Can a new driver improve your golf game?

We’ve all been in that situation. You’re having a bad round of golf, and it’s all because you can’t hit a fairway with the driver. Naturally, your mind wanders to the question: ‘Will a new driver improve my golf?’ Possibly, but there’s a few factors at play. 

There are many factors to take into consideration before you make an investment in a brand new driver, but if your main aim is to shoot better scores, then those questions look quite different.

Here’s what you should ask yourself before you make that big decision. 

How old is your driver? 

The age of your driver can indicate a lot in terms of the design, shape, look, tech even it’s only a few generations apart from the latest model there will be noticeable changes. As a general rule, if your driver is more than five-years-old, the performance and technology will be outdated compared to a brand-new model. A newer model is likely to perform a lot better for you, as the face of the driver will have a better bulge and roll and more advanced face curvature technology, which will give you better spin levels, more distance and increased forgiveness in your driver head. 

How often do you play? 

If you only play once a year, then it certainly makes a difference, compared to a golfer who plays every week. A driver that is hit often is going to deteriorate faster than a driver that doesn’t get out on the course. If you’re someone who plays golf regularly, or is even just a frequent visitor to the driving range, then your driver face will start to be less effective pretty quickly. If you find that you’re not hitting the ball as far as you were when you first picked that driver up, this could be a reason. And that might mean picking up a new piece of equipment could be a big help.

What do you expect from your driver? 

Everyone wants the same thing when it comes to their driver: longer and straighter shots. A new driver, particularly one that features some of the groundbreaking technology that we see in today’s models, could be a game changer in performance. In 2024, we’ve seen plenty of drivers that are designed for maximum forgiveness, such as the TaylorMade Qi10 Max and the Ping G430 Max 10K. If you’re putting one of these up against a decade old model, you’re almost guaranteed to see better results. There are also driver heads which offer more aerodynamic head shapes which will give you faster club speed, while the centre of gravity is placed to offer more forgiveness and speed.

Second hand or second generation?

If price is a factor for you when looking at a new driver, then going down the second hand route is a viable option. However, if that second hand driver has been battered and bruised, you’re going to see a fall off in performance. Instead, looking for an older generation of driver that hasn’t been well worn could be a better option. Technology in drivers makes incremental gains over time, so having something that’s not been hit, but is a couple of generations old, could give you a big leap in performance compared to something which is old and beaten up.

What technology do you want and need? 

If you’re a golfer who battles a slice, you’ll want to look at a draw bias model or a 10K MOI design to give you the most amount of forgiveness and the best chance to hit it as straight as possible. If you have a fast-swing speed and want better spin control, you’ll want a low spin model. Then, most standard head offerings will give you a combination of the two.

With this in mind, most brands have three head offerings to make sure there is a right option for you, but make sure you know what you need before you go and make a new purchase. 

Will a new driver improve your game? 

Yes, it will, but only to a certain extent that will vary from player to player. Every new driver that comes out is an improvement on the previous generation, no matter how small or big the improvements are.

The latest technology can add faster ball speeds and more forgiveness, so it will make the game more enjoyable no matter your level of ability.

If you’ve had the same driver for over five years, I beg you, please get, or at least try out, a new driver! The technology is designed to help you hit it longer and straighter, and that’s what we all want.

Want more new gear? Check out the bunkered YouTube channel for all the latest reviews!

James Tait is bunkered’s Gear Editor. Want to know how the latest Callaway driver, Vokey wedge or Scotty Cameron putter performs? He’s the guy to ask. Better yet, just watch his videos on the bunkered YouTube channel. One of the biggest hitters in the UK, James also competes on the World Long Drive circuit and is a descendent of former Amateur champion Freddie Tait.

Gear Editor