Hitting Fairways!

[saltman]

So many threads about hitting the ball long, thought I might start one about hitting fairways.

Just purchased new driver and 3wd after going through a fitting on Saturday.  Sunday first round with the new clubs.  Hit 4/5 f/w with the driver, 5/5 f/w with 3wd.  9/13 overall on the day.  Ironically missed a fairway with a 6-iron and 3-iron.  This was easily the best round driving the golf ball for me in years, possibly ever.  Over the last several years, I have been hitting about 25% of fairways so you can imagine my excitement at 9/13.  Didn't translate to a low score, shot 82, some bad luck and absolutely no putts dropping.  The two missed fairways cost me 6 shots to par, a double and really horrible bad luck quadruple.

So how accurate are you and what is your stock club when you need to hit the fairway?  I feel like this 3wd is going to be the money club.

[Stargaze]

Well the truth is, I'm not real accurate with my driver yet but the good news is I don't have a slice or a hook.   My drives are going straight just not down the pike, they tend to zone in on a tree somewhere along the way and head right for it.

[onesome]

My driver is one of my most accurate clubs however I play with guys who only hit 3 or 4 fairways and still beat me by 5 shots,short game is king in this game can't even begin to count how many times been just off the green in 2 at a par 5 and wind up walikng away with par or bogey.

[saltman]

Driver has always been the hardest club in the bag to hit for me and I am pretty sure it is supposed to be.  That said in recent years I have been driving the ball more poorly than some of my playing partners that only hope to break 100.  Nothing else in their games can remotely match mine, but driving the golf ball seemed to be only my problem.  Hopefully it is solved, next round is Thursday and I am licking my chops!

[saltman]

  onesome said:

Originally Posted by onesome

My driver is one of my most accurate clubs however I play with guys who only hit 3 or 4 fairways and still beat me by 5 shots,short game is king in this game can't even begin to count how many times been just off the green in 2 at a par 5 and wind up walikng away with par or bogey.

This is true to a point.  I can hit 0 fairways in a round and still shoot 85-90 depending on the penalty, but not keeping the ball in or near the fairway is costing me 6-8 strokes per round, a ton of money in golf balls and lack of general enjoyment.

[NuclearMike]

I hit a lot of fairways but if I miss with my approaches I'll likely bogey or worse.  My short game is improving but my putting isn't.  I've changed putters and it's helped a little but the place where I practice doesn't have a good putting green.  Tomorrow I'm heading to a good practice green complex where I can practice more than putting to see if I can figure out why I suck so bad with the flat stick.

[KrazyTrain18]

I hit most of the fairways when I'm on the tee with the driver, easily one of the best if not my best club in my bag, straight and 230-240

[reedf]

NOT hitting the fairway is the biggest problem in my game right now! I keep track of this on my sky caddie, if I end up within 5 or so yards of the fairway in the rough, I count it as either a left or right miss. If I'm waaaayyyy off (usually) I count it as a complete miss. The slice robs distance, the tree(s) it hits robs distance and then it may take 2 shots to get back to the fairway. I think I would score better if I played with only irons! I'm really thinking my driver is out of the bag until I can have at least 3 consecutive driving range trips where I hit it relatively well!

[saltman]

  reedf said:

Originally Posted by reedf

NOT hitting the fairway is the biggest problem in my game right now! I keep track of this on my sky caddie, if I end up within 5 or so yards of the fairway in the rough, I count it as either a left or right miss. If I'm waaaayyyy off (usually) I count it as a complete miss. The slice robs distance, the tree(s) it hits robs distance and then it may take 2 shots to get back to the fairway. I think I would score better if I played with only irons! I'm really thinking my driver is out of the bag until I can have at least 3 consecutive driving range trips where I hit it relatively well!

This has been an issue for me as well.  I am certain that if took anything longer than a 5-iron out of my bag every round, my handicap would be 2-3 strokes lower.  That said avoiding a club is even less fun for me however and in the long run doesn't make your game better.  I am hoping this most recent club fitting exercise has solved my issues.  I am not expecting to hit 9/13 f/w every round but 6-8 will bring me down to a 4-5 handicap without question.

Don't give up, make sure you have the appropriate driver for your game and work on it on the range and it will come together.  The game is a lot more fun with the big dog in your hand!

[Dave2512]

As the season progresses I hit more FIR and my scores get lower. The biggest issue for me not hitting the fairway is resisting temptation to try and recover when I know the lie sucks. Sometimes it's tough to swallow the pride and layup to a better shot. I'd rather be on in 3 with a legit chance at par than risking that taking a whack at it may lead to more trouble.

[saltman]

  Dave2512 said:

Originally Posted by Dave2512

As the season progresses I hit more FIR and my scores get lower. The biggest issue for me not hitting the fairway is resisting temptation to try and recover when I know the lie sucks. Sometimes it's tough to swallow the pride and layup to a better shot. I'd rather be on in 3 with a legit chance at par than risking that taking a whack at it may lead to more trouble.

The "hero" shot menatality.  I know it all too well.  If I am playing reasonably well, I will play smart.  If I am already 8 over through 10, I am going for the hero shot and then I usually end up 11 over through 11.

[johnnyvancity]

TRY CROSS HANDED GRIP.

[johnnyvancity]

TRY CROSS HANDED PUTTING GRIP. WORKS MIRACLES. THE STANFORD GOLF COACH'S NOW TRAIN THE PLAYERS TO PUT CROSS HANDED.

[Dave2512]

  saltman said:

Originally Posted by saltman

The "hero" shot menatality.  I know it all too well.  If I am playing reasonably well, I will play smart.  If I am already 8 over through 10, I am going for the hero shot and then I usually end up 11 over through 11.

Unfortuantely I went for it on #1 last night and had to play conservatively for the rest of the front 9 due to an unfortunate triple after a penalty.

[xxsoultonesxx]

  johnnyvancity said:

Originally Posted by johnnyvancity

TRY CROSS HANDED PUTTING GRIP. WORKS MIRACLES. THE STANFORD GOLF COACH'S NOW TRAIN THE PLAYERS TO PUT CROSS HANDED.

HOLY CRAP NO WAY. GOLFING MIRACLES ARE COOL BRO.

[phillyk]

I played 9 today and had 5 of 7 fairways.  Driver was 2 of 4, 3W 1 of 1, and 4-iron 2 of 2.  I'd say my go to club in which I really needed to hit a certain area would be my 4hybrid.  I can hit it where I want to most of the time.  My driver is typically 50%, but the other 50% is mostly within 10yds of the fairway, so not too bad.  But could be better.

[saltman]

  phillyk said:

Originally Posted by phillyk

I played 9 today and had 5 of 7 fairways.  Driver was 2 of 4, 3W 1 of 1, and 4-iron 2 of 2.  I'd say my go to club in which I really needed to hit a certain area would be my 4hybrid.  I can hit it where I want to most of the time.  My driver is typically 50%, but the other 50% is mostly within 10yds of the fairway, so not too bad.  But could be better.

Real solid, I would say indicative of your index.  Missing the fairway is usually okay if you miss close especially on your everyday 6400-6800 yard course.  My misses have not been close in recent years.  The upshot is my creativity and shot making ability is vastly improved.  I recall a shot last year in which I hit a punch-cut driver off the deck from a dirt lie from 230yds running it to 4 feet from the hole.  It was probably the most incredible shot of my life.  Unfortunately it was my 4th shot after launching my first t-shot OB, re-tee and hit my 3rd shot into the trees.  Best bogey ever.

[hendog]

5W for me when a fairway is a must. 215-230 depending on roll. Otherwise I'm all bomb and gouge. I'm fairly accurate with my Driver especially if I dial it back and hit a little cut but my main concern is distance when I am hitting it. So long as its not sprung a major leak I'm fine with missing the fairway if I can get close enough for a wedge. Obviously this depends on the layout and length of rough which is brutal right now in Houston since it has rained for 2 weeks straight now. Fairways have a weak relationship to score although no one disagrees that you should hit them especially for higher handicappers where anything other than a driving range type lie can cause issues.