Has the "new" Tiger changed your game?

[ssites]

I know I have changed mine. I am an 11 hcp, and I ALWAYS use my driver. Even if I am wild with it, or don't need it, I still do for some stupid reason [insert ego here].

 

So yesterday I played and only hit it on holes where I absolutely knew I would not get into trouble, and hit 3 wood or Hybrid on the others just to be sure to get in play.

 

And guess what? I was one stupid 2 foot putt from breaking 80 for the first time in my life!

 

So how about you guys? Maybe long isn't necessarily better :cheesy:

[raehtz10]

I don't know if Tiger has anything to do with it, but I have noticed that I am not taking as many chances with my game. I have been hitting more woods and irons off the tee this summer than in the past.

 

I have also noticed that I am not going for the hero shot if I get in trouble. I can go with the low punch draw or cut to get out and down the fairway rather than shoot through a window.

[KNC47]

I thinks its just a natural progression of the understanding of golf. Putting the ball in the fairway is where its at. When someone first starts, they want to bomb it out there because its cool. However, after playing awhile, one comes to realize that you can't score from the rough or trees. Comes down to course management and knowing where you can and cannot miss.

[RJC59]

Yes,

 

 

my last tournament I used driver twice over the 3 rounds... It made me realize just how many strokes im losing by hitting it through the fairway or taking chances that arent going to reward anything.

 

 

But Tiger is ridiculously long, thus hitting his 3 wood or 5 wood puts him in the same position as the average guy puring a driver in the fairway, and it also eliminates the risk of hitting it far offline and making big numbers, so hitting 3 wood all the time probably isnt for everyone..

[Johnny]

I use the driver like mad.. why because I cant hit 250 yard 3 irons.. I cant poke a 2I or 5wood off the tee and expect to get a GIR on a long hole...so no Tiger has not changed my game.

[canadian_mike]

I've always been that way. I hit irons off tees when I know it's better for me. The only time I would hit driver was on par 5's or par 4's that are too long for my 3-wood and give me a comfortable yardage. I usually hit iron off short par 4's unless im hitting it well. i will then hit the driver.

[Coach]

Depends on the course, but yes. My driver shaft broke last round, and now I am hitting 3 wood only till I get back from vacation.

 

Also, I try to swing anti-Tiger, 80% like Annika. Tiger swings too hard, and it is the only thing that may stop him from 20 majors - a bad back.

[Evil R1]

I'm just the opposite. I have always used my 3 Wood, 5 Wood, or even a Iron off the tee until the last month or so. I have increased my consistency with my driver almost 90% just by slowing my swing down and getting everything in sync. I only swing like 70 - 80% of what I am capable of, and I've just been hitting fairway after fairway. I hit 6 or 7 fairways the other day (played front 9 only). 2 Months ago, I would have just been 3 Wood/5 Wood all day long to get in the fairway that much. And now, I am dropping strokes b/c I am a 7-9 Iron away from the green instead of a 4-6 Iron away.

 

Thanks,

[spk74]

Like raehtz10, I don't know if Tiger has anything to do with it...but I've been hitting driver much less frequently this year. I've been trying to play each hole backwards in my mind before I select a club for the tee shot. The days when I adhere to this approach, I shoot really well. The days when I let my playing partners influence my club selection ("He's hitting driver, I might as well")...I don't play as well.

 

But, if I'm playing a straight, un-obstructed approach shot from level ground to a realistically sized green...then my scoring probabilities are approximately:

 

200 yard approach : 5% birdies : 60% par : 35% above

150 yard approach : 10% birdies : 80% par : 10% above

100 yard approach : 20% birdies : 80% par : ~0% above

 

Whereas, if I'm playing from thick rough or a bunker, or with an obstruction (like a tree), or from a side-hill lie, then my probabilities change significantly:

 

200 yard approach : ~0% birdies : 25% par : 75% above

150 yard approach : ~0% birdies : 50% par : 50% above

100 yard approach : ~5% birdies : 75% par : 20% above

 

For me, being 200 yards out from the fairway is probably better than being 150 yards out from a bad lie. Similarly, being 150 yards out from the fairway is better than being 100 yards out from a bad lie. So if I can evaluate risks of getting a bad lie for each individual hole, that helps me decide which club to use.

[tei3rn]

It's got nothing to do with Tiger. It's all about having confidence in the club that you're hitting. I'm sure there are some folks that will make a change just because Tiger did...I can't imagine there were a whole lot of people that put 2 driver's in the bag after Phil won the Masters.

 

You've got to have confidence in the club you pull whether it's driver, 3 wood, 3 iron, or wedge.

[raehtz10]

Like raehtz10, I don't know if Tiger has anything to do with it...but I've been hitting driver much less frequently this year. I've been trying to play each hole backwards in my mind before I select a club for the tee shot. The days when I adhere to this approach, I shoot really well. The days when I let my playing partners influence my club selection ("He's hitting driver, I might as well")...I don't play as well.

 

That is funny because I do the same thing standing on the tee. I think to myself "What club do I want to hit to the green?" and then I figure out what I need to hit off the tee to get there.