- Choose a driver that has the right amount of loft, because that is the most critical part of your selection process.
- Look for a driver that provides the trajectory that' is most suited to your play. ...
- Make sure that your new driver has a forgiveness rating that matches up with the quality of your game.
- Choose a driver with a shaft of the proper length. ...
How to choose the right driver for your golf game?
For most golfers, a selection of a driver with the largest head that they can control is their best choice. Choose a driver with a shaft of the proper length. Interestingly enough, most tournament professionals opt for drivers that are 44.5” long, while most manufacturer make “off-the-rack” drivers that are an inch or two longer.
How do I know what Golf Club to use?
There are a number of ways you can estimate or measure this distance. Once you know this distance, then you can select the golf club that will best get you to the hole. For example, if the distance is 120 yards to the hole or to the green, then you want to use your 120 yard club.
How adjustable are golf drivers?
The majority of drivers today include various forms of adjusability, allowing players to customize their driver to suit their swing, size and conditions. Most of the adjustability contained within these drivers can be broken down into three aspects. As we mentioned before, finding the right loft and launch angle can be crucial.
How to find the right driver shaft for your swing?
5 factors to help you find the right driver shaft for your swing 1 Flex. Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. 2 Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex. ... 3 Length. ... 4 Kick point. ... 5 Torque. ...
How do I know which driver is best for me?
When you are in the market for a new driver, there are seven major aspects to consider: skill level, size and shape of the club head and clubface, color, loft, shaft flexibility, and adjustability.
Does the type of driver matter in golf?
Modern driver technology has advanced to the point where hitting the ball straight and hard can become routine. It's a matter of which type of driver fits your game.
Whats a good driver for an average golfer?
I'd recommend a 13 or 14-degree driver for the best results. The extra loft will launch the ball higher in the air, it'll put less sidespin on the ball, and you'll get more distance. Someone that has an average swing speed (80-95 MPH) should use a driver with a little bit less loft.
What driver is best for my swing?
BEST DRIVERS OVERALL PING G425 Max, the 2022 Most Wanted Driver, continues its impressive performance by being the best driver overall for high swing speeds. Mizuno ST-Z 220 claims the runner-up position. TaylorMade Stealth HD is third. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS and COBRA KING LTDx Max round out the top five.
What size driver do I need golf?
LENGTH. The driver is the longest club in your bag. Men's drivers tend to measure between 45 and 48 inches, while women's drivers are typically between 43 or 44 inches. The size used depends on how a golfer feels in terms of overall control.
What are the 3 types of drivers?
There are three types of drivers in this world: competent, overcautious, and reckless.
What is the easiest golf driver to hit?
The Cobra Air X is one of the lightest drivers on this list and ideal for beginners. Or, individuals who don't have as much natural swing speed as they would like. This club is so light at only 277 grams, it'll make adding extra distance to your drives easy!
What is the best driver for a 16 handicap?
Best Golf Drivers for Mid HandicappersPING G425 MAX (most forgiving drivers for anyone)Cobra Radspeed XB (best driver for adjuability)Cleveland Launcher XL (best value driver pound-for-pound)Taylormade Stealth (most solid feeling and looking driver)Srixon ZX5 (best for golfers who hit it toward the toe)More items...•
What are the most forgiving drivers?
Ping G425 Max (Most Forgiving Top Choice) ... Callaway Rogue ST Max (Close Second Most Forgiving Top Choice) ... Cleveland Launcher XL (Best for High Handicappers and Beginner Players & Budget-Friendly) ... Mizuno ST-Z 220 (For Better Players Seeking Some Forgiveness) ... Titleist TSi1 (Best for Seniors / Slower Swing Speed)More items...•
What driver gives you the most distance?
The Best Golf Driver for Distance – The ReviewsCallaway Golf Epic MAX Driver. View on Amazon. ... TaylorMade M6 Driver. ... PXG 2021 0211 Driver. ... Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo Driver. ... Callaway Golf 2022 Rogue ST Max Driver. ... Cobra Golf- King RADSPEED XB Driver. ... Titleist TSi3 Driver. ... Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men's Speedback Driver.More items...•
What is the most popular driver in golf?
Breakdown of Drivers Used by Top 100 PGA Tour PlayersDRIVERNO. OF TOP 100 PGA PLAYERSTitleist TSi42 (Russell Henley, Richie Werenski)Titleist 917D21 (Brian Harman)PING G425 LST10 (inc. Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Lee Westwood, Stewart Cink, Tyrell Hatton, Bubba Watson)33 more rows
What does loft mean on a driver?
The loft of any golf club, including a driver, is what determines how high a shot will go when the club head strikes the ball, according to GolfEngineering.net. Loft is the degree of the angle formed between a straight line from the ground and the club head, when the club head is sitting squarely on the ground.
Step 1
Choose a driver that has the right amount of loft, because that is the most critical part of your selection process. Most players equate distance with a lower lofted driver, but for most golfers, the opposite is more accurate.
Step 2
Look for a driver that provides the trajectory that' is most suited to your play.
Step 3
Make sure that your new driver has a forgiveness rating that matches up with the quality of your game. For instance, if you hit tee shots often that miss the proverbial “sweet spot,” you probably need a driver with a maximum forgiveness rating. Most club manufacturers include that information.
Step 4
Choose a driver with a shaft of the proper length. Interestingly enough, most tournament professionals opt for drivers that are 44.5” long, while most manufacturer make “off-the-rack” drivers that are an inch or two longer. Once again, there is no correlation between the length of your driver and the distance of your tee shots.
What are drivers made of?
The latest drivers on the market are either made of titanium, carbon composite heads, or a bit of both. Titanium has become a particularly popular choice for driver heads because it is a strong, light and durable material.
How long is a driver's shaft?
Although the legal limit for the length of a driver is 48 inches, most drivers have a shaft of around 45 or 46 inches to strike the best balance of distance and control.
What is CG in golf?
CG is another common phrase and it refers to the single balance point of the driver. Different brands have opposing views on where best to place the CG in their drivers. The CG of a driver can be moved vertically, horizontally, or back and forward in a clubhead by moving fixed or adjustable weights inside the head.
What does MOI mean in golf?
MOMENT OF INERTIA (MOI) MOI is a common phrase in golf, particularly when it comes to the driver. It refers to a club's forgiveness, specifically its resistance to twisting at impact. RELATED: A BLUFFER'S GUIDE TO GOLF TECH.
Why are shafts important in golf?
Shafts are important in all clubs, but especially drivers. Using lighter, less stiff shafts will produce a higher, right-to-left biased ball flight, while heavier, stiff shafts will launch the ball lower with a higher tendency to shape the ball to the right.
Which is better, lofted or higher lofted golf clubs?
eight degrees) have a slightly lower trajectory, but go a little further in the hands of players who can generate plenty of clubhead speed. Higher lofted clubs (e.g. 13 degrees) are better for player with slower swing speeds or players that need extra help to get the ball airborne.
Is there such a thing as a one size fits all driver?
With no such thing as a one-size-fits-all driver, given the variety of heads, centre of gravity positions and adjustable gadgets now available, the driver selection process is often one of the toughest to decipher for players.
Beginners
If you’re just getting into the game maybe you’re starting with a second-hand set of clubs or something you picked up at a garage sale. That’s fine for budgetary purposes, but you should really want a driver that’s going to help you build confidence right off the bat. Spending the extra money will be well worth it in the long run.
Intermediate
Players who have taken their game to the next level will often find themselves in a bit of a driver rut. Your skills have advanced beyond the driver you started with, but you’re not quite ready to join the ranks of the PGA Tour. Thankfully, many manufacturers now offer driver models for the in-between.
Advanced Players
The advanced, single-digit handicap player, is going to have different demands than they did earlier in their golf life. A driver that is made for players who consistently find the center of the club face and can shape shots will typically be on the list of demands.
Low Spin
Players who swing faster and hit the ball higher generate a lot of spin, especially with the driver. For this type of player, spin can be the enemy. It leads to shorter drives and looser dispersion.
Draw-Bias
Almost all golfers have struggled with slicing the ball at some point in their life. Losing your drives to the right (for right-handed golfers) can be incredibly frustrating and a hard rut to dig out of. Thankfully, many manufacturers now offer draw-bias drivers intended to get you centered off the tee.
Conclusion
It’s important to find a driver that fits your game, not everyone else's. Thankfully, many models and options exist for all types of golfers. Always consider a proper fitting from a certified club fitter to ensure your investment is a wise choice.
About the Author
Todd Mrowice is a Staff Writer for GolfLink. He has been writing about golf for over 10 years including a long tenure at GOLFChicago Magazine. Todd has covered all aspects of the game including travel, products, business, and professional tours.
What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff?
Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that’s too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.
What shafts do you need for a slow swing?
Slow swing speeds will generally require softer-flex shafts, while high swing speeds need stiffer shafts; due to variations in swing patterns, however, swing speed is only one portion of finding the right shaft. Briand’s recommendation is to use your current driver shaft as a baseline.
What does low torque mean on a shaft?
5. Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.
What happens if you have a longer shaft?
As Briand says, a longer shaft will cause a less consistent strike on the face, and the golfer will tend to hit the ball closer to the heel. A shorter shaft, on the other hand, will cause a more consistent strike pattern, but impact location will tend to be on the toe. A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ...
Does tipping a shaft change the bend point?
Remember, though, that tipping a shaft will change the bend point, and it’s also irreversible, so make sure you know the purpose behind tipping your shaft. 2. Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex.
Does a high bend point lower or raise the ball?
According to Briand, a high bend point will lower ball flight and a low bend point will raise ball flight. So, if you tend to have a ball flight that’s too high, look for shafts that have a high kick point, and vice versa. It’s important to note that variations in length and shaft tipping will impact the designed bend point of a shaft.
Can you get fit into a driver shaft?
That’s why it’s best to get fit into a driver shaft under the supervision of a professional fitter. Being that we don’t live in a perfect world, however, the reality is that many golfers will skip the step of getting fit and purchase aftermarket shafts without consultation. Golfers buy certain shafts for various reasons.
How much weight can a golf driver plug have?
Various weight and plugs ranging from 1 to 20 grams can be positioned on the sole of the driver, and altered to fit your game. They can create a draw bias (more weight in the heel), a fade bias (more weight in the toe) or even a higher ball (more weight in the back portion of the head).
What are drivers made of?
Now virtually all drivers today are made of titanium or composite heads. The reason titanium became so popular is that it is strong, long lasting and lightweight.
Why do you need more loft in golf?
Therefore golfers with slower swing speeds, of around 90mph or less, will need more loft to optimise their launch conditions.
What is loft in golf?
Loft dictates how high or low the ball will fly off the clubface and is measured on a vertical axis. A clubface with 0 degrees of loft would sit perpendicular to the ground, but most drivers typically range in loft from 8 to 12 degrees. Loft adds backspin to the ball enabling it to generate lift and rise into the air.
What does MOI mean in golf?
MOI stands for Moment Of Interia. It refers to a club's forgiveness, specifically its resistance to twisting at impact. The higher the MOI, the less likely a club is to twist or rotate when you strike the ball away from the centre of the face.
What is the COR limit in golf?
If COR was equal to 1.00 all of the energy from the clubhead would be transferred to the ball. Golf's governing bodies have set the COR limit at 0.83, meaning that there can be no more than an 83% energy transfer from the clubhead to the ball.
What is the centre of gravity of a driver?
The Centre of Gravity (CG) of a driver is the single balance point of the driver. It can be moved vertically, horizontally, or back and forward in a club head by moving fixed or adjustable weights inside the head. In general the lower and further back the CG is, the higher the ball will launch, because the spin is increased.
What factors determine which golf club to hit?
Though distance is probably the number one factor in deciding which golf club to hit, other factors include the type of lie or the condition of where you are hitting from.
What is a lower number golf club?
The lower the number, the longer the length of the club and the least amount of loft. Lower numbered golf clubs are designed to travel lower in the air with further distance than a higher numbered golf club. As a side note, many golfers (beginners and experienced) find hitting their 3 wood somewhat challenging.
What is putter used for?
Putters are used specifically on the green and offer the least amount of distance and no loft as they meant to “roll” the ball into the hole. A golfer carries one putter in their bag on any given round of golf.
Why are golf clubs called rescue clubs?
They are known to be more forgiving, and are designed to provide more loft and may be easier to hit than longer clubs with low loft.
What is an iron in golf?
Irons. Irons are golf clubs that have traditionally used a steel club face, thus the name. They most commonly range from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, and 9. Most golfers don’t use the 1 or 2 irons any longer but these “long irons” can still be found in a few golf shops and golfer’s bags.
What is a wedge in golf?
Wedges are golf clubs that provide the least amount of distance (except for the putter) and the highest loft. They are used in what is referred to as the “short game” of golf. For the average golfer, this means about 100 yards or less from the green.
Why are drivers so hard to hit?
It is designed to provide the longest distance of all the golf clubs. Drivers can be really hard to hit because a golfer has less control as it is the longest and largest club. However, it can also be easier to hit because a tee perches the ball up in the air.
