Equipment
GolfWRX Gear Trials: What’s the best driver of 2018?
There’s a long-standing question in the golf equipment world, and it goes something like this: “What determines the best driver on the market?”
Here at GolfWRX, we believe the opinions of both professional fitters and feedback from knowledgable amateur golfers can best help consumers find the right answer for them and their individual games. That’s why our 2018 Gear Trials consists of a Members Choice and a Fitters Choice.
Members Choice
To determine Members Choice, we polled our GolfWRX Members — the most passionate and knowledgeable community of golfers in the world — allowing them to vote on up to three different drivers. We then compiled their feedback on each of the selections.
Click here to see the winners of Members Choice!
Fitters Choice
To determine Fitters Choice, we polled GolfWRX-approved fitters about the current driver offerings. We not only asked them what they consider to be the best drivers, but also a number of more comprehensive questions regarding what driver may work best for different types of golfers. If nothing else, the Fitters Choice article will give you a better understanding of how the designs of different drivers have an effect on performance of golfers in the real world.
Click here to see the winners of Fitters Choice!
As you scroll through all of the data and feedback in Gear Trials 2018, please remember that the specific driver setup that works for someone else will, in all likelihood, NOT be the right selection for you. The point of Gear Trials is to arm golfers with information and knowledgable opinions about the newest drivers on the market. If you plan on purchasing a new driver, we ask that you go to a professional fitter, or at the very least conduct testing of the products on your own. Do not make a buying decision based strictly off the opinion of someone else.
Below are the drivers that were available to the members and the fitters to vote upon. For more information on each of the drivers, simply click on the text.
Bridgestone
Callaway
Cleveland
Cobra
Mizuno
Ping
PXG
Srixon
TaylorMade
Titleist
Tour Edge
Vertical Groove Golf
Wilson
XXIO
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
ogo
Apr 2, 2018 at 2:44 pm
WOW!!!! I can’t wait for the best drivers of 2019… longer straighter super adjustable and better than ever …. :-O
Matthew Sanker
Mar 31, 2018 at 7:15 pm
Not surprised. I’m addicted to PING and switched from the G400 to the GMAX. Can’t go wrong
Bipcoin
Apr 1, 2018 at 1:40 am
Cool story bro