Carry On with Irons or Start Adding Clubs

[DJMassey]

Hello Everyone.

I've been lurking for a while and I have read a lot of posts and articles and really appreciate the advice that you guys give. I was hoping that you could offer your advice on the situation that I find myself in at the moment.

I've been using Irons (Callaway Diablo's) at the driving range and on a short 6 hole course and feel like I've bonded to a reasonable level with them, I'm by no means fully capable with them but I like to think that I can wield them with a certain degree of elegance. My 6 Iron shots average around the 165 yard mark, my 5 Iron slightly farther at 180 and the ball tends to land within a 30 yard radius of where I'm aiming. I would say that 7 out of 10 shots are within that radius and the remaining 3 are out of it, I have also being using the shorter Irons and Pitch Wedge with a degree of accuracy. I don't want you to think I have over looked the shorter clubs and just want to hammer the ball as far as I can.

My question is should I look at adding more clubs to my bag now, perhaps a Driver or a 3 Wood or should I really knuckle down and get my Iron shots as reliable as I can. I've only been playing since just before Christmas so I have very very limited knowledge or experience, and I have never even watched Golf on TV.

What do you guys think?

Cheers

Dave

[dsc123]

I would get a cheap driver and 3wood.  If you stick with it, you can get fit properly later.

[David in FL]

If you're striking your irons that well, with that kind of accuracy and consistency you are absolutely ready to add longer clubs into the mix. Maybe start with a 3 and 4 hybrid which will use pretty much the same swing as your mid irons. Add a 3 wood to use off the tee initially and put in the driver when you become comfortable with the 3 wood. Beyond that though, I'd also encourage you to get a series of beginner lessons before you ingrain any bad habits that will be difficult to unlearn down the road. Have fun, and welcome to the madness!

[DJMassey]

Thanks guys, I've just picked up a bit of cheap driver for the time being, I don't think its going to last me too long but then again I never know.

I went into the American Golf store on lunch to have a look at a few and ended up trying a couple. I originally picked up the Callaway Diablo Driver simply because I use the Iron's and logic told me that sticking with the same brand would be the right thing to do, I hit a few shots and the assistant got me a few more to try out. In the end I've ended up with a Nicklaus Airdraw V2 (Flex Shaft and 10.5), looks quite a nice club and felt right swinging it, just felt like it was the one.

I also got some swing speeds done and I'm averaging in the high 70's mph which isn't great but he did say that my technique was pretty good. According to the machine they use I have very low spin speed on the ball and the ball speed was pretty solid too which I am assuming is good due to the tonality of his voice, also I tend to hit a slight draw as well however the machine stated that my drive was around 200-220 yards. What are your thoughts on those stats?

I would think that with a swing speed as slow as mine would result in a very short drive but I think I need to learn a bit more about the mechanics of Golf and indeed Ball Behaviour as everything that seems logical to me doesn't seem to apply. Any thoughts?

By the way,I know my swing speed is pathetic but in my defense I have only been playing since late December and I've never hit a Driver before :)

I do intend on getting some lessons, I've had two so far, one which was really useful and one which wasn't so much but I got the feeling that I should only have a lesson every 3 or 4 weeks so I can fully understand and appreciate the advice that is given to me in the previous lesson.

Cheers

Dave

[Mordan]

Originally Posted by DJMassey

I also got some swing speeds done and I'm averaging in the high 70's mph which isn't great but he did say that my technique was pretty good. According to the machine they use I have very low spin speed on the ball and the ball speed was pretty solid too which I am assuming is good due to the tonality of his voice, also I tend to hit a slight draw as well however the machine stated that my drive was around 200-220 yards. What are your thoughts on those stats?

Short of a tail wind and hitting downhill I wouldn't have thought it was possible to hit 220 yards with a sub 80mph swing speed.

But at this stage for you I wouldn't worry at all. Just get a regular flex driver and go out there and hit some balls, swing speed will come with better technique which will come with practice and hitting balls.

[DJMassey]

I've just got back from the driving range and that machine was definitely wrong. I was only hitting 180 with perhaps a few reaching 200, but my major concern was my consistency. I was all over the show, less than 50% connected well and my swing felt a miss. Definately need a hell of a lot of practice with my driver

[onephenom]

If you're hitting 180 with 5 iron, driver should be closer to 250+. Are you sure that's your swing speed? A 180 5i has to be from a swing that takes a driver shot past 220 at least

[DJMassey]

I've been working exclusively on my Iron swing and never even touched a driver until today so I think that has something to do with it. I think my technique with my driver must be truly awful, I'm sure that is my swing speed with a driver. I do feel a lot more comfortable with my Iron and only can feel on myself that I swing a lot faster with an Iron than the driver. I cant stress how uncomfortable I feel with a driver, and how little knowledge I have a swinging it

[onephenom]

Originally Posted by DJMassey

I've been working exclusively on my Iron swing and never even touched a driver until today so I think that has something to do with it. I think my technique with my driver must be truly awful, I'm sure that is my swing speed with a driver. I do feel a lot more comfortable with my Iron and only can feel on myself that I swing a lot faster with an Iron than the driver. I cant stress how uncomfortable I feel with a driver, and how little knowledge I have a swinging it

It's hard to get over the mental block. It's the same swing pretty much, Just a slight change in set up, wider and swing up. I don't remember now, but I was listening to a pro talk about how he would alternate swings between driver and a full sand wedge until he swung both with the same tempo. It's hard to do that