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I'm giving up on the bloody driver

dufferman

dufferman

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Jul 30, 2012
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I played in the final of the Men's NAPGC at Woodhall Spa Sunday. I had a round the day before and hit my driver reasonably ok - which for me is "good".

I hit 1 good drive off the 1st, and the rest of the day I couldn't find a single fairway with the thing.

Started to hit my 3 wood off the tee on the back 9, and I was outdriving the 2 guys I was playing with.

Sodding game.

I think I'm going to lock my driver up in the garage for a while. Did me more damage than good.
 
I don't understand the problem people have with the driver. It's the biggest club head in the bag, how can you miss? Please could you say just what your problem is with the thing and I'm sure they'll be loads ready to help, myself included.
 
Why do you think the 3 wood is better than the driver though? You can always get a driver with a smaller head and/or slightly shorter shaft (making a bit more like a 3 wood just with less loft). I went through a few drivers before I found one I really liked, which is the one I have now. I tried it, it seemed to work so I bought it, and only when I got home I realised it was an inch shorter than the other ones I'd used. So that probably helps me with accuracy.
 
I'm with you on this one, I really don't achieve anymore distance with my driver than I do with my 3-wood and I find the 3-wood doesn't drop me in the crap as much as the driver...:thup:
 
since being fitted for my driver I know that if things go wrong that it's me and not the club! It just helps mentally to know that the club is good and gets me to focus on what is going wrong. For me, more often than not it's posture.

Were you fitted for your driver?
 
hines57 said:
Were you fitted for your driver?
Click to expand...

Not this one, but I have been fitted for Drivers before (got fitted for an SLDR at Taylormade at Wentworth) - always the same story!

Orikoru said:
Why do you think the 3 wood is better than the driver though? You can always get a driver with a smaller head and/or slightly shorter shaft (making a bit more like a 3 wood just with less loft). I went through a few drivers before I found one I really liked, which is the one I have now. I tried it, it seemed to work so I bought it, and only when I got home I realised it was an inch shorter than the other ones I'd used. So that probably helps me with accuracy.
Click to expand...

My current driver is an M2 with an Aldila Rogue White shaft which is an inch shorter. I have no clue why my 3 wood (an old Taylormade Burner 2.0) is easier to hit. I have been tempted to try the Burner 2.0 driver since it should feel the same as the 3 wood, but most stiff shafted ones are 9.5 loft which is no good for my low ball flight.

Crazyface said:
I don't understand the problem people have with the driver. It's the biggest club head in the bag, how can you miss? Please could you say just what your problem is with the thing and I'm sure they'll be loads ready to help, myself included.
Click to expand...

It's a massive slice. Or it doesn't get more than 2 foot off the ground. They are my 2 options. At my home course there is no water or long rough between tee & fairway, so a low shot is fine. But because it is so low, it goes no further than my 3 wood. If I try to get a bit more height on it, I end up slicing it!
 
I presume you've tried a driver with extra loft and adjustable weights you can set to draw bias?

I have the romantic view that the right driver for everyone is out there somewhere, you just have to find it. :D
I went through four drivers in a year before I eventually landed on my current one. I love it though, I can set it to 12° which improves my carry (I have quite a slow-ish swing speed), plus you can adjust face angle, which I have open to stop me hooking it horribly. Only cost me £60 second hand.
 
Orikoru said:
I presume you've tried a driver with extra loft and adjustable weights you can set to draw bias?

I have the romantic view that the right driver for everyone is out there somewhere, you just have to find it. :D
I went through four drivers in a year before I eventually landed on my current one. I love it though, I can set it to 12° which improves my carry (I have quite a slow-ish swing speed), plus you can adjust face angle, which I have open to stop me hooking it horribly. Only cost me £60 second hand.
Click to expand...
Ive an adams 12 degree set to 13. Something nice flight doesnt misbehave often .
 
Shaft length is the general issue. Take an inch or two off a driver shaft and all is likely to be well. Probably not as simple as that but that is my simpletons view.
 
Why do players always assume it is them and not the equipment.

When they banned the rebound face drivers I went through 8 drivers in 6 months before I found a replacement which worked for my swing.
 
I have a callaway XR, went for a recent fitting, tried all the new "this gives you 20 yards" drivers (GBB Epic, M2, M1) I hit the best drives with my current driver. I then bought my 3 wood and now use that from every tee, absolute fairway finder.
 
Crazyface said:
I don't understand the problem people have with the driver. It's the biggest club head in the bag, how can you miss? Please could you say just what your problem is with the thing and I'm sure they'll be loads ready to help, myself included.
Click to expand...

The problem is (and probably always will be) shaft length, the more the manufacturers insist on putting longer and longer shafts in their drivers the more of a problem the driver will become...

Bubba Watson plays a 44" driver, Tiger Woods plays a 43" driver so how the hell we're expected to play 45/46" drivers is beyond me...

Of course there will always be those that claim not to have an issue with drivers of such a length and bully for them, I wish them well, feel free to whack away to their hearts content, in the meantime us mere mortals will quietly go about our business with our '3-woods' happy in the knowledge that at least we're where we wanna be, in the middle of the fairway... :thup:
 
Face breaker said:
The problem is (and probably always will be) shaft length, the more the manufacturers insist on putting longer and longer shafts in their drivers the more of a problem the driver will become...

Bubba Watson plays a 44" driver, Tiger Woods plays a 43" driver so how the hell we're expected to play 45/46" drivers is beyond me...

Of course there will always be those that claim not to have an issue with drivers of such a length and bully for them, I wish them well, feel free to whack away to their hearts content, in the meantime us mere mortals will quietly go about our business with our '3-woods' happy in the knowledge that at least we're where we wanna be, in the middle of the fairway... :thup:
Click to expand...

Here here!!
 
I've had a similar problem recently...

I'd usually take the exciting option of blaming the club and buying a new driver, then realising that's even worse and going back to my old faithful.

This time I opted for the boring (but much cheaper) option of going for a lesson..
Turns out there was a big problem in my downswing.Ive now got something to work on and hopefully get back on track..
 
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