loft important in driving?

   It is not unlikely to see people tee
it up with a 6.5-degree driver. The logic
is less loft equals lower ball flight,
which equates to more roll and more dis-
tance. To some degree this is true, but
not for the average amateur.

   The less amount of loft you have on a
club the easier it is to impart sidespin.
For example, it is much easier to curve
a 2 iron than a pitching wedge. Loft im-
parts backspin so the ball will go higher
and straighter. Very often your 3 wood
will go longer and straighter than your
driver because of the difference in the
loft. Three woods have between 13 and 16
degrees of loft and drivers have between
7-12 degrees of loft.

   Another factor in determining the amount
of loft you can use is your swing speed. If
you don't swing the club at least 90 miles
per hour you'll need to have at least 10
degrees of loft or more. Without speed,
the ball tends to dive instead of climb,
and you will lose distance. Therefore, there
will be times that you will hit your 3 wood
further than your driver. Some people shou-
ldn't even be hitting a driver. Tee off with
a 3 or 5 wood. You will be in the fairway
more often and with greater distance.