| newcomer to the sport the tendency to purchase | | | | produces optimal launch characteristics. More |
| the largest and most technologically advanced driver | | | | manufacturers are producing drivers with |
| can prove overwhelming. If however you purchase a | | | | interchangeable weights to allow players the option |
| driver based on this premise without taking into | | | | to reconfigure the weight distribution of the club to |
| account swing style - you'll find the whole experience | | | | match a player's swing type. |
| less than confidence inspiring. | | | | If you are a beginner it is worth seeking the advice |
| A beginner's set of clubs should ideally consist of a | | | | of a professional coach who will most likely advise |
| small assortment of woods - namely 1, 3 and | | | | you to master control before concentrating on the |
| 5-woods. The number 1 wood is referred to as the | | | | latest features and design of a driver. |
| driver and is most commonly played club for long, | | | | The degree of flex should also be considered when |
| straight tee shots. These clubs are fitted with large | | | | selecting your first driver or set of woods. A flexible |
| profiled club-heads up to 460cc (cubic centimetres) - | | | | shaft is understood to deliver more power from the |
| the largest size permitted under international | | | | swing to the ball - compared to a stiff graphite shaft |
| regulation. | | | | or stainless steel shaft. A slower swing speed is |
| The concept of using a large wood (or driver) for | | | | better suited to a flexible shaft such as those used in |
| long distance strikes is sound in principle - | | | | junior, ladies and senior woods. A fast swing should |
| unfortunately, the driver is one of the most difficult | | | | benefit further from a stiff shaft - either graphite or |
| golf clubs to use effectively and is not recommended | | | | stainless steel; the latter will allow a greater degree |
| for the inexperienced player. It is also fair to say that | | | | of control at the sacrifice of gaining additional weight. |
| because of the enlarged club-head the chances of a | | | | For all levels of player the best way to achieve an |
| player connecting with the ball through the | | | | optimal swing is to purchase a custom fit driver, |
| sweet-spot are greater. If you follow golf in the | | | | woods or both. Forgan of St. Andrews for example |
| media you'd be hard-pressed to miss the likes of | | | | have launched an online custom fit service that allows |
| Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington using large | | | | players of all ability to purchase optimally fitted golf |
| headed woods for a majority of their shots. | | | | clubs in a shorter time and at a fraction of the cost |
| Finding the optimal club weight can also be beneficial | | | | of traditional custom fitting. |
| for improving the control of your swing. Modern day | | | | Finally, remember to protect any golf driver with a |
| drivers are traditionally lightweight through the use of | | | | high quality head-cover. Remember if you purchase a |
| graphite shafts and titanium-based club-heads. Weight | | | | driver from a large online golf retailer like The Sports |
| is typically concentrated inside the club-head to | | | | HQ you are sure to receive a quality product with |
| produce a sweet-spot - an area of the club-face that | | | | excellent after-sales support. |