Driver alternative

[njmartyn]

No matter what I do - lessons, endless video tutorials I can’t get to grips with the driver.
Averaging 180 yards with it due to so much spin.
My 3 iron on the other hand… 200yards straight down the middle.
I have mizuno mx-19’s and am contemplating a modern 2 iron, surely that will give me a few extra yards off the tee??

And no. I struggle with hybrids as well!



thanks for all the replies!
me - 6'2 and 16stone, i certainly have the power and i think my swing speed is decent but i'm only getting around 135mph ball speed on the driver (pretty much the same as my 3iron). the real difference is the launch angle - its in the 15-20 range for my iron, but 20-35 for the driver. so as some suggested it seems i'm too steep on it. my shot shape is a slice with driver, standing closer to the ball i can straighten it out and make my bad shot a big pull but still too much height losing distance. I don't play regularly, i used to but my game (and love for it) really fell apart after a trip to the 2010 course where i really struggled as my 3iron option of the tee just wasn't giving me the distance to clear hazards!
re. lessons - my pro always says the same, work on your irons the driver will come..... sure my iron swing may not be perfect but they're consistent and do what i need, i can shape either way and am happy with them.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No matter what I do - lessons, endless video tutorials I can’t get to grips with the driver.
Averaging 180 yards with it due to so much spin.
My 3 iron on the other hand… 200yards straight down the middle.
I have mizuno mx-19’s and am contemplating a modern 2 iron, surely that will give me a few extra yards off the tee??

And no. I struggle with hybrids as well!

The simple thing is, if you don't hit driver you will always be giving up distance. Even a 3 wood especially in the winter is going to make it hard to hit some par 4's and get you far enough down a par 5 off the tee to have a reasonably short iron in for the 3rd shot. I would suggest finding a better pro as it should be within the remit of most to get a student competent in hitting it. Depending on age and physical ability 180 is short

 

[PJ87]

Have you tried equipment changes? Low spinning driver helps if you make too much spin

 

[VVega]

It helps to diagnose the issue first. What is causing the short distance, is it a bad strike location, or low launch angle with no spin or open face and out-in path? Any pro with a launch monitor can help.

In any case, a shorter shaft would be helpful. Choke down 3in or find a fitter who can help to try driver shafts that are 3-5in shorter.

 

[RichA]

Don't know your experience level but I struggled massively with driver, woods and hybrids for ages.
Eventually sorted it but it still comes and goes.
I used a driving iron for a while but you aren't realistically going to get up towards 250 yards of the tee consistently without figuring out how to use a driver. Especially in winter.
I used a 3-wood shaft in my driver for a while but have now settled with a normal driver shaft with 3/4 inch cut off the butt. It just gives the feeling of a little more control, like you have with an iron.
But you're better off getting lessons from a pro than taking tips from somebody like me who took a year to figure out a DIY fix.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Don't know your experience level but I struggled massively with driver, woods and hybrids for ages.
Eventually sorted it but it still comes and goes.
I used a driving iron for a while but you aren't realistically going to get up towards 250 yards of the tee consistently without figuring out how to use a driver. Especially in winter.
I used a 3-wood shaft in my driver for a while but have now settled with a normal driver shaft with 3/4 inch cut off the butt. It just gives the feeling of a little more control, like you have with an iron.
But you're better off getting lessons from a pro than taking tips from somebody like me who took a year to figure out a DIY fix.

Youtube is always a potential rabbit hole and you think you are doing what is shown in the video but are you? It is something I've been guilty of and some of these holes can take a long way to find the way back out of

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Have you tried a mini driver?

I'll counter some of the other comments. 200yds up the middle with a 3 iron = good hitting. You are in the hole, prime spot.

How well do you hit your second shots? If you hit them well, take what you've got and worry about another aspect of your game.

The other alternative, you need to find a pro who suits you better, unlocks the key to getting you hitting your driver better. It may be one comment, one offhand tip. Trial and error

 

[Billysboots]

My 2-iron is a life saver in the summer, when the course is firm and the rough long, because I hit it a decent distance and get loads of roll. So the par 4’s, even the longer ones, remain within range. And I keep it in play more consistently.

But in winter, when it’s all carry, it’s a different story. As others have said, you need to diagnose the problem and seek a fix.

 

[Hxck]

No matter what I do - lessons, endless video tutorials I can’t get to grips with the driver.
Averaging 180 yards with it due to so much spin.
My 3 iron on the other hand… 200yards straight down the middle.
I have mizuno mx-19’s and am contemplating a modern 2 iron, surely that will give me a few extra yards off the tee??

And no. I struggle with hybrids as well!

Describe the ball flight?

Spin alone is unlikely to make you 20yds shorter than your 3i. I’m not sure how much spin you’re getting but if it’s that much you’re probably excessively steep.

We all have bad days or even periods with the big stick, but you’re definitely better off addressing the issue now than simply not hitting it and capping yourself at 200 off the tee

 

[Backache]

I agree with a lot of Lord Tyrion's post.
If you can consistently hit the 3 iron 200 yds down the middle you must have at least decent club speed and timing ability.
You need to find another professional who can tell you why your driver is going less far, then how to adjust your swing.
It may very well be something like ball position or set up is causing you to strike it off the wrong part of the face or at the wrong angle.
Until you know why it is happening you can't know how to correct it.

 

[MACM85]

I was struggling with my driver with a two way miss and was costing me on the course. Ended up getting a Mini driver. Granted I have lost a few yards off the tee (20 to 30) however I can still get this out at 230-240 carry and the mishits are now in play rather than costing me shots off the tee etc.

Lessons will help. As others have said find a pro that you can work with and enjoy working with who gives you what you need. Recently I have gone with a new coach and he is a no nonsense coach who tells you how it is and why what you're doing is rubbish etc. Few lessons and already noticing a draw come in with irons and woods where I was a high cut before. Ball in play makes the game much easier.

 

[rksquire]

Driver is my most detrimental club, to limit the damage in competitions I started taking other clubs but after a bit of time it was obvious I wasn't enjoying my golf as much... so back hitting 9 or 10 times a round - a good day with the driver is very enjoyable. I'm no expert - there are others here who are much more qualified to give advice - and you don't give your age, but on the height / weight alone you probably should be hitting it a lot further so possibly wrong shaft / length / loft. Everybody is different, standing close to the ball makes me steep, but you may have other issues a pro may see in your set up, ball position, staying connected, clearing etc.

 

[WorldHandicapSystem]

If your pro is having you use the same swing to hit irons and driver, I’d suggest looking for a new pro.

Sounds like you have an over the top out to in swing which is probably giving you a downward angle of attack. This will absolutely kill your speed.

 

[njmartyn]

Driver is my most detrimental club, to limit the damage in competitions I started taking other clubs but after a bit of time it was obvious I wasn't enjoying my golf as much... so back hitting 9 or 10 times a round - a good day with the driver is very enjoyable. I'm no expert - there are others here who are much more qualified to give advice - and you don't give your age, but on the height / weight alone you probably should be hitting it a lot further so possibly wrong shaft / length / loft. Everybody is different, standing close to the ball makes me steep, but you may have other issues a pro may see in your set up, ball position, staying connected, clearing etc.

thankyou, i'm 45 but fit and active
my irons are an inch longer, 2 upright. i'll try and find another local pro to give me some advice.

 

[JayB]

my pro always says the same, work on your irons the driver will come

Find another Pro.

I've had the same experience, complete waste of time and money.

 

[Patster1969]

Driver is my most detrimental club, to limit the damage in competitions I started taking other clubs but after a bit of time it was obvious I wasn't enjoying my golf as much... so back hitting 9 or 10 times a round - a good day with the driver is very enjoyable. I'm no expert - there are others here who are much more qualified to give advice - and you don't give your age, but on the height / weight alone you probably should be hitting it a lot further so possibly wrong shaft / length / loft. Everybody is different, standing close to the ball makes me steep, but you may have other issues a pro may see in your set up, ball position, staying connected, clearing etc.

This could be an important point. I was on holiday recently & hired some clubs - could not hit the driver at all as it was a 9 degree, whereas my driver is 11.5%. It may seem small but loft does have a huge difference.
Also, I wonder if the anxiety has made the OP start peeking earlier as they are worried about the ball, so he is then losing his angles - this is my bad shot, when I peek early, which produces a slice