Driver on the Fairway?

Can you use a driver on a Fairway? Specifically, you can use your driver when in the fairway to hit powerful shots that may travel further than the shots you could hit with your fairway woods or long irons. Fairway woods offer more forgiveness and consistency when hitting longer shots from the fairway. To be sure, hitting the driver from the fairway is a significant challenge, but it is certainly not impossible.

I must admit the first time I saw someone use a driver on the fairway was on my PGA 2K21 game, a SIM! At that moment, I laughed and said, “come on, give me a break, you can’t use a driver on the fairway, or you shouldn’t and then I decided to search it and I found that more than a few of the top PGA and LPGA players use this technique (Fowler, Woods, etc.) For them it’s an aggressive play and is all about trying to make a move. While hitting driver off the deck, unteeing-it, it is rarely the prudent play. There are circumstances where the average golfer can benefit from trying to play such a shot. But don't expect -- heck, don't attempt -- to hit one of those high, towering beauties you saw from the Pro’s. Instead, expect a low spinning type of ball when attempting this. (1)

Here’s a checklist to follow when taking a driver on the fairway:

• A fairway wood or hybrid won't deliver the distance you need.

• The ball should be sitting up nicely in the fairway or light rough (no tee used on this hit).

• There's no trouble to carry, like a bunker, ravine or water hazard, between you and the target.

• You don't need to hit a draw (right-to-left shot for a right-hander).

When all those elements are in place, here's how to proceed:

• Stand a little wider than normal and play ball just inside your left heel.

• Aim a little left to allow for a fade.

• Grip down an inch or so (until you feel comfortable).

• Focus on making a low, smooth takeaway from the ball.

• Swing with a little less force than you would if hitting driver off a tee.

• It's OK to hit down slightly on the ball, as you might with a fairway wood. (2)

Here are four instances where a beginner golfer should think twice (maybe three times) about hitting with a driver:

• There's a forced carry (a "forced carry" refers to a situation that requires a golfer to hit his golf ball over a hazard to advance toward the green. In other words, the golfer is forced to carry a hazard to advance his or her golf ball).

• The fairway squeezes. ...

• Driver leaves an awkward shot. ...

• Your opponent is out of bounds.

In other words, keep your driver shot on the fairway. Don’t try to hit it onto the green. This is not a shot to try to finesse and it is most effective in wide open area of the fairway (enough room in case it goes a little wayward).

Something to keep in mind when trying to figure out your driving distance to the hole, the carry of a golf shot is how far the ball travels before it hits the ground for the first time. It is also important to keep in mind the ball run which is how far the ball runs after the first bounce. The sum of carry and run is the total distance. A recreational golfer, according to Golf Digest, average somewhere around 195-205 yards with their drivers.

Sources

(1)Rickie Fowler striped a driver off the deck. Here's when it's the right play for you. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2021, from https://www.pga.com/archive/golf-instruction/lesson-learned/off-tee/rickie-fowler-striped-driver-off-deck-heres-when-its-right

(2) Golf info GUIDE. (2021, February 10). Retrieved May 03, 2021, from https://golf-info-guide.com/drivers/when-and-how-to-hit-driver-from-the-fairway/