Anyone successfully used two drivers?

[Z1ggy16]

My home course has 36 holes and is very tight most of the time and not particularly long. 250 in the fairway leaves a wedge in hand on almost every single par4 and par5s are within reach or designed so it's impossible to reach in 2.

 

Thinking about building a bomber club for the few holes which are wide open, and then playing a 43" driver on any other hole that isn't a lay up. My next club would likely be a shorter 4w, then a shorter 7w, then 5i on. 

 

Who's done this and why don't we see more amateurs do something similar? At least when it comes to a shorter driver. 

[Pepperturbo]

14 minutes ago, Z1ggy16 said:

why don't we see more amateurs do something similar? At least when it comes to a shorter driver

Most amateurs are mid-high caps, driven by media and what the pros do.  Most of them do not think about crafting a bag of equipment for a short course.  Then there's this, most golfers play different courses.  When I play a short course, I often play them without driver or 3wd, using irons only, 2 to 4 iron off tees.

 

Phil M. was almost made fun of when he shows up with 2 drivers, and sprays the fairways.  For the Driver to be effective, the user must use it frequently, so he's comfortable controlling it.  What you're thinking may or may not work for you on that course.  That said, 2 drivers IMO are a waste of valuable real estate in the bag.  One driver will only be used on limited tees, so its value to my thinking is low, tantamount to a 62' LW.

 

I tested drivers from 46" to 43" playing length.  The latter 43 length too much yardage was lost, the former 46 length, though longer on solid strikes, dispersion increased proportionally, which is NOT acceptable.  Eventually, I settled on 44.5 and 44.75" playing length for optimal results. 

 

Best option, consider a strong 13/14' 3 wood at 43.5", which essentially functions like a lofted driver, and probably as long if not longer than a 43" driver.  One man's thoughts. 

 

 

[Z1ggy16]

2 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

Most amateurs are mid-high caps, driven by media and what the pros do.  Most of them do not think about crafting a bag of equipment for a short course.  Then there's this, most golfers play different courses.  When I play a short course, I often play them without driver or 3wd, using irons only, 2 to 4 iron off tees.

 

Phil M. was almost made fun of when he shows up with 2 drivers, and sprays the fairways.  For the Driver to be effective, the user must use it frequently, so he's comfortable controlling it.  What you're thinking may or may not work for you on that course.  That said, 2 drivers IMO are a waste of valuable real estate in the bag.  One driver will only be used on limited tees, so its value to my thinking is low, tantamount to a 62' LW.

 

I tested drivers from 46" to 43" playing length.  The latter 43 length too much yardage was lost, the former 46 length, though longer on solid strikes, dispersion increased proportionally, which is NOT acceptable.  Eventually, I settled on 44.5 and 44.75" playing length for optimal results. 

 

Best option, consider a strong 13/14' 3 wood at 43.5", which essentially functions like a lofted driver, and probably as long if not longer than a 43" driver.  One man's thoughts. 

 

 

Thing is, I already put the short driver in play twice and had two of my better rounds all year. But, it suffers on a few holes where you won't get too hurt if your 30 yards off line either way. 

 

I don't play many different courses anymore, I'm spending 90% of my time on these 36 holes. I figured a 10.5* driver at the same length as a strong 3w is the better part bc it's more forgiving (more moi, more face) and I probably won't be hitting a 13* 3w off the deck... I'm not slow but the carry I think would be similar to a 4w, but the 4w won't roll as much, which may or may not be bad. 

 

I'm a unique player in that I get worse at golf the further i am from the cup. Driving is my worst suit, and it's generally due to accuracy and losing balls. Last 2 rounds I only lost 1 ball now whereas with my 45.5" I was probably around 3 per round. 

[kmak]

I have switched my three wood to a Taylormade BRNR mini driver at 13.5 degrees, 43".

 

It is definitely a "fairway finder" and about 20 yards shorter than my regular driver, Taylormade Stealth2 at 9 degrees, 45". I find I am more accurate off the tee with the BRNR than my three wood, easier to hit a consistent cut.

 

I rarely have to hit three wood from the fairway, and the BRNR is pretty easy to hit from short grass.  Distance control is a little harder, though.

 

Happy to give my LM numbers if anyone is interested. 

[Pepperturbo]

5 minutes ago, Z1ggy16 said:

Thing is, I already put the short driver in play twice and had two of my better rounds all year. But, it suffers on a few holes where you won't get too hurt if your 30 yards off line either way. 

 

I don't play many different courses anymore, I'm spending 90% of my time on these 36 holes. I figured a 10.5* driver at the same length as a strong 3w is the better part bc it's more forgiving (more moi, more face) and I probably won't be hitting a 13* 3w off the deck... I'm not slow but the carry I think would be similar to a 4w, but the 4w won't roll as much, which may or may not be bad. 

 

I'm a unique player in that I get worse at golf the further i am from the cup. Driving is my worst suit, and it's generally due to accuracy and losing balls. Last 2 rounds I only lost 1 ball now whereas with my 45.5" I was probably around 3 per round. 

I hear ya.  LOL, unique, don't think so.  Indexes aside, most amateurs are in your camp.  Driving and around the green are main reasons most people never progress.  I see that with friends and at my last two clubs.  I've said this to friends, better your ball striking and control, and lost balls don't happen.

 

Yes, any driver is more forgiving, but it's only used off the tee; for 99% of people, off the deck is not wise.  But a decently struck strong 3wd has a better result, and it can be used off the tee and fairway, but that's my thinking.  Again, that's my thinking.

[Z1ggy16]

13 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

I hear ya.  LOL, unique, don't think so.  Indexes aside, most amateurs are in your camp.  Driving and around the green are main reasons most people never progress.  I see that with friends and at my last two clubs.  I've said this to friends, better your ball striking and control, and lost balls don't happen.

 

Yes, any driver is more forgiving, but it's only used off the tee; for 99% of people, off the deck is not wise.  But a decently struck strong 3wd has a better result, and it can be used off the tee and fairway, but that's my thinking.  Again, that's my thinking.

Around the greens helps me usually! Several rounds this year with +sg18 putting and chipping. I'm trying to address one facet at a time and see where that leads me. From 6400 yards you just don't need anything more than a 250 yard drive unless you are really accurate. Look at the pro girls... I watched Rachel Heck when she was about 15 shoot a 70 in the US Open driving it about 240. 

 

Then on wide open holes I can build an auto flex or a 50g shaft at 46 or 46.5 and send it 300+. 

[kthomas]

My argument would be that the solution you seek is not a matter of equipment, but rather technique.

 

The setup and technique for a "bomber" swing is different than a fairway finder swing.

 

Do you need two drivers? Or two different techniques? My personal vote is the latter.

[Z1ggy16]

13 minutes ago, kthomas said:

My argument would be that the solution you seek is not a matter of equipment, but rather technique.

 

The setup and technique for a "bomber" swing is different than a fairway finder swing.

 

Do you need two drivers? Or two different techniques? My personal vote is the latter.

Solution is always just to "get better" but I'm trying to work with what I have right now, while I slowly improve the swing itself. 

[third-times-a-charm]

Phil Michelson

 

So its safe you say you've gotta be pretty off the rails to do it.

[PNW]

I play a regular 9* driver and a 13.5 BRNR mini. The mini is 20 yards shorter than driver for gapping and I never need to hit off deck so it's easier to hit than a standard 3 wood. This set up can work for someone with speed/distance and who tend to play shorter courses. I really like the purpose-built mini driver models for this but you can build down a regular larger head as well with a bunch of added weight.

 

Along with Phil... Tommy Fleetwood does this. Plays the 13.5 BRNR mini and a Stealth Plus 2 9*. 

[TwistedSister]

I used to carry two drivers.  One fade biased and one draw biased. worked fine.  Once my age went up and the distance went the other way the drawbacks outweighed the benefits

[Fuscinator]

For a while, I had a fade driver and a draw driver. I kept using the combo until the fade driver started hooking the ball off the planet (sure wasn't my fault).

[ShortGolfer]

I can hit a draw or a fade with my 42" Stealth driver.  I have an 41" Stealth driver set to 14* that I've also used, but I don't hit driver far enough to justify carrying both in the bag at the same time.

Right now I hit driver as far as I can and so far this season, it has never gone too far. 😥

This season I've been working on iron contact and driver has suffered until recently from not practicing. 

Last two rounds I've been getting more consistent driver contact as I've gained more confidence with my other clubs.

Edited October 4, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[Z1ggy16]

1 hour ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Phil Michelson

 

So its safe you say you've gotta be pretty off the rails to do it.

I am lefty....

[Valtiel]

[Sean124]

I call my 43” driver a 3 wood

[Striker Ace]

1 hour ago, Sean124 said:

I call my 43” driver a 3 wood

Bravo. Bravo! 👏 

[Hateslowplay]

not at once

[getitdaily]

Yeah, quite successfully. I did it in 2006 in early april to pretty tremendous results. 

[Phabs]

I’d never pull a wedge to add another driver.  Being able to hit that 130-140 yd gap with a confident full swing shaves way more strokes than another 10 yards on a drive. 

[Putter Addict]

I can't even successfully use one driver

[gator022]

1 hour ago, Phabs said:

I’d never pull a wedge to add another driver.  Being able to hit that 130-140 yd gap with a confident full swing shaves way more strokes than another 10 yards on a drive. 

Who’s pulling a wedge for a second driver? The OP laid out a top of the bag adjustment. I’m not seeing a wedge pull comment.

 

@Dan Drake can chime in on this. He had me going down this path. Still might. Simply don’t have the time to tinker or play with it right now.

[Phabs]

5 minutes ago, gator022 said:

Who’s pulling a wedge for a second driver? The OP laid out a top of the bag adjustment. I’m not seeing a wedge pull comment.

 

@Dan Drake can chime in on this. He had me going down this path. Still might. Simply don’t have the time to tinker or play with it right now.

Never said there was a wedge pull comment chief.  Speaking to my own bag 

[gator022]

1 minute ago, Phabs said:

Never said there was a wedge pull comment chief.  Speaking to my own bag 

Ah, makes sense. Sorry didn’t follow the context. 

[BIG STU]

I have done it somewhat playing persimmon. I would carry a Driver at like 11* and a 2 wood at like 13*. Now I will admit when I play persimmon score does not matter I am just having fun. Now days with persimmon and the modern ball the 2 wood is a little easier to elevate off the tee. I can also hit the 2 wood off the deck

[PJE]

8 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

tested drivers from 46" to 43" playing length.  The latter 43 length too much yardage was lost, the former 46 length, though longer on solid strikes, dispersion increased proportionally, which is NOT acceptable.  Eventually, I settled on 44.5 and 44.75" playing length for optimal results. 

How many yards difference do you think there is between 45.25 and 44.75? 
 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

I feel like a 13° 2 Wood is an excellent choice for 250 yards off the tee at a minimum. Two drivers in the bag devotes 3 spaces to two restricted processes; driving and putting. Me no like.

Still, you should give it a try and see how you like the shorter driver. The worst thing that could happen is you don't like it. There's no one size fits all solution to golf. Some like it, some don't.

I, personally, do not.

[st1800e]

Years ago….had 3 , 8*,10* and 12*.  No 3W.  The 8* was for a particular par 4 long hole where my drive would end on the up slope.  Flew like a bullet.   
The 10 and 12 depended on elevated tee or not.  
Now I can hit my one and only driver at 10* off the FW (it’s a decent lie) as long as it’s level or up slope.   

[Ri_Redneck]

I played 2 drivers when I was using the Cobra 9* Deep Face (44.5") and hit the ball crazy high. The second driver took the place of a 3w. It was a 12* Cobra Senior driver of the same model shafted with the same shaft, 1/2" shorter (44"). It was simply my shortest FW. From there I went 3i down to 60* LW. That was my bag setup at the time.

 

Now with the LS Drivers out there, I am playing my driver at 10.5* at 46" and my 3w is set at 14.5*. I also have a FW set at 18* then 4i down to 60* LW.

 

I actually hit the ball further now than I did then. As for shorter courses, I hit what the hole calls for. IF my percentage says I can go for the green, I do. If it says I should play to a wider portion, I hit the club that gets there. No need to change the bag.

 

BT

[Cwebb]

Sometimes the difficulty with the second driver, is getting the trajectory and shot height in a preferred zone.  In order for it to be shorter in distance, it needs to have more loft...in addition to whatever shorter club length you want to go with.

 

If your main driver is already in the modern higher launch - lower spin zone, then going with a second driver with enough loft to be a reasonable distance shorter, can create something with a really high soft flight.

 

Which is why a lot of players prefer the "2 wood" or "mini driver" for this concept, where you can get the shorter distance without a higher ball flight