5 Best Golf Drivers for Beginners in 2019 - BEFORE YOU BUY

This article about the 5 best golf drivers for beginners is the first in a two-part series written by guest writers Tony and Paul, creators of Golfers Authority and inventors of Accuhit golf training aid (read below for bio). Please click on the link in this paragraph for part 2 in the series.

Part one in the series describes features and fit you should consider before you buy your new driver; part two focuses on the actual benefits of the five drivers suggested for beginners. ENJOY!

INTRODUCTION: The Best Golf Drivers for Beginners 2019

As you begin to play the game of golf, finding the right equipment that performs well now, but can also grow with you as your swing changes, can be a difficult challenge. 

To help you begin your search, we created a list that provides you with the 5 best golf drivers in today’s market for your developing swing. In reading this article, you will learn the different components of the modern driver, which makes each of these clubs similar, and what makes each club unique.

By taking you through each different aspect of this crucial club, we hope to lead you to the one you should be using when you are making your next driver purchase. Each swing is different and there is no one driver that is universally best for everyone. However, there is a driver that is best for you and it is our goal to help you arrive at that club with this article.

Top 5 Best Drivers For Beginners:

1)     Ping G400 Max

2)     Callaway Epic Flash

3)     Ping G410 SFT

4)     TaylorMade M6

5)     Titleist TS2

How to Use Your Driver:

Players often use their golf drivers on most par-4 and par-5 golf holes. Some holes may introduce sharp terms called “dog-legs” that force you to use another club that does not fly as far as your driver. Drivers are created with the largest clubface and offer golfers the most distance and forgiveness when hitting the golf ball from the tee. Your driver will likely be the second most used club in your bag and demands significant attention when you are making a club buying decision.

Top Driver Features:

Each driver model is unique, but all drivers share important components that help golfers during their rounds. Every driver is made with a club head that reaches 460 cubic centimeters, (cc), in size. This is the maximum allowed size for the game of golf. Each club also is matched with a shaft and grip that helps complement the overall design. Below we go through each of these individually to help you choose options that are right for you.

Club Head: Drivers share commonalities of loft, centers of gravity (CG), and moments of inertia (MOI), that give each of them their playing characteristics. In their most simple of terms, the loft will have the largest impact on how high the ball flies after it leaves the club face. The CG will determine spin rates and the MOI will allow the club to be more or less forgiving. Beginning golfers should look for drivers with more loft, lower and rearward CG, and the highest possible MOI configurations. The combination of these three factors will give you a driver that is easier to hit and that helps you develop important swing fundamentals.

Shaft: Each driver will come built with stock shaft offerings. These shafts are created to compliment the club head characteristics of each new driver as they are built. Aftermarket shafts are available, but will charge upwards of $300 additional dollars and are usually not recommended for swings still under development.

Shafts are categorized based on their weight, flexes, and bend profiles. Choosing the proper weight and flexes for your shafts will help you get the most out of your new driver. The shaft should be thought of as a timing device that helps you deliver the clubhead to the golf ball. Getting a shaft that helps you keep your swing on track will improve your consistency and shot patterns. The parameters you should concern yourself with most in your shafts are the weight in a range of 50 to 70 grams and flexes between amateur, regular, and stiff. More advanced players may find a benefit in heavier and stiffer shafts but that will be your concern later.

Related post: 3 Tips for Buying Beginner Golf Clubs

How To Fit a Driver To Your Ball Flight:

Understanding what you need from a driver is paramount to getting the best one for your game. As your swing develops, it will be important to begin to track your shot patterns and performance as you play golf. To start, players often struggle with slice golf shots. These shots will curve to the right for right-handed players and left for left-handed players. If this sounds like you, then club fitting devices can be built to help you get the most from your new clubs.

           

Golf companies often offer drivers with more weight positioned in the heel of the driver. This weight helps slow the heel of the club down and allows the face to catch up and become squarer at impact. Beginners can benefit greatly from getting a “draw-bias” driver to help them eliminate their big miss.

What Common Club Fitting Terms Mean:

When you go for your first club fitting, you will be given a bunch of terms that can be confusing if you are hearing them for the first time. We want to take you through a few of those so that you can be confident when you are testing different clubs.

Club swing speed: this is the speed at which you will be moving the club around your body at impact. Higher swing speeds will lead to longer drives and this is something that will continue to improve as your swing becomes more efficient.

Ball speed: the rules of golf set a limit for the maximum amount of ball speed that can be produced from a swing speed. Swing speed input to output is limited at a 1:1.5 ratio. Examples include a player swinging at 100mph can produce a ball speed of up to 150 mph at complete efficiency. Players swinging at 80 mph should optimize for ball speeds at 120 mph and 90 mph swing speeds at 135 mph ball speeds.

Efficiency or smash factor: these terms are interchangeable and reference the quality of strike with the golf club. Strikes in the sweet spot will result in a smash factor near 1.5 and give the best ball speed for swing speed. As strikes move away from the center of the club face, this efficiency rating will diminish, and players will lose distance even at the same club head speeds.

Launch angle: this is the angle that the golf ball launches as it leaves the club face after impact. Launch angles that are too low will result in drives that fly shorter than they should and the same is true for angles that are too high. Depending on your swing speed and swing characteristics, your ideal launch angle can differ. Making sure that your golf driver is launching through the correct window is the best way to make sure your new driver is optimally fit for you. 

Spin rate: is the term used for the backspin applied to the golf ball during its flight. Too little backspin will cause the golf ball to fall out of the air too quickly and lead to distance loss. Too high of spin can cause a ballooning-effect and cause shots to fly shorter than they should. Another important consideration of spin rate is higher spinning shots create a more stable ball flight that will curve less offline in poor swing conditions.

Carry distance: is the distance that the golf ball will travel before it hits the ground. This is often the number that club fitters will focus on most as the course conditions and temperatures will have the larger impact on your total distance. When comparing drivers. This distance should be considered the most.

Total distance: is the distance the golf ball travels until it comes to rest. The carry distance plus the rollout will yield the total distance. This number can fluctuate as the ground hardens and softens with different levels of moisture and changes in the landscape. Golfers often report this distance as their driving distance but it should be looked at critically due to the variability outside of the golfer’s control.

Related post: Tips for a Correct Driver Fitting Experience

Questions to Ask Your Club Fitter or Pro:

Anytime you are trying new clubs, it is important to remember that your club fitter may hold multiple objectives. They may be trying to get you the best equipment for your game, but they may also be trying to sell you an expensive new club. Make sure that you understand exactly why they have set up a club the way they have and how it helps your swing.

Why did you give me that loft?

The static loft of the golf club will have the largest impact on your golf ball launch angles and spin rates. Beginning players are often encouraged to have more loft so that their ball flight is more stable, and their misses are less severe.

Are all 10.5-degree loft drivers the same?

No. Depending on the center of gravity and clubhead construction, similar lofts can have very different impacts on ball flight performance. Make sure you are coupling your loft of choice with a CG that is low and back.

What is the difference in standard model drivers and draw-bias designs?

Draw-bias drivers have more weight in the heel and can help golfers eliminate slice tee-shots. These drivers are great for beginning golfers and can help keep the ball in play. An important consideration, if you are planning to use this driver through a developing swing, is that some drivers enable the weight so that it can be moved as their swing adapts and improves.

What weight of shaft do I need?

The weight of the golf shaft can have the largest impact on golf club delivery and performance consistency. You should consider testing different shaft weights, especially in the 50-, 60-, and 70-gram ranges. Even at slower swing speeds, a heavier shaft can help golfers to maintain their swing plane and produce better, more repeatable golf shots.

Do I need a regular or stiff flex shaft?

Without testing different shafts, it can be impossible to know which is best for your swing. Not all regular or stiff flex shafts are the same. Shaft flex will largely come down to which you prefer the feel of during your swing arc. Loosely, shaft flex will correlate with swing speed and higher swing players will fit into stiffer shafts.

Should I play a low-spin driver?

Drivers with less spin can produce the longest drives. However, as spin rates decrease, the ball flights can become less stable and curve farther offline. Beginning players are encouraged to choose drivers that have higher spin rates to help their accuracy until their strike is more consistent.

How do I test drivers indoors?

Testing during the winter months and during poor weather can offer golfers a greater chance to analyze their equipment and make new club purchases. Most retail stores have indoor launch simulators that provide you with all the club and golf ball data mentioned above to help you fit your new driver. 

About the Author

This was a guest post written by Tony and Paul who are a father and son team who are not only best friends but love the game of golf. They created the Golfers Authority, to provide unbiased reviews, guides, tips and advice in order to help other players improve their game.

Tony is also the founder and inventor of the Accuhit, one of the most recognized golf training aids in the world. The Accuhit has been recognized by Golfweek, Golf Tips Magazine, Asian Golf Monthly, and many other publications as one of the most cost-effective golf training aids in the market.


This article is the opinion of the guest author. Golf for Beginners welcomes opinions but, as we always say, you should seek out a qualified golf professional for further details before you make a purchase.

3 Golf Tips to Start Putting Better Now

Putting is often overlooked when you are practicing your golf game; it's usually placed on the back burner after you've hit everything from driver to wedge. This practice probably has you missing more putts during a round which may lead you to grumble about an inflated score.

Instead of pulling out the driver or irons first during your range session, make it a practice to head over to the chipping and putting area first, and then again during practice, to work on the short game.

According to short game guru Dave Pelz, chipping and putting are the two most important aspects in your golf game, although he believes that, in order to save more strokes, concentrate on your wedge game.

Even so, Pelz states that "putting accounts for approximately 43 percent of your total strokes."

That's almost half of your golf game!

For the time that you are at the range, consider these 3 golf putting tips:

1. Putts that are short, never go in - although this statement is pretty self-explanatory, practice the speed of your putts so that your golf ball makes into the "circle of trust" which is within about three feet.

2. Make sure your golf ball drops into the cup. It's great to hear (and oh so satisfying) the sound a golf ball when it hits the bottom, isn't it?

3. Take the time to read the lie and line of each putt and ask yourself a few questions before taking the putt such as, are you looking at an uphill, downhill or sideways lie? Make adjustments to speed and lie and "feel it" to the hole.


In the game of golf, visualization is key - your mind can help you "see" the putts rolling in if you relax and study each line.

Remember, putting is all about the speed, your line...and feel!

Add your golf putting tips in the comments area of this golf blog and tag us with your tips on Twitter @Golf4beginners.


Photo by tyler hendy from Pexels

The 2 Traits You Need for a Better Golf Game

A better golf game doesn't come about just because you purchased the hottest golf clubs on the market or because you have enlisted the aid of a qualified teaching professional - it also helps if you make a decision and commitment that you want to achieve a better game and lower score.

For the average 15 plus handicapper, consistency is rarely a strong suit - fat and thin shots, lack of proper course management, rarely add up to a low score.

Two traits to consider for a better overall golf game, in this author's opinion, are...

Consistency and Motivation.

What does it mean to have a consistent golf game?

Dictionary.com says consistent means, "constantly adhering to the same principles, course, and form"...that being said, does it mean to have a repeatable swing? Is it important to have a reliable putting stroke?

Yes and yes to the above questions and, in addition, it is important to keep your mind free from those distractions that would change the course of your consistency, such as golfers offering help or reading too many golf tips from different sources, for example.

On the flip side, according to instructor Kiel Alderink in a golfcity.com article, "it is the inconsistency that makes the game exciting," but, in my opinion, not necessarily for beginners. He goes on to say,...

"If you played golf every day and shot the same exact score, would that be any fun or challenging?  If you hit the ball the same height, distance, and shape every time you would get very bored.  It is the unknown that makes the game exciting.  The chance to put up your best score every time you tee it up is exciting.  If you knew you were going to shoot the exact same score as always, well that would be a walk in the park, literally."

I prefer less excitement and lower scores!!

Related Reading -  Golf Psychology: Tips to Avoid Choking

As for motivation, Merriam Webster dictionary says about this particular drive, it is, "the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something."

I throw this question out at you ... what makes/keeps you motivated to play golf?

Is it a beautiful day for a walk in the park or, perhaps, have you been determined to lower your handicap, have been working on your short game and want to see if your efforts are bearing fruit?

For this author, and since I started writing the Golf for Beginners blog, I want to continue to have fun. I look forward with enthusiasm during the game to see if I will play better than the prior week (that and I get to play a round with my husband).

Dr. Deborah Graham, in a Golfpsych.com article summed up best the reasons to stay motivated:

"To reach full potential, it is important that competitive golfers retain as primary motivation for playing golf, a great love of the sport and an appreciation of the tremendous personal and competitive challenges it provides."

Follow Golf4Beginners on Twitter and let us know your thoughts in the comments section of this golf blog!

3 Tips for Buying Golf Clubs for Beginners

You have decided to take up the great game of golf...congratulations! What is your next step?

Finding a qualified instructor to teach you swing basics, to guide you in your search for the best beginner golf clubs and to help you along the journey to a better game.

Selecting the best golf clubs for beginners should be as fun and educational as learning the game itself. It is important to choose clubs that will not only be stylish but functional and which will take you through the first learning curve and onto the next level.

In this article, Golf for Beginners offers you three tips for choosing the best golf clubs for beginners.

1. Set vs Individual Golf Clubs? A beginner to the sport may opt to select irons, woods and a putter separate from each other or select a set - since you don't know whether or not you will stick with the game and how much your swing will change while embarking on the first leg of your journey, it might be wise to settle on a set of golf clubs, complete with the basics.

Most sets will include a golf bag, putter, a driver, a few woods, irons, etc., generally a mixed bag. The key is to know what is in that mixed bag before you purchase it.

2. What should be included in a set of beginner golf clubs? PGA Tour golfer Joey Sindelar suggests that an essential set of golf clubs for beginners include, "a half set or a two-thirds set, starting with 3, 5, 7, and 9-irons and 3 and 5-wood clubs," driver and putter. His reasoning?

"If you’re not swinging hard enough you won’t even know the difference between a five, six, seven iron — there’s not enough of a gap there."

In his Golfweek article, Bill Herrfeldt suggests you skip the driver as beginners might find this golf club difficult to hit.

3. What should you look for when choosing beginner golf clubs? 

• Value - if buying a new set, consider last year's model.
• Larger sweet spot - easier to connect with the golf ball
• Graphite golf shafts (for slower swing speeds) over steel

Although it is always a good idea to try before you buy, in the case of a beginner golfer selecting a new set of golf clubs, this might not work so you might want to ask your teaching pro or local golf shop owner/manager if he or she has any suggestions to get you started.

NOTE: This list was created to get the conversation started and is a good guideline but there is no substitution for meeting with a qualified professional to discuss your needs.

4 Reasons Why Walking the Golf Course is Better Than Cart Path Only

After a soaking rain, many golf courses issue a "cart path only" notice, which means players must keep their carts off of the grass so they don't destroy the grounds.

Barring any physical ailments which would hinder a nice walk in the park or hilly terrain which would need a billy goat in order to scale, there are reasons to choose walking over a golf cart ride.

If given the option to walk or ride, which should you choose?

Editor: For some courses, there is no option to walk but there are golf courses which are an easy walk.

Related: Should You Buy a Golf Cart?

The next time the golf shop issues a "cart path only" notice, consider this:

1. SPEED OF PLAY: You actually play faster when you walk - on your wayward shots you usually don't lose your ball because you are walking straight to it.

2. VISUAL ASSESSMENT: As you walk, you feel the wind and see the angle of your next shot so you can choose the appropriate golf club to get your ball to its next placement or on to the green.

3. YOU ARE WALKING ANYWAY! Cart path only forces you to walk to a golf ball which could be on the other side of the fairway. You also may have to carry several golf clubs to your ball in order to determine the correct distance...and... don't forget to take a towel so you can lay all of those clubs down in the very soggy grass (you don't want to get those grips wet!) 

Try walking instead...by the time you get to your ball all you need to do is address and hit your shot which saves time and effort.

4. EXERCISE: Pushing a hand cart burns calories as does a good walk in the park. Our smartphone fitness gizmo says that, after nine holes, we walked about 8,000 steps!

NPR.com health news confirmed, "The World Golf Foundation estimates that golfers who walk an 18-hole course clock about 5 miles and burn up to 2,000 calories.

The game is meant to be walked...young Tom Morris probably would never have considered riding to his next shot. 

If you are not ready for eighteen holes, why not start with nine?

Share your thoughts in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

NOTE: Golf for Beginners blog and the author state that, whether or not you have a physical limitation, you should check with your doctor before walking or playing any sport.

New Year Resolutions for a Happy Golf Year

With the new year in full swing (so to speak), golfers are making resolutions - the ultimate players are tweaking goals for themselves while beginners are laying the basic groundwork for the future.

Are you looking to shave strokes off of your handicap or are you seeking to improve your chipping?

This golf writer has created several golf goals:

1. Improve short game: chipping and putting. Concentrating on the most important parts of the game will help me to lower both my round score and my handicap.

2. Keep a positive mindset and "can-do" attitude while playing: it's easy for your thoughts to spiral downhill during a round as the strokes start to add up. Instead of focusing on the negative, catch yourself, look around at the beautiful day you have been given and think about your best shots so far during the round.

3. Practice with a purpose: No point in practice if the only thing you do during your time on the driving range is smacking golf balls as far as you can - think about every shot you take and make the most of each ball you place in front of you.

3. Play more golf! I offer this golf resolution every year and try to stand firm on this goal. Can't play 18? Go out for 9 holes! Watching a kid for the afternoon and think you can't play golf? Take the kid to the driving range and teach the game to someone new! Where there is a will, there is a way.

Whatever you choose to do, be specific about your goals, write them down and continue to review your progress throughout the year.

Happy New Year! Any questions or comments, place them in the comments section below and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.