The 2-wood (AKA "Strong 3") in place of driver.

[BostonSal]

Because I could never get good with a "Hit up at the ball" driver swing, this while playing the ball more forward than I like,

I've had better luck teeing very low and using my regular fairway wood swing with a 2-wood.

 

The big driver would be a 12° model anyway since fairways are my priority over distance,

and also because I'm older with perhaps a reduced swingspeed now.

Also, I'd only play it at around 44 or 44½" anyway for control.

Therefore, a 13, 13.5, or even 14° fairway wood isn't a huge sacrifice in distance.  I go with a 13.5.

 

In any case, it works out best for me, but I haven't read about too many people doing it at MGS.

Even driver haters among my friends at the club tend to use a regular 15°  3-wood that they also try to hit from the fairway.

 

The 2-wood clearly isn't dead.  It just has a new name with all the big OEMs still making it---Strong 3.

But on the internet fora, it seems to be mostly a fairway wood for strong players rather than a driver substitute.

 

Anybody else using one as a "mini-driver?"

 

[null]

NiftyNiblick was. You should shoot him a message to get his thoughts as he doesn’t post here anymore for some reason. 

[Shankster]

Tried it. Was leaving way too much distance in the bag.  Learning to deal with the 460cc head and hitting up on the ball was the best thing I ever did for my game.  
 

They do have a place in golf, if I had a team like Phil, I’d have them make me a monster 2 wood.  Glad you are having success with this approach.

[Gusset]

Might not be exactly the same thing, but is the concept of a "hybrid driver" a similar variant of your thinking?

After spending my first eight months back in the game consistently missing off the tee with both driver and 3-wood, I decided to leave the driver swing for the future and focus on my iron/hybrid swing. After watching a Rick Shiels review that didn't condemn it as a gimmick, I picked up a used 15-degree Teton HxD in September. Might have been the best golf related decision I made all year. A bad swing is still a bad swing, but in general I now have a realistic second shot on most holes. I really, really like it.

Now they have a 12 degree version. One January round played at 40-45 degrees isn't enough to really know, but it seems similar in terms of control. Might not be a huge leap in carry (shaft length is the same), but I did note better roll out.

Just one data point. I haven't heard anything from anyone else who has tried a Teton, a Thomas AT 705, or any of the other hybrid drivers.

[HAC]

On 1/15/2022 at 4:42 PM, BostonSal said:

Because I could never get good with a "Hit up at the ball" driver swing, this while playing the ball more forward than I like,

I've had better luck teeing very low and using my regular fairway wood swing with a 2-wood.

 

The big driver would be a 12° model anyway since fairways are my priority over distance,

and also because I'm older with perhaps a reduced swingspeed now.

Also, I'd only play it at around 44 or 44½" anyway for control.

Therefore, a 13, 13.5, or even 14° fairway wood isn't a huge sacrifice in distance.  I go with a 13.5.

 

In any case, it works out best for me, but I haven't read about too many people doing it at MGS.

Even driver haters among my friends at the club tend to use a regular 15°  3-wood that they also try to hit from the fairway.

 

The 2-wood clearly isn't dead.  It just has a new name with all the big OEMs still making it---Strong 3.

But on the internet fora, it seems to be mostly a fairway wood for strong players rather than a driver substitute.

 

Anybody else using one as a "mini-driver?"

 

How different is this from TaylorMade's mini driver?300 Mini Driver | TaylorMade (taylormadegolf.com)  I have a friend who has one of these and likes it.

 

Edited January 23, 2022 by HAC

[BostonSal]

On 1/23/2022 at 4:43 PM, HAC said:

How different is this from TaylorMade's mini driver?300 Mini Driver | TaylorMade (taylormadegolf.com)  I have a friend who has one of these and likes it.

 

The TM 300 is 307cc in volume which to me isn't a mini driver at all.  It's a driver at that size.

It's a good club, though

[Deepred]

There a few different component heads that might fit, most of them have easily adjustable weights.

 

[driveandputtmachine]

I have a TM Mini 300 in 13.5 on the way, but I will be using it as a 3 wood, or basically a second tee shot option.

[cbbuff]

Obviously, some guys just get on with a 3 wood better for whatever reason.  But it seems more logical that, loft for loft, a higher MOI option (driver) will give better results than a lower MOI option (3 wood).  So if you equalize shaft length and loft, driver should give you more forgiveness on mishits than 3 wood.  Driver CG will give a higher launch (again at the same loft).

[2puttbogey]

41 minutes ago, cbbuff said:

Obviously, some guys just get on with a 3 wood better for whatever reason.  But it seems more logical that, loft for loft, a higher MOI option (driver) will give better results than a lower MOI option (3 wood).  So if you equalize shaft length and loft, driver should give you more forgiveness on mishits than 3 wood.  Driver CG will give a higher launch (again at the same loft).

This is basically my approach. I was fitted into a 12* driver that was dilated down to 11.25* , but after a couple lessons and some swing evolution I adjusted it to 13.5* and it’s working great. The adjustment took a lot of the fade away and has actually gained me distance than the lower loft. Well at least for now.