Play a Different Driver

Most golfers benefit from playing a different driver set-up than what they currently have in the bag. Here's why. There are several design problems that characterize the popular designs available in retail shops and pro shops. First and foremost, driver length is an easy target for scrutiny and for optimizing.

The basic problem is that longer drivers are more difficult to hit consistently in the center of the club face; and that is where you need to contact the ball to get maximum performance from the club. Most golfers understand this point but it's difficult to overcome sophisticated marketing. Driver fitting with impact tape or spray would help with your buying your decision but don't expect to find it at your retailer or demo day.

A longer driver also requires more effort to swing than a shorter driver. A longer driver makes it more difficult to execute efficient swing mechanics. These are two key points that are usually overlooked, but it you fix these problems then center face contact gets easier.

A shorter driver helps you get into an effective address position. We find many players start their swing with significant deficiencies in their takeaway and backswing that can be fixed dramatically by switching to a shorter club. If you hit your 3-wood nearly as far as your driver, then you know what we mean here -- you are a candidate for a shorter length driver.

A shorter driver makes it easier to maintain your posture during the swing. It's partly because the lower MOI of a shorter driver allows you to have greater control over the club -- and your body -- in the transition from backswing to downswing and in the downswing through impact. Swinging a high MOI driver at full speed will tend to destabilize your lower body and your upper body leading to an excessively arm-dominated movement pattern costing you accuracy and distance. We see it with the K-Vest and the launch monitor.

A shorter driver allows you to improve your angle of attack, reduce ball spin, and achieve an ideal launch angle to maximize distance. Surprisingly, players often achieve higher swing speeds because the new club is easier to control and hit the ball in the best spot on the clubface. A lower MOI club requires less effort to swing: you swing it faster. You can see it with the launch monitor and prove it on the course. 

Bottom line is that short-length drivers allow you to execute your most effective swing mechanics. You can swing through the ball at impact while remaining in balance and shifting weight onto your lead side. It's easier to rotate fully through impact and transfer maximum power from hip rotation into the upper body and club. It's the best antidote to the chicken-wing swing fault that you can use. 

We find that players acquire a better game much faster with a driver properly fit for length. If you are making a serious effort to improve your game, we suggest starting with a new driver built to our short-length specifications. Or, cut your driver down and re-balance it with swingweighting and counterweighting. There's a lot to be said for hitting long and in the fairway, and trying a truly different driver might be your best first step.