Once beginning golfers have spent plenty of time learning the fundamentals of the game and sticking with the basics for a least one year or more, getting their short game skills down pat, and seeing their scores start to dip down into the 90s, the next step to consider: upgrading your golf clubs.

Up until this point you should have been playing with the same set of golf clubs you had since the earliest stages of your game, spending your time figuring out your personal and unique style of play, something difficult to learn by changing clubs too often.

Investing in a New Driver

Now that you are a bit more advanced, you should be moving on to new clubs so as not to hold back your progress. Your first consideration should be nvesting in a new driver. In fact, if you have only been playing for the last 12 months or so, you may not even have a driver. Many new golfers do just fine by teeing off with a fairway wood because the wood tends to be easier and provide the best accuracy for the beginner.

Whether or not you have gone this entire time without a driver, or are simply upgrading from your old one, expect to pay a good chunk of change. Drivers are expensive. In fact, reliable brand-name drivers could cost you $500 or more!

HG EDITOR’S NOTE: Maybe not! Scroll down to the bottom of this article for highly recommended online sources of inexpensive custom drivers and golf clubs built to your abilities, needs and specifications!

Titanium Clubs

Spending over $500 for a driver may sound ridiculous at this point in time, especially since most of us believe that all our clubs combined should cost $500 or less. However, a good driver is worth the price tag because it is made out of high quality, first-rate material. Most top-dollar drivers, and other clubs, have heads that are made almost totally from titanium.

Titanium is an amazing metal that is actually stronger than steel, but weighs far less. Titanium is extremely expensive and so is the technology needed to break it down and build it back up as a driver club head.

These types of clubs are used by professionals all over the world. Titanium club heads are lighter to handle and use than wood or steel. They are also built larger. This offers a bigger sweet spot on the club face, which as you know gives you a better chance for the ball to make contact as efficiently as possible.

Verlyn Ross publishes Golf Strategy, a website dedicated specifically to the enjoyment of golfing. It includes a wealth of free articles and answers.

Visit GigaGolf, Pinemeadow Golf and Hireko Golf for low-cost drivers and golf clubs custom-built to your exact needs and abilities!

A number of core technologies are effectively concealed by the C9’s simple, understated design. It has an expanded sweet spot, milled from its variable thickness face, and it uses an ultra thin Beta 5-3-3-3 Ti alloy is used on the crown and further layered with advanced carbon fiber, redistributing weight to the sole and increasing the club’s strength. Additional support and reduced distance loss from deflection is provided by  its titanium crown structure.

This impressive club comes standard with a UST HDX 70 high density composite graphite shaft and a VX grip. But, as with other custom-built GigaGolf clubs, you have a good selection of top brand grips and shafts to choose from.

Since it’s custom-built to your specs and needs (GigaGolf’s convenient and free online eFit system will help and guide you through the process of building a club that _fits you_!), it’s available in a wide variety of shaft lengths, flexes and head lofts — a 12deg loft is even available for those of you with slower swing speeds.

Click here to take a closer look at the GigaGolf C9 VFT Ti driver now. Here’s a small sampling of the many positive and glowing comments its received on their site:

“This club is good looking and sets up nice. The ball comes off the face hot and sounds solid. The sweet spot is quite large and even with off-center hits the ball maintains trajectory and great distance. — K. Thibodeau

“Tried this at a local demo day here in Florida. This club got a lot of attention because a local pro was hitting it a mile. Really solid club. Nice sound at impact and a really large sweet spot. Seemed like I could not miss it. — K. Hayes

You probably already know that HumanGolf really likes the Acer brand of clone components — now you can get them custom-built and completely assembled direct from Acer’s manufacturer, Hireko Golf. But back to this impressive club…

This XL model is 8mm broader from front-to-back and 4mm shallower than the XP version (both, however, are at the 460cc max limit), which is designed to move its center of gravity lower and further back, maximizing moment of inertia (MOI) with less twisting on off-center hits. It is, Acer claims, probably its most forgiving driver to date!

Its aerodynamic profile is very easy to align, and is constructed with a 6-5 titanium face and a thin, lightweight titanium crown, skirt and soleplate. Check out the pics (click on the thumbnails to see a larger image).

Despite its low base price, the club is assembled with an Aldila VL/VX graphite shaft and Karma Black Velvet grip. Hireko, however, custom builds these clubs to your specifications and capablitiies (easy-to-follow instructions on site), and provides you with tons of shaft and grip options to suit your needs and requirements.

Here’s an interesting Web feature: You can now hear how the club sounds (important for feel). While taking a closer look at the Acer Mantara XL Titanium Driver, make sure to click on Hear Sound and listen to this club in action!

Judging from the real world feedback on the site, its distance and performance is incredible. Not surprising, considering that its innovative square (BLOC) design promotes straighter drives and maximum distance. The weight of the driver is also shifted to the club’s back edge, increasing its MOI, resulting in unprecedented power off the tee.

It’s fitted standard with Pinemeadow’s low-torque graphite shaft at no extra cost, but remember: Pinemeadow custom builds each club to your specifications, capabilities and preferences (through its online Custom Fitting Wizard), a process that lets you select from a wide variety of graphite or steel shafts and top brand grips to build yourself a club exactly as you want it.

Click here to take a closer look at the Tour Series BLOC 455cc Driver. While you’re there, check out all the positive feedback and reviews from satisfied customers and your fellow real world golfers. Here are a couple:

“I recently purchased the Bloc 12 degree driver and I can’t be more satisfied. The first time I used it, all the people on the driving range wanted to know when I was going to be through with batting practice. After a while, though, observing how far and how straight each one of my drives went, they were trying it. For someone with a large handicap like myself, this driver makes all the difference in the world. I am very happy. I am also very pleased with Pinemeadow’s staff and their helpfulness. So my vote, this one gets a 10. Happy golfing to all.” — David

“This club is a life saver. I went to shoot 9 holes but decided just to hit a couple of buckets at the range. I hit every iron in my bag but could not stop slicing/fading my shots. Got very frustrated. Pulled out the bloc driver and hit a large bucket. _Was hitting balls a lot straighter and longer._ Left the range in a lot better mood than when I first started. Thanks Pinemeadow!” — Jim

At only a fraction of the price, the TC420 has five (5) adjustable weight ports to give you total control over your ball flight. These five weights, part of its Tungsten Alloy Adjustable Weighting System, provide seven distinct ball flight characteristics, from max draw to high fade. Two 10-gram and three 2-gram weights total 26 grams of discretionary mass. Really cool!

It uses some of the most advanced manufacturing techniques to achieve superior quality. Its two-piece, plasma-welded Ti face offers you the maximum allowable rebound.

It comes standard with a premium Golf Pride Dual Durometer grip and a UST HDX 70 graphite shaft. But, as with other custom-built GigaGolf clubs, you have a good selection of top brand grips and shafts to choose from.

Since it’s custom-built to your specs and needs (GigaGolf’s cool and free online eFit system will help and guide you through the process of building a club that fits you!), it’s available in a wide variety of shaft lengths and flexes and head lofts — a 12.5° loft is even available for those of you with slower swing speeds!

Click here to take a closer look at the Pursuit TC420 now. You may even want to check out the oodles of positive feedback and ratings from very satisfied TC420 customers. Here are a couple actual ones:

“Weights really helped me eliminate my slice. I tried a couple of the suggested weight configurations that come with the club and found one that really works for me. I have a lot more confidence on the tee box now.” — J. Baker

“Very well made driver. Cannot believe the quality given the price.” — G. Bernard