A £129 driver from Costco against a premium Titleist driver with an aftermarket ACCRA shaft, costing around £1,000. You would expect a sizeable difference. In our test, the Kirkland Signature driver kept pace surprisingly well.
Matt produced comparable carry distances with both clubs. At one point, the Kirkland was approximately four yards ahead on average, although we attributed that small advantage mainly to human variation rather than a clear equipment advantage.
The bigger fitting consideration was how the club sat behind the ball and where the shots finished.
That makes this Kirkland driver review about more than finding a cheap alternative. It asks what an expensive driver actually needs to deliver to justify its place in your bag.
We compared the budget Costco driver with Matt’s premium setup and discussed ball speed, carry, strike, efficiency and direction.
Prices mentioned below are those quoted in the video, rather than a current retail price check.
What Did We Test?
The Kirkland Signature driver was an off-the-shelf 10.5° model with an EvenFlow Riptide shaft labelled 60g, 6.0.
The Titleist used Matt’s fitted ACCRA TZ Red shaft, with the complete premium setup described as costing just shy of £1,000.
There is an important detail about the comparison: Matt normally plays an 8° head, but we used a 10° Titleist head to bring the stated lofts closer together.
This therefore compared the Kirkland with a Titleist using his fitted shaft at a different head loft from his usual gamer. It was not a test of his exact normal playing specification.
How Closely Were the Specifications Matched?
Both clubs were described as playing at 45.5 inches, with similar swing weights around D5.
That removed two obvious differences, but the clubs still had different heads, shafts and stated lofts.
We also had one golfer testing one example of each driver. These results tell us what happened during this session; they do not establish which club every golfer should buy.
The Titleist Established a Strong Baseline
Matt’s opening Titleist shots gave the Kirkland a serious target.
One early shot produced approximately:
- 162mph ball speed
- 2,600rpm backspin
- 280 yards of carry
That was already useful performance. A slightly low-heel strike still carried around 275 yards, finishing approximately six yards offline.
Keeping those individual shots in context matters. They were examples from the session, rather than the final averages.
They also showed why we look at strike location alongside distance: two shots from the same driver can produce different results without anything changing in the club’s specification.
Kirkland Driver Performance: The Budget Club Kept Up
The Kirkland quickly showed that the comparison would be closer than the price difference suggested.
An early low strike carried around 268 yards, with efficiency discussed at approximately 1.44. Later shots repeatedly reached the region of 280 yards.
One toe-side strike carried approximately 276 yards and finished nine yards offline.
These were credible results against an expensive setup. The Kirkland was delivering useful ball speed and carry, rather than simply producing one exceptional shot among a run of poor ones.
Ball Speed Was Competitive
During the comparison, the averages discussed were:
Measurement Titleist setup Kirkland Signature
Average ball speed at that point 162.3mph 164.2mph
However, Matt was also swinging the Kirkland approximately 0.6mph faster at that point, and strike consistency differed between the sets.
The higher ball speed cannot simply be credited to the Kirkland head.
That distinction is central to interpreting a driver test. If the golfer delivers the clubs differently, the results reflect that interaction as well as the equipment.
Carry Distance Was Very Similar
At the initial best-versus-best comparison, the figures discussed were 283 yards of carry with the Titleist and 286 yards with the Kirkland.
The Kirkland’s longer shot finished approximately 36 yards left of target.
After returning to the Titleist for another set, Matt hit a shot carrying 284 yards that finished around 40 yards left.
Those examples make the distance comparison more meaningful. Both clubs could produce very similar carry, and neither long shot was especially close to the intended line.
Distance alone would have hidden that part of the result.
The Main Drawback: It Sat Closed
Both testers noticed how closed the Kirkland appeared when placed behind the ball.
For a golfer who dislikes seeing the face point left, that can be difficult to get comfortable with.
Matt liked the sound and described the feel positively, but he repeatedly returned to the appearance at address. During the test, he also discussed trying to prevent the ball going left.
On average, the Kirkland shots were finishing a little further left during the comparison.
We did not establish that it would fix a slice, or that every example would behave identically. What we did see was a club that produced strong numbers while raising a practical concern for this particular golfer.
If a driver makes you feel you have to compensate before you swing, that belongs in the fitting discussion alongside ball speed and carry.
What Did the Efficiency Figures Show?
Efficiency describes the relationship between ball speed and clubhead speed.
In the initial sets, the Titleist readings discussed were mostly around 1.43–1.44, while several Kirkland shots reached approximately 1.45.
We returned to the Titleist to check whether Matt was simply warming up as the session progressed. One later Titleist shot reached 1.46, although it also had a pronounced left miss.
The Kirkland’s efficiency was impressive in this session. But selecting one number and ignoring shot direction would give an incomplete account of the test.
The useful question is whether a golfer can repeatedly produce the combination of speed, flight and accuracy they need.
Does This Mean Expensive Drivers Are a Waste of Money?
This test gives a clear reason to question the assumption that spending more automatically buys substantially more distance.
For Matt, in these specifications, the premium setup did not produce a meaningful carry advantage over the Kirkland.
The small average difference discussed favoured the cheaper club, with human variation an important part of the explanation.
It does not follow that every premium driver performs the same, or that the Kirkland will suit every swing.
Nor did we measure manufacturing consistency across multiple Kirkland heads. Tolerances were discussed in the video, but that discussion was not evidence of a proven quality-control difference.
An expensive driver needs to justify its cost through a benefit you can identify in your own testing.
The price tag itself is insufficient evidence.
What Should You Take From This Before Buying a Driver?
Start by establishing what your current driver does. Then compare alternatives against that baseline, including the shots you would actually have to play on the course.
In this test, the details that mattered were:
- Competitive carry and ball speed from the Kirkland.
- Small differences in swing speed and strike between the sets.
- A closed appearance that Matt struggled to get comfortable with.
- Long shots from both drivers that also finished well left.
- A change from Matt’s usual Titleist head loft for the comparison.
The best-performing club in a video may not be the best-performing club for your swing.
Equally, an inexpensive club deserves consideration when the results support it.
Questions Golfers Are Asking
Is the Kirkland Signature Driver Any Good?
The Kirkland Signature driver performed strongly in our test against a premium Titleist setup. Matt repeatedly produced carry distances around 280 yards, and its ball speed and efficiency were competitive.
The main reservation was its closed appearance at address and a tendency for the test shots to finish slightly further left. That makes it a credible option to assess, rather than a guaranteed match for every golfer.
Can a £129 Driver Perform Like a £1,000 Driver?
In this session, the Kirkland delivered very similar carry to the premium Titleist and ACCRA combination.
The Kirkland was around four yards ahead on average at one comparison point, but we attributed the difference mainly to human variation.
The test demonstrates that a large price difference need not create a large distance difference. It does not establish identical performance for other golfers or specifications.
Did the Kirkland Driver Go Further Than the Titleist?
The Kirkland was approximately four yards longer on average at the point discussed in the video.
Its longest carry was quoted at 286 yards, compared with an initial Titleist best of 283 yards and a later shot of 284 yards.
Swing speed and strike differed, and the longest examples finished well left. We therefore treated the clubs as closely matched rather than declaring a clear distance winner.
What Shaft Was in the Kirkland Driver Tested?
The Kirkland driver used an EvenFlow Riptide shaft labelled 60g and 6.0, described as stiff during the video.
The Titleist used Matt’s fitted ACCRA TZ Red shaft.
The shafts were different, so this was a comparison of complete club setups rather than an isolated head test. Both clubs were described as having the same playing length and similar swing weights.
Should I Choose a Driver Based on Distance Alone?
Our comparison shows why carry needs context.
The Kirkland’s 286-yard shot finished around 36 yards left, while a later 284-yard Titleist shot finished around 40 yards left.
Both travelled a useful distance, but their direction mattered too. Compare the overall pattern, strike and comfort at address alongside distance, and assess whether the improvement solves the problem you actually want to address.
Find Out What Earns a Place in Your Bag
At EP Golf Studios in Newbury, Berkshire, we benchmark your current clubs, discuss what you want to improve and thoroughly test alternatives.
We explain the numbers so you can understand why a particular setup works for you.
The Kirkland comparison reflects that approach: assess the performance honestly, whatever the badge or price.
Your next driver should earn its place through what it does for your game.
Explore our fittings and book at EP Golf Studios.
Our Kirkland driver review compares Costco’s £129 club with a £1,000 Titleist setup. Explore carry, ball speed and the fitting details behind the close result.
