We talk a lot about the clubs that won the “Best Overall” title. But every year, there are clubs that perform so well in MyGolfSpy’s testing that it almost feels wrong that they didn’t take home a win. They show up in distance numbers, accuracy scores, forgiveness ratings or PuttView metrics and then quietly slip into second or third place without much notice.
This list fixes that.
These are 10 of the best golf clubs of 2025 that he didn’t win the most wanted test but it’s worth a look if you’re thinking of upgrading your bag next season.
COBRA DS-Adapt Max K Driver
The DS-Adapt Max K didn’t have the balanced profile needed to challenge the overall winner, but still delivered one of the most impressive performances in the 2025 field. She produced reliable launch, strong ball speed and a level of stability that testers consistently praisedespecially in high toe and low heel tricks. The dispersion was slightly wider than the top performers, but the overall package is much better than its final ranking suggests.
PING G440 SFT Driver
The G440 SFT didn’t win overall, but it delivered some of the highest direct hit percentages in the entire test. It’s the kind of club that stops a piece without locking you into an overly draw-biased feeling.
Srixon ZXi Fairway Wood
The Srixon ZXi offered top-notch distance, reliable launch and better-than-expected accuracy, making it one of those clubs that does everything well without attracting too much attention. What kept him from first place was forgiveness. PING’s G440 Max had a narrower dispersion pattern, but the ZXi still finished near the top in every major scoring category.
TaylorMade Qi35 Max Hybrid
The Qi35 Max couldn’t quite match the overall consistency of the COBRA DS-Adapt Hybrid, but it had one of the most impressive performances among the non-winners. It produced easy release, strong ball speed and incredible forgiveness, especially up the face.
PING G440 Hybrid
The G440 Hybrid flew a bit under the radar, but its accuracy scores were simply too good to pass up. Although he didn’t win the 2025 Test, he produced some of the straightest hybrid shots across the field and offered impressive forgiveness down the face. If you pay attention to year-over-year performance, it is worth noting that the PING G430 was the winner of the hybrid test 2024. PING hybrids are worth a try.
Srixon ZXiU steering iron
ZXiU didn’t take the top spot in 2025, but it stood out for players who care about accuracy and distance. Testers praised its “extremely stable steering” and compared its performance to Srixon irons rather than a utility club. What kept him from victory is forgiveness.
Srixon ZXi5 Irons (Player’s Distance)
The ZXi5 finished with an overall score of 8.8 while posting 8.8 for distance, 8.8 for accuracy and 8.9 for forgiveness. What held him back was a raw carry just short of the winner, but, in the real world for most golfers, the distance combination AND control makes this one of the best non-winners of the year.
TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 Wedge
The MG5 wedge finished just behind the Mizuno Pro T-3 in total points, but delivered excellent spin stability and a very forgiving sole design. It couldn’t get the win because it wasn’t as strong in wet conditions, but for dry ground play and standard wedge shots, it was one of the most balanced performers in the entire field.
Runner Mallet
The Mallet Runner didn’t topple the Wilson Infinite Buckingham, but it tested well across the board ANY distance range. There were no weak spots, no outstanding numbers. Offers predictable putting from five feet to long putts.
Bettinardi Antidote SB2 (Zero Torque Invader)
The Antidote SB2 couldn’t take down the LAB OZ.1i, but it was one of the most complete zero-torque rigs in the 2025 test. It produced balanced PuttView improvements across the board. If you want the benefits of zero-torque stability without the extreme feel of some competitors, the SB2 is the one to look at.
Final thoughts
The most sought-after winners get the headlines, but the story the data really tells is that there are multiple clubs in every test that provide top-level performance.
They didn’t win badge no. 1, but they’ve earned their place in your search if you’re looking to make smart, data-backed improvements heading into next season.
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