While the brand new Qi 4D LS offers the highest peak ball speeds, the 2017 M1 440 remains shockingly competitive, proving that driver tech gains have slowed significantly over the last decade.
Their scorecard
Forgiveness: 5/5 — Most stable head in the test
Distance: 5/5 — 162 mph peak ball speed
Looks: 5/5 — Ages beautifully
What they rate
Qi 4D delivers top-tier 160+ mph ball speeds
M1 440 offers professional-level performance at a fraction of the cost
R9 Superdeep is a fantastic accuracy-focused budget option
What they don’t
Distance gains from 2017 to 2024 are only 1-3 mph in ball speed
Older models like R9 suffer from excessive spin on off-center hits
While the brand new Qi 4D LS offers the highest peak ball speeds, the 2017 M1 440 remains shockingly competitive, proving that driver tech gains have slowed significantly over the last decade.
Qi 4D delivers top-tier 160+ mph ball speeds
M1 440 offers professional-level performance at a fraction of the cost