How to Find the Right Golf Driver

One of the most critical questions in golf is how to find the right golf driver. And as with every other club in golf, there are many factors you might need to consider in choosing your driver.

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To help you out below is a guide to expand your understanding of what a golf driver is and how to choose the right one for you.

What is a driver in golf?

Before we go further, we first need to understand what is a driver in golf.

The golf driver, also called the 1-wood, is part of the woods family and is the largest among all golf clubs.

Given its size, it is known to be one of the hardest clubs to hit accurately. But its size is such to maximize the distance the ball will travel upon being hit.

To help you understand better, below is a short guide on how to use a driver for golf and when to use a driver for golf.

How to use a driver for golf

As previously stated, the primary purpose of the driver is to maximize the distance the ball will travel.

To attain that, there are three qualities you can focus on when learning how to use a driver for golf: the ball speed, launch trajectory, and spin rate.

Ball Speed

The ball speed is the speed of the ball upon being hit and might be the most important factor to maximize distance.

To adjust your ball speed, you might need to check your swing – a more reliable swing should result in faster ball speed.

Another way to increase the ball speed is by adjusting the location of impact off-center hits that might result in slower ball speed.

One question you might need to ask when buying a driver to affect ball speed is how much does a golf driver weigh because naturally, a heavier club would be harder to swing and hit accurately.

Launch Trajectory

The launch trajectory is the angle at which the ball travels relative to the ground, and is another factor that affects distance.

The higher the clubhead speed, the less your launch trajectory should be.

In drivers, the most significant factor that can affect the launch trajectory is the loft angle.

However, you might also want to take note of your swing speed and how your clubhead approaches the ball.

Spin Rate

The spin rate is the number of spins on the golf ball upon being hit by the club.

Generally, a lower spin rate results in a greater distance. One way to achieve this would be to strike the ball a little higher than the center of the clubhead.

When to use a driver in golf

Now that you know how to use a driver for golf, your next question might be: when to use a driver in golf. Generally speaking, a driver is used off the tee when you want to maximize distance.

It is not advisable for use on shots closer to the hole, which needs more accuracy.

Some people also ask – can you carry two drivers in a golf bag? The simple answer is yes, as you can choose to bring any club with you.

However, you need to keep in mind that the maximum quantity of clubs you can bring with you is 14.

Ultimately, it depends on your skill if you’re thinking can you carry two drivers in a golf bag.

What is the biggest golf driver

Legally, the maximum dimensions of a driver are 48” in length and 460cc in clubhead size.

However, it is possible to find drivers bigger than this, which begs the question: what is the biggest golf driver outside the rules of golf?

A quick Amazon search would show you a driver clubhead of 750cc, which is almost 65% bigger than the maximum legal size!

There are also clubs with 550cc clubhead but a shaft length of 45”.

While a larger clubhead might be helpful for some, most players do not need to go beyond the limits to find the best driver for them.

Just remember what is a driver in golf and the factors that you need to focus on when using the driver.

Now that you know the basics of a golf driver, we’re ready to find out which factors to consider when thinking about how to find the right golf driver.

Below are some considerations: the loft angle, the clubhead, the moment of inertia, the center of gravity, the shaft, the materials, and the adjustability.

Loft Angle

The loft angle might be the most crucial factor in choosing a golf driver as it adds backspin to the ball so it can rise into the air.

Most drivers have a loft range of 8-12 degrees. As a guide, players with slower swing speeds might be better off with higher lofted drivers, and vice versa.

Clubhead Size

We know what is the biggest golf driver, but most drivers usually only have a clubhead size of 440cc to 460cc.

The larger the clubhead, the more forgiving the driver is. This then will make you ask what is the biggest golf driver.

However, smaller clubheads can generally maximize distance as it increases momentum to help launch the ball, increasing the ball speed.

Therefore, it is recommended for amateur players to use large clubheads.

More skilled players usually prefer smaller clubheads for their more accurate launch.

Moment of Inertia (MOI)

The Moment of Inertia (MOI), also called the forgiveness rating, refers to the driver’s resistance to twisting upon hitting the ball.

A higher MOI means the driver is less likely to rotate.

A higher MOI, therefore, would be helpful to players who typically hit the ball off-center.

However, a higher MOI can also result in a higher spin rate, which could make your distance suffer. So strike a balance when deciding how to find the right golf driver.

Center of Gravity

The Center of Gravity (CG) single point of balance in the driver. You may be able to move it in a clubhead using weights, depending on the adjustability of your driver.

Generally, moving it back will increase the spin and launch the ball higher but increase the MOI.

Shaft Length and Flex

Most drivers have a shaft length between 43” and 46”. Generally, a shorter shaft will give you better control of the club.

However, many claim that a longer shaft can help with the distance. But note that the shaft length may also affect how much does a golf driver weigh.

Aside from the length, you also need to look at the flex of the shaft. Usually, stiffer shafts produce a lower launch trajectory with a tendency to angle the ball to the right.

The flex is indicated by the following: regular (R), stiff (S), senior (A), ladies (L), etc.

Materials

The materials used in the driver can contribute to how much does a golf driver weighs.

To keep them lightweight yet long-lasting, drivers usually come in titanium or composite materials.

Clubhead’s finish can also affect your play – shinier crowns tend to produce glare.

Clubhead colors may also be a factor for you – colors that contrast with the green grass may be a preference of some.

Adjustability

A lot of drivers today include several forms of adjustability, which allows you to tinker with the loft, face angle, and weights.

Accounting for adjustability, you may need not ask can you carry two drivers in a golf bag.

Loft Angle

The loft can be adjusted by removing a screw in the heel, then re-placing it to a predetermined setting. Many drivers can offer up to 5 degrees of adjustment.

Face Angle

The face angle is the angle of the face upon address.

Face perpendicular to the ball would be “square,” a face turned away from the player would be “open,” and a face turned towards the player would be “closed.”

Weights

Some drivers allow you to move weight in different parts of the clubhead to change the driver’s CG and MOI.

Weights, usually ranging from 1 – 20 grams, can be adjusted to create a draw bias (more weight in the heel), fade bias (more weight in the toe), or a higher ball (more weight at the back of the head).

In Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many factors you can consider when thinking about how to find the right golf driver.

Therefore, it might be best to look around and get a feel of the different drivers available in the market, so you know what you’re most comfortable with.

We hope that this guide helped you understand what is a driver in golf and how to choose the right one for you.