Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, and Rickie Fowler aren’t allowed to show up at a tournament with a secret driver and use it. Every driver must be submitted to the United States Golf Association for testing to ensure it complies with the Rules of Golf and conforms to the standards established by the USGA and the R&A. Driver heads are tested for their characteristic time (a measure of the face’s springiness), volume, shape, and several other factors.
With 2025 just days away and several top players eager to experiment with new gear before next season starts, major brands have submitted clubs for USGA testing. These drivers have now been added to the USGA’s Conforming Driver Head List, meaning they are legal for play. In most cases, we can expect to see them on store shelves in the weeks and months ahead.
While the brands remain tight-lipped on the details, images and notes available on the USGA’s website, combined with knowledge of previous drivers, reveal a few insights about the next generation of drivers now on the conforming list.