The 10 Best Drivers Under $200 (Pros/Cons of Each)

As global inflation continues to rise, consumers seek a reprieve at every turn. This has caused some readers to ask about entry-level products from lesser-known brands.

I have scoured the market for the best driver under $200. The aim is to give you alternative options to premium drivers from brands such as Callaway and TaylorMade.

These drivers will likely not appeal to your game if you are a mid or low handicap player. However, this list is geared towards high-handicappers and part-time golfers unphased by brand names.

Ultimately, all these options are forgiving, long, and straight.

MacGregor Mactec X

I grew up playing MacGregor fairway woods, so I am surprised that one of the oldest existing golf club manufacturers is not as popular as its competitors. Their golf clubs are durable, forgiving, and highly affordable. This is why the Mactec X tops the list of the best golf drivers under $200.

The Mactec X produces an increased moment of inertia (MOI), accelerated ball speed, and includes an enlarged sweet spot. Therefore, it gives maximum forgiveness on heel and toes mishits.

Its high MOI nature prevents your club from twisting during your swing, leading to a square clubface through impact. This produces straighter drives to increase your fairway in regulation (FIR).

Furthermore, the presence of an ultra-thin face encourages explosive ball speed. Therefore, you achieve higher launches and optimal carry distance off the tee. In addition, the driver is sold with an adjustable key to alter the loft and lie of the clubface. That enables you to set up the driver for your preferred launch.

Finally, the MacGregor Mactec X is fitted with a lightweight graphite shaft. The shaft is constructed in regular and stiff flex.

Overall, the MacGregor Mactec X is an affordable, forgiving and consistent driver ideal for high handicap players.

Pros

• High MOI
• Promotes straighter drives
• Generates rapid ball speed
• Adjustable driver head
• Available in 3 lofts

Cons

• Limited workability
• Not ideal for faster swinging golfers

Intech Behemoth Driver

Anything under $200 is typically considered an entry-level driver. I took it one step further and found a super-budget option that fetches less than $50. Granted, this is a non-conforming driver prohibited in tournament play. However, if you are looking for an exceptionally cheap new driver, the Intech Behemoth may pique your interest.

This 520cc driver head boosts the sweet spot to produce exceptional forgiveness on all strikes. In addition to a wider sweet spot, the oversized clubhead increases the MOI, leading to a square clubface through impact. This encourages straighter shots for improved accuracy off the tee.

Moreover, this oversized driver features a lightweight graphite shaft. The lighter construction enables slower swinging golfers to generate faster clubhead speeds. This improves your ability to transfer that energy to your golf ball and impart explosive velocity onto the dimples. As a result, you enjoy the consistent distance.

The Intech Behemoth is crafted with 10.5 and 12-degrees of loft, making them ideal for a golfer with a slow swing speed.

Ultimately, this 520cc is ideal for a beginner golfer seeking consistency and forgiveness. You cannot use it in a tournament, but you can reap the benefits in a casual round.

Pros

• Highly affordable
• Optimal forgiveness
• Maximized sweet spot
• Encourages straight shots
• Accelerates ball speed across the clubface

Cons

• Not permitted in tournament play
• Restricts your ability to shape shots

Wilson Pro Staff SGI

Keep reading if you desire a simple driver that gets the job done efficiently. The Wilson Pro Staff SGI Driver is an affordable option that fetches less than one Benjamin. It is high launching, forgiving, and consistent.

This driver is featured in the complete SGI set, a highly affordable option for beginners and seniors. Wilson engineers positioned the center of gravity (CG) low and back to prompt a high-launch angle, even when you miss the sweet spot.

Furthermore, this 10.5-degree driver contains a wider responsive zone that restricts sidespin and maintains ball speed. Therefore, it produces straighter ball flight and consistent distance.

In conclusion, the Wilson Pro Staff SGI driver is a basic game improvement that serves high handicap golfers well. It is also worth considering if you are on a strict budget and want a recognized name brand.

Pros

• Affordable
• High launching
• Forgiving
• Produces straight shots
• Maintains ball speed

Cons

• Only one loft option
• Enables minimal shot shape

Orlimar Slice Killer

If your buddies refer to you as a serial slicer, you better shake that name before it sticks. You need some offset or draw bias in your life. That is where the Orlimar Slice Killer comes in. It is an excellent choice for high handicappers struggling to find the fairway.

Before I get to the good part, let me mention the downside. Its ability to restrict slice side spin and produce straight ball flight comes at a price. The hosel is offset, leading to a 7-degree closed clubface, which is not fit for tournament golf.

However, if you are contemplating this driver, you likely won’t play any competitive golf in the near future.

The design of this driver imparts a draw side spin to combat the slice spin generated by an open clubface at impact. Thanks to the counteraction, your golf ball flies straight and is more likely to end on the fairway.

Ultimately, the straight-shooting Orlimar Slice Killer is an option for beginners who need to improve their fairway in regulation percentage.

Pros

• Encourages straight shots
• Combats slice side spin
• Accurate
• Forgiving
• Increased distance as a result of your straighter shots

Cons

• The offset hosel and closed clubface is unattractive
• Restricts your ability to shape your tee shots

Mazel Titanium 460cc Driver

Mazel took a leaf out of Callaway’s book to construct their titanium driver. Although it is 3 times less than a driver from the premium brand, it carries similar game improvement technology. This 460cc Mazel driver is built to produce accelerated ball speed off the clubface for optimal distance off the tee.

The star feature of this driver is the Cup Face technology which boosts face flexibility through impact. This enables you to maintain ball speed, even on off-center strikes, leading to consistent distance and accuracy.

Cup Face technology is supported by a Speed Channel, which reduces the thickness of the face to produce explosive ball speed. In addition, the engineers positioned the CG low and back in the clubhead, leading to a higher launch and maximum carry distance.

Finally, an expansive sweet spot minimizes side spin on mishits to reduce the risk of hooking or slicing your shot. Therefore you enjoy superior accuracy and distance. Therefore the Mazel Titanium golf driver suits mid to high handicappers seeking extra yards on a budget.

Pros

• Delivers explosive ball speed
• Forgiving
• Large sweet spot
• Produces optimal distance
• High launching

Cons

• Unpleasant acoustics
• The copper color face is unattractive. However, some may appreciate the different design.

Tour Edge Bazooka 470

Slower swinging golfers struggle to launch their golf balls consistently when swinging strong lofted golf clubs. To solve your issue, I have discovered the easiest launching driver under $200 in 2022. The Tour Edge Bazooka 470 promotes high flying shots for maximum carry distance.

The engineers focused on two factors to produce optimal yardage off the tee. Low CG and variable face thickness. The varying thickness creates a combination of explosive ball speed and low spin. These features work to increase your distance, even on off-center strikes.

Furthermore, the Bazooka 470 is equipped with low and back CG. This adjustment, together with low speed and accelerated ball velocity, leads to a high launching drive. This means that you achieve consistent carry distance.

Besides the game improvement technology in the clubhead, Tour Edge added a lightweight, flexible shaft into the equation. This enables slower swingers to achieve added whip on the downswing to increase clubhead speed and coefficient of restitution (C.O.R).

In conclusion, the Tour Edge Bazooka 470 is an easy launching driver that helps you maximize your carry distance. Slow swinging high handicap golfers stand to benefit the most from this club.

Pros

• Easy to launch
• Lightweight shaft helps slower swingers increase clubhead velocity
• Produces low spin
• Prompts accelerated ball speed
• Forgiving

Cons

• Not built for faster swinging golfers

Pinemeadow Golf Offset Driver

Like the Orlimar Slice Killer, this Pinemeadow Golf Offset driver is made to help you hit straighter shots. The excessive offset is not the prettiest sight in golf, but it is necessary to combat slice sidespin. This driver makes our list for its slice-busting qualities and dirt-cheap price.

Before I get to the technology that powers the Offset driver, let me praise Pinemeadow Golf’s work on the finish. The matte black finish combines with green and white font. This makes up for the unattractive and exaggerated offset. Besides looking good, the finish is glare resistant for increased comfort at address.

The offset is the key feature of this driver. It is designed to help the average beginner square the clubface up at impact. This reduces the quantity of slice sidespin rather than prompting straighter ball flight.

In addition, the 460 cc club head creates an expanded sweet spot for maximizing forgiveness on heel and toe mishits. The enlarged sweet spot maintains ball speed and lowers spin to encourage optimal yardage off the tee.

Lastly, the oversized clubhead combines with a light graphite shaft to help slow swingers accelerate velocity on the downswing. Overall the Pinemeadow Golf Offset driver is built for beginners who consistently slice their drives.

Pros

• Highly affordable
• Combats slices
• Promotes straighter shots
• Glare resistant matte finish
• Enlarged sweet spot

Cons

• Unattractive design
• Enables minimal shot shaping

Speed System Silver Golf Driver

The Speed System Silver driver is designed for the slowest swingers in our ranks. It is suggested that you use the accompanying tee and golf ball to optimize your results off the tee. The golf balls are precisely compressed to perform according to your swing speed. In addition, the tees provide added spring for faster ball speed.

The Silver driver in the series is fitted with 12.5-degrees of loft and low and back CG. This partnership helps the golf club send the ball high and long.

Furthermore, its 460 cc oversized head provides a wider sweet spot to enhance forgiveness. The expanded center helps you maintain ball speed on mishits and lower spin, leading to consistent distance on all strikes.

The company claims that the entire system boosts your distance by 21-yards off the tee. I have yet to corroborate the statement, as do those I know who have used it. However, credit where it is due. It does help slower swingers consistently get the ball in the air.

Ultimately, the Speed System Silver driver is suited to seniors, ladies, and juniors looking to consistently get their ball in the air.

Pros

• Easy to launch
• Forgiving
• Enlarged sweet spot
• Built for slower swingers
• Lowers spin off the clubface

Cons

• Not suited to faster swingers
• The high launching nature can cause some golfers to balloon their tee shots

PXG 0211 Driver

The next option on our list just barely exceeds the price threshold, but is worthy of a place at the table. I want to show you the kind of driver you can add to your bag if you fork out $29 more than your $200 budget.

The PXG 0211 driver provides a cocktail of accelerated ball speed, high MOI, a soft feel, and pleasant acoustics. In simple terms, it helps send the ball consistently long and straight. Plus, it feels and sounds good while doing it.

A titanium alloy (Ti412) clubface boosts your ball speed and lowers spin at impact. This helps you achieve maximum distance. Moreover, its Railed Sole Geometry design positions the CG low to prompt a high launching shot. Plus, it increases the MOI to keep the clubface square through impact for a straighter flight.

These premium features help mid and high handicap golfers achieve distance and accuracy without sacrificing feel and acoustics. The beauty is that you can enjoy all of that for a few extra dollars above the $200 threshold.

Pros

• Highly forgiving
• Delivers explosive ball speed
• Low CG
• Increased MOI
• Superb feel
• Produces optimal distance

Cons

Price: $229

Link to buy on Amazon

Tommy Armour 845-Max

Tommy Armour golf clubs have always provided the average golfer with affordable golf clubs containing similar technology to premium products. The 845-Max pushes the boundaries of the $200 threshold but sneaks in to make our list. It is the best driver with an adjustable hosel to alter your launch angles and shot shape.

If you launch the ball higher than desired, you can strengthen the loft to promote lower flight.

It is not your standard adjustable loft sleeve, as it also alters the angle of your clubhead to prompt a specific shape. For example, you can set the driver up for a draw bias if you are slicing your tee shots.

Moreover, the engineers applied a carbon crown that reduces the total mass of the clubhead. The carbon crown pairs with a thin titanium cast body to enhance MOI. This helps the driver avoid twisting during the swing, leading to a square clubface through impact. As a result, you enjoy straighter shots for improved accuracy.

The thin Flex-11 face is built to maximize ball speed across the face on all strikes. That prompts it to deliver consistently long shots for increased distance. This feature rescues you when you catch the ball low off the face. Additional flex enables you to maintain ball speed for a satisfactory result.

The Tommy Armour 845-Max is available in two lofts, 9 and 10.5-degrees, making them better suited to fast and moderate swing speeds. Mid-handicap players looking for premium technology at an affordable price point should put this onto the list of possibilities.

Pros

• Adjustable driver
• High MOI
• Promotes straighter shots
• Maintains ball speed
• Delivers consistent distance

Cons

• Priced at the higher end of the under $200 market
• The lofts are not suited to slower swinging golfers.

Price: $199

Link to buy on Dicks Sporting Goods

Related: Those satisfied with their current driver should use this time to review our 20 golf driving tips.

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.