Would you trade hitting driver for a consistent 210 dead straight off the tee?

[imtomtomim]

NO.  Rather hit a driver punch and have it go past 240 which IS consistent and flies low.  Definitely the shot that made my last season's scoring much more consistent.  The driver is too big and too forgiving not to hit it.

[Saig55]

What is the average miss of the green from 200 compared to 160?  That green is pretty small to me at 200.

I'll take my chances.....

[The Recreational Golfer]

No. I learned to hit my driver straight. It's not that hard to do.

Now if you asked what I would give up to hit 90% of greens, we can talk about that.

[phillyk]

Originally Posted by The Recreational Golfer

No. I learned to hit my driver straight. It's not that hard to do.

Now if you asked what I would give up to hit 90% of greens, we can talk about that.

Well, would you give up 5 putts a round for 90% of greens?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by phillyk

Well, would you give up 5 putts a round for 90% of greens?

Nice - that's about a wash. Personally, averaging 16 GIR and > 40 putts would be frustrating.

[Zeph]

Who would want a gimmie in anything on the golf course? I play golf for the challenge and fun of it. Not being allowed to hit my drives or approach shots would be silly.

A round of golf is just not the same without that shot into the trees.

[phillyk]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Nice - that's about a wash. Personally, averaging 16 GIR and > 40 putts would be frustrating.

Yeah I agree. I probably wouldn't take it, I hate missing putts more than I do greens.  You can always get the up and down for par, but a missed birdie putt is a missed birdie chance and can get inside your head for missing it.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by phillyk

Yeah I agree. I probably wouldn't take it, I hate missing putts more than I do greens.  You can always get the up and down for par, but a missed birdie putt is a missed birdie chance and can get inside your head for missing it.

Especially if it's from 3-4 feet ( the ones I commonly miss )

I don't get over it until the next week.

[max power]

I hit the bottom of the flagstick on a par 3 last week and proceeded to pull the 3 ft birdie putt.  I'm still miffed.

Originally Posted by phillyk

Yeah I agree. I probably wouldn't take it, I hate missing putts more than I do greens.  You can always get the up and down for par, but a missed birdie putt is a missed birdie chance and can get inside your head for missing it.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by max power

I hit the bottom of the flagstick on a par 3 last week and proceeded to pull the 3 ft birdie putt.  I'm still miffed.

I missed a 2 foot eagle putt last year because I wasn't paying attention and hit the ball with my practice stroke. I almost missed the combacker too. Luckily that 1.5 GIR made up for it.

[RedFox999]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I missed a 2 foot eagle putt last year because I wasn't paying attention and hit the ball with my practice stroke. I almost missed the combacker too. Luckily that 1.5 GIR made up for it.

man, im not even sure if I would of counted that as a miss if I was just playing a casual round. Probably would of replace it in its original spot if I accidental nicked it with my practice stroke. Only time I wouldnt is if it was a round for money or in competition. This isnt a common occurance so, no big deal

[max power]

But deep down, you'd never consider it an eagle.

Originally Posted by RedFox999

man, im not even sure if I would of counted that as a miss if I was just playing a casual round. Probably would of replace it in its original spot if I accidental nicked it with my practice stroke. Only time I wouldnt is if it was a round for money or in competition. This isnt a common occurance so, no big deal

[golf4fun12]

90% gir would be pretty good. pros don't even hit 90%. but 5 extra putts. so imagine it as 3 putting 5 times during your round. that would suck!!

[mapa94]

I'd take 210 yds in the middle of the fairway every time.  If i'm playing from the white tees, I will hit a lot of GIR's from this position and my scores would improve.

[JerseyThursday]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I missed a 2 foot eagle putt last year because I wasn't paying attention and hit the ball with my practice stroke. I almost missed the combacker too. Luckily that 1.5 GIR made up for it.

Actually, I just saw a video of Davis Love III doing the same thing. He accidentally knocked his ball about 5” on the practice stroke of his putt. He then proceeded to putt from where the ball was now positioned. He was DQ’d because he should have putted from the original spot. Honestly, I’m not sure I understand that rule.

[ohiolefty]

I'd be willing to lay a LOT of money that virtually everyone on this site who can break 100 can hit a fairway more often with a driver than they can hit a green with a 5, 4, 3 or (Lord help us) 2 iron.

You can't hit it behind a tree or O.B. every time you miss a fairway. In fact, more times than not, you're going to be able to go at the green in some manner or at least put your ball in a place where you can make par.

To me, in terms of score, a lot worse things are going to happen for the average player when they have more than a 5 iron in their hands into a par 4 than when they have a driver in their hands on a tee box for a par 4 or 5.

...

The driver is the 2nd most important club in the bag, unless you're terrible with it...then it's your most important club. You have to drive the ball passibly to shoot a decent score -period.

And the 'old guy who hits it straight' analogy doesn't fly at all.

Those 'old' guys:

1. Used to hit it further
2. Know their iron distances and hit them consistently to a distance
3. Play the hole in reverse to compensate for their lack of distance, very often giving themselves a 'window' into the green so they can bounce/roll it in
4. Have a solid up-and-down game
5. Make clutch putts for up-and-downs

Most folks who'd seriously use this strategy struggle to do many of the (applicable) things above.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday

Just thinking out loud.

The driver sure is fun to hit. Part of the fun is you’re not exactly sure what you’re going to get. You could crush it and impress everyone in your group and also have the benefit of a short(er) approach shot. But also, just as likely, you’ll put yourself in the rough or jail. That of course is based on the average golfer who hits the fairway with a drive 50-60% of the time.

I’m pretty sure I could hit the fairway with a knockdown hybrid at around 210 yards 90+% of the time. But would that be prudent (and not to mention not as much fun)?

It depends upon the course, but chances are the only hitting it 200 yards off the tee isnt going to allow you to score all that well unless your irons, shortgame and putting are absolutely amazing.  Id rathar be able to hit driver and have the chance to hit it 250-275 yards don the middle of the fairway half the time even if that means Im going to end up in the rough the other half of the time than to only hit it 200 yards.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by ohiolefty

I'd be willing to lay a LOT of money that virtually everyone on this site who can break 100 can hit a fairway more often with a driver than they can hit a green with a 5, 4, 3 or (Lord help us) 2 iron.

You can't hit it behind a tree or O.B. every time you miss a fairway. In fact, more times than not, you're going to be able to go at the green in some manner or at least put your ball in a place where you can make par.

I'd love to pay the courses you play, then. :-)

Most of the courses I play, your ball is going to be in deep bush if you're between 10 and 20 yards off the fairway on most holes. Unless you're OB.

I think a lot of guys would be happy to hit it out of the rough from closer to the green, but not be chipping out backwards.

The guys who are breaking 100 aren't trying to hit that many greens in regulation.  They don't need to hit 2,3,4 and 5 irons into the green.  They aren't trying to, if they're playing smart golf. They should be hitting their second to a comfortable pitching distance.

I think the point is that someone who is wild off the tee and can't break 100 ( but has some basic skills) would in many cases quite easily be able to break 90 by keeping the ball in play and trying to play bogey golf.  200 yards off the tee makes that very easily achievable - apart from being further than a lot of people realise.