Are you the kind of golfer whose whole identity is wrapped up in your driver? Do you buy a new driver instead of taking lessons? If so, you’re not alone. Golfers love their drivers, and believe it or not, you can tell a lot about someone’s game just by looking at what’s in their bag.
A golfer swinging a TaylorMade sends a completely different signal than someone who shows up with a Cobra. Here are the messages your driver sends to other golfers, whether you intend it or not.
You Are What You Swing
If you’re swinging a Titleist or TaylorMade driver, you’re either a solid golfer or you desperately want people to think you are. These are premium drivers designed for players who value precision and control, and while they do have some forgiving options, they typically cater to lower handicaps.
TaylorMade drivers, in particular, scream cutting-edge technology, but they also come with a steep price tag. If you’ve got one in the bag, it says you’re willing to invest in your game—or you just love having the latest and greatest gear, whether it actually helps you or not.
Callaway players are an interesting bunch. You could be a fantastic golfer or a complete beginner, and your driver won’t necessarily give it away. That is, unless you’re swinging a Big Bertha, which is a dead giveaway that you’re a high handicapper looking for maximum forgiveness.
Sure, Callaway makes some high-performance models, but the brand also caters to weekend warriors who just want to get the ball in the air without too much trouble. If you’re using a Rogue or Paradym, you might be a solid ball striker who enjoys a balanced blend of forgiveness and power.
But if you’re still rocking that oversized Big Bertha from 2004, well, we already know what your game looks like.
What about those who swing Ping? Ping drivers have evolved over the years. What started as a game-improvement brand has matured into a legitimate contender for golfers of all skill levels. Still, Ping players have a certain reputation. Consider the Ping G430 Driver. It’s got distance, forgiveness, and good looks, and like the rest of the line, it doesn’t seem to mind standing out from the crowd.
Unlike TaylorMade or Titleist, Ping drivers aren’t always associated with elite ball-strikers, but they do perform. They may lack the workability of a Titleist TSi or a Stealth 2, but if you see someone with a Ping in their bag, they’re probably just a solid golfer who cares about performance more than hype.
Cobra golfers have faced their demons. And those demons usually involve a wicked slice. Before Bryson DeChambeau and Rickie Fowler started pushing Cobra into the mainstream, the only reason to own a King Cobra driver was because you loved Greg Norman.
Nowadays, Cobra is one of the best options for mid-handicappers who need a little extra help off the tee. If you’ve got a Cobra driver, you’re likely in transition—moving on from your beginner set and working to fix your swing. You probably still leak a few drives right, but on good days, it’s manageable.
If your driver matches your irons, then you likely bought a full set at once. And that’s fine—we all started somewhere. But let’s be honest: When you show up to a nice course with a full beginner set, people will assume you don’t know your etiquette yet.
That’s not a bad thing, but just know that golf is more than just crushing drives. Learn the rules, pace of play, and basic etiquette, and you’ll earn respect no matter what clubs you have in the bag. And go ahead and get your clubs at Costco. We even reviewed some Kirkland wedges. Spoiler: They’re not as bad as you might think.
Oddball Drivers
If your driver isn’t on this list, chances are you got it as a gift from someone who doesn’t know much about golf. That Mizuno, PXG, Miura, or Honma in your bag might look fancy, but more often than not, it’s more for show than for performance.
Yes, Mizuno makes amazing irons, and yes, PXG is all about premium technology, but when it comes to drivers, most golfers stick to the big names for a reason. If you’ve got a lesser-known driver brand, you either know something the rest of us don’t—or you’re just trying to be different.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what driver you play—as long as you like it. Whether you’re swinging a brand-new Titleist TSR3 or a hand-me-down Big Bertha, golf is all about having fun and improving your game.
That said, your driver does say something about you—whether you like it or not. So, the next time you’re standing on the first tee, take a look at the other bags around you. You might learn more about your playing partners than you think—before they even take a swing.
Related: Golf Rule Change Incoming: What to Expect From the Rollback