Question of the week [Nov. 2-8]: What characteristics do you look for when buying a driver?
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Sean Toohey | River Forest, IL
Looks and feel are very important to me, with overall club weight being the next priority.
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Ralph Powers | Bradenton, FL
I want my driver head to be adjustable at the hosel, toe, and rear of the clubhead so I can better control torque. A forged carbon face insert is a must. The shaft cannot weigh more than 40 grams, as I need the head and tip section to feel firm yet lightweight enough to maximize clubhead speed. Finally, I look for no more than 2.5 degrees of shaft torque, built 2 degrees upright.
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David Albert Cremeans | Carmel, IN
A combination of distance and accuracy.
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Reid Farrill | Toronto, Ontario
Performance is the critical factor. Fortunately, the driver is the strongest part of my game, so I don't need excessive game-improvement help off the tee. I tend to purchase stock setups, meaning the quality of the OEM shaft is paramount.
Ultimately, it takes considerable time — often half a season — to determine whether a driver was a wise purchase. On-course performance varies widely across models, so once you find one that works, stick with it.
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Richard Whitaker | Anthem, AZ
It has to feel comfortable through the swing, produce solid contact, and deliver satisfying distance. It should also provide the workability to hit a slight draw or fade on demand. Loft and face-angle adjustability is a strong plus, and I prefer a graphite regular-flex shaft.
Price is also a major consideration. I am perfectly happy with a two- or three-year-old driver that checks all the boxes for $300 or $400 rather than paying double for the latest release.
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Steve Moore | Birmingham, AL
I now go through a professional fitting because everything comes down to the shaft. I need all the modern launch assistance I can get to optimize a 75-year-old swing.
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Michael Dessart | Northport, NY
Performance first, then aesthetics.
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Chris Ferrara | Delmont, PA
I was fitted into a women's driver based on my slower swing speed by my instructor at Factory Golf (Delmont, PA). It has completely turned my game around off the tee.
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Barry Duckworth | Knoxville, TN
Hosel adjustability is key so I can square the face at impact with my natural swing, maximizing distance while finding the short grass — I'll always trade a few yards for a fairway finder.
I also want a shaft that is light enough to optimize clubhead speed, yet stout enough with the proper flex profile to deliver a solid pop at impact without excess spin. Pairing the club with the right ball for your swing speed and preferred flight window makes all the difference.
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Ed van Renesse | Summerfield, FL
Look, sound, and a low spin rate.
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Murray Miles | Fort Worth, TX
Adjustable loft, a deep-face profile, and a muted, solid impact sound are three absolute musts.
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Mark Miller | Denver, CO
Gold-medal winners from Golf Digest's annual gear guides, how well I hit them during testing, and total cost.
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Joe Bernabe | Rockaway, NJ
First, it has to look pleasing to the eye at address. Second, it has to be affordable. Third, it must deliver genuine technology improvements.
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John Varol | Hilton Head Island, SC
Distance.
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Gig Berkowitz | The Villages, FL
Feel and pop. If it feels solid in the hands and the ball launches off the face, it earns a spot in the conversation.
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Dale Richardson | Winston-Salem, NC
I look for consistent forgiveness and reliable distance.
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Ralph M. Bush | Barneveld, NY
The optimal combination of ball speed off the face and tight downrange dispersion. During my last fitting, I tested Titleist,Callaway, TaylorMade, and Cobra. Cobra and TaylorMade produced the best distance profiles, but Cobra delivered significantly tighter dispersion.
I still game a Cobra Aerojet set at 10.5 degrees neutral, with an Aerojet 9-degree and a Darkspeed 10.5 as backups. In head-to-head testing, I still prefer the balance of the Aerojet over newer models. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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The First Call invites reader comment. Write to editor Stuart Hall at shall@buffalogroupe.com. If your comment is selected for publication, we will not publish your email address. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and brevity.
Front: The driver and golf ball of Pornanong Phatlum.
Photo: Simon Bruty / USGA via Golffile