The driver is typically used for the longest shots in golf.
Also called the 1-wood, the driver has the longest shaft and usually the lowest loft of the clubs in a golfer's bag. Those features help launch the ball farther, so it is normally used for the opening shot on a par-4 or par-5 hole, when maximum distance is the goal.
Modern drivers are highly specialized for shots from the tee. Their large, deep clubheads and broad faces are designed to maximize forgiveness and ball speed. Although drivers can be played from the fairway, doing so is difficult because the club's shape and low loft are optimized for a teed-up ball.
The word “wood” comes from the traditional construction of these clubs, whose heads were once made from hardwood such as persimmon. Modern drivers are generally made with metal or composite materials. Fairway woods can also hit long shots, but the driver is the standard choice for the greatest distance.