You're on to something here.

The average golfer - to maximise distance - should be hitting a driver of ~ 14º loft.

This is very well the reason why your 3W (probably 15º) goes as far as your 10º driver. If your swing speed is in the low 90's, that's when you'll witness the phenomenon you're describing.

The other thing that effects the driver distance is the kill it instinct. I don't know of anyone who grabs their 3 wood and tries to kill it. So you put a nice swing on it, and away it goes.

Then you put a tense swing on the driver, and the ball goes away.

It's a good point you make.

__________________
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I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.