Golf Drivers Buying Guide

Golf Drivers Buying Guide
By Jonty Driver

Find The Perfect Driver For Your Game

When it comes to choosing a golf driver there's so much more to think about than the latest clubhead design - 'hot' faces and on-the-legal-limit head sizes; multi-material heads and moveable weights. Less glamorous aspects such as getting the right loft, shaft flex and grip are just as important in matching a driver to your game - enabling you to gain extra yards off the tee, without sacrificing accuracy.

Of course, much of the same technology applies to fairway woods, too. So if you prefer using woods to irons, look out for the same features that you need in your driver - 3, 5 and 7 woods being the most common.

NEW Nike SQ MachSpeed Blk Square STR 8 Driver 105 Reg $109.00 Time Remaining: 6d 13h 6m Buy It Now for only: $122.00

USED TaylorMade R11 DRIVER 90 PROLAUNCH BLUE STIFF $129.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 21m Buy It Now for only: $129.99

New TaylorMade Superfast Burner 30 Super Fast Driver Taylor Made 20 Stiff $159.99 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 23m Buy It Now for only: $179.99

USED TaylorMade R11 DRIVER 105 PROLAUNCH RED REGULAR $129.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 21m Buy It Now for only: $129.99

2 Arnold Palmer Persimmon Drivers Golf Clubs $19.95 Time Remaining: 6d 29m Buy It Now for only: $24.95

Brand New Callaway FT IQ Driver 13 Regular Flex Mens Golf Club 499 Titanium $79.95 Time Remaining: 22d 16h 48m Buy It Now for only: $79.95

Titleist 905R proforce V2 stiff driver with headcover and golf pride half cord $60.00 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 21m Buy It Now for only: $85.00

2011 Cobra S3 MAX Driver 105 Lite Senior Offset NEW $129.99 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 24m Buy It Now for only: $129.99

Taylor Made Burner Superfast 20 TP 95 Driver S $125.00 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 19m Buy It Now for only: $175.00

Cobra 2011 S3 MAX 105 REGULAR DRIVER FUJI BLUR SHAFT + HEADCOVER NEW $129.45 Time Remaining: 4d 15h 45m Buy It Now for only: $129.45

Clubhead Design

The use of titanium has spawned lighter, much larger, more forgiving clubheads. A larger head has a bigger sweetspot, improving your chance of making good contact with the ball. Club faces have also been made thinner, creating a trampoline or 'bounce' effect known as COR, which promotes extra distance. From January 2008 restrictions will be placed on both clubhead size and COR in competitive play.

Manufacturers have also recently begun using titanium in conjunction with ultra lightweight graphite, enabling the weight to be positioned lower and further back. This will help you get the ball flying high for better carry, with less spin so it hits the ground running.

Many golf drivers now have moveable tungsten weights, allowing you to alter the club's weight distribution. If you tend to fade the ball you can position the weights to promote a draw and vice versa. You can move them to encourage a lower or higher ball flight, too. Check out the Taylor Made r7 425 and Masters MC-Z700.

With so much choice, there's no easy answer when it comes to choosing the right clubhead design. The best advice is to try a range of styles and see what works best for you.

Loft

A club with the wrong loft can have a devastating impact on performance. If struck correctly, a lower lofted club face will produce more distance, but if you tend to slice, you are likely to need a higher loft. As a general rule, high-handicappers or golfers with slower swing speeds should opt for 11 degrees or higher, while low handicappers should plump for 10 degrees or lower.

Shaft

The importance of the shaft on your golf driver is often underestimated, but can have a huge effect on your game. The basic choice is between steel and graphite shafts - generally, graphite is more expensive than steel and less durable. Its lighter weight provides greater swing speed for more power, but it sacrifices control due to the flex generated during the swing. These days the majority of golf drivers come with graphite shafts as standard, and it is especially suited to lady golfers and seniors who cannot produce the swing speed to use a steel shaft effectively. There are also multi-material options available which aim to combine the control of steel with the 'whip' and speed of graphite. But there is more to consider; beyond the material, you also need to think about flex, torque, kick-point and weight.

Shaft Flex - Flex is the ability of the shaft to bend as you swing. As a general rule, beginners and players with less powerful swings will benefit from a more flexible shaft. Players with an average swing speed tend to need a regular flex, while golfers with a more powerful swing benefit from a stiffer flex. But this is not the whole story. A tendency to hook or slice will affect your choice of flex, as will your swing action, be it smooth or jerky.

Shaft Torque - In conjunction with flex, you need to think about torque, which is the shaft's ability to twist. This usually ranges between 3 and 6 degrees, and the more torque a shaft has, the softer it will feel. In general, weaker players need more torque - low torque shafts twist less and are recommended for stronger players, and generate a lower ball trajectory.

Shaft Kick-Point - The effect of the exact position of the kick-point - where the shaft bends - is small but measurable. A shaft with a high kick-point will usually give a low shot trajectory and more of a "one-piece" feel to shaft. A low kick-point will usually give a high shot trajectory and a feeling of the shaft tip whipping the clubhead through.

Shaft Weight - Lighter, more flexible shafts are useful for players with slower swing speeds as they help increase clubhead speed, which in turn promotes extra distance. Heavier shafts give better control and feel to stronger players. More expensive clubs are likely to use better quality shafts, so you tend to get what you pay for.

The Grip

Last, but by no means least, you need to find a grip you are comfortable with. Obviously the size of your hands will determine your grip size, but the material is also an important consideration and is very much a matter of personal choice. Multi-compound grips are currently the rage, combining a stiff inner rubber sleeve for adhesion with a soft gel rubber outer for comfort and vibration absorption. There are even grips that feature graphics to aid with hand alignment.

Golf Drivers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonty_Driver
http://EzineArticles.com/?Golf-Drivers-Buying-Guide&id=513255