine the best choices in terms of value, distance, forgiveness, and stability. Finally, I will conclude by highlighting the best and lightest driver for ladies, which will help you increase your distance off the tee.
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Top 3 Lightweight Golf Drivers
The 6 Lightest Golf Drivers For 2024
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1. Cobra Air X Offset – Overall Best Lightest Golf Driver
Pros
Minimizes the impact of slices
Promotes a high launch
Affordable
Lightweight design
Maintains ball speed on off-center strikes
Cons
The offset design is not the prettiest
No adjustable hosel
Weight
Clubhead: 182g
Stock Shaft: 48g
Stock Grip: 47g
Total: 277g
Swing Weight: D1.5
During testing, the Cobra Air X Offset was the most outstanding product, despite the fact that it was not the lightest overall in terms of weight. I appreciated how steady the swing speed was, how affordable it was, how forgiving it was, and how lightweight the build was. Additionally, the offset proved to be useful, as it mitigated the impact of slices, resulting in enhanced accuracy off the tee.
On account of the fact that I did not experience the same level of control into impact as I do with a heavier driver such as the Srixon ZX5 MKII, the 277-gram driver was found to be insufficient for my swing. Nevertheless, it is an ideal complement for slower swing rates, which necessitate acceleration on the downswing in order to achieve a more efficient transfer of energy.
I was pleased to find that the Back Heel Weighting reduced the amount of damage that was caused by off-center hits. The additional mass improved the ball’s stability at contact, which helped to maintain the ball’s speed while reducing its spin. Consequently, this resulted in a greater launch and a significant carry distance.
Finally, the consistency of the clubface was the quality that left the most impression. Because of its flexible construction, it was able to increase the area of contact between the spring and the surface, so widening the active zone and maintaining velocity across a greater surface area.
Rating: 4.4
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2. Wilson Staff Launch Pad – Most Forgiving Lightest Driver 2024
Pros
Maximum Forgiveness
Encourages straighter ball flight
Generates rapid ball speed
Moderately affordable
Produces faster clubhead speed
Cons
No adjustable hosel
Limited alternative stock shafts
Weight
Clubhead:162.5g
Stock Shaft: 55g
Stock Grip: 54.5g
Total: 272g
Swing Weight: D0
Despite the fact that the majority of light golf drivers offer some degree of forgiveness, the Wilson Staff Launch Pad provided the highest percentage of forgiveness. The ball was able to resist slices, the sweet spot was widened, and the ball was accelerated off the clubface, which resulted in optimal flight and carry distance. In spite of the fact that it is slightly more expensive than the Cobra Air X Offset, I still find the price to be appealing.
On strikes in which I created excessive wrist extension and pushed the clubface open, the draw bias proved to be an extremely useful instrument at my disposal. Due to its offset structure, it was easier to square the face in order to withstand slicing, which resulted in shots that were more straight.
As soon as my clubface made contact with the ball, the forgiveness continued to roll, which ultimately encouraged me to move quickly over the surface. Through the application of technological means, the engineers were able to adjust the face in order to increase the speed of the ball throughout a large portion of the clubface. This resulted in a launch and yardage from the tee that was consistent throughout.
I enjoyed the fact that the Staff Launch Pad has a high-launching character, which will be greatly welcomed by beginners and elderly who swing more slowly.
Swing Weight:Rating: 4.3
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3. Mizuno ST-X Platinum – Most Accurate Lightweight Driver
Pros
Generates straighter ball flight
Optimizes energy transfer
Lowers spin
Accelerates ball speed
Encourages a high launch
Cons
Premium price tag
The draw bias minimized my ability to induce a fade
Weight
Clubhead: N/A
Stock Shaft:45g
Stock Grip:44g
Total: N/A
Swing Weight: D1
The Mizuno ST-X Platinum proved to be highly accurate off the tee, thanks to its design that helps combat slices and promotes a draw-bias. The lightweight construction made it effortless to unload from the top of my swing, allowing for maximum power and acceleration into impact.
Mizuno engineers strategically adjusted the weight distribution near the shaft axis, resulting in increased offset and a draw bias that effectively counteracts slices. With the offset design, I was able to achieve a square clubface at contact, resulting in straighter golf shots. By redistributing mass to the shaft axis, the centre of gravity (CG) is lowered, resulting in a higher strike.
I thoroughly enjoyed the performance of the CORTECH Chamber, which enhanced my coefficient of restitution for a consistently strong strike. With the help of advanced engineering, the clubface-to-ball energy transfer was significantly enhanced by utilising the Elastomeric TPU material. This resulted in a notable increase in velocity and a reduction in spin revolutions.
The Mizuno ST-X Platinum impressed with its exceptional distance and accuracy, while also providing a strikingly loud sound and a satisfying feel upon impact. Similar to its rival light drivers, the ST-X Platinum offers the convenience of an adjustable hosel for modifying loft and lie angles.
Rating: 4.2
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4. Cleveland Launcher XL Lite – Most Stable Light Drivers Golf Clubhead
Pros
Stable at contact
Prevents ball speed loss
Super forgiving
Encourages higher ball flight
Moderately affordable
Cons
No alternative stock shaft brands
The enlarged head is not pretty
Weight
Clubhead: N/A
Stock Shaft: 48g
Stock Grip: 52g
Total: N/A
Swing Weight: D1
Cleveland didn’t say how much the XL Lite’s clubhead weighed, so it’s hard to say how much the whole thing weighed. But it felt very light in my hands, and it was simple to let go on the downswing as I sped up for contact. These drivers were great because they were stable, forgiving, and affordable.
The extra-large clubhead with a higher moment of inertia (MOI) seemed like it would be easy to keep stable when making contact. To get a steady launch, it helped me square the clubface, keep the ball’s speed, and limit its spin. The optimised clubhead mass also pushed the centre of gravity (CG) low and deep, which made it easier to hit shots that went higher.
I think people who are just starting out with slow swing speeds will like how light the club is and how big the head is. To save 12g, the engineers got rid of the flexible hosel. However, they added 0.25″ to the shaft to make the clubhead move faster.
Unfortunately, the extra length and light weight of the club made it hard for me to control my modest swing speed at impact. The thing that made my swing hard is a golden ticket for slow swingers to more power, speed, and distance.
Rating: 4.1
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5. XXIO Prime 12 – Overall Lightest Driver 2024
Pros
Lightest golf driver in 2024
Draw bias fights slices
High launching
Minimizes spin
Impressive ball speed
Cons
Exorbitant price tag
No alternative stock shaft options
Weight
Clubhead: 186g
Stock Shaft: 35g
Stock Grip: 26.5g
Total: 247.5g
Swing Weight: D1
There is only one driver that weighs less than 250 grammes, and it is the XXIO Prime 12 drivers. XXIO said the total weight is 254g, but with the Prime SP-1200 shaft and the light Prime Weight Plus grip, I got 247.5g.
I thought the clubface was hot, which made it rebound more at contact for more energy transfer, faster ball speed, and less spin. I thought the performance was good because the mix of the Rebound Frame and Titanium Flat Face made the flex, energy transfer, and speed into contact all better.
The ActivWing is another feature that slow-swing players will find very useful because it improves slipstream to speed up the swing at impact. I liked how easy it was to unload the light driver at the top of the swing, which increased ball speed and energy transfer while reducing spin.
It kept showing how gentle it was in the air, where the draw bias design made slices less severe to improve accuracy. I think this feature will help high handicappers the most and make it more likely for you to find the middle.
My main issue with the Prime 12 is that it costs four times as much as the Cobra Air X Offset, which I think is ridiculous. In real life, it makes sense to go with the cheaper Cobra. But I have to say that the XXIO Prime 12 has a lot of technology built in to make games better.
Rating: 3.8
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6. XXIO 12 – Lightest For Ladies
Pros
Incredibly forgiving
Fast clubface
Promotes a consistent launch
Aerodynamic clubhead
Stylish clubhead
Cons
Expensive
Higher swing speeds may find it difficult to control into impact
Weight
Clubhead: 195g
Stock Shaft: 34g
Stock Grip: 27g
Total: 251g
Swing Weight: C1
With their second entry on the list of the top lightest golf drivers with the greatest women’ construction, XXIO, the game improvement masters, have made their third appearance. We were blown away with the XXIO 12 Ladies due to its aerodynamic clubhead, powerful clubface, and accurate outcomes.
Due to the fact that my driver swing speed is slightly faster than that of the normal lady, this club requires a great deal more flexibility from me. My appreciation for its build lies in the fact that it is lightweight, simple to swing, and quick when it is on the downswing. To me, the elements that stood out the most were the Rebound Frame and the Flat Cup Face because of their ability to generate steady speed and their forgiving.
In addition to this, the ActivWing distinguished out due to its dual performance. It improved the aerodynamics of the clubhead during the downswing, which resulted in increased velocity, and it stabilised the clubface when it made contact with the ball. To provide a forceful launch, the driver head was designed to have a balance that efficiently minimised the loss of ball speed and contained spin.
The work that was done on the 6-Segment Bulge And Roll, which is XXIO’s response to the Corrective Face Curvature design on TaylorMade woods like the SIM 2 Max, was something that I found to be quite impressive. The remarkable forgiveness of this driver is demonstrated by the fact that you are able to benefit from continuous speed and spin regardless of where you strike it on the face. This allows you to achieve a desirable launch.
Rating: 3.7
FAQ
What Is The Lightest Golf Driver Shaft?
In terms of golf driver shafts for men, the 35g SP-1200 Graphite Shaft from XXIO is the lightest option available. With a weight of 34 grammes, the MP-1200L is the lightest ladies’ shaft available.
What Weight Driver Do Pros Use?
In general, professionals use drivers that weigh more than 300 grammes. Scottie Scheffler, who holds the number one spot in the world, has a driver who weights just a little bit less than 330 grammes. Controlling a heavier driver is simpler than controlling a lighter type that is more flexible.
Should Older Golfers Use Lighter Clubs?
The usage of lighter golf clubs is recommended for older golfers since it is simpler to release the club from the top, which allows for optimal acceleration into impact. It came to my attention that my late father’s performance in his senior years was significantly improved by the use of lighter golf clubs.
Additionally, it is beneficial to my current playing companion, who, at the age of 55, has recently made the transition to lighter clubs. He is now able to generate distance and accuracy that is more constant.
Conclusion
These feather clubs are simpler to manage for slow swing speeds, according to my top lightest golf drivers, which revealed that they are more lightweight. A hassle-free solution to unloading at the top of the swing and speeding into impact for improved contact was provided by the lightweight structure of the swing.
The help of the lightest drivers should be utilised by senior citizens and high handicappers who have sluggish swing speeds in order to achieve even more consistency. During the impact, I became aware that I had lost control of the clubface. This was due to the fact that the flexible shaft and high torque caused an excessive amount of spring into the ball. However, this is more of a problem with my moderate swing speed than anything more.
Every single one of the lightest drivers that were mentioned above was extremely forgiving, had a high launch, and was consistent. The Cobra Air X Offset, on the other hand, emerged victorious when I considered both its performance and its value for the money they offered. It lasted for a long time, was cheap, and was gentle.