Sometimes a new driver can really fix your golf game

There’s a simple question to ask as a recreational golfer if you’re looking for a quick golf game fix: “Why can’t I just buy a new driver?” Sometimes it’s said in jest but, as I found out this season, sometimes it’s true.

Last season, I made it my goal to add more energy to my game. As statistics have become more prevalent in the modern game, the importance of driving distance has become incredibly clear. If you want to shoot low scores, you have to hit the ball far.

With that goal in mind, I found work to improve my game. Part of this process involves hitting the gym and “building my engine” to turn around faster. (You can check out my workout plan here.) Another thing that involves refining my technique to turn more efficiently. And, finally, there was good ole fashioned speed training.

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After a winter of surrender, gains were evident. My maximum swing speed increased significantly, and my walking speed allowed me to consistently hit it without feeling like I was struggling. Going into the 2026 season, my confidence was high.

But there is one problem that I did not consider. With a lot of speed in the bag, my old equipment – especially my driver – did not perform well. Although I could swing more than before, I was still leaving distance (and accuracy) on the table.

You see, when I installed my old driver (Titleist GT1), my swing speed was in the mid 90s. This lack of speed – combined with other aspects of the swing – meant I needed the driver you gave me More spin to give me more carry distance. But as I added speed and dialed in my turns, that tendency to spin started to hurt me.

During my speed training sessions, I noticed that my spin numbers were up way very high. Although I was swinging fast, my efficiency suffered. Even when I was hitting record highs with my swing speed (topping out at 109 mph), my spin was so high that I wasn’t getting much out of that speed.

That’s when I knew it was time for a new driver.

My new driver

I have long been a believer in the saying “it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian.” However, as I’ve played more and more golf (and technology has improved), I’ve come to realize that this saying doesn’t cover all situations.

While it’s true that a great golfer can make almost anything work for him, if you’re using equipment that isn’t designed for your swing, you’re leaving simple advantages on the table. Example: you use a very spinny driver in your swing. After realizing how much the excessive spin on my old driver was hurting my mileage, I planned to fit Titleist on their new GTS line.

When I came in for the installation, I thoroughly explained the issues I had with the old line and what I hoped to get out of my new driver. Basically, it’s all boiled down to getting a little swing while still kicking the ball through my favorite window.

I’m not a gear guy, so I won’t even try to break down the different GTS heads and what they’re good for (our gear team does a much better job of that). But what I will say is that the difference each head gave was noticeable. Some fly in the air in good shape, while others sink to the ground like wounded ducks. I simply continued to swing my swing and let my worker do the work of setting up a structure that would satisfy my needs.

After about 45 minutes of testing different combinations, we settled on the GTS4 – which came as a bit of a shock. I thought I would be on the GTS2 considering my previous GT1 fit, but at the end of the day, the GTS4 produced the best numbers for me, keeping my spin low while also launching in a window that increased my distance.

Now when I hit the sim, my spin numbers rarely come out and cost me distance. Even my mishits stay in my tolerance window, and I increase my distance because of it.

In my previous driver, when I was swinging hard on it, I knew I needed to hit the ball really well to keep my putt numbers up and grow. But now, I can swing hard and I know that even if I don’t hit it right, it won’t go around the world.

It might be a joke to suggest to your friend that he needs a new driver to fix his game – but there are some cases where that hasn’t been downloaded yet. I can attest to that.

Do you want to find the best driver for your sport in 2026? Find a club fit near you at True Spec Golf.

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