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Thinking of dropping my woods - carry only irons and driver


Ash1974
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I have had a terrible couple of days with my woods recently, leading to pressure on my irons and game = terrible up and down scoring. I have never felt comfortable with my 3 wood and hybrid as no matter what model/setup I have owned I hit them great once in a while but terrible most of the time.

My driver has been on/off recently so I have been forced into using the 3 wood and hybrid off the tee with results that are worse than a loose drive, at least a loose drive is still 200ish but just in the rough (with the odd OOB) the 3 wood and hybrid are tops, pulls with 99% of them not making it 100 yards and never in the short stuff :(

So I am gonna drop the 3 wood and hybrid and just carry driver and irons (3-PW + 2 Wedges)

My 3 and 4 irons have been getting more solid off the tee and I am using them more on shorter par 4's OR easy to miss fairways.

Was wondering if anyone else does this?

I am going to give it a go and I am also going to start carrying again, as I am finding the hassle of the trolley just not suiting me at the moment.

:tmade: M2 10.5° - Fujikura Pro 60 - Stiff
:tmade: V-Steel 18° - M.A.S Ultralight- Stiff
:ping: G400 4-UW - AWT 2.0 - Stiff
:tmade: Tour Preferred 58° ATV - KBS Tour-V - Wedge
:scotty_cameron: Select SquareBack - 34" - SuperStroke MS 2.0

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I am pretty much dependant on my 3 wood but have never gotten in to the hybrids.In both the set in my sig and my more modern set I carry driver and 3 wood.  I used to carry a Taylor Raylor 16*  which is kind of the forerunner of the hybrids, but it was redundant since by Titleist DCI 1 iron was also 16* and gave about the same distance.

Don

In the bag:

Driver: PING 410 Plus 9 degrees, Alta CB55 S  Fairway: Callaway Rogue 3W PX Even Flow Blue 6.0; Hybrid: Titleist 818H1 21* PX Even Flow Blue 6.0;  Irons: Titleist 718 AP1 5-W2(53*) Shafts- TT AMT Red S300 ; Wedges Vokey SM8 56-10D Putter: Scotty Cameron 2016 Newport 2.5  Ball: Titleist AVX or 2021 ProV1

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if it is a short course, I dont need the woods as much. if I play a long course, the woods are essential. so, depending on the kind of course you are playing, you could get away without the woods.

golf is a lot like life. the more you enjoy it, the better off you are. a3_biggrin.gif
 
 

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Shelving the woods just masks the real problem, a bad swing.  Don't get me wrong, if using them adds strokes to your score and causes you grief, then yes, take them out for the short-term.  However, you should address your swing flaw(s) and work on improving your overall swing.  Once your swing gets better, put them back in the bag.

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:titleist: :scotty_cameron:
915D3 / 712 AP2 / SC Mont 1.5

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I would drop them for now but work on them when you are on the range. Woods really are important in a number of situations but when you are on the course, you do what you need to do to score well and if woods cost you strokes, ditch them till you can get them worked out.

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Cheers guys, don't get me wrong I know I have swing issues that are causing this and I don't blame the clubs, I think I have a reverse pivot that I need to work on big time (weight shifting) so until I sort this out I am dropping the clubs I am having the biggest issue with.


I will carry either a 3 wood or hybrid again, but not for now :)

On the reverse pivot I have all the symptoms, snap hooks, low pulls, tops and low shanks (even creaping into the irons when my head goes) I also hit the ball high and have pain in lower right back (from sliding hips instead of rotating) so going to get looked at by a Pro to confirm this before working on the weight shift.

:tmade: M2 10.5° - Fujikura Pro 60 - Stiff
:tmade: V-Steel 18° - M.A.S Ultralight- Stiff
:ping: G400 4-UW - AWT 2.0 - Stiff
:tmade: Tour Preferred 58° ATV - KBS Tour-V - Wedge
:scotty_cameron: Select SquareBack - 34" - SuperStroke MS 2.0

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Originally Posted by Ash1974

Cheers guys, don't get me wrong I know I have swing issues that are causing this and I don't blame the clubs, I think I have a reverse pivot that I need to work on big time (weight shifting) so until I sort this out I am dropping the clubs I am having the biggest issue with.

I will carry either a 3 wood or hybrid again, but not for now

On the reverse pivot I have all the symptoms, snap hooks, low pulls, tops and low shanks (even creaping into the irons when my head goes) I also hit the ball high and have pain in lower right back (from sliding hips instead of rotating) so going to get looked at by a Pro to confirm this before working on the weight shift.


You should read Iacas' thread, http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/29616/the-biggest-secret-slide-your-hips , and this thread, http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/36669/maintaining-the-flying-wedge .

While I can't speak for everyone, I will say that the information in these two threads helped me understand the swing (cause and effect) more than 6 different instructors and countless lessons over my 15 year golf "career".

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:titleist: :scotty_cameron:
915D3 / 712 AP2 / SC Mont 1.5

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Cheers dude, I will be all over these threads today

Originally Posted by Tomboys

You should read Iacas' thread,  http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/29616/the-biggest-secret-slide-your-hips, and this thread,  http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/36669/maintaining-the-flying-wedge.

While I can't speak for everyone, I will say that the information in these two threads helped me understand the swing (cause and effect) more than 6 different instructors and countless lessons over my 15 year golf "career".



:tmade: M2 10.5° - Fujikura Pro 60 - Stiff
:tmade: V-Steel 18° - M.A.S Ultralight- Stiff
:ping: G400 4-UW - AWT 2.0 - Stiff
:tmade: Tour Preferred 58° ATV - KBS Tour-V - Wedge
:scotty_cameron: Select SquareBack - 34" - SuperStroke MS 2.0

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I tried this last year a couple times. Both times I shot average rounds for my handicap but never really felt like it added that much to my score. There were times when I would have loved to hit a driver or 3w (Down 100 feet, 400 years to the back), making it 3-4 shots to get on the green on a par 5.

2013 Goal:

 

Single digit handicap

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I realize in my earlier reply I just said what I did without answering your question.

I think its fine and really common sense to lay off a couple clubs til you find what's causing the problem. I am pretty much of the one swing camp, modifiying only slightly from short irons, mid irons, long irons, woods, and feel the length and lie of the club does most of the adjusting for you. One drill that helps me sometimes on the range is to hit a few shots with one of my go to mid irons ie 5-6 or 7 and if they are flying correctly, pick up my "problem child" and try to make the same swing with it the only adjustment being the setup for the club length. I will hit a couple with it, then go back to my go to's regardless of the result with the problem club. After hitting 3-4 good ones with the mid iron, I try the problem child again and usually a few reps of this helps. This seems to help me more than pounding away with the problem club. This is also assuming the go to clubs are flying properly.

My problem last couple of rounds is my problem children are behaving better than my go tos!

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Don

In the bag:

Driver: PING 410 Plus 9 degrees, Alta CB55 S  Fairway: Callaway Rogue 3W PX Even Flow Blue 6.0; Hybrid: Titleist 818H1 21* PX Even Flow Blue 6.0;  Irons: Titleist 718 AP1 5-W2(53*) Shafts- TT AMT Red S300 ; Wedges Vokey SM8 56-10D Putter: Scotty Cameron 2016 Newport 2.5  Ball: Titleist AVX or 2021 ProV1

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One time I was just terrible with my driver it was dangerous I couldnt keep a ball in play with it for like 3 rounds.


So I took it completely out of my bag and played at pretty long course using my 4i off the tee the whole time. (For some reason I can only hit a 3w on the fairway).

I sure realized how important a driver was after that round and was able to focus on i mproving it and being less frustrated because I saw how difficult golf can be without it. IMO  never a problem to remove a club from your bag, just to show you what it does in fact mean for your game.

 Driver:callaway.gifBig Bertha 460cc 10* Hybrids: adams.gif A7 3-4H  Irons: adams.gif A7 5i-PW
Wedges: cleveland.gifCG 12 50*, CG 14 56*, CG12 60* Putt Putt:odyssey.gif White ICE Tour Bronze 1 Putter
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Your listed handicap is 14.2, and I am assuming you listed your distance in meters?  It really sounds like a lesson or two is in order.  You would probably be able to address this quickly with some assistance, at 14 you don't want to go backwards, not carrying woods at all unless you can hit an iron over 200 yards in the air takes away most birdie chances.  As a fourteen you are getting to the point where you can start making some birdies, and that really makes the game fun.

1W Cleveland LauncherComp 10.5, 3W Touredge Exotics 15 deg.,FY Wilson 19.5 degree
4 and 5H, 6I-GW Callaway Razr, SW, LW Cleveland Cg-14, Putter Taylor Made Suzuka, Ball, Srixon XV Yellow

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Originally Posted by allin

Your listed handicap is 14.2, and I am assuming you listed your distance in meters?  It really sounds like a lesson or two is in order.  You would probably be able to address this quickly with some assistance, at 14 you don't want to go backwards, not carrying woods at all unless you can hit an iron over 200 yards in the air takes away most birdie chances.  As a fourteen you are getting to the point where you can start making some birdies, and that really makes the game fun.


Not aware that I listed any distances? if I did they would be in yards anyway, but your right I have just started to (when I hit decent shots)  hit greens in 2 with longer irons and the birdy's were starting to come.

I had a lesson last night, got my head back on centre line (to far forward) my hands were to close to body so they are further out under my chin, also worked on taking the head of the club away (as in low to the ground) to widen the swing, this lead to the weight shift happening naturally, weakened left hand grip and  the results were very good for one lesson.

Quite a major swing change, but for the better as I could really get through the ball to a strong finish

I hit my hybrid during the lesson as well and it was the best hit club of the lesson, so I will be leaving the 3 wood at home but taking that out this Sunday.

I will report back after that round, gonna chill on it though and use it as a practice round

:tmade: M2 10.5° - Fujikura Pro 60 - Stiff
:tmade: V-Steel 18° - M.A.S Ultralight- Stiff
:ping: G400 4-UW - AWT 2.0 - Stiff
:tmade: Tour Preferred 58° ATV - KBS Tour-V - Wedge
:scotty_cameron: Select SquareBack - 34" - SuperStroke MS 2.0

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I used to carry Driver, 2 - sand wedge, putter, thats it.  But for somewhat different reasons, driver was very good, long and straight, 2 iron 230 yards.  Took the 3 wood out of the bag because I would tend to go for par 5's in 2 with the 3 wood in my bag, resulted in 2 many bogies as far as I was concerned.  Removed the 3 wood and the temptation, I found I could make the same number of birdies and litteraly no bogies on par 5's by laying up and using the wedge.  Use the club's that work for you, don't worry about what other people think

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You might try out a 4W. These days, 3Ws tend to be 14 - 15º, and 4Ws 16-17º.

A couple of extra degrees in loft often makes a difference. Golf Digest had a column a couple years back which said the 4W is easier to hit for most golfers than the 3W.

Let your lesson take for a few days, and then try the 3W. If it's still a problem, test out a 4W.

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Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking AcademyFitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48°, 54°... MD4: 58° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

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Originally Posted by allin

Your listed handicap is 14.2, and I am assuming you listed your distance in meters?  It really sounds like a lesson or two is in order.  You would probably be able to address this quickly with some assistance, at 14 you don't want to go backwards, not carrying woods at all unless you can hit an iron over 200 yards in the air takes away most birdie chances.  As a fourteen you are getting to the point where you can start making some birdies, and that really makes the game fun.



I was an 8-10 index in the 90s with a persimmon driver and my next longest club was a 2iron. There are many paths to the way.

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Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.

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Cheers guys for your replies

:tmade: M2 10.5° - Fujikura Pro 60 - Stiff
:tmade: V-Steel 18° - M.A.S Ultralight- Stiff
:ping: G400 4-UW - AWT 2.0 - Stiff
:tmade: Tour Preferred 58° ATV - KBS Tour-V - Wedge
:scotty_cameron: Select SquareBack - 34" - SuperStroke MS 2.0

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I love the sand trap. get great ideas all the time from reading different threads. anyways, I am going to play my local golf course on monday without any of my woods. I will use my driver of course. but no 3-wood or the hybrid. I want to see how much more difficult or easier it might be to have to lay up on par 5's. or short par 4's.

golf is a lot like life. the more you enjoy it, the better off you are. a3_biggrin.gif
 
 

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Note: This thread is 3735 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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