Buying a modern day driver that will allow you to hit the ball farther doesn't require a PHD in physics, putting any one of the latest and greatest drivers made by any of the major manufacturers in your bag will gain you extra distance, but if you want to maximize your driving potential then getting custom fit is the only way to go. Custom fitting a driver to your swing will not only gain you those extra yards you have been seeking but will also allow you to actually hit more of those fairways your aiming at. With the golf industry having so many equipment manufacturers finding the right driver off the rack to fit your swing would be pure luck. The multiple driver head loft options, shaft options and grip options manufacturers now offer makes getting custom fit for a driver the only way to go.

The current day process of custom club fitting takes into account many more swing parameters then just club-head loft and shaft stiffness, today club-fitters consider all aspects of a players game before making any recommendations and even then those recommendations are put to the test via computer aided swing analysis and launch monitor readings. Long gone are the days of simply measuring a players club-head speed to determine if he or she should be playing a regular or stiff shaft in their driver, launch monitors are now used to gain important information in the club-fitting process, data such as the launch angle of the ball as it leaves the club-face is one consideration the club-fitter must take into account as is the actual speed the ball is traveling after impact, these along with rate the ball is spinning can be used to calculate trajectory, distance, carry and roll figures to aid the club-fitter in the process.

Launch monitor results are just part of the puzzle a good club-fitter will use to make sure your fit right, the club-head loft, shaft stiffness, shaft kick-point, shaft weight and overall club weight are now a big part of the fitting process. The use of quick change shaft fittings allows the club-fitter to swap out shafts and club-heads quickly while working with the player and the launch monitor equipment, this gives the player the option of trying multiple driver heads with multiple shafts until the perfect fit is achieved. Once the driver head / shaft portion of the club-fitting process is completed the players new driver can begin to take shape, grip, grip weight and grip thickness are added into the equation to finalize the players custom fitted driver specifications.

The process can take less than a couple of hours and can be rewarding in more ways than just the distance it will add to your drives, knowing you had input into the process of making your own driver can add confidence to your game, the process itself is a fun learning experience players of all abilities can enjoy.

Learn more about this author, JG Jones.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Golf equipment: Guide to buying a driver for golf?
We want to hear your view. Write now!