Golf forum

Hello,

 I'm after some advise with regards to buying my first driver. I have recently taken up golf and the bug is now really starting to bite.

At present, all I have in my bag is a set of irons 4-SW and my not so trusty putter. My original thought was to start of with my irons, build my swing and consistancy and then worry about a Driver. However, I am thinking that really I should be developing all areas of my game whilst I am learning (so not to get too set in my ways), and hence the need to start looking for a driver.

 Has anyone got any advice on a driver that is suitable for a beginner.

Many thanks in advance,

James

2 choices

1 - buy one of the newer oversized drivers they are so big they give you confidence to hit it

or

2 - if you are not yet comfortable with a  driver you could consider using a hybrid 3 club - i have just bought one and its a useful addition. Useful off teh tee and on teh course.

2 choices

1 - buy one of the newer oversized drivers they are so big they give you confidence to hit it

or

2 - if you are not yet comfortable with a  driver you could consider using a hybrid 3 club - i have just bought one and its a useful addition. Useful off teh tee and on teh course.

Being a high handicapper I am rather reticent to offer my opinion but here goes, I have had two Taylormade drivers the R540 and an R7 neither of which I could hit with any reasonable consistency, a friend let me try out his King Cobra F speed, which I loved hence I purchased one, it is very forgiving and I am reasonably consistent with it. I would however offer a word of caution about jumping in to purchase a driver before trying one out first, I would agree with the above post, a 3 wood is a much easier club in my opinion than a driver for those begining to play golf.

Maybe some of the lower handicappers who are much better placed to offer advice/opinions could help you out further, good luck with whichever you choose and of course with your progress in the wonderful world of golf.

I Had thought about a hybrid club, but to be honest I was a little confused about the between the driver and the hybrid.

 It is still early days for me for golf wise and I am still trying to work on my swing, stance, grip etc. But i do have it in the back of my mind that as a player, if all I play are my irons, then i'm not going to be a very balanced golfer.

I will of course try a few clubs before I make any decision. My local golf club/driving range are very good about letting try out clubs on the range before you hand over your pennies

For what it's worth these are my thoughts.  Don't get fixated with a driver, in my experience both in using one and watching other people using them, they aren't the b all and end all of golf.  They're possibly the most difficult of all the clubs to master, the most expensive and arguably the least useful for a high handicapper.  Add to this the tendency to completely brain out and go for the 300 yarder everytime off the tee results in lost balls and shots.  If you can't hit one it doesn't matter how expensive and high tech it is, it ain't gonna work.

If you want a bit more distance I'd go for a 3 wood and a hybrid (either a 21 or 18 deg).  If you can run to a 5 wood all the better.  The 3 is good off the tee if you don't tee it up too high and I love hitting mine off the fairway.  My 21 deg hybrid hits 185yds on the nose from fairway or light rough but is useless off the tee.  The 5 wood is a good choice between the two.  OK, I have got a driver, but it's taken a few years to get used too and is still not particularly reliable.

As to what to buy, how long is a piece of string?  My 3 wood and hybrid are both MD's with prolaunch shafts, very underated in my opinion.  The driver and 5 woods are both old Ben Hogan's with Aldila shafts (I've got a 3 wood Ben Hogan but don't like it!). 

Good point Tim.  I should have added to my post that although I did get a driver at the end of my progression I have reverted back to teeing off with a three wood.  I find the extra distance gained with the driver is not worth the lack of accuracy.

I think the tip about teeing low is useful too for woods or hybrids.

Thanks for the advice guys. There is such a bewildering amount of kit out there, especially driver, hybrids etc...... all a little confusing for a newbie like me.

I am in the middle of a set of 6 lessons so I will ask the guy teaching me for some advice on some of the hybrid clubs the next time I have a lesson.

The advice above is pretty good in my opinion.  A 3 and 5 wood will do everything you need except get you an additional 30 yards off the tee, but the trade for the extra accuracy is a good one.  You can also use them off the fairway as they are much more versatile.  If Tiger Woods can win the open withot using a driver, then that's good enough for me! 

If you really do want to add one to your bag, have a look at Today's Golfer to see what they rate within your price range.  Then take all the ones highly rated within your that range and try them all.  Just because TG (or the pro giving you lessons or your mate or the spotty oik in the shop or one of us on here) say it is the best one doesn't mean it will suit you.  All clubs are very personal and only by trying as many as you can will you find the best one for you.  When you have a few favourites, try different lofts and shaft flexes to get the best possible combination.