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Page 1 of 7  The driver is the only full-swing club in your bag that you use 14
times a round (the ball retriever doesn't count). Thus, your driver
sets up your entire round. Drive the ball well and it gives you an
emotional boost—your round “feels” better than it is when you drive it
great and score poorly. But drive it poorly and you feel like a rat, no
matter what the score. So central is it to your game that you can tell
when your A game is coming back because you begin to hit your driver
solidly again.
One of the absolute keys to consistent driving, which is often
overlooked, is a properly fitted club, and with modern fitting methods
at your disposal, there’s almost no reason to buy a driver off the
rack. Instead, make it a priority to take the trouble and time to do
some investigation and experimentation before purchasing a new big dog.
To begin, take the plunge and convince yourself that a premium-quality
model is worth the investment and, if you can, try not to be overly
concerned with price. Once that decision is made, pick out a few models
that look good to you and also have the design characteristics that you
desire (movable weights, preset shot bias, deep or shallow face, etc.).
If you’re not sure what you want, or even if you are, find a shop near
you that offers a wide selection of models and demo a few. Once you
narrow down your choices, then get fitted on a launch monitor.
The driver is the only full-swing club in your bag that you use 14
times a round (the ball retriever doesn't count). Thus, your driver
sets up your entire round. Drive the ball well and it gives you an
emotional boost—your round “feels” better than it is when you drive it
great and score poorly. But drive it poorly and you feel like a rat, no
matter what the score. So central is it to your game that you can tell
when your A game is coming back because you begin to hit your driver
solidly again.
One of the absolute keys to consistent driving, which is often
overlooked, is a properly fitted club, and with modern fitting methods
at your disposal, there’s almost no reason to buy a driver off the
rack. Instead, make it a priority to take the trouble and time to do
some investigation and experimentation before purchasing a new big dog.
To begin, take the plunge and convince yourself that a premium-quality
model is worth the investment and, if you can, try not to be overly
concerned with price. Once that decision is made, pick out a few models
that look good to you and also have the design characteristics that you
desire (movable weights, preset shot bias, deep or shallow face, etc.).
If you’re not sure what you want, or even if you are, find a shop near
you that offers a wide selection of models and demo a few. Once you
narrow down your choices, then get fitted on a launch monitor.
Hot Technologies
Almost every driver now is a 460cc, high-COR, high-MOI behemoth
designed to help you achieve optimal launch. So, other than the paint
job, how can you judge one model from the next? Test-driving never
hurts, nor does emphasizing the following cutting-edge technologies.
Low And Deep CG
While almost every driver features it, it’s still a noteworthy trait
and an absolute must for recreational golfers. If you think you’re
above a low and deep CG, put some lead tape where the face meets the
crown on your current driver and hit a dozen balls—er, liners. The low
(as in toward the sole) and deep (as in as far away from the face as
possible) CG placement gives most recreational players the best chance
of achieving the preferred launch conditions of high launch and low
spin. It’s also why the design is so prevalent in irons as well.
Head Options
If your new driver doesn’t have movable weights, it might be offered in
a fade, neutral or draw model (like the new Tour Edge V25, pictured).
Or the lower lofts may feature no offset, while the 11-degree model
does and has a slightly closed face. Or there could be a Tour version
attached to the line (a Callaway stalwart), with a slightly different
CG to augment workability. Point is, head options in a single line give
you a greater chance of finding the right driver for your swing.
High-COR Area
It used to be a big deal when a driver reached the USGA limit of .830
COR. Now, with the universal use of high-grade titanium and the influx
of variable face thickness, max COR is as common as a par on Tour. The
key is the size of the high-COR area—after all, you still need your
distance even if you miss the sweet spot. With TaylorMade’s Inverted
Cone leading the way, face technology from the elite clubmakers is
giving your swing more than it deserves.
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