Taking my driver out of the bag....... for good!!

[One Planer]

Yesterday I played the most consistant golf I have played since taking the game up last year, all because I didn't use my driver at all.

Although I didn't keep any stats, taking a 3 wood to the longer holes off the tee, I seemed to hit a lot more fairways and found myself in better position for my second shot. As for distance, to be fair, not a lot in it.

So, as of now, my driver is out of the bag and its not going back in (Soon to be for sale)

Any suggestions as to any gaps in my bag that could be filled?

If you look at my signature, you'll see what I carry in my bag (minus the driver). PW is 45*, SW is 55*?

Any opinions welcome.

 

[JustOne]

Yeh, you'll see a lot of better players without a driver in their bag...... not!

 

[goldenbare]

bet you'll be tempted back again when the 3 wood has a bad day.

 

[brendy]

Course management says some holes are suicidal with the driver, that does not mean you just don't bother taking it out at the less problematic ones.

 

[One Planer]

To be honest I've never been consistant with the driver.

Bearing in mind I've only been playing for a year (just), Do I need to be carrying a driver or is a 3 wood enough until I get to a better more consistant standard?

 

[JonathanEly]

are you not using the same driver beacause you at the same club or not ?? if so just beacuse you dont need for that type of course dont mean you might need it at another course

that my honest thought

 

[golfbluecustard]

Keep the driver just work on the course management and use it when you feel you can, not tight par 4's

Easier said than done i know! and i'm as guilty as the next man of ignoring this advise.

GBC

 

[Oddsocks]

If the scores come down who cares what you use off the tee. Driving used to be the strongest part of my game but of late it's gone to pot, today the driving finally failed and dispite a triple bogey on the first and a quad bogey on 8th I was only one over buffer, why..... Because I used a 3w off the tee after 6. And the driver didn't come back out.

It doesn't matter what you hit, the smallest number on the card wins!

 

[HRC99]

Nothing wrong with taking it out.

Played in a second division open the other week, 11 over after 5 after spraying it about with my driver. Took my three wood on the sixth and only dropped one shot on the next 13.

 

[bluetoon]

I had a lot of trouble with the driver last year (R9 reg flex), just seemed incable of hitting fairways with any consistancy. My 3wood was my go to club for a long period. At the end of the season it occurred to me that my best shots were when i deliberatly slowed down my swing and tempo. It felt un-natural and i could not do it with any regularity. Lets face it, when the big dog is in the hand its grip and rip time. It turns out I needed a stiff flex driver.

Picked up a cheap stiff Nike Dymo from Fleecebay and instant improvement. lesson learned for me, don't underestimate the importance shafts can make.

Hope that helps

 

[Lipout]

Gareth,

I see your using (were), the R9.
It took me ages to get the setting right. Do you think if it was probably set up correctly, it may become your friend again. They are excellent drivers...with the correct set up.

 

[Mark_G]

I have done the last 6 rounds without a driver, just because I cant hit the damn thing straight consistently or even regularly. Its not a permanent situation as I dont want to fear my driver, but I do need t get some more practice and instruction before it comes out to play again.

 

[HickoryShaft]

Gareth,

I see your using (were), the R9.
It took me ages to get the setting right. Do you think if it was probably set up correctly, it may become your friend again. They are excellent drivers...with the correct set up.

Would definitely agree with this view

I was playing with my set up on the R9 this week at the range and it really does make a difference. Worth a play with the setup and a lesson in my opinion.

But as per my other recent post it will stay in the bag on some holes as a good long iron or 3 Wood is a safe shot and still allows a chance for a good score.

 

[CrapHacker]

So, as of now, my driver is out of the bag and its not going back in (Soon to be for sale)

Nowt wrong with not using the driver in any particular round, but you'll want to improve with it, so stick with it on the range & in bounce games.

If you bin it, and buy a new driver you'll be spending a pretty big stack of cash - keep your current big dog, and use your saved cash on a couple of driver lessons.

It'll be money better spent in the long run.

 

[CrapHacker]

Oh, and personally I'd be much more inclined to get rid of the 60* wedge and have a 50* one instead.

My PW is 48* then I have a 52* and 56*.

 

[FourPutt]

I would replace the 60 with a 50, as CH said. Gets rid of a big gap in the distance in your shorter clubs. I would imagine (or guess!) you hit a PW 100-110 and a SW 70-75? That's a big old gap in an area where getting the distance exactly right is crucial. Besides that, at our level, hitting a full swing shot from 50-60 yards out with a 60 can result in a thin 40 yards through the green!! (been there!)

As for the Driver, I would keep it, get a couple of lessons and then use it sparingly to start with, then more as you gain confidence. Having a driver in the bag will be desirable later on. You'll only end up buying another, trust me, I have been there! (Been playing about 18 months, on my 5th driver!?!)

Having a driver in the bag doesn't mean you have to use it on every long hole. On Par 5s, if you can't reach in two, then why not go 3w, 5i, 8i, rather than driver, 4i, SW? On the other hand you might find yourself on a wide open longish par 4, like we have at our place, where you will probably struggle to reach in two without a driver off the tee.

 

[One Planer]

Thanks for the replies.

The general consensus is to keep it in, fair enough and I accept all the points made.

As for setting up the R9, I may actually look into this as I've not had a proper play with the settings yet and it's still set-up as it was when it was delivered.

 

[barrybridges]

Thanks for the replies.

The general consensus is to keep it in, fair enough and I accept all the points made.

As for setting up the R9, I may actually look into this as I've not had a proper play with the settings yet and it's still set-up as it was when it was delivered.

I get the feedback that others have given regarding ditching the driver, but think of it this way: you *could* play your PW off the tee and hit 100% FIR, but that's just not golf.

All the talk of ditching the driver is really masking the issue, which is that something's not right and needs work or lessons to get you driving well. You can - of course - just play the 3w of the tee, but there's a reason that the driver exists - because it's the best club for the tee shot on a significant number of holes!

Surely it's better to face up to any difficulties and try to overcome them rather than refuse to play the driver and hide the symptoms?

Not meaning to sound rude, but it just frustrates me I guess. I can't hit my driver very well and I've gone through whole rounds using just my 3W (to reasonably good stats) but ultimately I'm cheating myself because I should be able to use my driver and will normally get better results if I drive accurately.

 

[Oddsocks]

Baz while your right about the driver not working being caused by swing issues (I agree hence tomorrow's lesson being booked) who cares what he uses off the tee.

If he is dropping shots on every hole due to bad positions off the tee then surely for he's enjoyment and for competitive and consistent cards a 3w is a better option. My lowest hc to date was as a junior (18) playing off 11. Although I could hit a driver well, the lack of confidence resulted in bad and penalising positions. I lost 20 yards off the tee but could place my 3w on specific sides of each fairway with accuracy to score and score well. On Sunday from the first 6 holes 5 required a driver and from 5 only two were decent, thats a 60% fail in my eyes. After the 6th I opted for a 3w round from then on

7th up the middle for bogey on si3
9th down the middle for par
11th driver hooked again
13th down the midde par
15th just off left of fairways bogey si 4
16th up the middle Birdie
17th down the middle par
18th Down the middle (big to long for bogey)

So driver used 6 times, 2 usable although both just run off fairway 2/6
3w used used 7 times, 6 fairways hit, one just run off as dogleg

Every time I used my 3w my worst score was a bogey with the common being a par..... No brainer I'd say!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the simple answer is to get a driver lesson. Whatever the cost it is considerably cheaper than a new club and in the long run will help you become a better golfer. At the moment with the drier weather the ball will run and so a 3 wood is a good choice but in the Winter the long par 4's in particular will become even longer. Most will be out of range but you will still be hitting longer clubs for the 2nd shot to the ideal lay up distance and that can't be good for accuracy and reliabilty.

Of course if the driver is so bad that the ball is going straight OB or lost/unplayable then it makes perfect sense short term to ditch it but it really isn't a long term solution.