- 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 do I choose a golf driver?
For example, if you hit the golf ball low off the tee, you should find a driver that has a high trajectory rating. Don't think that trajectory rating is the same as loft. For instance, a driver may have a 10-degree loft, but if its center of gravity is toward the front, it will react more like a driver with an 8-degree loft.
Is it worth buying a good golf driver?
There are many ‘value for money options’ if you are on a really tight budget but it is worth investing in a quality driver that will help you off the tee and give you a good start on most holes. A good driver will last you a long time and will work with you as your game improves.
Should beginners buy used golf clubs?
GlobalGolf recommends to you, as a beginner golfer, that you should look into used golf clubs if you are not interested in buying a preselected golf club set. Once you have a better pulse on the game, you can then trade in these golf clubs with UTrade-In™ and earn credit towards your next purchase.
What is the difference between professional golf drivers and beginners'drivers?
The drivers designed for professionals tend to have smaller heads, less forgiveness, and more playability. They are designed for ultra-fast swing speeds which most beginners do not have.
How do I buy a first driver?
Below are the most important things to consider when buying a driver.Find a quality shaft. The most important thing when searching for a driver is the shaft. ... Pick a Club-Head. This is the fun part of buying a driver. ... Choose a Loft. Unfortunately, there is no good way that I know of to choose a loft. ... My Best Tips.
What driver should I buy as a beginner?
What degree driver should a beginner use? The driver is one of the hardest clubs for beginners to hit so getting the right loft is essential. The rule of thumb is that more loft means more forgiveness, making the driver a bit easier to hit. With that in mind we recommend a beginner using a 10.5° or 12° driver.
How much should a beginner spend on a driver?
If there is no discount, you can easily spend $300 or more on just a driver. On average, the cost of new OEM club will be around $1900. The driver will cost you $400, hybrid one $200, Fairway wood is at $200, Wedge at $150, Iron set at $800 and Putter at $150.
How do you size a golf driver?
Simply hold your golf club at 45 degrees to the ground or as in your playing position. At this point take a golf club ruler or take measure and place under the sole of the club. Measure to butt of grip. This will give you you an accurate and USGA standard for measuring your golf driver.
What loft should a beginner driver be?
Most golf drivers for beginners come in 9.5º, 10.5º and 12º options. The ideal loft is dependent on your swing speed and shot shape. 10.5º and 12º golf drivers are usually best for beginner golfers as the added backspin only loses a small amount of distance, but keeps your drives much straighter.
Should beginner golfers use a driver?
All beginner and high handicap golfers should use a driver to try to drive the ball as far as possible. This is because of the impact that driving distance has on scoring. An extra 20 yards increase in driving distance will reduce a typical 100-scoring golfers score by 2.3 strokes per round.
Should a beginner golfer get fitted for clubs?
Beginner golfers should get fitted for golf clubs because they have the most to gain from playing the right clubs for them. All golfers adapt their swing to their clubs so if beginners choose clubs which are not well suited to them they will immediately form bad habits that become hard to break.
How much is a good set of golf clubs for a beginner?
Most beginner sets start around $300 and go up over $1000. Only invest money in a better set if you think you will stick with the game long term. Many people will save money and buy a decent beginner set; in a few years, if they still love the game, they sell it and put the money towards a complete custom set.
How much should a beginner spend on golf?
But if you're a beginner you really do not need to spend loads of money. For your first set of clubs, you probably only need to spend £100-£250 / $150-$350. This will get you at least nine decent golf clubs, which is more than enough to get started.
How do I know my driver length?
To determine your optimum driver length, look at where you hit the ball on the face of your driver. If your hits are mostly towards the heel, your driver is too long. Another possibility is that the shaft is too light. Try choking down on the shaft and see if your contact improves.
How long should my driver be for my height?
Driver Shaft Length Based Solely on HeightHeight (feet/inches)Driver Shaft Length5'4″-5'7″45.5″5'2″-5'4″45″5'0″-5'2″44.5″4'10”-5'0″44″6 more rows•May 9, 2021
How long should a golf driver be for my height?
Using the ratio of every 6" of height there should be a 1" change in length then there should be a 1 ½" difference between their 5-irons. For example, recommend 36.5" for the lady and 38" for the man (or 36.75" / 38.25").
How many drivers do you need for a golf bag?
Golf Drivers. Also known as a 1 Wood, the driver goes the furthest distance and is used to tee off at the beginning of the hole. You only need one driver in your golf bag, and you can choose from a variety of driver lofts depending on your desired ball flight.
What is the best shaft for a golf swing?
These shafts are lighter, which allows you to maximize your swing speed. Though they can be more expensive, graphite shafts are the most popular shaft type because the material is higher quality. Those with moderate to slow swing speeds play with graphite golf shafts; typically these shaft flexes are softer as well.
What is hybrid golf?
Hybrids carry the loft of an iron with the distance of a fairway wood, hence the name. These clubs tend to be easier to hit than fairway woods, especially out of the rough, and can replace fairway wood options in your bag. Depending on your preference, you may only have one hybrid in your golf bag.
What is the biggest role in golf?
Golf Putters. Putters may play the largest role in golf. You use putters after using all the clubs above to get the ball in the hole on the green. There are plenty of styles to choose from -- blade putters, mal let putters, mid-mallet putters and more.
How many woods are in a golf bag?
Most golf bags contain two fairway woods.
How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?
According to the United States Golf Association (USGA), the governing body of golf that writes all the rules, you are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in your bag. A typical 14-club set consists of the following:
What are wedges in golf?
Golf Wedges. Golf wedges are an extremely important part of the game. These are the clubs you use around the green and in the sand bunkers to get onto the green. You can hit a variety of shots with wedges, from bump-and-runs to chips to pitches to flop shots. They come in different degree lofts, though the most popular are pitching wedges ...
Where did the driver come from?
Origins of the Driver. Drivers have come a long way since the first, hand-carved wooden stick (also known as the golf club) was invented in Scotland in the 1400’s. These sticks were used to play a game that everyone now knows as golf (whether the Scotts adopted the game from the Dutch, Chinese or other cultures has been an on-going debate ...
What are drivers used for?
Drivers are used to launch the ball long distances down the fairway. Once made primarily of wood or steel, modern drivers most often have titanium heads and graphite shafts for strength as well as lightness.
What is hybrid golf?
Hybrids are a cross between a fairway wood and an iron, with the center of gravity located towards the front of the head in comparison to drivers and fairway woods. Hybrids are good for various course situations because they deliver the most accuracy even if they deliver the least amount of distance.
What is a 1-wood driver?
Today’s top-of-the-line driver (also know as a 1-wood) is commonly made with a titanium head and feather-light graphite shaft. You will also find that most woods come with a composite or steel head. The driver, which is the largest of the woods, is designed to be light enough to promote swing speed while also provide enough weight to knock the ball a good distance down the fairway.
How fast should a golf ball be?
Ball speed is considered to be the initial velocity of the ball as it leaves the club face, and experts say your ideal ball speed should generally be 1 ½ times your swing speed. This covers more distance and results in fewer shots to the green. You will be able to improve your swing speed as your game progresses.
What color is a driver's head?
Black (or dark wood) is the traditional color of a driver head, but manufacturers have recently begun building them with colors that have greater contrast against a green grass background. If a strong color contrast helps your swing, by all means make that choice.
How has technology improved golf?
Modern technology has made golf equipment lighter, faster, and far more accurate than in the days of yore, where all it took to fill your golf bag were a few decent sticks of wood, a sharp whittling knife, and some time . Clubs have also improved even from the persimmon wood or steel used just a few decades ago.
What is a driver in golf?
The driver is a club that golfers at every level need to have before they head to the course.
What is the maximum size of a golf driver?
While the driver does have the largest hitting area of any club, there are various sizes available. The maximum size allowed by the USGA is 460cc (cubic centimeters). This tends to be the most popular size of driver with amateurs and new players as it offers more forgiveness on off-center shots.
Why are golf drivers lighter?
Manufacturers have focused on making golf drivers lighter to help increase clubhead speed. Most golfers benefit from having a lighter driver to help produce the most distance off the tee.
What is the loft of a driver?
The loft is the angle of the clubface and can affect trajectory and distance. Drivers come in various lofts, from 8 to 15 degrees. Knowing which loft to choose depends on your swing speed:
What is a driver shaft made of?
SHAFT. The driver shaft is typically made of steel, titanium or graphite. Steel tends to be the heaviest but is often lower priced than the other two options. Titanium and graphite shafts are lighter and can help increase clubhead speed, which can lead to improved distance.
What is the most commonly used golf club?
The driver is one of the most commonly used and important clubs for golfers at every level. By finding a driver that fits you and your skill level, you will be one step closer to a successful day on the course. Once you find the driver that fits your game, you will be ready to put it to use.
Is titanium good for golf?
Consider: Titanium tends to be strong, long lasting and lightweight. This allows for larger clubheads without additional weight, helping players to swing faster for more distance with a greater margin of error, thanks in part to a larger sweet spot.
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 is a cobra driver?
Not for golfers who want to shape the ball flight. Cobra is a premium manufacturer that has been supplying drivers, woods, and irons for many years. They are known for drivers that maximize speed and distance for golfers of all abilities.
Can you drive a par 5 without a driver?
Provided, of course, you get the correct drivers for your game. Getting to green on a par 5 or even many par 4s will take some time without a decent driver. While your drive is only one aspect of your game it is an extremely important one.
Is it easy to swing a driver?
Fortunately, modern drivers are relatively easy to swing, rather forgiving and will give you a good distance when you hit reasonably well. The key is to find the right driver for your skills, swing speed and style.
Is it easier to hit a higher loft driver?
As your skills develop and your swing speed increases you can go down a bit. It is certainly easier for beginners to hit a higher lofted driver.
What to know when buying a golf driver?
What to Know When Purchasing a Golf Driver. Drivers can be pricey, so finding the right fit is important so that you can hit your best shots off the tee. In recent years, golf club manufacturers have worked hard to lure golfers to spend hundreds of dollars to pursue their dream of hitting the ball long and straight with a driver. ...
Why do golfers choose drivers with the least amount of loft?
For many years, golfers chose drivers with the least amount of loft because it was commonly believed the lower the loft, the longer the ball would travel because they would hit it lower . New research indicates something different in that balls that fly higher, fly farther.
What is the right shaft for a driver?
The Right Shaft. There are three shafts that are made of different metals: steel, graphite and titanium. Drivers with steel shafts generally are less expensive and are heavier than the others. If you are a high handicapper, spend more money to buy a driver with a graphite or titanium shaft because their less weight will translate ...
How many flexes are there in a golf shaft?
Further, all three types of shafts come with five flexes: senior's, woman's, regular, stiff and extra stiff. If your ball carries less than 200 yards, choose a woman's shaft; 225 yards, senior's; 250 yards, regular; 275 yards, stiff; 300 yards, extra stiff. Finally, make sure you choose the right length of shaft.
Why do drivers have a bigger head?
Most players reason a driver with a larger head provides a bigger “sweet spot” so it's easier to get away with an off-center shot. They're right, but some drivers have such large heads that they get in the way of most golfers.
Do golf clubs have drivers?
But most golfers don't realize it is the attributes of a particular driver that lead to good results, not the fact it's the latest one available.
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 is composite driver?
Composite drivers are clubs that combine several different types of materials. Lightweight materials such as carbon or heavyweight materials such as tungsten are often combined with titanium to improve driver performance. When used on the crown or the rear section of a clubhead, carbon can reduce the overall weight of a driver.
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.
1. Irons first and look for sets that include hybrids
Your irons should serve as the foundation that you build your whole 14-club set upon. Most irons come with a pitching wedge and a handful of numeric clubs, usually ranging from 9-iron down through to a 5, 4, or even sometimes a 3-iron.
2. Beginner sets are the way to go at first
Beginner sets, sometimes called boxed sets, typically come with everything you need to get started playing golf. You can find some that include a driver, irons, a wedge, a putter and a bag.
4. And maybe splurge on a driver, too
For years we recommended that new golfers don’t really need a driver because they take a while to learn how to use. That’s hardly the case anymore—today’s drivers are behemoths and with the right configuration, can be a blast for almost anyone to hit.
5. Buy the right golf balls
We’re only saying this because we see it happen all the time—beginners have no need or reason to buy premium-priced golf balls.
Size & Material
Shaft
- The driver shaft is typically made of steel, titanium or graphite. Steel tends to be the heaviest but is often lower priced than the other two options. Titanium and graphite shafts are lighter and can help increase clubhead speed, which can lead to improved distance. Shafts come with a variety of unique flexes that can affect your shot’s trajectory, accuracy and distance. Flexes available inclu…
Weight
- Drivers typically range from 275 to 310 grams, but some can be as light as 265 grams in total weight. Manufacturers have focused on making golf drivers lighter to help increase clubhead speed. Most golfers benefit from having a lighter driver to help produce the most distance off the tee.
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.
Loft
- The loft is the angle of the clubface and can affect trajectory and distance. Drivers come in various lofts, from 8 to 15 degrees. Knowing which loft to choose depends on your swing speed: 1. Less than 60 MPH = 14-15 degrees of loft. 2. 60 to 70 MPH = 12-13 degrees of loft. 3. 70 to 80 MPH = 10.5-11.5 degrees of loft. 4. 80 to 90 MPH = At least 9 t...
Adjustability
- When searching for the right driver, you may come across adjustable drivers. This type of club allows you to customize different features: 1. Hosel: This feature allows you to change the loft of the driver to create different launch angles. You can also adjust the lie. The lie can influence if you hit a draw, which curves the ball right to left for right-handed golfers and the opposite for left-ha…
Golf Club Fitting
- And don’t forget to get fitted. For optimal consistency and accuracy, you should have your clubs customized to your body and swing. Visit the PROS at DICK’S Golf Servicesto receive help finding your optimal set makeup, loft angle, lie angle, shaft type, shaft length, grip size and more. The driver is one of the most commonly used and important clubs for golfers at every level. By findin…