How many of you do not use a driver?

[KyleAnthony]

I recently had an opportunity to use my 3W for a round, but was a little frustrated that everything was shorter. Would it be better to spend a lot of time getting better with the driver. For example, hitting into your net setup with a driver this winter until you feel good contact? Then you can use your driver this spring.

I almost never use the fairway wood except on par 5s, and minimally practice with it. Yet, because I practice a lot with my driver the 3W comes naturally.

It seems you could improve chances of getting closer to the hole by focusing on driver, but not lose your ability to use the 3W.

what club are you best with? i personally am best with a 7-pw. which gives me a window of 170-135 from the green. so if i have a 380-420 yard par 4 i will use my 3 wood off the tee. most par 4's fall into this category for me. i played yesterday that had a 345, 320, and 315. i used 5 irons off the tee to get me in my window. i used my driver once a 498 yard par 5. so that i could make it in 2. if you hit your driver 300 yards on a 400 yard par 4 but aren't good at 100 yard shots and miss the green  then it defeats the whole point of the game. i'd read the course management thread to see what others say about this topic

[Lihu]

[QUOTE name="Lihu" url="/t/53317/how-many-of-you-do-not-use-a-driver/72#post_935889"] I recently had an opportunity to use my 3W for a round, but was a little frustrated that everything was shorter. Would it be better to spend a lot of time getting better with the driver. For example, hitting into your net setup with a driver this winter until you feel good contact? Then you can use your driver this spring. I almost never use the fairway wood except on par 5s, and minimally practice with it. Yet, because I practice a lot with my driver the 3W comes naturally. It seems you could improve chances of getting closer to the hole by focusing on driver, but not lose your ability to use the 3W.[/QUOTE] what club are you best with? i personally am best with a 7-pw. which gives me a window of 170-135 from the green. so if i have a 380-420 yard par 4 i will use my 3 wood off the tee. most par 4's fall into this category for me. i played yesterday that had a 345, 320, and 315. i used 5 irons off the tee to get me in my window. i used my driver once a 498 yard par 5. so that i could make it in 2. if you hit your driver 300 yards on a 400 yard par 4 but aren't good at 100 yard shots and miss the green  then it defeats the whole point of the game. i'd read the course management thread to see what others say about this topic

Not everyone hits their 3W 250-260 yards, I just think most people are better off learning to use the driver well enough to get them off the tee a reasonable distance. To be honest, I only teed off a par 4 once with a 4 iron (any iron) because of a lake that forced a 200 yard layup or 330 yard forced carry. So, my question remains about the driver. Why do you consider it so much harder to hit? I also have an alternative question for the manufacturers of drivers as well.

[KyleAnthony]

Not everyone hits their 3W 250-260 yards, I just think most people are better off learning to use the driver well enough to get them off the tee a reasonable distance. To be honest, I only teed off a par 4 once with a 4 iron (any iron) because of a lake that forced a 200 yard layup or 330 yard forced carry.

So, my question remains about the driver. Why do you consider it so much harder to hit?

I also have an alternative question for the manufacturers of drivers as well.

could be harder to hit because you expect to hit it far so try to swing harder? i know thats my problem at times

[saevel25]

I only put the driver in the bag when it warrants it. Though sometimes I don't.

[nevets88]

Not everyone hits their 3W 250-260 yards, I just think most people are better off learning to use the driver well enough to get them off the tee a reasonable distance. To be honest, I only teed off a par 4 once with a 4 iron (any iron) because of a lake that forced a 200 yard layup or 330 yard forced carry.

So, my question remains about the driver. Why do you consider it so much harder to hit?

Driver goes farther - the more offline you are with it, the more you are out of play. I don't mind less distance off the tee because I am comfortable consistently using long clubs for approach shots.