How to choose a golf driver

The driver is the club people spend the most on, and the one where the right choice helps most. These are general rules of thumb, so treat them as a starting point.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is how well the club copes when you miss the middle of the face. “Max” style heads are built to be the most forgiving, so a mis-hit goes straighter and loses less distance. Low-spin heads suit faster, more consistent swingers and give up some forgiveness in return. If you are not hitting the middle most of the time, forgiveness is worth more than anything else on the label.

Loft

More loft makes the ball easier to get airborne and cuts sidespin. Many newer golfers are better with 10.5 degrees or more than the 9 degrees they see on tour. Lots of heads let you adjust the loft a little.

Slicing or hooking

If you slice, look for a draw-bias head (the weight sits towards the heel to help the face close). Offset heads can help too. If you hit the ball left, go for a more neutral head. Reviewers label these heads clearly, and so do we.

The shaft matters

The shaft flex and weight should match your swing speed. As a rough guide, many golfers under about 85 mph with a driver do best with a lighter, softer shaft, around 85 to 95 mph suits regular flex, and faster swings suit stiff or extra-stiff. A shaft that is too stiff is a common reason a driver feels hard to use.

Get fitted if you can

A fitting uses a launch monitor to match head, loft and shaft to your swing, and many shops and ranges do them for free or for a small fee. Use this site to decide what to try, then check it in a fitting if you can. A well-fitted older driver often beats an unfitted new one.

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