How to Pick a Golf Driver
Nothing can a ruin a golf game more easily than hitting poor shots off of the tee. Distance and accuracy are key to a successful drive in golf and picking the correct driver for your golf game is essential to improving both. You must consider several options when picking a golf driver, including weight, length, size of the club head and materials.
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Instructions
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Choose the proper weight of your driver. Lighter drivers can help increase swing speed while heavier drivers afford you more control over the shot. If you don't have a strong swing, go with a lighter model.
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Select one of the three standard driver lengths. A traditional driver measures 43 to 44 inches, and most players should go with this length. Mid-length clubs average 45 to 46 inches and long drivers measure more than 46 inches. Longer drivers may give you longer tee shots but with less control.
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Pick one of the three sizes of club heads. Each size has is advantages and disadvantages. The standard club head for a driver offers a small sweet spot but more control than drivers with larger club heads. An oversized driver club head comes with a larger sweet spot, but it weighs down the club and offers less control. The midsize club head is lighter than the oversized head, yet offers more of a sweet spot than the standard club.
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Consider the material of your new driver. Today, drivers are no longer made of wood; rather they are made with titanium or stainless steel. Titanium is the lighter of the two; stainless steel is less expensive.
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Determine which shaft material you prefer. Driver shafts are constructed with one of two materials: steel or graphite. Similar to materials used to manufacture the club head, steel shafts tend to be cheaper and heavier while graphite shafts are lighter and more expensive.
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Complete the process by choosing how much "give" you want the driver to have. Generally, drivers have five levels of give, or flex, in their shafts. Flex levels exist for women and senior players. Additionally, men's clubs are available in regular, stiff or extra stiff versions. Simply put, the weaker your shot, the more flex you'll want to have in your new driver.
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Tips & Warnings
New golfers or those with weak shots off of the tee should select a driver with the following characteristics: a traditional-length club with a standard or midsize titanium head and a graphite shaft with regular flex. Consider buying a used driver from an online retailer such as Golfsmith.com (see Resources) if you're not certain which of the options best suits your game.
