How to Choose a Golf Driver, (The Basics)

With a plethora of golf drivers on the market it can be difficult to go through the whole selection, and even find accurate information on how to choose a golf driver.

Ever read a golf magazine and there are about twenty different drivers in there from companies all claiming that they are the best new golf drivers?

The best golf drivers are made of a lot of great quality materials including, steel, titanium, and composite metals.

Here is some basic information on golf driver technology bearing in mind that none of this information will help you hit the fairway on your next golf adventure as learning how to swing a golf driver is the most important part in the initial stages of golf.

What Material are Golf Drivers Made out of?

Drivers are basically made of the following three types of material.

Steel – Not as common these days but generally have smaller heads and are less forgiving. They are also at a lower price point and drivers have come a long way since these were the main golf drivers on the market.

Titanium – This material has allowed driver heads to become larger, and at the limit of 460 cubic centimetres in volume. Titanium is also a lot lighter than steel, and because of the large head size provides bigger sweet spots for more forgiveness. Most of the top-rated golf drivers feature this type of material.

Titanium is a popular material for driver clubheads due to its lightweight nature and strength. Titanium drivers are known for their forgiveness and ability to generate high launch angles.

Composite – These are a mixture of titanium and composite metals. Forged composite materials are actually lighter than titanium and are quite common with some of the best-rated golf drivers these days.

What are some Common Golf Driver Terms?

Movable Weight Technology – This means that the driver in question has adjustable weights in it which will allow the golfer to achieve an alternate ball flight. Basically, if you put the heavier weight in the heel of your driver’s head it will help hit a draw. A lot of the new golf drivers feature this type of golf club technology.

Movable weight technology in a golf driver refers to a feature that allows golfers to adjust the placement of weights within the clubhead. This technology offers a degree of customization, enabling golfers to fine-tune the driver’s characteristics to match their swing and optimize their ball flight. Movable weight technology has become increasingly popular in modern driver designs, as it can have a significant impact on launch conditions, shot shape, and forgiveness.

Adjustable Face Angles and Lofts – With certain golf drivers you are able to change the face angle to enhance a draw or a fade shot. All adjustable drivers will come with a wrench to adjust the face angle and also the weights. A golfer can also adjust the loft to a higher loft on many different top golf drivers to achieve the desired trajectory.

Centre of Gravity – This is a common term you will hear, as a lot of drivers will advertise that they have a centre of gravity further back in the head of the club and most of these are larger club heads

The COG is the intersection of all possible balance points, which will create a position that represents the exact location of its mass. Companies will put their own spin on this, and recently it has been reversed with the COG being put further forward to promote a high launch low spinning driver. 

Moment of Inertia – This is basically a golf clubs resistance to twisting when striking the golf ball. Another term you will commonly hear is perimeter weighting. For a driver to achieve a High MOI a decent amount of the driver’s weight needs to be on the perimeter which will create a more forgiving golf club.

A couple of other terms you might hear include a deep face driver, and a driver that promotes less drag. A deep face driver means the sole of the driver has a higher-than-average distance to the crown to promote a more forgiving club head and larger sweet spot. The exact opposite is correct when considering a shallow face driver.

A driver with less drag basically means that it will move through the air more freely and provide better wind resistance.

If you want to shoot lower scores and improve quickly you don’t really need to worry about the technical side of golf clubs when choosing golf drivers. It is handy to know if you work in the industry, but adjusting your driver for a different ball flight is simple and easy to do.

It may seem that there are a lot of differences between drivers, but they all have similar sorts of technological features. 

Companies will put their own marketing spin on their products to differentiate from their competitors, but the differences are usually subtle. The goal for all these drivers remains the same, and that is to simply get the ball down the fairway and generate as much distance as possible.

Manufacturers will market their products very well, and you may be confused as to which driver is the best golf driver. Sure we can test them but drivers are targeted at different ability levels and are not all the same.

How to Choose a Golf Driver

Selecting the right golf driver is crucial for maximizing distance and accuracy off the tee.

First, try and pick a driver that matches your current ability level. A lot of amateurs think that the drivers with adjustability and movable weight technology are only for professionals, but this is actually not the case.

Most big-name manufacturers have a range of adjustable drivers on the market these days, which include a wrench to adjust them. This can be used to adjust the optimum ball flight and spin rates you are after. These can help, but to see massive differences you need to have a consistent golf driver swing or consistently hit the same bad shots.

Someone who slices the ball a lot will see ball flight improvements with an adjustable driver.

Most companies try and make their drivers as forgiving as possible even for the better players.

The most common bad shot for amateurs is the slice, and a lot of these drivers will help counteract the slice and reduce the severity of it. However, they will not fix any golf swing faults and the best thing to cure your faults is always lessons, and gaining more understanding as to why you swing the way you do.

So first decide if you would use the movable weight technology and if it is worth paying the extra money for this. You can always set your driver to neutral and not even use the weights. Drivers with adjustable weights are handy, but can be confusing for beginner golfers that have not yet achieved consistency in the game.

What Driver Loft and Driver Shaft Should I Use?

Golfers need a golf shaft and loft that is going to match their swing speed, ball speed, and launch angle. There is a lot of information on how to choose a golf shaft which tends to confuse the everyday golfer and beginner golfers.

For a lot of the cheap golf drivers, they don’t come with this option so it is always good to invest and get this part correct. Most less expensive drivers come with the standard 10.5-degree loft, and regular golf shaft which is common to lots of golfers. If you hit a consistent ball, you might need something lower torque which is a stiffer shaft.

The optimal driver loft for you depends on various factors, including your swing speed, angle of attack, ball speed, launch angle preferences, and the type of ball flight you want to achieve.

Shafts are typically made of steel or graphite. Steel shafts are heavier and provide more control, while graphite shafts are lighter and offer more distance and flexibility. Graphite shafts are more common in modern drivers due to their ability to enhance swing speed.

Selecting the right golf shaft and shaft length for your driver is crucial for optimizing your performance and achieving the desired ball flight. The choice of shaft depends on factors such as your swing speed, tempo, release point, ball flight preferences, and feel

Golf driver shafts come in different weights. Some driver shafts are as light as forty grams, and some are as heavy as eighty grams or more.

The easiest way to understand this is the light golf shafts are generally for the slower swing speeds and the heavier shafts are for the players who have no trouble generating a faster swing speed.

Recent studies have shown that a lighter shaft can help generate more distance. If a strong hitter were to use a lighter shaft they would need something low torque to achieve any consistency.

There are hundreds of different golf shafts that could potentially go into any specific clubhead.

To narrow this down most golf manufacturers have done a lot of experimenting and fit most drivers with the best golf driver shafts based on robotic testing. The shaft upgrades available have also been rigorously tested, so unless you are really into the golf shaft flex options, and really think it is going to make a difference, It would be suggested to not go down this path if you want your game to improve at a quicker pace.

Trying out all the different shaft options will confuse you, but if you feel the need to then there are always demo days to attend. This can be of benefit if you are a very confident ball striker, and really feel that a shaft with a lower kick, lower torque can make a difference. This type of thing is for very consistent ball strikers and can make a difference, but if you struggle to hit four or five good shots in a row consistently you will get confused fast.

How much to spend on a Golf Driver?

The amount you should spend on a golf driver depends on your budget, skill level, commitment to the game, and personal preferences. Golf drivers are available at a wide range of price points, from budget-friendly options to premium models with advanced technology.

The more expensive golf drivers are made up of quality materials, and millions of dollars have been spent on research and design as well as testing. This is why they are expensive, but they always generally perform well provided you get the right shaft and loft.

If you were to go for a cheaper golf driver, make sure it is a fairly recognised brand, and you also get the right shaft and loft. You can pick up some pretty good discontinued models at very good prices so lookout for these if you are on the market.

There are many affordable options including the best golf drivers for beginners, best golf drivers for seniors and the best ladies golf drivers. Left-handed golf drivers are also common and can be found with all the latest and greatest materials.

Conclusion

So do a bit of research and choose a clubhead that matches your ability.

Pick the correct shaft and loft and decide how much you want to spend. Remember to not confuse yourself with the technological side of drivers and shafts as the advantage of this if any is very minimal if all you want to do is improve your game.

Golf drivers vary in price range, and it’s important to consider your budget. Determine how much you are willing to spend and find a driver that offers the features and performance that align with your budget.

Select a loft that matches your swing speed and produces an ideal launch angle and spin rate. High loft for slower swings and lower loft for faster swings is a general guideline.

Match the shaft flex to your swing speed and tempo. Extra stiff for high speeds, extra stiff for moderate, regular for moderate to low, and senior for slower speeds.

In conclusion, the ideal golf driver is one that complements your swing characteristics, promotes the desired ball flight, and gives you confidence off the tee. By taking into account your individual attributes, conducting thorough research, and potentially seeking professional guidance, you can make a well-informed choice that enhances your performance and enjoyment on the golf course.

Here are some great recommendations.

If you are after a couple of very forgiving options, consider these two. Callaway Golf Drivers and Taylormade Golf Drivers are just a couple of the many brands out there.

Callaway Big Bertha Fusion Driver

Taylormade M2 Driver

If you are a more consistent ball striker the following two are fantastic options.

Callaway Epic Driver

Taylormade M1 Driver

It is actually quite simple and if you have any questions feel free to ask them below.

If you want to learn more about golf irons, check out the post on How to Choose Golf Irons.

Another helpful post has information on How to Choose Golf Clubs.

If you want to learn a bit more about the game of golf, check out some of the posts below.

Best Golf Balls for Beginners

Why do Golfers Take Divots?

Why is the Golf Setup Important?

Callaway Sure Out Wedge Review