I know I live in Maryland and we have some of the worst drivers in the nation, just look at the statistics. But this post is about what to look for in a golf club. There are just a few things that are key to picking the correct driver to get the maximum bang for your buck. You’d be surprised at what you might learn here.
1. The most important thing about what to look for in a driver is feel. How do YOU feel about the driver when it contacts the ball. Do you like the sound the ball makes off of the face? Does the ball jump off the club face and has the correct trajectory for your swing? Here in Maryland we have Mammoth Golf outlets that have swing mats that let you see the launch angle of your ball. Whether you are a high ball hitter or a low driving trajectory, this machine will tell you everything. I don’t know how accurate it is for distance, but it sure does allow you to try several clubs before choosing one. Best of all, it’s free!
2. Some people fail to look at the shaft that the club comes with. I know many guys that try swing a stif shaft and their club speed is barely 85 mph. Which puts you down to a Regular flex shaft. The point of the flex in the shaft is so that the shaft flexes and ‘kicks’ at a certain point to maximize your distance. If you swing hard and you use a regular flex shaft, the club head never actually catches up with your hands because it is still in its ‘kick’ mode. So when you actually contact the ball, it feels like you are hitting a baseball with the club. Not a good feeling. So go get your swing speed and select the right shaft.
3. Loft is a another biggie. I know you have had a buddy, that has said that he can’t get the ball up in the air, and now you just take a look at his loft on his club and see if he is hitting something below a 10.5 degree. For amateurs, the higher the loft, the easier it is to get in the air. As you get better you can drop down into the single digits, but it has been noted that the higher you hit the ball, the more distance you can get (at the proper launch angle of course and good course conditions with a little bit of luck). So find the right loft and go hit it at the range, you’d be surprised at the results.
4. You get what you pay for. There is a major difference in clubs even at the expensive level. The technology ahs changed and clubs are hitting longer everyday. A Taylor Made 360 made about 3 years ago, will not be the same as hitting the R7. And the same goes for each other manufacturer. Some people go out and buy the $100 MacGregor at Wal-Mart and they are not doing themselves any favors. The new drivers are much more forgiving and give you more distance. And as with everything consumer-wise. You get what you pay for.
