Putting up the driver...

[Philip9210]

Ok, today at the course I tried some of the advice I had been given on this site...to use a 6 iron off of the tee instead of a driver into the woods haha...to my surprise, this worked, i did it on the last 4 holes and if only I were better from 100yds in, I would have had birdie putts on these holes! I'm so excited for the next time I go out, I really think I have a shot at breaking 100 w/ this!!!

[David in FL]

Ok, today at the course I tried some of the advice I had been given on this site...to use a 6 iron off of the tee instead of a driver into the woods haha...to my surprise, this worked, i did it on the last 4 holes and if only I were better from 100yds in, I would have had birdie putts on these holes! I'm so excited for the next time I go out, I really think I have a shot at breaking 100 w/ this!!!

Good for you. You've learned a lesson that many never do.......

......it's not how , it's how many !

[Herms]

Good for you. Most people, even me, should keep the driver in the bag more often. I've started to use my 3 Hybrid more to keep the ball on the fairway.

[opie]

I rarely pull my driver out. In fact I didn't at all last night and played my best nine holes ever. Staying in between the trees is the way to go

[patz0r]

I have been using my 4H or 3W for most par 4/5s these days. I usually only take a shot with my driver if the fairway is pretty wide so I'm unlikely to lose it. I still seem to hit my 4H around 210-220 with a solid hit which sets up for a good 2nd shot almost every time, plus it seems more controllable and workable for getting around doglegs and hazards reliably.

[CG031]

Luckily, the driver is the straightest club in my bag or seemingly has been, I hit 12/14 fairways yesterday, but anyway, this is a great strategy if you can't find the fairway, or even the first cut of rough...Most courses us normal amatuers play are not all that long so driver isn't necessary on every hole.

I will sometimes you 3 wood or hybrid off the tee if I can't get the driver in play, but most rounds my driver is by far my best club, so I never really use anything else off the tee.

It's a great play though, should help you lower your scores.

[OnePutt]

I only used the driver on holes where I was comfortable today, for example open fairways used the driver, then the other four I used the 5 wood, which I can easily hit straight.

[Marinemike]

I will sometimes you 3 wood or hybrid off the tee if I can't get the driver in play, but most rounds my driver is by far my best club, so I never really use anything else off the tee.

I'm with you. Use the stick that gets the job done. I hit fairway about 2/3 and rarely am in the trees (this has not always been true, I assure you). I leave my 3w in the truck because it's a waste of space in the bag. If I took a 6i off the tee on a 400 yard hole it would take me a week to get to the hole. If there's trouble at 230 to 260 I'll use my 5W. YMMV.

[iWALK18]

I have seen silly-good improvement in my play when I hit 4i rather than driver off the tee. If i were trying to break 100 for the first time i would absolutely keep the driver in the bag.

Lets say you hit 3 to the green instead of 2... so what you still set yourself up for a baseline of 90 (18 over, assuming on in 3 and all 2 putts), and you are going to eliminate blowups.

[golf_nut]

My driver is the only club that I have confidence in. I wish it were the opposite. I hit a lot of great drives and still end up with bogeys and doubles.

[microcrayfish]

I've only recently started carrying a driver and even now I only get it out on holes that have really wide fairways. Usually I hit 3 wood off the tee or if the hole is only about 300 metres I'll hit 4 hybrid.

[topspin4hand]

My driver is the only club that I have confidence in. I wish it were the opposite. I hit a lot of great drives and still end up with bogeys and doubles.

I'm sort of in the same boat. I hit my driver better than my 3W and 5W and definitely better than my 4 hybrid ...

I just broke 100 for the 1st time 2 weeks ago and of course it was the 1st time that I never had to take strokes due to hitting out-of-bounds or lost balls. If I didn't 3 putt more holes than not, I'd be shooting for sub-90 scores. ... damn this game.

[Urrrk]

I'm hitting my driver further than ever--and still rarely straight. I'll play it maybe once a round when I've got nice wide fairways on either side. Frankly the value just isnt there. I'm further down the the fairway hitting two 7I's than I am hitting the driver and then snaking one throught the trees to get back on my fairway. So I'm going 3H or 3W off the tee more and more.

But I got my first birdie on a par four last week by hitting a 3w 220 yards, and taking it in with the sand wedge (54 degree) to with 3 feet. That was sweet!

[hokiebound]

Yeah, using an iron off the tee works a good amount for me as well. When the driver isn't working, it's time for the hybrid or 4 iron.

[Robiola the Monster]

Ok, today at the course I tried some of the advice I had been given on this site...to use a 6 iron off of the tee instead of a driver into the woods haha...to my surprise, this worked, i did it on the last 4 holes and if only I were better from 100yds in, I would have had birdie putts on these holes! I'm so excited for the next time I go out, I really think I have a shot at breaking 100 w/ this!!!

You havn't broken 100 but your off 26.9??? Is your course like par 85???

[Philip9210]

You havn't broken 100 but your off 26.9??? Is your course like par 85???

oops...thanks for pointing that out...i hit 2 instead of 3 wen typing it in lol

[$2 Nassau]

You havn't broken 100 but your off 26.9??? Is your course like par 85???

Could just be the course has a high rating and slope. At the course I play at a lot (bro in law's club) if you shoot 100 that is a 23 differential from par.

So he could be playing at a similar course and may have some rounds in the low 100's-110's that produce such an index. Just a guess. Or his handicap index is incorrect. EDIT: nevermind, just saw the above post!

[pittpanther]

I'm hitting my driver further than ever--and still rarely straight. I'll play it maybe once a round when I've got nice wide fairways on either side. Frankly the value just isnt there. I'm further down the the fairway hitting two 7I's than I am hitting the driver and then snaking one throught the trees to get back on my fairway. So I'm going 3H or 3W off the tee more and more.

Sorry for picking on your post, Urrrk.

I agree that 7I, 7I, PW, might work. The problem is that as a high-handicapper such as yourself (or me, for that matter), what is the chance of hitting three flush iron shots in a row? Isn't it just as likely that you'll duff your second 7I? And now you're no better of than your driver in the woods. I'm from the school of thought that says using Driver 12-14 times per round is part of the game, and we need to learn how to use it. Just like the "rules sticklers" on this board that proclaim if you don't follow every rule, then you're not really playing golf - I proclaim that not using D is not really playing golf. You'll be instantly pegged as a hacker, not a golfer.