Should you carry two drivers in your golf bag?
Not only have we started to see a trend towards longer drivers on tour, but these have often been put in play in addition to a standard-length model. In Dubai last year, Callum Shinkwin dropped his 3-iron and added in a 48-inch driver. He gained seven mph in clubhead speed and ball speed to send it out there an extra 25 yards off the tee. This meant he gained 1.2 shots off the tee per round and nearly five shots over four days – a significant advantage for a tour player where every shot is worth thousands.
On the face of it, the benefits are obvious. Keep one driver in the bag for control and add one for out-and-out distance. But in reality, most amateur golfers struggle to control a standardlength driver (which ranges from 45-46 inches), so controlling a clubhead that is three inches further away from you and moving much faster seems almost impossible. You could also argue that many golfers would be better off not carrying a driver at all!
But correctly fitted, with the right swing weight and shaft flex to match your swing speed, there is potential you could make it work, with practice, of course. While more clubhead speed generally also means wider dispersion, if you can understand the boundaries of that dispersion – is it wider but always to the right, for example – then you can identify certain holes and courses where the added length will be a big advantage.
If you’re longer down the hole but chipping out from the trees, it is no use to you. But pick and choose where you employ it and a second driver could become your secret weapon, especially if you’ve got a space in your bag for it.