Shall I leave the driver in the bag?

[iku]

Here are some statistics from my last 4 rounds, 2 played using the driver, 2 not:

Driver: FIR 7/28, average 250 yds, best 290 yds
3-wood: FIR 22/28 average 200 yds, best 270 yds

At the range I hit a decent drive about 30% of the times, over 200 yds, straight. And a decent 3-wood at least 8 times out of 10.

I started playing last November and got my first hc in March 22. My scores these days are around 85-90 on my home course.

My conclusion from the above is that I should simply stop using the driver. Or shall I just practice more/getting driver only lessons? There's no way I can improve playing on the course because I have only 14 shots to play and one every 10-15 minutes.

What's your advice?

 

[Snelly]

Yes. Keep your driver in your bag. It will give you a crucial extra few inches when used to measure two club lengths as you take a drop out of the bushes after one of your carved 3 woods.

 

[Mightymoose]

I stopped using my driver for a while, lost a bit of distance to playing partners, but so what - I wasn't in a driving competition with them! I am much happier hitting more fairways.

However, I realised that the lack of control was due to a faster swing on the driver, so have been concentrating on keeping a better tempo. With that in mind I have started using it again.

One thing I have realised is that I should be more selective on when to use it. For example, of the 14 drivable tee shots on my course, I hit Driver (3 times), 3-wood (7 times), 16-degree hybrid (3 times) and 4-iron (once). Last week I was FiR of 86%.

Keep it in the bag and persevere!

 

[Oddsocks]

Yes. Keep your driver in your bag. It will give you a crucial extra few inches when used to measure two club lengths as you take a drop out of the bushes after one of your carved 3 woods.

your a mean sod snelly,

Iku, what about keeping it in the bag and only using it on a hole with no danger until you get the faith back in the big stick. You must have some sort of consistent bad shot with it, if your on a hole where there is danger on the right and you suffer with a slice leave it in the bag and opt for your 3w, if it open on the right have a hack

My bad shot with a driver is normally a strong draw, so i know if its a tight hole where placement is key, or there is danger on the right, it stays in the bag. Slowly learning course management is also key to good scoring.

 

[Mattyboy]

Why dont you work out why you get on with the three wood and not the driver? Whats different about them? Why do you like the three wood? Why dont you get on with the driver?
If you can work this out, you can look to change your driver towards what you like about the three wood.
I did the same thing, but for me I was loving the driver and not the three wood. I now have a three wood with much the same spec as the driver. I love my driver becuase it has alot of loft - 11 deg.
Cheers
Matt

 

[iku]

I very rarely get the right contact with the driver. I've tried different tee heights but I'm still very inconsistent. Half of my terrible drives are because I hit the ground before hitting the ball. Like if I wanted to compensate the low loft of my driver (9.5) by hitting below the ball.

 

[Oddsocks]

what about a lesson with the pro concentrating on your driver technique. Chances are your fault is there with other shots, the driver just highlights them more.

 

[HickoryShaft]

I very rarely get the right contact with the driver. I've tried different tee heights but I'm still very inconsistent. Half of my terrible drives are because I hit the ground before hitting the ball. Like if I wanted to compensate the low loft of my driver (9.5) by hitting below the ball.

Definitely worth trying a 10.5 deg or 11 deg driver if you get the chance. Made a hell of a difference to me. I had a 9 deg one prior to my current and it stayed in the bag a fair amount of time. Wandered down to a demo day and got handed a 10.5 deg to try and it transformed my drives. I am not talking transformed to being a fantastic driver of the ball just a lot more confident one as at least 85 - 90% now head straight. Even compared to the straight ones my distance is better also which I wasn't expecting - that could be the newer driver technology.

The other thing I would suggest is a 30 min lesson with a pro if you have the chance and cash to spare to get your set up correct.

 

[ivan]

i haven't used my driver or 5 wood for a couple of months as i found i was too erratic with them - have been using my 3 hybrid off the tee and still got good distance with better accuracy - even if i went into the trees etc, it wasn't as far in as with the driver!!
played in a comp this morning and worked up the confidence to get the driver out for the last 3 holes (i wasn't going to win the comp) - 2 super hits, 1 not so good.
think will carry on with the 3 hybrid for a little longer.

 

[Lump]

I've recently dropped the driver again. Started hitting my 3 wood off the tee. Seen so many fairways its a little bit boring. Saw me shooting 46 points in a friendly on tuesday night... which I simply don't do. I've been struggling to get 30 points with the driver in the bag recently.

 

[G1BB0]

apparently its not about how you do it but how many

I am dropping driver but bag doesnt look right without it in there

 

[twohats]

Werid that this on here, after having a similar experience today....

Cant seem to hit my driver at all at the minute, but the three wood seems to be coming out of the middle nice and sweet and fairly consistently. Definitely will leave it in the bag, but not using it so much! Need to hit up the pro now and get me some serious advice on my 'driving'!

 

[RGDave]

What's your advice?

Try something with more loft. Works for me....

(I hit the lot today.. ) 100%