Tips on How to Choose a New Driver
If you are looking to buy a new driver but don’t know where to start then this should help you decide. My name is Darcy Schmidt from the team at golfstuff.ca and I have been selling and fitting golf clubs for over 25 years. My goal here is to help you understand what you need and make the decision easier. With all of the different brands and models it can be overwhelming having too many choices, so this should make choosing easier.
Ok so the first thing is most brands offer 3 types of drivers, and I will use the Ping G410 drivers as an example even though almost all brands will offer something similar.
For the Slicer:
G410 SFT
The first model is the G410 SFT, and the SFT stands for straight flight technology. This driver is best for someone who fades or slices the ball (for a right hand player the ball curves to the right) and will help because it has more permanent weight in the heel area (closer to the shaft side of the head). With the weight towards the heel if will make the ball go more to the left (for a right handed player). You can also get a similar result by looking for offset drivers (shaft is slightly forward of the club face) or drivers that are called draw type which are typically more heel weighted.This model also comes with a sliding adustable weight which can be positioned on the heel side as well for maximum slice reduction.
For the Pro
G410 LST
The next model is the G410 LST, and the LST stands for low spin technology. This driver is usually best for someone who draws or hooks the ball (for a right hand player the ball curves to the left) and will help because it has more weight towards the toe area (area furthest from the shaft side of the head). With the weight towards the heel if will make the ball go more to the right (for a right handed player). You can also get a similar result by looking for drivers with the name "tour " or "pro" or "tp" included in the name.The low spin is usually best for someone with a higher than average swing speed who wants to keep the ball lower for more control.
For Most Golfers:
G410 Plus
The last model is the G410 Plus, which based on performance, fits in between the first 2 models.The head is manufactured more neutrally weighted than the SFT so it won't have quite as much draw bias, but you still have the movable weights if you need a little help with that. This driver is best for someone who doesn't need a lot of slice or draw correction. This model has significantly more forgiveness than the LST model and will launch higher and with more spin than the LST.
How Model Affects the Stock Shaft
Ping offers a variety of shafts with all of their drivers, however you will most commonly find that models of drivers that are similar to the PIng G410 SFT and G410 Plus tend to have mid/high launching shafts, lighter weight, and higher torque rating as that is typically what that type of player prefers.
For drivers that are similar to the G410 LST you will find that the stock shafts are typically a bit lower launching, heavier in weight, and have a lower torque rating as that is typically what that type of player prefers.
Because not everyone fits perfectly into "stock" shaft and head combinations a lot of manufacturers now offer 2 or 3 "stock" or standard shaft options, that way if you require a little different set up than is common it is easy to do so. Usually the goal of offering these options is allowing you choice in terms of the shaft weight and the launch height.
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In summary I would always suggest whenever possible trying clubs before you buy them, your best results can be expected from actually comparing models instead of just reading about them, but with knowledge you can know what you are gaining or losing by the different choices available.
I hope that this information has been helpful, please let me know any questions or comments you may have by contacting us at golfstuff@golfstuff.ca.