How to hit driver off the deck

[Golfbeat]

 

 

[scooterhd2]

I've got a playing partner that absolutely crushes driver off the deck. Doesnt need it much, but I have seen it a few times on his ball and in a few scrambles as well. No idea how he does it and actually hits quality shots. He's a scratch golfer and the other day on the first tee he hit one of the worst ducks hooks I've ever seen him hit that luckily hit a tree and popped back into the fairway, albeit only 75 yards out. Still 290 to the green and he pulls driver. I could tell the other twosome was thinking WTF is this hack doing. Cant even get off the box and now he has driver in hand. Has he ever played golf ball before.. And then he proceeds to hit a laser that runs out a mile and up and onto the green and settles 15 feet past the hole. Thats not part of my game at all. Never learned that one.

[Breiman]

Not since the 80’s

[MonteScheinblum]

Better not hit up on it.

Golfers have enough trouble with basic shots without concerning themselves with a shot that is probably used 1 time or less each week on the PGA tour in the entire field.

I won’t even mention the odds of a driver of a lie in the fairway going farther than a well struck 3 wood are almost zero.

Learn a skill used 5+ times a day by each and every tour player that I see in almost no amateurs. Learning how to hit a short iron/wedge less than full the correct way with trajectory and spin control.

[sittingbull]

That's crazy I would never try that

[Pepperturbo]

Only recall two occasions where I used driver off the deck to hit the ball on long Par 5s. One turned out good, just short of the apron, the other was in a best ball tournament where the shot got into a greenside bunker, which was OK, except my playing partner wasn't that good from bunkers... so.. In a stroke tournament I wouldn't think of using driver off the deck. If I can't reach or get close to the green in two, I do it the old fashion regulation way.

[SNIPERBBB]

Think the only times I've done it is when in scrambled we could fluff it up in the rough so it would set up nicely.

[larrybud]

I'm betting he could pop a 3 wood farther from the same lie.

Anybody have a Trackman who cares to do some testing and post the numbers?

[RobertBaron]

I feel like this is one of those “if you have to ask...” kinda things.

[MadGolfer76]

Never occurred to me to try. Then again, I don't short knock. :)

[cardoustie]

Agree with Monte, strong 3w a waaaaay better play

[Mike_C]

I used to do it regularly as late as the late 1990s. Also about 10-12 years ago, I had one of those Nike square drivers, they had a shallow face. Super forgiving, low COG, but was basically a 2 wood to me. I have two playing partners who do it all the time with their current drivers, I just can't do it myself anymore..

[extrastiff]

I hit driver off the deck as part of my pre round warmup. It helps me reinforce stacking and tilting the way I need to, making sure I have a clean transition from back to downswing, and that I am focused on matching my impact position to my start position. Plus I like the feeling of hitting the hardest shot to hit before a round. But I don’t think I have ever hit driver of the deck in a round. Even just for fun lol.

[b.mattay]

I do it from the tee box quite often if you absolutely can’t miss left. Ball flight is straight to a ten-yard cut almost automatically.

[MonteScheinblum]

This is an excellent point for a different reason. This is why teeing it high and hitting up too much is a bad idea. Brings the two way miss in play.

 

[ThinkingPlus]

Grab your driver. Place behind ball and setup with a nice wide stance. Waggle the club a couple of times. Step back and check that your line is a little left of target (righties). Take stance and waggle again. Look once more at the target then...step away. Walk to bag and grab 5-iron. Take stance and pummel to a nice flip wedge distance. :-)

[smashdn]

Taylor Made V-Steel Tour Spoon (13*). Do it, do it.

[GSDriver]

From a perfect lie in the fairway, it's still possible to hit driver off the deck. Usually comes out with laser low fade and runs forever. If conditions are right, go for it...we're not playing in the US Open (at least I'm not, I play for fun)

[b.mattay]

I agree, am trying to hit up less and get my shoulder turn less vertical. Driver off deck is more a temporary fix to avoid the hooks while playing!

[dcfas]

I used to use a 2-wood as a driver. The advantage was that I could hit it off the deck. It wasn’t a driver, though. It was also wooden (we’re talking 1980s).

[GeorgeHWB]

Why is it always called "driver off the deck" and never "driver off the ground"? They aren't hitting off a ship.

[thesamwise]

Because alliteration is fun, my bodacious bro

[LeoLeo99]

We dig the alliterative word play. Back in the day we'd tee it low and hit wonderful wormburners with wooden woods which would windup within the fairway and roll a long way.

I used to hit driver out of the rough if the ball was sitting up real high on top of the grass and I wanted the deep face of the driver prevent going under the ball like a shallow 3w might.

 

[indianagolf2]

Once again, monte is spot on. I think anything 100 yards and in is huge. Learn those shots 20 to 100 yards is huge. Thanks monte.

[juststeve]

When I need driver distance off the deck I hit a three wood and come up a little short.

Steve

 

[jyett21]

One of the sickest shots in the game in my opinion... not a very smart shot kinda like what others have said. I’m not consistent enough at impact to hit something like that though. Either just a lay up 5 or 3 wood is definitely an easier and high percentage route!

[Golfbeat]

I just posted this because I thought that it was an awesome shot. I would probably only try this in a scramble or so.

[Lefthook]

Back in the days a driver was perfect on shots where the ball was sitting well, I needed substantial distance, needed a low shot and sometimes a strong fade/ slice.

But that was then. with the driver I’m using now, the cog is too high on the face, and besides, I have a 3 w that is as hot as the driver back then.

[Gsea]

Dogleg right off the tee, trouble left. Hit driver off the deck. No way ur ball is going left. Obviously u don’t get ur normal distance but u get the shape shot u want. Plus u get some bug eyes.