How do you drive??

[Papas1982]

Just curious how guys of my handicap (28) drive the ball? Or if people of a better calibre have improved theirs. I tended to swing slow and steady and just accept 210-230 with the off one I got hold of stretching their legs. I'm still seriously inconsistent and will slice a big one right quite often. Tried all sorts of stances and no chance.

At the range today I decided to hammer it a bit, accuracy was pretty similar, but must if added a good 20 yards minimum. I'll admit one wild one flew right! So, basically do you guys go slow and hope for accuracy or just belt it out there?

 

[Andy808]

I've always just belted them out there to be honest. Only recently though I have been practicing a 3/4 swing as we have 2 short par 4's that a full swing flies out the back but a 3 wood doesn't quiet make it.
Still can't beat belting one down the middle 290 yards though it's a great feeling.

 

[Oddsocks]

Op, if your that wild I'd question how often your drive kills your second shot, ie from deep rough, a bush, lake trees or o/b.

If its more often than not impacting your 2nd shot your left with 3 options:

1) carry on as is and constantly play from the crap on your second.

2) get a lesson and stop trying to self fix, at your hc trial and error could cause all sorts of outcomes

3) drop to a 3w off the tee if your more consistent with it. I know many people who connect with a 3 better than a driver and still pop it out there at 220/240 with a solid strike. If nothing else it will enable you to grain a trustable swing you can take to the driver at a later date

 

[PPE]

Just curious how guys of my handicap (28) drive the ball? Or if people of a better calibre have improved theirs. I tended to swing slow and steady and just accept 210-230 with the off one I got hold of stretching their legs. I'm still seriously inconsistent and will slice a big one right quite often. Tried all sorts of stances and no chance.

At the range today I decided to hammer it a bit, accuracy was pretty similar, but must if added a good 20 yards minimum. I'll admit one wild one flew right! So, basically do you guys go slow and hope for accuracy or just belt it out there?

Technique. You can swing like a lunatic and hit it 230yrds, but a better technique maybe with a better plane, delayed release or correct weight transfer, even with a slower swing speed, could yield another 30-40yrds!

 

[Oddsocks]

Technique. You can swing like a lunatic and hit it 230yrds, but a better technique maybe with a better plane, delayed release or correct weight transfer, even with a slower swing speed, could yield another 30-40yrds!

Aka Duncan mackie

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

Take it from a fellow high handicapper, forget distance and focus on getting it straight. I can bomb it, hook it, slice it and even now the odd duff when using the driver so now I just keep it for the range. Around my track I now use mainly the hybrid off the tee and the scores are coming down as I'm not having to hack myself out of the thick stuff and play a 3rd or 4th shot into the green.

Even if I'm short with my second, its still just a chip on or 3/4 pitch with a short iron or wedge

 

[Papas1982]

I wouldn't say I swing completely wildly, have just started to give it some extra zip. Like I said, the dispersion didn't actually get any worse with this. Did have a lesson but all he wanted to coach was iron play, now obviously I'm not perfect (far from it) with my handicap, but I feel from 140 in I'm not too bad at all. Didn't even touch on driver which is totally different swing. I tend to manage my swing so aim at left fair way and if it pops straight then good and with gentle fade I'm on, would say I hit 8-10 fairways or light rough. Usually in deeper rough a couple of times. I'm not overly concerned about where it's ending up so much as whether I'm attempting it correctly. I agree that technique is important but my smooth drives just seem lame.

Also, got a 3 wood, goes as far as driver currently as I can fully swing that due to it having shirted shaft. My sole intention is to improve the driver, not give up on it.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

I tended to swing slow and steady and just accept 210-230 with the off one I got hold of stretching their legs.

You tended to just accept 210-230 ? whats wrong with that distance like ? you are a 28 hcp, that is my driving distance and the lower my handicap goes I do not expect it too go much further just my short game will improve. If you can hit it that distance with a slow swing speed you should take a long hard look at the other parts of your game and forget all about how far you hit the big dog.

 

[Papas1982]

You tended to just accept 210-230 ? whats wrong with that distance like ? you are a 28 hcp, that is my driving distance and the lower my handicap goes I do not expect it too go much further just my short game will improve. If you can hit it that distance with a slow swing speed you should take a long hard look at the other parts of your game and forget all about how far you hit the big dog.

I've played maybe 20 rounds so far so obviously I need to work on it all of course. Although it tends to be my putting that is a nightmare. I'm on most greens for 3 but so many 3 putts. I'm not mortified by my driving and its gained yardage with the weather. Plus that's including roll, not carry. Just think that 250 isn't out of reach, ive always had quite good upper body strength so want to make the most of it. Also, longer driving would mean more 8 irons to greens instead of hybrids or long irons and would therefor help my hcap. Not trying to drive long just so I can go online and brag about 400 yard carries, just that I think it's an area I can venue only improve on and it'll help my game.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

. I'm on most greens for 3 but so many 3 putts. Just think that 250 isn't out of reach,.

I think you should forget the extra 20-30 yards for your drive and get a putting lesson. 20 yards nearer the hole will not make the slightest difference if you are still 3 putting on the greens, the old adage drive for show putt for dough is always relevant. :thup:

 

[SaintHacker]

3) drop to a 3w off the tee if your more consistent with it. I know many people who connect with a 3 better than a driver and still pop it out there at 220/240 with a solid strike. If nothing else it will enable you to grain a trustable swing you can take to the driver at a later date

This is exactly what I have been doing, although I couldn't get it going this morning, in general my 3w is only about 30 yards short of my driver but probably 70% more accurate.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Pretty well since I got my new low spin driver. My old one was custom fitted when I took up the game but my golf changed so much it became dreadful.

A new custom fit and over 5.5K less of spin and I love it.

I pretty much use the swing I use for all other full shots but with a different ball position. I stand square and try to keep my rhythm.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre.

 

[macca64]

best part of my game, not long, but don't usually miss more than about 3 fairways in a round, off 18 and going up,

 

[Jungle]

Just back from the course and I may be a convert to the 3 wood.

When I started playing my driving was pretty poor. My game has since improved quite a bit including my driving but when I looked back at my weekend round I hit a few good drives but for every nice drive I hit I could think of one that landed me in trouble.

It's probably playing a big part in why I'm struggling to score well.

So tonight I decided to use a 3 wood of the tee. What a revelation. I loose a bit in length but I hit every fairway on the front nine.

Club champs 1st qualifier this Saturday and I'm pretty sure I'll have that 3 wood in my hand.

 

[Ian_S]

Without wanting to bring up forum yardages, I outdrive more people than outdrive me when I'm playing in comps - however they all come in with lower scores than me. A lesson there for all wanting more distance. Trust me, it isn't the answer to all your prayers.

Had a bad day with the big dog today, but lately it has been performing very well.

 

[lyden]

If there's an o.b near by I'll try and swing smoother which usually results in a slice. Most of the time I'll hit it as hard as I can and try and leave a wedge approach.

 

[chrisd]

If you want to keep hitting the driver there are two tips that I like

Always see the ball leave the tee - it will help cure a number of problems

Practice a good, well balanced finish before you hit a ball and it should help with your tempo. If you swing too quick or wild you generally will be off balance at the pose at the finish. My pro calls it the 3 second rule ie hold the finish for 3seconds

 

[HomerJSimpson]

230 yards and straight 7/10 times off 28 will get that handicap down in no time. Plenty of players hitting 250 yards and playing out of the rough or reloading. If you want to get a definitive answer and move forward, get a lesson

 

[inthecup]

Just curious how guys of my handicap (28) drive the ball? Or if people of a better calibre have improved theirs. I tended to swing slow and steady and just accept 210-230 with the off one I got hold of stretching their legs. I'm still seriously inconsistent and will slice a big one right quite often. Tried all sorts of stances and no chance.

At the range today I decided to hammer it a bit, accuracy was pretty similar, but must if added a good 20 yards minimum. I'll admit one wild one flew right! So, basically do you guys go slow and hope for accuracy or just belt it out there?

I don't understand why high handicappers use drivers and complain when they can't hit fairways. Forget about driver and 3 wood, get yourself a nice 5 wood / hybrid and use this off the tee. Far better 50 yards back and in play than a lost ball. Doing this and a good book on course management will shave shots off your round rather than trying to melt the driver.

When I were a lad my old man wouldn't buy me a driver until I got my handicap below 14. At the time I thought what an old you know what but makes complete sense. Don't worry about clonking it 250 yards to keep up with your mates. Just concentrate on getting it safely to the green and it will all come together.