Written by There’s so much to think about when you’re buying a new golf driver. Aside from the price tag, you have to look at the clubhead design, material used, size of the clubhead, shaft, loft, grip, etc. Ultimately, the end goal is to have a driver that would give you extra distance off the tee without sacrificing consistency and accuracy.
In this article, we will look at the common things that you need to consider when choosing your new driver. You should have a general idea of what to look for after reading this article.
Clubhead Design
Titanium is quite popular among the modern-day drivers. Because it is lighter, manufacturers can create a larger clubhead without making it too heavy. A larger clubhead will also have a bigger sweetspot which makes it more forgiving for off-center hits.
Club faces have also been made thinner, creating a trampoline or “bounce” effect know as COR. Because of this extra bounce, the ball will travel faster and add distance.
Recently, manufacturers have also begun using titanium in conjunction with ultra lightweight graphite. The reason behind it is to enable the manufacturer to re-position the weight in the clubhead. A weight positioned lower and further back will promote a ball flying high with less spin, for better carry and roll.
Taking that a little bit further, some golf drivers now have moveable tungsten weights. this would allow you to alter the club’s weight distribution based on your swing. If you tend to fade the ball you can position the weights to promote a draw and vice versa. You can move them to encourage a lower or higher ball flight, too. Check out the Taylor Made r7 425 and Masters MC-Z700.
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Many golf drivers now have moveable tungsten weights, allowing you to alter the club’s weight distribution. If you tend to fade the ball you can position the weights to promote a draw and vice versa. You can move them to encourage a lower or higher ball flight, too. Check out the Taylor Made r7 425 and Masters MC-Z700.
With so much choice, there’s no easy answer when it comes to choosing the right clubhead design. The best advice is to try a range of styles and see what works best for you.
Loft
On impact, the club loft imparts the initial launch angle of the golf ball. Depending on your swing (shape and swing speed), choosing the right loft can produce more distance but on the other hand choosing the wrong one can be detrimental to your tee shots. If struck correctly, a lower lofted club face will produce more distance, but if you tend to slice, you are likely to need a higher loft. For high handicappers or golfers with slower swing speeds, a loft of 11 degrees or higher is usually beneficial in getting the ball in the air. For low handicappers and those with faster swing speed, 10 degrees or lower usually add distance. Professional golfers even have loft lower than 9 degrees.
Stay tuned for the second part of this article.
Photo credit: brtsergio
