Solid carbide spotting drills are harder than cobalt steel and high-speed steel spotting drills and provide good wear resistance when drilling into the toughest materials. Sometimes called hole-starting drill bits or spot drills, these short drills make starter holes that help prevent drill bits from walking (or moving) when the hole is made deeper with a drill bit.

High-speed steel spotting drills are the most common choice for a wide range of drilling applications. High-speed steel drills are typically less brittle than cobalt or carbide tools. Also known as hole-starting drill bits or spot drills, these short drills make starter holes that help stop drill bits from walking (or moving) as the hole is drilled deeper with a drill bit.

Cobalt steel spotting drills provide more wear resistance at higher speeds than high-speed steel spotting drills and are suitable for drilling into hard materials. These short drills (also known as hole-starting drill bits or spot drills) create starter holes that help keep drill bits from walking (or moving) when the hole is drilled deeper with a drill bit.