Thinking about adding a second driver to your bag for those just in case moments on the tee? It’s a question that pops up more often than you’d think, especially with the high-stakes nature of the tee shot. This article will cut straight to the chase, explaining the rules around carrying two drivers, the strategic reasons why some golfers do it, and whether it’s a practical choice for you.
The Straight Answer: Is It Legal to Carry Two Drivers?
Let's get the most important part out of the way first. Yes, you can absolutely carry two drivers in your golf bag. There is no specific rule from the USGA or the R&A that forbids you from carrying multiple clubs of the same type.
The only rule you need to respect is the 14-Club-Limit (Rule 4.1b). As long as the total number of clubs in your bag does not exceed 14, you can fill those slots however you see fit. You could theoretically carry 14 putters if you wanted to, although your scorecard probably wouldn't thank you for it. So, if carrying two drivers keeps your total count at or below 14, you are 100% within the rules of golf.
Why Would a Golfer Even Want Two Drivers?
Now that we know it's legal, the bigger question is, why? For most amateurs, the idea seems strange. Don't you want to master just one driver? But for a small subset of players, this a strategic choice, not an act of indecision. Here are the common reasons behind the two-driver setup.
The "Bomber" and the "Fairway Finder" Strategy
This is the most popular reason for bagging two drivers. The idea is to have one driver built for pure, unadulterated distance and another designed for consistency and finding the fairway, even if it means sacrificing a few yards.
- The "Bomber" Driver: This is your go-for-broke club. It might have a longer shaft (e.g., 46 inches), a lower loft (e.g., 8-9 degrees), and be set up to maximize roll with less backspin. This is the driver you pull out on a wide-open par 5 where you can afford to miss a little and want to give yourself a shot at reaching the green in two. It’s all about high-speed, high-reward swings.
- The "Fairway-Finder" Driver: This is your safety club for tight holes with trouble lurking on both sides. This driver might have a slightly shorter shaft (e.g., 44.5-45 inches) for better control, a bit more loft (e.g., 10.5-12 degrees) for a higher, softer-landing flight, and be weighted for more forgiveness or to promote a straighter ball flight. You're not trying to hit it 300 yards, you're trying to hit it 260 yards dead-center. The goal is to take double bogey out of play.
Creating Different Shot Shapes
A more advanced technique involves setting up one driver to hit a draw and another to hit a fade. A professional or very skilled amateur might find this useful on a course with several doglegs that demand a specific shot shape off the tee.
- The Draw Driver: Might be set up with the movable weight in the heel to help the club face close faster, encouraging that right-to-left ball flight (for a right-handed golfer).
- The Fade Driver: Could have the weight moved a bit toward the toe and the hosel adjusted to a more open position, making it easier to hold the face open for a controlled left-to-right shot.
While most players learn to hit different shapes with one club, having drivers specifically built for the task can provide a confidence boost and increase the repeatability of the shot under pressure.
Adapting to Course Conditions
Imagine playing a multi-day tournament where conditions change dramatically. On day one, it's calm and you want to maximize carry distance. On day two, a 30-mph wind pops up and you need a low, piercing "stinger" shot to stay competitive.One driver could be set up for a high launch and high spin to maximize carry on calm days, while the second driver could be a low-launch, low-spin monster designed specifically to cheat the wind.
The Big Trade-Off: What Club Do You Sacrifice?
This is where the two-driver strategy faces its biggest hurdle, especially for amateur golfers. If you add a second driver, the 14-club rule dictates that another club has to go. So, what do you give up?
- A Long Iron or Hybrid? Sacrificing a 4-iron or a 5-hybrid might leave you with an awkward yardage gap at the top end of your bag. If you suddenly have a 215-yard par 3, you'll be stuck trying to hit a soft 3-wood or a heroic 5-iron.
- A Wedge? This is the most common and often most painful sacrifice. The scoring clubs (typically from 120 yards and in) are where amateurs have the most opportunities to save strokes. Giving up a gap wedge, sand wedge, or lob wedge could be disastrous. Do you really want to be caught between a full pitching wedge and a soft sand wedge from 95 yards out? The massive yardage gap this creates can cost you far more shots than a "safe" driver can save.
- A Fairway Wood? Removing your 3-wood or 5-wood could also be an option, but then you lose your most reliable club for long second shots on par 5s or off the tee on short par 4s.
For elite players who have surgically precise control over their iron and wedge distances, these gaps can be managed. For the average golfer, these gaps are where strokes bleed away. Dropping a wedge for a second driver you might only use two or three times a round is usually a poor trade.
The Smarter Strategy for Most Golfers: Optimizing ONE Driver
Let’s be honest. For 99% of amateur golfers, the two-driver strategy is TNS (Too Much Stuff). You’ll get far more benefit out of mastering One versatile driver than juggling two specialized ones. The complexity just isn’t worth the tiny gain you might see. Here's a much more practical approach.
1. Get Properly Fitted for Your Driver
Before you even think about buying a second driver, invest that money in a professional club fitting for the one you have (or a new one). A fitter will use a launch monitor to analyze your swing speed, aAttack angle, spin rates, and ball flight to find the perfect combination of head, shaft, loft, and settings for your unique swing. A correctly fitted driver can become both your bomber and your fairway finder.
2. Learn to Use Your Driver's Adjustability
Most modern drivers are like a Swiss Army Knife. They come with adjustable hosels and movable weights. You don’t need two drivers, you have two or three drivers built into one.
- Changing Loft: Adding a degree of loft can help you turn your primary driver into a higher-flying, more forgiving "fairway finder" for a specific round if the course demands it.
- Movable Weights: Sliding a weight to the heel can help you hit a draw. Sliding it to the back can increase forgiveness. This gives you the aability to fine-tune your club for a specific shot shape or feel without buying a second driver. Just remember, you are not allowed to make these adjustments during a round. You have to set it before you tee off.
3. Master Different Shots with One Club
Part of getting better at golf is learning to be a "shot maker." Instead of relying on a second piece of equipment, work on variations you can employ with your trusted gamer driver:
- The Choke-Down Shot: Need to find the fairway? Grip down an inch or two on the club and make a smooth, 75% swing. The shorter lever will give you more control, lower the ball flight slightly, and you'll likely hit it straighter without a huge loss in distance.
- Tee Height: Teeing the ball slightly lower can often lead to a lower-spinning, more penetrating shot that is less affected by the wind. Teeing it higher can promote a high launch and more carry. Experiment with this on the range - it’s a powerful but simple tool for flight control.
Focusing your energy and practice on learning these skills will make you a far better, more adaptable golfer than just swapping clubs when you face a new challenge.
Final Thoughts
In summary, yes, you can legally carry two drivers, provided you stay within the 14-club limit. While it’s a niche strategy employed by some elite players to gain an edge with different flight characteristics, it’s generally an impractical choice for the average amateur because the club you have to sacrifice is often more valuable than the advantage you gain.
Making smarter choices on the course is about strategy, not just equipment. Our goal with Caddie AI is to give you that expert-level strategic advice right in your pocket. Instead of trying to manage two drivers, you can use our app to get a simple, smart plan for how to attack a tough tee shot with the driver you already trust. It will help you see the right target line, understand where the real trouble is, and give you the confidence to commit to the shot with one club, not two.