What to Know When Purchasing a Golf Driver
- Overview. In recent years, golf club manufacturers have worked hard to lure golfers to spend hundreds of dollars to...
- Size Of Club Head. Most players reason a driver with a larger head provides a bigger “sweet spot” so it's easier to get...
- The Right Shaft. There are three shafts that are made of different metals: steel,...
Full Answer
What should I look for when buying a new 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. If you’re serious about the game—whatever your skill level may be, a clubfitting can be the best way to pick the perfect driver for your swing.
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.
What should I look for when buying a new Golf Club?
This one often goes overlooked, but it's an incredibly important feature of a golf club to note. Knowing how much your driver weighs (total weight), and of that weight, how much of it is in the head (swingweight), is becoming a critical part of improving a player's driving.
What are the most important things to look out for in golf?
But most golfers should remember three things: distance, distance, distance. Extra yardage off the tee is far more important than a bit more spin around the greens. We were unable to load Disqus Recommendations.
What should I look for when buying a golf 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.
How do I know what driver to buy?
Driver loft, which typically ranges from 8.5° to 15°, should match your swing speed. The slower your swing speed the more loft you should have. If your average swing speed is between 80 and 90 mph (the average for most male golfers) you should be using a driver with about 10.5° to 12° of loft.
How much should you spend on a golf driver?
Price of Golf Drivers New golf drivers from reputable manufacturers will cost you $250 to $600. The branded golf drivers are a bit more expensive. But, there are some less famous brands available as well, with low rated golf club drivers. This is where you'll find new drivers for as little as $120 (USD).
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.
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 years does a golf driver last?
five yearsHow Long Should A Driver Last? How Many Rounds? If you play thirty to forty rounds per year, a reasonable number for an average golfer, your driver should easily last five years. This includes range time and any mulligans/provisional balls you may need.
Does an expensive golf driver make a difference?
Price is not necessarily an indication of value. You can't buy a good game – even with the latest and most expensive driver and irons you can still go out and shoot 100. And in reality, the most expensive clubs will be harder to hit than the mid-range clubs, so won't do you any favours.
Is there a difference between golf drivers?
All drivers are not made the same, and all golfers have different swings. One club might be better for you than another, despite whatever marketing claims you have seen. For an hour of your time and little extra money, you can make sure you are giving yourself the best chance off the tee with the right driver setup.
Is it worth buying a new golf driver?
Newer drivers help improve ball speed and have thinner faces which produce longer drives. Be sure to test out different drivers on a launch monitor before purchasing them to compare distances. Different golfers have their own unique swings so results can vary.
What is the easiest golf driver to hit straight?
The Callaway Mavrik Max is Callaway's easiest to hit driver, making it a great option for beginners and high handicappers. It's built for high launch with medium spin, and the head is designed to be ultra-stable, making your misses left and right less severe.
What is the most forgiving driver for 2021?
5 of the MOST FORGIVING new drivers money can buy in 2021PING G245 MAX DRIVER. ... COBRA RADSPEED XB DRIVER. ... TAYLORMADE SIM2 DRIVER. ... CALLAWAY EPIC MAX DRIVER. ... SRIXON ZX7 DRIVER.
What is the best driver for 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...•
Why is it important to find the right driver for a golf club?
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.
What to look for when buying a driver?
The first thing to look for when buying a driver is whether it’s adjustable or not. While it may seem like the only type of driver on the market today is the adjustable driver, there are still many non-adjustable driver options that exist. An adjustable driver allows you to manipulate the driver head / face to off-set against a slice by promoting ...
What to consider when picking out a driver club?
There are many factors to consider when picking out a driver club including adjustable face, face weights, shaft weight, shaft length, grips, and overall appearance of the driver that suites your taste. We believe using the right driver can help your golf game and help you play better as compared to using any driver with no intention ...
Why is driving off the tee important on par 5?
On par 5 holes hitting a great drive off the tee is also very important as it can make these holes become birdie or eagle opportunities. When playing with the right driver that is fitted for your swing style, you give yourself a higher chance of hitting a fairway in regulation.
How to promote draw spin?
If you want to promote draw spin, move the weight closer towards the toe. If you want to promote more fade spin, move the weights towards the heel. Moving the weight around on the driver is also how you change the loft and launch angles as well as spin rates.
What to think about when standing over a golf ball?
Another factor to think about is the look of the driver when standing over the ball. Different crown designs and alignment markings are used to help you see the sweet spot on the driver face and align your driver head square to the ball.
How to get the straightest golf shot?
Hit lots of golf balls on each setting until you get a feel for that specific setting. Write down notes of what you noticed. Then move the settings of your driver and test again until you find the right set up that helps you hit the straightest and furthest golf shots.
Does Taylormade golf ball have a hosel?
However, the extra spin may cause the ball to balloon to high into the air and cost you distance. TaylorMade, for example, has an adjustable hosel and they use movable weights in the sole of the club to adjust center of gravity. This is also the similar design used by Cobra and Callaway in their drivers.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
How to determine loft?
Loft. Loft is determined by the angle of the clubface on the vertical axis. A zero loft means that the clubface is perpendicular to the ground, so the higher the loft, the more the ball is launched into the air. Drivers range in loft between eight and 12 degrees.
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.
Why do you need to experiment with different shafts?
Because modern shafts are lighter and longer than in times past, you’ll need to experiment with different shafts to be sure you get the right amount of flexibility , as even a stiffer shaft that is light and long translates into a longer drive.
Don't be fooled by the name
When the big brands bring out a new driver, it usually isn’t just one club. There are almost always two, three, sometimes even four variations of it, aimed at golfers of different ability levels so it is vital that you don't mistakenly buy the wrong one.
Shaft Flex
This is perhaps the most important factor when choosing a driver. If you have the wrong flex shaft then you aren’t going to get good results from the club, at least not consistently.
Loft & Lie
Loft is very important in a driver but there is no “one size fits all” setting. As a rule of thumb the better the player, the lower the loft, but that isn’t set in stone.
Looks & Sound
How important these factors are depends entirely on the individual. Some golfers don’t care what their clubs look like as long as they do the job. Others are more concerned with aesthetics than performance but ideally you want the right blend of both.
Does Brand matter?
Again, this will be important to some golfers and completely irrelevant to others. Perhaps you want to use the same brand as your favourite superstar golfer, or maybe you have a brand loyalty having always used clubs from a certain manufacturer.
Should you buy the latest model?
Because of limitations imposed by golf’s governing bodies, manufacturers are virtually at a point now where there isn’t a great deal more they can do when it comes to technological advancements. If the rules were scrapped there’d be a free for all and you’d no doubt see balls flying further and further each year.
So get a fitting!
Fittings are usually free and you can get them in any of the major golf superstores and often your local course will also provide this service.
