You just started golfing, or you’ve been at it for a while, and now you think it’s time to go out and buy yourself a driver to improve those tee shots. If clothes make the man - or woman, a good driver can help make the golfer. And, as with clothes, the important thing is to make sure that what you buy fits your body type.

We know: 4 Steps to Buying a Golf Driver

From an interview with golf expert Stephen Suttie in Edinburgh, Scotland

We asked Stephen Suttie, a Scottish golfer with more than twenty years of experience, to tell us the most important things to pay attention to when buying your new or used driver.

1. LOFT OF THE CLUB

Unless you’re a professional golfer, you want to be sure to buy a driver with a loft of 10 degrees or higher. The measure of the loft is the measure of the angle or slant of the face of the driver. The higher the loft (usually between 10 and 12 degrees for most nonprofessionals), the higher the flight of the ball. Most golf writers now say that the higher your ball travels on your tee shot, the longer your drive will be. So - avoid buying a club with less than 10 degrees of loft.

2. TITANIUM, STEEL, OR COMPOSITE?

Clubs are generally made of titanium, steel or a composite. Titanium drivers are stronger and lighter than steel and the face of the club is thinner. This makes the ball travel farther. But a titanium driver is more expensive than a steel driver, so what you buy may depend on your budget. Many manufacturers, such as Callaway, now offer a new technology that’s a blend of carbon and titanium. These are called composite or fusion drivers, which may be a good alternative.

      

 

3. SHAFT FLEX

Almost all modern drivers come with a graphite shaft instead of steel shafts, although pros like Tiger Woods use steel. When buying a graphite shaft, your most important consideration is the flexibility or flex of the shaft. The faster your swing speed, the stiffer the flex of your staff should be. A lighter flex creates more bounce that helps propel the ball for slower swings. Most retail sites have a device to measure your swing speed at no cost.


Use these guidelines for determining your flex:

  • An average male golfer who swings between 80-90 mph should buy a regular flex.
  • Golfers who swing faster than 100 mph, should buy a stiff flex.
  • Golfers who swing less than 80 mph should consider a light flex.

4. SHAFT LENGTH

Finally, you want the length of the club to suit your arm and body size. Most retail sites have devices to measure your arm length, and help you determine the shaft length that’s best for you. Retailers will often custom fit the club length for free or for a small fee.


Buying online? If you buy a club on an Ebay auction site, know your specifications for shaft length, before you bid. If you buy from an online retailer, the site almost always allows you to enter your specifications so that they can customize the club to suit you.



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