Low handicap golfers with faster swing speeds often produce too much spin with regular drivers, causing high ball flight and a loss of carry distance. As a result, they turn to the best low spin drivers to keep their revolutions per minute down and their distance up.

In this post, I uncover the 5 best low spin drivers for 2023 to boost your distance and accuracy from the tee.

Although these drivers typically favor more advanced golfers, they still provide ample forgiveness, ball speed, and accuracy on all shots.

Who Low Spin Drivers are Best Suited For

In my experience, low spin drivers best suit golfers with higher swing speeds looking for a lower launch and maximum distance. Low spin drivers prevent these faster swing speeds from ballooning shots and losing vital yards off the tee box.

What to Look for in a Good Low Spin Driver

Low Launch

Golfers with higher swing speeds often desire drivers with low launch profiles to prevent ballooning tee shots and losing carry distance. Therefore, low spin drivers are frequently available in moderate and low loft profiles for a lower launch.

Besides the loft profile, you might consider a driver with a low and forward center of gravity (CG). In my experience, these drivers offer exceptionally low spin and launch compared to low and back CG drivers.

Flexible Clubface

Low spin drivers restrict your revolutions per minute, which is ideal when you strike the ball in the sweet spot. However, when you catch it in the heel, toe, or low off the club face, you find it demanding to get the ball in the air.

This is why I suggest searching for a flexible clubface, which maintains ball pace on off-center strikes. For example, the TaylorMade Stealth+ features a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, which helps the clubface impart adequate speed and spin on the ball for a consistent launch.

Stiff Shaft

Flexible golf shafts often produce high spin and a high launch to help slower swing speeds get airborne and maximize carry distance. For a low spin driver, a stiff golf shaft in a graphite design is your best option.

The structure will prevent added whip into the ball at impact to improve your control, energy transfer, and golf ball speed. As a result, you stand a higher chance of launching your ball low, with accelerated velocity and restricted spin.

5 Top Low Spin Drivers

1. Ping G425 LST – Best Overall Low Spin Driver

Pros

• Produces rapid ball speed across the clubface
• Forgiving
• Promotes straighter shots for improved dispersion
• Adjustable hosel
• Moveable CG weight for your preferred shot shape

Cons

• Not the cheapest driver on the market
• The loft profiles are not suited to slower swing speed

Golfers with faster swing speeds require a driver that limits spin, lowers launch, and increases playability without eradicating forgiveness. I find the Ping G425 LST excels in these areas to claim the overall best driver to lower spin in 2023.

Ping engineers attached a refined 445 cc pear-shaped head to reduce spin by up to 400 rpm compared to the G410 LST. As a result, I achieved a lower, more controlled launch with a reduced driver spin rate for maximum distance off the tee.

In addition, the aerodynamic Refined Crown Turbulators boosted my swing speed on the downswing for a powerful strike across the clubface. Plus, I appreciated the enhanced moment of inertia (MOI) for improved accuracy brought about by the Internal Dragonfly Technology.

The Precision Forged Face improved flexibility, which helps preserve ball velocity on low-face strikes. This produced consistent launch and yardage on all strikes.

Finally, Ping offers the G425 LST in a 9 and 10.5-degree loft profile and an adjustable hosel and moveable CG weight, enabling you to achieve your optimized launch angle and shot shape.

2. Callaway Epic Max LS – Best Value For Money Lower Launch Driver

Pros

• More affordable than its competitors
• Adjustable CG weight
• Adjustable hosel
• Rapid ball pace across the clubface
• Increased MOI

Cons

• Limited loft profiles for slower swing speed golfer
• Slow swing speeds may struggle to consistently launch this driver

A new driver can set you back over $500 if you desire the creme de la creme of big sticks. However, we can find plenty of affordable drivers built for golfers on a budget. The Callaway Epic Max LS is our best value-for-money low spin driver for its versatility, forgiveness, distance, and launch.

The A.I. Jailbreak Speed Frame prompted exceptional golf ball speed on all strikes because of its torsional and horizontal stability. I felt the perimeter-weighted, high MOI design paired well with the Speed Frame to compliment the velocity with accuracy.

Callaway included an adjustable weight to alter your CG position for varying shot shapes. Although one should avoid tinkering excessively, it allows you to adjust the curve by up to 13 yards. An equal quantity is provided by the Epic Speed.

Lastly, the Epic Max LS possesses an adjustable hosel to change your loft, club face lie, and produce your desired launch angle.

3. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS – Most Forgiving Low Spin Driver

Pros

• Maximum Forgiveness
• Preserves ball speed and lowers spin
• Increased MOI for greater accuracy
• Lightning face
• Adjustable hosel

Cons

• Some high swing speeds may detest the mid-launch
• Expensive

Even a mid or low handicap can use forgiveness off the tee to achieve optimal ball flight and yardage. In my experience, the Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS offers improved leniency due to its flexible clubface, stable frame, and enhanced MOI.

Whenever I struck the ball off-center, I still produced adequate lift and distance to remain in contention on my approach shot. The combination of a 20-gram Tungsten Speed Cartridge and a flexible A.I. designed club face maintained ball speed and lowered spin on every strike.

Adding to the forgiveness is a high MOI design brought about by the Tungsten Speed Cartridge. I found this structure resisted twisting during the swing to keep my clubface square to the target at contact. This produced improved accuracy for improved fairways in regulation record.

Callaway engineers worked to minimize the spin rate by reducing the head size to 450cc, which also enabled moderate playability. Finally, the Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS is offered in a 9 and 10.5-degree loft, which can be strengthened by 1 degree and weakened by 2 degrees.

4. Cobra LTDx LS – Best Low Spin Driver For Longer Drives

Pros

• Exceptional distance
• Blistering ball speed
• Enhanced sweet spot
• Adjustable CG weight and hosel
• Promotes accelerated clubhead speed

Cons

• Super expensive for the average golfer
• There are no lofts suitable for slow swing speeds

One of the reasons faster swing speeds seek a low spin driver is the added distance it provides. During testing, the Cobra LTDx LS traveled further than its peers and produced incredibly low spin and exceptional ball speed. Plus, it features an adjustable hosel and CG weight for greater versatility.

I felt the PWR-COR technology was sensational and seemed to help me maintain ball pace and reduce spin across the club face. It seems pushing the CG low and further forward does wonders for spin control.

The PWR-COR technology was backed up by the H.O.T Face, which optimized the thickness of the face across an expansive area. This allowed me to generate desirable spin and speed on most strikes.

Lastly, Cobra fitted an adjustable heavy and light CG weight and adjustable hosel. You can place the adjustable weight in the heel or toe to alter the flight bias of your shots while the hosel changes your loft and lie angle.

5. TaylorMade Stealth+ – Best Sounding Driver With Less Spin

Pros

• Amplified acoustics
• Soft feel
• Attractive finish
• Highly forgiving
• Optimizes launch and carry distance

Cons

• Expensive
• Larger clubface than previous models

Finishing the list of best drivers with low spin rates is our top-sounding golf driver. The combination of a 60X Carbon Twist Face and Nanotexture cover on the TaylorMade Stealth+ delivers a soft feel and amplified acoustics on tee shots.

The polyurethane nanotexture cover, which protects the 60 layers of carbon, softened the feel of each strike. It is supported by a robust internal ribbing structure, stabilizing the driver at contact and boosting MOI to maintain ball speed and refine spin.

In addition, an Asymmetric Inertia Generator improves the aerodynamics of the driver head, which helps you accelerate clubhead speed on the downswing. Plus, a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket enhances the flexibility of the lower clubface to ensure ball zip and low spin on all shots.

I also appreciated the versatility provided by the 10-gram sliding track weight, which enabled me to alter my shot shape. Finally, an adjustable hosel helps you strengthen or weaken the 9 and 10.5-degree stock lofts.

Related Reading: Check out our 20 golf driving tips to hit longer and straighter. Once you have your ideal low spin driver, these tips will help you boost your accuracy and distance off the tee box.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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Callaway is no stranger to forgiving, high-launching drivers which deliver optimal yardage for the average golfer. In this post, I provide a detailed Callaway Epic Max driver review to help you determine if it suits your swing.

You’ll find this driver produces high forgiveness, rampant ball speed, and moderate spin for a consistently elevated launch. In addition, its draw bias profile helps amateur golfers fight slices for straighter drivers.

So, how does it achieve this? Read further to learn about the inner workings of the most forgiving of the Epic drivers.

Features

A.I Designed Jailbreak Speed Frame

At times I feel Mark Zuckerberg is pulling strings at Callaway, given their liberal use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in their products. I am not complaining because it takes forgiveness and consistency to another level.

Previous jailbreak architectures only stabilized the clubface vertically, while the new construction provides torsional direction stability. In my experience, this generated consistent ball speed across an expanded zone for consistent yardage on all shots.

A.I Designed Flash Face

You can see what I mean when I say Callaway engineers enjoy AI. The engineers designed the clubface with AI, to optimize the spin and speed over a wider area of the clubface. You’ll notice this prompts fast speeds, even on heel and toe mishits, to mitigate a loss of yards.

Lighter Triaxial Carbon Material

Another stroke of genius in the production of the Callaway Epic Max driver is the use of a triaxial carbon material. You’ll notice the frame is constructed with this material instead of titanium, enabling the engineers to save 19 grams of weight.

They then took this mass and applied it low and deep for a low center of gravity (CG) and high moment of inertia (MOI). I produced a consistent, elevated launch on all shots due to the CG position, while the MOI kept my clubface square for straighter shots.

Sliding Rear Weight

Sticking with mass-related features, I introduce you to the 17-gram sliding rear weight. You’ll find a simple tweak of the position alters the shot bias of your drives. Its factory setting is a draw bias to help restrict side spin and prompt straighter flight, but you can change it as you see fit.

If you find the draw bias setup is delivering hooks, you can alter the position to a neutral or fade bias. Callaway suggests the weight can correct your shot shape by 20-yards, but I achieved an average of 12-yards.

Optifit Hosel

In addition to the CG shifting rear weight, the Epic Max is equipped with an Optifit hosel, which enables you to adjust the loft and lie angle of the clubface. You’ll see that it has four adjustment settings to strengthen, weaken or keep it neutral.

I found the hosel allowed me to reduce loft by 1 degree to lower my launch and spin off the tee. Conversely, I reduced the loft by 2 degrees when I wanted a high, consistent tee shot. For example, if I acquire a 10.5-degree, I can strengthen the driver loft to 9.5-degrees and weaken it up to 12.5-degrees.

Lofts

As with most drivers, the forgiving Epic Max is offered in 3 loft profiles to cater to slow, moderate, and fast swing speeds. You’ll notice your lowest lofted option is a 9-degree driver, which you can reduce to 8 degrees or weaken to 11 degrees.

A 10.5-degree lofted design is the middle child in the series and provides the ideal platform for golfers with moderate speeds to produce a medium-level flight. However, if the flight is too high for you, you can strengthen the loft to 9.5-degrees or increase it to 12.5-degrees.

Your final option is a 12-degree setup, which is brilliant for slower swing speeds, such as seniors or beginners. In addition, you can shave off a degree and set it at 11 degrees for a lower launch. Conversely, you can increase it to 14 degrees for an easier high launch.

Shafts

A stock Callaway Epic Max driver is constructed with two shaft options from the Project X stable. The two shafts offer more choices for moderate and higher swing speeds in the form of regular, stiff, and extra-stiff shafts.

The Project X Cypher 40 shafts are the best bet for slower swing speeds, as it is the only construction offered in a senior flex. In addition, this graphite shaft carries a regular, stiff, and extra-stiff shaft. Naturally, you’ll find these flex designs are ideal for moderate and faster swing speeds.

I found the Cypher 40 shafts helped me achieve an incredibly increased apex, which higher handicappers may appreciate. In my case, I felt like I ballooned my shots and lost carry and total distance.

Contrarily, the HZRDOUS Smoke IM10 shafts are a wise choice for golfers seeking a mid-to-low launch for greater control off the tee box. You’ll find these are only offered in a stiff and regular flex which works for moderate and fast driver swing speeds.

Performance

Price

Despite its mature age in the artillery of Callaway driver releases, the Epic Max is not the cheapest pick out there. Permitted, it is lower than the latest release, the Rogue ST range, but still expensive for an older model.

However, it possesses advanced game improvement technology to offer forgiveness and consistency and is constructed with premium materials. Therefore, it is a durable, reliable golf club that will carry you in the years ahead.

Feel and Sound

I found the Epic Max provided a solid feel and I could feel my ball springing off the face. Plus, it produced a clean-sounding ping off the super strong titanium face, which every golfer will appreciate.

Spin

I produced more spin than usual, reaching 3500 RPM on average. As you can imagine, this resulted in a higher launch, perfect for slower-swinging mid and high-handicappers. However, my apex was too high for my liking, causing me to lose carry and total distance.

Let’s not get bogged down with my preferences. I feel the escalated spin will benefit those who struggle to consistently get their ball airborne. Players seeking a lower launch without sacrificing forgiveness should test the Callaway Epic Max LS driver.

Forgiveness

You’ll find this edition offers superior forgiveness compared to the Callaway Epic Flash driver, thanks to its draw bias profile and enlarged sweet spot. Although it will not eradicate your slices, it will reduce the severity of the curve.

What I Like About The Callaway Epic Max

Consistent Ball Speed

I appreciated the consistency of my ball speed provided by the A. I designed Jailbreak Speed Frame and A.I. constructed flash face. Together, helped me maintain ball speed on heel and toe strikes to produce adequate distance on all shots.

Accuracy

You’ll find the combination of a high MOI construction and draw bias profile help high handicappers combat slices. In addition, the high MOI setup is designed to help you square your clubface at impact and produce straighter ball flight.

Forgiveness

From promoting straighter shots and a high launch and maintaining ball speed on all strikes, the Epic Max is incredibly lenient. I feel it is ideal for high handicappers struggling to find fairways or produce a consistently elevated launch.

Versatility

I never suggest tinkering with your loft and weight position, but it is nice to know that you have the option. The optifit hosel allows you to alter your driver loft and lie angle to produce a higher or lower trajectory. Plus, the rear sliding weight helps you set up the driver for a draw, fade, or neutral shape.

High Launch

Finally, I must mention the high launch produced by this driver, as it is highly beneficial to slow-swinging golfers. It is not my preference, but it is easy to swing and launch high on every shot.

What I Dislike About The Callaway Epic Max

Price

Even though Callaway has released the Rogue ST range of the Epic drivers, the Max still carries a lofty price tag.

Spin

I did not enjoy the elevated spin rate because it caused me to balloon tee shots and lose carry distance. However, this will suit slower swingers. If you have the same feeling, look at the Epic Max low-spin driver.

Limited Workability

The high MOI design and draw bias profile prevented me from inducing a draw or a fade. This is not important for high handicappers who need to focus on hitting straight but may annoy you later as you enter the ranks of a mid-handicapper.

Overall Rating and Thoughts

Overall, my Callaway Epic Max driver review has revealed that I am mostly optimistic about the performance. I felt it provided exceptional forgiveness, consistent ball speed and encourages straighter ball flight.

Mid-handicappers can benefit from the forgiveness and consistency of this golf club. However, I feel it is high-handicap golfers who stand to extract the highest value from this forgiving driver.

Overall Rating: 91/100

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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There are fewer satisfying feelings in golf than flushing an iron shot to within a few feet of the pin.

Unfortunately, this happens less often than it should, leading to amateurs despising their irons. In this post, I teach you 8 tips to hit your irons pure, for optimal distance and spin on approach.

I will take you through every step of the golf swing from your stance to the low point, helping you strike cleaner iron strikes for superior consistency. In addition, I shall touch on the mistakes amateurs typically make when swinging an iron.

What Does Hitting Irons Pure Mean?

Butch Harmon explains that you hit your irons pure when you connect the ball on your downswing and avoid scooping it up off the floor. In other words, you strike the ball before the clubhead touches the ground. That results in your low point occurring after impact.

Professionals strike the ball and then proceed to take a divot out. Because of the optimal compression at impact, they produce significant distance compared to most amateur golfers.

Tiger Woods illustrated that perfectly at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open. After every shot that he hits, he moves the ball back, and at the end, there is a long straight divot. That shows how he flushes most of his iron strikes and achieves optimal distance and spin control:

As amateurs, I suggest focusing less on your divot and more on making clean contact with the ball. If you can consistently do that, you will notice a remarkable improvement in your iron yardage and accuracy.

8 Tips to Hit Your Irons Pure

Tip #1: Stand Closer To The Ball

Remember, your irons carry shorter shafts than a driver. Therefore, you need to restructure your setup for striking the more compact clubheads. Before you decide on your preferred ball position, take a few practice swings so that you can catch the ball on your downswing.

If you stand too far away from the ball, you will attempt to correct your plane during your swing, causing you to reach for the ball. That can lead to shots out of the toe of the club or an open clubface at impact.

Tip #2: Forward Weight

Contrary to the age-old theory, the first step to pure iron shots is to place approximately 60% of your weight onto your front foot. Some coaches believe that sets you up to lose balance at impact, but it helps get you into position for a pure strike.

Me And My Golf explain that this position enables you to strike down on the ball and generate optimal compression at impact:

If you place excess pressure on your back foot, it prompts you to hit up on the ball. That is suitable for a tee shot, but not irons, as It can cause you to strike the ground before the ball, resulting in a topped shot or loss of power at impact.

Tip #3: Ball In Line With Lead Heel

Harmon recommends employing the same ball position for every iron shot. He favors aligning it with the logo on your shirt, which works for right-handers, but not so much for lefties. If your legs are shoulder-width apart, your logo lineups with your lead heel.

Me And My Golf agrees with Harmon and offers a simple solution for consistency with your ball positioning. They also recommend placing the ball on the inside of your front heel for all shots. But suggest moving your back foot to widen your stance for different clubs.

For example, if you are hitting a 3-iron, you will move your trailing foot a few inches back to widen the stance. That helps you cater for the longer club and still promotes you strike it cleanly on your downswing.

Furthermore, if you are hitting a 7-iron or 8-iron, you should position your trailing foot closer to your front leg. That closes your stance slightly.

Finally, if you hit a 9-iron or wedge, you need to bring your back foot slightly closer to the lead leg than you would for a mid-iron shot. That helps you cater for the shorter iron length without impacting the rotation of your hips and torso. Thus, delivering for a clean strike.

Basically, you never change the position of your ball. You only reposition your trailing leg to widen or shorten your setup.

Tip #4: Rotation

A standard error made by amateurs is swaying from the front leg to the back leg. This eradicates all momentum produced from supreme hip rotation.

When you sway away from the target, you place all your weight on your back leg and send the club offline. It is challenging to shift your weight back to your front foot and can lead to you hitting the ground before the ball.

The other problem with limiting rotation is that amateurs struggle to get their club on plane when the shaft is parallel to the ground. That could cause the golfer to hit across the ball and generate side spin that prompts a slice.

Tip #5: Swing Wide

Although your backswing doesn’t determine the outcome of your shot, an incorrect takeaway can send your club off the target line, causing an erratic strike.

Harmon recommends that you swing wide to the top so that your hands are towards your trailing shoulder and not by your head. You need optimal rotation to get into this position at the top of your backswing.

Once you are in this position, it prompts the desired swing path bringing the clubface square to the ball at impact.

Tip #6: Straight Line Release

Clay Ballard recommends that rotation is the answer to getting the golf club out in front to catch the ball before the low point of your swing. He explains that you achieve that by opening your shoulders and hips through contact for supreme power:

The momentum from this action sends the clubhead hurtling towards the ball, helping increase the coefficient of restitution (COR) for optimal ball speed. By following this approach, you enjoy crisp iron shots and increased yardage.

Tip #7: Strike The Ball On Your Downswing

One reason why the average golfer struggles to strike irons is because of the angle of attack. Unlike a driver, where you hit the ball on your upswing, irons require contact on your downswing.

If you strike the ground before your ball, you will hit it fat, or your clubhead could bounce up and catch the top of the ball. That is why the clubface needs to catch the ball before it touches the turf.

Me And My Golf demonstrates a handy drill that you can do on the driving range. Draw a line with chalk and place five to ten balls on it. Next, focus on hitting down and catching the ball cleanly. Executing this drill should leave your chalk line intact. If there are any divots on the line, it shows that you hit the ground before the ball.

Another drill that you can undertake to promote pure iron shots requires only your golf towel. Place the cloth a few inches behind the ball, and focus on bringing the clubhead down after it. That will help you get used to the motion of hitting down on the ball.

Tip #8: Low Point

The term low point is self-explanatory. It means the lowest point that the golf club head reaches in your swing arc. Your clubface needs to strike the golf ball towards the bottom of your downswing for optimal compression of your golf ball at impact.

That means that the low point comes after impact. You can practice this drill using the chalk method of Me And My Golf, and you don’t actually need any golf balls. Draw the chalk line, and focus on hitting the turf after it.

Therefore, you will improve your muscle memory of the motion to consistently repeat that swing.

As your ball striking improves, you can start to take larger divots on your iron shots and learn how to impart controlled back or sidespin on the ball. However, as a beginner or high handicapper, focus on catching the ball cleanly first.

How Do You Hit Your Irons Pure Every Time?

By following the above instructions and tips, you should begin to enjoy consistent iron strikes. Stand closer to the ball than you do with woods or hybrids, and strike it before the clubface catches the fairway.

Hitting down increases your compression at impact, thus imparting accelerated speed onto the ball. That leads to maximum distance with your irons.

Saying it is easier than executing it, which is why you need to put the practice in to perfect the art of ball striking. Without practice, you cannot train your muscle memory. That makes it harder to repeat the required downswing for optimal distance.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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The strongest field of the new season is on tap this week as the PGA Tour heads west for the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay highlights a Shriners Children’s Open 2022 field that features 12 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Cantlay is playing his first event of the season’s fall portion after going 3-1-0 for the victorious United States team at the 2022 Presidents Cup two weeks ago. The International Team from that event also is well represented this week, led by South Korean Sungjae Im, who is back to defend his 2021 Shriners title. Tom Kim, who spurred on the Internationals with his energy and went 2-3-0 in the 17.5-12.5 Team USA victory at Quail Hollow, also is set for his first PGA Tour event of the season. The 20-year-old was a finalist for 2021-22 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Max Homa, who won the Fortinet Championship before going 4-0-0 in Team USA’s victory, also is among the stars in the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open field.

The latest 2022 Shriners Children’s Open odds list Cantlay as a 13-2 favorite, with Im (10-1) and Homa (14-1) not far behind. Among the other contenders in the Shriners Children’s Open 2022 field are Aaron Wise (18-1) and Kim (30-1), with every other golfer listed at 40-1 or longer. Before making any 2022 Shriners Children’s Open picks, be sure you check out the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from golf insider Patrick McDonald.

After spending time at FanSided and NBC Sports EDGE, McDonald joined CBS Sports as a golf writer in the spring of 2022. Now covering the sport from a broader perspective, McDonald still likes to dip his toes into the betting pools on a weekly basis on the PGA Tour.

He takes a measured approach to his outright selections and finished the 2021-22 season up 42 units on those plays, having hit Cameron Smith (22-1) at the Tournament of Champions, Hudson Swafford (250-1) at The American Express, Joaquin Niemann (70-1) at the Genesis Invitational and Justin Thomas (66-1) live at the PGA Championship.

McDonald hit both of his head-to-head matchup plays at last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship, and long-shot play Dean Burmester just missed cashing in at 66-1. The 33-year-old rookie stormed up the leaderboard on the weekend but ran out of time and finished fourth, just two strokes back.

Now, McDonald has studied the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open field and is locking in his best bets, top sleepers and favorites to avoid. You can head to SportsLine now to see all his PGA picks and predictions. 

Top 2022 Shriners Children’s Open expert picks

Shockingly, McDonald is fading Homa, one of the biggest names in the field and one of the clear favorites. The expert knows the 31-year-old already has a victory this year and also performed well in the Presidents Cup, but he also has seen the Californian’s track record at TPC Summerlin. Homa has played this event five times, and he missed the cut in four of them and finished 30th in the other. He doesn’t hit the green as often as he will need to in Las Vegas, as he ranked 110th in greens in regulation last season and was 82nd on tour in scrambling.

On the other hand, the expert is looking forward to seeing if Cantlay can continue his excellent play at Summerlin. He won the 2017 Shriners for his first career victory and also was a runner-up twice before finishing eighth in his last appearance in 2020. He is 70 under par over those four events. Cantlay finished in the top 10 in 12 of his 20 tournaments last season, winning twice, including the BMW Championship playoff event, and finishing as a runner-up three times. He was sixth on tour in scoring average (49.468) and fifth in birdie average (4.44). See who else to pick here.

How to make 2022 Shriners Children’s Open golf picks

Before this week’s PGA Tour event in Las Vegas, McDonald has locked in his best bets for the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open. He is backing several massive long shots to win, including one golfer who comes in at almost 100-1. You can only see all of the expert’s picks at SportsLine.

So which 2022 Shriners Children’s Open picks should you target? Which golfer priced at almost 100-1 could pull off a stunning victory this week at the Shriners Children’s Open 2022? Check out the odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Patrick McDonald’s top prop picks for Shriners Children’s Open 2022, all from the expert who ended last season up 42 units on outright plays.

2022 Shriners Children’s Open odds, field, top contenders

See full Shriners Children’s Open 2022 picks, best bets, and predictions here. 

Patrick Cantlay 13-2
Sungjae Im 10-1
Max Homa 14-1
Aaron Wise 18-1
Tom Kim 30-1

more odds coming soon …

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The weirdest golf year in recent memory delivered perhaps the strangest start to a season in PGA Tour history. Max Homa (-16) won the Fortinet Championship on Sunday over Danny Willett (-15) by a single stroke, but that doesn’t even begin to tell the story of what happened at Silverado Country Club on Sunday afternoon.

The duo played in the final trio in the final round in Napa, the first of 47 PGA Tour events in the 2022-23 season, and both took the tee box on the first hole one back of their third playing partner, Justin Lower, who began the day at 13 under. Lower played decent golf for the first nine holes, but both Homa and Willett caught him, and it became mostly a two-man race on the second nine.

It was a race that Willett appeared as if he was going to win following a heroic birdie on the par-4 14th hole from behind a tree. That moved him to 16 under on the week and put him one up on Homa going into the final four holes.

Both men parred the next three, which meant Willett’s one-stroke lead still stood on the 18th tee box. What happened over the next 20 minutes was astounding.

How it unfolded on No. 18

On the 576-yard closing hole, Willett hit a poor drive out to the right but got back in position and on his third shot hit a filthy wedge to 3 feet 7 inches for a birdie that would have put him at 17 under and guaranteed a win unless Homa made eagle.

Homa was not going to make eagle. He left his 3-wood approach short of the green in a bunker and then didn’t reach the green with his third shot out of the sand. Standing 32 feet from the cup in a low spot around the 18th green, with Willett’s marker — not even 4 feet away from the cup — staring back at him, Homa knew he would have to hole his birdie chip attempt. And then he did.

Remember, that didn’t guarantee victory or even a playoff, though. Willett had a short 3-foot, 7-inch putt for birdie to pull ahead of Homa and win the tournament moments after Homa tied him at 16 under. He hit the birdie putt almost 9 feet, which meant he still had another 5 feet coming back for par and a playoff with Homa. Incredibly, he missed that one, too.

It was the first time all week anyone in the field had three-putted from inside of 5 feet. Everyone who made the cut was T1 in three-putt avoidance from 5 feet and closer. They all finished 100% at avoiding three putts from that distance or closer. Poor Danny Willett was 73rd at 95%.

‘It was a wild finish’

Willett said after the round that he was not surprised by Homa chipping in ahead of his three-putt and that he was proud of the way he started his new season. A win here would have been his ninth in 355 career OWGR events but just his second on the PGA Tour.

“I expected him to do it,, but then it’s still a bit of a shock when it happens,” Willett said. “We all played really good today. Like I said, bit of a shame to kind of finish how I did.”

“Obviously going to remember that last, but good week, nice to be in contention basically all week from Friday,” added Willett. “Yeah, just a shame how I finished but that’s golf, we’re going to do it again another day. yeah, a bit disappointing finish to the round, but you’re trying to hole it. Hit it a little bit too firm.”

 Homa said his head was spinning at what had transpired.

“Last like three minutes are kind of a blur, but I played really good golf, I played solid,” Homa said. “Danny and Justin both played great, but I just tried to play my game and just see where it got me. I don’t know, it was a wild finish.”

Exciting ending gives Homa vintage victory

The victory is Homa’s second straight at the Fortinet Championship and his fourth in his last 41 starts worldwide. Incredibly, nobody has more individual OWGR victories since the start of 2021. Not Rory McIlroy (4). Not Scottie Scheffler (4). Not Sam Burns, Viktor Hovland or Xander Schauffele (all also 4).

It has been true for over a year now, but given his early-career struggles, it remains wild that Homa has become such a consistent winner and such a threat at all events, but especially so when he’s one of the top few players in the field (which has become most events he plays in). His finish on Sunday was indicative of a player who has matured into a star on the PGA Tour, but it was also indicative of an insane sport that seemingly never delivers a bland week.

In fact, a sleepy few days in wine country had all the makings of one of the more low-key tournaments of the entire calendar year, and that’s how it went for most of the first 71 holes. Then it suddenly turned and we got a hole-out, an abysmal three-putt and perhaps the most shocking final few minutes we’ll see on the PGA Tour from now through next year’s Tour Championship.

Rick Gehman and Greg Ducharme recap a full weekend of global golf action. Follow & listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Max Homa moved into position to defend his title at the Fortinet Championship, shooting a 5-under 67 on Friday to share the early 36-hole lead with Danny Willett at the PGA Tour’s season opener.

Homa, a two-time winner last season and a captain’s pick for next week’s Presidents Cup, had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey — his first of the week — for a two-day total of 12-under 132 at Silverado Resort & Spa.

“The course fits my eyes,” Homa said. “I hit a lot of wedges today and I’ve been hitting the wedges really well, so when I get a lot of wedges from fairways like these, I feel like I can attack the pins.”

The four-time PGA Tour winner played collegiately at California.

“I’ve got a great support system here,” said Homa, who won the 2013 NCAA individual title. “I’ve got friends and family up here and a bunch of, you know, people who appreciate I went to school up here.”

Willett, winless in the United States since his triumph at the Masters in 2016, shot a bogey-free 64. The English player kept his PGA Tour card for this season because of players defecting to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series.

“Yeah, we kind of got handed a lifeline with the guys leaving, which was nice,” Willett said. “We kind of had to reassess things and decided we’d press on and play a little bit more this fall over here and really try to get some points up early.”

Willett has eight titles on the European tour, most recently last October at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

He had eight birdies in his second round and is bogey-free for the week.

“You know, the rough is hit and miss and with the greens being firm as they are. To go bogey-free is really good,” said Willett, who has only six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since winning his lone major. “The field game is pretty sharp, the short game’s pretty sharp.”

First-round leader Justin Lower was two shots back after a 71. His best finish in 28 previous PGA Tour events dating to 2013 was a tie for eighth.

“It’s always hard to follow up a very low round with another good round or even lower,” Lower said. “But I will take one under today. Could it have been better? Yes, but it definitely could have been worse as well.”

Jason Day, Harris English, Charley Hoffman and Webb Simpson were among the players who missed the cut.

Copyright 2022 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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A new PGA Tour season — the last with the fall swing as we know it — began on Thursday in Napa, California, with a lengthy weather delay and a pretty fascinating first-round leaderboard. The entire field was unable to finish Round 1 on account of some early fog on the West Coast and a handful of golfers will finish up their first 18 holes on Friday morning.

Let’s take a look at a feel-good story at the top of the board after a partially completed Round 1 and a couple of big names who got their new seasons off to a great start.

The leader

1. Justin Lower (-9): Everybody probably remembers his teary press conference after narrowly missing making the top 125 last year at the Wyndham Championship. Lower later retained his PGA Tour card by being bumped up because some of the players ahead of him in the top 125 moved over to LIV Golf, and he took advantage of it on Thursday at the Fortinet Championship.

Lower’s T8 finish last year at the Barbasol Championship is the best of his career by OWGR points earned, but he’s in a great position to better that and put himself in a great spot to get well ahead of the curve of making the top 125 when this season concludes. Lower said after his 63 on Thursday that a year of experience on the Tour makes all the difference in the world.

“I left this course last year kind of in shock, honestly,” Lower said. “I was like, ‘God, if this is how the Tour is, I need to get a lot better very quickly.’ Yeah, I feel a lot more confident than I did at this point last year just being the last card last year and then being where I am this year, I feel a lot more confident with my game and a lot more comfortable, for sure.”

Other contenders

2. Max Homa (-7)

T3. Ben An, J.J. Spaun, S.H. Kim (-6)

T6. Greyson Sigg, Nick Taylor, Rickie Fowler, Sahith Theegala, Emiliano Grillo, Scott Harrington, Matti Schmid, Sung Kang, Brice Garnett, Robby Shelton (-5)

This dawned on me last year at this very tournament, which Homa won, but he has turned himself into one of the most consistent threats to win on the entire PGA Tour. He shot his third consecutive 65 at this event (dating back to last year when he shot 65-65 on the weekend to win) and picked up right where he left off on his best year ever on the PGA Tour last season. With the Presidents Cup coming next week, Homa’s form is a great sign for the U.S. team and perhaps an even better sign for him as he tries to win this tournament for the second straight year (Brendan Steele did the same in 2016 and 2017).

Rickie’s return

Rickie Fowler has had a rough few years, but he had an awesome Thursday with a 5-under 67, which is his second-best round since the Wells Fargo Championship in May. Contention from him this weekend would be incredibly popular and the absolute perfect start for the PGA Tour to a new season.

“Like we’ve talked, just trying to get back to being more consistent,” Fowler said. “I’ve had some good weeks in the past few years, but it shouldn’t just be a few weeks in those years, there needs to be more. That’s kind of the biggest thing is just getting back to playing some consistent golf, consistently being in contention and having chances to win tournaments.”

2022 Fortinet Championship updated odds and picks

• Max Homa: +350
• Justin Lower: 9-1
• Sahith Theegala: 12-1
• J.J. Spaun: 14-1
• Emiliano Grillo: 14-1
• Hideki Matsuyama: 20-1

I think Homa has the best chance to win, but I don’t like his number here. I’d rather have Theegala at 12-1 or even somebody like Adam Svensson — who was fifth in strokes gained tee to green on Thursday — at 55-1.

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If you have even hinted to your phone or computer that you like golf, chances are you have seen a Blue Tees ad. Blue Tees Golf  comes at you hard and fast with marketing and promotion. Hype or fact?

To find out, we put the Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder to the test as part of our 2022 Best Golf Rangefinder review.

The ads for Blue Tees make it seem like you are a cool golfer as soon as you own one of these rangefinders. As is our mandate, we were more concerned about the accuracy, speed, optics and features. In our Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder review, we will give you all the details you need to determine if this product is for you.

Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max Rangefinder Details

The Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder is compact, affordable and has some features we see in more premium-priced rangefinders. One of the first things you need to know is that it is a “slope” rangefinder and you can quickly toggle that function on and off so you can use this in your next competitive event.

The Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max claims to be accurate to within one yard from as far away as 900 yards. With the Blue Tees Golf Series 3, you will get a built-in magnetic strip and it holds on to the cart well. The water-resistant casing is a bonus.

Another important feature is the display. Even if you have trouble seeing through laser rangefinders, this is a clear display with black or red text options to choose from.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Accurate to within one yard
• Built-in magnetic strip
• Comes with extra batteries and a two-year warranty
• The slope function is easy to turn on and off
• Seven-times magnification
• Short vibrating pulse to confirm target is locked in

Cons

• Accuracy not as good as premium models
• Slightly cheaper-feeling housing
• If the slope is turned on, only one number shows
• Anything over 200 yards may need to be measured more than once

How We Test

As part of our 2022 Best Rangefinder test, we looked at 24 rangefinders and tested them for a total of 24 hours. The products were used to get both long and far distances. Our main categories for rating the rangefinders were accuracy, speed, optics, display, features and a total overall rating.

Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max Rangefinder Review

The Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder did not fare as well as we had hoped in the 2022 Best Rangefinder test. With all the marketing and positivity behind this product, its overall finish of 14th out of 24 was disappointing.

Accuracy

Blue Tees was 18th out of 24 for accuracy. These days, accuracy within one yard is not good enough. However, the problem with the Blue Tees rangefinder is not the accuracy from 150 yards in but once you move out of that range. The pin-seeker technology does not grab the pin quite as well as it should and users have a hard time trusting the number. If you primarily use your rangefinder inside 150, this may not bother you.

Speed

The speed rating was 12th out of 24. This is nothing to be alarmed about as we certainly didn’t feel like we were waiting for yardage to load up. It’s just not really quick. When the slope is turned on, this rangefinder tends to be even a little slower.

Optics

The optics scored 14th out of 24. Again, not great. One of the significant issues goes back to the model’s inaccuracy. Players often look for better optics to have a clear view and genuinely know they have hit the pin. Blue Tees optics are clear; it’s not difficult to see through but they don’t improve any of the accuracy or confidence when we needed it to. The seven-times magnification is a great feature.

Display

The display scored eighth out of 24, the best category for the Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder. With the display, you can choose between black or red and you will only see one number at all times. For those who want info delivered cleanly and efficiently, Blue Tees will do the trick.

Features

The features ended up right in the middle of the pack with a 12 out of 24 for their final spot. Honestly, this is where the Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder should be. There is nothing overly unique about the unit but it’s also not lacking in any major way. There are just no significant bells and whistles that can move the Blue Tees up the list.

Overall

The final placement of the Blue Tees Series 3 Max rangefinder was 14th with a score of 86 out of 100. Compared to the top finisher, the Bushnell Pro XE at 94.5, the performance was not that great. Again, the Bushnell and the Blue Tees are different price points but you have to consider what matters the most. Most golfers would agree the most critical feature is accuracy.

Tester Feedback

Here are a few things we noticed about the Blue Tees and its performance during the testing.

• The case felt a bit lower in quality than other rangefinders.
• Magnetic cart mount works quite well.
• Compact size of the unit is nice and it is easy to hold steady in the hand.
• If there is a bush or tree behind the pin, the pin-seeker technology struggles.
• The clean display helped pre-shot routine be a little quicker, especially for those with vision issues.

My Golf Spy Feedback

Bottom Line

This is not the most accurate model on the market. It’s got good features, a clean and sleek look and a simple-to-read display. The Series 3 is about half the price of some top rangefinders on the market and that affects accuracy when you are looking at golf rangefinders. Bottom line: If you mainly use your rangefinder for yardages less than 150 yards, this is a good tool.

FAQ

Can you turn the slope off on Blue Tees rangefinders?

The slope is easily turned off and on when using the Blue Tees Series 3 Max so this model is appropriate for tournament play.

Are Blue Tees rangefinders rechargeable?

Blue Tees Series 3 Max rangefinders are not rechargeable and need CR2 batteries.

Is Blue Tees a cheap rangefinder?

Blue Tees rangefinders don’t cost as much as options like Bushnell or Nikon. Still, Blue Tees is not the cheapest rangefinder out there.

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