I have a driver dilemma & would like some feedback & opinions.

I started playing back in April and consistantly card between 100 & 120.  One of my bigger problems has been my ability to to stay on, or reasonably close to the fairway.

During my last round I began to realize that even though it is a highly exhilarating experience hitting a nice, high, straight drive around 250 yards.  I realized that it was happening only about 20 percent of the time, and the other 80 I was in the rough, trees, hazards, etc.

So on the 13th hole I began to use my 4i in place of my driver.  I kept track of my shots with a Garmin Approach and found I was hitting from 189-212 yards, and they were all straight down middle.

I am now thinking about taking the driver out of my bag and playing with my irons only.

What do you all think?  I am open to all suggestions, opinions, criticism, etc.

The driver is one of the toughest clubs to hit consistently due to its length.    I can only tell you what worked for me, which was to get a cheap used 460 cc driver, cut about 3 inches off it & use that as my training wheel club.      For the first year I played, I wound up hitting it nearly as long as all my buddies, because I was hitting the sweet spot & keeping it in play.    I eventually worked my way up over a couple other drivers to nearly full length, but in the beginning, I think shortening the driver is a good way to learn to hit one ...

PS - the driver is a club that for all but the low hcp's among us ... MUST be swung smoothly - ok, make that slower.     Don't use your full power pitching wedge swing with a driver - let the club do the work ... the driver is all about hitting the middle of the clubface - every time.

cnl390,

For the long term, it will help immensely to be able to hit a driver.

For the short term, I notice you have a 3W Baffler TRail. The TRail has a reputation as a user-friendly FW. If you can hit it OK, use that TRail instead of a 4i, until you get your driver straightened out.

I'd keep working at your driver on the range. I've pulled my driver/woods from my bag in the past and sure, you can reduce scores from where you are currently at. If you only play short courses this will work fine. However, without the driver you will probably plateau in the mid-high 80s unless you develop tour-like irons. If you play long par 4s with that 4i distance, you will be turning them effectively into par 5s. The other problem is you will run into par 3s that you can't reach with that 4i off the tee. Just depends on your course and the tees you play from.

At some point you will have to introduce the driver back in and that can be painful. I'd continue to use it and not worry about the scores. You are shooting 100-120...now is the time to work on it.

So many new players have this same exact problem, all I can say is your going to have to either take some lessons or post a swing video and let mvmac give you some direction or learn on your own through instruction books or maybe internet. And realize depending on your level of hand eye coordination and athletic ability and understanding it could take a while. If I were you I would post a swing video.