Golf Driver Buyer's Guide
Table Of Contents: Golf Driver Buyer's Guide
What Driver Should You Buy?
Your principal tools for success on the golf course are your clubs. And today's modern golf drivers are the product of endless engineering and innovation. This golf driver buyer’s guide outlines the basics you should know about golf drivers.
Drivers are one of the essential clubs in your golf bag. And they command a lot of attention for an excellent reason. You'll want the most distance off the tee box to give yourself the best chance to make par or better, and on most holes, this means you'll be hitting a driver. In order to get the most distance and accuracy out of each drive, you'll want to make sure you choose a driver that fits you the best.
So when considering what driver you should buy, you need to consider your specific goals or what you would like to improve about your tee shot. For instance, if you tend to slice or draw, consider buying a golf driver to help fix those issues. The correct driver and consistent practice can help shave points off your game.
Driver Shafts
The shaft encompasses several choices for every golfer. You want to ensure the shaft length is appropriate for your height, allowing for a comfortable, fluid swing. Material is also a factor. Almost all driver shafts are now made of composite materials such as graphite/carbon fiber to reduce weight, allowing for a faster swing. These materials provide strength without the weight of steel shafts. Less shaft weight means you can generate more swing speed allowing for a longer drive.
Arguably the most significant consideration for driver shafts is shaft flex. Examples of shaft flex designations are "Extra Stiff," "Stiff," "Regular," "Senior," and "Ladies" flex. And from the flex name, it is fairly easy to understand what type of flex (or stiffness) you can expect in a particular shaft. What's not so easy to know is what flex to use. The general rule is that the higher the club speed and distance of the average drive off the tee, the stiffer the shaft a golfer should use. And the opposite applies to lower club speeds and shorter average drives. Those golfers should use a more flexible, less stiff shaft. The most common shaft flex is "Regular Flex."
Common Driver Shaft Flex Guide
Driver Club Heads
Driver Loft
The loft is another vital choice you should carefully choose when selecting a driver. The loft is the angle of the clubface to the ground. Naturally, more loft will cause the ball to launch higher into the air. A less experienced player often has trouble getting enough air under the ball and should opt for greater loft, as this can translate into more distance. Many drivers now come with an adjustable hosel which allows you to adjust the club's loft and may even help with slicing, allowing for a draw bias.
Generally, as your club head speed increases, the loft you need decreases.
Common loft/flex combinations on drivers are listed below.
- Slower Swing Speeds – 11*, 11.5* or 12* loft with a senior, lite or ladies flex shaft.
- Medium Swing Speeds – 10* or 10.5* loft with a regular flex shaft.
- Faster Swing Speeds – 9* or 9.5* loft with stiff or extra stiff flex shaft.
Driver Club Head Size And Shape
Most drivers now have a 460cc club head size, the maximum allowed under the normal rules of golf. However, clubs may be shaped differently to favor forgiveness over swing speed. Generally, beginners will want a larger, more forgiving face on their driver, which will sacrifice a bit of distance for maximum forgiveness on mis-hits. More experienced players may favor a smaller club face with a more aerodynamic head design for faster swing speeds and maximum distance.
Something else to consider is that club head technology has improved drastically over the last few years. And these improvements have substantially decreased the dispersion of mis-hits, especially on woods and drivers. In other words, the driver head sweet spot has gotten larger, increasing forgiveness, potentially making shots straighter and longer. An excellent example of this technological improvement can be seen in the TaylorMade Stealth Twist Face (see image).
Certified Pre-Owned Drivers
Every Golf Driver is different, and you should be able to take advantage of the brand and model that best meets your requirements. The golf club that performs well for the pros on tour may not be the same club that works best for all golfers. You should be able to try different clubs to find the best one for your individual playing style. That is also why buying Pre-Owned Clubs is such an excellent and practical solution.
You do not have to purchase new to get a name-brand quality driver. Our certified pre-owned drivers offer top-name brands at a lower price point. They are also backed with our Certified Pre-Owned Guarantee. Each used club we receive is meticulously inspected and rated appropriately.
Click on the pre-owned categories below to find out more!
Left-Handed Drivers
All the top brands in golf generally offer their golf clubs in both left and right-handed. Aside from their orientation, clubs for left-handed golfers are no different than clubs for right-handed golfers. Even driver shafts are universal between right and left-handed clubs. However, even though the shafts are the same, the loft setting adapters are reversed between right- and left-handed clubs. So, using the correct adapter for your club dexterity can help avoid confusion when selecting a club loft.
Golf Drivers Buying Guide Main Takeaway?
The game of golf is extremely complex, and many variables go into customizing a club for each individual player. The golf driver is no exception, and while this guide can lead beginners in the right direction, more experienced players looking to take their game to the next level will want to talk to an expert to receive proper fitting. At Rock Bottom Golf, we offer the ability to customize a wide range of clubs to your exact needs, and our experts are ready to help!
Finding the Perfect Golf Driver
Finding the perfect golf driver can be a complex task due to the myriad of factors involved. Key elements to consider include head size, materials, loft, adjustability, and shaft options. Head size, measured in cubic centimeters (cc), and shape play a significant role in a player's performance, with larger sizes being more forgiving for beginners. The materials used in a driver's construction, including titanium and composites like carbon and tungsten, affect the club's weight and performance. Loft, referring to the angle of the clubface relative to the shaft, influences launch conditions and ball flight, and can often be adjusted in modern drivers. Adjustability also extends to face angle and weight distribution, allowing customization of the club to fit an individual's swing and playing style. The shaft of the driver, offered in various flexes and lengths, plays a crucial role in ball flight direction and control.
A driver's moment of inertia (MOI) and coefficient of restitution (COR) are also important to understand. The former relates to the club's resistance to twisting and determines its forgiveness on off-center hits, while the latter is a measure of energy transfer between the clubhead and ball, influencing distance. The "smash factor" is a related concept measuring the efficiency of this energy transfer. Given these numerous considerations, the process of custom fitting, where a professional club fitter uses launch monitor data to recommend the optimal golf driver based on an individual's unique swing and ball flight characteristics, is highly recommended. Ultimately, understanding these factors enables golfers to make a well-informed choice and find the perfect driver to elevate their game.
Click Here for the ultimate guide to buying the best golf driver!
How Often Should You Replace Your Golf Driver
If ou have ever researched how often you should replace your driver, you might see some variations in the answers. Regardless, many will agree that your driver will last between 3 to 5 years. However, this timespan assumes around 30 rounds of golf for each calendar year. This estimate is a good baseline to use, but it can be more complex. Several factors might give you a better indication that it is time to replace your driver.
Thirty rounds of golf can be played out quite differently among different players. Something as simple as swing speed could have more impact on the club. A player with a consistently faster swing will put more wear and tear on the clubface over 30 rounds than a player with a slower swing speed. Also, if you take your driver to the driving range regularly, you add a lot more wear and tear than just 18 holes over 30 rounds.
Beyond just looking at usage over time, look for visible signs on the club that it is wearing down. Periodically inspect the club head and shaft for signs of damage or degradation, like cracks. Inspect the grips to see if they are wearing out. In addition to visible damage, pay attention to the driver’s performance. If you find that you are not getting as much distance, it could mean the driver is wearing out.
What Drivers Do The Pros Use
While modern golf drivers are packed with technology, it does not hurt to know you are using a driver that a pro golfer would use. Knowing a tour professional plays a specific driver is a pretty solid endorsement. That being said, here is a list of drivers used by Tour players.
According To Golf Digest, here are the drivers used by various PGA Tour Champions:
- Brian Harman: Titleist TSi2
- Akshay Bhatia: Callaway Rogue ST Max
- Rory McIlroy: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
- Vincent Norrman: Titleist TSR3
- Sepp Straka: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
- Rickie Fowler: Cobra Aerojet LS
- Keegan Bradley: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
- Wyndham Clark: Titleist TSi3
- Nick Taylor: Titleist TSi3
- Viktor Hovland: Ping G425 LST
- Emiliano Grillo: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond
- Brooks Koepka: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS
- Jason Day: Ping G430 LST
- Davis Riley: Titleist TSR3
- Nick Hardy: Titleist TSi2
- Matt Fitzpatrick: Titleist TSR3
- Jon Rahm: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond
- Sam Burns: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond
- Matt Wallace: Titleist TSR3
- Scottie Scheffler: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
- Kurt Kitayama: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
- Chris Kirk: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond
- Justin Rose: Callaway Paradym
- Max Homa: Titleist TSR3
- Si Woo Kim: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond
- Adam Svensson: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond
- Russell Henley: Titleist TSi3
- Tom Kim: Titleist TSR3
Best Drivers For 2024
TaylorMade Golf Stealth 2 Driver
Get ready to break through your limits and soar into the Carbonwood™ Age with Stealth™ 2! With TaylorMade's revolutionary technology, they've taken forgiveness to new heights and combined it with speed for a truly unbeatable experience. Say goodbye to your old titanium clubs and hello to FARGIVENESS with the all-new Stealth 2.
Callaway Golf Paradym Driver
The revolutionary Paradym Driver has arrived! This club is designed for golfers of all skill levels, thanks to its sleek design and adjustable perimeter weighting. So prepare to experience the ideal balance of distance, forgiveness, and adjustability. Expect a high launch, low spin, and a neutral ball flight to propel your shots further and straighter than ever before. Improve your game with the Paradym Driver!
Cobra Golf Aerojet LS Driver
Experience the game-changing AEROJET LS golf driver, designed for maximum control and workability. This low-spinning model, optimized for distance, features adjustable forward weighting and a fully suspended PWR-BRIDGE weight for maximum energy transfer and faster ball speeds. With a carbon fiber crown and sole for a lighter, stronger chassis, and adjustable settings for personalized play, the AEROJET LS is the perfect blend of speed, control, and customization. Elevate your golf experience today with the AEROJET LS.
Callaway Golf Rogue ST Max Driver
The new Rogue ST Drivers are a step forward in driving performance. Callaway's industry-leading technologies, including the Tungsten Speed Cartridge, the Jailbreak Speed Frame, and an A.I.-designed Flash Face, are intended for maximum speed while providing incredible forgiveness.
Titleist Golf TSi2 Driver
Titleist's approach to innovation is cumulative, continuously looking for shifts that will result in long-term superiority. Material advancements in the Titleist TSi2 driver include the unique ATI 425 Aerospace Titanium in the TSi face. This Titanium face contributes to it being the longest, straightest, best-looking, and best-sounding driver Titleist has ever produced.
Mizuno Golf ST-X 220 Driver
The Mizuno ST-X is a draw-biased driver with heel-focused weight placement that inspires confidence. The ST-X golf driver is designed for those who want a higher, right-to-left ball flight. With greater spin rates than its ST-Z brother, the ST-X will fit moderate swing speeds that require assistance in creating a longer ball flight.
Tour Edge Golf Exotics C722 Driver
This 445cc profile with a deeper face is intended for the competitive player. The C722 Driver is a 2-tier front/back weighting system that enables industry-leading MOI and spin rate adjustments and ultimate power, feel, and forgiveness thanks to Tour Edge's groundbreaking Ridgeback and Diamond Face VFT innovations.
Cobra Golf LTDx Driver
The LTDx series has been completely redesigned from the ground up to provide the Longest Total Distance. Cobra has unlocked the ideal mix of zero CG and high MOI using smart weighting, premium materials, and more intelligent designs to provide you quicker ball speed with incredible forgiveness. The LTDx golf driver is the ultimate long-distance weapon. Cobra achieved zero CG and 5200 MOI for the first time with PWR-COR Technology, resulting in a driver unlike any other. One with the longest total distance by combining low spin, quick ball speed, and high forgiveness.