Anatomy of a Driver: The Essentials

For avid women golfers, optimizing the driver is a data-driven process. The first variable a golfer must solve for a loft and its relationship to launch and spin.

A higher launch angle gets the ball in the air, while a lower spin rate helps it travel farther with more roll. The key is to find the perfect combination. A player with a faster swing speed might actually need a higher loft to create the optimal launch angle, while a player who already hits the ball high may need less loft to bring their spin down. This is why getting on a launch monitor is essential, as it will tell you exactly what your numbers are and what you need to change.

The shaft is the engine of your driver. For a woman with a powerful swing, finding the right shaft profile can be the difference between a decent drive and a tour-level bomb. A lighter shaft can help you generate more clubhead speed. However, if a shaft is too light, it can make it difficult to control the clubface, leading to a loss of accuracy. The bend point is the part of the shaft that flexes the most during the swing. A low-kick point shaft will launch the ball higher, while a high-kick point shaft will produce a lower, more piercing trajectory. The right kick point can help you fix a consistent ball flight issue without changing your swing.

Modern drivers are technological marvels. They are also incredibly adjustable. Don’t be afraid to use these features to your advantage. Adjustability allows you to change the loft and lie angle of your driver. For example, if you are hitting too many slices, you can increase the loft and close the clubface to promote a draw. Many drivers also come with movable weights on the sole. Shifting a weight towards the heel can create a draw bias to straighten out a slice, while moving it to the toe can help a golfer who struggles with a hook.

At 2nd Swing Women's Golf, our wide selection of high-quality, pre-owned drivers gives you the ability to try different brands, models, and shafts to find the perfect combination for your game, all at a price that won’t break the bank.