How to buy a driver: loft, shaft and what to ignore

Start with loft

Loft is the angle of the clubface. More loft launches the ball higher and usually reduces side spin. As a rough guide, golfers with slower swing speeds tend to do better with more loft, and faster swingers often prefer less. Most drivers fall between about 8 and 12 degrees.

Many modern drivers have an adjustable hosel that lets you change loft by a degree or two. That is useful, but it does not replace picking a sensible starting loft.

Shaft flex and weight matter

The shaft is often more important than the head. Flex describes how much the shaft bends. Roughly speaking, slower swings suit softer flexes (senior or ladies), average swings suit regular, and faster swings suit stiff or extra stiff. Charts that link swing speed to flex are only a starting point, because tempo and how you load the club also matter.

A shaft that is too stiff can make the ball fly low and right (for a right-handed golfer). One that is too soft can make shots inconsistent. If you are unsure, a launch monitor session at a shop is the best way to find out.

What you can mostly ignore

• Small claims about extra yards. Differences between current models are usually small compared with differences between a good fit and a bad one.
• Head colors and sound. Choose what you like, but don't pay extra for it.
• Chasing the newest release. Last season's model is often discounted and performs very similarly.

New, previous generation or used

A previous-generation driver can save a lot, and pre-owned ones save more. With used clubs, check that the shaft is original or a known spec, that the loft setting is clear, and that the club includes its adjustment wrench and headcover if it has them. Our used-club guide has a full checklist.

Get fitted if you can

A fitting costs time but is often free when you buy, and it tells you the loft, shaft and head that suit your swing. If a fitting isn't possible, choose a middle-of-the-road loft and the flex that matches your honest swing speed, and buy from a store with a good return policy.

Right hand or left hand

Always confirm the hand. Listings sometimes bury it in the title, and a left-handed club is a different product from a right-handed one.