Add flexibility to a tight par-4 with a knockdown driver shot

Most beginner golfers subscribe to the notion that trying to bomb off the tee is only how to use their driver, many just grab it and rip it. The best golfers, on the other hand, go into their tee shots with a clear mind and a new strategy each time depending on the shape of the hole and the weather conditions, among other factors.

But thinking about a driver differently isn’t just about managing courses, it’s about understanding how to use your equipment and increase your chances of getting a low score.

Here’s a little secret you need to know: Just because you’re using a driver doesn’t mean you need to try to get out of your shoes. So if you’re playing a tough par-4 hole, go ahead and still hit the big dog — just use discipline and hit a different kind of golf.

Most uneducated students in this situation tend to go down to something like a fairway wood, thinking it’s their best chance to “play it safe” and just hit it on the fairway. But swinging the fairway wood can be just as tricky (if not more so) than swinging the driver.

During a recent interview with GOLF Top 100 teacher Todd Sones, he told me how the decision to use a 3-wood on a tight par-4 is starting to die – which was surprising, to be honest.

Instead, Sones told me how many players there are still using their drivers in these types of holes – just not the way most of us would think.

Try this knockdown driver shot on tight par-4’s

While conventional wisdom would suggest that dropping a “safe” club driver on tight par-4s is the right golf decision, maximizing that club doesn’t always mean getting the most distance possible. In some cases, it’s about controlling your shot position — which is why Sones suggests hitting a knockdown driver on those tough par-4s.

“For all this [equipment changes]”I find it interesting how much better the ball flies off the driver’s face when he is hit outside,” said Sones. “That’s why I recommend learning to hit a knockdown driver off the tee, rather than using a fairway wood, as you have more forgiveness with the driver now.”

Back in the day, most drivers needed center contact to increase both distance and control. That’s why having a reliable 3-wood in the bag was so important – especially on tough par-4s.

But Sones says advances in technology and fitness have changed the game, which is why hitting a knockdown driver on a tight par-4 can be your secret weapon.

“The drivers open the ball up, which allows the player to put it down and continue to get the ball in the air to produce the shot they are hoping for,” he adds.

So how do you beat a Sones driver gun? With just a few simple adjustments.

“To hit this type of shot, press the ball down so that only a quarter of the ball is above the crown of your driver’s clubhead, then hold down 1.5 inches and swing. “There is no need to play the ball and get back into shape or change your swing in any way,” advises Sones.

By using this type of shot, you can improve your “fairway finder” on those holes that require more accuracy but still need some length on the tee.

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Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor