When is driver off the deck a good play?

[Aflighter]

Heres the thing though.If im 215-230 out from green on a par 4 or par 5 and I cant get there with my 4wd then why wouldnt I hit something that can get there over something that will leave me 30 yards short.Dave is right if theres danger ahead or its narrow then I wont do it.

[Dave2512]

Heres the thing though.If im 215-230 out from green on a par 4 or par 5 and I cant get there with my 4wd then why wouldnt I hit something that can get there over something that will leave me 30 yards short.Dave is right if theres danger ahead or its narrow then I wont do it.

Because if you are that far out on a par 4 you already hit one bad shot. Why risk another? With a par 5 if you are that close you hit a good drive and even a long iron gets you into chip it close for birdie opportunity territory. At a minimum you are likely assured GIR and a two putt.

[Aflighter]

Because if you are that far out on a par 4 you already hit one bad shot. Why risk another? With a par 5 if you are that close you hit a good drive and even a long iron gets you into chip it close for birdie opportunity territory. At a minimum you are likely assured GIR and a two putt.

Um I dont hit bad tee shots.I just dont have the length off the tee.When your playing a 420 YD par 4 on saturated ground no roll and 10-15 mph wind in your face and can only hit it 200 off tee then im got no choice if I wanna get close.By the way I hit driver for 2nd it was very nice but still 30 yds short.Anything else hit and im farther back.

[Dave2512]

Even tour pros hit bad drives.

[Aflighter]

Even tour pros hit bad drives.

I know but im talking about my usual 215-240 yd drive thats as straight as an arrow.

[JP golf]

For me it's a great play when I have to play a cut and can't hit full driver or I need more than my 3 wood.  Why not hit 3 wood?  I know I can open the face slightly, aim down the left side and put a good swing on the ball (I just focus on hitting down with a steep swing and I'm sure I have an outside to in swing/slightly over the top), and it's going to cut back towards the middle...   Now yes I can hit a similar shot with my 3 wood but I will lose 15-20 yards playing that shot vs. my driver off the deck and I can hit the shot consistently (relative to my other available shots).  That said, I do pay attention to the lie - if it's wet there is less margin for error with this shot (for me).  

No it's not for everyone-  but it works for me.  It's a repeatable shot that I can put in play with a consistent ball movement and good yardage - and yes, I'm a little defensive about it on an online post because I know I will catch crap about it. 

Edited October 4, 2015 by JP golf

[inthehole]

Well, after reading this thread, I'm going to try it.    Figure my best opportunity would be a nice fluffy lie in the first cut, not off a tight fairway lie ... I like pulling off unusual shots, so why not choke up a little and give it a go ...

[Mr. Desmond]

Well, after reading this thread, I'm going to try it.    Figure my best opportunity would be a nice fluffy lie in the first cut, not off a tight fairway lie ... I like pulling off unusual shots, so why not choke up a little and give it a go ...

Just remember that the rough, even in the first cut, will slow down that huge club. 

From thin, short rough, the longest club I will use is a 5 wood - smaller head, goes through grass easier (still not easy), and it helps if you have a high launch head.

 

Now if you had a mini-driver or a 3 deep Callaway - less than 300cc - that would be a specialty club to use when you are only going with one fairway - so the bag is Driver, Mini-Driver, 5wood....

Edited October 4, 2015 by Mr. Desmond

[JP golf]

Well, after reading this thread, I'm going to try it.    Figure my best opportunity would be a nice fluffy lie in the first cut, not off a tight fairway lie ... I like pulling off unusual shots, so why not choke up a little and give it a go ...

 

Just remember that the rough, even in the first cut, will slow down that huge club

 

Actually, @inthehole - I think @Mr. Desmond has a very good point.  Be very careful out of a "fluffy lie".  When I play the shot it's usually off the tee box or fairway.  The swing is different than what you would normally do with a driver and you really almost want to take a divot... Yes a divot with the driver lol (remember your not hitting it like a driver, it almost feels more like an iron swing).

[rickrocks384]

I find it very easy to hit a driver off the deck. I can can my driver from 280 off the tee. I can can carry a driver from 250 to 180 off the deck. 

My secret is simple. Firstly, you have to be a decent ball striker first. I used to hit drivers off the deck on the range just as a confidence booster. I thought if I can hit a driver off there deck then I should be able to hit a 3 wood no problem or any other club for that matter. That was when I got started 2 years ago. 

After a lot of practice with this drill, I realized I could use it on the course. Then I learnedd how to flight shots but I couldn't hit a ball high off the deck with a driver like I do with my other clubs by simply moving the ball up in my stance.

It wasn't until I watched Phil''s secrets of the short game. In the bunker section, Phil says to flip your wrists to increase loft and get the ball up out of a bunker with no green to work with.

I tried it with a driver off the deck and it worked. I could get my driver off the deck to carry 180 by just putting in a 60% effort and flipping my wrists right before impact to put on a lot of loft.

I think I could play a course with around 6 clubs but I never tried it.

I hope this sways you to at least attempt this on the range because it could help your game and amaze your partners.

I play a 10.5 degree M1 with an aldila X-stiff shaft. 

 

[MacDutch]

On 30-7-2011 at 0:22 AM, trackster said:

Anyone hit driver off the deck with success?

Hah, playing a 445y par 4 a couple of days before. Still 230y to the flag after the first shot. I was thinking a well struck three wood and I can try to make up-and-down. But then I realized I waited for minutes to let the flight before us clear the green. So I hit driver of the deck and... perfect 2y over the green and par. 

Will do so only for fun, never when playing a serious match.

[Alx]

16 hours ago, MacDutch said:

Hah, playing a 445y par 4 a couple of days before. Still 230y to the flag after the first shot. I was thinking a well struck three wood and I can try to make up-and-down. But then I realized I waited for minutes to let the flight before us clear the green. So I hit driver of the deck and... perfect 2y over the green and par. 

Will do so only for fun, never when playing a serious match.

Wait. You hit a 215y drive and thought "hmm I can hit it 230 off the deck this time". What Am I Missing?

Afaik the driver sweetspot is too high unless you're in the rough hitting off a really fluffy lie. What's the point? A well struck 3w will fly the same distance and with less dispersion.

[Lihu]

2 hours ago, Alx said:

Wait. You hit a 215y drive and thought "hmm I can hit it 230 off the deck this time". What Am I Missing?

Afaik the driver sweetspot is too high unless you're in the rough hitting off a really fluffy lie. What's the point? A well struck 3w will fly the same distance and with less dispersion.

Guessing he duffed or crowned his drive.

[caniac6]

I'll only hit it if I need to hit a long worm burner that I have no control over. In other words, never.

[chilepepper]

For myself driver off the deck is never a good idea. The success rate would be <%10 if that

[MacDutch]

11 hours ago, Alx said:

Wait. You hit a 215y drive and thought "hmm I can hit it 230 off the deck this time". What Am I Missing?

You never hit a not so long drive? If you never try, you will never know. Will try to do it again if I am playing a fun round.

Edited April 23, 2017 by MacDutch

[DaveP043]

I actually practice driver off of mats.  Its a great reminder to keep steady over the ball, otherwise it looks awful and feels worse.  On the course, I'll try it when there's nothing I'm required to carry, and I know I can't reach "it" with a 3-wood.  This is most often into the wind, where a 3-wood might balloon.  I have a reasonable success rate with this shot (my criteria for "success" is pretty low), and its a big plus is when it amazes your playing partners.

[Wally Fairway]

I don't remember seeing this thread before, but my first reaction is that when I've been drinking it is a good play to hit driver off the deck.