Most of us want to get more distance when we tee off and so we are always looking for the driver that will do that for us. We see a fellow golfer hit the ball beautifully and we ask what driver do you have? it looks great. Just because you like how it looks doesn’t mean that it is the correct club for you. Choosing a driver because it looks great is not the way to buy one if you want to play a better game of golf. In fact, nine out of 10 golfers play with drivers that do not have sufficient loft and their drivers are too long for their swings. Furthermore, just because some drivers cost a lot of money does not mean that you will instantly improve your game. Here are a few things to think about as you select your new driver.
Ask a golf Professional? This always a good thing to do. The golf course Pros are there to help you choose the right equipment for your individual swing, height and age. Many golfers have drivers that are too long for them and also do not have enough loft to give them increased distance
Choose the right club head. There are many choices out there and many sizes but for simplicity lets divide them into small, medium and large.
A smaller club head is lighter and gives you more control of your swing but you may sacrifice distance for control. In addition smaller club heads have smaller sweet spots so if you hit tee shots often that miss the “sweet spot,” you probably need a driver with maximum forgiveness.
Large club heads have a larger sweet spot as well as more mass to help create momentum and distance to your swing. A larger club face is much more forgiving on a mishit. A mid size club head is a compromise between control and distance. There are also different materials for club heads, titanium and stainless steel primarily. Titanium allows you to have a larger club face with less weight but stainless steel will be cheaper. Ultimately what the driver is made of will be immaterial it all boils down to how it feels to you.
Choose the right shaft The type of shaft is also just as important as the driver head. Different materials provide different flex. Flex is the amount of “bend” in a shaft. Basically, the slower the swing you have, the more flex you need to create the right impact speed. If you have a fast swing, you will need a stiffer club shaft.
Choose the right loft Loft is the measure of the angle of the club head. The greater the loft, the greater the angle on the face of the head and the more control but less distance. Slower swings need more loft. Faster swings need less loft. 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. In some cases, you may need a more lofted driver to get the ball airborne.
Choose the right length You will need to choose the right length shaft to ensure you have proper positioning on the ball during your swing. Additionally, a longer club may give your more distance, but may give you less control. Swinging clubs of improper length can create inconsistency in ball contact due to improper club path to the ball and an ineffective swing plane.
When choosing a driver, it should look and feel comfortable in your hands. Swing-weight, length and flex should all feel right to you. How a club feels will differ from each person but the club head should generally always feel light and manageable while still having enough weight to create the feeling of drag.
Having the right club in hand will not guarantee a good shot there are other considerations to hitting a good tee shot. You should have a slightly closed stance, a low, smooth and wide takeaway and a full turn of the torso. Fifty percent of the ball should be above the club head and it should be positioned ahead in the stance. Consentrate on letting the hips and lower back do most of the rotation and do a full body turn for maximum power.