the driver debate

having recently joined ,i read with interest the articles on why a high h/cap should not use the driver, and decided to try it.
only using a 5wood off the white tees, i scored 33 points.hitting most of the fairways only messing up 2 holes , where i could not get across the lake with the 5 wood.
given my driver to a mate so i cannot be tempeted to use it, and purchased a 3 wood , which i could also hit nice and straight, and is the same make/ model as my set.
just to say thanks to all you guys for the insight.

If I were you, I would keep the driver in the garage or else you gotta buy another one in the mean time. I used to give my putter to a friend when I bought another one and now I missed that putter so much.

its only a loan , with the option of buying if he falls in love with it !

If you are not 100% sure that you can pull of a shot that has such a high penalty then dont go for it.
The Pros's dont (maybe in a match) so you/we never should.

the driver is history, long live the 3wood!
i will keep you all posted on my results

If I'm going to be playing from the trees I'd rather be doing it 40 yards closer to the hole.

I'm kidding for the most part.

I think a lot of beginners would be fine with a driver, if they got one suited to them. I'd like to see the people that have a hard time hitting their driver and always reverting to the 3 wood to try a 12.5 lofted driver.

dead right danny!
im demoing a 12deg cobra at the moment.
id given up trying to hit driver but this one may just change my mind

I guess I am in the minority on this one. I would encourage everyone to use their driver but not randomly so. Either get a lesson on its use or study the books to get the fundamentals of the driver's use but don't give up on using it because you are just delaying the inevitable.
Try these driver principals:
1. grip very light and use a stronger ("v"'s pointing to right shoulder) grip at first to make sure you promote closing clubface. Waggle the driver so you hold onto it but still it must be waggled(sp) with loose hands, wrists, shoulders.
2. Making sure you are lined up correctly by using an old shaft on the ground, align yourself parallel left of your target, then, move the right foot back a few inches without changing anything else in your set up.
3. Here is the key: turn your left shoulder(arms,wrists,hands,club together) behind the ball, feel your weight transfer to the inside of your right foot, complete the backswing, and just allow the left shoulder to transition back to impact and beyond leaving the club to follow behind.
Swing easy at first.
You are making this too hard for yourselves; its easy if you just allow it to be.

TID
used your grip advice at the range tonight and it worked a treat.
used a stronger grip for the driver and was drawing the ball consistently to about 220/230yds which for a shortarse like me is pretty good

cheers!

This always amazes me. My driver is one of the only clubs that I truly feel comfortable with. I guess there's something about the club head being the size of a bus that makes me feel like I can make good contact. I'm not very long - 220-230 average with a few big hits - but I hit a ton of fairways. I'd much rather hit driver off the tee than a 3 or 4 iron. As a matter of fact I just bought a 7 wood and my 3 and 4 iron are chillin' in the closet. I think the shaft does have a major impact. I had a TaylorMade reg flex on an R5 and couldn't hit 2 in 5 straight. I'm playing with some off brand oversize clubhead now on an Adila shaft that's better suited for my swing and hittin the fairway consistently. Just a bit of a fade if I really go at it.

__________________
Mitch A

10* Off-Brand w/ Aldila NV 65 Reg
13* MacGregor V-Foil 3W
18* Lynx Black Cat 5W
3-PW Taylor Made SuperSteel
56* Srixon I-201
52* / 60* Purespin Wedges

PB 18 - 91
PB 9 - 41

Slater, glad that worked for you. When you get comfortable and consistent doing that, begin turning your left shoulder more behind the ball and time your downswing so you are still just a tad behind the ball at impact. At first, you may stay too far behind or not enough, but quickly you will learn to use the momentum your backswing has created to time impact like a cannon going off.
Stay loose and enjoy the ride.

Thanks! Although I feel more comfortable with my driver
more today than a year before, the good advice always helps.

As per Tom Wishon:

Your driver is not necessarily your 1 wood (although scores of golfers think it is).

The longest club you can put in the fairway 80% of the time is your driver. It may be your 3 wood. It may be a Thriver. It may be your 5 iron. But the 80% plus club is your tee club - or driver.

Started working on playing my driver off the fairway, its good in high wind or where you want a long low ball under trees and fantastic carry in dry weather. Just choke down a bit and swing steady.

surely you mean roll?