Dumping a Driver for a strong 3W

[Cheesehead42]

First off, I am a 15 handicap. Distance has never been a problem (avg. 275-280 on drives) but accuracy is a real problem.

 

Recently I have developed the yips with the driver. In my head, I know that it is going to be a terrible drive before I even swing the club which never equates to actually making a good swing. In turn, I have a 17 deg G10 4W that I can hit with my eyes closed 240yds.off the tee-box and about 235 yds off the deck.

 

I went to the range the several times and hit the RBZ 13 deg TS. I hit it consistently and confidently off the tee and avg around 265-ish (was hitting to range flags so exact numbers are unclear). It was a demo club though.

 

My gut tells me to dump my driver and just play the 13 deg 3W off the tee box. I am wondering if there are others who have done this or is it just my inner club-ho coming out.

 

 

Any thoughts?

[vix02]

My advice...Change something about your driver, make it different. new grip or even cut it down. I had the same problem with putting earlier in the year. I get to a putt and tell myself that I won't make this putt. Put a new grip on it ( super stroke ) and it just gave me a feeling of a fresh start. Crazy, I know but you need to find something that will 'reset' that mental lapse.

Just a thought

[sgniwder99]

Do you really need to dump the driver to make room for the 3 wood? Or could you make room for both? I only ask because I just changed my wedge setup so I could carry 3 instead of 4 and have a 3 wood in the bag, as well. I really don't even think it affects my wedge game, because I had close enough gaps before that there was almost no point in my carrying a gap wedge.

[Ping Me]

Advise, "Never get married" lol J/K. Once in a while I go to the golf store to swing all the other drivers out there with all the different loft and shafts i can find, When I get back to my driver, I get that first feeling of, "yup this is the one".

[Willie Malay]

If you hit better and are more confident, why not?

[Tarkata]

I have used a strong 3 wood (13.5*) when I have had issues off the tee with my drivers. Like you distance isnt the issue as much as aim or side spin when I am in hacker mode! I don't know your swing, but for me, I seldom actually use a 3 wood from the fairway. I can hit my hybrids far enough. As a long term solution, the strong 3 wood idea is not really all that valid and you will probably grow weary of sacrificing distance and return to your driver sooner than later. That's been my experience......

[mr_divots]

If you have a club you can "hit with your eyes closed," you are crazy to even contemplate replacing it.
Drivers not all that many years ago had finished lengths of about 43.5", (only about 1/2" longer than today's 3 woods.)
What are you gaming for your driver setup? If it's one of the ones with a 45.75"-46" finished length, I think a shorter finished length is in order. Loft is also your friend, as you see with your 4 wood. Many people get too carried away with thinking they hit the ball "too high." Loft keeps it straighter, you just have to keep the spin levels in check.

Post up what you're using presently and it might make more sense why it's giving you fits.

[Cheesehead42]

[quote name='mr_divots' timestamp='1345741698' post='5522336']
If you have a club you can "hit with your eyes closed," you are crazy to even contemplate replacing it.
Drivers not all that many years ago had finished lengths of about 43.5", (only about 1/2" longer than today's 3 woods.)
What are you gaming for your driver setup? If it's one of the ones with a 45.75"-46" finished length, I think a shorter finished length is in order. Loft is also your friend, as you see with your 4 wood. Many people get too carried away with thinking they hit the ball "too high." Loft keeps it straighter, you just have to keep the spin levels in check.

Post up what you're using presently and it might make more sense why it's giving you fits.
[/quote]

I am currently using a TM Superfast (original one) 9.5 loft, 46" NV x-Flex Shaft.

[Myherobobhope]

Play the club that gets you off the tee and into play in a position to score.

Don't worry what number is on it.

[mr_divots]

[quote name='Cheesehead42' timestamp='1345743078' post='5522470']
[quote name='mr_divots' timestamp='1345741698' post='5522336']
If you have a club you can "hit with your eyes closed," you are crazy to even contemplate replacing it.
Drivers not all that many years ago had finished lengths of about 43.5", (only about 1/2" longer than today's 3 woods.)
What are you gaming for your driver setup? If it's one of the ones with a 45.75"-46" finished length, I think a shorter finished length is in order. Loft is also your friend, as you see with your 4 wood. Many people get too carried away with thinking they hit the ball "too high." Loft keeps it straighter, you just have to keep the spin levels in check.

Post up what you're using presently and it might make more sense why it's giving you fits.
[/quote]

I am currently using a TM Superfast (original one) 9.5 loft, 46" NV x-Flex Shaft.
[/quote]
Ahhh... I think we have our answer. 46" is a lot of shaft to control, and you might not need X flex. Going stiffer with the shaft can tighten up dispersion, but if its too stiff, it can make all kinds of bad things happen to your swing in an attempt to load it. With the distances you see off the tee, the loft might be OK, but the shaft I'm thinking is the issue. That is a pretty forgiving head.

If looking to a new driver, I'd probably try some stiff flex shafts no longer than 45" finished length.
If they make a strong 3W in the G10, I'd keep the G10 4 wood for use off the deck and get the same exact shaft you have in the 4W. The G10 had a more tip soft shaft in it as stock, if that's the one you have, and the NV is a little more tip stiff and that shaft design/profile might not be what you need. Too little loft, too stiff, and too low spin can make you try to hit "up" on the ball and the results can be quite erratic. I think that's probably what you're seeing from your description.

I just went up in loft to 10.5 myself and down in flex to stiff flex with an R11s and the Aldila RIP Phenom 65TP shaft. Little more loft and a little easier to load has been a good thing for me. Just won the long drive in a tourney on Tuesday with it.

[Worminator]

I actually switched from a Ping G20 9.5* to a Ping G15 12* recently and actually gained accuracy [u][i][b]and[/b][/i][/u] yardage. I bought the 12* for a specific (#1 handicap) hole at my club where you need to hit it over a large tree off the tee to make the hole play much easier. I was going to carry two drivers when I played that course, but I have ended up playing the 12* exclusively.

You may want to try a higher lofted driver... you never know. I would not have never believed I could hit the 12* further before trying it.

[flair28]

I recently switched to a 12* G20 cut down to 45". A little shorter because I get no roll but golf is a lot more fun now.

[toolman]

I've been in the same boat, but I went and had my driver cut to play 44.25 and have gained distance and accuracy. I completely understand being frustrated and wanting to hit a strong 3wood but don't give up on the driver, its now my most accurate club.

[Cheesehead42]

Thanks for the advice guys. Considering the age of the driver (its the longest I have ever had the same driver), I may look at the Golfsmith Used-Rack for something (45", s-Flex, and 10.5 Loft) and give it a go.

The worst I would be out is around $100 which is better than what I would have paid for a new strong 3W.

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='Cheesehead42' timestamp='1345757473' post='5523816']
Thanks for the advice guys. Considering the age of the driver (its the longest I have ever had the same driver), I may look at the Golfsmith Used-Rack for something (45", s-Flex, and 10.5 Loft) and give it a go.

The worst I would be out is around $100 which is better than what I would have paid for a new strong 3W.
[/quote]

Just cut down the superfast. If that's the non-TP head, I'd game it for sure. I still think that club had the hottest face of any drive I've ever hit.

[ezmorningrebel]

I took my driver out of the bag and put a ping rapture v1 3 wood in play and have been enjoying the game much more. It's fun playing from the short grass.

[BigHook25]

I have always struggled with drivers and still do. I would either get a driver and make sure its 45" or shorter, or if your confident with a strong 3-wood hit that. Another option is going with an 11 degree driver...again just make sure the shaft length isn't really long. I select holes where I hit driver, but never hit it just because its a par 4 or par 5. Sounds like you hit the ball a good distance, so 3-wood won't hurt you off the tee. I would try and get a driver though and keep it in the bag.

[roughhater]

Changing grips has worked for me but Michael Breed (sp) on the Golf Channel gave a tip a while back, maybe two years ago and more recently he recommended it again. Just choke down on the driver. He promised you would be in the fairways more and you would not give up too much distance wise. He is right and it pains me to say it! LOL
The more narrow the fairway, the more I choke down. It worked for me and I would do this before cutting down the shaft. Remember to try it on the range first! Good luck.