If you are tired of hearing this old joke - "Hey, I think I know what's wrong with your drive. You're standing too close to your ball [the punch line] after you hit it." We feel your pain! All summer long we are going to run articles that will offer tips and advice for your golf game. Who knows? Maybe next year you will be one of the Long Drive Champions who earns his card on the PGA tour.
Equipment
As high-ticket items, there are vast arrays of drivers out there for you to invest in. The biggest changes in recent years have been the move to oversized heads, the use of composite materials in the shaft and head, and the length of the shaft. All of these changes are designed to achieve two goals - hit the ball straighter and longer. For the purpose of this article, we will look at brands instead of component parts. Focusing on the most popular companies (Callaway, Titleist and Taylor Made), and the PGA players who use them.
Callaway Golf
www.callawaygolf.com
Great Big Bertha II $399.00
This is the latest incarnation of the infamous Big Bertha driver, which launched the company as a major brand in the 90's. Titanium head, elongated shaft, and an oversized 'sweet spot' help to make this one of the most forgiving and longest hitting drivers available. All of the components add up to help reduce the negative effects of a miss hit (slice or hook), and extenuate the effects of a good hit.
Who uses one on the PGA Tour?
- Carlos Franco
- Dennis Paulson
Big Bertha Titanium $250.00
The classic driver made famous by the likes of John Daly. Now made with titanium, the new and improved Big Bertha offers golfers an affordable club, dubbed as 'friendly and forgiving' by Callaway.
ERC Fusion $500.00
This new club offers a mixture of new composite materials like carbon, all designed to have similar properties as the Big Bertha models, but with less weight. They worked on this baby for 18 years, so it might be worth trying out at your local golf shop.
Who uses one on the PGA Tour?
- Ricky Barnes
- Craig Parry
* all prices are in US dollars and are the manufacturer's suggested retail selling price.
TaylorMade
www.taylormadegolf.com
R580 Series $400.00
TaylorMade is another popular company, which built its brand with the infamous 'Burner bubble-shaft' driver. This latest incarnation uses a combination of titanium, and carefully measured weighting to give the golfer maximum range and accuracy.
R7 Quad $600.00
The slogan for this club is straighter and longer - just what every golfer wants. This thing actually has adjustable launch trajectory, and you can adjust the weight! If the price tag doesn't scare you off, you may want to snap one of these babies up. Goosen just captured the US open playing with one, and a lot of PGA players are giving them a try, and winning.
Who uses one on the PGA Tour?
- Sergio Garcia
- Mike Weir
- Reteif Goosen
R360 XD Driver $230.00
New generation of the Ti drivers, these updated clubs offer new components and design, without sacrificing distance or accuracy. As they say on the website, the XD is for extra distance. Plus, these drivers are priced under $300, so they are affordable for the weekend golfer.
Titleist
www.titleist.com
Titanium 983K Driver $500.00
Titleist is more commonly know for their golf balls, but they have been aggressively pursuing the equipment market for many years. The drivers have gained popularity among some of the best on the PGA tour, including guys like Ernie Els. The head is not as large as some, but the design is created so that you get a perfect trajectory off the tee, increasing ball flight and distance.
Who uses one on the PGA Tour?
- Ernie Els
- Ben Curtis
Titanium 983E Driver $500.00
This driver has a smaller head than the 983K, but it has the same great feel and distance. Golfers who have a high ball speed are the main targets for this club, since the face is designed to slow down the ball spin.
Who uses one on the PGA Tour?
- Steve Elkington
- Davis Love III
Top Ten Drivers (Distance & Accuracy) on the PGA Tour
1 Hank Kuehne Taylor Made 200 (9.5°)
2 Scott Hend
3 John Daly Taylor Made R510 (7.5°)
4 Jeff Ogilvie
5 Davis Love III Titleist Titanium 983E (7.5°)
6 Tiger Woods Nike Ignite Prototype (9°)
7 Chris Smith Ping TiSI Tec (7°)
8 Ernie Els 983K (8.5°) with Speeder X shaft
9 Dennis Paulson Mizuno 300S
10 Chris Cox
* For more detailed stats, check out the PGA tour website.
5 Tips for hitting a longer, straighter ball.
1. Tee the ball up higher, then hit up and into the ball if you want to give your ball a high trajectory. This type of shot is excellent when hitting downwind. Plus, the higher you tee up a ball, the more 'baseball-like' your swing will become, allowing for a very powerful upward motion.
2. When hitting into a strong wind, try teeing up the ball lower than normal. Follow this up with a shortened back swing. The end result will be a lower trajectory ball flight, which is what you need into a gusty head or cross wind.
3. Always maximize your power by taking the club back all the way, then rotating your hips at impact. All of your energy should be extended into the club face at impact, similar to throwing a punch.
4. Try taking a wider stance when using your driver. This will allow you to take a more natural, longer swing.
5. Swing fast and hard! The driver is really the only club where you can grip it and rip it. However, you should practice this technique on the driving range before you go out on the course. Just try taking progressively faster swings, until you get the hang of keeping your club on line, and your weight shifting at the right moment.
