Today’s drivers are all about aerodynamics, faster swing speeds, higher launches and longer distances. Of course, you have to hit them right to get the benefits. But if you’re looking for a new driver and need a little help, here are some to consider:
BRIDGESTONE JGR
Tech talk: A flexible crown and stiff sole reinforced by two arc-shaped pieces allows the top of the face to bend away from the target, and a new milling pattern gets progressively tighter as it moves down the face to limit spin.
Company line: The crown and sole enhance the club’s spring effect for higher and longer drives, and the sole slots bend the top of the face forward to reduce altitude.
Bottom line: $300
CALLAWAY XR16
Tech talk: Callaway worked with Boeing this year on its club’s crowns, which for this driver includes bulges along the topline to help air stick to the crown longer. The redesigned face is also shallower, more streamlined and lighter.
Company line: At 305 grams, the XR16 delivers higher-launching shots with similar spin to last year’s XR model, with faster ball speeds and more distance the result.
Bottom line: $350
CALLAWAY GREAT BIG BERTHA
Tech talk: An OptFit hosel has settings to change loft and lie angle, and the Gravity Core Rod used in the Double Black Diamond version was replaced with a sliding weight along the head’s perimeter for draws, fades or straight shots.
Company line: This driver is for the masses because the light, aerodynamic shape will help players swing faster and reduce backspin compared to the V Series driver.
Bottom line: $450
COBRA KING LTD
Tech talk: A translucent window in the sole allows you to see the back of the multi-thickness face that maintains balls speeds on off-center hits, and an adjustable hosel and a carbon fiber crown work in tandem to improve launch angles.
Company line: The center of gravity was shifted lower and deeper to improve MOI and produce faster ball speeds, lower-spinning shots and longer drives.
Bottom line: $450
COBRA F6
Tech talk: A 10-gram weight in the sole enables you to dial in the club’s center of gravity location and performance, and placing the weight more toward the front promotes a lower trajectory, less spin and more roll in the fairway.
Company line: The F6 has a thinner and lighter face than its predecessor, the Fly-Z, for added power, and the sole pad has been enhanced to maintain a square clubface.
Bottom line: $350
MIZUNO JPX-EZ
Tech talk: An upgraded shape that’s longer from heel to toe creates a higher MOI, and the expanded crown is more flexible where it meets the face to generate more rebound at impact. Eight loft settings – from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees – are also built in.
Company line: The weight port system has three receptacles but only one insert; where you place it – heel, toe or rear – affects spin and direction up to 13 yards.
Bottom line: $400
NIKE FLEX 440
Tech talk: A multilayer 440-cc head has a titanium face and light carbon fiber back that combine for a larger body and deeper face than last year’s low-spinning Vapor Flex, which produces more head stability and higher-launching shots.
Company line: A stiffer chassis and flexible channel and face produce more feel on off-center hits. A battery-shaped pod in the rear lets you tweak launch and spin.
Bottom line: $500
NIKE FLY
Tech talk: Shaving 30 percent off the weight in the crown from last year’s Vapor Speed driver shifted 5 grams from the top of the head to the low perimeter. The walls of the channel are also thinner on the face for more carry.
Company line: A lower center of gravity promotes higher-launching shots and more carry for all players, and the updated sole contributes to faster ball speeds.
Bottom line: $350
PING G
Tech talk: The new line of G drivers comes with loft adjustability, high balance point shafts and aerodynamic ridges on the crown. Combined with indentations on the back, the ridges are designed to reduce drag on downswings.
Company line: Less drag means up to 5 yards of more carry, and the lighter crown means the head mass is lower to produce more MOI for increased power.
Bottom line: $400
SRIXON Z 545
Tech talk: Designed to deliver a mid to high launch for average players, the driver has an adjustable hosel with 12 settings for loft, lie and face angle. Moving the center of gravity location also allows you to tweak the launch and spin.
Company line: The Z 545 is designed to rotate quickly through the hitting zone to increase ball speed, and the cup face makes for a larger hitting area on mis-hits.
Bottom line: $400
TAYLORMADE M1
Tech talk: A carbon crown on the multi-material M1 saves weight that has put in the front-to-back part of the T-Track System along the sole. The slight weight saving also drop the club’s center of gravity projection to the lowest in the industry.
Company line: Moving the weight back raises the projection point, elevates launch and increases spin; plus, the sole track has a weight to enhance draw or fade bias.
Bottom line: $500
TAYLORMADE M2
Tech talk: Like the M1, the M2 has a lightweight carbon crown, with the latter shifting the mass low and away from the face to maximize forgiveness. The loft on the M2 also can be by strengthened or weakened by up to 2 percent.
Company line: The channel on the sole has been redesigned from the AeroBurner model to boost ball speed on shots hit low on the face.
Bottom line: $400
TOUR EDGE EXOTICS EX9
Tech talk: The heel-weighted, draw-enhancing EX9 has a variable thickness face, with the weight saving going toward a higher MOI. The face combines with a deep and narrow Power Grid channel along the sole to generate more power.
Company line: A removable screw in the sole dials in swing weight, and the head’s sloped crown reduces drag to speed up the swing for all handicap levels.
Bottom line: $300
WILSON FG TOUR F5
Tech talk: Designed for better players, the deep-faced, 460-cc driver has a 7-gram weight in the sole that can be replaced by a 3- or 11-gram screw. The loft can also be strengthened or weakened in half-degree increments to fit your swing.
Company line: The lightweight crown produces a lower and deeper center of gravity, and the variable thickness face improves ball speeds across the hitting area.
Bottom line: $380
