Driver. Have you ditched it?

[Craigg]

A couple of months ago I ditched my driver through my inability to keep it straight. I bought a 12* Mini Driver (It's really a 2 wood but they won't brand it as that because it's not cool). It's been a revelation. I carry it around 220yds so am getting out to 230 odd yds with a bit of roll, hopefully more in the summer. More importantly, I'm straighter with it. I really can't see me putting a Driver back in the bag anytime soon.
Has anyone else ditched the driver for good, in favour of a 2/3 wood, or even a strong Hybrid?

 

[Deleted member 21784]

A couple of months ago I ditched my driver through my inability to keep it straight. I bought a 12* Mini Driver (It's really a 2 wood but they won't brand it as that because it's not cool). It's been a revelation. I carry it around 220yds so am getting out to 230 odd yds with a bit of roll, hopefully more in the summer. More importantly, I'm straighter with it. I really can't see me putting a Driver back in the bag anytime soon.
Has anyone else ditched the driver for good, in favour of a 2/3 wood, or even a strong Hybrid?

I ditched the driver for years until last season

gone for 12 degree drivers since which as less traditional I guess

getting there but not in same league as people on here

 

[Norrin Radd]

ditch the driver ,i think not.
it might be a love hate relationship but it will always be there should i need it.

 

[Imurg]

I've gone weeks without using the driver...
Won plenty of Medals/Stableford comps driving with a 3 or even a 4 wood.
I don't find the mini drivers give me anything over my 3 wood though.
Biggest problem I find is into the wind - the extra spin tends to kill the distance more.
Definitely going to work hard on the driver this year..

 

[fundy]

I've gone weeks without using the driver...
Won plenty of Medals/Stableford comps driving with a 3 or even a 4 wood.
I don't find the mini drivers give me anything over my 3 wood though.
Biggest problem I find is into the wind - the extra spin tends to kill the distance more.
Definitely going to work hard on the driver this year..

bit more of a driving premium at Whipsnade? remember i hit a lot of 3 irons there last time i played but was off the yellows in summer

 

[Imurg]

bit more of a driving premium at Whipsnade? remember i hit a lot of 3 irons there last time i played but was off the yellows in summer

Yeah, more 3wds off the tee but there's a few holes that are tons easier with a 250+ drive....None of the par 5s are huge....

 

[Dasit]

Depends on the hole

If there is not much danger either side of the fairway I will use it.

Any OOB on the right or close left it is usually not worth the risk...lose far too many both left and right. A 2 way miss is crippling.

 

[clubchamp98]

A couple of months ago I ditched my driver through my inability to keep it straight. I bought a 12* Mini Driver (It's really a 2 wood but they won't brand it as that because it's not cool). It's been a revelation. I carry it around 220yds so am getting out to 230 odd yds with a bit of roll, hopefully more in the summer. More importantly, I'm straighter with it. I really can't see me putting a Driver back in the bag anytime soon.
Has anyone else ditched the driver for good, in favour of a 2/3 wood, or even a strong Hybrid?

years ago played 36 hole comp left driver at home hit every fairway except one with my one iron. Won comp by 5 shots.
those were the days
I couldn't hit a one iron to save my life now !

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Spent this year working on my driver as I had struggled with it.

Well worth the effort, getting so much better with the driver now.

Had a spell around two years ago where I went to three wood off the tee, worked quite well.

 

[Face breaker]

Driver's relegated to the locker for the foreseeable future, 3-wood is teetering on the brink of no return as well but when I'm hitting my 3-wood well I've no need for a driver anyway, gonna take the 3W out for a spin next time I play just to see if anything has improved, hit it reasonably well off the deck still just not to good off the tee's, bit of a slice thing going on...

 

[And29]

A couple of months ago I ditched my driver through my inability to keep it straight. I bought a 12* Mini Driver (It's really a 2 wood but they won't brand it as that because it's not cool). It's been a revelation. I carry it around 220yds so am getting out to 230 odd yds with a bit of roll, hopefully more in the summer. More importantly, I'm straighter with it. I really can't see me putting a Driver back in the bag anytime soon.
Has anyone else ditched the driver for good, in favour of a 2/3 wood, or even a strong Hybrid?

I had lots of fun with a mini driver for over a year..

and i found that it helped my driving more than anything

2 lessons later ditched the mini for a 915 and M2 driver

and have droppped shot and far more consistent

 

[Coffey]

Ditched it a 2 years ago as couldnt control it and went for hybrid/3wood off tee. Worked hard on driver and now my most consistent club in the bag. Just changed from the Ping G30 sf tec to the ls tec as the lower spin increased distance from 240 to 270. Also has a slightly stiffer shaft which should help as well. Need to see if it performs on the course though as the sf tec is a fairway finder for me at the moment.

 

[MartynB]

Struggling, used 3 wood from tee in recent months but not great today. Started hitting 3 hybrid and absolutely nailed it. I dont tee it up and can carry it as far as my 3 wood but straighter. Fine on most of the holes on the courses I play for distance but would like option of driver/3 wood but as soon as something is on a tee I end up flipping up on it and bad stuff happens.

 

[SaintHacker]

I haven't carried a driver for ages. I have an RBZ 3 wood, its far more accurate and I only lose maybe 10yds tops over my driver. On a dry day i can happily get it out to 250yds and more often than not on the fairway so its a bit of a no brainer for me.

 

[Jungle]

I went two years without a driver, after putting a mini driver in the bag with very similar results to yourself, although I for along time had myself convinced that it was a bit longer than what it actually was.

However it was a bit of a false economy as by leaving myself further back I was technically playing tougher shots for my second and particularly round leven, flirting with some unnecessary bunkers.

I've recently picked up a new xr16 driver and I'm finding it just as easy to find fairways but now find myself going into greens with much shorter clubs.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

A driver is one of the easiet clubs in the bag to hit. Massive face and a big sweet spot - what's not to like?

Logic is a bit like - I miss putts so dump the putter!!

 

[Craigg]

A driver is one of the easiet clubs in the bag to hit. Massive face and a big sweet spot - what's not to like?

Logic is a bit like - I miss putts so dump the putter!!

It's also got the least loft so side spin is much more of an issue.
I've yet to hit a putter 150 yds off line into gorse so will keep it in the bag for now. :thup:

 

[Imurg]

It's also got the least loft so side spin is much more of an issue.
I've yet to hit a putter 150 yds off line into gorse so will keep it in the bag for now. :thup:

I think 150 is a bit of an exaggeration isn't it...?😁
Mind yoj, I really have been 75 yards offline before.....😖

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not ditched mine. I could have helicoptered mine today but took a deep breath and kept going. My driving stats last year was bang on my handicap level and can only get better. As a short hitter I need all the extra yards I can get

 

[Craigg]

I think 150 is a bit of an exaggeration isn't it...?
Mind yoj, I really have been 75 yards offline before.....

Maybe a slight exaggeration but I have been known to hit the odd fade...Ahem.....across a couple of fairways FORE RIGHT!