There are many secrets behind hitting long distances with the driver. For some, it is primarily the design and size of the clubhead. For others, it is shaft flexibility. Some focus only on the materials that the entire club is made of. But what few people talk about is the proper club loft. What loft driver should I use? This is a question that we rarely ask ourselves and that, in the end, is essential when determining the configuration of your driver.

To begin with, you must know that the loft of the driver goes from 7.5 to 14 degrees. Without a doubt, the angle of the clubface and the height at which you put the ball on the tee will define and determine many things. Everything in addition to the flight and trajectory of your golf shot. But with the advancement of technology, different fundamentals have been appearing that have perfected drivers’ design to limits unimaginable years ago.

Design

The driver design significantly affects the club’s loft, regardless of its angle. Today, the use of carbon composite materials and special weights for different parts of the clubhead creates various gravity centres, which affect the ball flight.

You will also find that the drivers’ faces now present a curvature and a wider sweet spot, which leads to a better ball reaction. Of course, the club’s configuration always has to align with each player’s swing type. The same happens with the shafts. At the end of the day, they are the ones who transfer the energy from the swing to the driver’s head.

Swing

There is nothing more important than using golf clubs that improve your performance and are the right ones for you. For this reason, we always suggest doing a good fitting before buying a driver. Before choosing the suitable driver model, the starting point is in each player’s swing.

Several factors must be taken into consideration. One of them is the angle of attack on the ball. This aspect is vital to define what type of loft you will choose for your driver. It is worth adding that there are two types of lofts: dynamic and turning. It is good to know that many players apply a special effect with their wrists, which can substantially change the attack angle. For now, consulting a specialist at the time of the fitting is key to making the right decision.

The professionals and the loft choice

For information, it is helpful to understand that the average angle of attack for the PGA Tour is -1.3, and for the LPGA Tour, it is +3 degrees. Going deeper into the attack angle, you will find that the professionals are very precise about it. With this, you can optimize your shots and minimize errors.

For example, Bryson DeChambeau uses a prototype Cobra RadSpeed driver with 5 degrees of loft. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson is currently using a Taylormade SIM2 driver, lofted at 10.5 degrees with a Fujikura speeder 661 shaft. Another case is Justin Thomas, who uses a Titleist TS3 driver with a Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60TX shaft. It is a club that he specially prepared, which gave him a lot of confidence from the tee box.

Drivers with lower lofts

According to the specialists, players with faster swing speeds (from 105 mph) need drivers with a loft between 7 and 10 degrees. This is always based on general rules. Why? Simply because players with a negative angle of attack achieve higher spin and reach more distance than a driver with a lower loft. Additionally, drivers with a lower centre of gravity and rear end also produce higher ball flights and more spin with less loft. Important: this is not only the case with low handicap players. There are also high handicap golfers who require a lower loft driver.

Drivers with higher lofts

Medium handicap players are the most comfortable with higher lofted drivers. Typically, these golfers tend to swing slower and with less control, given the loft of the clubface. Those who swing below 80 mph need more distance, and a high flight is the possibility to reach it. That is why most players choose drivers with 12 to 14 degrees lofts.

Also, drivers with higher loft avoid higher lateral spin. And this is only performed with a driver of these characteristics. On the other hand, if the conditions on the course are not the best (because of rain or the presence of humidity, for example), drivers with a higher loft provide an additional advantage.

Adjustable drivers

The possibility of adapting the centre of gravity of each club and adjusting the loft of the hosel offers a long series of benefits to all golfers. But be careful; it is critical not to compromise your swing by choosing the wrong loft when you fit and adjust your driver. Adjustable drivers have marked a before and after element for all golfers.

The choice of the driver’s loft

The combination of shafts, heads and lofts is as wide as buckets of balls on a driving range. So many adjustments can be made to the driver today as concepts can be discussed. It is important to remember that you can constantly monitor your swing through the proper fitting, an essential aid in choosing the right club. It is also always worth keeping in mind that the driver is often the most expensive club in your bag.

There are many brands available in the market today. And we could say that almost all of them are designing and manufacturing excellent drivers. Keep in mind the advice and considerations we have provided you in this article. Regardless of current trends and habits, the important thing is that you feel comfortable every time you have to hit a tee shot. That is the only way to find the perfect driver.