The driver is a much hyped piece of golf equipment. It can either be your best friend or worst enemy, depending on the control you have with the club. With so many options, the following guidance will help you on the path to choosing he best driver for your game.
1. Driver Loft
The loft of the club affects both the launch angle and the spin rate of the golf ball. If you have a fast swing (ie > 95mph) then you will likely generate too much backspin with a high loft driver (12 degrees) and would be better off with a lower loft. The reverse is also true. The best way to select your driver loft is to be fitted on a launch monitor, which can measure these parameters.
2. The size of the driver head
The largest legal head size for a driver is 460cc. Manufacturers have produced many drivers of this size because the larger the head, the larger the sweetspot is, making is easier for amateurs to play with. However, a larger head is harder to work the ball with (ie. fade or draw), which is why a lot of professionals play with a smaller 420cc head, or thereabouts. Make sure you choose a club that looks good to you – confidence is a large part of golfing.
3. Open or closed face
A lot of manufacturers make drivers that have an open or closed face. An open face driver helps with the hook, and a closed face driver helps with a slice. I’ve personally never been a fan of these types of options. I prefer to know if my swing is on track with a straight shot, as none of my other clubs have a closed face.
4. The Shaft
The biggest determinant of which flex you will choose will depend on our swing speed. If you choose a shaft that is too stiff, your shots will tend to go low and right, and fell less ‘solid’ even when hit in the middle. Conversely, choose a shaft that if too flexible and you will tend to hit high shots, and hook the ball.
Another aspect of shaft flex is the kick point. This is the point in the shaft that bends as you swing. In this case, opposites apply. If you want a lower ball flight, choose a high kick point, and choose a low kick point for a higher ball flight.
When selecting your driver you will have a choice between steel and graphite. Generally, steel shafts transmit more vibrations and hence have a better feel that graphite shafts. But graphite shafts are lighter, which will assist in swinging faster and hance more distance.
Nothing of course beats a real life evaluation on the golf course. I would also recommend going to a Bridgestone ball fitting session if they are available in your area. Here, they will measure all factors of your swing (club speed, launch angle, face angle etc). This information will help you select the optimal shaft and head combination.