D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
My advice, get the driver out and learn to hit it properly.
Drivers are great clubs, big heads with big sweet spots.
Drivers are great clubs, big heads with big sweet spots.
Percentage v Going for it.
- Thread starter davemc1
- Start date
CheltenhamHacker
Journeyman Pro
the only thing I would have issue with about this, is if someone is an 18+ handicap like me, the odds of them hitting the green from 100yards would surely be a lot lower?
I would agree that a lesson (yes I know but surely the best way for a newbie to learn) will help but for the moment I'd stick with anything that keeps it in play. You'll find that even when you've learned how to hit a driver properly it has an uncanny knack of misbehaving, usually at precisely the wrong moment. Maybe that last bit is just me as most forummers hit the thing 400 yards and never mention going off line
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
not sure if this is great advice. drivers can be so destructive in the wrong hands. there is many day it ruins my round. as you say, learn to hit it. I agree with this, but baby steps would help and i'm sure the scores would come down a lot quicker hitting safer clubs until the time comes that the driver isn't losing so many shots.
cookelad
Tour Winner
The driver despite it's big head and big sweet spot is still the least forgiving club in the bag, with the longest shaft and lowest loft, even if you do hit it out of the sweetspot it doesn't mean the face and path are aiming in the correct direction.
Fairways and greens for me, you'll make more 2&3 pointers from the fairway (unless you're Spanish!)
Fairways and greens for me, you'll make more 2&3 pointers from the fairway (unless you're Spanish!)
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
Hello and welcome to the OP.
i would stick with a consistant 170 off the tee on the fairway as woody says youll get on most greens with a putt in 3 that way rather than being in the deep doo doo. The scorecard doesnt tell you how you made 4/5 just that you made it.
In the mean time get a lesson or 2 and see if there is a basic error your pro can fix, or youll need a lot of self discipline to resist the lure of the big dog! :lol:
i would stick with a consistant 170 off the tee on the fairway as woody says youll get on most greens with a putt in 3 that way rather than being in the deep doo doo. The scorecard doesnt tell you how you made 4/5 just that you made it.
In the mean time get a lesson or 2 and see if there is a basic error your pro can fix, or youll need a lot of self discipline to resist the lure of the big dog! :lol:
woody69
Journeyman Pro
100 yards is merely an arbitrary figure. For me I like to get anything between 120 and 130 when I can because I know that 8 times out of 10 (depending on the lie) I'm getting it somewhere on to that green from that distance as I'm so confident with my 9 iron in hand. The margin of error is also much smaller. So yeah, if I don't hit the green, I'm likely to be very very close (unless it's a complete duff), which leaves the opportunity to chip close and 1 putt for your bogey (or even sink the chip if you're lucky). Take that out to 175 yards or more and the margin of error is even bigger and you'll be missing the green most of the time and leaving yourself in who knows what. The pro's are anything from 20ft to 50ft away from the pin when hitting in from 175-200 so how do you think the average amateur will do?
So if you have in your head the plan that I just need to be getting it onto the green on my 3rd shot and forgetting about trying to reach it in 2 (for a par 4) I think your handicap will start to come down. With that in mind, taking the driver off the tee really isn't that important.
Of course there isn't one rule for all situations. If there is a nice big wide open hole with very little trouble, then a driver makes sense, but generally I think the straighter more accurate club is the better option off the tee.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
Does everyone who is recommending the OP stick with his hybrid own and use a driver?
If so, why?
Surely you would be better only hitting shorter clubs and being in play at all times.
If so, why?
Surely you would be better only hitting shorter clubs and being in play at all times.
woody69
Journeyman Pro
Not anymore. Used to hit driver off every tee. Now usually take my 5 wood or 3 wood
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
i have the driver in the bag as i have been playing more than 3months. i also know when not to use it or when its time to leave it for the rest of the round on an off day!
cookelad
Tour Winner
When I got my first half-set I didn't have a driver just a 3-wood, after time and practice and I got a driver!
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
Gary & Cookelad, you make good points. Get good at the game and then use the big dog.
But I would add, use the driver at times out on the course, on the wider, safer holes. Give it a steady swing and see what happens. I'm no coach, or swing expert, but what I've seen quite often is that people pick up a driver and lash it. Do what you'd do with the hybrid and try to get used to the club... and of course practice with it down the range.
But don't be frightened of the driver, and don't drop it altogether. If you are struggling with it so much, it's you and not the club that's at fault, and the issues will probably come into play with other woods/long irons.
But I would add, use the driver at times out on the course, on the wider, safer holes. Give it a steady swing and see what happens. I'm no coach, or swing expert, but what I've seen quite often is that people pick up a driver and lash it. Do what you'd do with the hybrid and try to get used to the club... and of course practice with it down the range.
But don't be frightened of the driver, and don't drop it altogether. If you are struggling with it so much, it's you and not the club that's at fault, and the issues will probably come into play with other woods/long irons.
Scrindle
Head Pro
I normally take a driver off the first tee, then the second. If it's going well I'll continue to use it for the rest of the round. If it's not a day for driving I'll put it back in the bag and use a 4 iron off the tee for the rest of the game.
No sense wasting shots and losing balls on a club that you're not getting on with.
No sense wasting shots and losing balls on a club that you're not getting on with.
Foxholer
Blackballed
FWIW...
I'd suggest you keep practicing with the Driver and work out (or be taught) what you are doing wrong and correct it.
Robobum's 'solution', while seemingly frivolous, possibly has merit. By totally committing to a shot, your body will automatically adjust balance. It's quite possibly a 'fast-track' method to a 'balanced' swing. It's also possibly a fast-track way to all sorts of other things too, so be careful. And playing your second from the adjacent fairway can be a reasonable shot!
I believe that, whatever shot you choose to play, commitment to it is paramount - even if the shot is a '70%' one. It's tentativeness that causes most problems imo!
But if the hybrid is working as well as it seems, I'd stick with that!
davemc1
Journeyman Pro
Thanks all, much better response than I'd hoped for. The new plan is as follows; driver - range only. 3 wood - range and very wide fairways. And a couple of christmas hints to the Mrs about needing a lesson or two. Thanks again 
ne:
ne:
Five&One
Head Pro
As someone who recently completely changed my course management strategy from big hitting followed by chipping and running, to a much more conservative approach my vote is for percentage golf. As a high handicapper I am saving about 6-8 strokes a round, simply by 1. Giving myself a greater chance of hitting the fairway off the tee. 2. Leaving at some stage, a full short iron to the green, whether that be a 8,9 or PW. course management is an absolute KEY to lowering your score as a high handicapper. I can hit a driver 280 on a good day. On a very good day I can hit it 280 and keep it on the fairway and in the right position for my next shot. However, on most days I can hit a 6 iron or a hybrid off the tee and walk in a straight line for 170 to 200 yards and find the ball sitting in short stuff. From there my next shot is to the green on shorter holes or getting it within short iron distance of the green on the longer holes. If a high handicapper has any credible advice to give, mine would be STOP WORRYING ABOUT HITTING GREENS IN SO CALLED 'REGULATION' Way too much pressure !!!
beau d.
Assistant Pro
Thanks all, much better response than I'd hoped for. The new plan is as follows; driver - range only. 3 wood - range and very wide fairways. And a couple of christmas hints to the Mrs about needing a lesson or two. Thanks again
Most important Dave are the lessons. I would hazard a guess that you are "hitting from the top" which can be confirmed by checking out your divots i.e they will probably be out to in. The lower the loft the bigger the slice, so like you say leave the big stick for the driving range, but find out from a pro exactly what you are doing wrong so you are not simply practicing a fault, also don't forget most range balls are of very poor quality and will spin a lot less than decent balls, so the slice will be less exaggerated with range balls. Keep at it and don't worry most all of us started our golf career by hitting at instead of swinging through the ball.....
Odvan
Journeyman Pro
I use a driver all the time unless there is an element of risk from the tee (direction aside!) for my distance. But I advised the range practise whilst sticking with a hybrid during the round until more confident.
I used to play with an awful slice but refused to put the driver down, simply aimed left, sliced more and lost distance. However, since I changed my grip and also realised that my right hand was weak from the top of the backswing and through impact, along with reading and watching many links and tips sourced through here (not to mention plenty of range time) my driving and distance has improved no end. Doesn't necessarily mean I hit it straight, I don't, but I now have what I think is a healthy shot shape* and its simply been down to tweaking, practising, tweaking and practising.
*by no means successful 100% of the time, like many of us!
JCW
Journeyman Pro
Stick with the Hybrid for the time being and keep the ball in play , work on your driver / 3wood on the range and with lessons with the pro , use them on the course in friendly rounds and practice rounds but avoid them in comps , in time you will get better as your confidence and swing gets better , every thing takes time ............................................EYG
MadAdey
Money List Winner
I think you need to hit the club that gives you the best chance if hitting the fairway when you are starting out, wether that be a driver, a fairway or a rescue.
i do carry a driver, but I normally look if I can use my 2i before grabbing the big stick as I know even with a bad swing the 2i still goes in the right direction, compared to the driver.
