Anyone hitting driver off the deck?

[Vertical]

Please share your experiences hitting driver off the deck. I’m using it more and starting to have success. Any helpful tips for set up?

[Josh Parker]

I guess my first question would be, why are you having to hit driver off the deck?  

 

[NM01]

I don’t remember the last time I tried to not driver off the deck.

im with Josh and wondering why it’s needed and needed often enough to be doing it more.

 

[Shapotomous]

I have only ever done it a few times playing in a scramble on a par 5 2nd shot.  It has been about a 50/50 success rate and the distance isnt much more than my 3w anyway.

[Erin B]

I do it almost every round. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Played with a former euro tour player Sunday who hit at least 8 driver off the decks. He did it when playing into wind to keep the flight down and into a few par 5s go reach in 2. Only one went a stray. 

I think in some cases he would have used it normally off the tee but the group ahead was slow so he also did it to take some off and not hit into them. 

It worked great for him and I can see why he does it. 

I honestly don't think I've ever tried it?

[russtopherb]

I struggle with it off the tee at times, and you think I want to hit it off the deck?????? 

[Erin B]

10 minutes ago, russtopherb said:

I struggle with it off the tee at times, and you think I want to hit it off the deck?????? 

This may sound funny, but I am almost more comfortable hitting it off the deck. I don't know why but I usually hit it well off the deck. 

[Vertical]

2 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

I guess my first question would be, why are you having to hit driver off the deck?  

 

Two reasons. I play several courses here in Las Vegas and Boulder City that that have 600 yard par 5s (the courses play about 6,700 yards). Also, they are almost always very windy conditions. So, need the distance and low trajectory. Hitting diver instead of three wood has helped my scoring on these holes when struck well. As always, I’m looking to improve. 

[JJPW76]

If it’s a par 5 or a long par 4 I’m hitting driver off deck every time. When I hit it well, it feels great to bomb one out there but sadly my success with doing that is another story. 

[Josh Parker]

12 minutes ago, Vertical said:

Two reasons. I play several courses here in Las Vegas and Boulder City that that have 600 yard par 5s (the courses play about 6,700 yards). Also, they are almost always very windy conditions. So, need the distance and low trajectory. Hitting diver instead of three wood has helped my scoring on these holes when struck well. As always, I’m looking to improve. 

Dang, 600 yds. Yeah it would make sense for the need then. I have hit a few off the deck with driver but now use the mini off the deck.  I can't offer much help with DOD unfortunately. 

[Swood1994]

I think I’ve only ever tried it in scramble tournaments. I already have a steep swing so DoD is just not a shot I have in the bag

[Erin B]

23 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

Dang, 600 yds. Yeah it would make sense for the need then. I have hit a few off the deck with driver but now use the mini off the deck.  I can't offer much help with DOD unfortunately. 

I love hitting the Paradym TD off the deck. It goes low and long. Usually a slight fade but does very well off the deck. I also hit my minis off the deck. Now that I have that green dot adapter on my Callaway mini I can play it to 9.5, almost makes the Paradym obsolete. Will find out today, windy conditions.

[DaveP043]

9 hours ago, Vertical said:

Any helpful tips for set up?

Normally, you'd want to hit a driver 9frm a tee) with a slightly upward clubhead path.  That won't work off the deck, you need a nearly level or slightly downward path.  So set up with the ball a little less forward on your stance, that will produce a flatter path at impact.  

That said, it can be pretty demanding to hit this well, especially with modern bog-headed drivers.  Given that your contact can absolutely not be on the sweet spot of the driver, you might not lose much by hitting a 3-wood.  

[Julius]

Never did and likely not to.  You would have to have such a great lie that it is hard to even see that happening in the fairway.  As my 3W is close to me driver anyway, I would not see a big benefit in that.  None of the guys I play with have ever done it either that I have seen, and they are from handicaps 8 - 20. 

[Dr Tee]

The only driver off the deck I'll hit is my 13.5 degree BRNR mini Driver.  I just don't have enough clubbed speed at 90 mph to make it worthwhile hitting anything with lower loft.

[KC Golf]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Played with a former euro tour player Sunday who hit at least 8 driver off the decks. He did it when playing into wind to keep the flight down and into a few par 5s go reach in 2. Only one went a stray. 

I think in some cases he would have used it normally off the tee but the group ahead was slow so he also did it to take some off and not hit into them. 

It worked great for him and I can see why he does it. 

I honestly don't think I've ever tried it?

That’s impressive.  I can’t do it.  Don’t even try anymore.  I don’t even hit 3W off the deck.  Will try to get back to trying the 3W since I will need it Scotland.

I just don’t thing I have the eye hand to do driver or 3W off the deck.

The only person I have seen hit driver off the deck consistently is Brooke Henderson, just unreal swing.  It’s interesting she chokes up a lot on her clubs.  In person It’s a very aggressive swing, but very smooth.

[Neilsgolf]

I’m not a long hitter due to my disability & love hitting DOD when I get the chance, can get down par 5’s in 2 instead of 3.

best I’ve had is 260yds of the deck 

[Erin B]

35 minutes ago, Neilsgolf said:

I’m not a long hitter due to my disability & love hitting DOD when I get the chance, can get down par 5’s in 2 instead of 3.

best I’ve had is 260yds of the deck 

The last time I played I had three DODs, one being out of the rough into the wind about 255. Ball was sitting up a tad bit still below top of grass. I love those shots!

[Wakit300]

Used to do it all the time when it was persimmon, TM Burner, Yonex A.D.X, but once we got to 460cc hardly do it any more. I think I may have to practice that shot again just to improve my ball striking.

p.s. to answer that question ... Why Not?!? Have fun with your game!

Edited July 30 by Wakit300

[pgr]

I have never tried it and doubt I will. I get such good results with 5 wood I dont see why I would risk it....

[RetiredBoomer]

12 hours ago, Vertical said:

Please share your experiences hitting driver off the deck. I’m using it more and starting to have success. Any helpful tips for set up?

I've always preferred weaker lofted drivers so I should be able to play that shot.
No luck.

I'd say that about 16.5° is my diminishing returns mark for fairway shots.
Even if I manage to launch anything stronger than that, it's still not going to carry as much.

A little bit of an uphill lie does help a little, but I'd still regard it as a Hail Mary shot.
If not making it means losing a hole in match play,
or if it's in a scramble with a shot safely on the fairway,
nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[fixyurdivot]

6 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I don’t remember the last time I tried to not driver off the deck.

I do.  It was when @Thin2winand I played The Links course in north ID on their signature par 6, hole #9.  We played from the blue tees and we each tried driver off the deck on our second shots.  If memory serves, Chris had better results with his.  I think we both had long irons in for shot #3 .  A bit gimmicky but fun.

I too wonder about the need to do this... at least on any regular basis.

[TJ Hall]

Never play the driver off the deck…hit the 3 wood good enough and if I can’t get there with a 3 wood, it calls for a lay up.

[silver & black]

8 hours ago, Erin B said:

This may sound funny, but I am almost more comfortable hitting it off the deck. I don't know why but I usually hit it well off the deck. 

So.... you aren't a tee using weasel? 

That is a reference to the DOD King, if anyone is wondering. 

[NM01]

While I’m a little surprised I’m not that surprised at the number of people north of 5 handicap using driver of the deck.

I’ve played lots of golf with guys that were between +2 to -1 or -2 and the number of times I’ve seen driver off the deck i can’t count on less that 1 hand. That’s rooinds in the wind at both the ocean course and the conservatory course at hammock beach and rounds at mission inn with wind blowing every day. As well as a round at wicked stick on the 611 yard par 5 back in 2005

if you’re having to use it on a 600 yard par 5 you’re provably playing the wrong tees.

[hckymeyer]

I have one hole on our course with OB left and water right.  I hit DOD there because it's the same shape every time, start it up the left and it cuts back to the fairway.  I'm prob 90-95% success rate with that shot on that hole.  

Other than that specific instance I only bring it out on a scramble type situation.

[Erin B]

Just finished the round, hit two DODs. Put me in position for birdies. Pars were the result but love hitting that Paradym TD off the deck. Was set at 8* instead of 9* because of wind. Very windy today. I position the ball in the middle of my stance like a FW when I DOD. It’s always worked for me.

[Nick_Chilelli]

I've never understood the fascination with DOD, but maybe thats just because it doesn't fit my game. Most golfers can't hit their driver from a perfectly teed up ball consistently, let alone an imperfect lie in the presumable fairway. If I'm sitting more than 275 out on a par 5, the risks are always going to outweigh the rewards of going for a green in 2 with a DOD. With that being said, if I ever try it and flush it, all bets are off.

[Vertical]

10 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Normally, you'd want to hit a driver 9frm a tee) with a slightly upward clubhead path.  That won't work off the deck, you need a nearly level or slightly downward path.  So set up with the ball a little less forward on your stance, that will produce a flatter path at impact.  

That said, it can be pretty demanding to hit this well, especially with modern bog-headed drivers.  Given that your contact can absolutely not be on the sweet spot of the driver, you might not lose much by hitting a 3-wood.  

Good advice, thanks. Played it further back in my stance. Choked up 3 inches. Opened my stance a bit and took the club back wide/outside (along foot line). Making good contact. Hitting a Titleist TSR 10.5 degree w regular shaft…30 yards further and lower than my three wood. Helps in the wind