High-performance driver design: benefits for all golfers

Here I report experimental data to show the variation in impact efficiency between a driver and a standard golf ball with both impact speed and impact location. The relationship of these data to the driver impact characteristics of the golfing population is presented as a key factor in the face design trade-off between increased driver performance and driver fatigue life. Based on these driver impact characteristics, a design principle is introduced that segments the golfing population based on driver loft, to deliver the benefit of increased impact efficiency to all golfers and particularly to average golfers. Example drivers created using this design principle are then used to generate experimental evidence that counters the widely held belief that gains in impact efficiency offered by high-performance drivers benefit only those golfers capable of generating the highest speed impacts close to the face centre.