what is a spined shaft?

Yeah this is good to remember. Handicap is ranking where a high handicap player is most likely to shoot a worse score than a scratch golfer. Though you'd think a super narrow shorter hole would be relatively high handicap (as in close to #1 or #2 because a scratch golfer can hit 4i-SW and have a good look at birdie frequently whereas a high handicap is gonna be in jail or OB a ton? I guess it being short disqualifies it? I have long noticed that as a long hitting mid-handicapper I get an advantage playing in tournaments against players where I get 3-4 strokes because those are usually the par 5s that I can reach or nearly reach in 2.

Crunching the numbers, if you play the hole.. 100..1000 times, the best average of the hole you are going to get is with the Driver/Hybrid or playing it as a Par 5 hitting 3 wedges.  Assumptions of your game: Driver 240 yards (100 yards dispersion) Hybrid 200 (80) 6 iron 160 (60) 9 iron 120 (40) P wedge 100 (30)  Other assumptions from the hole: - When you hit it towards the threes 15% of your shots are going to bounce back to the fairway but 40 yards shorter, and 15% are going to remain in the threes but punchable out. The other 70% is going to be lost or OB so you need to Re-Tee (penalty + distance).   You are going to hit less balls OB if you hit 7 iron off the tee but you are still gong to hit balls OB! and you are going to play 100% of your 2nd shots from 150 yards where you can still can hit a couple more OB! The average score for each club (assuming you go for the green in the second shot) is: Driver: 5.4   Hybrid: 5.5 6 Iron: 5.9 9 Iron: 6.0 Given that 5.4 is the best average you can get, is not necessary to go for the green in two. So you can hit 3 shots to reach it, maybe P (100), P(100) and wedge (90) and be around bogey or double but with this strategy you are going to be almost 100% in play all the time to avoid a roller-coaster of scores in that hole. Scratch players can hit 150 off the tee with a 9 iron and keep the ball in play almost 100% of the time so they can play the hole as a par 4 and be around par in average.   

This. Whatever your longest iron is where you won't be in the trees a high percentage of the time. If that's shorter than 7i (as in, you'll have to hit a longer iron for your approach bringing trees back into play with high probability), I agree you're better off getting closer. But again play the percentages. If your 3w or 5w dispersion is solidly narrower than your driver, hit those. But some people hit driver straighter, so whatever gives you the highest probability of not being in the trees.

Essentially find the longest club you can hit straight and go with that off the tee.  You want the shortest shot into the green for your second.  If that is the hybrid or 7i or even PW, go with that.  You lose a lot more by being OB and having to re-tee

@TxGolfDude I’m curious as to how long this ‘repeatable swing’ has lasted. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but we all know how cruel the Golf Gods can be. I too have had quite a golf swing journey. Unfortunately, when it comes to the golf swing I have zero natural talent. Nothing about it feels comfortable or natural. The grip? I’ve done them all and it still feels like I’m holding a knotted oak branch. The proper take away feels awkward and weak. Arms in a proper position, asinine and no feel of any power. I’ve had times where I think I’ve developed an acceptable swing with handsome ball striking for months only to fall apart. So, how long have you had this swing working for ya?