Bullet Vs. Square Driver

Hitting the golf ball longer and straighter are goals for most golfers. The right equipment can help make those dreams a reality. Geometric-shaped driver heads, such as the bullet and square-shaped drivers, are designed to help golfers achieve their goals off the tee to lower their overall score.

  1. Shape

    • Starting in the late 2000s, companies like Nike, Callaway and TaylorMade began producing geometric-shaped drivers heads. As the name implies, the bullet has a streamlined head tapering from its club face to create a round end. Square-shaped heads extend in a line directly behind the face of the club to create a square, though it is tapered to be thinner at the end. Other geometric clubs include the cube, which does not taper, and triangular-shaped clubs.

    Weight

    • The square driver head distributes weight from the center of the club head and places more weight around the edges. This helps steady the club's stability at contact, resulting in straighter shots. The bullet-shaped driver moves the center of gravity in the club head back, allowing greater height off the tee. The bullet-shaped driver allows players who typically hit the ball low to get higher and farther down the fairway.

    Club Head Speed

    • Club head speed is one of the major factors in determining the distance the golf ball travels. While the square club head looks less aerodynamic than the bullet-shaped counterpart, they have little difference in overall club head speed. TaylorMade's popular Burner, which is bullet shaped, has reduced club head weight to help increase speed.

    Distance

    • The goal of both the square- and bullet-shaped drivers is to provide golfers with straighter tee shots. The drivers, if hit on the sweet spot, result in about the same distance off the tee. The reason is the PGA restricts the coefficient of restitution, which effects the spring effect of the club face and the corrective time, or how long the ball is in contact with the club.

    Sound

    • A bullet-shaped driver sounds similar to traditional drivers, while the square driver has a unique and loud sound. According to CBS Sports, both the Simpac and Nike square-headed drivers produce a different sound at impact.