Remember when you first got your gold driver? All brand new and freshly bought, the sleek wood, bold leather, and the smart steel plate are a sight I can’t ever forget! However, after a couple of years and multiple golf rounds with best buddies and hard-core rivals, my golf driver looks a bit sad, as if it has spent all that it could in my service. And while I appreciate all that each golf driver out there does for golfers like you and me, their replacement is inevitable.
For a quick answer of “when should I replace my golf driver,” a golf driver usually lasts between 5 and 15 years. Regular golfers who golf around 30-40 rounds will usually need to replace their driver after 5 years, while hobbyist golfers may go 10-15 years before replacing theirs.
Like every outdoor sport, golf involves a lot of harsh weather, hours of rough handling, as well as mishandling. Most beginner-level golfers and even some experienced ones believe that the key to having a long partnership with their golf driver is to invest in a high-end, expensive product.
While this is true in its own capacity, I’ve noted it isn’t always the same story with everyone. You won’t always use the driver right until it wears out. There are plenty of other signs you might want to replace your good old driver. Here, I’ve listed all the reasons that I’ve experienced and witnessed behind a golf driver replacement.
When the Problem is With the Golf Driver
Wear and Tear
Let’s discuss the first thing that comes to mind when you read the title about golf driver replacement: eventual wearing out or impact-based damage. This is the fate every golf driver is destined for. Even if you invest in a limited-edition, luxury golf driver, it’ll wear down after a few years.
An easy predictor of when it’s getting close to buying a new driver is the grip of the club. If you’ve had your club for a few years, and you’re starting to see some noticeable wear and tear, and you’ve replaced the grips a couple of times, you know the club itself is starting to wear too. Personally, I’ve noticed that grip is the first thing to show signs of wear and tear. And if I’ve replace the grip a time or two, I know the club itself is probably getting close too. Even if the signs aren’t as visible as the grip.
Accidental Impact
If your golf driver has a bit of bad luck, it may have a shorter life than you’d anticipate. You might be the one dropping it fatally, or there may be weathering or corrosion from a mysterious source you can’t exactly put your finger on. Whatever the cause, accidental impacts happen way too often and are varied in nature. For instance, there can be the following types of damage to the driver:
- Damage to the head
The head of your golf driver has a pretty thin steel plating on it. While high-quality steel doesn’t break down that easily, the steel part on golf drivers is particularly prone to damage. Though the thin steel lining is meant to reinforce your hit without affecting your speed or swing, it isn’t strong enough to avoid all impact. There may be eventual dents or loosening of the driver’s steel plate, prompting you to change it.
- Damage to the shaft
Besides the golf driver’s head, the shaft (the stick part) also tends to wear down from the impacts that golfing delivers. To avoid shaft damage, golfers usually go for a driver that promises lasting performance and durability. However, while you’re learning or carrying around or playing in tournaments, the shaft is constant facing force from different angles.
While a good quality golf driver won’t surrender to the usual rough handling, there may be one wrong move, and the shaft could chip and crack beyond repair. It could be your hitting angle or something sharp enough impacting from a position that does the job. The bottom line is shaft damages are irreconcilable and often demand a timely replacement.
Shorter Drives
Besides the obvious wear and tear in your equipment, you may also notice a gradual decrease in the distance of your tees. This affects your game performance and worsens with time if you keep on playing with the same driver.
The reason behind reduced distance coverage is commonly some minor but critical damage to the golf driver. This type of damage isn’t always visible to your eyes but is evident in the driver’s reduced performance.
No Cutting-Edge Technology
A screw here, a chunk of metal there, and you’re presented with yet another innovation when it comes to golf drivers. The thing is, if you use your golf driver well and take proper care, it’ll definitely last as much as five years or even more.
However, golf specialists keep working on new technologies and integrations to up the game of a standard golf driver during all that time. This means that your driver is not only outdated, but it’s also risking your performance at the mere cost of saving a few of your bucks.
While it’s foolish to fall for pompous marketing tactics and purchase a new driver every now and then, you have to keep an eye on the developments in the golfing world. The moment you feel like there’s a feature that could significantly improve your performance, you can take out your wallet for a new driver. However, if your previous magic wand is too close to your heart, you can store it in the attic or display it beside your bookshelf!
When the Problem is You
Yup, it could be you, too. Don’t glare like that. I don’t mean to say it’s always your ‘fault’ that the driver needs a replacement. Instead, it could just be the nature of your gameplay that makes all the difference in how the driver suits you. Here are some problematic reasons why your golf driver and you may not be getting along well.
Your Physical Changes
As a marvelous living, breathing organism, your body goes through constant changes, including weight fluctuations, heart problems, injuries, disorders, disabilities, and so forth. These aren’t just physical alterations but also impact your brain, senses, mental capabilities, and everything that makes up parts of your golfing skills.
Sometimes, the driver you played within one stage of life won’t suit you in a post-injury, post-disability lifestyle. Even with something as common as weight fluctuation, your driver may become too heavy or too lightweight for you. If you’re having eye problems, that may result in a lack of hand-eye coordination with your driver. The root cause is a change in your body, so you may have to replace your golf driver, even if it isn’t rugged.
Changes in the Game Itself
So, what if you’re fit in terms of physique, and your golf driver buddy hasn’t worn itself out, either? There’s another reason you might need to replace your driver. This one is rooted in your own changes. You may have switched to a new golfing environment that requires customization that’s beyond your golf driver’s limits. Let me explain.
You may have switched your golf course, which means it’s new weather, new grass, new equipment. As a result, your techniques tend to be maladjusted. Consequently, when you experiment with your golf driver, there’s a chance you may have to replace it. Either due to damage or due to constant maladjustment.
You may have adopted a new skill set. It could be your style or speed of swinging that drives the driver to the end of its limits, demanding an eventual replacement!
Conclusion of When to Replace Your Golf Driver
Golfing is fun, but only as long as your golf driver does its job well. Although these are made to last and won’t leave you alone easily, golf drivers, too, have a limit on how much they can perform. When you pass that point, it’s good to seek a replacement option.