Is my Driver lacking?

DAVEYBOY

DAVEYBOY

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After realising the distance I get out of my irons yesterday using the S3 I'm now thinking is my driver lacking in the distance department.

Some averages...

Based on current conditions so hopefully squeeze a few more yards in the summer (did I just say summer?)

8 iron - 150-155 carry
7 iron -160 carry can be a little bit more
6 iron - 170-175 carry
5 iron - 180 + carry depends on quality of strike

Now they are based on quality strikes but I did squeeze a little more out of each club at times yesterday.

Now my Driver probably averages 230 but can go 250+ with a really nice strike.

Now it looks to me like the driver is lacking in relation to my irons, would you agree?

The only thing I feel may be happening is I'm not finding the sweet spot enough with the driver, the shot shape is straight with a straight left at times. So its not down to a slice or fade as I rarely hit them unless my swings really off.
 
if you were off scratch I would be questioning the driver -as it is, only you, or flightscope etc can answer the question of whether it's you or the club
 
duncan mackie said:
if you were off scratch I would be questioning the driver -as it is, only you, or flightscope etc can answer the question of whether it's you or the club
Click to expand...

No I'm in no way suggesting the club is the problem but maybe the contact or maybe not putting as much into it as I should, I don't think I've ever hit the driver as hard as I can, even for fun.
 
DAVEYBOY said:
After realising the distance I get out of my irons yesterday using the S3 I'm now thinking is my driver lacking in the distance department.

Some averages...

Based on current conditions so hopefully squeeze a few more yards in the summer (did I just say summer?)

8 iron - 150-155 carry
7 iron -160 carry can be a little bit more
6 iron - 170-175 carry
5 iron - 180 + carry depends on quality of strike

Now they are based on quality strikes but I did squeeze a little more out of each club at times yesterday.

Now my Driver probably averages 230 but can go 250+ with a really nice strike.

Now it looks to me like the driver is lacking in relation to my irons, would you agree?

The only thing I feel may be happening is I'm not finding the sweet spot enough with the driver, the shot shape is straight with a straight left at times. So its not down to a slice or fade as I rarely hit them unless my swings really off.
Click to expand...

Your irons lengths are ok... but then again you've got irons with very cranked lofts and longer shafts. I wouldn't worry about your driver not being as long as you want. Squeezing them out to 250yrds is very healthy.
 
Looking at your sig it looks like your irons are regular shaft but driver is stiff? Im no expert but that could be making a difference?
 
Lump said:
Your irons lengths are ok... but then again you've got irons with very cranked lofts and longer shafts. I wouldn't worry about your driver not being as long as you want. Squeezing them out to 250yrds is very healthy.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say very cranked lofts, they are abit but not major are they?

Head Properties
Club 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 PW AW SW LW
Loft 19° 21° 24° 27° 31° 35° 40° 45° 50° 55° 60°
Lie Angle 60.75° 61.5° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5°
Offset (MM) 6.5 6.1 5.4 4.8 4.2 3.4 2.7 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0

Club Properties
Club Length 39.5" 38.875" 38.25" 37.625" 37" 36.5" 36" 35.5" 35.5" 35.25" 35"
Club Swing Weight D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D3.5 D5 D5
Source: Taylormadegolf.com
 
The same or 1 degree stronger compared to most the irons I've just looked at, JPX and G25. I think the lofts started to get silly from Rocketballz irons.
 
DAVEYBOY said:
No I'm in no way suggesting the club is the problem but maybe the contact or maybe not putting as much into it as I should, I don't think I've ever hit the driver as hard as I can, even for fun.
Click to expand...

whilst I clearly picked up the wrong end of the stick from your post, I am now even more confused!

most people either swing their driver harder, or as hard, as their irons - let's face it the driver is for distance, even if controlled distance, and everything else is for accuracy alone (you can always take a bigger club!)

to put that in perspective you hit your irons a full 3 clubs longer than me - yet I seem to hit my driver longer than you :confused:
 
Ok maybe adding the very part was a bit over board. But a those lofts are 2-3 degrees stronger than what the 'true' lofts would be and often 1/2" longer in standard guise.
You have very healthy iron lengths but they say for every degree you gain about 3 yards, plus a bit more for extra shaft length, with that in mind you come back down to a good "real" length.
I would say if you are hitting driver out to 250yrds and irons to those length you've not got anything to worry about.
 
duncan mackie said:
whilst I clearly picked up the wrong end of the stick from your post, I am now even more confused!

most people either swing their driver harder, or as hard, as their irons - let's face it the driver is for distance, even if controlled distance, and everything else is for accuracy alone (you can always take a bigger club!)

to put that in perspective you hit your irons a full 3 clubs longer than me - yet I seem to hit my driver longer than you :confused:
Click to expand...

Oops I must be lieing then,

why do you think I have asked the question?

Hitting irons and driver is completely different. I have asked the question for a reason, to see if people think there is a unhealthy gap in difference meaning I'm not getting enough out of the driver. Maybe I'm not hitting on the way up, maybe I'm getting too much spin, who knows hence the reason for the question. If the gap is suspect then perhaps I need a Trackman session to see if there are any odd numbers.
 
bigslice said:
your lofts and iron distances are the same as mine and you r drives are the same as mine, I don't see a problem
Click to expand...

No problem, I'm not majorly fussed but if the good people of the forum thought the gap was significant enough then I would have had a Trackman session or something to see where the loss of distance is coming from, club head speed, angle of attack, spin ect
 
what way was the wind blowing when you were getting these yardages?

there has been a stiff east breeze this last two weeks. helps quite a bit when downwind but its taking quite a bit out when hitting into it.
 
Could just be a slightly too high spin rate with the driver, I had that issue.

Get on a launch monitor, if your spin rate is like 5k or 7k then its too high. My driver spin rate is now 2500 since swapping to a better suited driver. If your driver is adjustable you should look for the settings or get a shaft that lowers the spin rate.

As for your irons yours are cranked about 3-4 deg on mine and the distances on comparative lofts match up.

My driver with the low spin rates goes 240-270 depending on my contact.
 
DAVEYBOY said:
No problem, I'm not majorly fussed but if the good people of the forum thought the gap was significant enough then I would have had a Trackman session or something to see where the loss of distance is coming from, club head speed, angle of attack, spin ect
Click to expand...

my first tee shot of the day with driver today was about 220 the next was 270ish. I wouldn't worry about the distances but would look into a club between your driver and 4 iron.
I don't care about my distances they are what they are. I just try and play golf
 
Not much wind at all Saturday. Hit the par 3 3rd Saturday into the wind with a 6 iron and raised green landing on a uphill. 168 on the S3 to the pin, couple of yards and a birdie. I hit a 6 iron with the wind Monday 190 YRDS with wind my drives go a lot further but I'm on about my average.

I don't base my average on 30MPH wind behind my back with a downhill fairway lol

Maybe it will be better seeing what distances I get out of the driver in the coming weeks now they aren't landing on a wet sponge.
 
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