its not what you hit

[longshot]

I am teaching a friend the basics of golf.He insists on trying to hit a driver.But in his words (he cannot hit a pigs arse with a banjo!)
what does it matter what you hit ,its the score on the card that counts.I proved this to him by playing only a pitching wedge on a 480 yrd par 5 hole.
Three shots and i was 2yrds off the green i hit a running 9 iron to 1 foot and downed the putt for par.How many of us let our ego get in the way?On tight holes i often hit a 4 iron, better to be in play than in the c**P right?What is your comment on egos!

 

[Rockford35]

When i was about 16, I was a driver happy player. I took lessons from a old pro from Arizona. He made me play round after round with just my 7 iron and putter. After frustration set in and I started to see my scores actually improve, he leaned to me and said "Just imagine how great it's gonna be to hit that driver 240 straight instead of 260 into the trees."

I'll never forget that.

7 iron, 7 iron, 7 iron. 450 yards. Can't beat that.

Control will get you a more consistent score than length. Sure, you may never eagle many par 5's, but you'll have alot more birdies instead of bogeys.

Think about it.

R35

 

[Bravo]

About a year ago, I got a Sonartec 3 wood and love it so much that I hit it from the tee about half the time. It is so much straighter than the driver and hits it about 90% as far...

This is a very hard lesson for new players to absorb though.

 

[longshot]

About a year ago, I got a Sonartec 3 wood and love it so much that I hit it from the tee about half the time. It is so much straighter than the driver and hits it about 90% as far...

This is a very hard lesson for new players to absorb though.

you,re so right i often hit a 3 wood although its about 30yrds ave shorter than my driver 90% of the time its down the middle of the fairway.

 

[Bravo]

you,re so right i often hit a 3 wood although its about 30yrds ave shorter than my driver 90% of the time its down the middle of the fairway.

Try one of those Sonartecs. They are perfect for windy conditions...keeps the ball lower and it rolls out brilliantly.

 

[longshot]

Try one of those Sonartecs. They are perfect for windy conditions...keeps the ball lower and it rolls out brilliantly.

What type of shafts do they have?I prefere steel for fairway woods and have a swing speed of 110mph.I hit a 3 wood 260+ and quite low.Current club is a v steel 15 degree stiff shaft.

 

[SilverUberXeno]

How much did it run you Bravo?

On topic:

I have actually thought that one could probably par pretty well by just using a 7 iron. There's not a par 5 I play that you couldn't reach with 4 7-irons, and you'd be a heck of a lot more accurate. Usually I can hit fairways consistently, but you're right. Not wanting to KILL the ball is hard to overcome when you're new. I used to swing a driver from heel to heel, just about.

Caused a wee slice ^_^;

 

[Loop]

People can get their kick out of anything.
I usually play hard most of the time with my driver, because I am ecstatic when I hit it far. It doesn't mean that my short game sucks, far from it.
Some play the game for fun, others for the score, and then they can play both too

 

[psychi]

Being a first year golfer I think you have given your friend good advice. I hit all my irons very well but have trouble with the woods. For now, I have a preference for a T off with a 3 iron, getting the ball well placed on the fairway and going from there. Now , I am always in a position to make par.
I find this much more effective that clobbering the ball with a driver and losing stokes by poor T shots. On the other hand , I know how effective woods are, and will eventually need to hit with them as well

 

[SilverUberXeno]

If you can hit well with a 3 iron, you've already won the battle. Most people find irons, especially low ones, far more difficult to play any other clubs. Maybe just get stiffer shafts on your driver/woods, and they'll play more like your irons do.

 

[psychi]

I guess I thought my difficulties with hitting woods was due to the distance from the ball and a slightly different swing needed to strike the woods properly. Shaft resistance never occurred to me.

 

[SilverUberXeno]

Well, if you're hitting graphite woods and steel shafted irons, the head on the woods will lag a lot more than your irons do. Might make some difference. See if you can try out a stiff shaft wood

 

[Bravo]

Longshot: My Sonartec has a Penley Tour Lite Graphite shaft. Sonartecs are spec'ed from the factory with fairly expensive shafts - not some no-name...I guess you could get it with a steel shaft if you wanted to.

SUX: I paid about $150 for the club. There is a good retailer in Chicago that sells them for this...