Putting up the driver...

[jones]

I recently broke my driver at the hosel and am shopping for a new one

Last 2 games I used my 3-wood which for some reason hooks every single time so I have decided to use only irons and a hybrid for a little bit.

I don't remember the last time I hit an iron off the tee on a non par 3, so I think it will be fun to use clubs that I rarely use.

[Marinemike]

  pittpanther said:

I proclaim that not using D is not really playing golf. You'll be instantly pegged as a hacker, not a golfer.

True. But at least you know you're a hacker. I had a friend take a 7 iron off the tee on a 600 yard hole. That was a bad day.

[pittpanther]

  Marinemike said:

True. But at least you know you're a hacker. I had a friend take a 7 iron off the tee on a 600 yard hole. That was a bad day.

LOL! I almost spit my soda on the screen...

I guess in theory he could have been on in 4, assuming a 150-yard 7I. 2-putt, and he's made bogey on a 600yard hole. I gather that's not quite how it turned out for him, was it?

[Dub]

I remember doing the same thing.

I'd hit 3 iron to get the ball into play.

In time, though, you'll need that driver. It's an important club that will be practiced with.....I hate practice....but it is really important with the driver.

[Urrrk]

  pittpanther said:

Sorry for picking on your post, Urrrk.

Well you've got to understand that my driver and I are going through a rough patch. I tried to make a swing change, and she didn't like it, so we're on something of a trial separation until we get it worked out through counseling.

While I could go 7I 7I, I'm more likely to go 3W 3W, duff one for 150 and pure the other for 200, getting me close enough to begin the comedy of errors that is my short game. The advantage to this strategy is that if I swing the same club enough, I'll find my groove with it, whereas changing over from the driver to the other clubs is more difficult. I didn't play my driver this evening. I didn't play my eight iron either, and I really shouldn't have played my five iron, because the shot it took with it was awful. The point is you're not obligated under the rules of golf to use every one of your clubs in a round, driver included. My driver and I will reconcile someday, but right now, it's a courtesy to other golfers when I don't use it.

[pittpanther]

  Urrrk said:

Well you've got to understand that my driver and I are going through a rough patch. I tried to make a swing change, and she didn't like it, so we're on something of a trial separation until we get it worked out through counseling.

Hilarious! Would love to play a round with you. I'll let u know next time I'm in the Pacific NW.

[CarlSpackler]

My driver is cheating on me too. I just ate a banana for my morning snack to appease the golf gods.

This was my most reliable club even last week.

[bunkerputt]

I've taken driver off the tee once in the last 4 rounds. I played a 500 yard par 5 with a 4-iron off the tee going 4-iron draw to 220, LW to 310, 5-iron fade uphill to 500, followed by an up-and-down for par. That's a great way to play the second hole, particularly since I often duck-hook one into the creek on the left, and consigning myself to a par and a slim chance at birdie gets rid of the big number early in the round. I went par-birdie on the next two holes exactly because of my course management on the second. Taking 3W or higher puts on the pressure early and I start scoring poorly. Don't put too much pressure on your game, particularly in the first few holes. If you take out the big sticks (Driver, 3W, 5W), do it late in the round when you have had a good chance to assess your ballstriking for the day. Also, being longer and playing faster fairways helps to eliminate the need for the driver, if you can manage those two. Not to mention man-ing up and playing from the forward tees. I'm definitely of the mind that anyone 10 hcp or higher should be taking fewer drivers off the tee. 40 yards or so isn't nearly as much of an advantage as you think it is. For these folks, myself included, I think keeping the pressure out of your game helps you make more realistic, better decisions on the course.

[jmontgo3]

  pittpanther said:

Sorry for picking on your post, Urrrk.

No disrespect meant, but f*** that noise. That's extremely narrow-minded and irrational. If you don't see how on some holes or courses it benefits you more to sacrifice distance for accuracy then maybe you need to do some reading on course management. And to call someone a hacker and not a golfer because they struggle with the driver? Really?

I agree for the amatuer that 7I, 7I, PW rarely works because as you said, what's the chance you'll hit 3 good shots in a row. I hear ya there. But there's nothing wrong with 200 or 180 off the tee on a par 5 or a short par 4.

[Parks71]

I just recently started using my 3 wood off the Tee and I have much more control. Not to hijack the thread, but is there something I have to do to be able to start threads? This place only lets me reply and not start my own. Thanks.

[tm22721]

Three years ago I took a break from swing theory to find the best score that I could achieve no matter how. So I experimented using nothing longer than 7 iron taking the club straight back from the ball with very little backswing or pivot. I just used intuition to square up the clubface keeping my hands well ahead of the clubhead for good ball contact. The result was absolutely straight shots, center of the green, no BS.

Pretty soon I was consistently shooting 41 on 9 holes. Bogeyed the par 4's but proved to myself that I could par everything else.

Then I went back to swing theory. Been stuck in the 90's ever since because I play solo and I'm not trying to impress anyone.

[bunkerputt]

  Parks71 said:

I just recently started using my 3 wood off the Tee and I have much more control. Not to hijack the thread, but is there something I have to do to be able to start threads? This place only lets me reply and not start my own. Thanks.

Do you not see the buttons or is it a permissions problem that the server complains to you about? If it's the former, do you have images enabled for this site?

[DaveInTulsa]

I'm happy to be reading this. I hit like a champ with my driver at the range. Hitting draws, and very nice distance. When I take it to the course, I'm all over the place. I played yesterday and when I used my FW off the tee, I was very happy with it. I may just go with that and put my driver away.

[dag2000]

  pittpanther said:

Sorry for picking on your post, Urrrk.

Equating playing by the rules of golf with bashing a driver you cannot control doesn't make much sense to me. Although it probably would have made perfect sense 20+ years ago when I was starting out. Now, at 48, it's about the number. I'm sick of having the "nicest swing of any 20-handicapper I've seen."

Let me ask you this: if you could shoot in the mid- to high 80s but have neither a driver nor even a three wood in your bag or shoot in the high 90s, low 100s and use your driver "12 - 14 times per round," which would you choose?

[mtsalmela80]

I am at the same skill level as the OP, at least according to our listed Handicap, and I disagree. Why are you trying your best to score low when you are just starting out? I say have fun, learn, and experiment. Kind of like college. Only really recently, like days, have I gotten more comfortable with my long stick through lessons, but I always felt better hitting it. I think its about practice at this level, and especially the great feeling of hitting that perfect one and having it land anywhere in the fairway for a great 2nd shot.