If your swing speed is over 100 mph and you hit the golf ball a long way, you should have a driver with a loft of about 12 degrees, or less, and that will produce less backspin. But if you are like most golfers with swing speeds that are below 90 mph, you will need a more lofted driver that increases that backspin to keep the ball aloft.
Full Answer
How do I choose a golf driver?
· A titanium driver, or multi-material driver like titanium and composite, that combines light weight and excellent strength is more expensive and for golfers who play more consistently. Stainless steel drivers will lend more weight to your swing, giving you more control on the descent.
What are golf drivers made of?
How to Pick a Golf Driver. 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 ... Step 2. Step 3. Step 4.
What is the best driver length for golf?
Almost all drivers in today's market are between 440 and 460c. Typically, 440cc drivers are designed for players that like to shape the ball more in the air as they generate different launch conditions compared to 460cc heads which generally offer more forgiveness.
What should I consider when buying a driver?
If you are a weekend golfer and you hit the ball less than 250 yards off the tee, look for a driver that has about a 450 cc head. You might hit a driver that has a larger head, and you might hit...
How do I know what driver 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's a good driver for an average golfer?
Some of the best drivers on the market that can significantly help the average player's game are the Callaway Epic Speed, the TaylorMade SIM MAX, the Cobra Golf F-MAX, the 14-degree GX-e7, and the Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo.
What kind of driver should I hit?
For the average recreational golfer with an average swing speed, a 10.5-degree driver will likely perform the best. The average distance will be very close between them, but a 10.5-degree driver will be more forgiving and will hit more fairways. Again, it'll depend on your skill level, swing speed, and launch angle.
What driver should a beginner buy?
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.
What are the most forgiving drivers?
Most Forgiving DriversCobra LTDx Max Driver. ... Honma T//World GS Driver. ... Wilson Staff D9 Driver. ... Tour Edge Exotics E722 Driver. ... Titleist TSi1 Driver. ... Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver. Best Sound And Feel In 2022. ... Cleveland Launcher XL Driver. Suits A Broad Range Of Golfers. ... Mizuno ST-Z 220 Driver. Great Value Performance.More items...•
Is it worth buying a new golf driver?
The new driver has to be better weighting, higher ball speed, and an overall better fit. Some people will go to a fitting for a new driver they have their heart set on and find they don't hit the ball as far as their current club. This has everything to do with shaft weighting, flexibility, torque, and kick point.
How do I choose a driver?
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.
What flex do I need for my driver?
If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex. Regular – Now we are getting into the range where a majority of recreational golfers fall, and also where many LPGA pros fall. If you're between 84 and 96 mph, regular is going to be best for you.
What's the difference between a 9 and 10.5 driver?
9-degree drivers produce a lower trajectory and produce the best results with fast swing speeds that generate the spin needed to get maximum airtime. 10.5-degree drivers are suited to most golfers with an average swing speed that requires forgiveness and extra distance.
What is the most forgiving driver for beginners?
Most Forgiving Drivers In Golf for Beginners/High HandicappersCallaway Epic.Cleveland.TaylorMade SIM 2.Callaway Big Bertha.Callaway Mavrik.Cobra.Wilson Staff.Mizuno.
What's the easiest driver to hit?
Best Drivers for Beginners and High Handicappers 2022Ping G425 SFT driver.TaylorMade SIM2 MAX-D driver.Callaway Epic Max driver.PXG 0211 driver.Cobra F-Max Airspeed driver.Wilson Launch Pad driver.Callaway Big Bertha B21.Cobra Radspeed XD driver.
What loft should a beginner driver be?
For a beginner golfer, the ideal loft on a golf driver should be 10.5 degrees minimum.
Where did Bill Herrfeldt graduate from?
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic." He graduated from the University of Louisville.
Who is Bill Herrfeldt?
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic.". He graduated from the University of Louisville.
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.
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 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 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 face angle?
Face angle refers to the angle of the face at address. If the face sits completely perpendicular to the target, it is considered square. If it turns the face away from the player then it is said to be open and this will reduce the loft of the club.
How long is a golf driver?
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. While longer drivers will typically increase speed and help players hit the ball further, the additional length of the driver will sacrifice an element of control and accuracy.
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.
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.
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.
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 is CG in a car?
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.
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.
Does a golf ball fly higher or lower?
The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex. The heavier a shaft is, the more likely it is that your golf ball will fly low and with less spin. If it’s lighter, the ball will tend to fly higher and spin more.
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.
Does the length of a driver shaft affect the strike point?
Length. Of course, the length of your driver shaft will significantly change how the golf club feels, but length affects strike point, too. 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.
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 is the difference between a high torque shaft and a low torque shaft?
A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily. Briand says that torque “plays more into feel than anything else.” The lower torque shafts will have a “boardy” feel, while the higher torque shafts will have a “whippy” feel.
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.
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. ...
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.
What are the different types of shafts?
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 to a higher club-head speed, ...
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.
Who is Bill Herrfeldt?
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic.". He graduated from the University of Louisville.
What Is The Best Loft For A Driver?
The driver loft that you choose can depend on your clubhead speed. If your swing speed is above 90mph then a 9.5 – 11 degree loft will give you the best angle of attack.
Why Is Driver Loft Important?
Driver loft is important because it can affect both the distance and the trajectory of your drives. Your skill level will determine which loft for your driver you should choose.
Driver Loft Chart
The below driver loft chart (source: wishongolf.com) illustrates the correlation between clubhead speed and loft. This shows that it is a myth that a low launch angle will mean greater distance in all cases.
Which Driver Loft Should I Choose?
The loft of driver that you choose will depend on your own specific needs. A good rule of thumb is to check your own swing speed and find what works best for you at the driving range.
Frequently Asked Questions
An average driver loft would be 10.5 degrees ranging up to a 12 degree loft. Unless you have exceptionally fast club head speed for an amateur, we would advise against using less loft such as a 9.5 degree starting out.
Summary
In summary, there is not a one size fits all when trying to answer the question ‘what is the best loft for a driver?’. However, as you can see from the above the answer to this question won’t always remain the same as it can change both when you move from a high handicapper to a low handicapper and when you move from a junior to senior golfer.
Why is it important to choose the right golf club size?
These range from having a better connection with your shots and hitting them from the correct lie angle. Both of these benefits will contribute to your achieving a better golf handicap score.
How to make your golf swing more efficient?
To make your golf swing feel more efficient, you have to match your lie angle to your club length based on your position with regard to the club. This will help you to hit shots that feel more comfortable and it will help with more consistent swings.
What does it mean to use the correct size golf club?
When you use the correct golf club sizes you will be hitting your shots with the ideal length club which will help you to get a solid contact on your shots. This accurate measurement can help you to achieve consistent contact by ensuring the club face is squared properly at impact.
