Over the last few years, the world´s best golfers have been returning to higher lofted drivers in an attempt to gain an advantage. Many amateurs believe that professional golfers use low lofted drivers because they will achieve a greater distance from the tee. This belief is unfounded; it is actually a belief that will hurt more amateur golfer than it will help.
If we take a look at some of the longest hitters on the tour, we will see that the trend has seen them move up around 2º in loft, from say a 7.5º driver to a 9.5º driver, and with great success. As drivers become more technologically advanced and coaches and custom fitters understand more about the dynamics of ball flight our understanding of how to make the ball travel further has also changed.
We are now looking to get the ball to rise on a penetrating ball flight with an optimal launch angle and low spin rates. These spin rates are easier to achieve with higher lofted drivers, and therefore being able to control spin rates, especially side-spin results in more accurate drives. Reduce the back-spin rate and we generate more forward thrust resulting in longer drives.
Mickleson and Dustin Johnson are both using 10º drivers, and have seen a dramatic improvement in their driving statistics. Adversely Tiger Woods, dropped down to an 8.5º driver and subsequently suffered a downturn in driving stats. He has since returned to using a higher lofted driver, since his return from multiple surgeries on his back.
This is why choosing the right loft, with my advice being choose a higher loft than you think you need, is paramount to achieving longer and more accurate tee shots. For many amateurs the results garnered with a 3-wood are often the same or better than with their driver. Why? Because of the higher loft.
A higher loft will launch the ball at a more desirable launch angle (13-14º) and impart less spin on the ball. A slice will be less aggressive, a high-flighted ball will be more penetrating, adding a few extra yards of carry to your shot. Hence better results with the 3-wood than the driver.
If you are currently using a 10º degree +/- a half degree, I would urge you to head to the next local club fitting day and try the drivers that are 11.5 or even 12.5º in loft. If you can couple this with a shaft that is better suited to your swing (speed, aggressiveness, club release etc) the distance you hit the ball from the tee will certainly increase. If we take a logical look at this idea; A ball that is travelling through the air for longer will face less resistance than a ball that is travelling along the ground, bounding through the grass. Being able to hit the ball a consistent distance through the air also has the benefit of knowing whether you can carry an obstacle that lies in wait. When buying your next driver look for a launch angle of around 13 – 14º and a back-spin rate of around 2600 rpm.
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