3W vs. driver. Need advice. 3W is longer and straighter (most times)

[Gadget23]

So here are the basics

* 11.4 Handicap (only play once a month or so (two small kids)

* Hit my driver 260 +/- (Callaway Diablo Tour) with occasional bombs but little roll and have started a wicked banana every so often and a dead pull

* Hit my 3w (sonartec) 250-265 with just a baby fade. Finds the fairway more often than not.

My playing parters think I am a beast with my woods but they regularly outdrive me with Driver.

So for the last few rounds I have switched to 3w only and shot my first 79 at my home course and a 86 at Torrey Pines - South (should have been a 81 or so - had 4 tops/drubs off the tee with the 3w as I wasn't used to it and swinging too hard.)

So the easy answer is to keep using my 3w and ditch the Driver but feel that may be short-sighted.  Anybody else with that issue?

Rich

[GaijinGolfer]

Most people hit their 3-wood better than they do their driver.  With the shorter shaft, its an easier club to control.  Id keep working on the range with the driver because its a great shot to have in your bag.

[Gadget23]

Thanks Titleist Wi, any tips for getting more yardage out of the driver as right now it is almost a tie??

[tmf9]

Try and get as big a shoulder turn as you can on the backswing and think about hitting the inside part of the golf ball to get rid of that slice.

[Grumpter]

I was in your shoes about 15 years ago. Finally I went to a teaching professional who with a few lessons helped me workout my Driver problems. It went from being (what I felt) was the worst club in my bag to my best. Now it's back to the worst but that's a whole different problem due to my back.

[Spyder]

Check out some of Mark Crossfield's tutorials on YouTube in regards to the driver. A lot of what he says is absolutely right on the money. I've cured my slice a while back and gained more distance by watching some of his tutorials. Working on "uncoiling" my body and letting my swing speed bring my shoulders to square at impact - as well as "sliding" my weight in the direction of impact has increased my drive by around 25 yards. I'm currently between 250-270 on the fly. There's such a gap there due to my loft on my drive. Watching these videos has actually created somewhat of a natural draw on my drives and irons. He's a pretty good teacher and I was very impressed with the majority of his videos.

Now, on topic. Do not give up on your driver. The 3W is all fine and good until you play a very long course. I assume that your 3W on average will not exceed 250. With the driver, the sky is literally the limit. The driver is very essential to your game in the long run and increases confidence by a mile. Once you're hitting your driver comfortable, you will not be so timid when it comes to other shots around the course. Confidence is key and your driver is very important.

Another video that you should really watch is his video on proper grip. Your swing may be absolutely fine, your path may be right on, your weight transfer could be golden, but if you have a weak grip the face of the club will not be stable and will twist at impact.

Mark Crossfield - Stop Slicing Your Driver (Weight Transfer w/ Driver)


Mark Crossfield - Proper Golf Grip (Using the base of your palm rather than running the shaft through the center of your hand - Interlocked)