DRIVER vs IRONS! What Matters More? Distance or Accuracy from the tee
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2018
- DRIVER vs IRONS! What Matters More? Distance or Accuracy from the tee.
In this video I head over to The Wilmslow with Matt Fryer and conduct a test between drivers and irons off the tee. I also cross reference PGA Tour stats on the issue + have a mini course vlog!
In this video we will also be looking closely at how you can hit the ball straighter and longer with the irons and driver.
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The questions of irons vs driver off the tee is very simple to answer for me. Do I want to be 150 yards down the fairway? Or do I want to lose my ball?
Agreed
Finally left my driver in the truck, went from barely breaking 100 to an 88 first round
@@Levikrw What was your longest club in the bag with the driver out?
Bingo!
In the golf documentary 'Happy Gilmore' they definitively proved that distance off the tee is more important than accuracy or short game. 😂
Bro in the first line." In that documentary Happy Gilmore" is the funniest shit I've read in a LONG TIME omg thankyou 😂
Though it was the "Uh oh, Happy learned how to putt" that ultimately won him the green jacket...
You ask for feed back in the Quest for the Open video about the types of videos we would like to see. As far as I am concerned you nailed it with this one... it is perfect.
Whether I user driver or hybrid/iron off the tee is round-to-round or hole-to-hole decision. Course management has never been a strength, but I have worked at it and my decisions have gotten better even if the results dont always show it.
For me, an approach shot over 170 yards is a challenge, so if I can get closer I will accept being in the rough sometimes to get a shorter shot. I won't always do this, especially if I am not striking my driver well or if the hole is tight or has trouble on the side of my miss, but at the moment I like closer in light rough over further away in fairway.
I hope to improve my long approach play enough to revisit this in the future.
Nice job!
I am thankful for having you and Rick; because, you guys give us golf tips, trips, and great commentary.
Awesome new format! Love the combination of lesson, stats and course vlog. Great stuff Pete
Peter Finch breaking it down!!!
Seriously though, fantastic video. From the content to the stash to the over all editing of the video and how it comes together.
I love the videos like this!! I was shooting in the upper 90s until I slowed my swing on all clubs. It cost me 10 to 20 yards on all my clubs but I dropped my handicap to 12! Thank you for the great content!
Hi Peter, nice video again! For me, playing off 30,5 at the moment, distance while hitting (close to) the fairway is the way to go. It just takes so much pressure off my short game, or rather the putting. So, training wise, I am working to improve myself down from the long clubs, aka tee-shots, over the irons, chipping, then putting, in that order.
One comment on the video content question you put out one or two videos ago: I watch pretty much every one of your videos, yet I prefer the ones that show you doing what you like or think, or work on,(as in you being yourself) rather then the ones where you try to manufacture an impression or message. So, your training, educational and discussion videos: all thumbs up. The travel, vlog and playing with friends videos: all thumbs up. The "taking apart stuff" not so much.
Keep it rolling (and please get your beard back) :-) Great video this one!
Great info pete , Been recently thinking about this - You couldn't of timed this video any better!
First off - really like this type of format, feels like the best of both worlds between an instructional vid and a course vlog. As a ~20 hcp golfer, I definitely feel like I need to focus on accuracy. My good drives tend to be around 250-270, but I'd happily take 20 yds off to find fairways more often
Great video and a great topic!
For amateur golfers, managing emotion is such a massive part of the game. Nothing gets a person off their game more than hooking or slicing tee shots out of bounds or into hazards. Conversely, nothing settles the nerves more than regularly hitting those fairways and having good lies to hit from. This confidence then leaks into the other parts parts of the game. I know if I swing at 80% with the driver I'll hit 55-80% fairways with very few terribly wrong. If I put 90-100% effort into the driver that FIR drops to 35% and I know it'll be a bad day all around.
Great video. Love the camera angles and work. One of the best videos I've seen on TH-cam, because I'm also in two minds about this fact (15 years old playing from a 3.4 HI ). Love this type of videos. Thanks for the great video👍. Will definitely try it!
A course vlog plus a bit of instruction…. You hit the perfect combo in my book! Please do more of this!!!!
Great format. A mix of on course vlog and course management works well followed by a review with stats. Me thinks it’s gunna be requested more.
This was perfect, you mixed vlogs with lessons. spot on! And again greets from france :D
Really like this format of play and course/swing analysis!
Pete, the stash. It’s just....right there. 😂 As always, love and appreciate the videos! Love from Michigan.
WOW I’ve never seen the stache from the Finch. Amazing what you find when you are back cataloging your favorite TH-cam golfer
I play off 15 Pete (well 14.5 😂) and I have to say it’s accuracy for me every time. I really have learnt this the hard way though. I play with a couple of long hitters and the amount of times I try too hard to keep up, it never ever works. When I slow down and plod along with 210-225 drives my game is great. I do feel we all get caught up watching tour pros and a select few amateurs cracking 300+ yard drives and as Matt said, how many of us really play long enough courses that this really has a benefit. Great video Pete. Keep it going.
I really enjoyed this video, plus the vlog you did about playing a round with irons only. I haven't had the driver in my bag for several months, and frankly haven't missed it. I'm much more consistent with my M1 3-wood hi-loft.
Completely agree. I used my 2 irons more often these days and more likely to find the fairway and lose fewer balls.
It's a me! Mario! Thank you so much a for to playing my game.
Awesome video, really well put together, good subject aswell, definitely food for thought
Haven’t watched your channel in a while but I’m liking the course vlog intermittent with the studio vlog.
Good to hear bud!
That was one of your best vlogs Peter; it really made me think about how I approach my tee shots. The bulk of mine are driver & only irons for short par 3s. But having just watched your vlog I am starting to think of a few holes / occasions when a 3-wood or hybrid would be an advantage to me. Not just with hitting a fairway but also being in a better position for the approach shot.
Cheers and thanks!
I recently purchased the p790 driving iron, and it has been a game changer for me. After a few rounds with it, I started to dial it in, and it's amazing! I'm a member at a golf course with my dad, and it's tight, so I definitely hit it alot off the tee. It's my go too if I absolutely need to hit fairway.
Great video!!!... very entertaining... a fun topic... with a visual aspect of getting to watch nice golf swings and a course play... Awesome!!!
like what Matt said about distance for pros but accuracy for recreational club house golfers... I would say the advantage of distance (noteing that you stay of of trouble and have a shot to the green) is allowing for an easier chance for an approach shot to get within 10 feet and a higher percentage of makable putts.
Great video. I started using a 3 hybrid off the tee this summer as my driver is all over the place, with the fairways being rock hard and I was hitting it between 180 yards & 200 yards with the odd one getting to about 220 yardsish, but hitting a lot more fairways. I went from scoring around 100 to low 90's.
Given on average, a 3 wood/hybrid/long iron off the tee will (assuming good strike) will be 20-50 yards behind a driver, then the average golfer will be hitting longer irons/hybrids into greens, which if you have speed is OK, if you don't then you'll be scrambling a lot more. Your average 2 iron is much longer than the average golfers driver, So I reckon where you're hitting 2-iron, 9 iron, I'd be hitting 2-hybrid, 5/6 iron. I think I know what I'd rather do - bash the big dog.
Pete, first things first I have to say what a fantastic video, absolutely beautifully produced, secondly, I'd take accuracy > distance until I was comfortable to add power
Loved this type of video. The way Pete interrupted with commentary was great insight.
I have been talking to myself about this problem. I have a bit of a hook on my driver so when I don’t have a good strike I can feel like I’m never in a good place for my 2nd shoot. But I don’t have driving iron (2 iron) so I’ve been hitting a 4 iron, played today with a friend and he was driving ok but I didn’t feel like I was that far behind me off the tee but did find that it all come down to putting... and found I really need to work on lol. With you all the way love hitting my driving just hate not being that good with it. Love your video Pete and do find they help so keep up the good work 😉
Great video as always buddy! I’ll be interested in seeing difference in scores after a little test or 2 next week 👍
Great vid. I did this a few years ago played with nothing longer than a 4 hybrid. Dropped my handicap down from 20 to 15 and played a great year and won a yearly competition over 10 events. Gone back up a couple since the driver and 3 wood went back in. The winter will be spent with irons only on cours3 and range for driver, 3 wood and 2 iron.
Great video lads.
I spend lots of time practicing this at my home course, some days only hit driver even on the tight ones other days just hit irons or rescue. On balance accuracy wins but my home course is very tight. I also find hitting irons off tee helps my general iron play to so approach play steps up.
Next video - pin seeking vs middle of the green approach?
Keep up good work
Hi Peter, nice vid. Here's my story. I used to be a pretty reasonable player, got around 320 off the tee on most occasions. In 2010 got frozen shoulder and struggled to even take a club out the bag, yet alone try swing it. So basically stopped playing till the begining of this year. got the urge to play, joined a club and started to play again..good stuff. Even got into the league team (due to past golf life). However 7 odd years of not playing and much beer drinking, my body shape is very different!! My swing has become very short, and swing speed is 20 mph less (now around 96-100) . struggling to hit a driver i was given (915d3 , speeder shaft s flex) so have resorted to using a Callaway mini driver (14 turned down to 13). it carries about 220-230 meters (sometimes a bit more). I don't miss to many shots with it (reckon 75%) fairways hit. and still have a reasonably short iron into the greens at my club. Every time I pull the driver I tend to bogey or worse the hole in play....which no doubt affects my score and therefore my handicap (started the year with a 3, now 3.7)using just the mini driver did manage to go under a few times but with the driver was over par all the time. so giving up some distance and focusing on accuracy helped me, although admittedly have been putting like god lately. My short game is also like my driver use, diabolical!! so for next season my short game will be practised again and a suitable drive will be found (TS3 with 75x even flow) and 20 kg need to go!! Oh did win my club champs and managed 2nd in club matchplay.
So moral of the story...accuracy over length and short game must be tip top!!!
If I'm striking the ball well I always use driver. Actually bought a P970 for when I'm not.
Good video Pete.
These are the kind of vlogs mate 👊👍⛳
I've taken all woods and driver out of my bag and use purely just irons as that's what I'm more comfortable and consistant with.
Great video
DO you use any long irons? ie 2 or 3?
Hi. Driving and chipping is probably the best part of my game but consistently hitting decent irons would definitely bring my game on. Even if only for the par 3s. Great video Pete.
Best vid for a while peter, liking the strokes gained stats
This is the premise for a new series called" The 150 Club" turning 2 shots into 1, or 3 shots into 2 shots. How hit high cutting shots into greens. Low draws & running hooks. How get up & down when you miss the green. These 20 or more speciality shots are the real secret to go low. Play hole from green to tee to your strength shot or yardage. A 5 wood is a great club for tee shots when you need 210- 225 yds. with accuracy. Good video Pete.
An alternative, two drivers. 10.5 standard length driver for wide open fairways, grip and rip. Then a 13.5 degree driver with an inch shorter shaft set up with +2 degrees so a driver headed 3 wood. I have found the bigger head of a high lofted driver is a lot more forgiving than a small low loft hybrid or fairway. Works for me.
How does the high lofted driver feel hitting it off the deck?
to be honest I can’t hit it off the deck, it is purely a tee shot club. I play a very tree lined course, an accurate “in the fairway” tee shot is absolutely essential, anything offline in the trees can be very punishing indeed. I found giving up one club in the bag for the second driver was well worth the sacrifice.
That’s a good call m8.
With a hybrid set up you can easy lose a club to accommodate the extra driver 👍
Interesting idea. Personally, I always use my 3 wood off the tee as I'm pretty consistent with it, as opposed to my driver that I maybe get 2-3 good shots a round with. Still keep up with most everyone off the tee, just need to work on my approach shots
Good style of vlog Pete. Enjoyed it.
First off, excellent vid Peter 👍. Playing off 16 and I would be a bigger hitter in my club and it is a huge benefit ONLY when you couple that with knowing your distances. I have spent a fair bit of time on knowing each clubs distance which is a major factor in actually hitting greens
I love your swing peter I myself when I have trouble try and mimic your controlled and very crisp motion. Hope to get to play golf with you sometime mate keep up the great work!
Very interesting stuff Pete. I definitely find that I score better on the days when the driver is relatively straight. May have to do with the fact that when it is off and I'm stuck with a tight recovery shot I usually go for the glory shot instead of taking my punishment and just getting it back in to play, resulting in me being in more trouble. As far as the putting goes I haven't really taken much notice as to if I'm putting better when accurate off the tee. I'll keep an eye on this and get back to you after comp day tomorrow.
Great post Pete. Loving the tash👍🏼
Great Video Pete !
I think it is a combination of both but your stats kind of shown that length is important!! But even when you played you stated that he was hitting short irons in that makes it easier to go straight at the pins!! Cool video Peter!!
17 handicap with typically 5 hazards per round. Most from the box. Played last weekend just using 3 wood, my favorite and most comfortable distance club, on tight fairways. Way less hazards. One of the better cards I had but I will say I didn't have a single 3 putt. Great vid.
For me accuracy is everything. I have what would be deemed as a half swing which gets me out to 230 - 240 with the big stick. This is because as you said when I try to load up on a shot with power my miss is huge. I’m off six and when I’m playing a monthly medal my mantra is “ boring golf is good golf” fairways and greens, that’s what I feel is my strength. I’d love more distance but don’t know if it’s worth the risks. Another great video Pete.
This is such an interesting topic! I play off 14 currently. My lowest round at my club is 80 and I didn't use any woods that day (have a driving iron I can hit 215). For me, accuracy is far more important than distance since I'm not short with my irons. I only hit 22% of greens in regulation and 40% of fairways. At least some of that is from blasting my driver 40 yards offline, instead of swallowing my pride and hitting a reliable driving iron somewhere on/near the fairway. One thing my golf buddy and I say to each other for a chuckle, as our drive sails into the trees, is "Well...at least you hit it hard."
Excellent advise.
Great content yet again Pete, I did just as you said removed my Titleist 913 D3 driver from my bag last week and hit 1 Iron shot 82 scratch, my lowest score this year!, think the mixture of both would be the better to be honest. ...trying to get from 17 to 12 next season.. that’s the goal.
Like you said Peter its about course management for us average golfers. We don't play tour length courses so accuracy is key! It's easier to get to the green from the middle of the fairway ergo more chance of making putts. Which will in time result in a handicap reduction. Great video very interesting topic 👍
Interesting Vid, for us you tubers I think it’s a mixture of the two, understanding when to attach and when to defend not just boshing driver time and again. Think with the tour pros they have come to the conclusion that once you hit it 320 it doesn’t matter if your a little wayward as you’ve took all the trouble out the hole
Excellent video, very informative!
Great video Peter, it’s an interesting question, I do think there are times the driver will put you in bad positions, but I prefer to attack a course than hang back and just try to play defensively. I think you can get tentative that way and it’s much more fun to have birdie putts than to be really pushing for par
Peter, I actually broke my driver in 2017. Then I broke my 3w early in 2018. I continued to play and did not notice my scores changing much. However, I did replace driver and all my irons at the end of the season. Gaining irons I previously did not have. I played once after this before winter. I dropped 17 strokes off my game (same course comparison) having finally replacing my driver and having a consistent club selection. Now onto putting improvements.
Finch on fire! Great video
The great debate , IMO I really think the type of course is a huge factor in D vs A , I used to play a links course when I was younger and it really didn't matter where u where off the tee as u almost always could get a 2nd shot towards the green , but as I have become a little wiser , accuracy is what I strive for , but I'm always looking for the harmony between both now if I buy a new driver . Great vid , once again
Hugely admire driving irons hitting. Personally had big problems with the driver, plenty distance but inaccurate. Then one day somebody gave me a 3 iron from 30 years ago. Looked at it and thought how would anyone hit that,so thin. So practiced with it then took a wilson utility and what a change, distance 200plus and always on the fairway. Sold driver,3 wood and 5 hybride. Game changer
I had a horrible front nine with my driver this last weekend, started hitting 2 iron off the tee the back nine finished with 4less strokes and I was pretty even in distance with the rest of the group. I love my 2 iron
I have only irons in my bag ,no woods or hybrids and all shots off the deck with nothing teed up. Helped my accuracy a lot .
Love the video Pete! Overall, I would say accuracy > distance off the tee, but I also think this comparison differs based on the course. Let me know what you all think!
Bubbie Golf PGA Tour stats disagree
Love this style of video
I would say it depends on the course. If you are playing a tighter course then obviously accuracy but if you are playing something like an open links course, then just take the driver and smash it! :) great video Peter!
Personally, I have plenty of power but some issues hitting the fairway. Of the two, accuracy for the average golfer is more important. Great vid Pete!! Hi from Tennessee!
Much enjoyed. Can't help but think of Fitts's Law.
Pete I love the videos as for the question I say accuracy is key in my game of the tee but I struggle the most with my putting which really does cost me on the course
I play off 0.2 so scratch and hit the ball further than average (308 total for driver) and have been known to miss a few fairways 🙈😂. I feel 2irons or any driving iron you have due to them going so far now a days are so much more accurate but you aren’t sacrificing to much distance and giving yourself that much of a disadvantage. My p790 2 iron runs out to about the 275 mark which unless I am playing a long course then more often than not I won’t have more than a short iron left in. There are strong arguments for both distance and accuracy but I feel get urself a mix of both and be smart about your round. Keep up the great vids Pete 🤙
Great video Pete. Scoring might be more consistent if you are conservative off the tee, but you cannot score well without using the driver (albeit you might score badly). And it’s definitely a more enjoyable round using the driver. At least for this 16 handicapper
Fantastic video Peter, for my game accuracy is more important but I would think more distance combined with the accuracy would be better
Mid handicap golfer. I found my scores reduced drastically when I started taking 3 iron off the tee, and finding fairways. My lowest scores come when my putting is on fire. For me, sacrificing 40 yards or so off the tee, but hitting fairways gives me much more consistency, and keeps more balls in my bag too!
Love the video
Pete, you hit the nail right on the head. I am a straight hitter off the tee. Never more than 215. But while the big hitters were hitting 250 or so they were not very accurate. I won more matches being straight than being big off the tee. I am that guy that they can't figure how to beat me. But get a guy that hit it straight and long and I was dead.
Hi Peter I've found that my putting gives me the most satisfaction as working out speed of greens . the terrain . & distance to hole .then making the put. its the final shot ( The put ) Can win the Hole & The GAME.
I agree. For myself and most amateurs accuracy is key. I've no trouble hitting it long but would happily take 30 yards off my drive to hit every fairway and I often leave it in the bag on a lot of holes for that reason. For tour pros though, the numbers speak for themselves that distance is king these days, at least on the courses they play day to day. If we're to see that change we need pros to be playing on narrower courses, not longer ones where the punishment for missing the fairways are more severe
Great vlog as always Pete. When are you and Matt, Rick going to play the Golfholic guys. Invite them over or go over it would be a great vlog
I come at the topic a little differently, I am 60 years old, 6'4" tall and have diabetic neuropathy, I have little feeling in my hands or in my legs below my feet. Also have back, shoulder, elbow injuries from past fun. On any given round I am not sure how my rotation is going to be, nor how my back will do throughout a round. What I have found for me is that my irons and hybrids are far more consistent, and straight than my driver or even my three wood. I can generally get my 5 iron about as far as most peoples 3 woods, and my 3 hybrid or 5 wood near most the guys I play with's drivers. My driver I am either on or off. If the weather is warm and the fairways dry were I can get more run out I am more likely to carry driver than if cool or damp. With balance being an issue and the ball below my feet even a little below being a challenge, accuracy and consistency that I can get from my irons mean a lot more to me.
Interestingly I find my modern game improvement irons really don't care a lot if I take a full swing, or a 3/4 back swing, thus when the back is tight I towards the end of slow round, I can still make the irons work. I think driver is nice, but for me depending on course, I have dropped several strokes a round leaving the driver home. I usually carry the 3 wood, but it often doesn't come out either.
Great review!
Interesting video, I do think an important question though is on age and distance too, depending on the standard of players if you’re asking the vast majority of people to try and hit the green regularly from 170+ they’d struggle, especially depending on ground conditions. For me carrying a driver (and I didn’t for about 10 years until 2 years ago when I could afford one!) made a big difference to my game, 400 yard par 4s became opportunities to hit close rather than just being happy being on the green.
Loving the intro
Just seen this at the right time Pete. Every round I play I blob 5 or 6 holes, usually because of poor drives, yet I continue to use driver coz you always think the next one is going to be creamed 275 yards! Got to leave the driver out of the bag and try and get back to shooting close to my 18 handicap
Accuracy over distance every day of the week. Rather steadily getting birdie chances than fighting the way down to the green to maybe 1 in 10 times get an eagle but for the most you will probably fight to get par. Great vid again Pete!!
I live in Florida were a lot of courses have water. As a am long but not very accurate with driver I use my driving iron when I play for money or a amateur tournament. I do not shot as low as with a driver but I rarely make worse than a bogey. I use the P790 UDI.
Never been this early before, love the vids peter
DRIVER on EVERY hole!!!
I started playing golf a year ago. More power/distance didn't help me. When I'd miss, I'd miss really bad. So, I started focusing on clubs used the most each round, like my putter and wedges. That had a huge impact on my game. Now I'm getting a lot better with my irons and accuracy. For me, the driver isn't my worst club but it isn't my main priority either. I may only have the driver as an option on 10-12 shots a round while I'll use an iron on nearly every hole.
Great informative video, IMO accuracy should always be placed ahead of distance for the weekend (average) golfer. Distance is over rated. I play a Cobra Baffler 2 hybrid 18 degree off all par 4 tees. I play driver off par five tees just to setup eagle chance if I flush driver and 3 wood.
I love my 1 iron but love my driver too
In my local area our fairways are tight but it’s ok for driver on the holes that have more space, but I am lucky I am 64 and still hit a long ball
but my best part of my game is my approach irons
The first thing I see is that highway patrol mustache that I'm glad you didn't keep. LOL love ya man
I’m playin to a 14 handicap now, and have committed to biasing to accuracy. On narrow par 4s, I tee off with my ping 2i, and get around 235 straight-ish yds. I only pull out my driver, which I can hit 275, on wide open fairways that accommodate my strong cut tendency with D1. That has shaved 10 strokes off my scores on my home course where mis-hits can often result in a lost ball.
great vid
Great vid Pete. Obviously a huge amount depends on the course eg. Sawgrass / Le golf national v Average PGA course. I agree for most wayward ams playing on shorter courses accuracy more important. Think discussion should be accuracy v length rather than iron v driver in that I think tech in modern drivers (eg jailbreak / posterior weighting etc) means they are easier to hit straight than long irons, in which there is less space for ‘forgiveness tech’
Interesting... I've played "safe" and used iron off the tee on some holes at my course but I actually feel I don't score as well as I could being more aggressive...all I'm doing is reducing the amount of double boggy chances. I feel each hole has a strategy & finding your best one is key, you may end up using long iron on a 400y par 4 for accuracy but then attack a short par 4 with driver.. Always hit what you feel most confident with on any given tee.
I'm a 3.4 handicap. I played 9 holes today. Hit every fairway with my driver today. I'm 96mph max driver swing speed, 240 max summer carry. It was 45 degrees today 2 club drop in distance! I can 100% tell you, from experience, the difference between my 3.4 index and the scratch to plus two handicaps I play with is distance. The guys swing 108 to 118 mph. They outperform on the par 5's and long par 4's. I feel like my wedge game, putting, green side chipping is equal to if not better. They shoot 71's, I'm in the 75-78 range. Lesson...distance is everything when you're separating the good club golfer, or the touring pro.
My impression and experience is that distance gets more important when you have a lower hcp. Keeping the ball in play only gets you to a certain level, hitting greens is obviously the most crucial part of the game. Hitting greens gives you the chance when putting. Getting you close to the green off the tee gives you a better chance for a shorter putt. I hit the club off the tee that gives me the best chance of keeping the ball in play and also the club that will give me the shortest distance to green, it's a tough equation and even tougher when all your mates are standing there with a driver in their hands. That leaves me with a 3w or a 4 iron and therefore a lot of times left with a shot harder to either hit the green at all or a very long putt.
Very interesting study this is because I have always hit the driver well and relatively long off the tee but recently I played two rounds irons only and shot the two best rounds of my life 78 and a 73. So I would suggest that accuracy is more important for the amateur.
I play a variety of courses near me. But I always play best on the shorter courses where I take a driving iron more regularly. Once a course gets long and I have to use driver more, I start adding shot with poor drives.