If you are like most up-to-date golfers you are probably looking down at a 460cc driver while hitting those long balls off of the tee. But I bet you did not know that large headed driver could be costing you valuable yardage!

While the extreme front to back dimensions on that driver help with moment of inertia, it can also increase drag and decrease club head speed.

Testing proves that club head speeds of a 300cc driver clocking in at 105 mph are reduced quite a bit on a 460cc driver to 101 mph.

Experts agree that it is not a factor for people with club head speeds of 85 mph or less so if this is your case I would not worry about these findings.

There are a few ways manufactures battle against this drag for one, they are avoiding the sloping crown design or they can put an aerodynamic step just behind the crown’s highest point.

This would prevent the wind stream from detaching from the club head, which in turn reduces turbulence and drag.

While companies are trying to correct this problem, top players are just opting to play smaller headed drivers.

About 30 percent of players on Tour are using drivers that are less then 460cc.

In a game where every yard you get closer to your target off of the tee the easier the next shot becomes, this can be quite significant to all players.

So play around with your driver head size and find one that fits you game the best.

Steve Wozeniak is PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses. Readers can contact him at swayne@premiergc.com, www.bellevuepgc.com or www.stevewozeniak.com.