What Is An Offset Driver Vs Regular Driver – Do They Really Work

What Is An Offset Driver Vs Regular Driver – Do They Really Work

 

The most common shot shape for a beginner or high handicap player is a slice, this is where the ball moves from left to right. Generally this shot loses a lot of distance, which obviously is not ideal.

The natural movement for beginners or high handicappers is to cut across the ball, the club face will be presented open at impact, causing the ball to slice.

Going for lessons will help with this, but equipment can help too. The Offset Driver was invented to help you to stop slicing the ball. In this article we will dive into all the details you need regarding an Offset Driver.

 

What Is An Offset Driver, Exactly?

An Offset Driver or Draw Type Driver is designed with the clubface slightly behind the hosel.

The reason why they do this is, at impact when the clubface is slightly behind the hosel it has an extra split second the square up or close before impact, this of course will prevent the ball from slicing so much.

Most Offset Drivers have weight positioned in the heel of the club, this will essentially make the toe of the club lighter, causing it to come through faster than the heel, helping you to get the face back to square or closed at impact.

The clubface is also slightly closed at address, again this will help the clubface be square or closed at impact.

 

Are Offset Drivers Legal?

100% yes. As long as the Driver has been approved by the USGA and is on the conforming list it is legal.

 

Offset Driver Vs Draw Bias Driver?

These are basically the same club, or at least serve the same purpose. Most manufactures have gone away from the Offset Driver as it does look a bit off putting at address.

Technically speaking an Offset Driver will be more Draw Biased as a Draw Biased Driver, the offset on the club will create that extra draw element.

These days club manufacturers have designed the clubs so well that the offset is rarely needed.

 

How Does An Offset Driver Affect Performance

An Offset Driver is designed to help you with your slice.

The clubface is slightly behind the hosel, which will delay the clubface coming through at impact, this will help square or close the clubface up when you make contact with the ball.

The weight is also positioned in the heel of the club, this will also help the clubface to be square or closed at impact.

 

Do Offset Drivers Actually Work – Are They Any Good?

Yes they do, the whole idea around the club is to promote the club to be square or closed at impact.

The way they have done this is by having the clubface slightly behind the hosel.

They also have the face slightly closed and put the majority of the weight towards the heel of the club, this also promotes the clubface to be squarer or closed at impact.

 

All these things will help eliminate your left or right shape or slice.

 

What Are The Advantages Of Offset Drivers?

There are many advantages of an Offset Driver, especially if you are struggling with a slice. It will help reduce the left to right spin on the ball making you slice the ball less.

Generally when the face is open at impact you will have a lot of spin on the ball, this also reduces distance. The Offset Driver will promote the club to be square or closed at impact, this will reduce the spin helping you hit the ball further.

Your ball will go straighter with an Offset Driver meaning you will be hitting more fairways, it is much easier to shoot good scores when your ball is in play and especially when it is on the fairway.

 

What Are The Disadvantages Of Offset Drivers?

The biggest disadvantage of an Offset Driver is if you use it, but do not need it.

This will cause you to hit big hooks on the course. Playing with a slice is not ideal, but hooking the ball could be even worse.

The other disadvantage is, an Offset Driver could cause you to become lazy and not actually fix the problem at hand, which is your swing.

The Offset Driver is there to help you, but at the end of the day you are able to eliminate your slice by working on your swing.

 

How Do You Hit An Offset Driver?

There is no special recipe to hitting an Offset Driver, you just swing the club like you normally would.

The club is designed to help you get the clubface square because you can’t.

The offset, closed clubface and weight in the heel, are designed to rotate closed without you trying.

 

Who Should Buy An Offset Driver?

If you struggle with slicing the ball, you should consider an Offset Driver.

The technology in the head is designed to straighten out your shot shape, keeping you in play more often.

 

Are Offset Drivers Only For High Handicappers?

No, they are not.

Generally speaking high handicappers or beginners struggle with a slice, meaning they will be the ones buying Offset or Draw Biased Drivers most of the time, but this doesn’t mean that mid or low handicap players can’t play with one.

It all depends on your shot shape and if the club will benefit you.

 

Do Any Pros Use Them?

The only Professional we know who used one was Keegan Bradley, in 2020 he put the TaylorMade SIM D Type Driver in play, this Driver does not have much offset, but the clubface sits closed and the weight is in the heel. 

Bradley wanted to take the right side of the golf course out of play, which the SIM D Type helped him with.

Most Professionals like to see the clubface at a specific angle, either open, square or closed. Nowadays you can adjust most drivers to do this.

Dustin Johnson likes to see the clubface closed at address, so he adjusts his driver to do so, technically speaking this makes his driver into a slight Draw Biased Club.

It’s clear to see not all Offset or Draw Biased Drivers are for high handicap players, even Professionals need the help or like to see a specific clubface angle at address.

 

Cobra F Max Airspeed Driver

The Cobra F Max Airspeed is one of our favorite Drivers on the market.

They have made the clubhead lighter than ever, by adding carbon fiber they have saved 6 grams of weight, this allows the club to maintain a high MOI, while keeping up clubhead speed and forgiveness.o

The shaft is 5 grams lighter than the previous model, this also increases clubhead speed. The F Max Airspeed has an easy alignment system, the PWR Ridges give you a great visual aid to line up your driver better than ever.

The weight is positioned back, and in the heel, this will help reduce your slice and help you find the fairway more often. The offset hosel will also help correct any left to right shape you have on the ball, again helping you hit it straighter.

An offset hosel corrects any left to right shape and helps you find the middle of the fairway easier and more consistently.

Pros

• Carbon crown helps save weight
• Light shaft helps increase swing speed
• Offset promotes the clubface to be closed at impact
• Back and heel weighting to increase forgiveness and draw bias

Cons

• Offset might look off putting

Overall Score: 93/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Callaway Big Bertha B21

The Callaway Big Bertha B21 driver is their best Offset Driver designed to date. It has a high launch profile with ultra-low CG for low spin. This combination shouts out long, straight drives.

The Artificial Intelligence designed clubface promotes extra fast ball speeds, which increases distance even on miss hits. The Big Bertha weighting and Draw Bias structure will stop your slice for straighter and longer shots.

The extremely strong materials give you optimal speed and forgiveness. The Jailbreak and T2C Triaxial Carbon Crown are designed to allow Callaway to make the clubface super thin for more ball speed.

They have also repositioned the weight to where it needs to be, increasing the MOI.

 

Pros

• Designed by Artificial Intelligence 
• Jailbreak and T2C Triaxial Carbon Crown increase MOI and Ball Speed
• Draw Bias promotes a straighter flight
• Offset isn’t as prominent as you would think
• High launch and Low Spin characteristics

Cons

• Some might say it is not draw bias enough
• Expensive

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Wilson Staff Launch Pad Driver – Moderate Offset

The Wilson Staff Launch Pad Driver is their most Offset Driver built ever. It is extremely lightweight.

It has a moderate offset and a 13 graw weight in the heel, this with the slightly more upright lie angle will get you going further and straighter down the fairway.

Their new Variable Face Technology increases ball speed and high launch angles no matter where you strike it off the face.

This club is light, and we mean really light. The lightweight materials which include the head, shaft and grip all add up to an unbelievable 272 grams, this makes it one of the lightest drivers on the market.

The lightweight of this driver will help you swing it faster, faster clubhead speed means longer drivers.

Pros

• Variable Face Technology increases ball speed and high launch angles
• Moderate offset and a 13 graw weight in the heel
• High launch and Low Spin characteristics

Cons

• Ball speeds might not be as fast as other manufacturers 

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

TaylorMade SIM2 D Type Driver

The TaylorMade SIM2 D Type Driver is one of three Drivers from their latest range. The amazing thing about this Driver is they have hidden the closed clubface and offset with the top paint line. This makes the Driver look very appealing from the top.

Forged Ring Construction is a lightweight and high strength aluminum that connects the full carbon sole, crown and a milled back cup face, essentially saving weight to increase the MOI.

The Inertia Generator refers to the carbon sole plate, it is designed at a slight angle to increase air flow and therefore increase clubhead speed.

The Draw-Bias Design is going to eliminate any left to right shape movement you have on your golf ball. There is a massive 16 gram tungsten weight in the heel, this will help the toe come around faster, helping you get the clubface closed at impact.

Speed Injected Twist Face and Thru-Slot Speed Pocket are designed to help with miss hits, these two unique technologies promote ball speed, so when you miss hit the ball, the ball speed will stay up helping you hit it further.

Pros

• Speed Injected Twist Face and Thru-Slot Speed Pocket
• Massive 16 gram tungsten weight in the heel
• Forged Ring Construction helps with MOI
• The Inertia Generator increase clubhead speed and therefore distance

Cons

• Some players will like to see the face closed
• Top line might be off putting
• Expensive

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Conclusion

Golf is a game that is incredibly hard. The Offset Driver is there to help you with your left to right shape or slice. The science is there and we have tested many Offset or Draw Biased clubs ourselves, THEY DO WORK.

Put your self esteem behind you and muster up the courage to buy one, it has always been seen as a club that bad golfers use, but like we have mentioned even some Professionals use them, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

You are able to change the face angles of a modern day Drivers, this means you might not need to go to the extent of buying an Offset Driver, and all you might need to do is adjust your current one.

We suggest going for a fitting with a qualified fitter, they will be able to assess your swing and suggest a solution for you.