It could be argued that as golf technology has progressed over the decades, no area of the game has experienced change as significant as the golf driver.
From different materials used in the club head to ingenious and inventive ways to improve aerodynamics (including the addition of artificial intelligence in recent clubs), modern drivers on the golf course are madly different than they were thirty years ago.
But for many golfers, a key change in driver technology has been the ability to adjust elements of the club and make amazing changes to the shots we produce at the tee (including loft, distance, swing speed, shot shape and more!). The most popular options include adjustable weight drivers with movable weights and those with an adjustable hosel.
At Clarkes Golf, we’re home to a massive selection of adjustable golf drivers from the world’s leading manufacturers, so we’ll always have the right tool to take your game to the next level.
So, how does driver adjustability impact our shots? Let’s take a look…
What is an adjustable golf driver?
As you’re probably aware, an adjustable golf driver is any driver that features elements that players can alter, to produce the types of drives they want or to help eliminate certain problems in their game.
For high-level golfers who want to produce the most accurate shots possible and truly dial in their strikes, or for players of mid-level ability who want to cut out those pesky final mistakes, drivers with adjustable loft and adjustable weights can make a massive difference in their game.
This is why so many manufacturers have adopted adjustable technology in their drivers. TaylorMade drivers, Callaway drivers, Ping drivers and so many more now feature easy-to-use adjustable tech.
How do adjustable golf drivers work to fix specific problems?
Hook shots
Hooking the golf ball on almost every tee shot? It’s a common problem, with the likely culprit either that you’re catching the ball too close to the heel, or that the clubface is closed on impact - or both.
To help alleviate the symptoms, you should shift the internal weighing towards the back of the club head and as close to the toe as possible, to help open up the clubface and counteract the motion your hands and wrists are making that is forcing it to close.
For the hosel, you can open the face a little more by using the lowest loft setting, which should also help make the clubhead more square on impact. If hook shots are plaguing your game, try playing around with these settings to see if you get the results you want!
Slicing
The most common problem facing players at the tee, more golf balls have been lost as a result of bad slices than arguably any other shot.
But if your ball is veering towards the right (or the left, if you’re a lefty) adjustable drivers present some options to help you get your shots back on target. It’s not a cure, but it can offer some assistance.
Much like the hook solution, you need to shift the internal weights to the right part of the clubhead to counteract the motion you’re producing. In this case, move the weight closer to the heel to draw movement in this direction and away from the toe. Some adjustable drivers mark this as the ‘draw weight’ setting, which is also handy for closing the clubface.
Then, use your hosel to make minute adjustments to the lie angle of the clubhead. Most drivers naturally sit with the toe slightly aloft, which could be contributing to you catching it on the follow-through. Balancing these elements out won’t get rid of slices entirely, but they might shave a few yards off the ball flying in the wrong direction.
Low ball flight
Low-flying shots aren’t necessarily a death sentence, but they won’t do you any favours if you’re looking for maximum distance and ball speed or are trying to avoid small hills and bumps on the fairway.
But if they’re troubling you that much, there are small changes you can make in your adjustable driver to help.
Positioning the weights in your clubhead toward the rear will help angle the clubhead slightly upward, helping to increase driver loft, while adjusting the hosel to add more loft and spin will help give your ball that extra upward ‘oomph’ it needs to gain some serious height and distance.
Beyond this, you could always try positioning your tee slightly taller before taking your shot. Just don’t leave it too tall, otherwise, you might scoop the shot and your ball might fly straight up and straight down - always embarrassing!
Explore adjustable golf drivers at Clarkes Golf
Is it time for a driver upgrade? Want to take advantage of the latest adjustable drivers and golf technology? Look no further than Clarkes Golf.
With a huge selection of golf drivers - including adjustable ones - we have everything you need to completely transform your tee shots and save yourself those precious few strokes off the tee.
Take a look at our selection of the best golf drivers here, and check out the rest of the Clarkes Golf website for the best deals on golf clubs, balls, accessories and so much more.