Leaving the driver behind

xgtdec

Hi All

Just had a quick question on leaving drivers out of the bag, im off 24 and only recently got to be honest with myself to say that i cant really hit a driver or 3 wood all that well, it might go ok, it might go right..sometimes a long way right and i lose at least 10-15 shots a round to getting off the tee, for the last few rounds i have borrowed a TM hybrid which i think is 17 dG, it has a small head and the head feels pretty heavy so that on the back swing you can feel it and although i hit it shorter than my driver i hit it in play most of the time and generally score on the hole, i can also use it off a fairway so those long par 4/5's are a bit easier, but alas today i had to give it back to its owner and now that leaves me with the thinking to get the driver out of the bag and bring in 2 hybrids, say a 17dG and a 24dG, has anyone any XP of dropping the driver and woods for just hybrids and irons? i was looking at the titleist 909h and thinking they could be a good investment to build some confidence off the tee and fairway...any thoughts or advice would be most welcome.

TheRiddler

Take the driver out to be honest. I play off 5 and I hardly use a driver. I'm a pretty long player so I hit a 3 wood far enough to let me leave it out though. Anyway I'd rather hit the ball 230 off the tee and split the fairway everytime then drive it 320 to the rough.

heviballs

TheRiddler wrote: »

Take the driver out to be honest. I play off 5 and I hardly use a driver. I'm a pretty long player so I hit a 3 wood far enough to let me leave it out though. Anyway I'd rather hit the ball 230 off the tee and split the fairway everytime then drive it 320 to the rough.

i'm off 5 too and i used to the same as youself,however on most courses i play esp in comps off the back tees with wind etc i decided to work on the driver and now it's the best most accurate club in my bag

i would apply the same logic to the op,if he's hiiting his driver to the right all the time,probably big scoopy slice you would have thought he would have a similiar less severe problem with a hybrid given the extra loft

i would say stick at,go get a couple of lessons,the only dfference in the 2 clubs should be the distance you stand from the ball

the main reason for not hitting the driver well imo is pbably 80percent in the head

Sandwlch

Read somewhere (Leadbetter maybe) that to get the best score out of your given level of golf, your 'driver', or driving club, should be the longest club that allows you to hit 7 out of 10 fairways or better; 5 iron, hybrid, 3 wood, Driver, whatever. Which is not to say that you shouldnt practice to improve what club that is - but if your are going for a score rather than a practice round, follow the rule. Seems like you have found it out yourself.

bigtimecharlie

I haven't used my driver in anger for 2 year's. Used the rescue to gain confidence and accuracy of the tee. Have progressed to the 3 wood which is 200 yards down the fairway and then the rescue to get close to the green. This approach had meant that my last 3 round have been played with the same ball. Beats looking for a ball after an errand drive any day.

heviballs

Sandwlch wrote: »

Read somewhere (Leadbetter maybe) that to get the best score out of your given level of golf, your 'driver', or driving club, should be the longest club that allows you to hit 7 out of 10 fairways or better; 5 iron, hybrid, 3 wood, Driver, whatever. Which is not to say that you shouldnt practice to improve what club that is - but if your are going for a score rather than a practice round, follow the rule. Seems like you have found it out yourself.

i would say that would work fine on a course with impossible rough,most courses we play the rough isn't to bad so hitting the fairway isn't such a big deal,personally i'd prefer to be 5o yards closer in the 'rough' rather than back on the fairway,
would you not agree that the main problem is a mental one rather than a swing issue,if someone like the op can hit a rescue i would defo advise trying out maybe a 12 degree driver with a half inch off the shaft if it's the length of the club that's a bit daunting

Su Campu

heviballs wrote: »

i would say that would work fine on a course with impossible rough,most courses we play the rough isn't to bad so hitting the fairway isn't such a big deal,personally i'd prefer to be 5o yards closer in the 'rough' rather than back on the fairway,
would you not agree that the main problem is a mental one rather than a swing issue,if someone like the op can hit a rescue i would defo advise trying out maybe a 12 degree driver with a half inch off the shaft if it's the length of the club that's a bit daunting

I completely agree that peoples' troubles with the driver are mostly in the head. Right from when we start playing, we're told "ooh, you're hitting the the driver? very difficult club to use, hit the 3-wood instead." There's feck all difference between the two in reality, the driver's a little longer, but then similarly the 3-wood's a little longer than the rescue, but people don't have the same problem using it. The way I see it, peoples' swings change drastically when they have a driver in their hand, which is where 100% of the problems start. The physics are the same as going from a rescue to a 3-wood.

So don't be afraid of the driver, it's your friend if you'll allow it to be. Go to the range, hit your other woods as before but this time include driver. Let it join the party too. Use the exact same swing as you do with your 3-wood, change absolutely nothing. If you don't hit it right, you're still not relaxing during your swing. Remember, a smooth take away, and FINISH YOUR BACKSWING before commencing your downswing. That's where the main problem lies in my opinion, it's at that point that people tense up and try to force it on the downswing. The smoother the swing, the better the results - guaranteed!

xgtdec

Thanks for all that, i actually find that as a high handicap using the driver kinda ruins your day from the first tee, your almost setting up in your head NOT to hit it....i found with the hybrid i could step up to the tee and have a fairly good sense of "this is going to be fine", i aint aiming for the tour here , im just looking for a good consistant way of hitting the fairway and finishing a round without wanting to snap a club and give up the game, to that end i think ill try invest in a hybrid and maybe in a year or so try a 3-wood.......cant do any harm...can it?

Su Campu

xgtdec wrote: »

Thanks for all that, i actually find that as a high handicap using the driver kinda ruins your day from the first tee, your almost setting up in your head NOT to hit it....i found with the hybrid i could step up to the tee and have a fairly good sense of "this is going to be fine", i aint aiming for the tour here , im just looking for a good consistant way of hitting the fairway and finishing a round without wanting to snap a club and give up the game, to that end i think ill try invest in a hybrid and maybe in a year or so try a 3-wood.......cant do any harm...can it?

No it can't, you play with what you're happiest with and what gives you the best results. But in the meantime try to convince yourself that you CAN hit the driver or 3-wood, it's just a matter of trying them out on the range to build up confidence. Just remember to swing smooth, and keep your regular swing tempo.

Aidric

I very rarely pull a driver out. Maybe that is mental but years of errand drives with the club will do that to you. I've always felt comfortable with a 3 wood.

dvemail

If your comfortable with the hybrid club id say to stay with it.
Have to agree with su campu, a lot of peoples swings do change when they hit the driver, myself included, i feel like as if i have i really wack it, although i have finially slowed down a bit with it and now have found several more fairways a round.

1967

As has been said hit what your comfortable with and not just off the tee, but away from the course do go to the range and practice with the clubs you feel you are weakest with getting a couple of lessons would not go astray either.

Sandwlch

xgtdec wrote: »

to that end i think ill try invest in a hybrid and maybe in a year or so try a 3-wood.......cant do any harm...can it?

There is another option I would highly recommend. A 15deg, 460cc Driver. Loft of a 3 wood, forgiving big sweet spot. Try it, or cut it down to 43.5 or 44" - makes a very forgiving tee only, driving 'three wood'.

stumpypeeps

Sorry for the armchair coaching but I found that with the driver you must swing smoothly with a good tempo for decent results. I'd reccommend sticking with the driver. Once you get in the swing of it, its a pretty easy club to play. Just try not to get too much from it.

G1032

xgtdec wrote: »

Hi All

titleist 909h and thinking they could be a good investment to build some confidence off the tee and fairway...any thoughts or advice would be most welcome.

AFAIK and from what the local pro told me (so nobody attack me please if you've heard something different), the Titleist clubs are designed for the lower handicapper. King Cobra are the higher handicappers clubs made by Titleist. Maybe something to think about before you go buying the Titleist.

xgtdec

Ouch...so the 909h may not be for me, well im heading to mcguirks on thursday just to see what they feel like, ive no issues with not getting some but they were the ones i liked the look of....of course i imagine its possible to be off 24 and still use one with no issues...i wonder what makes it a low rather than high handicap club?

Tom Ghostwood

xgtdec wrote: »

Ouch...so the 909h may not be for me, well im heading to mcguirks on thursday just to see what they feel like, ive no issues with not getting some but they were the ones i liked the look of....of course i imagine its possible to be off 24 and still use one with no issues...i wonder what makes it a low rather than high handicap club?

909 d comp is aimed at the mid to high hcapper. Its got a large head 460cc, higher moi , bigger sweet spot, High trajectory etc etc.

The 909 d3 has 460cc head but doesnt have the extended head at the back like the d comp that makes it a little triangular looking.

The 909 d2 has a 440cc head, more classic look & lower trajectory.


At the end of the day though its really what suits your eye. If you like how a club looks & feels thats half the battle.

G1032

xgtdec wrote: »

of course i imagine its possible to be off 24 and still use one with no issues...i wonder what makes it a low rather than high handicap club?

I didn't enquire as to why they were suppossedly for the lower handicapper, but ya you're right, it might suit you down to the ground. If I was to hazard a guess I would say it probably has a smaller sweet spot than the King Cobra........ don't know for sure tho

Tom Ghostwood

Do everyones ears a favour though and steer clear of king cobra drivers

xgtdec

I wouldnt mind but this morning i had a mooch around the web and the cobra is half the price of the titleist, i might check stock in mcguirks before i go out, i know the titleist would be nearly 70 quid more expensive, but is that extra 70 gonna make a differance to a 24 hc.....prob not, i could get a low and a high degree cobra for the price of a single 909h.......god i love boards

G1032

xgtdec wrote: »

I wouldnt mind but this morning i had a mooch around the web and the cobra is half the price of the titleist, i might check stock in mcguirks before i go out, i know the titleist would be nearly 70 quid more expensive, but is that extra 70 gonna make a differance to a 24 hc.....prob not, i could get a low and a high degree cobra for the price of a single 909h.......god i love boards

You could put the extra 70 euro towards a new putter........:) After all you will use your driver 12-14 times a round but your putter 26-32+ times. Where would you spend the money.....??

xgtdec

spend the extra....mmmmmm, you see as a high hc i alway keep my mouth shut when it come to gear and that in case i get a few "sure what would you know" looks, i have a 60d titleist spin milled lob wedge which i use to really good effect, i would not mind a pitching version of the same club.....apart from that im pretty happy with my irons, its more to get the driver out and a low loft hybrid in....a new wedge would be a bonus.....i'd better make sure to tell the missus she's imagining new clubs and i had it all along!!!

Myksyk

The 909D2 is supposed to be less forgiving than your standard driver ... as I am finding out. I suppose this is like the difference between blades and game improver irons where the sweet spot is smaller and mis-hits getting greater punishment.