Drivers Buyer's Guide 2007

The talk of the shop this year when it comes to driver technology is definitely the leaps we’ve seen in exciting new driver geometries. The golfer today can choose from just about anything: square, traditional, scoopback or even triangular. The fact is, the driver category is chockful with scores of options to choose from, making the category not only better, but more confusing for the golfer jonesing for a new big dog.

So, how do you make sense of it? It’s not as daunting as it looks. Most drivers are built with specific golfers in mind. For instance, square drivers tend to benefit golfers who need to hit it straighter, draw-biased drivers help eliminate slices and adjustable weighting-drivers help golfers fine-tune their launch characteristics. What about the rest? Concave crowns, mixed metal technologies and shaft upgrades continue to help make the game easier, but only if golfers know where to start. The point we’re trying to make: get fitted! Driver fitting is far more advanced than ever before, with many major equipment manufacturers now offering fitting stations at various locations around the country. In seconds, golfers can test and try different lofts and shafts in order to determine the perfect fit. Nevertheless, use this guide as your bible for determining what kind of club you’re willing to try. Just be prepared! Every driver featured in this issue is worthy of consideration if you’re looking for more distance and accuracy.

Size And Shape Matters    
For a number of years, drivers simply got bigger and bigger without offering any truly significant performance benefits over previous models. The goal for designers was maximum clubhead size and COR (coefficient of restitution) of the clubface. These advances were definitely meaningful, but like all technology-based innovations, eventually hit the proverbial wall. Golfers noticed, and manufacturers quickly took the hint and have now turned the corner, coming up with a whole slew of new concepts and processes that have produced what some might consider a golden age of driver design.

Obviously, the first thing any player will notice while perusing the new driver models for ’07 is unique shapes. Today’s driver models feature some of the most unusual geometries we’ve ever seen. But these shapes aren’t just for show. Rather, designers are using these new sizes and shapes to increase MOI on off-center hits, which doesn’t just create straighter shots, but also longer ones. Try one of these new drivers and you won’t go back.

Hip To Be Square
Okay, let’s all admit it—some of the unusual geometries we’re seeing in modern drivers would probably have Old Tom Morris rolling over in his grave. Old Tom, however, probably didn’t hit too many 300-yard drives, and he certainly didn’t play with golf balls that were made to be hit straight up in the air with minimal spin. So what exactly do these square or otherwise non-traditionally shaped drivers do? The simple answer is they make it possible for engineers to move more weight away from the clubface and deep in the clubhead. This move effectively increases MOI (moment of inertia), which significantly improves forgiveness on off-center hits. The common misconception regarding this design is that it’s strictly aimed at providing improved accuracy, but in truth, an increased MOI improves distance as well.

CG’s The Thing
If you had an opportunity to take a close look at any Tour player’s driver in the last few years, you’d have noticed a wear mark high on the clubface, somewhere between the middle of the club and the crown. The reason for this is that they all found they could get the optimum launch and low-spin conditions necessary for the longest possible drives if they hit the ball high on the clubface. And while this was fine for the very best players, it didn’t work that well for everyone, so some designers (like those at Cleveland Golf), set out to locate the sweet spot and the hot spot in the middle of the clubface. The way they accomplished this goal was by removing a significant amount of weight from the crown area and moving it to low and deep portions of the clubhead. The result is a unique look and outstanding performance.