The Distance Argument

[JohnnyGuitar]

I recently played my personal best round (-6 off 16). I didn't use the driver once.

Using my 3W from the tee on all long holes I hit every fairway except one and all over 220yds (longest with roll 270)

I am at the stage where I honestly think that I will never use my driver again.

Why on earth should I chose 300 yds with say 70% FIR (being optimistic) over 250 with 95% ?

I genuinely believe that I will have better scores with a 3W off the tee and use my driving practice time to work on more short game shots.

The only situation in which I believe I would suffer is having no eagle putts on long par fives

Can anyone tell me what I'm missing?

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGuitar

I recently played my personal best round (-6 off 16). I didn't use the driver once.

Using my 3W from the tee on all long holes I hit every fairway except one and all over 220yds (longest with roll 270)

I am at the stage where I honestly think that I will never use my driver again.

Why on earth should I chose 300 yds with say 70% FIR (being optimistic) over 250 with 95% ?

I genuinely believe that I will have better scores with a 3W off the tee and use my driving practice time to work on more short game shots.

The only situation in which I believe I would suffer is having no eagle putts on long par fives

Can anyone tell me what I'm missing?

Have you ever actually had an eagle putt on a long par 5?

[JohnnyGuitar]

No I have not. I think that's not going to change either as I'd rarely have the distance to get there in two. I'm just questioning whether that one situation is really worth planning for?

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGuitar

No I have not. I think that's not going to change either as I'd rarely have the distance to get there in two. I'm just questioning whether that one situation is really worth planning for?

Honestly eagles are really really hard to get and even when you reach in 2 you'll blow the putt 90% of the time or be so far from the hole you'd be happy with par. Most amateurs talk about getting on in 2 like it ever happens to them, but most are either short or inaccurate enough that they'd be more likely to chip in or hole out from 80 yards than make that putt.

Eagles won't affect most people's scorecard. If you can score decently on par 4s with no driver, go ahead. The driver is a useful club from the back tees and on long courses, I believe you need to learn to hit it to get really good, but putting it in play is a bigger issue until you get down to single digits. For me, I usually don't have long enough holes to warrant a drive and can hit an iron off the tee within 150 yards of the green. It all depends on your personal goals, really. I'd say you should focus on what needs work and if your 3w off the tee is working, don't fix it.

[JohnnyGuitar]

Originally Posted by LuciusWooding

The driver is a useful club from the back tees and on long courses, I believe you need to learn to hit it to get really good, but putting it in play is a bigger issue until you get down to single digits. For me, I usually don't have long enough holes to warrant a drive and can hit an iron off the tee within 150 yards of the green. It all depends on your personal goals, really. I'd say you should focus on what needs work and if your 3w off the tee is working, don't fix it.

That's what I think too. Ok here's another way of looking at it. If you took a scratch player and took away his driver on a typical course how many shots would he really give up? I think the only place he would is on the long fives so maybe two or three shots. Sounds good to me!!

[blankwall]

Exactly what was said to play with the big boys on big courses driver is a mist to play with ur buddies on ur local course not so much

[blankwall]

For a scratch.guy would depend on course and his other distances.say a.7500 yard course be might give up ten or more

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGuitar

Can anyone tell me what I'm missing?

This discussion http://thesandtrap.com/t/57736/is-it-really-all-about-the-long-ball (which mostly agrees with you)

I think you personally may in fact score better leaving the driver in the bag (or at home) but there is no way you will continue to hit 95% of the fairways with your 3 W.

[JohnnyGuitar]

Originally Posted by MEfree

This discussion http://thesandtrap.com/t/57736/is-it-really-all-about-the-long-ball (which mostly agrees with you)

I think you personally may in fact score better leaving the driver in the bag (or at home) but there is no way you will continue to hit 95% of the fairways with your 3 W.

Ha ha I've refused to play since to keep my record:) Tomorrow morning will ruin that no doubt!!

[JohnnyGuitar]

Originally Posted by blankwall

For a scratch.guy would depend on course and his other distances.say a.7500 yard course be might give up ten or more

Honestly? Where would he drop them do you think?

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGuitar

Honestly? Where would he drop them do you think?

I disagree depending on how the rest of his game is. He'd give up perhaps 20 yards off the tee, and it would affect his course management for sure. But he'd probably score within a couple shots of his average as long as he plays smart. I'd say he might give up a stroke or two on very long par 4s, but usually among good players they play par 5s  around 4.5 strokes whether they lay up or not.

Also using less club off the tee is different than being 20 yards shorter. As long as it's only a 2 club difference on approach it's not too bad, but a guy that's genuinely shorter will be hitting 4 clubs more or thereabouts. Plus the longer guy might be able to get to a better position in the fairway by carrying bunkers, etc.