fbpx
Carl Pettersson goes light, long and lofted

Carl Pettersson goes light, long and lofted

Unlike many fellow pros, Carl Pettersson is using a driver you'd expect to see in the hands of a beginner…
 

Look in the bag of an average tour professional and chances are you’ll find drivers that are incredibly heavy, stiff, low-lofted and hard to hit. 

Many also resort to shorter shafts to improve accuracy and consistency.

Take Tiger Woods for example. In his prime, the World No 1 used a 43.5″ shaft that weighed 84 grammes. That’s two inches shorter than standard and at least 20 grammes heavier.

Carl Pettersson has a very different approach.

The Swede, who won the RBC Heritage at the weekend, uses a driver that is longer, lighter and with more loft than the average amateur – never mind a professional.
If you struggle to keep the ball in the air off the tee – regardless of age or handicap – think about using a driver with more loft. He is using a Nike VR Pro STR8-FIT that is 46.5 inches long, has 11.5˚ of loft and has a shaft weighing just 50 grammes.

He told Golfweek the method behind the madness.

“It enables me to get more spin and carry the ball farther in the air,” said the 34-year-old.

According to the PGA Tour official statistics, Pettersson needs it – even with the extra loft and length he averages 2,400rpm of backspin, which is low – around 100rpm below what is recognised as the optimum amount.

There is a lesson to be learned here: if you struggle to keep the ball in the air off the tee – regardless of age or handicap – think about using a driver with more loft. 

If a five-time PGA Tour winner with a 115mph swing that generates, on average, 296 yards of distance, isn’t afraid to try it, you shouldn’t be either.

Latest Posts

dp world tour 2024 schedule

DP World Tour

DP World Tour 2024 schedule and results

Read full article - DP World Tour 2024 schedule and results
liv golf schedule 2024

LIV Golf

LIV Golf schedule 2024: Every date, venue and result

Read full article - LIV Golf schedule 2024: Every date, venue and result
players championship field 2024

News

Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass?

Read full article - Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass?
LIV Golf

LIV Golf

How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?

Read full article - How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?
pga championship field

News

World Golf Rankings 2024: Who’s in the top 10?

Read full article - World Golf Rankings 2024: Who’s in the top 10?
LIV Golf

LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

Read full article - Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
rory mcilroy talor gooch

News

Rory McIlroy’s advice for Talor Gooch: Be more like Joaquin Niemann!

Read full article - Rory McIlroy’s advice for Talor Gooch: Be more like Joaquin Niemann!
viktor hovland prize money

News

Soulless, comical and sad: Viktor Hovland has a bleak outlook on golf

Read full article - Soulless, comical and sad: Viktor Hovland has a bleak outlook on golf
talor gooch

LIV Golf

‘It’s noteworthy’: Talor Gooch defends controversial Rory McIlroy asterisk claim

Read full article - ‘It’s noteworthy’: Talor Gooch defends controversial Rory McIlroy asterisk claim