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Driver & Fairway Woods are mainly used for longer shots in golf. Buying driver & fairway woods are not as complicated as many people try to make it. You must consider 3 main variables and apply them to your own golf game.

SHAFT: When it comes to choosing the right driver for you, the club shaft is just as important as the Club Head Size. The shaft plays a critical part in distance and direction and selecting the proper flex for your swing is key. Graphite shafts tend to be lighter than steel shafts. If you are looking for more distance, graphite is probably the way to go. For most players, graphite is the best option in the driver and fairway woods, simply distance is your most important concern. Steel shaft is stronger, more durable and generally less expensive. Steel shafts are recommended for stronger players who could use a little extra control in their game.

CLUB HEAD SIZE: Larger driver has more surface area on the clubface, typically resulting in larger sweet spot. Fairway woods often have smaller, lower profile leads to allow them to be used in less then perfect lies more easily. Currently the size limit of driver club head is 460cc. The larger head size makes the club more forgiving and a better choice for most golfers.

LOFT: Loft is the initial angle at which the shot leaves the clubface. The higher the loft on the club, the higher the ball will travel, and you will get less roll. Loft also relates to forgiveness; the higher lofted the club, the less likely you are to hook and slice the ball because the ball has more backspin the sidespin. So, while lower loft clubs give you more distance, they should only be considered by better players who can afford to give up the accuracy.

GOLFIO TIPS:

• There are five general levels of flex in shafts: L (Ladies), A (Senior), Regular, Stiff (Firm), X-stiff (Strong).
• An average player with a swing speed of 75-90 mph, should look for a regular shaft.
• Choose the most flexible shaft you can control. If you're in between regular and a stiff flex, go with regular
• Fairway woods are increasingly popular as an alternative to both drivers off the tee and to hard-to-hit long irons such as the 2,3,4 irons.
• Here are the simple guide to replacing a long iron with fairway woods:
  
  1. 5-wood => 2 iron
  2. 7 wood => 3,4 iron
  3. 9 wood => 5 iron
• Unless you're a pro, a basic rule of thumb is to choose a driver with at least 9 or 10 degrees of loft.
• Generally, a club head loft is between 8-12 degrees. The slower you swing the club, the higher loft you will need.
  
  1. Slow swing = 10.5 - 12 degree loft
  2. Average swing = 9.5 - 10.5 degree loft
  3. Fast swing = 8 - 9.5 degree loft

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Irons are used for short golf shots, ranging from 200 yards to less than 100 yards. When purchasing an iron set, you should first ask yourself what your priorities are. Do you want more forgiveness or feel? Do you want to be able to work your shots easier? Theses question will help you decide which set is best for your game.

DESIGN: There are two main types of irons: cavity-back and blade-style iron. Cavity-back irons also called game improvement irons, and are in the hands of many golfers of all skill levels. They are designed to distribute the weight away from the center of the clubface, thus producing a larger sweet spot. This means that less then perfect contact with the ball can still generate a more than acceptable shot. Blade-style irons have full back with no special weight distribution. This makes them less forgiving on mis-hits, due to the smaller sweet spot.

SHAFT: You will find iron shafts offered in either steel or graphite material. In general, steel shafts are stronger and more durable than graphite shafts. Steel shafts offers more control, but require a faster swing speed to generate the same distance as graphite. Graphite shafts are lighter than steel and can be made in many more variations. Its lighter weight offers greater swing speed for more power and distance, but it does sacrifice control. This makes graphite shafts a perfect choice for the beginner, and average golfer.

FLEX: Flex refers to the amount of "bend" in a shaft. Generally a softer shaft will produces longer shots but with less control. Conversely, a stiffer shaft will often improve accuracy but will impact distance. The key is to find the most flexible shaft that you can swing under control, yet one that produces maximum distance. Many steel shafts are now available in a uniflex that will fit most any golfers swing.

GOLFIO TIPS:

• If you are a high-handicap player who has trouble finding the sweet spot, go with a cavity-back iron.
• Struggling to hit your long irons? Consider using hybrid woods, which give you the forgiveness of fairway woods with the control and accuracy of irons.
• Steel shafts are recommended for stronger players who could use a little extra control in their game.
• An average player has a swing speed of 75-90 mph, should look for regular shaft.