Range: 200-240yds (183-219m)

The longest and least lofted of the woods, the driver is used primarily off the tee when maximum distance is required.

Usually the most expensive club in the bag costing anything up to �500, the big-hitting professionals whack the ball an average of around 300 yards off the tee.

Most drivers have a loft between seven (for players who like to fire the ball low) and 12 degrees (for a higher trajectory) from the vertical.

The sweet spot can be anything up to six square inches (52sq cms).

Some drivers are banned by the game's rulers because they have trampoline-like capabilities to fire the ball even further, such as the ERC Callaway driver.

The Royal & Ancient Committee, which governs the game in Europe, and the US Golf Association, recently issued a new set of performance rules for clubs and balls to stop technology ruining the game.