Jump to content
IGNORED

Who Hits Their Driver Straight?


Ogogolf
Note: This thread is 4305 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

I have been researching (on the web in general) Driver versus 3-Wood and have found a common theme amongst posters. "Sometimes I hit the driver straight and the next time I do not know where it is going to go!"

Well. It got me thinking. First, I fixed my driver problem only 4 years ago after golfing for 20+ years. That is, I was just like the hundreds of people posting on this or that board with "my driver sucks but my 3-wood ain't bad."

How did I fix my problem? I quit trying to hit it straight. I learned to draw the ball with the driver. And guess what? My driving went from a 180-200 yard fade/slice to a 220-240 draw. And there is no way in heck this little dude can hit a 3-wood 220 in normal conditions.

What is more; my drive in the summer (dry) can get fairly long on the right (hard and sloping away) fairway reaching 280-300 on certain holes. I could never drive that far with my old "let me try to hit it straight" approach.

So my (first question) for the Sandtrap.Com folks:

Do you *try* to hit your driver straight? Or do you purposely play a draw or a fade?

~ogo

Not A Scratch or a Bogey Golf Player but somewhere in-between.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I have never, in my life, seen a golf ball go 'straight'. They just cant. The key is to build a good, repeating, effective swing and work with your natural abilities,, and of course, when on the range, its nice to practice trying to shape shots. Maybe your natural shot is a draw or a fade. You learn to play it, and as you get better, learn to make small changes to your ball flight.

In the Ogio Kingpin bag:

Titleist 913 D2 9.5* w/ UST Mamiya ATTAS 3 80 w/ Harrison Shotmaker & Billy Bobs afternarket Hosel Adaptor (get this if you don't have it for your 913)
Wilson Staff Ci-11 4-GW (4I is out of the bag for a hybrid, PW and up were replaced by Edel Wedges)
TaylorMade RBZ 5 & 3 Fairway Woods

Cobra Baffler T-Rail 3 & 4 Hybrids

Edel Forged 48, 52, 56, 60, and 64* wedges (different wedges for different courses)

Seemore Si-4 Black Nickel Putter

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Yes, I hit it STRAIGHT into the trees.

On a more serious note - I think you'll find the vast majority of Sandtrappers will agree that it's better to control your curve than to pray for no curve.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I'm trying to groove my swing to be draw-biased, but it doesn't always come off that way. The goal is a slight draw, or at worst straight. I usually align myself to the right side of the fairway so that a straight or drawing ball is in the fairway. [quote name="ApocG10" url="/t/58945/who-hits-their-driver-straight#post_723772"]I have never, in my life, seen a golf ball go 'straight'. They just cant. The key is to build a good, repeating, effective swing and work with your natural abilities,, and of course, when on the range, its nice to practice trying to shape shots. Maybe your natural shot is a draw or a fade. You learn to play it, and as you get better, learn to make small changes to your ball flight. [/quote] It's hard to hit a ball without a little bit of drift one way or the other, but how strict are your tolerances? You've never seen a ball only drift a couple inches?

"Golf is an entire game built around making something that is naturally easy - putting a ball into a hole - as difficult as possible." - Scott Adams

Mid-priced ball reviews: Top Flight Gamer v2 | Bridgestone e5 ('10) | Titleist NXT Tour ('10) | Taylormade Burner TP LDP | Taylormade TP Black | Taylormade Burner Tour | Srixon Q-Star ('12)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

Yes, I hit it STRAIGHT into the trees.

On a more serious note - I think you'll find the vast majority of Sandtrappers will agree that it's better to control your curve than to pray for no curve.

Your sense of humour is terrible! But your attitude is awesome! I love to read your posts!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by B-Con

I'm trying to groove my swing to be draw-biased, but it doesn't always come off that way. The goal is a slight draw, or at worst straight.

I usually align myself to the right side of the fairway so that a straight or drawing ball is in the fairway.

It's hard to hit a ball without a little bit of drift one way or the other, but how strict are your tolerances? You've never seen a ball only drift a couple inches?

I hit my 3h super straight, like laser straight. I wish I could figure out how to get a consistent draw with it though simply because when it doesn't go straight I have know idea where it will go...usually the miss is a dead push (which is also straight!) but it can also be a bad hook sometimes which makes it pretty damn hard to be strategic about where you miss. It's frustrating because the two misses indicate that I should have no problem getting a nice push draw happening with some slight adjustments but so far I haven't been able to find the missing ingredient - so I pray for straight.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by Kapanda

Your sense of humour is terrible! But your attitude is awesome! I love to read your posts!!

Thanks I guess, lol.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by Ogogolf

How did I fix my problem? I quit trying to hit it straight. I learned to draw the ball with the driver. And guess what? My driving went from a 180-200 yard fade/slice to a 220-240 draw. And there is no way in heck this little dude can hit a 3-wood 220 in normal conditions.

I'm doing this exact same thing right now.  I'd developed a powerful driver swing but it always was somewhere between a straight slight push and a big push fade/slice.  I'm currently struggling to learn to hit the draw with the driver.  Nothing consistent yet but I hear you on the extra distance.  On 17 last weekend I hit a push baby draw my full normal driver distance into a 1+ club straight headwind.

Matt

Mid-Weight Heavy Putter
Cleveland Tour Action 60˚
Cleveland CG15 54˚
Nike Vapor Pro Combo, 4i-GW
Titleist 585h 19˚
Tour Edge Exotics XCG 15˚ 3 Wood
Taylormade R7 Quad 9.5˚

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I like this approach.  I'm going to start working on cultivating a mild draw with the driver.

In my Ping Mantis Carry Bag:

Driver | Nakashima NP1 420 9° | Graphite Design YS-7+ Stiff (44 in)

3W | Callaway X-Hot 15° | Adila NV-65S
3H | Acer XDS | TT DG S300

4I-GW | Acer XK Pro | TT DG S300
56° 60° | Dynacraft DMC Forged | TT DG S300

P | SeeMore FGP Mallet | Tupper Grip | 34in

Ball | Reclaimed Pro V1[x]

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I don't recall the last time I played the left side of a hole... I always play a small to mild fade. If there is big time trouble to the right I just play shorter... there's a left side of each hole?

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator

I've given up on a "straight" shot.  I play a high draw-hook "thing," meaning that my swing is currently not working well.  But, my norm is a high draw.  My driver, when working well, looks awesome and just powers through the air.  My 3-wood is interesting, because it has a different weighting or something than the rest of my clubs.  Meaning that it has a bigger draw than the rest, but sometimes when i focus on releasing my wrists later, it'll go with a nice draw.  But, I usually aim right of the fairway by about 5 yards and plan for the draw, and for the most part, it ends up in the center of the fairway.

Philip Kohnken, PGA
Director of Instruction, Lake Padden GC, Bellingham, WA

Srixon/Cleveland Club Fitter; PGA Modern Coach; Certified in Dr Kwon’s Golf Biomechanics Levels 1 & 2; Certified in SAM Putting; Certified in TPI
 
Team :srixon:!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

All I would say is you want to have a feel for what shots you are going to play before you play it. Have a sense for what type of release the shot will need and hence what shape you will hit. I think a reasonably straight ball flight is best, the pros do not move the ball much. When you are neutral you can easily produce a little fade or draw. If you are struggling with the driver, grip down a little, start getting used to "firing-it-up-the-guts of the fairway"; visualize a three quarter, punchy drive with club-head staying square longer (not rolling much). This works great. Want a fade, keep same swing but open up a little, a draw: visualize it, set up reasonably square or a little shot then swing. But make sure you have a feel for what you are going to play before you play it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by Ogogolf

Do you *try* to hit your driver straight? Or do you purposely play a draw or a fade?

~ogo

Not A Scratch or a Bogey Golf Player but somewhere in-between.

Glad you fixed your driver swing. It is a wonderful club to hit.

I also hit it with a draw (or a hook if it hit it poorly).

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 4305 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • I did not realize that, I was thinking a more traditional golf club.  
    • Thanks for the feedback. @StuM, we are a "club without real estate" so no facilities or pro. We have a membership of around 185 players and we only play together as a group at our tournaments, which are held at public access courses. A group of us setup the tournaments, collect the money and dole out the prizes.
    • In general, granting free relief anywhere on the course isn't recommended.  Similarly, when marking GUR, the VSGA and MAPGA generally don't mark areas that are well away from the intended playing lines, no matter how poor the conditions.  If you hit it far enough offline, you don't necessarily deserve free relief.  And you don't have to damage clubs, take unplayable relief, take the stroke, and drop the ball in a better spot.
    • If it's not broken don't fix it. If you want to add grooves to it just because of looks that's your choice of course. Grooves are cut into putter faces to reduce skid, the roll faced putter is designed to do the same thing. I'm no expert but it seems counter productive to add grooves to the roll face. Maybe you can have it sand-blasted or something to clean up the face. Take a look at Tigers putter, its beat to hell but he still uses it.     
    • I get trying to limit relief to the fairway, but how many roots do you typically find in the fairway? Our local rule allows for relief from roots & rocks anywhere on the course (that is in play). My home course has quite a few 100 year old oaks that separate the fairways. Lift and move the ball no closer to the hole. None of us want to damage clubs.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...