Have been playing about 3 years pretty much self taught. Was scoring in the 90s on most courses and breaking into the 80s on the easier courses.

I was leading the “c” grade of my club by about 15 strokes with two games to go and cracked under the pump. I scored 2 rounds around 110 each

Something fundamentally wrong here

Anyway had some lessons (3) and my game has turned around. Much better understanding of the principles now. Lost it for about a month and now Im scoring what I used to far more consistently and am now begining to play and get much better reuslts than ever before.
Very happy with my recent improvements however since changing my swing and my grip I have not been able to get my driver to work.

I have locked my driver in the shed and am planning on keeping it there for some time. I hit my 3 wood a comfortable 200 – 225 metres.
I was planning on keeping the driver locked away until my other clubs are as good as I can get them. Only coming back to the driver when my handicap was as low as I could get it without the extra distance.

Is this an acceptable strategy ? should I persist with the driver ?

If you hit the fairway consistently with your 3 wood, and hit it 200-225 mts, keep using it. By all means try to fix your driving on the driving range or practice fairway, but don’t be all macho about using the driver. The game is about fairways hit and greens in regulation. Hard to hit the green in regulation if you need to come sideways because of errant driving.

I did this yesterday

and shot …81…3 wood be thy freind….I can hit mine about 210-230

and Im loving it

You hit your 3 wood 200 to 225, how far do you hit your driver? – and you are in C grade…

Firstly I would not worry about cracking in the final round or the Club Champo’s…everyone ‘chokes’ at some stage…look at Greg Norman, my idol when I was growing up and one of the sharpest and astute minds in golf…he managed to have a couple fo bad last rounds..and some bad luck….it can happen to the best of us.

If you really cannot hit your driver to save yourself then maybe it is best to leave it alone, but you have to weigh up being safe and being in a position to hit a decent 2nd shot…you hit your 3 wood 200m on a 380 m par 4, you still have 180 to go which will be a 5 wood or 3 iron or hybrid for you…a driver gets you (I assume) 250 leaving you 130 so you can hit a 9 or 8 iron…there’s playing it safe and then there is not giving yourself a chance of reaching a par 4 in 2 which means you will always be struggling for a 4, or even 5 if you are having a bad day with the short game.

Do you hit your driver the same every time? (slice, top, hook), maybe you can try to manage where you hit it, also, just becasue it is in your bag doesn’t mean you need to use it on every hole, I have a par 5 at my home course that needs a 5 iron from me as I am unable to control a fade around the corner…another thing is the driver is longer than any other club so you can just use it for getting relief when needed :)

BTW there is nothing stopping you having a different grip for your Driver and everything else….you have a different set up so why not a different grip?

My first outing with the driver was superb, the second outing the same since then <img <1> />#$_@$#$^%#$#$^#$~#^$ not so good.

To be honest apart from the 2/3 freak drives per round the 3 wood is as long more of the time with far far far more consistency.

You know how they say when your drivers working your irons arent…....
Well Im gonna get supremely confident with that part of my game and hopefully WHEN I do the driver will just work naturally.

Its a plan

RE THE BIG PAR 4s

Its far better to have the first putt for par, 2 putt for bogey than 3 off the tee. Stroke plus distance. !#%#%@#

Once my handicap breaks 20 perhaps then the driver will make its break from the lock up ;- )

Play smart

marrow holes…go 3 wood
shoter par 4s go 3 wood

If its left to right strong breeze go 3 wood

Par 5’s go driver

long par 4’s if its open go driver or its downwind

long par 4’s into the wind….you may as well take 3 wood because you probably wont be on in 2 anyway…just as easy to hit it on from 30-40 meters as it is 15 meters anyway….two 3 wood shots will leave you 40 meter pitch

play the %’s

my mates joke that I only hit the big dog 5 times a round…they dont laugh so much when Im only 10 over for the round and they shoot 90 plus!!...3 off the tee kills your round, its the harshest penalty in golf….most mid teen handicappers cant afford 3 off the tee

yeah the “big dog” likes to eat…feed him too much and hes not as efficient

remember 9×5’s is 45 …par the four 5’s and the four 3’s (on most tracks) and you could shoot 82 if you bogey all the 4’s….sneek a par or two in there and you suddenly shoot below 80

I’ll take 82 anyday….this is often my strategy

I watch the old guys at our club…they hit 3 woods and rarely take more than a 6 at worst…and hit about 150 – 160 meterds at best!!

if youre missing more than 50 % of fairways then its time to rethink
the strategy off the tee

John Daly once joked that he rocked up to play and left his driver in the boot (in his really young days)...he won the day!!

I find my driver is much more consisten than my 3-wood. Both are new Burners and the 460 driver has twice the hitting area. Maybe this is a mental thing.

yeah the “big dog” likes to eat…feed him too much and hes not as efficient

so true

I revert to the 4 iron off the tee when I start getting the big dog’s breakfast

Try shortening your driver ??? Maybe cut it to 44” and see how you go OR hold the driver at the bottom of the grip and swing easy, be driven by the results on the range…

Dave_1,

You make some great points. Especially the formula to shoot 82.The 4 rescue works a treat off the tee as well, often short enough not too run into trouble.

Their are so many drivers out their that there must be one for everyone too hit OK.

I played with a guy who is in 70’s and off twelve. Can’t follow ball flight off tee but never miss the fair way. Amazing to watch and a living lesson to play with.

I have the same dilemma.

As a result I am gonna buy the Adams Golf Insight BUL 5000 Driver. It comes in a 15* loft version.

It seems to me at this stage to be the best of both worlds.

You hit your 3 wood 200 to 225, how far do you hit your driver? – and you are in C grade…

Firstly I would not worry about cracking in the final round or the Club Champo’s…everyone ‘chokes’ at some stage…look at Greg Norman, my idol when I was growing up and one of the sharpest and astute minds in golf…he managed to have a couple fo bad last rounds..and some bad luck….it can happen to the best of us.

If you really cannot hit your driver to save yourself then maybe it is best to leave it alone, but you have to weigh up being safe and being in a position to hit a decent 2nd shot…you hit your 3 wood 200m on a 380 m par 4, you still have 180 to go which will be a 5 wood or 3 iron or hybrid for you…a driver gets you (I assume) 250 leaving you 130 so you can hit a 9 or 8 iron…there’s playing it safe and then there is not giving yourself a chance of reaching a par 4 in 2 which means you will always be struggling for a 4, or even 5 if you are having a bad day with the short game.

Do you hit your driver the same every time? (slice, top, hook), maybe you can try to manage where you hit it, also, just becasue it is in your bag doesn’t mean you need to use it on every hole, I have a par 5 at my home course that needs a 5 iron from me as I am unable to control a fade around the corner…another thing is the driver is longer than any other club so you can just use it for getting relief when needed :)

BTW there is nothing stopping you having a different grip for your Driver and everything else….you have a different set up so why not a different grip?

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Dont think the difference between a 3wood and a driver with the same swing on the same person on the same ball will be that much at 50m
most is about 20+ m i reckon…...

Dave_1,

You make some great points. Especially the formula to shoot 82.The 4 rescue works a treat off the tee as well, often short enough not too run into trouble.

Their are so many drivers out their that there must be one for everyone too hit OK.

I played with a guy who is in 70’s and off twelve. Can’t follow ball flight off tee but never miss the fair way. Amazing to watch and a living lesson to play with.

Flush it, chunk it, flush it, chip it, hole it 5 a half!
Flush it, flush it, three putt the half!

What Do u mean by ‘Cant follow ball flight off the tee ” ? with never missed fairways
trying to imagine it…..

I have the same dilemma.

As a result I am gonna buy the Adams Golf Insight BUL 5000 Driver. It comes in a 15 loft version.

It seems to me at this stage to be the best of both worlds.

i own one at 9.5 , as a spare driver, it’s OK but not exceptionally forgiving or long as touted to be.

Still think my Cally x460 plays better.

You hit your 3 wood 200 to 225, how far do you hit your driver? – and you are in C grade…

Firstly I would not worry about cracking in the final round or the Club Champo’s…everyone ‘chokes’ at some stage…look at Greg Norman, my idol when I was growing up and one of the sharpest and astute minds in golf…he managed to have a couple fo bad last rounds..and some bad luck….it can happen to the best of us.

If you really cannot hit your driver to save yourself then maybe it is best to leave it alone, but you have to weigh up being safe and being in a position to hit a decent 2nd shot…you hit your 3 wood 200m on a 380 m par 4, you still have 180 to go which will be a 5 wood or 3 iron or hybrid for you…a driver gets you (I assume) 250 leaving you 130 so you can hit a 9 or 8 iron…there’s playing it safe and then there is not giving yourself a chance of reaching a par 4 in 2 which means you will always be struggling for a 4, or even 5 if you are having a bad day with the short game.

Do you hit your driver the same every time? (slice, top, hook), maybe you can try to manage where you hit it, also, just becasue it is in your bag doesn’t mean you need to use it on every hole, I have a par 5 at my home course that needs a 5 iron from me as I am unable to control a fade around the corner…another thing is the driver is longer than any other club so you can just use it for getting relief when needed :)

BTW there is nothing stopping you having a different grip for your Driver and everything else….you have a different set up so why not a different grip?

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Dont think the difference between a 3wood and a driver with the same swing on the same person on the same ball will be that much at 50m
most is about 20+ m i reckon……

If Tiger plays Lefty will he be that good ?
You sure Square is Good ? Don’t Think So !
Good Golf is Fun plus the Great Outdoors…
In the Bag: Clubs and Balls. My Handicap is Bad Golf.

Really? – I have about 50m difference between driver and my 4 wood …my driver is normally over 260 (quite a bit further if the planets are aligned :)) and my 4 wood is about 210-220ish, I figured it was the same for everyone…maybe it is because I went for a 4 wood to go in between my driver and 3 iron…I do have a sonartec 3 wood (that sits in my cupboard because it is too long for my needs) that I have hit 250 before so you may very well be right about a smaller gap between Driver and 3 wood…what is it for the rest of you?

Are you guys sure the distance you hit a driver is 240/260 metres plus, that is 280/290 yards ,which is futher than some PGA Tour players hit it. I play off 8 now, going out, and if I hit a drive 220m, I think its great.

Slickone I play off 16 ,if I only hit my driver 220m I,m disappointed unless it,s upwind, 240 is good & more is better of course. I hit my 5 wood 210-215. Best i have seen was a 25 marker hit driver off the deck 280 m & it was straight as well. I play with a mate who is also over 50 & playing off 15 . He regularly hits driver 260. Before you ask ,our golf carts have G.P.S.systems so measurements are accurate.

Hello Pom, I am amazed, must be the sea air we play in, guy I play regular with, off 4, is about 20/30 m’s in front of me and he pars the course occasionly. I hit a 6 iron 150m’s, am I going any good there?.I did hit a drive 260 once, but had a roaring NE wind behind.

Slickone I play off 16 ,if I only hit my driver 220m I,m disappointed unless it,s upwind, 240 is good & more is better of course. I hit my 5 wood 210-215. Best i have seen was a 25 marker hit driver off the deck 280 m & it was straight as well. I play with a mate who is also over 50 & playing off 15 . He regularly hits driver 260. Before you ask ,our golf carts have G.P.S.systems so measurements are accurate.

I’m around the low 20 mark and If I hit a driver 280 off the deck (or off the tee come to think of it) I would walk off the course and never hit another golf ball again. Either that or pack my bags for the US open!!!

I have the same dilemma.

As a result I am gonna buy the Adams Golf Insight BUL 5000 Driver. It comes in a 15 loft version.

It seems to me at this stage to be the best of both worlds.

Let me know how u’d go w the BUL 5000 ?

i own one at 9.5 , as a spare driver, it’s OK but not exceptionally forgiving or long as touted to be.

Still think my Cally x460 plays better.

If Tiger plays Lefty will he be that good ?
You sure Square is Good ? Don’t Think So !
Good Golf is Fun plus the Great Outdoors…
In the Bag: Clubs and Balls. My Handicap is Bad Golf.

‘Will do. I’ve hit a few in a shop with the 10.5 and prefer’d it to the big bertha and nike sasquatch.

Rochie, I like that, maybe we could go together.

Hello Pom, I am amazed, must be the sea air we play in, guy I play regular with, off 4, is about 20/30 m’s in front of me and he pars the course occasionly. I hit a 6 iron 150m’s, am I going any good there?.I did hit a drive 260 once, but had a roaring NE wind behind.

A bad day at golf is still a lot better than a good day at work.

Actually thats exactly the same as i do, 6 iron from 150 4 iron from 170 , 18 deg hybrid goes 200. Maybe you are trying to hit the driver too hard. What sort of driver are you using.

Are you guys sure the distance you hit a driver is 240/260 metres plus, that is 280/290 yards ,which is futher than some PGA Tour players hit it. I play off 8 now, going out, and if I hit a drive 220m, I think its great.

A bad day at golf is still a lot better than a good day at work.

Played off 3 in my younger years (after only playing for 2 years), I play off 8 now..on my way back down after having many years off. I am a long driver, I was measured up for a new Driver in Florida when I was there and here are the results:
Swing speed: 107MPH
Ball Speed: 154MPH
Launch Angle: 12 or 14 degrees (can’t remember exactly but the pro said it was quite good)
side spin: 1800RPM
Distance on their computerised swing thing: 306 Yards

I reached a 350 yard par 4 green at Grande Pines in Orlando late last year and drove the 9th at MetroWest, also in Orlando (well in the bunker on the right of the green from the Bask tees). I played the Blue Monster at Doral with 2 guys called Mick, one of them watched the WGC there and told me I was as long if not longer than most of the Pros that he saw (and I was 30 yards further than the plaque on the 18th fairway where Craig Parry holed his approach to win a few years back in the play-off to beat Scott Verplank) I generally drive 250 to 260 to gain some accuracy but can pull the occassional one out still.

Anyway, my point is there are some guys that are not Pro’s that can crank out a big drive…there are a few guys that think they drive big and others that do. I am sure there are others on the forum that can hit regularly over 260, especially with the new balls and the new 460cc monsters…..

Titleist 950 R, firm shaft, actually Pom, you could be right, I am looking to buy a driver with a reg. shaft, as my irons are reg.