High Handicapper Thinking About Completely Replacing the Driver with a Hybrid for Now - Your Thoughts?

Quick background on me.  I've been playing for about five years now.  I haven't been playing often enough to really improve (maybe 4-5 rounds per year) and I still need to start taking lessons, which I plan on doing next year when I can budget the money to do so.  So I know everyone will tell me I need to take lessons to become a consistently better player.  My short term goal is to break a hundred.  I know that after playing for five years, that I should have surpassed that goal by now, and I know I probably would have done so if I took lessons right off the bat, but it is what it is.  Lessons are in my plans for next year, when I can afford them.

I've been trying a few different things lately and had an epiphany when I played nine holes today.  I was hitting the ball straighter compared to my last round (probably b/c for the first time I used Bridgestone e6 balls, which are awesome) and I was generally happy with my progress with my irons, because I've finally learned how to take a divot, after I figured out recently that hitting off grass vs. turf at the driving range is WAY more realistic and beneficial.  Long story short, my "aha" moment today was when I noticed a remarkable difference in the consistency in teeing off with my hybrid vs. my driver.

My hybrid resulted in less distance off the tee than my driver, but my hybrid was in the fairway almost every time, while I lost two shots off the tee with my driver, and had a couple of other undesirable shots with the driver. I guess I'm answering my own question, but does it make any sense right now for me to even bring my driver to the course when playing rounds?

My gut is telling me that when I play my next round, by teeing off with my hybrid on every long hole instead of my driver, I will score MUCH lower.  What good does it do me to hit the ball farther with my driver, if I end up stuck behind a tree, when I can land in the fairway (all be it 30 yards shorter) almost all the time with my hyrid?

It seems a lot more logical for me to just take the driver out of my bag for now, and perhaps replace it with a fourth wedge (as recommended by Dave Pelz) to improve my short game and possibly see other benefits.  Maybe when I'm consistently below 100, I can revisit the driver.

Has anybody here tried simply replacing the driver completely with a hybrid?  And when I say completely, I mean for every long drive on the course, as in, leaving the driver at home altogether.  If so, what kind of results did you get?

Also, has anyone here tried keeping a fourth wedge in their bag?  Has it benefitted your short game and overall scoring much?

Thank you!

You're talking about two issues here: no driver and wedge #4

If the hybrid gets you in the fairway and the driver doesn't, go with the hybrid. This will build up your confidence and should improve your scores. You can ask the pro for driver tips when you take lessons next season.

Some people use a 3W off the tee, but if you don't carry FWs, a hybrid will work.

As for another wedge... four wedges is a lot to manage, especially for an occasional golfer. If you have a chip and run shot, a wedge for inside-50-yard shots, and something to get you out of the sand, this should do it for you for now. When you take lessons in the spring, you might consider a short-game lesson to get tips on which wedge combo would work for you.

Hint: Why not put the clubs you carry either in your Signature line, or in a List format? That way, we'll know your club models and mix, and can better understand how you approach the game.

WUTiger, your feedback is greatly appreciated.  I will try and get my clubs listed in the signature line.  I'm embarrassed to say that other than the driver and putter, it's mostly a generic starter set.

Take the driver out of the bag . I play nine holes a week and usually go to the range one other time . For years I have struggled with the driver . For the past couple of years , I would say for nine holes i was in the fairway for two  holes . A couple of weeks ago my playing partner was saying how well I was hitting my hybrids . So I finally put the ego aside and started by teeing off with my Adams Idea 5 . Almost every time I was 175 or 180 , but right down the middle . Since most of the courses I play are no more than 6200 yards , I am usually in good shape to be on in regulation . Yesterday  I shot a 43 . If you want to enjoy the game , use the hybrid unless you desire to be a  really good player . Experiment with different hybrid lofts . I mix in my 4 hybrid on some longer holes .. Sure , on a long par 5 you may feel cheated on the teebox without driver , but if you have the potential to be on in 3 , who cares ? The key is to enjoy the game . Just go to a public course and watch the GREAT majority of players on the first tee , using driver . When you see 70 % hit lousy shots , tee it up and casually hit it 180 right down the center . Good luck .

Ditch the drive.

Less clubs is a great way to improve consistency. I played for years teeing off with a 5-iron when I was a 25. If I was playing a long course, I'd have a 5-iron second shot too. Bt the end of the round, I was setting up perfectly with my 5-iron and hitting it very solidly for me. If I could start over, I would play with half the clubs in my bag.

As someone who has asked myself this same question most of the year, I will disagree with the other posts. You will never get better with your driver if you don't hit it. Now, obviously the range is a better place to practice that, but a well hit driver on the course makes a more enjoyable hole. Why not carry your hybrid AND your driver to the tee box? Your listed HDCP is (like mine) too high to be really worried about an "official" round. Hit two tee shots (ONLY if you're not holding anyone up). If you hit a bad driver, just pick it up

Good post and I respectfully disagree with parts. I  agree that you must hit your driver to learn how to hit it well. But learning to hit the ball straighter teach you things you need to know in order to improve your driving. A ball that is slightly off and travels 220 yards may catch the edge of the fairway. That same shot 260 yards may be deep in the woods. So, on the course, your job is to stay out of the woods.

When I was a high handicap younger guy, I rarely played golf that was not with others. And we almost always had a friendly game. The course was not the place for me to learn to hit anything. I can not recall a round when it would have been OK to hit two balls off the tee.

Out there on your own? Go ahead and take your range work out on the course.

I agree. I don't often play with a group so I am usually able to hit multiple tee shots if I wish. I spent alot of time on the range and would think I've got it figured out, only to hit the course and be deeper in the woods than before. I have spent a fortune this year on balls! But for me, standing on the tee box with a driver in hand is so much different than hitting on the range. I had to keep working until I've finally worked it out. NO lost tee balls this weekend!

One challenge is to stop trying to play "golf swing" and start playing "golf."

The goal of golf is to get the ball in the hole with as few shots as possible. The goal of "golf swing" is to hit good shots. It is easy to get suckered into golf swing. The second hole on my course is short enough that I can hit hybrid and 8-iron to the green unless the wind is really up. Sure, I can hit driver and a shot pitch shot but driver puts lots of trouble into play. It has taken me years to get the discipline to leave the driver in the bag, sometimes until the seventh tee. On the ninth hole, a well placed driver goes over the bunkers, kicks off the back of them, and leaves a 125 yard shot to the green. Because of the dog-leg, a 3-wood leaves me 170-180 but takes the water long and right at 245 virtually out of play. Playing for score, the play is 3-wood. Playing golf swing, it is driver every time.

It is not written that driver should be used whenever possible. It should be written that driver should be used whenever practical. If you can't hit it straight enough to keep it in play, then don't hit it.

Last summer I starting teeing off with a 4 iron, which I was hitting about 220 (I dont think I hit it this far anymore).  My scores improved by a few strokes and my consistency improved a ton.  This winter I suddenly learned to hit my 3W and went the first 6 months of this year hitting that off the tee.  Again, my scores were improving.

Last month I went back to the driver, and I don't see how I ever scored without it.  Holes where I was hitting 7 iron before are now gap wedge distance. Holes that were 5 irons after a good 3W are 9 irons now.

I think that as long as you can keep the ball in play with the driver, you're better off with the distance.  I'd rather have a 9iron from the rough than a 5 iron from the fairway.

Of course you are better off with the distance if you can keep the ball in play. The key is keeping the ball in play.

Your experience goes to the OP. I'm guessing that you didn't hit your driver dead straight and just elect to give it up for a 4-iron. You played with a 4-iron and when you could hit a straight 3-wood you played with it. Then you went to a driver when you could keep it in play. Good plan.

Right, I just meant "in play" as opposed to OB.  I think that you can be better off hitting 20% of your fairways with a driver than 40-50% with shorter club.  Chipping out of the trees 2-3 times a round is probably worth the difference in distance.  Hitting OB 2-3 times a round is probably not.

I just think OP shouldn't be so quick to throw out the driver.  Maybe keep it in the bag on the course, but don't give up on it at the range.  I didn't hit it at the range for 6 months, totally gave up on it.  I wish I hadn't done that.

I dont think avoiding the problem is the answer. I am working on a new system. Less that 340 yards Ill go 3 iron off the tee. 340-360 Hybrid 360-380 is 3 wood. Anything more than that I am hitting driver. This is my hopes to avoid as much damage as possible and always be in scoring position on my second shot from 100-120. Things can change if there is trouble or what not. But make the driver hittable. Doesnt have to be a good shot but just get to where if you REALLY concentrate on your 4 driver hits per round. It will make the game alot easier hitting wedges into the green instead of 5 irons into greens. Also work on a good punch shot. I used it all the time for when I do end up in the trees. I hove no better club in my bag than a 3 iron that I can fade or draw and keep lower then 10 feet but still going 170 yards with fairway roll.

These type of systems are fundamentally flawed. If the hole is 340 with tons of space in your landing zone, you should be pulling driver. If it is 400 but there are bunkers and OOBs where you miss, you should be using a club that avoids it.   The distance of the hole doesn't matter as much as the risk of a bad shot and the reward for a good one.

Thank you all for your feedback.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.  So I think I will try leaving my driver, and my ego, at home for a few rounds and see what results I get.

This may be more comments than you thought, but I was in your boat last year. I lost the feel of my driver and was not worth using. Only until recent have I started hitting fairways somewhat regularly. Anyways, I ditched my driver for nearly a year and would tee off with my hybrid or 3W. It was only worth 200-235 yards, but I was getting FIRs and I enjoyed golf more. What got to me was not being able to reach longer Par 4s. Once I got the handle of my irons and around the greens, I started using the driver.

"Only worth 200-235 yards"?

I would kill to hit the ball that far of the tee, consistently!