Finding the right loft

[Chris Stewart]

I'm currently looking over driver options.  Yesterday before I played a round I visited Dick's and hit the TaylorMade Burner 09.  I loved it, felt a million times better than what I'm swinging right now.

However, thanks to this forum, I was turned on to globalgolf for used options. I saw the Burner 2.0 there for the same price as the new Burner 09 ($129 for very good condition).  However, the only loft they have is 13.  Doing some reading suggests this might be ideal for me. I'm not positive what my swing speed is, but I'll find out tomorrow when I visit Dick's again to test the new club.  I've read that higher loft is better for those with slower swings, which I definitely feel like I am.  Is that correct or am I finding poor information?

[mlf16507]

http://www.golfgearselect.com/how-to-determine-your-optimal-driver-loft This link should help.

[Chris Stewart]

Excellent read, thank you very much.

[Aging Boomer]

I like higher loft drivers because one doesn't have to play them so far forward in the stance.  If you look at guys hitting 9 and 10 degree drivers, the ball is usually half way up the left foot, not opposite the inside of the left heel.  They're teeing it high and striking the ball at the beginning of the upswing.  This is not only different than any other shot, but it would seem to me that the force of the swing is already beginning to dissipate by then.  It's also hard to hit the ball a little inside-out when it's that forward in the stance.

[chipanaputt]

I might be wrong (so open to corrections) but I think you'll find higher-lofted drivers will have less sideways spin on less then center strikes.

I've played a 10.5 degree for more years than I care to remember and for me at least, it gives a nice combination of trajectory, distance and accuracy.

Tried a 12 degree driver for a while a couple of years ago. No faulting the forgiveness but just a bit too high for me.

[Aging Boomer]

Yes, the higher loft drivers do reduce sidespin.  Also, for seniors like myself, they require less clubhead speed to attain optimum trajectory.

[Mr. Desmond]

I owned a TM 2.0 13 degree. I liked it a lot. I thought the shaft was a bit soft and too long in length at 46.5 inches. I am a soft regular flex and it was fine. I gripped down on the shaft until I figured out my options. The ball flight was a bit too loopy. But the driver itself was very forgiving and it was a fairway finder.

Then I went to my fitter with that driver for another shaft. He handed me an Adams 9088UL with a Fuji Blur 55 at 45 inches -- I got 7 more mph swinging the Adams. And the flight of the Fuji Blur was more penetrating and less loopy. It got up, flattened out and came down more gradually. Since I buy a driver every 3 years, I went with the Adams. :-)

So the TM is a fine driver. But you might look at an aftermarket shaft eventually.

[Aging Boomer]

One problem with higher loft drivers is that they tend to have closed faces.   The OEMS don't seem to realize that decent players who don't fight a slice get older and need higher lofts.

[saevel25]

Loft is a tricky thing to get right... i don't think there is a set number that is right. I've played with both a 9.5 driver and 10.5 driver. I got similar overall distance, but the 10.5 did have a bit more carry, but less roll. Given the drivers were probably 8-10 years apart in make year. Higher loft will produce less side spin, but you also watch that you don't increase your backspin to much.

for me, i like a 9.5 degree driver, then i just match a golf shaft to tweak those numbers to get optimal spin and launch.