Driver – Ultra Golfing

TaylorMade’s move to two-year driver cycles makes sense now

admin — Mon, 25 May 2026 01:24:17 +0000

TaylorMade won’t release new drivers in 2027, signaling a major shift in how golf equipment companies approach innovation and consumers.

The annual driver launch used to feel like a law of golf equipment physics.

Every January, the cycle repeated itself. New faces. New crowns. New carbon patterns. More speed. More forgiveness. More distance. And for nearly a quarter century, few companies leaned into that rhythm more aggressively than TaylorMade Golf.

Now, that cycle is changing.

TaylorMade has announced it plans to move its driver lineup to a two-year product cadence, meaning the Qi4D family introduced in 2026 will remain the company’s flagship driver line through 2027, with the next major driver launch anticipated in 2028.

In some ways, the decision feels overdue.

Driver technology is still advancing, but the giant leaps that once defined the category have become increasingly rare. Fifteen or 20 years ago, manufacturers could introduce genuinely transformative changes in short bursts. Adjustable hosels, movable weights, multi-material construction and carbon-fiber crowns dramatically altered what drivers could do and how fitters could tune them. Those changes created obvious performance stories that golfers could see immediately.

Today, that environment no longer exists.

Modern drivers are already operating extremely close to the limits established by the USGA and R&A. Ball speeds are tightly regulated. The moment of inertia (MOI) ceilings are getting hit. Aerodynamics can still improve, but usually in smaller increments. The challenge today is not discovering massive gains, but finding tiny advantages in launch, spin consistency, stability and acoustics without sacrificing something else in the process.

For golfers, those facts, along with high prices, have changed the buying equation.

A decade ago, many players replaced drivers every two or three years because noticeable gains often justified the expense. Now, if a golfer already owns a properly fit driver from one or two generations ago, convincing him or her to spend $650 or more for a few hundred RPM of spin optimization or slightly improved forgiveness becomes far more difficult.

That reality has golfers holding onto drivers longer, especially when those clubs continue to perform at a high level. A two-year cycle acknowledges what many players are already doing naturally instead of pretending every January introduces a must-have breakthrough.

The move could also benefit fitters and retailers.

Modern driver fitting has become remarkably sophisticated. Loft, face angle, shaft profiles, swing weight, CG positioning and adjustable weighting systems all interact differently depending on the golfer. It often takes months for fitters to fully understand the nuances of an entire driver family, especially when several major manufacturer releases release drivers at the same time.

Giving the Qi4D lineup two full seasons in the marketplace allows fitters to become more confident and more precise with recommendations. It also gives golfers more time to learn the product, see it in fittings, watch Tour adoption patterns develop and gain confidence before making a purchase.

And from a business perspective, the strategy likely reduces pressure internally as well.

Launching a new driver every year requires enormous research, development, marketing and manufacturing resources. Extending the product cycle creates more time for meaningful innovation instead of forcing engineers and designers to chase marginal gains simply because the calendar demands it.

That doesn’t mean innovation stops. It may actually mean the opposite.

If TaylorMade uses the extra time to produce larger, more meaningful improvements instead of annual cosmetic refreshes and incremental tweaks, golfers could ultimately benefit from fewer launches that matter more when they arrive.

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Cobra Golf® and Volition America Release Driver Honoring American Military Heroes

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 23:07:09 +0000

Bringing Together Power and Purpose to Support Folds of Honor Foundation

Images: Volition LE Drive

Carlsbad, Calif. – COBRA Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, today introduced the limited-edition OPTM X VOLITION AMERICA driver. Featuring an army green colorway and military-inspired design, a portion of proceeds from the OPTM X Volition America driver will go directly to Folds of Honor Foundation, which supports the families of fallen American military heroes by providing educational scholarships to their families.

“We’re honored to stand alongside Volition America and Folds of Honor Foundation in supporting our nation’s heroes,” said Russ Kahn, president of Cobra Puma Golf. “This partnership allows us to champion their mission and encourage others to join us in uplifting the families of those who serve.”

The Volition America driver features the OPTM X model’s impressive technologies, including POI (Product of Inertia) Shaping, Adaptive POI Weighting, H.O.T. Face and FUTUREFIT33. The groundbreaking new low POI design of the OPTM X driver, which is delivered via both improved shaping and adaptive weighting, works with Cobra’s other metalwood technologies to reduce shot dispersion by up to 23 percent. Unlike MOI (moment of inertia), which is a measure of how resistant a clubhead is to twist on off-center hits on the vertical and horizonal axes, POI measures how a clubhead rotates diagonally across all axes at once. For that reason, a high MOI is desired to correct off-center hits while a low POI is desired to deliver more accurate shots that don’t create as much gear effect. The result is tighter dispersion down range.

The new limited-edition COBRA OPTM X Volition America driver also features COBRA’s game-changing FUTUREFIT33 ADJUSTABLE HOSEL SYSTEM, the most significant and innovative metalwood fitting technology to date. The system allows for 33 unique loft and lie settings that can be adjusted independently, unlocking an unprecedented number of fitting options.

“Volition America was founded to honor the sacrifice of our military heroes and give back to their families in a meaningful way,” said John Sapiente, CEO of Volition America. “Partnering with Cobra Golf on this limited-edition driver is a powerful way to raise awareness and support for Folds of Honor, and we’re proud to see this mission brought to life through such an innovative product.”

The limited-edition OPTM X Volition America driver retails for $699 and comes standard (right-hand only) with Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black shaft with unique graphics and limited-edition headcover. It will be available online and at select retailers beginning April 28.

To purchase the OPTM X Volition America driver or learn more about Cobra Golf’s partnership with Volition America and Folds of Honor Foundation, please visit www.cobragolf.com.

Media Contact: Emily Scott, JDPR, emilys@jdpr.com

About VOLITION AMERICA

Volition America is leading a movement of proud patriotism, empowering Americans to understand the value of choice, not just on special holidays, but throughout the calendar year. In collaboration with leading active-lifestyle brands, Volition America is growing its product offering, as it builds a community of loyal, like-minded followers, while leading a movement to unite Americans through our shared patriotic values. Volition America has a commitment to supporting the children of fallen American heroes, by donating a percentage of all proceeds to Folds of Honor Foundation. For more information, please visit www.volitionamerica.com.

About COBRA PUMA GOLF

COBRA PUMA GOLF is a corporate division of PUMA, one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing, selling, and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. COBRA PUMA GOLF is an inclusive company, promoting game enjoyment for golfers of all abilities, attitudes and styles. The brand’s full-range portfolio includes COBRA Golf’s high-performance drivers, fairways, hybrids, wedges, putters, and irons, as well as PUMA Golf’s sport lifestyle inspired footwear, apparel and accessories. Fusing performance and style, COBRA PUMA GOLF brings a focus on innovation, technology, compelling design and superior performance with an edge to the global golf marketplace. For more information, visit cobragolf.com and pumagolf.com.

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Callaway Quantum Ti fairway woods blur line between driver and 3-wood

admin — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:18:33 +0000

A titanium build and adjustable weighting push these fairway woods toward driver-like performance with added versatility.

Gear: Callaway Quantum Ti fairway woods

Price: $549.99

Specs: Titanium face and body, internal tungsten weight, adjustable sole weights and hosel. Lofts: 15, 18 degrees

Available: April 29

Who it’s for: Golfers who want a fairway wood that delivers driver-like performance off the tee but still maintains enough versatility to be playable from the turf

What you should know: Callaway is pushing the fairway wood into a slightly different role here, blending mini driver-style speed and forgiveness with enough playability to keep it in the fairway wood category

The Deep Dive: You know what a driver is and where you use it on the course, but with the rise in popularity of mini drivers, many recreational golfers have wondered if they should make a switch and go with one and bench their traditional 3-wood. And while mini drivers can be a great alternative off the tee, from the fairway, their deep faces can make them challenging for some recreational golfers to hit effectively.

That’s where a club like the Callaway Quantum Ti fairway woods comes in, a club that provides more ball speed than a traditional fairway wood but retains the shape and sole that allows it to be used off the turf as well as off the tee.

The foundation of the Quantum Ti fairway woods is their full titanium construction, which isn’t new in golf but is still relatively uncommon in fairway woods because of cost and manufacturing complexity. The benefit is straightforward: titanium is lighter than steel, which allows engineers to move weight and push mass low and forward to help generate faster ball speeds while keeping spin in a playable window.

Yes, the Quantum Ti fairway woods have a deeper face and slightly larger footprint than the standard Quantum fairways, but it is shallower than a mini driver. Plus, Callaway positions up to 70 grams of tungsten low in the head through its Speed Wave 2.0 structure, which helps to boost the launch while preserving energy transfer at impact.

The Step Sole is another subtle but important piece of the puzzle. Reducing the amount of sole in contact with the turf helps the club glide a bit more cleanly through impact. That matters because while this club is clearly comfortable on a tee, it still needs to perform when the ball is sitting on the ground.

From a fitting standpoint, there’s more flexibility here than you might expect. The OptiFit 4 hosel allows golfers to adjust loft and lie independently, including lie changes of up to 2 degrees. That gives players another way to fine-tune start direction and trajectory. Add in the heel-toe moveable weights, and you can nudge ball flight toward neutral or a fade bias depending on how the weights are configured.

What’s interesting is how wide a net this club casts. Callaway positions it as something that could appeal to both higher-handicap players seeking a forgiving “bomber” fairway wood and better players looking for a controllable alternative to a driver.

If there’s a trade-off, it’s the same one that comes with any deeper-faced fairway wood. While this design makes the club more stable and powerful off the tee, some golfers may still prefer a shallower profile if their priority is hitting it cleanly from tight lies. But for players who like the idea of a fairway wood that behaves a little more like a mini driver without fully committing to that category, the Quantum Ti could make sense.

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How to fix a right miss with your driver using 1 simple feel

admin — Mon, 11 May 2026 20:11:25 +0000

Hitting the driver straight can feel impossible some days. Even though the big stick is the most forgiving club in the bag, it can still give golfers fits.

This past winter, I found myself in a bit of a funk with the driver. While I was gaining speed (and distance), my accuracy suffered. Missing the fairways with a little added distance isn’t the worst thing in the world, but when you start introducing the big miss, things can get ugly in a hurry.

The miss I dreaded the most was the high, spinny right ball. It’s one that comes off the face weak and floats in the air forever, leaving me miles from the green.

If you’re someone who struggles with the right miss with your driver, worry not. The fix is simpler than you may think.

Fix your right miss

After I missed a few drives off to the right during my “Driving Accuracy Bootcamp” with GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jason Baile, he explained to me a simple feel that he teaches his pupils to help them straighten it out.

First, he teed up a second ball about a club-length behind my ball and a bit inside of my target line. Then, he told me that when I swung, I needed to feel like I was getting the clubface square to that ball as soon as possible.

“I call it ‘Turn 4 at Talladega,’” Jason said. “If the face is open to Turn 4, you’re going to have to twist the steering wheel quite a bit. If I can get the hood ornament of the car — which is the sweet spot — square to the arc early, then I don’t have to twist the shaft at the bottom.”

When your clubface is open to the arc once you pass P6 in the downswing (club shaft parallel to the ground), one of two things happens. Either you leave the face open and hit the ball off to the right or you twist the face closed coming into impact, resulting in a nasty hook.

Once you start to visualize the secondary ball on that swing arc, try to feel that you are squaring the clubface to it as soon as possible. If you can do that, you won’t have to make any compensations through the impact zone. You will simply have to turn your body and the clubface will be square to your target.

“Any ball that starts too far right, square it early,” Jason said.

Remember that key and you’ll stop losing the ball off to the right — and start hitting more fairways.

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What Subpar’s Drew Stoltz loves about Cobra’s OPTM driver

admin — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:30:40 +0000

Drew Stoltz, the co-host of GOLF’s popular Subpar podcast, is back with a second season of Emergency 9, presented by Cobra. Readers of this space may remember that last year, Stoltz’s Emergency 9 series covered a number of topics, from gear explainers to tips on how to get an edge on your buddies in your next match.

For this season of Emergency 9, Stoltz is kicking things off with a review of Cobra’s OPTM family of drivers.

There are four OPTM driver models to choose from: LS, X, Max-K and Max-D. As a fast player who wants to minimize spin, Stoltz was fit into the OPTM LS.

Cobra OPTM LS Custom Driver

View Product

Shop Cobra’s entire OPTM family of clubs here.

Last year, Stoltz was impressed Cobra’s FutureFit33 technology, which was introduced in Cobra’s DS-APAPT products. FutureFit33, which allows you to adjust the loft and lie of your metals by plus or minus 2 degrees in every direction — enabling 33 total setting options — is also available in the OPTM line. But there’s more! With the OPTM family, Cobra prioritized POI — Product Of Inertia — modeling to re-engineer mass placement and weight positions on the driver heads to reduce the 3D twisting on off-center hits, resulting in tighter dispersion and better accuracy.

“I loved the last line honestly and wasn’t sure I was going to put this in the bag just because I had no complaints about the last one,” Stoltz said. “But I think I get everything I had out of that last driver plus some with this, a little more face stability.”

The OPTM’s game-changing Hot Face technology enabled Stoltz to hit bomb after bomb.

Shop Cobra’s limited-edition OPTM X Volition driver

By:

Jessica Marksbury

“The forged face insert creates space flex when you hit it, which basically means you get the most pop out of your drive, the most speed that you can possibly get,” Stoltz explained. “Next up, we’ve got an advanced weighting system here. There’s three different places where you can place weight.

“The one on the toe is where I put my heaviest weight,” he continued. “I like everything to go left to right to encourage a fade, so I put the most weight up in the toe. This also helps me get the shot shape that I like.

“No matter what kind of golfer you are, what kind of shot shape you like to hit, there’s a fitting here on the FutureFit33 that will help your game.”

Stoltz worked with Cobra’s Ben Schomin to dial in his specs.

“We went through a number of different settings, a number of different lies, lofts, all the things, till we finally came up with this combination here,” Stoltz said. “The 10.5-degree head moved down almost 1.5 to around 9, and then we’ve also flattened it 1 degree too. So I have a little left-to-right missile-hitter right here.

“I do have to issue a warning before you hit the OPTM driver,” he said. “This does come with highly addictive accuracy and dangerous levels of stability.”

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Wilson unveils DYNAPWR Max+ driver

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:24:53 +0000

Wilson Golf has expanded its DYNAPWR driver family with the launch of the new DYNAPWR Max+ driver, which the company says is the straightest and most forgiving driver it has ever produced.

The Max+ has been engineered to deliver a moment of inertia beyond the 10K mark, giving the clubhead exceptional stability at impact.

The result is straighter tee shots and more consistent ball flights, particularly for golfers who do not always find the centre of the face.

Despite reaching this high forgiveness threshold, Wilson says it has avoided increasing overall clubhead mass, a common trade off with ultra high MOI designs.

10K MOI without added mass

The driver is fully adjustable, featuring a six way adjustable hosel and an adjustable rear weight. This allows players to dial in launch and spin characteristics to suit their swing and playing conditions.

Jared Guttmann, Wilson’s manager of advanced golf research and development, said the design approach was focused on efficiency rather than simply adding weight.

He explained that while many 10K MOI drivers rely on extra mass to achieve stability, that can come at the cost of clubhead and ball speed.

According to Guttmann, the Max+ maintains high speeds while still delivering maximum forgiveness.

Wilson DYNAPWR Max+ Driver Family

Re engineered PKR 360 face technology

Performance has been further enhanced through a re engineered PKR 360 face design and aerodynamically inspired shaping aimed at increasing clubhead speed.

The latest PKR 360 construction builds on the technology used in the 2025 DYNAPWR LS, Carbon and Max drivers, with particular attention paid to improving heel side performance without sacrificing speed or consistency across the rest of the face.

Wilson says the new face design delivers significantly greater control points around the perimeter, allowing engineers to remove five grams from the face and reposition that mass toward the rear of the head.

This shift helps achieve the 10K MOI target while keeping the overall clubhead weight unchanged.

Manufacturing tolerances have also been tightened to keep characteristic time at the USGA limit and maximise ball speed within the rules.

Built for forgiveness on mishits

Forgiveness is further supported by optimised bulge and roll geometry.

The face features a rounder profile designed to better manage gear effect on off centre strikes, helping retain spin and maintain distance.

The aim is tighter dispersion and improved accuracy from the tee even on mishits.

Wilson DYNAPWR Max+ Crown position

Refined shaping and premium looks

The Max+ features a lightweight carbon crown and a newly engineered head shape that creates more usable volume throughout the body.

A lowered crown height and lighter face free up discretionary mass, allowing weight to be pushed farther from the centre of gravity and out towards the perimeter.

This refined shape delivers a confident look at address, including a high toe flare that enhances visual confidence while maintaining high levels of stability and playability.

Sound and feel tuned for performance

Acoustics were also a key focus during development. Wilson engineers used advanced topology optimisation, extensive simulation and multiple physical prototypes to refine the sound and feel at impact.

According to Guttmann, large profile drivers are particularly difficult to tune acoustically, especially for faster swingers, making sound and feel a major area of attention throughout the design process.

Availability and price

The Wilson DYNAPWR Max+ driver will be available next month with a recommended retail price of £429.

It will be offered with a stock UST LIN Q PowerCore Blue shaft in A, R and S flexes at 55 grams, as well as a UST Helium NCT 4 Lightweight shaft in a 40 gram lite flex.

Loft options include 9 degrees right handed, 10.5 degrees right and left handed, 12 degrees right handed and a 12 degree Lite right handed model.

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KBS ANNOUNCES A NEW ERA IN DRIVER SHAFT INNOVATION

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:46:45 +0000

KBS has unveiled what it believes is a significant step forward in driver shaft performance with the launch of the new TGBlack, a low spin graphite shaft developed and validated through extensive testing on the professional tours.

The TGBlack is aimed squarely at elite ball strikers looking for maximum control, stability and a penetrating ball flight from the tee.

According to KBS, the new shaft has already received strong feedback from tour players and is expected to feature in bags at the highest level next season.

Tour tested performance and construction

Developed using high modulus graphite and a low resin construction, the TGBlack is designed to deliver explosive energy transfer while maintaining tight dispersion, even at high swing speeds.

The shaft features a stable tip section to enhance accuracy and control, particularly in windy conditions, while a smooth EI curve helps retain feel and responsiveness without sacrificing power.

KBS Director of R and D and master shaft maker Kim Braly said testing produced impressive results when compared with competing products.

“The feedback from Tour players has been incredible and we are delighted to finally bring the TGBlack to golfers around the world.

Testing saw consistent spin numbers when comparing to other shaft brands and the distance players were seeing was off the charts. We are confident Tour players will put this in the bag next season.”

Built for elite ball strikers

The TGBlack has been engineered to blend the responsive feel traditionally associated with steel shafts with the performance advantages of premium graphite.

It offers a consistent profile across a wide range of flexes and weights, allowing players to load and unload the shaft more precisely for improved consistency and tighter shot dispersion.

Available in weights from 40g to 80g, the TGBlack is offered in five flex options to suit different swing speeds, ranging from Regular for players swinging at 96mph and below, through to TXX for speeds of 120mph and above. The shaft is produced in a .338 inch tip diameter and a standard length of 46 inches.

Availability and wider KBS lineup

The TGBlack joins the KBS Tour graphite family, which includes the TD Graphite wood shaft, the Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype and the popular TGI Tour Graphite Iron shaft.

Designed to fit all OEM driver heads currently on the market, the new shaft will be available from authorised KBS retailers and custom fitting centres nationwide from next month, with pricing varying by fitter.

KBS shafts are currently played by more than 300 tour professionals worldwide and the company partners with all leading golf club manufacturers. Its range includes 28 different shaft models across woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters.

For more information visit kbsgolfshafts.com or speak to a local PGA professional or KBS custom fitter.

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Cobra Golf X Palm Tree Crew Launch Limited Edition OPTM X Driver Collab

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:11:40 +0000

Performance Driver Engineered for Those Who Play Hard and Relax Harder

HI-RES IMAGES: LE PTC OPTM Driver

Carlsbad, Calif. – COBRA® Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, continues its celebrated relationship with DJ Kygo and Palm Tree Crew with the latest limited edition COBRA OPTM x PTC drivers. Inspired by a longstanding friendship between Rickie Fowler and DJ Kygo, the new models feature COBRA’s cutting-edge technology adorned with beach-inspired graphics aimed at those who play hard and relax harder.

“Kygo and I have built this partnership over years of friendship, and each collab just keeps getting better,” said COBRA GOLF ambassador and six-time PGA TOUR winner Rickie Fowler. “The new limited-edition driver and headcover deliver TOUR-level performance while capturing Palm Tree Crew’s signature beach aesthetic in a way that feels authentic to both brands.”

Like the standard OPTM X driver, the PTC LE version features impressive technologies including POI (Product of Inertia) Shaping, Adaptive POI Weighting, H.O.T. Face and FUTUREFIT33. The groundbreaking new low POI design of the OPTM X driver, which is delivered via both improved shaping and adaptive weighting, works with Cobra’s other metalwood technologies to reduce shot dispersion by up to 23 percent. Unlike MOI (moment of inertia), which is a measure of how resistant a clubhead is to twist on off-center hits on the vertical and horizonal axes, POI measures how a clubhead rotates diagonally across all axes at once. For that reason, a high MOI is desired to correct off-center hits while a low POI is desired to deliver more accurate shots that don’t create as much gear effect. The result is tighter dispersion down range.

The new limited-edition COBRA x PTC limited edition driver also features COBRA’s game-changing FUTUREFIT33 ADJUSTABLE HOSEL SYSTEM, which is the most significant and innovative metalwood fitting technology to date. The system allows for 33 unique loft and lie settings that can be adjusted independently, unlocking an unprecedented number of fitting options.

The COBRA x PTC OPTM X driver is now available online and at select retailers. The limited-edition model comes in 10.5-degrees in RH with limited-edition headcover and Mitsubishi 1K Tensei Blue shaft.

For more information or to purchase a limited-edition COBRA x PTC OPTM X driver, visit http://www.cobragolf.com.

About COBRA PUMA GOLF

COBRA PUMA GOLF is a corporate division of PUMA, one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. COBRA PUMA GOLF is an inclusive company, promoting game enjoyment for golfers of all abilities, attitudes and styles. The brand’s full-range portfolio includes COBRA Golf’s high-performance drivers, fairways, hybrids, wedges, putters, and irons, as well as PUMA Golf’s sport lifestyle inspired footwear, apparel and accessories. Fusing performance and style, COBRA PUMA GOLF brings a focus on innovation, technology, compelling design and superior performance with an edge to the global golf marketplace. For more information, visit cobragolf.com and cobragolf.com/pumagolf.

About PALM TREE CREW

Founded in 2020 by Kygo, Myles Shear and Austin Criden, Palm Tree Crew Holdings (“PTCH”) is a diversified holding company that owns and operates a consumer brand, global live events business and investment arm, all within one unified ecosystem. Through Palm Tree Festivals, PTC produces immersive experiences that bring together business builders, entrepreneurs, investors, and all lovers of the PTC lifestyle. PTC Brand creates unique products that capture the PTC way of life, promoting happiness and community. PTC Investments is PTC’s investment arm and is highly active in the venture and growth community. PTC Investments provides capital to early-stage business builders across the consumer and technology industries in addition to its crypto strategy focused on web3 and the creator economy.

Media Contact: Emily Scott, JDPR, emilys@jdpr.com

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The Must-Know Pros and Cons of Choking Down on Your Driver

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:50:33 +0000

For some golfers, the fact that the driver is so long can lead to trouble with control of the ball and ensuring that the shots stay in play.

This is why some players start choking down on their driver, and they almost immediately notice the impact it has on their game.

I’ve tried this concept, especially when I was younger (and even shorter). The results are… interesting and not necessary for everyone. Some amateurs can do well with choking down on the driver, while others should think twice before using this strategy.

Let’s take a look at what choking down on your driver will do for your game.

The Pros of Choking Down on Your Driver

There are a few reasons that golfers will choke down on a driver. The first and most obvious is that the club is long, and this can be hard for some players to adjust to. However, the main reason why golfers choke down is to establish control with the club.

Better Contact with The Center of The Club Head

If you want to make consistent contact with the center of the club head, it’s easiest to do it with a shorter club.

Have you ever noticed that you can hit your pitching wedge more consistently than you can hit your 4 iron? The main reason behind this is that the 4 iron is considerably longer, and it makes it more difficult to find the sweet spot.

When something is further away, it’s harder to be accurate; when it’s closer, you have more control. If you find that you make contact with the heel, toe, upper face, or bottom of the club head, it may be time to consider choking down on the driver to see if you can hit the sweet spot.

Lower Trajectory

Interestingly I put lower trajectory as both a pro and a con.

Sometimes hitting the ball lower is a great thing. If the wind is in your face and you are playing in the colder weather and want just to get the ball to advance down the fairway, this lower trajectory makes a big difference.

A lower trajectory won’t necessarily make you hit the ball further, but it does play well to the accuracy of the shot, and you should be able to hit it a bit straighter. Choking down on the club makes the club a little stiffer and therefore lowers the trajectory.

Less Spin

For some players, spin can be hard to keep in check with the driver in the hands. If you want to try and create a little less backspin or side spin on your golf driver, then choking down can help. Some golfers find that they get a bit more forward roll and spin when swinging with a driver they have choked down on.

Drivers today are lower in spin than they ever have been. So the technology will already be on your side here; it’s just a matter of combining it with the correct swing and setup.

Better Control of The Club

Control is the name of the game from the tee box. I have played with so many great players that can hit the ball a mile, but if you can’t keep it in play, what is the point of hitting it straight?

If you can learn to control the golf club, there is so much you can do on the golf course. For those trying to hit a fade or a draw, I highly recommend choking down as you learn. You will find it much easier to complete the process with a club in your hands that is slightly shorter in length.

The Cons of Choking Down on Your Driver

Unfortunately, choking down on a driver is not a perfect solution. There are issues with total distance, tempo, and lower ball flight that can be a problem for some players. Let’s face the facts here if this was a perfect solution, all golfers would do it, but that is not the case.

Less Distance

When you choke down on your driver, expect to get a little less distance. The difference in distance should be astronomical, but nobody really likes to lose distance on their drives. Expect about 5 to 15 years of loss on a driver.

The total length of most standard drivers is around 45 or 46 inches. When you choke down, you are effectively shortening the club, making it more difficult to get distance from the shots you are trying to hit.

It’s almost like hitting a 3 wood with a driver’s head on it. On an easy hole with no trouble in front of you, don’t worry about choking down on the driver. Get all the distance you can and play the wider fairway.

Slower Club Head Speed

Another problem with choking down on the driver is that it can slow down your club head speed. Of course, you may think that choking up on the club makes it shorter and easier to swing faster, but this isn’t the case.

Since the club swing weight is a bit higher and the shaft is stiffer from choking down, some players will actually lose some speed. This won’t be the case for all golfers, but it’s something to consider and think about when deciding if this is a good method for you to use on the course.

Lower Ball Flight

As I mentioned, lower ball flight is both positive and negative.

Keeping the ball in the air for a long time is good. You will get tremendous carry and the best possible results. However, a lower trajectory and a lower launch lead to less total distance.

If you want that big high, flying driver that heads down the center of the fairway, choking up is not the way to get it done.

Stiffer Shaft

If you have ever thought of cutting down an old golf driver shaft to make it a good choice for a younger player, you are doing them quite a disservice. When you adjust the shaft length like this by cutting it down, you make the club considerably stiffer.

The stiffer shaft will be hard for slower swing speed players to deal with. Professional golfers don’t seem too affected by this, as this minor adjustment doesn’t counteract their fast speeds.

Tempo Concerns

Sometimes the tempo of your golf swing can get thrown off when you choke down on your driver. Players will inadvertently increase grip pressure, forget to make a complete backswing, and sometimes lose balance when trying to choke down on the golf club.

Of course, you can improve your golf tempo by practicing on the driving range and learning how not to change your swing when you choke down on the club. Just keep this one in mind in case you choke down and feel like your swing is not the same.

How to Decide If You Should Choke Down on Your Driver

Sometimes the playing conditions on the course or some features of our golf swing will help you decide if it makes sense to choke down on your driver. Here are the factors that you should be thinking about.

Weather Conditions

When it is cold, windy, and wet, you will want to keep your dispersion rates down. The golf course is hard enough. Make sure you are hitting these accurate drives that get plenty of roll and can penetrate through the rough conditions.

On nice weather days when your swing feels fluid, and you aren’t as concerned with control and a lower launch, choking down on the driver is likely not necessary.

Trouble on The Hole

Golfers who are good at golf course management can accurately assess a hole and decide if it’s wise to swing away or keep things a bit more under control. Of course, when there is less trouble on a hole, you can look for increased clubhead speed and more distance.

When the golf hole has water hazards, sand traps, or even out-of-bounds, it could pay to choke down on your driver and get the ball in play. Some golfers will also consider using a 3 wood for a hole like this.

Player Height

The player’s height is another important consideration. If you are a taller golfer, it makes sense to hold your club at the very top. For shorter golfers, sometimes a longer driver feels challenging to control. If this is the case, simply hold the club a bit further down.

If you find yourself doing this continually, it may make sense to consider a shorter driver. Purchase this type of golf driver direct from the manufacturer instead of having it custom-fitted after the fact.

When you purchase direct, the club weighting and stiffness of the shaft can be double-checked before it’s put into your hands.

How Far You Should Choke Down

Golfers are often unsure of exactly how far down the shaft they should be choking down on a driver. You will have to play around with this based on what feels comfortable and what produces the proper results.

Generally speaking, choking down about one inch from the top of the driver is the perfect amount for most players. This small amount still has a great impact on the overall length of the shot and the ability to get the ball in the center of the fairway.

Remember that most golf grips have a taper to them. This means that the further you choke down, the smaller the club is going to feel in your hands. This can impact your ability to turn the club over, and some players hit the ball left because of it.

The next time you’re at the driving range, try a few swings choking down on your driver and see how it works out.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1

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TRIED AND TESTED: PING G440 LST DRIVER

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:58:47 +0000

PING has become known for creating drivers that are incredibly easy to hit. I had great results using the G430 10K last year.

I could hit it anywhere on the face and get good results. Spin wasn’t overly high, and it felt good. But it wasn’t perfect. The head was oversized and looked very busy, with all the recesses on the crown, and it didn’t have any moveable weights. The G440 LST solves every one of those issues.

The compact head (450cc) looks much more manageable behind the ball. Other than the turbulators, the crown is now smooth with a two-tone finish.

Older PING drivers could be a bit clangy, but these new carbon crown models feel so solid and balanced. And while it’s not the lowest-spinning low spin driver, the spin is very consistent, so drives are highly repeatable.

On the launch monitor, there are other drivers I might be able to hit five, even ten yards further. But I’ve never hit a driver that consistently puts me in the fairway like the G440 LST does.

I’m not playing good golf currently. I’ve got no real feel for my swing. Despite that, the majority of my drives are down the centre of the fairway.

I’ve made a couple of really bad strikes out of the toe recently, and in the past, that would often result in a duck hook. With PING’s Spinsistency design built into the toe, those hooks turn into mostly straight drives. I really have to be trying to hit the ball hard to miss the fairway by any distance.

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