When you’re between clubs on a tight par-4, ditch the 3-wood and try this driver instead.
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Most amateur players agree with the mentality they try to do bomb it off the tee IS only way to use their driver, with many people simply grabbing and ripping it. The best golfers, on the other hand, go into their shots with a clear mind and a new strategy each time depending on the layout of the hole and weather conditions, among other factors.
But thinking about the driver otherwise is not simply for course managementit’s also about understanding how to use your equipment and maximize your opportunities to score low scores.
Struggling off the tee? This simple freeway finder is your secret weapon
Here’s a little secret you might need to hear: Just because you’re using a driver doesn’t mean you should try removing your shoes. So when you’re playing a tight par-4 hole, go ahead and still hit the big dog—just use a little discipline and hit a different kind of golf shot.
Most hobbyists in this situation often go with something like a fairway wood, thinking it’s their best chance to “play it safe” and just get it out on the fairway. But swinging a fairway log it can be just as complicated (if not more complicated) than swinging the driver.
During a recent conversation with GOLF Top 100 Teachers Todd Sones, he told me how the decision to use a 3-wood off the tee on tight par-4s is starting to die – which was surprising, to be honest.
Instead, Sones told me how many more players there are STILL using their drivers in these types of holes – not as many of us might think.
Try this knockdown driver shot on a tight par-4
While conventional wisdom would suggest that ditching the driver for a “safer” club on tight par-4s is the right golf decision, maxing out that club it doesn’t always mean getting the most distance. In some cases, it’s just a matter of controlling the shape of your shot—which is why Sones suggests hitting a putt driver on those tighter par-4s.
Why treating putts like putts can help you hit more fairways
“With all these (equipment changes), I find it interesting how much better the ball flies off the driver’s face on an off-center shot,” Sones says. “That’s why I recommend learning how to hit a driver off the tee, rather than using a free wood, as you still have a lot of forgiveness with a driver now.”
Back then, most drivers needed center contact to maximize distance and control. That’s why having a reliable 3-wood in the bag was so necessary – especially on the tighter par-4s.
But Sones says improvements in technology and fitness have changed the game, which is why hitting a driver on a tough par-4 can be your secret weapon.
“Drivers release the ball higher, which allows the player to land it lower and still get the ball in the air to produce the shot they’re hoping for,” he adds.
So how do you hit the goal of Sones’ kick driver? With just a few simple adjustments.
“To hit this type of shot, put the ball down so that only a quarter of the ball is above the crown of your driver’s head, then just grip 1.5 inches and swing away. There is no need to play the ball into your position or change your swing in any way,” Sones instructs.
By using this type of knockdown shot, you can develop the “fairway finder” on those holes that require a lot of accuracy but still need some length off the tee.
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