How often do you use a driver?

Not very often at the moment but usually every time I get to go to the golf course or the driving range. Unless I am playing a little par 3 course.
 
8-11 holes depending on prevailing conditions.

Holes I don't hit driver:
4x par 3
Hole 1: short par 4, could go for green but too dangerous. Usually hit 4-6 iron depending on wind.
Hole 7: tight and dogleg, stroke index 1, usually play hybrid.
Hole 10: driver can reach lake up the right, I usually hit hybrid then take a long iron approach. Sometimes hit driver here.
Hole 12: short par 4, driver is tempting, but it's a reload if you miss even a little right. Usually hit 4 iron short of the trouble.
Hole 16: short par 4, reachable with the right wind conditions. I often hit driver but sometimes will club down to stay out of trouble.
Hole 17: with the right wind I can put it in the ditch, so will play 3w if there is a decent following wind. Otherwise it's driver.
 
I probably use my Driver for most of the par 4 and 5 holes at our course and even on a couple of par 3's, depending on which tee is in use and the wind direction. But then I am a rather short hitting veteran!
 
Thisis a bit of a how long is a piece of string question. Shorter hitters are going to use it a lot as they need the distance, but they tend to be more accurate with their driver anyway.

bigger hitters can afford not to use the driver as much, for obvious reasons. If I am stood on a 350 yard hole, I always reach for my 2i as it is a banker of a shot, 230 on the fairway every time. Leaves me a GW or 3/4 PW in, which I am more than happy with. When to hit a driver has so many variables for me, I just couldn't say exactly how many time I would use it.

when I played at Spalding, the 8th is a par 5 that I could reach in 2, but there was so much room for it all to go wrong with the approach shot. I would deliberately hit a 3w down here just so I was no in range of the green, so I had to then lay up. I've eagled that hole, I've also had double bogeys through trying to get the eagle.

my advise to any beginner is find a club that you are comfortable with from the tee that still gives you reasonable distance. After all you are trying to play bogey golf so every tee shot is a freebie so get it in the fairway and you will soon start to shoot some good scores.
 
Way to sensible Adey!

But I have to agree it's less about the club and more about the objective than most posts here suggest.

There's also the important aspect about where hazards are situated, and the relative aspects of 10 degrees at 300 and the same dispersion at 250 - this can be much more of a factor than many understand .
 
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As stated I'm not a big hitter but quite consistent, so every opertunity to have a dig with the driver!

There are only 2 par 4 s I don't use it on and that's due to hazards on a drivable length! They are only short holes so I lay up with hybrid or 3 wood!!!
 
Way to sensible Adey!

But I have to agree it's less about the club and more about the objective than most posts here suggest.

There's also the important aspect about where hazards are situated, and the relative aspects of 10 degrees at 300 and the same dispersion at 250 - this can be much more of a factor than many understand .

Sensible or correct?

my attitude towards tee shots got changed by playing a couple of times with a lad at Spalding who played off +2 at the time, he's now off +4:eek:. I just copied what he did off the tee as we hit the ball similar distances and it made such a difference.

350 yard hole. Take the driver and leave a 60/70 yard half wedge into the green, also a risk that the driver could put it in the rough which is going to make the shot harder. Or take take a club that is almost guaranteed to be in the fairway and leave a full wedge in that is easier to control. As he said to me, anyone who can't hit a full wedge shot consistently is never going to get to a low handicap. He told me to use my distance to my advantage, not just try showing off by trying to hit 300 yard drives every hole when it really is not needed.
 
Sensible or correct?

my attitude towards tee shots got changed by playing a couple of times with a lad at Spalding who played off +2 at the time, he's now off +4:eek:. I just copied what he did off the tee as we hit the ball similar distances and it made such a difference.

350 yard hole. Take the driver and leave a 60/70 yard half wedge into the green, also a risk that the driver could put it in the rough which is going to make the shot harder. Or take take a club that is almost guaranteed to be in the fairway and leave a full wedge in that is easier to control. As he said to me, anyone who can't hit a full wedge shot consistently is never going to get to a low handicap. He told me to use my distance to my advantage, not just try showing off by trying to hit 300 yard drives every hole when it really is not needed.

sensible and correct !

I was completely agreeing :)
 
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