One of the great rewards we receive in having PeakPerformanceGolfSwing.com is meeting new folks who are true experts in their fields. J. Lynn Griffin, professional club fitter and club builder (among his other accomplishments), is one of them. He submitted this article to me and I thought I would share it.
– The Surge!
Is bigger really better in drivers? Does it really create a more forgiving club? What is the truth?
As you make the driver heads larger you move the center of gravity (COG) farther from the axis of rotation. The further the COG is from this axis, the more power/force it takes to bring the club head back to square. So, for the slower/weaker swinging golfer, the larger head is actually a hindrance to better golf. For the better golfer the ability to work the ball becomes an issue with the larger heads.
It's not broadcast, but Nike makes a special driver head called the Nike Dymo 380 that A. Kim, T. Woods, and D. Duval (the possibility of P. Casey looms on the horizon) use. A few years ago, The Surge predicted that we would see a shift back to smaller heads, with the max topping out around 400cc. One of the best club makers in the world, Katsuhiro Miura, will not make a driver head larger than 390cc. It is his belief that this is the maximum size that allows a golfer to return the club head to square at impact with consistency and ease.
So, why have club manufacturers continued to make these large club heads. To answer this, I went to Golf Digest.
'THERE'S A REASON THE AVERAGE DRIVER size on the PGA Tour has gone from about 270 cubic centimeters to more than 350cc during the last three years, and it's not because tour players are marketers for equipment companies. The fact is, the newer, bigger drivers being used on tour are better. A lot better. They're even better for everyday golfers who don't get their clubs for free. Golf Digest has the data to prove it. Our test of the last three generations of titanium drivers suggests one thing: Buy a new bigger-headed driver. If you make a good swing with it, the ball will go farther today than it used to.' ' Mike Stachura, Golf Digest, May, 2003
Before continuing, I would like to point out one statement in the above information that I find particularly interesting. Notice the last sentence: 'If you make a good swing '¦' Well there's the catch. With the bigger heads and longer shafts it has become increasingly more difficult to make that good swing with consistency.
Can you remember heads that were 350cc? So, the rationalization is that if 350cc was good then 400cc is better. If 400cc is better, then 425cc must be great. Well, if 425cc is great then think what 460cc must be.
ENOUGH said the USGA! So, the line has been drawn or you could rest assured that they would still be getting bigger. What has happened with each progression is that it leaves a group of golfers in the dust. However, not all manufacturers have abandoned the smaller head.
The next thing club manufacturers have done is to increase the length of the shaft with the theory that the longer the shaft the greater the club head speed. In theory this is great but reality does not always follow theory. The result is most golfers cannot control the swing of drivers with shafts that are too long. If you look at the faces of their drivers you see ball marks ranging from the toe to the heel, from the top of the club to the bottom of the face. A golfer with an optimum length driver should hit the center of the club face with only slight deviation. We have also done tests and have proven quite conclusively that you can actually increase swing speed with a shorter shaft.
So, what is a golfer to do? One thing I'd advise against doing is going into the local retail golf shop and think that you will find someone who can talk with you expertly and give you sound advice on getting the right equipment for your game. I would strongly suggest finding a local qualified/certified fitter/builder. I am not talking about the hobbyist at your club who does repairs and grips on the side. Find a professional. The key is to get all the variable elements of the golf club fitted to you, the golfer. That's what a professional will do.
J.L.G.
I hope you enjoyed this article as much as I did. Moment of Inertia (MOI) is getting to be a big deal with club makers. I'd like to know what you thought of Lynn's piece. I know you won't be bashful. I plan to use more experts in the near future.
Here's to clear skies and dry fairways.
The Surge!