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The Daily Insight Hub

When was the first metal driver?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on January 07, 2026

1925
Golf’s First Metal Driver 1925.

Who invented the metal wood?

Gary Adams
Gary Adams, founder of TaylorMade Golf, is considered the father of the modern metal wood. Adams began to market his club in the late 1970s, but it was nearly a decade until metal woods became more popular with most golfers.

When was the metal wood introduced?

1979
A few golf pros on the PGA tour started using the metal wood after its introduction in 1979.

When did drivers stop being made of wood?

20th Century Golf Clubs While steel was used for club shafts, wooden heads were the norm for drivers and fairway woods until the 1970s.

What is the best Ping driver ever made?

Check Out Our Top 4 Best Ping Drivers

  • Ping G400 Driver. The PING G400 was declared as the best driver by the golf champion Patrick Reed which is a huge thing.
  • PING G400 LST Men’s Driver. The Ping G400 LST Men’s Driver is the enhanced version of the standard Ping G400.
  • PING G400 MAX Driver.
  • PING G30 SF Tec Driver.

    When did metal drivers become popular?

    The metal revolution started to take shape in 1979 when TaylorMade introduced the first steel head onto the market. Taylormade driver nicknamed it the “Pittsburgh Persimmon” as TaylorMade used steel rather than persimmon. and it developed into one of their strongest lines throughout the 1980s.

    What is the #1 driver in golf?

    The driver — or #1 wood — features the longest shaft, biggest head and least loft (aside from the putter) of all golf clubs. It’s designed to hit the ball long distances from the tee, usually on par-4 and par-5 holes requiring multiple shots to reach the green.

    Is TaylorMade owned by Nike?

    It was still owned by Adidas, which acquired TaylorMade in 1997 when it bought ski brand Salomon. Nike halted making all clubs and balls in 2016, and Adidas sold off TaylorMade to private equity firm KPS Capital Partners in 2017.

    What is the oldest golf club in the world?

    St Andrews Old Course
    St Andrews Old Course needs little introduction and is widely regarded as the spiritual home of golf. The Old Course is the oldest golf course in the world.

    What is the most forgiving driver ever?

    Golfers have been hugely impressed by the Ping G400 Max forgiveness levels, with a 460cc head and the most stable MOI Ping had ever produced, making it the most forgiving driver in golf at the time of release.

    Who was the inventor of the metal driver?

    They marketed “The Bombshell” which debuted in 1976. One of the early pioneers was Gerry Adams, a man considered the Grandfather of the metal wood, who would find fame as the founder of TaylorMade.

    When was the first metal headed Golf driver made?

    Metal-headed drivers were first developed in1979. Then in 1989 the first oversize metal-headed drivers were designed and mass-produced by all of the leading manufacturers of golf clubs.

    Who was the first golfer to use a metal wood?

    On this day in history….Evolution of the “metal”wood.. On this day, May 3, 1985…. Ron Streck wins the rain-shortened Michelob-Houston Open and earns the distinction of being the first player to win a PGA TOUR event using a metal wood.

    Who are the major players in the metal driver market?

    Callaway became the major player in the oversized metal driver market with their introduction of the Big Bertha driver (soon to be followed by the Great Big Bertha and the Biggest Big Bertha).