Jordan Spieth thinks drivers are ‘close to maxed out’

A lot has changed since Jordan Speith won his first PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic in 2013. And before getting underway at this year’s event, he was asked about the biggest changes to golf equipment in that time.

The three-time major winner was adamant as to the biggest change in golf equipment in the decade that has passed since his maiden win on the circuit.

Despite the golf ball being the subject of upcoming change, with a rollback coming into play for pros in 2028, the American pointed to the driver as the most impactful change in recent years.

Spieth, who uses a Titleist TSR2 model, pointed out that some of his mishits remain at the same ball speed as his pure strikes now, which wouldn’t have been the case in years gone by.

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“I think the driver has come a long way,” Spieth said.

“I remember mishits dropping ball speeds by three or four miles per hour. If I hit one off the heel it’s as fast as if I hit it off the centre now.

“Toe balls are only dropping a couple miles an hour. So much more forgiving.

“They launch and spin better. Our drivers are close to maxed out. I think there was some room back then now that we see where they are now. That was probably the biggest change.”

It’s an interesting observation from Spieth, who stayed largely quiet on the prospect of a golf ball rollback last year. 

The driver is an area that golf’s governing bodies appear to be keeping an eye on. In their statement explaining the golf ball rollback, which was announced last year, they make specific mention to how well modern drivers perform with off-centre hits.  

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“We will research the forgiveness of drivers and how they perform with off-centre hits,” the statement released in December said.

“This is an ongoing review and we will seek input from and continue to work with the industry, including manufacturers, to identify driver design features that can be regulated as a means to reward centre impact position hits versus mishits.”

On the course, it’s been a difficult spell for Spieth. The current world No.32 hasn’t won since April 2022, when he picked up the RBC Heritage title.

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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor