Drivers

Driver Length is important – playing the correct length driver will lead to more on-center shots, and on-center shots increase driving distance and accuracy.

For men, the majority of drivers that are available in golf stores are lengths of 45-1/2 to 46 inches long. However, the average driver length for PGA tour players is 44-1/2 inches long. For many players, optimum driver length will most likely be 43 to 44-1/2 inches.

For drivers that you purchase in stores there is a letter on the shaft that usually says something like L – ladies flex, A- senior flex, R – regular flex, S – stiff, XS – extra stiff. These letters mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! For example, the S on a shaft from one golf club or shaft manufacturer can be significantly stiffer or softer than the S on a shaft from another club/shaft manufacturer. More importantly, the shaft flex profile along the length of the shaft can vary – some shafts, for example can be tip stiff and some can be tip soft. There is a shaft flex profile that will work best for your golf swing. It may be difficult to find the best shaft for you in a golf store.

When you buy your next driver, you deserve to have a launch monitor fitting. This option would include a fitting using a swing path analyzer and analysis of video of your swing.

When you are fit well using a launch monitor, you will learn – for the test driver you are hitting – the driver clubhead and ball speed, launch angle, ball spin, descent angle, spin loft, and Smash Factor – ball speed divided by swing speed. These main variables that can be used to determine – for your golf swing – what driver characteristics will produce the best driver results for you.

A driver fitting should include evaluation of clubhead type, clubhead loft, clubhead face angle, shaft options, and club MOI/swingweight. For you to find the best driver for your swing, you need to be able to have launch monitor test results for these different club characteristics – and find the driver that produces the best results for you.