9 Degree Drivers Vs 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° (Chart Included)

What is a 9 Degree Driver?

A 9 degree driver is a low loft driver and is most convenient for golfers having fast swing speeds. These drivers create a positive angle of attack and generate little spin.

Table of Contents

Features	Specifications
Loft Range	Low
Used For	Golfing
Ideal For	Golfers who have a swing speed of 105 mph or higher
Average Carry Distance Loft	192 Yards
Average Total Distance Loft	232 Yards
Length	46”
Weight	2 Pounds

Who should use a 9 degree driver?

The choice of the driver varies from person to person and depends on several other technical factors. Buyers also need to be flexible and keep their preferences wide open before opting for a driver.

I would recommend players to select drivers relative to their club head speed and angle of attack. Besides speed and angle, golfers should also consider things like launch angle, dynamic loft, and impact location when selecting a driver.

A 9 degree is best suitable for fast swingers with 105 mph to 120 mph swing speed.

Players who maintain a higher launch angle and a higher spin can also use a 9 degree driver.

The trajectory of the ball remains low when you use a low loft driver. So, a player who hit down on the ball will typically benefit from using a 9 degree driver.

Is a 9 degree driver harder to hit?

Not really; but one thing is for sure – 9 degree drivers are not meant for beginner golfers. Low loft driver diminishes the backspin of the ball and creates a lot of sidespins. This makes things difficult for beginners.

Since 9 degree drivers produce less spin, it requires skill and agility. Golfers must strike the ball with more power or else the ball will go down to the ground too early. So, the 9 degree drivers are more appropriate for pro players who can handle the loft of the ball.

Benefits of using a 9 degree driver

Using a 9 degree driver with a stiffer and intense shaft will help the ball remain in air for a longer time. The driver produces a high moment of inertia and reduces the thickness near the lower half of the face to enhance the velocity of the ball.

A 9 degree driver will be the perfect choice for fast swingers and recreational golfers who have a club head speed of 105 mph or higher. Recreational golfers with slower swing speed or golfers who like to hit up on the ball may find some difficulties while using a low loft driver.

The benefits of using a 9 degree driver are as follows:

A 9 degree driver is ideal for a golfer who would like to hit down on the ball.
The driver is beneficial for golfers who use high and back weighted drivers.
It stabilizes the club head at the impact point which prevents golfers from hooks and slices.
The driver introduces speed and forgiveness to the golf ball.
Low loft can help golfers achieve perfect hook and slice shots.
It produces less oblique angle and hence transfers more energy at the point of impact.

9 Degree Driver Distance

The average carry distance of a 9 degree driver is 250 yards. The total distance of 9 degree driver is around 280 yards.

A golf club with a 9 degree driver will help you cover greater carry distance as compared to other middle or higher loft drivers. The combination of lower loft and upward angle of attack results in maximum carry distance. The distance offered by a 9 degree driver depends on the player’s swing speed.

A golfer who uses a 9 degree driver generally has a club head speed of 105 mph and a ball speed of nearly 150 mph.

Players also need to balance the backspin; the amount of backspin on the ball must not be too little or too much. Players with faster swings have resulted better with a 9 degree driver than players with slower swings. Players won’t perform well with 9 degree drivers until their club head speed reaches 100 mph or so.

Golfers with faster swings of about 110 mph are capable of achieving a maximum of 295 yards distance. On the other hand, golfers with club head speeds of 60 mph and 70 mph are capable of achieving a maximum of 117 yards and 155 yards distances respectively.

9 Degree Driver Loft

The loft of a driver dictates the trajectory of the ball. The lower the loft of a club, the lower will be the trajectory of the ball. The angle at which the face of the club will be impacted is also determined by the loft of a golf club.

A 9 degree driver is a low lofted driver that has a loft of 9 degree and it help you achieve a greater speed of the ball. The ball produces less backspin as it moves relatively at a lower angle and that eventually assists to cover more carry distance.

A 9 degree driver is more suitable for someone who would like to hit their driver too high above the ground. The low loft of the driver will help you to hit more fairways when you navigate the golf course.

9 degree driver Vs 9.5 degree driver

People often speculate if there are any dissimilarity between a 9 degree driver and a 9.5 degree driver. The .5° variation might not look much for the others but it can make a lot of difference for golfers.

The marginal differences noticed when using a 9 degree driver and 9.5 degree drivers are as follows:

Both 9 degree and 9.5 degree drivers offer similar performance with the former being slightly better for golfers who love spinning the ball.
A 9.5 degree driver is a better choice for golfers who would like to hit the ball at a greater angle.
Fast swingers with greater club head speed will achieve more distances when using a 9 degree driver.
A shot hit with a 9 degree driver will see less backspin than with a 9.5 degree driver.
Some players have experienced better slices and hooks when hit with a 9 degree driver.

9 degree driver Vs 10.5 degree driver

Both 9 degree driver and 10.5 degree driver are admirable drivers in their own right. However, a 9 degree drive tends to offer good carry distance for golfers who like to swing the driver too high.

The notable differences between a 9 degree driver and a 10.5 degree driver are as follows:

A 10.5 degree driver is more appropriate for recreational golfers with average swing speed whereas a 9 degree driver is more fitting for recreational golfers with high swing speed.
A 9 degree driver is more beneficial for a golfer who can swing the driver at around 105 mph or higher.
Some players have experienced some loss of distance because of additional backspin when using a 10.5 degree driver.
A 9 degree driver is more accurate than a 10.5 degree driver as it produces less backspin.

9 degree driver Vs 12 degree driver

The 12 degree driver is one of the most commonly used drivers among golfers whereas a 9 degree driver is used only by professionals. There are quite a few differences between a 9 degree driver and a 12 degree driver.

A 9 degree driver is more suitable for a low-handicap or fast-swinging recreational golfer whereas a 12 degree is helpful for high handicappers or slow-swinging recreational golfer.
A 12 degree driver produces more backspin and less sidespin than compared to a 9 degree driver.
Golfers who trouble a lot with the trajectory of the ball should opt for a 12 degree driver.
Some players have found a 12 degree driver to be more comfortable to hit, when compared to a 9 degree driver.
Lastly, a 12 degree driver is ideal for beginners and amateurs while a 9 degree driver is likely to be more suited for professionals.

Conclusion

Choosing the right driver is a prime aspect for golfers and believe me, it’s never easy. The 9 degree driver is not the widely used driver and if you’re a beginner, then you should not buy a 9 degree driver.

Golfers who have a steep angle of attack and can spin the ball too much will benefit from using a 9 degree driver. If you’re a fast swinger of the driver and have a high clubhead speed of around 105 mph or higher, then a 9 degree driver would be the perfect choice for you.

Generally, drivers don’t last for more than 7-8 years so I would recommend you to opt for a driver that has adjustable loft settings.