Driver off the Deck

[iacas]

I hit one today. Funny thing is, my swing was crap all day, but I'm confident in my ability to pull it together when I need to. The key is a steady head and a good amount of speed. The ball will come out lower, will usually cut, and will run a good ways. In certain windy conditions, it can be a really good shot that stays under the wind more than a 3-wood.

[Dent]

How far did it go? Did you hit the green?

I wish I could do that, tried the other day on the range, but Just didnt work.

[Doctorfro]

I've hit a successful one or two. And I hit them to...stay under the wind and get some distance. Haven't tried that in a long time.

[thedub]

my dad uses his driver as a fairway wood, its hilarious!!

[immts007]

I've done it twice. The first time I got lucky and totally made up for the pop-up tee shot that landed in front of the forward teebox - advanced about 230 yards down the fairway with a nice little fade... which is as good as my very best drives. The second time, I drove the ball about 2 inches straight down into the fairway

[AceDunk]

I practice it, and can do it confidently. It's a nice shot to have. It's not a shot that comes up often though. I only play it in strong wind or really long holes without much trouble. I've reached a couple long par 5's I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

[MrSandman]

I use it. I do it when I have 220+ and a fairly decent margin of error. I don't carry a 3W, I just hit driver off the deck. My swing thought is usually, "hit down on the ball, don't pick up, the club is lofted, it will rise if I hit it solid..."

If I hit it poorly, it is usually a hard 170-190 yd ground ball (still a good 4 iron for me). If I hit it well, it is a 240'ish shot. I only really pure it maybe 1 out of 5 times (which is further than the 240 I mentioned), but the above average hits (probably 65% of the attempts) are still further than I hit my 2H (2H is my second longest club).

Most of the shots are about 230'ish, with a fade.

I hit one at PGA National, 18th hole, match square with my father. Cozied it right up to the green, chip was one rotation short of the eagle, but birdie was enough to win the hole and the match (which was the final of a 5 round contest). Best shot of my life.


I once hit it out of a bunker. Figured why not? I hit it well, thought I smoked it, but the distance was under 200 yds (probably 170'ish).

[LastPrankster]

I don't see the point. Especially with a 400cc+ driver. Six iron plus wedge is better than a Driver off the deck, and a chip.

[lamebums]

I could do it with the smaller, older drivers. But not with the compact cars we call drivers these days. I just added two inches to my 3 wood and it gave me the extra 20 yards when I need it, is all.

[Undr Par]

today at the Wachovia, Pampling hit his Driver off the deck on a Par5 and hit it solid

[ERC7.5]

I've done it a few times and was moderately successful a couple of times. Wouldn't dare do that with the driver I have now. I hit my 3 wood far enough.....don't see much reward with hitting a driver off the deck.

[iacas]

How far did it go? Did you hit the green?

I had 350 to the green. The fairway fit a fade. I caught it solidly - it probably flew 200 and then rolled another 60-70 yards (a bit downhill). This was into a pretty good wind. It fell just into the rough a foot or two, but the fairways only 18 yards wide, so... :P

I hit the shot once every four or five rounds. There's no place for it at Whispering Woods - you never need it - but at Lake View you can use it on #6 and #17 from time to time, and both play towards the west and into the prevailing wind.

I don't see the point. Especially with a 400cc+ driver. Six iron plus wedge is better than a Driver off the deck, and a chip.

a) a wedge is nowhere near as accurate as a chip

b) you might put it on the green c) If you're 400 yards out on a par five, six iron + wedge ain't gonna get it done.

I could do it with the smaller, older drivers. But not with the compact cars we call drivers these days. I just added two inches to my 3 wood and it gave me the extra 20 yards when I need it, is all.

Not into a good wind, though. And it's not very much harder with the current drivers. Call me crazy, but I like to tell myself the clubhead looks better behind the ball than a smaller driver head. I'm lying to myself, but it seems to work.

And yeah, Rod Pampling's shot was pretty awesome. You do have to hit down on the ball a bit. It'll lift. I took a small divot with my driver today.

[Ruari]

I'll only use driver off the deck rarely - say on a par 5 into the wind. In those circumstances, it's more penetrating than my normal 4 wood.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I don't see the point. Especially with a 400cc+ driver. Six iron plus wedge is better than a Driver off the deck, and a chip.

I aggree. Todays drivers are not designed for that kind of shot. Id rather just punch a long iron in windy conditions and have my pitch shot into the green rather than taking a risky play like that.

[Wisco-Kid]

Geez I never even thought about trying that shot. Its probably a good thing too because I am not very good with my driver off a tee I cant imagine being able to pull off a shot off the deck.

[michaeljames92]

I could do it with the smaller, older drivers. But not with the compact cars we call drivers these days. I just added two inches to my 3 wood and it gave me the extra 20 yards when I need it, is all.

yeah i agree. smaller driver heads are not as hard to do it, but with tall club heads it makes hitting the ball very hard with any power. especially on the low part of the club head which does not have much meat

[wachesawgolfer]

I hit the driver off the deck at the range to eliminate the over top move with my driver and learn to swing the club. It worked well but I don't have enough distance to use it over a three wood in play off the deck.

[sirshanksalot]

HELLS NO! I would be too afraid to break my driver hitting it off the deck.