Almost every driver sold today is legal. The limits that matter are a length of no more than 48 inches, a head volume of 460 cubic centimetres (plus a small tolerance), and no more than 14 clubs in the bag. The conforming driver list only matters if the event you are entering says it does.
The ChartIs it legal? Yes or no, by question
| Your driver or your bag | Legal? | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Driver 48 inches long or shorter | Yes | Except for putters, a club must not exceed 48 inches (1.219 m). |
| Driver longer than 48 inches | No | Same limit. It applies to every club except the putter. |
| Putter longer than 48 inches | Yes | The 48 inch limit is written as "except for putters." |
| Any club shorter than 18 inches | No | Overall length must be at least 18 inches (0.457 m). |
| Driver head volume at 460 cubic centimetres | Yes | Wood heads must not exceed 460 cubic centimetres (28.06 cubic inches), plus a tolerance of 10 cubic centimetres (0.61 cubic inches). |
| Driver head more than 5 inches from heel to toe | No | For woods, the distance from the heel to the toe must not be greater than 5 inches (127 mm). |
| Driver head more than 2.8 inches from sole to crown | No | The sole-to-crown distance must not be greater than 2.8 inches (71.12 mm). |
| Adjustable driver, changed with the wrench | Yes | Adjustment is fine as long as it cannot be readily made. It must need a special tool, such as an Allen key, a Phillips screwdriver or a custom made device. |
| Driver you can adjust by hand, no tool | No | The rule says "the adjustment cannot be readily made." |
| Changing the driver's settings during a round | No | "During a round, the performance characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means." |
| Lead tape put on the head or shaft before the round | Yes | The rules permit lead tape on the shaft or the head for weighting. |
| Adding, removing or changing lead tape during a round | No | "The addition, removal or alteration of lead tape during a round is not permitted." |
| Driver that is not on the conforming driver list | Usually yes | The list is only recommended as a condition for events restricted to highly skilled players. Otherwise you can use an unlisted driver provided it conforms to the Rules. |
| Unlisted driver in an event that requires the list | No | If the condition applies, the driver has to be on the list. |
| Driver made before 1999 | Yes | Driver heads made before 1999 are exempt from the list condition. |
| Driver with a worn face | Yes | Wear from normal use does not turn a conforming club into a non-conforming one. |
| Driver damaged during the round | Yes | A conforming club damaged during the round is treated as conforming for the rest of that round, whatever the cause of the damage. Damage from abuse is not covered. |
| 14 clubs in the bag | Yes | Rule 4.1b: no more than 14 clubs at the start of the round or during it. |
| 15 clubs in the bag | No | Two penalty strokes for each hole where it happened in stroke play, to a maximum of four. In match play, one hole is deducted for each hole, to a maximum of two. |
Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules of Equipment, Part 2 (Conformance of Clubs); The R&A, Conforming Driver List; The R&A and USGA, Rules of Golf, Rule 4.
LimitsThe numbers in one place
| What is limited | The limit | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Shortest club | At least 18 inches (0.457 m) | Every club |
| Longest club | Not more than 48 inches (1.219 m) | Every club except putters |
| Head volume | 460 cubic centimetres (28.06 cubic inches), plus a tolerance of 10 cubic centimetres (0.61 cubic inches) | Wood heads, which includes drivers |
| Heel to toe | Not greater than 5 inches (127 mm) | Woods |
| Sole to crown | Not greater than 2.8 inches (71.12 mm) | Woods |
| Moment of inertia (MOI) | 5900 g cm2 (32.259 oz in2), plus a test tolerance of 100 g cm2 (0.547 oz in2) | Wood heads only |
| Putter head, heel to toe | 7 inches (177.8 mm) or less | Putters |
| Putter head, sole to top | 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) or less | Putters |
| Clubs in the bag | 14 | Starting the round and during it |
Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules of Equipment, Part 2, Sections 2.1c and 2.4b; The R&A and USGA, Rules of Golf, Rule 4.1b.
The ListThe conforming driver list, and when it matters
The R&A keeps a list of the driver models and lofts that have been submitted for evaluation and found to conform to the Rules. It is updated every Monday morning.
For most golfers it never comes up. The list is only recommended as a condition of competition for events restricted to highly skilled players, top amateur events included. If your club championship or weekend game does not mention it, you do not need it. The rules are clear on where the responsibility sits: it is yours to carry clubs that conform to the Rules of Golf.
If the event does require the list, a driver that is not on it cannot be used. Common reasons a driver is missing are that it was never submitted, it is non-conforming, or it was made before 1999. Pre-1999 heads are exempt from the condition. To check a driver that is not listed, contact the manufacturer or The R&A.
Face springiness is tested as well, under what the Rules call spring effect. The Rules of Equipment page points to a test protocol and does not give you a number you can check yourself, which is why the list is the practical way to know.
The BagThe 14-club limit
You may start a round with 14 clubs or fewer, and you may not have more than 14 during the round. If you start with fewer, you can add clubs up to 14. If you lose a club after starting with 14, you cannot replace it.
Borrowing is out. You cannot add or borrow a club that is being carried by or for another player on the course, and you cannot make a stroke with a club someone else is using.
The penalty adds up by hole. In stroke play it is two penalty strokes for each hole where you broke the rule, with a maximum of four in the round. In match play, one hole is deducted for each hole where it happened, with a maximum of two holes.
A non-conforming club is a bigger problem. Making a stroke with one means disqualification. Carrying one is not what that rule penalises, but it still counts toward your 14.
Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules of Golf, Rule 4.1a and Rule 4.1b.
Using itHow to use this chart
Start with the chart row that matches your question. If the answer is Yes, you are done. If it says Usually yes, check the event notice, since a competition may add a condition such as the conforming driver list.
For a new driver, check three things. The length is 48 inches or less. The model is on the conforming driver list if you play events that ask for it. The adjustments need a tool.
For an old or second-hand driver, look it up on the list by model and loft. If it is there, you are covered. If it is not, ask the manufacturer or The R&A. A head made before 1999 is exempt from the list condition.
Watch forCommon mix-ups
"Not on the list" does not mean illegal. The list is a convenience. An unlisted driver can be used in any event that does not require the list, as long as it conforms.
Head volume has a tolerance. The limit reads 460 cubic centimetres plus a tolerance of 10. Do not treat 460 as the cut-off on the nose.
The 48 inch limit is not for putters. A putter is the only club the length rule leaves open at the top end.
Adjusting the club is fine before the round, not during it. Set the loft and the weights before you tee off. Once you are playing, the settings stay put. The same goes for lead tape.
Carrying a spare is not free. A club you never hit still counts toward the 14 if it is in the bag.
Playing with a rangefinder or GPS watch as well? See what your device is allowed to show in a round.
FAQQuick answers
How long can a driver be?
No longer than 48 inches (1.219 m). That limit covers every club except the putter. Every club must also be at least 18 inches (0.457 m) long.
How big can a driver head be?
The volume limit is 460 cubic centimetres (28.06 cubic inches), plus a tolerance of 10 cubic centimetres (0.61 cubic inches). The head can be no more than 5 inches (127 mm) from heel to toe and 2.8 inches (71.12 mm) from sole to crown.
Can I use a driver that is not on the conforming driver list?
Usually yes. The list is recommended as a condition of competition only for events restricted to highly skilled players. If an event does not use the condition, an unlisted driver is fine provided it conforms to the Rules. If the event does use it, the driver has to be on the list.
Can I change my adjustable driver's settings during a round?
No. The performance characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means during a round. That includes adding, removing or altering lead tape.
How many clubs can I carry, and what happens with a 15th?
You can carry 14. In stroke play a 15th costs two penalty strokes for each hole where it happened, up to a maximum of four. In match play one hole is deducted for each hole where it happened, up to a maximum of two holes.
How do I check if my old driver is legal?
Look up the model and loft on The R&A's conforming driver list, which is updated every Monday. If it is not listed, the common reasons are that it was never submitted, it is non-conforming, or it was made before 1999. Pre-1999 heads are exempt from the list condition. The manufacturer or The R&A can tell you where a particular driver stands.