Should I switch to a 7 degree driver?

Question

I currently have a 8.5 degree driver, I can hit it between 200 and 260 yards. However, I hit the ball as high as if I where using a pitching wedge. Should I switch to a 7 degree driver? I have heard in many places that the higher the tragectory the shorter the distance will be, is this true? Where can I purchase a 7 degree driver (I recently visited "Edwin Watt's Golf Shop" and they said that I would have to specially order a 7 degree driver?) Do they make the new "Nike Sasquatch" in 7 degrees?
Thanks for all the help,
TigerWoodsFan (TWF)

Answer 1

No. It will be way to hard to hit and you will not get any carry at all.

Answer 2

Bad idea. If your hitting it that high then tee your ball a little lower and adjust your ball placement. A high drive might just mean your ball is too forward in your stance and your hitting the ball too late in the follow through. If you place the ball a bit more inside you should hit it more at appropriate impact.

I had an 8.5 driver and I had great ball trajectory but as the club technology has gotten better I have switched to a 9.5 in the Nike Sasquatch and have gained about 25 yards consistently, but it may also be because I have improved since starting out with the 8.5. Before buying a new driver adjust your ball position and tee height. Then once you get consistent you can adjust driver degree and ball trajectory.

I have the Nike sasquatch and it is freaking great!
Good luck.

Answer 3

If you are hititing it from 200 yards to 260, that is a big difference. It would indicate to me that if there is such a difference that your play is eratic and a 7 degree driver is the last thing you'd need. It sounds that you should see a pro at your golf course, because there might be a flaw in your swing that is causing you to get such height. Actually a driver as high as pitching wedge for a scratch golfer is not uncommon at all, but for someone hitting it 260 and less, there is a swing problem, not an equipment problem. Most tend to buy a fix instead of find it.

Answer 4

Check your shaft kick-point. Chances are you may have one with a low kick-point causing a higher launch angle (maybe equaling an extra degree of loft on the face).

Another cause of high ball flight may be a steep swing.

Regarding higher trajectory and distance - a shaft with a soft tip can cause a balloon shot that has too much back spin and hits the ground with no roll costing you some distance.

Anyway, there's some things to think about. There are other factors that affect ball flight besides loft. Considering a 7-degree lofted driver to cure a high trajectory problem with your driver seems unusual. So you may start looking elsewhere first for the root cause. Besides, if you are thinking of spending $400.00 to $500.00 on a new driver, you may as well have a club pro take a look at your current equipment and swing so you get it right. That's what they are there for.

Answer 5

Your Driver should be going high in the air. Even pros aren't using 7 degree drivers any more. The new drivers are built to give you explosive distance with that beautiful looking shot instead of a line drive. Go hit those new clubs with a normal loft (8 to 10.5). I Have a Callaway that I hit 260 with 10.5 loft.

Answer 6

if u can only carry it about 200 yds then u need about 13 to 16 degrees of loft. i bet u hit your 3 wood just about as far as you do the driver if not farther. i am a long hitter of the ball. i have won local long drive contests. i made a hole in one on a 357 yd par 4. and i play with a 9 degree driver. it has an extra stiff shaft in it. but the old saying of tee it high and let it fly is still true today

Answer 7

Lower tragectory does not translate into more distance. Golf Digest just did an article about that a couple months back (sorry I don't remember which issue) debunking this myth. If you think you are hitting it too high and not getting roll when you land, try teeing the ball a little lower.

Answer 8

I wouldn't change, it probably wont help. Without knowing your swing, you could be adding loft to your driver, which would explain the wide range of yardage for your driver.
I'd try to get some lessons, and make sure your swing is sound before you try to switch drivers. The loft of your driver varies for different people. I have an 11 degree driver and i average about 275 off the tee and can get it up around 300 yards sometimes.

Answer 9

If you want to hit it lower, I would try teeing it lower. A 7 degree driver will simply reduce the backspin and cause a flatter-type trajectory. Your supposition concerning trajectory and distance is only part true. Obviously, a higher shot will go less distance, like a PW compared to an 8 iron, but with a driver, a higher trajectory means that it stays airborne longer and flies farther.

Answer 10

Getting an even lower degree club is a bad idea. The lower the degree of the club, generally, the harder it is to control. The way I see it, you have two options.

1 - Re-shaft your club to change the kickpoint as others suggested.

2- Play the ball slightly back in your stance. You may be contacting the ball too late in your swing launching at a higher than necessary angle.

Answer 11

I would definatley get a lesson from a pro....I would suggest it's a problam with your swing if your hitting your 8.5 degree driver high. It's o.k to hit your driver high as along it's with a penetritive ball flight and not a loopy one (like that of your PW)......alot of pro's hit their drivers high...but the ball will start out low and rise steadly to high.....if your chipping the ball straight up, a lesson would be the option instead of a new driver.