Viktor Hovland’s Driver Dilemma: Insights Ahead of the WM Phoenix Open

As Viktor Hovland prepares for the WM Phoenix Open, the Norwegian golfer continues his quest for the perfect driver setup. During a recent pre-tournament press conference, the 28-year-old shared valuable insights into his ongoing adjustments and experimentation with his golf equipment.

A Deep Dive into Hovland’s Driver Journey

Hovland’s driver journey traces back to last season when he transitioned from the Ping G425 LST to the newer G440 LST driver. In his own words, he reflected on the differences between these two models:

"I played — well, generally I tried out the new 440 last year because it is faster. The spin consistency off the face is a joke. If I hit it off the heel or the toe with a 425, the spin discrepancy is very large. If I hit it off the toe, I can spin it under 2000. If I hit it off the heel, I might get up to 3000. Versus the 440, it’s very tight. It goes from maybe 2000 to 2600, so a huge gap. And it’s also faster."

However, Hovland noted some challenges:

"The problem is it launches a little bit higher for me. With my current setup, it tends to go a bit more to the right. Right now, when I get stuck in my swing, my miss tends to be high right. If I hit this driver, it just gets exaggerated."

Experimentation with New Gear

During his practice sessions leading up to the tournament, Hovland had two drivers available, which enabled him to make critical adjustments:

"Yesterday, because I was still hitting it poorly on the course, I texted Kenton if he could bring a driver that’s a quarter of an inch shorter, and he brought a different shaft as well. It’s that new Ping 440K version. Just trying to find something I can put in play, and that seemed to be a lot better. That was just last night, so the experimentation continues."

Hovland continued to elaborate on his experience with the new driver:

"Comparing it to the LST, it spins a hair more. Other than that, it’s very different because I tried the K from a couple years ago when the 430 came out, and I just couldn’t get the spin down at all. Every single shot spun over 3000 for me. The new version is really nice. It seemed to almost spin less than the max version, which is interesting. It’s a very good driver."

Conclusion

As Viktor Hovland navigates the intricate world of driver technology, his insights reveal not just the technical aspects of his equipment but also the personal adjustments he is making. Fans and fellow competitors alike will be watching closely to see if his experimentation pays off at the WM Phoenix Open. The quest for the perfect driver continues, and Hovland’s journey is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of professional golf equipment.