In golf, progress is usually measured by decades, but in the case with driver size and the ability to produce these clubs out of lighter, yet stronger materials, size grew exponentially in only the next few years. As a timeline, the year 2000 saw the first 350cc driver, followed by 2001 with a 400cc driver and finally a 500cc driver was made in 2002. It was known at this time that the larger driver would have a higher moment of inertia and subsequently makes it easier to hit the ball straight even on off-center shots. At this point, the USGA stepped in and began to propose limits on drivers as they were potentially seeing technology threaten to diminish skill level. So in October 2003, the USGA imposed a 460cc limit on clubhead size effect January 1, 2004.

Since 1980, the modern 460cc titanium driver has tripled in volume and increased in size by an average of 1” taller from the bottom of the sole to the top of the crown and 1” wider from front to back. Not coincidently, tee height has gone from 2 1/8” to 3 ¼”– nearly the same 1” difference. Yet at the same time, the fairway wood had gone relatively unchanged. Why? The