Most golfers want more distance from the tee, but distance alone rarely leads to better results. When speed comes at the expense of consistency, errors become larger and results more difficult to manage. This is why distance and forgiveness must be valued together. Based on 2025 driver testing, these three models delivered the strongest balance of ball speed and shot consistency across a wide range of testers.
PING G440 LST
Distance score: 9.40
Forgiveness result: 9.50
PING G440 LST it was on the high end for distance and forgiveness, an unusual result for a low-spinning driver. Testing showed extremely narrow ball speed deltas and strong carry distance consistency, which explains why it performed so well in forgiveness metrics. He also ranked seventh overall for distance among the 37 drivers tested.
COBRA DS-Adapt Max K
Distance score: 9.60
Forgiveness result: 9.10
DS-Adapt Max K finished near the top of the distance leaderboard while maintaining above-average performance in forgiveness metrics. It is one of the few drivers on test that combines high carry and total distance with controlled launch area and consistent ball speed results.
Price Note: Originally priced at $549 and now available around $429.
Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond
Distance score: 9.60
Forgiveness result: 8.70
Elyte Triple Diamond earned the highest overall MGS score by performing well in distance, accuracy and forgiveness. While positioned as a low-spin model, testing showed it remained playable for a wide range of swing speeds. He ranked in the top three for distance and accuracy while maintaining above-average forgiveness relative to the field.
Price Note: The price has dropped from $669 to approximately $550.
Other distance and forgiveness combinations worth considering
Several other drivers showed strong results in distance or forgiveness with only a modest exchange in the other category.
| Driver | Distance score | The result of forgiveness |
|---|---|---|
| PING G430 MAX 10K | 9.00 | 9.20 |
| COBRA DS-Adapt LS | 9.50 | 8.70 |
| Callaway Elyte X | 9.30 | 8.70 |
| Title GT2 | 9.80 | 8.20 |
| Srixon ZXi Max | 8.00 | 9.50 |
Final thoughts
New driver releases always attract attention, but 2025 testing shows that last year’s technology still delivers admirable performance. For a full look at the best drivers of 2025, check out our test results here: The best drivers of 2025.
Post Distance and forgiveness: Three 2025 drivers that offer both appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
