Traditionally a golf driver was called a "wood" because it was in fact constructed from wood. Today, drivers are made from three main materials: steel, titanium and a composite of the two materials. It still is possible to buy a driver made from wood but they are becoming increasingly difficult to find and are often specially made.

A steel driver is heaviest of all materials and a club made from this material can slow down the speed of the club. The slower the club speed the slower the ball speed on impact and the less distance you will get from your drive. A steel golf club is the cheapest type of driver you can buy.

Titanium drivers are lighter than steel. This means that the club can be swung faster and the player can generate higher ball speed on impact. The higher the ball speed the further the ball will go.

Composite golf drivers are made from titanium and another non-metallic material. The composite construct enables the club's center of gravity to be place more precisely and therefore enable a larger sweet spot. Many people find that the sound that a composite driver makes on impact to be little off but they are considered to be one of the better types of clubs that you can buy.

The size of the clubhead is also important. The larger the size the larger the sweet spot will be. The largest clubhead that you can use legally under the law of golf is 460 cubic center meters. Any larger and you cannot play with the club in professional or semi-professional competitions.

The driver's shaft is the final factor that you need to consider and you need to think about the flexibility, material and length. Under the laws of golf, a driver must be between 40 and 48 inches. Graphite is the most common material that a shaft is made from and is lightweight which means faster clubhead speed.