Which Driver Loft is Suitable for Female Golfers?
Quit the Myth: Low-Lofted Drivers Aren't Just for the Pros Anymore
Stop falling for the false belief that women must wield a high-lofted driver to excel on the fairway. This misconception often arises from well-meaning equipment gurus, claiming slower swing speeds necessitate such assistance. But guess what? You don't need a crutch!
For many women, a driver with a loft of 9 to 11 degrees is golden. That's right—no more, no less. Modern designs and good ol' coaching make it all possible. Today's drivers sport a low and deep head weight, delivering a naturally elevated launch. Joint efforts of these innovative designs with modern coaching techniques that promote an 'upward' swing on tee shots mean that your average Jane doesn't need an excessively lofted driver to get that ball in the air. A lower-lofted club will grant more rollout and overall distance.
So, take a peek at the LPGA Tour, and you'll notice the pros use this strategy. LAunch monitors are positioned at various tees during tournaments, helping statisticians gather data on driving performance from the world's finest. You'll see that female pros mainly deploy the upward swing style, with an average attack angle of a whopping +3°. In stark contrast, the PGA Tour typically features a downward swing, averaging -1.3°. This difference in attack angle explains why many LPGA players prefer lower-lofted driver heads, even though they sometimes swing 20 to 30 mph slower than their male counterparts.
Standard off-the-shelf women's drivers often suffer from two main issues: excessive loft (sometimes as high as 14°) and over-lightness, causing many women to lift the ball excessively high. Reducing the loft, on the other hand, can provide more energy transfer at impact, as the oblique angle decreases.
Switching to a driver with less loft can amp up your ball speed significantly. Custom fit technicians report ball speed gains up to 3 mph for a 9° driver compared to a 10.5° or 12° model.
Think Low-Loft If You Tend to Slice, but Don't Take Guesswork for an Answer
An over-the-top slice is the most common golf swing hiccup. This motion adds dynamic loft to the driver, leading to high trajectory and excessive spin on the ball, causing the ball to ascend and float into the wind. Manufacturers have long targeted these mass-market "slicers" by designing drivers to counter this common flaw, featuring more heels-biased weighting. A lower-loft driver can prove a godsend for many women due to its reduced launch angle and enhanced rollout.
But, remember: assuming you have the technique to rock a low-lofted driver isn't smart. To be certain, consult an expert.
Low loft isn't the be-all-end-all for every woman, particularly those with a negative angle of attack. However, a professional fitting session with a launch monitor can help determine the perfect loft to mesh with your technique. Remember, the goal should be to balance the need for trajectory height with distance maximization, striking the sweet spot between your swing characteristics and desired playing style!
Women's sports, such as golf, no longer require high-lofted drivers for success on the fairway. For instance, a driver with a loft of 9 to 12 degrees is often ideal, as modern designs and coaching techniques allow for a lower-lofted club to grant more rollout and overall distance.
In contrast to what some may believe, even though they swing slower, many LPGA pros use lower-lofted driver heads for their upward swing style, averaging an attack angle of +3°, which helps increase ball speed and distance. So, if you tend to slice, consider switching to a driver with less loft for better results; however, ensure you consult a professional fitting expert for the best advice tailored to your technique.
