Drivers
The good news is that golf drivers in the marketplace today are easier than ever to hit. You should never underestimate the importance of splashing out on a good one. In the past new golfers were initially introduced to a 3 wood as it was easier to hit straight, this is not necessarily the case nowadays. Try going straight for a driver. Many people now find drivers just as easy, if not easier, to hit off the tee than a 3 wood. The advantages of a golf driver are the huge club head (up to 460cc), large sweet spot on the face and the all important ability to hit the golf ball a lot further than a 3 wood.
There are many different types of driver and technology on the market. From the top golf brands we have moveable weight technology and moveable head technology that allows you to vary the trajectory of your shots by adjusting the weights in the head of the club and the club face angle. Both of these could feature separately or together. There are square drivers that increase the MOI (moment of inertia) of the club head, thus increasing the resistance to twisting and resulting in straighter shots even if you don't catch the golf ball in the centre of the club face. We also have a multitude of miracle metals and composite materials that promise lighter, faster, stronger performance and all sorts of other claims that you know you want to be a part of!
The only way to get it totally right is to try a few and see what you like best. Don't forget at onlinegolf.co.uk we offer a unique 90 day playing trial that gives you complete peace of mind when contemplating a large investment in a golf driver.
Leading brands such as TaylorMade, Callaway Golf, Cleveland, Nike Golf, Yonex Golf and Cobra Golf make fantastic drivers so you can't go too far wrong here. Other good value drivers can be found from Ben Ross, MD Golf, Ram and Wilson Staff.
Low Handicap
As a low-handicap golfer, the chances are that you have a golf driver which suits your game. There can be improvements made here however.
In terms of the correct model, look at drivers which give you a more penetrating flight and allow you to work (shape) the golf ball easier. There are several models from leading manufacturers which are set up to “Tour” standard which will do this. Look for Tour or TP models.
Also there are many graphite shafts on the market which perform in different ways. Premium shafts will give a much more consistent performance and they also feature different characteristics to alter the ball flight. To find out more visit the website of top shaft manufacturers such as UST Mamiya, Fujikura and Aldila.
Medium Handicap
As a mid-handicap golfer you have reached a level which means you know a lot more about your game and what you need. There are several considerations that you may wish to consider when contemplating your next golf driver.
If you are still using an entry level model then you should consider investing in a more advanced driver for more distance and higher accuracy. If you have a trajectory which is costing you distance then you could consider Flight Control or Moveable Weight Technology to help you.
What about the loft you are using? If you are quite straight with your driver have you considered dropping down in loft for more distance? Be careful with this as it won’t always be the case that you will get more distance as the trajectory is important but if you are still using a 12 degree (or higher) driver then a drop down in loft could help.
Finally check you swing speed to ensure the flex is still correct for you. As your swing speed increases you may get benefits from a stiffer flex. This will enable you to control the golf ball better but you do need to ensure that its right for you.
High Handicap
As you are a high handicapper or new to golf, then the considerations for a new golf driver should be model type, loft and flex. It’s important to purchase the best driver you can afford and not to think solely of entry level products. The most advanced drivers are easiest to hit and therefore will be very beneficial for you.
Of the model types it worth considering some of the latest driver technologies
Flight Control – the ability to adjust the angle of the face can help you to change trajectory and can be very useful for eradicating hooks or slices. As you improve you can alter the face angle to give you less help correcting faults.
Moveable Weight – similar to Flight Control you can move the weights inside the driver to give different trajectories. Adjustments to trajectory will be less than Flight Control but will allow you to keep a more neutral face.
Square heads – whilst the current trend does not favour this shape, there is an improvement in the MOI (moment of inertia) which reduces twisting on off centre hits which means less loss of distance.
Multi-material heads – the major metal in use in driver heads is titanium but some advanced drivers use a mixture of other materials and titanium to achieve more forgiveness and club head speed. Its recommended to go for a driver with a 460cc head (the legal limit) as this will maximise forgiveness as your swing will be inconsistent at this level.
The next consideration is loft of the golf driver. Driver lofts vary from around 8 degrees to 14 degrees (this is the angle from the vertical plane) so the more loft the bigger the angle. The general rule is the higher the loft, the easier it is to hit straight. At this level of play, it is recommended that you choose a driver with loft of at least 10.5 degrees and one of 12 degrees or even 14 could be suitable. Many high handicappers choose a driver with too little loft which they find hard to hit straight so try higher lofted drivers and you will be hitting the fairway more often. Finally, as with all golf clubs, you need to consider the flex of the shaft. Almost all drivers have a graphite shaft (they do have different characteristics but at this level that’s not a big consideration). The general rule here is that more flex means that it is easier to square the club face at impact. As a high handicapper or beginner then you should look at a regular flex unless you feel your swing speed is particularly quick. If you are a senior or lady golfer, then look at senior (or A flex) or lady (L) flex. As you improve you may switch to a stiff flex later but there are plenty of mid and low handicap golfers who use a regular flex driver.