TaylorMade engineers used the firm's proprietary swing-analysis system to measure 85,000 swings from golfers like you. Their research shows that players, regardless of handicap level, hit 70-plus percent of drives on or above the center of the face. Yet shots struck high on the face produce 1,200 rpm less spin than center hits. Those struck in the middle of the club, toward the toe or heel, have 500 rpm less spin than center hits. The spin reduction adds up to shorter drives because the ball won't stay in the air quite as long.

Armed with this data, the firm's ball gurus built new products (TP Red, TP Black, Burner TP and Burner) with LDP (low drag performance) dimples. Each dimple is designed with its own depth and edge angle, to reduce overall drag (the force that pushes against a ball as it travels through the air) without increasing lift (so it won't balloon). Bottom line: TaylorMade says its balls stay airborne longer on mis-hits, to the tune of six to 18 more yards, than competitors' balls.