Why would I use a 9 deg driver rather than the usual 10.5 deg driver for golf?

Question

I am short 5'4" 70 years old have been playing golf only this year and on a good hit get 160-180 yards with 10.5 standard flex driver. I get my best hits with a ladies #2 hybrid.

Answer 1

A 9 degree driver will have a more penetrating ball flight, and give you more roll.  The 10.5 will carry further, with less roll.  It really depends on playing conditions, but the 10.5 would be my suggestion for you.

Answer 2

so use the #2 Hybrid....There is nothing that says you have to hit a driver!  

Answer 3

9 degree drivers are for Tiger Woods. Stick with the #2 hybrid.

Remember the two most important shots on a golf hole--the first and the last. Just get the ball in the fairway on your tee shot. You need a calculator every time you're not.  

Answer 4

You answered your own question. You don't have the swing speed to accommodate a 9 degree driver. In fact you might be better off using a 12.5 degree club since it will get the higher ball flight and longer carry.Ask your golf pro about the higher lofted club.

Answer 5

I would get professionally fit, including a launch monitor, to get the loft results as the launch monitor will tell you what kind of loft your swing requires.  The higher the loft the higher the ball will (literally) launch off the tee.  Higher loft results in increased ball flight.

Most high handicappers/beginners (such as yourself) cannot hit a driver, no matter how badly they want to. Drivers are especially dangerous in the hands of high-handicappers because many view distance as the quality they most want to have off the tee. So they spend several hundred dollars on an oversized titanium driver that most of the time will only put them farther off the fairway, not farther down the fairway.

You need to own a driver - just practice with it on the driving range, and leave it at home when you hit the course.

As for the driver, you want a driver that is VERY forgiving on mishits. GolfDigest.com listed: Nike SQ Sumo2 5900, Cleveland hiBore XLS, and the Callaway Big Bertha as the most forgiving drivers on the market.

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Better late than never my friend.  The loft on a driver determines how high the ball will fly off the club.  As a non professional who has normal swing speeds the higher loft club will keep the ball in the air longer which should translate to farther distance from the tee.  The 9 degree driver will hit more like a line drive and is good to use on real windy days to keep the ball low.  But it is harder to control the accuracy.  Hope this helps and keep hitting em straight

Answer 7

9 degree driver are for pros.

If you hit you're best shot with a hybrid use that =]

x*x

EL Junior =]  

Answer 8

9 vs 10.5 degrees difference is in the distance and difficulty, 9 will go farther, but much harder to hit straight since the club face is so un-forgiving.  

I agree with the other answers, if the #2 hybrid works for you, there's nothing that says you have to hit a driver.  From your question's info, sounds like you either don't have the swing speed to launch the ball or have some difficulties in swinging a long club such as a driver, so go with the hybrid, it's more forgiving and you'll enjoy better shots with it.