If you ask a tour pro the key to his game success, he will likely say that it’s his swing speed.
Apart from having the correct equipment, a golfer must hit near the sweet spot and with the maximum swing. His improvement in the game largely depends on whether he is increasing his swing speed progressively.
To launch a ball 300 yards and further, many pros use a swing speed between 110-125 mph. To be realistic, swing speed is a livelihood for a tour pro, for each mph adds to his paycheck.
Adding speed to your swing requires a good physical regime and expensive golf equipment.
But for everyday and recreational golfers, who are continually trying to improve their handicap scores, a swing speed of 85 mph could suffice.
Increasing swing speed and mastering it requires time and effort. Constant practice will help you achieve that. But it will require something more than that.
A golfer also needs to have a driver that will take their swings to the top level. Our review shows the best driver for achieving 85mph swing speed.
The first driver of our list made its way to the bags of the PGA tour players.
Best Driver For 85 MPH Swing Speed (Reviews)
| Name | Feature | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| TaylorMade M6 Driver | Twist face, hammerhead 2.0, aerodynamic carbon sole design, speed injected | $$$ | 4.9 star |
| Srixon Z 585 Driver | Strong, lighter, and faster face, lightweight carbon crown, Glued hosel for reduced slices, added distance & more forgiveness | $$$ | 4.7 star |
| Callaway Golf 2018 Rogue Driver | Jailbreak bars, X-Face VFT Face, Triaxial Carbon Crown, | $$$ | 4.5 star |
| Cobra 2018 Golf Men's King F8 Driver | CNC milled face, Cobra connect, 360-degree aero technology, Ultralight carbon fiber crown, adjustable loft settings | $$$ | 4.5 star |
| Ping Golf G400 LST Men's Driver | Custom-engineered tungsten weighting, multi-layered design, stronger and faster T9S+ forged face, improved MOI and deep CG | $$$ | 4.0 star |
TaylorMade M6 Driver (Upgrade from M2)
If there is one brand that is spoken of highly by the PGA tour players, then it is undoubtedly TaylorMade.
There’s no denying the fact that TaylorMade is its own competitor. This can be seen by the fact that in 2017, it came out with an improved M2, while still riding on the success of the 2016 M2. That’s TaylorMade for you!
Unique Specifications
- Thinner 9-1-1 Titanium sole
- Speed Pocket
Overall Design
TaylorMade M2 (2017) was a definite improvement from its 2016 version.
The white portion of the crown now comes diagonally away from the face, which adds to the aerodynamic features and speed of the driver. In the sole, there is a sunken area that gives a larger footprint and gives an impressive feel and confidence at the address.
Speed Pocket
Compared to the 2016 M2, 2017 has a speed pocket that is three times more flexible to maintain the same ball speed from a 7% larger area of the clubface.
The body has been stiffened up a bit to improve feedback upon impact, and the shaping has been redesigned to reduce vibrations.
Let’s Review and Compare
- While the model hails from 2017, the performance of the driver still overpowers competitor clubs released in 2018 and 2019.
- The black and white look of the club-head adds to its overall classy design often preferred by pro-golfers.
- The impressive Geocoustic Engineering Technology has produced excellent sound and feels upon impact.
- As one of the most expensive golf clubs in the market, many golfers satisfied with the 2016 M2 would not go for the newer version due to budget restraints.
- The range of available lofts and the capacity to adjust them in the hosel make it much better than the Srixon Z585, which has a glued hosel.
Srixon Z585 Golf Driver
“Substance over style” is the catch-phrase that defines the Srixon z 585. Its makers have touted that they have designed the driver with cutting-edge technology that can withstand even the fiercest of competitors.
Unique Specifications
- Titanium cup face
- Carbon fiber crown
- Excellent shaft offering
Carbon Fiber Crown
While carbon fiber is a carry-forward from the earlier Z65 series, what makes this different is the use of Ti51AF titanium material, which is 1% lighter and 8% stronger than the earlier used titanium material Ti 6-4.
The crown moves the mass to the perimeter to increase the overall forgiveness of the driver, even for those with low swing speeds.
Titanium Clubface
The titanium cup face helps in ball flight and trajectory. Even when the ball is hit off-center, the trajectory is consistent and the ball speed stays high.
Launch Shaft
The Z585 has the Project X HZRDUS shaft which is a high-quality shaft, more active and effective than its brother Z785’s HZRDUS Black shaft.
Let’s Review and Compare
- The clubface of Z585 has a thinner perimeter than the Ping G400 and the TaylorMade M4, which makes it more forgiving and accurate.
- The 585 comes with a glued hosel in only two options- 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. This feature may be an issue for some who are accustomed to other clubs providing adjustable hosels.
- Srixon 585 is affordable for most high and mid-handicap players due to its glued hosel.
- The use of Ti51AF titanium material increases the ball speed by 3mph than other competitors.
- The technology of Z585 allows toe-hits to go far as the on-center hits.
- The crown of the Z585 has little details on it, making it look cleaner than the Ping G400’s turbulators. However, in terms of performance, the Ping G400’s turbulators score above Z585.
Callaway Golf 2018 Rogue Driver
Callaway Rogue, launched in February 2018, was a welcome addition to the Callaway brand made up of cutting-edge golf equipment.
While the Epic was already flourishing, Callaway broke ground with its new Rogue driver that increased forgiveness through its rigidity in the crown of the club.
If you want the best driver for 85 MPH swing speed, you want to check this out.
Unique Specifications
- Jailbreak bars
- X-Face VFT Face
- Triaxial Carbon Crown
Why is Callaway Rogue one of the best drivers for 85 mph swing speed?
Jailbreak Bars
The 25% lighter bars compared to its predecessor adds rigidity to the entire clubface and increases ball speed. To save weight and increase forgiveness, the design of the bars is made in an hourglass fashion.
VFT Face
The thinner VFT face, which is now deep and shallow, adds to the ball speed and improved trajectory. With the back of the head now 15gms lighter, the CG has been lowered further back, giving a push to the overall performance of the club.
Triaxial Carbon Crown
The crown is made up of improved carbon composites which are significantly lighter. Due to this weight distribution, it is possible to increase MOI and forgiveness. Collaborating with Boeing, Callaway has improved the ball speed by restructuring its leading edge.
Let’s Review and Compare
- Jailbreak technology, that improved ball speed, is the winning feature of the Callaway rogue that supersedes all other features of the drivers in our list.
- The X-Face VFT is better than the titanium clubface of the Srixon Z585.
- The absence of sliding weights would be a concern for pro golfers who favor adjustable weight options.
Cobra King F8 Driver
The game of golf has evolved to the point that we are witnessing the rise of ‘smart drivers’, like the Cobra King F8 which are fitted with the latest technology that lets you analyze your performance on the go.
The VP of Research and Development, Tom Olsavsky recently told that their engineers “are pushing the envelope” to deliver the best-golfing equipment. His words have come true, as our review shows.
Unique Specifications
- CNC Milled Face
- 360-Degree Aero Technology
- COBRA Connect
Why Cobra King F8 is One of the Best Drivers for 85 mph Swing Speed?
CNC Milled Face
With a milled face, the Cobra King F8’s face has become 10% lighter and 3% thinner to give longer and precise shots. The precision is no accurate that mid and high-handicappers can hit the ball higher with lower ball spin.
It has also allowed the possibility to add or reduce the curvature to increase ball launch.
360 Degree Aero Technology
This technology has pushed the envelope in terms of aerodynamics. With its aero trips on its sole and crown, the F8 has improved the aerodynamics throughout the entire clubface that deepens the CG, this increasing forgiveness.
The area has been designed peculiarly to reduce drag and increase ball speed.
Cobra Connect
Continuing its list of features is a smart app that records and analyses all the shots that you have played on the golf course. The grip hosts as a sensor that is connected to the app for recording every drive on the golf course.
Let’s Compare and Review
- The weights in the heel and the front of the F8 are comparable to the tungsten weights placed in Ping G400 LST. However, the adjustability of the 12g and 2g weights of the F8 is more helpful for adjusting your ball flights.
- The adjustable loft of the F8 is an improvement compared to the glued hosel of the Srixon Z585.
- The Cobra Connect App is the winning point of the Cobra King that pushes it as one of the smart drivers in the mid and high handicap market.
Ping G400 LST Driver
To achieve optimal trajectory, it is necessary that the ball has a controllable spin and ideal launch angle. Ball speed and ball spin help in keeping them all in the air and the spin dictates the distance in the game.
The Ping G400 LST, launched in 2018, promises to give you the desired spin rate even with average swing speed. So, check this out if you’re looking for the best driver for 85 MPH swing speed.
Unique Specifications
- Tungsten Weight
- T9S+Forged Face
Tungsten Weights
To create extreme MOI and improve forgiveness, Ping has included higher-density weights at the back of the clubface. By adjusting the loft +-1 degree, you can customize your launch conditions.
Clubface Material
The clubface has been created with a new grain of T9S+ titanium that is thinner and less weighty, and more flexible than its predecessor. The unique forging process makes the driver easier to hit and increases forgiveness.
The surface texture provides more friction to the face and helps in reducing the ball spin, while the thinner face releases more energy into the ball.
Dragonfly Technology
The Dragonfly technology optimizes the CG location by creating a super-thin crown that saves weight and increases forgiveness and accuracy. The visible bumps and an infinity edge provide a sleek look, or what the designers call it an ‘aerodynamic look.’
Let’s Review and Compare
- The clean shaft design and the color shift technology help it stand out from other drivers. While holding the club in front of you, you can see a copper tinge, which turns black when you hold it down at the address.
- The aerodynamics in terms of pronounced turbulators is a distinguishing feature of the Ping G400 LST’s technological capability. The bolder turbulators reduce drag by 15% overall and adds to its stability.
- The feedback or sound upon impact may not appeal to many golfers.
Best Driver For 85 MPH Swing Speed (Conclusion)
Many new golfers make the glaring mistake of thinking that swing speed is something that needs to be learned and perfected. The speed of the swing differs from individual to individual due to its dependence on various parameters.
Thus it is crucial to stick to the basics and concentrate on getting good contact with the ball. The drivers that we have reviewed will help you slowly gain pace and take a reasonable approach in increasing the swing speed.
If you have tried or are planning to try one of the best drivers for 85 swing speed from the list, do let us know your experience in the comments section below.