Do Golf Drivers Wear Out?

No golfer wants to lose distance of the tee box, and there are times that it could be your old driver’s fault.

But how can you know for sure when it’s because of your current driver and not just you?

Well, in this post, you will find out how long they should last, what can make them last longer or speed up their trash can day, as well as learning how to spot a worn-out driver, what happens when you use one, and other reasons you could be losing distance.

How Long Does A Driver Last On Average

The basic answer to this question is that your driver should last around 5 years, but it’s not that simple, and there are things that will break down your driver quickly or more slowly.

Below are 3 questions you should ask yourself before determining your driver is broke.

How Often Do You Play

The 5-year rule is for the average golfer, meaning they play 40-50 rounds of golf a year. 

However, if you play less than this, you can push out the shelf life of your driver by a year or two. Since the driver isn’t used as much, it won’t wear down as fast, keeping your club in your golf bag longer.

On the opposite side of things, for the real golf addicts who play multiple times a week all year round then your driver shelf life could come sooner by a year or so. 

Hitting that many bombs will take its toll for sure.

How Often You Practice

The more you practice, the better for your golf game, but for the longevity of your clubs, maybe not so much.

Hitting golf balls in the driving range can wear down your driver head or face quicker than usual. 

Think about it, if you hit 50 golf balls with your driver at the range, that’s the equivalent of 3-4 rounds of golf if you hit the driver on 14 holes per round.

This means that if you play golf on the weekend and in the range crushing drives twice a week, that clubface will wear down much quicker.

Especially if you play 50+ rounds of golf a year and go to the range 1-2 times a week, you may need a new driver around the 3-4 year mark.

Checkout this post if you want to know how you can practice golf at home.

How Fast Your Swing Speed Is

The majority of golfers don’t have to worry about this, but if you have a fast swing speed, then your driver will not last as long.

Think about it if you gently kicked a football toward a window, it would bounce off with no problem, but if you kicked it with everything you got, that window would break due to the additional force.

Well, if you’re swinging the golf club at 105 mph or more, your driver’s face will wear down faster. 

This is why tour players go through clubs at a faster rate because they are cruising at 120 mph, making the impacts more significant on the clubface.

Most golfers average from 85 to 95 mph and should be safe from this additional wear and tear but probably need help hitting the ball farther.

Signs You Should Start Looking For A New Driver

Your Driver Is Banged Up Pretty Bad

You can expect to see visible damage after years of smashing a solid white golf ball with your driver.

You should be concerned if there is an abnormal amount of wear, tear, or damage. The first place you should check is the face itself.

Look to see if there are any spots on the club head that are really worn down, this will be more noticeable on newer drivers that tend to have dark faces as opposed to traditional silver finishes.

Next, check the underside of the driver and give it the same inspection.

One sure sign your driver is on the way out is if you see a scratch, you can catch it with a fingernail. Anything deeper than a cosmetic scratch or chip has the potential to turn into a crack.

These cracks kill drivers.

Your Swing Hasn’t Changed, Just The Results

Another sure sign your driver is done is if you are still swinging the exact same, but the ball just isn’t traveling as far anymore.

But how can you tell if it’s the driver or if it’s you?

Well, look at how you’re hitting your other clubs, if they are traveling the same distance, but your driver suddenly isn’t, then you know it’s time to start looking.

Another way is if you use any swing trackers or golf simulators. Using these frequently will show you exactly what your swing speed is, amongst other things.

Now, if you take your driver to the simulator and your swing speed has not changed, but the distance has dropped, you have your answer.

However, if you’re coming up short in all departments on the golf course, it could be father time catching up with you.

You’ve Had Your Driver For Years

Lastly, you could have a very old driver and need a new one.

Drivers get better year after year but only slightly, meaning getting a new driver every year in the hopes it will hit it further is a bad approach.

Driver technology can only be stretched so much, but if you have a driver that is 10 years old, you will notice a difference 100%. 

On average, new drivers add 1-2 yards to your distance. Meaning if your driver is 10 years old, you could be losing out on 10-20 yards, potentially more if it’s in bad condition.

What Happens When Your Driver Is Worn Down

Drivers at the end of their shelf life will behave differently, not just when it comes to distance.

Over time, there will be spots on the clubface that will be more worn down than in other areas, causing inconsistent shots.

The flight of the ball will consistently be different, it may send your ball of left on one hole and far right on the next.

Losing distance isn’t a game-killer if you’re still hitting fairways and keeping the ball in play. The real danger to your game using an old golf driver is that your accuracy will be way off.

Other Reasons You Could Be Losing Distance

The Weather Has Changed

Plenty of golfers underestimate the effect that cold weather has on the golf ball. 

Just because you’ve been crushing it all summer with the boys and now it’s cold, and the ball isn’t traveling, don’t blame your driver just yet.

It could be the weather, for example, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit lost in the winter months, you could lose up to 2 yards of distance.

This happens because cold air is heavier so the ball doesn’t cut through it as easily. (That’s the dumbed-down version. We’re golfers, not scientists!)

You’re Getting Old Or Your Swing Is Off

Getting older is a part of life; as you get older, you lose some of the explosiveness needed to send the golf ball into orbit.

Unfortunately, there are no golf clubs on the market that can reverse aging, but they can help out your golf game, but not with the distance you would like to have.

Also, sometimes our swing feels the same, but we could be doing something fractionally different, which kills your distance.

Before spending a few hundred bucks at your local golf store on new golf equipment, maybe spend $50 on a lesson to see if it’s just something you’re doing wrong.

Obviously, worn golf drivers lose distance, but if yours looks fresh enough, just try to work on your swing.

What To Do When Getting Rid Of Your Driver

Eventually, there will come a time when you have to make a choice, put the old dog down or send them somewhere better.

Just throwing your driver in the garage or the trash is such a waste of a club somebody else could be using. Not only that but you may be able to make some cold hard cash from it too.

Let’s start with the you making money options first.

No matter how old or battered your driver is somebody somewhere will buy it from you on the internet. All you need is your phone to take pictures, a little info on the club and a place to sell it on.

Facebook marketplace, Ebay or Craigslist are all easy to set up on and could have your driver sold within a day or two.

Alternatively, you can try sell it to your local golf store for cash or use it as trade-in for a new driver. They won’t offer you as much money when compared to the money you’d get selling it yourself but it’s quick and easy.

Lastly, you could always give it away for free to a local charity, junior members on your club or somebody you know.

After all we all have to do our part in spurring the game on and making it accessible for as many people as possible.

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