Driver Dilemma

[RetiredOldMan]

High everyone, 

I have got myself in a bind and need some advice and some thinking, other than my own. 

In 2018, I ordered a Tour Edge, Hot Launch 2, Driver with a 12* offset. Picture below. 

I think my loft angle is also 12*. (Maybe Not 12* Loft)  It has a Senior Flex Shaft. 

I really like it. It is easy to hit and 99% of the time is straight down the fairway. If I have a really good fairway lie I can hit in out in the fairway. (About 210 to 225 yards off the tee, at Fort Hays playing grass greens)  

The problem is, the ball flies too high and I lose distance. I play in a windy location and as a rule wind up about 20 yards short on my drives. I can tee it lower but when I do, it becomes harder to hit the sweet spot and thus I may not get a good drive as I usually do. 

I started playing "Grass Greens'" at Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course. On the Sand Greens that I play, the fairway is usually a "Buffalo Grass" fairway. This is a real thin grass and very hard ground. Thus, when I hit the Hot Launch, I get a lot of roll after the ball lands. (Easily 20 to 30 yards and farther.) 

If I take the Hot Launch to Fort Hays, my drives usually take a single bounce and quit rolling, due to thick grass fairways. 

So,,,,,,I had the opportunity to buy a Taylor Made RBZ Driver. (Early this summer)  I like it but it did take some getting used to before I  started getting good drives. 

It is an adjustable loft and I have it set on 9.5* and is a "Stiff Shaft." 

Picture below. 

I hit the Taylor Made well. (About 250 to 265 yards off the tee.) 

The problem is if I get tired, the Taylor Made is not as forgiving as the Hot Launch. ( So, I have to concentrate on slowing my back swing down and hitting it more relaxed) The plus side is I usually can drive farther using the Taylor Made. 

If I am playing well and in my groove ,the Taylor Made seems to be the better driver. 

My golf bag is full and I would have to remove a 4 iron to carry both drivers. 

I have no trouble with the stiff shaft, as all of my clubs are stiff shafts. The Hot Launch is my only Senior Flex Club. 

I just hate seeing my Hot Launch gathering dust in my garage, but I like the extra distance I get from the Taylor Made. 

Your opinion and thoughts please. Would you ditch the 4 iron and carry 2 drivers or would you focus on playing with a single driver?

Retired Old Man 

P.S.> Earlier this year I traded my MXD irons for a Senior Flex, graphite, Warrior Irons. I had a terrible time with them. Several players told me I wasn't ready for Senior Flex Clubs. So, I traded my senior flex irons for my old original stiff shaft MXD irons. Even at 72 years old, I play well using stiff shafts. I could probably get a little more distance going to a more flexible shaft but when I payed the Warrior irons my accuracy suffered a lot. 

 

 

[klineka]

22 minutes ago, RetiredOldMan said:

Your opinion and thoughts please. Would you ditch the 4 iron and carry 2 drivers or would you focus on playing with a single driver?

IMO the biggest variable here is how often do you use your 4 iron?

If you use the 4 iron a lot and are comfortable/confident with it and face the yardage where 4 iron is the right club somewhat frequently, then keep it in the bag and learn to use 1 driver.

If you don't use the 4 iron much/dont have much confidence with it, then I certainly don't see an issue with dropping the 4 iron and having 2 drivers as it sounds like both drivers serve different purposes. 

I also see in your signature that you have a 3 and 5 hybrid, if both of those are in the bag then I would definitely take out the 4 iron as there's probably a good chance that there is some overlap of yardage between either the 3H and 4i, or 4i and 5H.

 

[lastings]

crank that loft up to 10.5.   it'll be more forgiving, and you may even gain a bit of distance, depending on your current launch trajectory.  

[ChetlovesMer]

No brainer. 

You hit the TaylorMade a ton further. (25 to 45 yards.)  That's the driver to carry. 

If you get tired near the end of the round either bear down or hit 3 wood or hybrid off the tee for the last two holes or so. 

BTW - There are lots of articles and information (even on this forum) for how to increase your golf stamina. I'd rather see you work on that then do something silly like carry another driver just for those last couple holes when you are feeling tired. 

 

[RetiredOldMan]

On 10/11/2019 at 2:32 PM, lastings said:

crank that loft up to 10.5.   it'll be more forgiving, and you may even gain a bit of distance, depending on your current launch trajectory.  

Thank you for the advice.

I raised it up to 10.5* loft and it seemed to increase my distance. However, I was hitting my drives well yesterday but only played on the short sand greens course. 

We are headed out this morning at 11 a.m. to play Fort Hays, which is grass greens and my home course. 

Will let everyone know how it goes when I get back. 

Retired Od Man 

[RetiredOldMan]

On 10/11/2019 at 2:32 PM, lastings said:

crank that loft up to 10.5.   it'll be more forgiving, and you may even gain a bit of distance, depending on your current launch trajectory.  

I raised the loft of the club to 10.5*.

It did wonders for my driving. Very impressed. 

Thanks for the advice. I will get on the simulator and look at the difference, but my drives increased a good 20 yards and One Boomer with a tail wind, I had a drive of around 260 yards.

 

Retired Old Man