Drivers

It’s the club which is the longest and lightest, as well as the most engineered and regulated.

THE BENEFITS OF A LIGHTER DRIVER

Led by companies like TaylorMade and Cleveland, the total weight of some drivers has dropped as low as 270g.

This is about 50g less than the average weight of drivers from just a few years ago. In a test, golfers of varying swing speeds hit a heavier, slightly shorter driver (320g, 45¾ inches) and a lighter, slightly longer driver (270g, 46¼ inches).

Golfers with high-speed swings (105+ miles per hour) increased their clubhead speed by 2.6mph with the lighter and longer driver. Testers with slower swings (80 mph) boosted theirs by 2.2mph.

This increase correlates to a possible gain of five to eight yards. But that doesn’t mean you should automatically choose a lighter driver. A lightweight clubhead can provide less stability on off-centre strikes, and an increase in shaft length can lead to inconsistent contact.

Still, real distance comes only from real speed. And with clubheads, shafts and grips weighing less and less, chances are drivers haven’t reached their lightest yet.

HEADCOVERS: MAKING SIMPLE COMPLEX

Gone are the days when clubmakers would stick a plain headcover on their most prized product. Now headcovers seem to require as much creativity as the clubs they protect. After sorting through all the designs, we classified them into six types:

Full-knit. This is the easiest to pull on and off, but it has the shortest lifespan because it overstretches.
Full-zip. Using the design requires too many steps: First, you pull it over the club. Then you secure it into place just right. Finally, you hope that the zipper works.
Half-knit without neck. The cover fits too tightly initially, but over time it loosens nicely.
Half-knit with knit neck. This is pleasantly pliable, and it lasts forever.
Half-knit with handle. This is the easiest to yank off a driver, especially when you’re late for your tee time.
Knit with magnetic closure (our favourite). The complex engineering that goes into this is effective. It’s easy to pull on and off the club, and surprisingly durable.