As a newcomer to the sport the tendency to purchase the largest and most technologically advanced driver can prove overwhelming. If however you purchase a driver based on this premise without taking into account swing style - you'll find the whole experience less than confidence inspiring.
A beginner's set of clubs should ideally consist of a small assortment of woods - namely 1, 3 and 5-woods. The number 1 wood is referred to as the driver and is most commonly played club for long, straight tee shots. These clubs are fitted with large profiled club-heads up to 460cc (cubic centimetres) - the largest size permitted under international regulation.
The concept of using a large wood (or driver) for long distance strikes is sound in principle - unfortunately, the driver is one of the most difficult golf clubs to use effectively and is not recommended for the inexperienced player. It is also fair to say that because of the enlarged club-head the chances of a player connecting with the ball through the sweet-spot are greater. If you follow golf in the media you'd be hard-pressed to miss the likes of Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington using large headed woods for a majority of their shots.
Finding the optimal club weight can also be beneficial for improving the control of your swing. Modern day drivers are traditionally lightweight through the use of graphite shafts and titanium-based club-heads. Weight is typically concentrated inside the club-head to produce a sweet-spot - an area of the club-face that produces optimal launch characteristics. More manufacturers are producing drivers with interchangeable weights to allow players the option to reconfigure the weight distribution of the club to match a player's swing type.
If you are a beginner it is worth seeking the advice of a professional coach who will most likely advise you to master control before concentrating on the latest features and design of a driver.
The degree of flex should also be considered when selecting your first driver or set of woods. A flexible shaft is understood to deliver more power from the swing to the ball - compared to a stiff graphite shaft or stainless steel shaft. A slower swing speed is better suited to a flexible shaft such as those used in junior, ladies and senior woods. A fast swing should benefit further from a stiff shaft - either graphite or stainless steel; the latter will allow a greater degree of control at the sacrifice of gaining additional weight.
For all levels of player the best way to achieve an optimal swing is to purchase a custom fit driver, woods or both. Forgan of St. Andrews for example have launched an online custom fit service that allows players of all ability to purchase optimally fitted golf clubs in a shorter time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional custom fitting.
Finally, remember to protect any golf driver with a high quality head-cover. Remember if you purchase a driver from a large online golf retailer like The Sports HQ you are sure to receive a quality product with excellent after-sales support.
