Driver Loft

Loft is in the forfront of most driver makers these days because of the discovery of ball spin and distance. Less spin is more distance. But tragectory is a fine tune option to also gain more distance. What happens to an average player's swing during the driver is anything but what is optimum in terms of angle of attack / approach to the ball to gain its maximum distance. In fact, it is possibly worse then their PW swing. Better players get in a good position (ball being struck on the upswing, big turn through and a long, high finish. If more driver's loft has the affect of putting more spin and hight on a ball, the object is to want to have the least amount of loft AND maintain the optimum launch angle. Playing a fade / draw will also affect your launch angle. So there are several options to consider. Do you adjust your 1) swing, 2) club loft, 3) shape choice, 4) ball position to get more distance? Yes...In that order. First fix your swing. Get the proper attack on the ball. Then, look at the club's loft to get your optimum launch angle. This can be fun, because we get to go to the store, or fitter and play the cool toy game. Once you now have a loft and club that fits your proper swing. Use the shape of a shot to help regulate hight and launch angle to battle the elements. Then move the ball position in your swing to tweak the round. If you find you are having a problem with slices or low runners, a move of the ball slightly forward will help. Hooks and high shots will be countered by a move back.

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I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

chiper, you've discovered the 'Thriver' - a driver sized head with three wood loft.

It's a wonderful fairway finder, especially when it's mated to a shorter shaft (which helps make for a center-contact hit).

I know a guy who's carrying two drivers next year - a thriver for tight holes, and an overlength driver with lower loft for wider holes.

On my last three rounds, I made a decision not to touch the driver, just to see how I'd do. I already knew that my "percentage" shot would be to tee off with the 3W, because I usually hit it pretty straight, and my 3W is only 10-20 shorter than my straight drives (and those only happen about 25% of the time).

The result: First, my score improved by several strokes, because I didn't miss any fairways. Not even one. But the other result surprised me. By sticking with the 3W and not switching back to the driver "for the hell of it," I started getting more distance with the 3W. By just grooving my swing with the 3W, I am simply striking the ball better. I find that I'm now hitting about 240 yards with the 3W, and straight. With my driver, my best hits were 260, but they weren't common. More often, if I got a straight hit it would go about 240 anyway, so I haven't really given up any distance. What I've mainly given up is trees. And my 3W is an inexpensive (surprise!) Intech club with a fairly whippy shaft.

My plan is simple. Until I get to the point where there is a *reliable* advantage to using the driver, it will stay in the bag. Or in the car. As everyone says, it's all about knowing my own limitations and what shots *I* can make, as opposed to what someone else can do.

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Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

I was thinking... Wouldn't the simplest way to try a "thriver" be to get a women's driver? As far as I can tell, women's drivers tend to have a loft of 12-14*, and a somewhat shorter shaft than men's drivers. Head size goes up to about 420cc. Wouldn't that be just about right?

ubizmo, that would work provided a) you reshaft with a proper shaft, and b) you may have to re-swingweight the club to get it to feel 'right'.

But yes, it's one way to get a thriver. The other way is to buy one (or wait for a slow-assed clubmaker to send you one).

The problem with this is that you would probably have to reshaf the driver. You would be better off getting on built. Then ,you can just order a high loft head and build it with a 43' (or shorter) shaft.

Why would a women's driver probably need to be re-shafted? I've looked at specs online a bit, and they tend to be about 43-44". Isn't that about right for a Thriver?

The reason is that the flex would more than likely be way too soft.

Hi Iam at the end of the scale. I have a king cobra 9 deg and i hit a very high ball. I have tried to place ball back in my stance but still high ball. i swing at 110 mph and have a stiff shaft. Has anyone tried a 7 or 8 deg and how was it Scooter

what type of shaft go you have? It may be simply that you have a low kick point on your shaft that creates a higher ball flight.

Hi Gord the shaft is a mid kick 55 grams. I hit a far ball but with the high flight no roll. My golf buds say i am loosing yardage. The ball is a way up there and comes amost straight down. I hate this canadian winters no golf hahahaha scooter

Hey Scoot
Iw as thinking along the same lines as Gord. You could always go to an 8 degree loft, but I would have guessed that the flex point on your shaft was too low for you, but you say it is mid-flex. what is the shaft brand and model? With you swing speed, you could also consider a shaft that is Xtra stiff.
TheAceofClubs.com

Just to add to Ace, you could try a shaft that is not so light (about 65 - 75 grams) with a high kickpoint. That should take care of your problem.