How many of you do not use a driver?

As the title asks, how many of you do not use a driver in your average round of golf?

I really struggle with my driver.  Some days I can hit it very well but more often than not, I end up hitting it left or right with miserable distance which only pisses me off.  To avoid the frustration, I usually tee off using a 3w (which generally goes dead straight or has a slight fade).

My golf buddy went so far as to sell his driver.  At the weekend warrior amateur level, I really wonder how much better off the average golfer would play if they would just leave the driver at home and use a wood off the tee.

Using a driver is completely and totally overrated at the amateur level. Until recently I was very inconsistent with my driver, so I would always tee up a 3 wood. Not only did it save me strokes, it boosted my confidence as well. This game is about keeping the ball in play, not hitting it a mile and a half.

On Par 4's that are less than 375 yards out, I'll hit a hybrid off the tee.

On ones that are longer than 375 (that don't have too many hazards/traps), I'll run with the driver. I also swing the driver the same way I would any other club, coming down on the ball.

+1

When I first started I could hit my 3w straight and only lose at max 20 yards to my driver.  Once I got over the "real golfers hit driver" thing I did well with my 3w during rounds and didn't even take a driver with me.  Now that I can hit my driver pretty consistently I've replaced the 3w in the bag with a 4w, but still will hit the 4w off the tee if the fairway is tight or I'm having "issues" with the driver.  I also lost a lot less balls leaving my driver at home.

Fully agree, usually nothing but an ego trip and then an ego killer (at least for the rational golfers; irrational ones will blame everything but the driver).  I laugh at amateurs that chastise other golfers that choose to not use drivers.

I still plan on working on improving my driver swing and consistency at the range but it is staying in my bag or in my car when I am on an actual course.  I cannot remember the last time I failed to make GIR on long holes by NOT using a driver...there is always some other reason.

The duffer I was paired with today questioned me when I used a four iron off a 330 yd dog leg par four with a freaking redwood guarding the corner. "Why don't you just try and hit it over the tree?" he asked. " My response was, "because I'm trying to keep the ball in play." I birdied the hole, he tried to fly it over the redwood and made double...lol

I "force" myself to use one even though it generally doesn't help my score. I've been hitting my hybrids reasonably well as of late which sort of lessens the damage from my lousy driver.  But if I were playing some type of tournament, I'd have to seriously consider removing it from my bag....unfortunately. It would be a "course management" decision before even getting on the course.

I'm a bit perplexed as to why you would "force" yourself to use a club you admittedly do not hit well. If you are hitting the rest of your clubs with a decent amount of consistency, then more than likely your mechanics are breaking down while swinging your driver. Until you identify the problem(s) and make a concerted effort in attempting to correct said problem, "forcing" yourself to hit your driver on the course is most likely hindering your ability to score as well as you could.

Totally agree, it just seems many default to driver off the tee without even thinking about it.  Even on long par 5's, if you are not going to get on in two, go ahead and keep the 1st one in play with a 3 wood or hybrid and then lay up to a nice yardage.

Yup....course management can go a long way in improving your score at the end of the day.

Totally agree with the below. I went through a stage earlier this season where I just couldnt keep my driver in play. I was quite honestly playing out of the woods most holes. One day im at the course and as I was taking my clubs out I just left the big stick in the trunk and decided to tee of mostly with a 3 wood. Anyways, scores starting improving immediately and I don't feel self-concious about not using the driver at all.

I usually get some flak from my buddies for "wussing out", but I'm more concerned about making pars

Try a higher lofted driver with a 45 inch shaft.

More forgiveness - more backspin, less sidespin.

I use a TM Superfast 2.0 HT ... but the stock shaft, it's spinny, which might be good for some. I should have gone stiff instead of regular ... but I normally change shafts on keepers...

I went through a period where I couldn't hit my driver to save myself. It always went to the right whether it was a slice or a push. For a good amount of that time, I always tee'd off with my 3 wood and shot lower scores with it.

I, too, had buddies that called me a "wuss" as well, especially on short par 4's. But hey, I shot par and they shot D. Bogey. So who cares what anyone says...

My preferred driver is 10.5º stiff flex cut down to 44".  Cutting it down from 46" helped to some degree but I still cannot hit it nearly as consistently as I can a stock length 3w even though it is a very similar swing plane.

For me a hole must be over 400 yards and straight (or the straight portion has to be at least the length of my average drive).  I want my approaches between 150 and 100 yards, I will use whatever club will give them me that.  On the course I like to play the most, I only use my driver on 3 holes, they are all par 5 and all straight.

I do have one sucker hole I just can't resist the attempt to drive though.  298 to the middle of the green but it has a 265yd forced carry to actually do it.  I should lay up like most everyone else but I just have to go for it every time.  It's my Tin Cup moment. I made it the first time I played it and have attempted it every time since.  I think I'm about 12/20 right now (which is to say 12 times I had a playable second shot, only hit the actual green twice).

I use a driver on every par 4 + 5 at my home course - I usually hit 12-13 fairways a round. I tried the 3 wood theory when I was a newbie and it never worked well for me. Yes, there are courses where you cant tee off with a driver everywhere but it is common sense to tee off with an iron when 180 straight ahead will put you in the woods.

A 460cc club should be easier for the new guys to hit than a 3 wood. If they didnt try to swing out of their shoes they would have a bit more success.

A lot of guys spend more on their drivers and replace them more often than any other club - they should get their money's worth!

My driver is a stiff flex 9.5* cut down a smidge. Normally you lose distance by cutting a club, but if cutting it down allows you to hit it straight, you will actually gain distance back from what you lost in the fade or draw you played before...at least it will seem that way...imo.

totally agree with this - I've had a handful of drivers so far & have experimented with cutting length to improve ball striking - helps me tremendously.     Losing an inch & a quarter doesn't cost me any measurable distance, but significantly improves my ball striking.