How to Determine Which Loft You Should Get on Your Driver

One of the most misunderstood aspects of picking out a driver is choosing the loft.

Too often, an amateur golfer will choose the loft of his or her new driver based on what their favorite professional player uses instead of taking the time to assess the best loft to suit his skills.

An appropriate loft choice will maximize your distance. The majority of drivers on the market today range between a 4-degree and 20-degree loft.

1. Assess the speed at which you swing your driver. If your pro shop or local golf-equipment store doesn't have a professional measuring device, you can estimate. Determine which club you use to hit a 150-yard shot.

2. If you use a 7-iron, then your club-head speed for a driver will normally be between 95 and 104 miles per hour. If you use a 6-iron, it will be between 84 and 95 mph, if you use an 8-iron or 9-iron, it will be between 105 and 115 mph.

1. Choose a loft to try based on your assessed club-head speed. If it is between 95 and 104 mph, a 10- or 11-degree loft will be appropriate. If it is between 105 and 115 mph, a loft between 7 and 9 degrees should be considered. Golfers with club-head speeds below 85 mph should use a loft angle between 14 and 20 degrees. For speeds of 130 mph and above, try a loft between 4 and 7 degrees.

1. Compare the feel of drivers within the loft range that fits your club head speed at the practice facility at your local golf equipment store or pro shop. Some golfers will feel a significant difference with very slight changes. The shaft stiffness and torque should be the same for the club comparison to ensure you are properly comparing the drivers.