Teeing off for beginners

[shermanM4A1]

Is there a rule that golfers may only tee off using a driver?

I am a beginner and I find the driver a difficult club to play with due to its long shaft. I feel more comfortable teeing off with my 5 wood since the shaft is not as long. Distance is not really a factor yet, as I hit my woods around the same distance.

Eventually, I'll get a driver, but I just don't feel I am ready to use one yet.

[tjy355]

Is there a rule that golfers may only tee off using a driver?

There is no rule. You may tee off with ANY club you choose.

[Titleist Man]

You can use any club heck you can whip out your putter on the first tee

[microcrayfish]

No there's no rule, I don't even carry a driver.

[MI Rob]

You may tee off with any club you would like.

[zeg]

Use a club you're comfortable with. If you can't hit your driver comfortably on the range, it's not going to suddenly start working for you when you get to the tee...

[Shindig]

Is there a rule that golfers may only tee off using a driver?

Nope. Some holes don't even permit a driver. If there's water from 180 yards out to 250 yards out - as I've seen on some holes - I can't hit a driver. It will go squarely into the water. I can't carry 250, nor can I easily hit my driver under 180 (despite what my friends will tell you).

When Tiger Woods won the British Open in 2006, he hit his driver once during the tournament. IIRC, he made bogey on that hole.

I am a beginner and I find the driver a difficult club to play with due to its long shaft. I feel more comfortable teeing off with my 5 wood since the shaft is not as long. Distance is not really a factor yet, as I hit my woods around the same distance.

I was hitting my 5-wood off the tee for the longest time when I was beginning golf. For that matter, I hit my 5-wood off the tee on a par-4 earlier this month, and I've been playing for a while now. I also hit an iron off the tee on a par-4 not too long ago.

Hit the club that: 1. You are comfortable with 2. Is appropriate to the situation 3. That will likely leave you in a good position for your next shot. ("likely" is the key word here - not "might", but is likely. Leave the driver out for a bit. And when you want one, talk to your pro about the purchase before going for it.)

[JetFan1983]

The first 2-3 months that I played golf, I used only a 7 iron except when within 100 yards or so. Every tee shot was with that 7 iron.

At the 2-3 month mark, I moved up to using only a 5-iron off the tee. From there I finally progressed to being able to hit a driver.

It's a long process, and I still have a long way to go, but a 7 iron off the tee on every hole is a great confidence builder because it's simply so much easier to hit.

[JetFan1983]

Oh, and queue up the Tin Cup jokes!

[ryohazuki222]

I found the most success hitting a 18* hybrid to tee off. After a few weeks I moved up to the 3 wood. In reality, though I could hit the driver further, I AVERAGED a much higher distance with the 3 wood.

I gave that bag of clubs to my brother and only had a driver in my new bag. Now I've gotten really comfortable with a driver.

My dad doesn't hit more than a 5 wood. A lot of times he's in similar distances as me and my brother hitting a driver because he's consistent and accurate with that thing, while our balls go everywhere :)

[DES NUTTZ]

I don't blame you and if you are new to golf that is a good strategy. I am much better with my 3W than my driver that's for sure

[platgof]

I cannot hit a 45-46" driver either. I cut my FT-5 down to 44 1/2" and do much better now. The driver plane multiplies the problems when you are off by just a little. Go to the 3 wood and get your confidence back, and then try a shorter driver.