| A recent survey conducted by Golf Digest generated | | | | affect the average player and how he or she plays |
| some surprising results. The magazine tested 20 | | | | the game? It's probably more than we realize. |
| average golfers with golf handicaps ranging from 3 to | | | | Keep in mind, however, that the bigger clubheads |
| 20. The golfers used clubs equipped with modern | | | | have their disadvantages, too. When you think about |
| technological advancements. All else being equal, the | | | | it, they encourage sloppiness. With the bigger heads, |
| test showed that there was little difference in | | | | golfers can hit the ball an inch-and-a-half off center |
| accuracy between using a driver and 3-wood off the | | | | and still get a good drive. Thus, subconsciously at |
| tee. That's despite the 3-wood being a couple of | | | | least, we know we have more room for error. In |
| inches shorter than the driver and having four | | | | other words, some of the keys we've learned in our |
| degrees more loft. | | | | golf lessons go out the door. But put the fairway |
| With a distance advantage of 20 yards or so with | | | | wood in our hands, with it's small club head, and we |
| the driver, the test suggests that the average golfer | | | | automatically tighten things up. |
| may want to rethink his or her strategy when teeing | | | | Given this situation, you can come up with golf tips |
| off. Previously, many golfers automatically turned to | | | | that take advantage of the new developments. For |
| the 3-wood on tight holes. Thanks to modern | | | | example, some professional golfers think there is |
| technology, golfers might want to consider using the | | | | some merit to carrying two drivers with different |
| driver instead of the 3-wood on these holes. Of | | | | lofts and shaft lengths. Others think there might be a |
| course, the case favoring the driver over the 3-wood | | | | benefit to carrying a "fairway" driver—a driver |
| isn't quite that simple. Nothing in golf is. But it does | | | | with a smaller head and shorter shaft, but with still |
| give players who want to cut strokes from their golf | | | | many of the technological advancements. This driver |
| handicaps food for thought. | | | | would replace the 3-wood in your bag. |
| Changing Golfers Strategy | | | | For the average player, the suggestion to bomb the |
| Modern technologically advanced drivers are changing | | | | driver all day long seems excessively aggressive. We |
| the way today's professional golfers think as well. | | | | still hook and slice—even with new oversized |
| Back in the '70s and '80s, Jack Nicklaus advocated | | | | drivers. Even golfers with low golf handicaps run into |
| using a 3-wood as your back up driver. Not so any | | | | these problems. Employing a driver with the latest |
| more. Today, some Tour players, like Bubba Watson, | | | | technological advancements, however, may cut down |
| don't even carry a 3-wood. In other words, thanks | | | | the your erratic ball flight of the tee, keeping the ball |
| to modern technology the 3-wood's accuracy | | | | in play. Plus, a wicked slice isn't going to be cured |
| advantage may have faded. Key among these | | | | miraculously cured by a 3-wood either. |
| technological advancements is the club head's size. | | | | So maybe using the driver more off the tee is an |
| Being larger than before, they're more forgiving. | | | | option that average golfers should consider in their |
| Another reason for the fade lies with the 3-wood | | | | quest to pare strokes from their golf handicaps. |
| itself. Some suggest that current drivers (and | | | | What the choice really boils down too isn't only the |
| hybrids) are re-molding the modern swing. Meanwhile, | | | | driver's new features or their shaft lengths. Nor is it |
| the 3-wood, which has failed to progress much with | | | | only the difference in yardage. What it comes own |
| from a technological standpoint, can't keep up. The | | | | to is how you feel that day. If you're hitting your |
| new drivers require a certain amount of force to | | | | driver well, you're going to want to hit it all day long. |
| rotate them. If you look at the 3-wood, it's not in | | | | So maybe you should use the driver more. But keep |
| the same class. So how much does this change | | | | the 3-wood in your bag just in case. |