Drive carefully

The so-called spring' effect on drivers has led to many clubs being banned if they don't conform to the new rules which came in at the start of the year.

A list of all the non-conforming drivers can be found on the Royal & Ancient website at www.randa.org Different golfers have different reasons for playing the game - seeking to lower your score, add a bit more distance to your drives, or just enjoy the game, at whatever level that you play.

Since the start of the year, all drivers used in competition must conform to Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association (R&A and USGA) rules of golf, so this is the essence of what the rule means.

Spring effect

"The design, material and/or construction of, or any treatment to, the clubhead (which includes the face) must not have the effect of a spring which exceeds the limit set forth in the Pendulum Test Protocol on file with the R&A"

This new rule applies to all golfers of all abilities and in all forms of play. One of the measures of conforming drivers is Characteristic Time (CT), a measure of impact efficiency, sometimes called the spring-like effect' in drivers - in short, a measure of the efficiency of impact. Higher CT impact efficiency equals more efficient energy transfer from clubface to ball, and that means greater potential driving distance.

Testing

CT driver testing that was conducted by the R&A and the USGA is rigorous.

It consists of a steel weight suspended from a pendulum, which is then released from varying heights to strike the clubface.

The amount of time that the weight and clubface are in contact determines a driver's CT.

So is your driver legal? This new rule in golf limits the spring-like' effect of driving clubs for anyone who plays the game.

Golfers are encouraged to check their own driver, and any new one that they may go on to purchase in the future. The vast majority of people who play the game of golf assume that when they buy a club, it conforms to the rules.

In an attempt to prevent equipment that does not conform appearing in the market place, the rule says that all golf club manufacturers should submit clubs for a ruling as to their conformity prior to manufacturing and/or marketing.

A golfer must play with clubs which conform to the new regulations.

Unfortunately, failure to do so will result in disqualification in any competition, at whatever level in any club. The disqualification penalty applies if a non-conforming golf club is selected for play (ie is kept in the player's bag), even if that player does not actually take it out and use it for a stroke during the round of golf.

To help provide correct information on driver head compliance, there are two lists that have been compiled and published.

You can easily view both of these by logging on to www.randa.org. The answer to your problems may be to go and choose a new driver.

Decide on a budget

That being so, you need to work out how to make your selection.

The first thing is to establish a budget, and know what you can realistically afford to spend.

Next, consider how important the look of your new club is to you. What you see pictured in magazines and brochures usually look great, but when you get to try out the club, it may not turn out to be entirely to your taste. When choosing a driver try to be realistic about the loft and choose one with sufficient loft to suit your style and your game. The shaft of the driver is vitally important because it is the driving force of the club, so make sure it suits you in terms of being stiff or flexible.

Finally try out the club you have in mind before you buy it and that's where local golf stores or your club professional's shop comes into play. There you can get advice on what might be suitable, and spend time trying them out.

These are a few of the drivers, in no particular order or preference, that you might consider:

The Ping G10 is one of the best new drivers on the market. It builds on the excellence of its predecessor, the G5.

The TaylorMade Burner TP This is aimed at the single-figure handicapper. It is such a stable club that you feel you will get long distance despite not trying to hit it too hard.

The Nike Sumo 5000 This square' driver is popular with Nike's Tour professionals. Solid and easy to use, it has a great meaty feel.

Hippo Hex2 This has a hexagonal shape and is at the top of the Hippo range for distance and consistency.

Cleveland HiBore XLS It claims to make driving easier than ever before, but the proof will be when you step on the tee.

The Cobra L4V A seriously aggressive driver that tests the R&A's legal limits. It's effective if you want to better your long game.

Callaway HyperX One of the most effective drivers around, it looks and feels good.

Srixon Z-RW Difficult to find fault with, this driver is comfortable to use, building confidence on the tee.