I agree with @mpandichjr and @Nocona Colt Abernathy. Take video of your swing first to make sure that you are consistently achieving a good path and a solid impact position, because without these any equipment changes will be a fleeting and costly endeavor.
@Jeffrey Lieberman - I agree with @mpandichjr. You would need to know your numbers (spin, launch, descent angle, apex) to be sure.
One thing to check is where are you striking on the face. Strikes at the top of the face will cost distance as they add spin causing too high of a launch angle. The usual culprit is too steep a descent angle into the ball (something that plagues a lot of S&T golfers.) Try using some tape or athlete foot spray to find out where you're striking the ball.
A common mistake is thinking a lower degree loft will get you less height and more distance. Obviously, a bad swing can make the ball flight go higher than it optimally should with any driver. I was hitting a 9 degree for a few years and getting outdrove by my buddies. Finally went for a custom fitting and have a 10.5 degree and hitting much further, but here is the caveat - you have to match the correct driver head with the correct shaft for your swing speed and path. Getting off the tee with confidence and keeping in in the short grass is obviously important to playing good golf, shooting low scores, and having fun. The driver is the most important club in the bag, in my humble opinion, and the most expensive. Driver technology has also changed dramatically over the past few years. I would make the investment in getting fitted at a golf superstore, local club with a good fitter, or if you are in a major city, True Spec golf. I believe the shaft is 75% of the equation. In fact, I know it from trying multiple shafts and seeing different spin rates and trajectories on the launch monitor. As I have posted in this forum before, in my last fitting for a driver 4 years ago, I thought I was going to go with either TaylorMade or Titleist. I had been playing Titleist forever. But when trying different heads, I just couldn't hit the TaylorMade consistently. For whatever reason, it didn't set up well to my eye. The Titleist was putting much more spin on the ball and causing it to balloon and lose distance. I ended up with Callaway and never think about whether or not I have the right driver anymore.
Yes, it costs money and time to get fitted, but it sure feels good when you walk out with a custom-made driver and know it is the EXACT driver for your game.
I agree with @mpandichjr and @Nocona Colt Abernathy. Take video of your swing first to make sure that you are consistently achieving a good path and a solid impact position, because without these any equipment changes will be a fleeting and costly endeavor.
@Jeffrey Lieberman - I agree with @mpandichjr. You would need to know your numbers (spin, launch, descent angle, apex) to be sure.
One thing to check is where are you striking on the face. Strikes at the top of the face will cost distance as they add spin causing too high of a launch angle. The usual culprit is too steep a descent angle into the ball (something that plagues a lot of S&T golfers.) Try using some tape or athlete foot spray to find out where you're striking the ball.
A common mistake is thinking a lower degree loft will get you less height and more distance. Obviously, a bad swing can make the ball flight go higher than it optimally should with any driver. I was hitting a 9 degree for a few years and getting outdrove by my buddies. Finally went for a custom fitting and have a 10.5 degree and hitting much further, but here is the caveat - you have to match the correct driver head with the correct shaft for your swing speed and path. Getting off the tee with confidence and keeping in in the short grass is obviously important to playing good golf, shooting low scores, and having fun. The driver is the most important club in the bag, in my humble opinion, and the most expensive. Driver technology has also changed dramatically over the past few years. I would make the investment in getting fitted at a golf superstore, local club with a good fitter, or if you are in a major city, True Spec golf. I believe the shaft is 75% of the equation. In fact, I know it from trying multiple shafts and seeing different spin rates and trajectories on the launch monitor. As I have posted in this forum before, in my last fitting for a driver 4 years ago, I thought I was going to go with either TaylorMade or Titleist. I had been playing Titleist forever. But when trying different heads, I just couldn't hit the TaylorMade consistently. For whatever reason, it didn't set up well to my eye. The Titleist was putting much more spin on the ball and causing it to balloon and lose distance. I ended up with Callaway and never think about whether or not I have the right driver anymore.
Yes, it costs money and time to get fitted, but it sure feels good when you walk out with a custom-made driver and know it is the EXACT driver for your game.
I’ve been wondering the same