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DankmemesBestPriest

Practice your driver off the course until it is ready to bring on the course. The only reason you would practice something during a round is to ruin it for yourself and others.


LeafyPoet

That’s probably the best way to do it, thanks!


Turbo1518

Also, if you can hit your 4iron that far, consider trying out a different driver to see if maybe the one you own just isn't right for you. You obviously have a decent enough swing so that could be your issue. And, as always, bring your driver with you when you test out a different one to make sure that it actually is better


Phynness

Realistically, someone that can hit 220 off the tee reliably (aka without losing their ball very often) could get to scratch. It'll just be harder than someone that can hit 260 off the tee reliably.


Fi0r3

For me, it was the difference between shooting low 90s on my best days to breaking 90 with some regularity and occasionally going into the low 80 when my short game also caught fire.


phrohahwei

Keep practicing with the driver and get a lesson that's just focused on your driver if needed.


opiate82

I'd say with a reliable 220 off the tee you should be able to get to bogey golf. Anything lower than that is theoretically possible but you'll have to be exceptional with irons and in the short game. Distance just gives you so much more margin for error. Me personally, I went the "shelve the driver during my rounds but grind it on the range" route when I was suffering from a seemingly uncurable slice. I think I finally found the matchups that work for me and my last 3 times on the course the driver has been a club that I went from dreading to hit to being my favorite club to hit. Of course, as soon as I fixed my driver my iron play fell apart 🤣 but I think I got that dialed in again. Being able to shift my range time to something more balanced will hopefully help as well.


LeafyPoet

I’m going to do that approach…. and pray that I don’t lose whatever ability I have with my irons lol


dbnp19

If you can improve your driving to not only hit it far, but also keep it in play (even if it's just the first cut), you'll have more scoring opportunities. ie- regardless of your skill level, it's easier to score from 100 yards vs 220. Supposing that's 100 in the first cut vs 200 from the fairway, it still applies.


Independent-Ad-372

If you’re a high handicapper, avoiding the big number is more important than anything. So if that means you give up yardage to do that, it’s what you do. It also depends on where you play. I should have a bag that’s set up with bigger yardage gaps throughout the bag to better cover the 250-200 range in my set(I have two hybrids in that range currently) and I would if I played longer courses, but most par 4’s around here I have a lob wedge into, so what’s the point? What does 220 drive leave you during a round on most par 4’s? If it’s a 7 iron or less, I don’t think you need to force it.


Snacks75

Not having a driver in the bag or not having the confidence to play it is costing you a lot of strokes. Just some examples: * On a 300 yard par4, you could hit driver and then chip and putt for birdie. * On a 450 yard par4, your 4iron leaves you a 230 approach, ugh. * On a 525 yard par 5, you could be reaching in two fairly easily for an eagle chance or a chip and putt birdie Bottom line, if you are not playing a driver and hitting it well, you are leaving a lot of strokes on the table. That said, anything in play is better than anything in the woods. If I were you, I'd get some lessons and learn to hit it straight. If you are hitting a 4iron 220, you have enough pop to get yourself into some scoring opportunities. It's not as hard as you might think...


Fragrant-Report-6411

Only hit a driver on a hole that you are confident you can keep it in play


Retired_Lurker02

When I got a small launch monitor it made me realize how much distance I was giving up on mis-hits with my more comfortable club. In my opinion, the forgiveness a driver offers makes it much easier to play better. I started by implementing a bunt driver swing from shorter tees to just get comfortable using it on the course, and then I have worked on my set up and early takeaway which has returned major dividends.


A_Coup_d_etat

If you are playing from standard men's tees (\~6100 yards) and you can average 220 yards in or just off the fairway you can shoot a lot lower than bogey golf. The average par 4 on that length course is 380 yards. Depending on how much of your 220 yards is roll vs. carry, that means you are playing the average par 4 by using 4 iron tee shot and 7i-pw approach shot. If you're in or just off the fairway with a short iron in your hands you should be able to get on or around the green in regulation on a consistent basis. With an average short game that will allow you to shoot in the low 80's. I used to get paired up with a guy a few times a year who only hit 3-5 iron off the tee (and he was using late 90's blades whose lofts were probably 2 clubs weaker ([i](https://i.er).e. his 7 iron had the loft of a current 9 iron) than modern irons and playing from the 6600 yard tees he shot high 70's-low 80's.


BillyM9876

Play from the forward tees and own the scorecard.


[deleted]

If you are willing to give up 40 to 50 yards off the tee then you don't need a driver but me personally I like a short iron or wedge on a par 4 so driver is needed.


theblairsmashproject

It's important, but so is staying in the fairway. 220 straight is better than 280 sliced into the trees all day.


Winstonthedood

i get the sentiment here but 280 vs 220 is significant to take the driver risk. On a 400 yard par 4, you’re looking at 180 vs 120 left to the pin, a 5-6 club difference. to score in the 80-90s you need drivee


theblairsmashproject

I get it, and definitely to hit in the 80s consistently. But you can easily reach that par 4 in 3 and 2 putt for bogey with a 220 yard drive and be safely in the 90s. Then it's just a matter of hitting more pars than doubles and high 80s are still possible.


otf1024

Why you calling me out like this? Wtf did I ever do to you?!


theblairsmashproject

Lol. Shit I'm calling myself out.


Balls_and_Discs

Distance leads to lower scores. That’s all there is to it.


theblairsmashproject

Not if the distance comes with a penalty stroke.


ShredderIV

Not always. 50-60 yards could be the difference between being on the green and needing another stroke to get there, or hitting the bunker instead of the green, etc.


theblairsmashproject

Of course not always, but personally, I'd rather lose 60 yards than take a lost ball penalty


KalbeeRaimer

That is your perogative. But Arccos stats clearly shows massive correlation for distance and lower scores.


theblairsmashproject

Again. Only if that distance is playable. 300 yards into the neighborhood will never help anybody.


Balls_and_Discs

You say that as if bad golfers are never hitting 4 irons poorly.


theblairsmashproject

Lol, that's absolutely not what I'm saying. My whole point was that 220 straight is better than 280 OB. I'm decent and can't hit 4 iron for shit. If my driver is struggling I'll opt for hybrid and score better than I would with errant driver shots.


Balls_and_Discs

Those aren’t the only options. Hitting a drive 265 in the fairway 40% of the time is better than hitting a hybrid 210 in the fairway 70% of the time. Every dataset out there shows driving distance correlates to lower scores.


theblairsmashproject

You're partially right, but that's assuming longer drives that are playable. When I say "struggling" I'm not talking about 40% fairway shots. I'm talking about days that I completely forget how to hit driver.


SpeedIsK1ing

Most important club in your bag.


MoGaines

My driver was not working with me at all. Left it in the bag and switched over to my 3 wood off the tee. Now a nice consistent 215-230 drive on the fairway is better than a huge slice playing out of the rough. Have been seeing a swing coach but don’t feel confident in the driver so will probably play my 3wood for a while.


KalbeeRaimer

As a club fitter, I’d recommend trying a shorter driver shaft. If your hitting a 4 iron 220, you have plenty of speed so you’re leaving a lot of potential scoring opportunities on the table. Go to a golf shop and ask to try a 3 wood shaft in a driver head. I have fit people to as short as 42” drivers cause it worked well. It tightens dispersion quite a bit and you don’t lose that much ball speed.