2 Iron off the tee

conno16

do many of ye use this approach?
i know it will depend on the hole, wind etc but just wondering if its worth my while investing time to perfect this shot?
as alluded to earlier, i'm struggling to control my quad driver so have been hitting 6 and 7's off the tee - plan is to slowly make it down to a respectable 4 or 3 iron
at that point i'll either stick with a low iron or maybe buy a new driver
would be grateful of ye're advice as ever

Myksyk

There's an old saying which tells us that when there's lightening on a golf course you should stick your 2 iron up in the air ... cos even God can't hit a 2 iron! ... so, No I wouldn't think you'd be doing anything here except making your tee shots even more difficult. Why don't you use a rescue club off the tee?

f22

You metioned before that you played off 26, to be honest the words "2 iron" shouldn't even remotely enter your mind. I play off a low handicap and 3 iron is my limit.

If your current driver doesn't work for you at all, it's either the wrong loft/shaft combination for you, your swing, or probably a combination of both.

Either way, the only thing going to fix it it the coaching and advise of a professional. Going to the range with bad technique doesn't fix anything so use your money and time wisely and seek the help of a golf pro.

ShriekingSheet

conno16 wrote: »

do many of ye use this approach?
i know it will depend on the hole, wind etc but just wondering if its worth my while investing time to perfect this shot?
as alluded to earlier, i'm struggling to control my quad driver so have been hitting 6 and 7's off the tee - plan is to slowly make it down to a respectable 4 or 3 iron
at that point i'll either stick with a low iron or maybe buy a new driver
would be grateful of ye're advice as ever

In my honest opinion, there is no easier club to hit off the tee than big titanium 10 degree driver. The skill involved in hitting one of these fryingpan-like clubs is nothing compared to the technique required to strike a long iron percisely.

You're struggling with the most forgiving long club in the bag and wondering whether to invest time in perfecting the least forgiving shot in golf? It's like saying "I can't play a chip and run with an 8 iron so should I just perfect the Mickelson flop shot and use that eveywhere?"

The fact that top players drop back to a two-iron because it's more suitable for a given hole does not make it a rational choice for the weekend player because he's spraying his driver.

My advice would be to use a 3 wood or Hybrid when in serious doubt about the driver, and we all have those days. But if you consistently can't hit the driver it would take only some basic advice to get some sort of results for you, better than any results youd get out of a 2 iron.

conno16

Myksyk wrote: »

Why don't you use a rescue club off the tee?

i'd be a bit embarassed taking out a rescue club on the tee box to be perfectly honest

good advice otherwise tho guys - i'll be using the two iron to scare off swans from now on!

Mister Sifter

conno16 wrote: »

i'd be a bit embarassed taking out a rescue club on the tee box to be perfectly honest

I'd be more embarrassed for the club, being seen with you.

jonas7

conno16 wrote: »

i'd be a bit embarassed taking out a rescue club on the tee box to be perfectly honest

good advice otherwise tho guys - i'll be using the two iron to scare off swans from now on!

Why would you be embarressed to use a rescue off the tee? Surely its less embaressing than using a 6 or 7 iron?

conno16

no one would suspect its a 6/7 iron tho
i generally follow up my drive with "got a bit under that eh" and move on

Miley Byrne

conno16 wrote: »

no one would suspect its a 6/7 iron tho
i generally follow up my drive with "got a bit under that eh" and move on

Whatever.....

whatawaster

conno16 wrote: »

no one would suspect its a 6/7 iron tho
i generally follow up my drive with "got a bit under that eh" and move on

why would you care what anyone thinks? You're far better off hitting the fairway 140 yards down with a 7 iron, than a driver 200 yards into trouble.
You'll make massive improvements to your game by playing percentages and keeping the ball in play.

Edit: Anyone who has played golf for any length of time will be able to tell a 7 iron from a 3 or 4

f22

conno16 wrote: »

no one would suspect its a 6/7 iron tho
i generally follow up my drive with "got a bit under that eh" and move on

If I saw you playing a 7 iron off the first in the European I'd have you escorted off the course.

You'd be embarassed to play a rescue club off the tee? I think from the sounds of things you'll do a pretty good job embarassing yourself in front of clients before you even step onto the first tee.

In nearly all cases I'd say enjoy the course and don't worry about your game. In your case however I'd just stay at home and give everyone else a break!

whatawaster

f22 wrote: »

If I saw you playing a 7 iron off the first in the European I'd have you escorted off the course.

If he can carry the fairway and keep it in play then there's nothing wrong with it.

Myksyk

conno16 wrote: »

i'd be a bit embarassed taking out a rescue club on the tee box to be perfectly honest

And here was I thinking you were impervious to what anyone says or thinks about you ...... You have the thickest skin I've seen on Boards.ie. ...

The idea that you'd be embarrassed by a 3i hybrid off the tee but fine with a 7 iron followed by a cringe-making excuse for its high and short flight is mind-boggling while providing a fairly interesting insight into your peculiar psychological make up.

So put away the 7 iron and lash away with the rescue, for pity's sake.

MiniGolf

conno16 wrote: »

i'd be a bit embarassed taking out a rescue club on the tee box to be perfectly honest

If you can hit a rescue a decent distance and where you want it to go what is to be embarrassed about???
I am sure a lot of the forum members have had a bad run with their drivers and had to resort to long irons or rescue until they got over it?
If you still need to make an "excuse" for taking a rescue just say you are having a bad run with the driver.... All you will get from your fellow players will be nods of agreement as they have all been there:(.

thegen

Embarassed:rolleyes:, Me thinks not.

You have stated before one of your prime reasons for taking up golf was "deal" making on the course.

My advice would be to use the money you save on green fees (by giving up golf) and bring your clients to dinner. Money better spent IMO.

Miley Byrne

thegen wrote: »

Embarassed:rolleyes:, Me thinks not.

You have stated before one of your prime reasons for taking up golf was "deal" making on the course.

My advice would be to use the money you save on green fees (by giving up golf) and bring your clients to dinner. Money better spent IMO.

+1 :D

conno16

jaysus if i thought i was gonna be ridiculed like this i would not have asked
i'm relatively new to the game and like in any walk of life dont want to make a complete clown of myself, particularly when it is business related

my original query was just to get some tips of what my long term plan should be regarding the refinement of my game
if a driver is so easy to hit maybe i'll just get stuck back into it - but after 4 lessons i've still to hit a really sweet one
when i screw up my tee shot it kinda ruins the rest of the hole to be fair
i'm good at putting but may have taken 6/7 shots to get to the green on a normal par 4

Miley Byrne

conno16 wrote: »

jaysus if i thought i was gonna be ridiculed like this i would not have asked
i'm relatively new to the game and like in any walk of life dont want to make a complete clown of myself, particularly when it is business related

my original query was just to get some tips of what my long term plan should be regarding the refinement of my game
if a driver is so easy to hit maybe i'll just get stuck back into it - but after 4 lessons i've still to hit a really sweet one
when i screw up my tee shot it kinda ruins the rest of the hole to be fair
i'm good at putting but may have taken 6/7 shots to get to the green on a normal par 4

Putter off the tee?

Myksyk

conno16 wrote: »

...dont want to make a complete clown of myself

There's a part of me that wants to go here ... so much potential ... but ... no!!! Good luck Conno.

MiniGolf

denisoc16 wrote: »

Putter off the tee?

:D:D So quick!!!

PhilipMarlowe

Ok, this is going nowhere fast, even though I'm biting my lip here...

Conno, there is merit in hitting something off the tee that gets you into play. But you'll need to hit something longer off the tee eventually to have a chance of enjoying the game. Lessons and practice will get you there. And when low handicappers give you advice it will often be worth taking. When a pro gives you advice it will almost always be worth taking.
The driver can be harder to hit than a 3 wood, the 3 wood harder than a hybrid. I would liken a hybrid to a 5 iron in terms of difficulty. So the hybrid would be my starting place for you.
But unless you go for a lesson and get proper advice on your swing from a good pro it's impossible to say why you can't hit the driver properly.. maybe the shaft is all wrong.. who knows.

If you aren't getting length off the tee then maybe you'd enjoy playing a decent par 3 course for a while longer until your game develops.
Oh, and using a 7 iron off the tee and lying about it by saying you got under it would mark you as a bul****ter and not a great impression if you want to 'impress' clients. Just tell them you are learning the game and can't hit the longer clubs yet.. no shame in that at all.