Controlled Driver Shot Into Par 3's

[ks8829]

I used a driver choked up with a partial swing into a par 3 about 210 yards into a back pin three times yesterday and par all three holes.

I especially like to use this in winding condition and uphill par 3's. The take away and length of the backswing will determine the distance with the full follow through is for every distance shot. I can vary the height of the flight by the tee height, my normal ball flight is with a slight draw but I can also play a slight cut into the greens as well by adjusting the swing slightly.

Using the driver has given me a more control that I have found works for me and wanted to share the experience, you could also use the 3 wood the same way, but I feel more comfortable with the driver.

The partial shot will all my clubs, irons and hybrids have added more control in my approach shots into greens.

It's a swing that you might not used all the time but it nice to have in your bag when the shot call for it.

[kpaulhus]

Interesting. That would be a skill that requires some practice. I have hit some half hearted driver shots, but never thought to try and gauge my backswing for distance, say, like I do with my wedges.

your a 4.1 and Im a 17.3 so you must be doing something right :)

[deronsizemore]

Why not just use a 3 iron or choke down hyrbrid/5 wood? Can't imagine a choke down driver is more consistent from 210 than a 3 iron or something?

Maybe it's just something you've practiced and are good at but I can tell you for me, a 210 driver wouldn't end well. Wouldn't know how to judge the distance and even if I did hit it the right distance, I can't imagine it stopping once it hits the green.

[ks8829]

works for me with more control an consistency than hitting my 5 wood.

I control the trajectory by the height of the tee and ball position. I can hit it high or low with run.

[deronsizemore]

works for me with more control an consistency than hitting my 5 wood.

In that case, continue on. To each their own...

[James_Black]

Wow.
I couldn't do that.

Maybe that's why i'm off 21 though lol

[kfowler]

A good thought. I think I might try a choked down 3 wood first. I think I'd have to choke down pretty far on a driver to get 210ish.

[Leftygolfer]

I have hit it in the past and like it. I would not do it if long is dead though. Sometimes the little swings can send the ball along way.

[RS22]

Why not just use a 3 iron or choke down hyrbrid/5 wood? Can't imagine a choke down driver is more consistent from 210 than a 3 iron or something?

Same for me. Taking a 3rd of the distance off my driver is asking quite a lot for distance control and accuracy. I'd much rather choke up on a club that's closer in distance to the desired target rather than take that much off a bigger club. It's a nice shot to have in the bag if you are playing in some serious wind because you can control your trajectory well but for most situations a choked up 2-iron or hybrid seems to fit the build better for me.

To each his own..

[clubchamp]

If it works for you than thats all that matters. My take on it is that years ago this would have been something that would have been a good shot to have in the bag. Now I don't see the point because with hybrids replacing long irons the need for those kind of shots have gone away.

[flopdarock]

wow... this reminds me of the round i had today... i played with 3 friends... all of us have around the same hcp...
we reached a pretty long par3 230 from the tips 215 from the blues...
the long baller of the group hit like a 3 or 4 iron... over shot the green to the left
the medium length guy hit a hybrid... short right
i pulled my 4w... short way left
and my other friend pulled driver...
we all laughed...
he was the only one on the green on his tee shot... LOL

[NZGolfer]

I do this quite alot since im a short hitter and works well very easy to hit imo opinion especially just with a controlled fade

[walk18]

I have the half-driver shot in my bag too. If its 230 into the wind uphill I'm gonna be short with a fairway wood.

[max power]

I used it today-super sharp dogleg to the right-if you go strait off the tee you've only got about 185-190 yds until a sand trap. Wind was blowing fiercely in my face, so I hit a 3/4 drive that faded along the dogleg, travelled about 210 yds. Best tee shot I've hit on this particular hole in about 5 or 6 tries.

[ks8829]

Yesterday, I hit a 3 wood with a little more backswing that my driver on an uphill par 3 hit the green and two putt for an easy par.

[PingGolfer95]

I've done that at this one course that I like to play, It is a 230 yard par 3, but when a back pin 240. But last time I played the hole I hit and it went over the green 250 but I chipped and made a par :)

[Lefty-Golfer]

Why not just use a 3 iron or choke down hyrbrid/5 wood? Can't imagine a choke down driver is more consistent from 210 than a 3 iron or something?

Quoted for truth...

however there is an older guy at my club that hits a nice little cut driver on our 210 up hill par 3. He is not a real short hitter but with the shot seems to work for him. He is also one of the old guys who carries a 5 index but you would never know it until you play a couple of rounds with him.

[ks8829]

This is shot that I watch my buddy, James hit many times successfully and so I started to copy him, I was not successful the first time, but I continue to work on the shot and found it to be very useful when a controlled shot under pressure is needed.

I also found that you need to know your swing before you hit this shot because it requires good technique, some understanding of the golf swing and what type of take away creates what shots.

It a shot to think about and try when you are at the range and trying different shots. My brother a 20+ handicap golfer try it and birdie a par three when we showed him this shot.