Grip/length question...how to address this?

[Jack Lee]

Here's the issue that I am having:
I currently am working with a pro to try to improve my game. We started on my irons and wedges. That is coming around nicely and the swing translates well to my hybrid and fairway wood. The driver, however, is troublesome. To get a grip/stance that I am comfortable with, I have to grip down almost to the bottom of the grip. Getting down that far on my driver grip means I start pulling the loving crap out of my drives. (Hit a 284 yard drive that was arrow straight, just pulled enough to get into the left rough and keep it from being an easy shot to take advantage of.) If I adjust my grip on my driver, it begins to mess with the grip I am taking on my other clubs resulting in beginning to push all of those shots.

I am trying to figure out what to do to address this while playing without taking the driver out of my bag.
The options I am considering currently are:
take out the driver (don't want to if I can avoid it)
swap back to my old driver (a 10 year old TM300ti) for now
try a 3 wood shaft in my driver to see if cutting it down would help (R9 makes this pretty simple)

What are you folks' thoughts on this?

I am planning (when the money is available and my swing has settled in) to get fitted professionally for a driver. I know this would be the best option now, most likely, also as it would fix any length/grip size issues I have, but it just isn't something I can do yet.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Jack Lee

[Gerald]

If your handicap is really 36.0 ..... leave the driver at home, you'll average the 3 wood longer I would guess. If gripping down on the driver means you are pulling it because it slips in your hands or is to thin for you, you might consider having the grip replaced by a Jumbo grip which might bring back sufficient thickness for as long as you need to grip down.... will cost maybe about $10.

[breakout89]

If you leave it in the bag, how will you ever get better with it?

[Gerald]

At HC 36 a driver is for fun, at HC 20 a driver means trouble on a lot of holes, at HC 10 you probably can control the thing enough to get 70% on the fairway, and if it does make a par from there.

Sam Snead said an average par 5 is 480 yds ...... that is 160 off the tee, 160 second shot, 160 third shot and a putt ..... if you think this way and learn it this way, you'll play HC +18 and Tiger will be carrying your bag.

I agree it is more fun to hit 280 yds off the tee in the rough, then slice your 5 wood 190 yds in the deep greenside bunker, Lob it out there over the green, chip it back onto the green and make 3 putts........ and carry the bag of your wife ......