The Sweet Spot - Golf Podcast When NOT to Hit Driver & Beginner Fundamentals
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Nov 3, 2025 Discover the surprising moments when you shouldn't hit a driver, like tight doglegs or risk-laden fairways. Learn to weigh distance gains against potential penalties and how pre-round homework can improve your strategy. For beginners, the basics of grip, stance, and posture are covered, plus common mistakes that can lead to chaos at impact. Adam shares insights on the Big Three skills—face control, strike location, and ground contact—that separate good golfers from the rest. Fun meets strategy in this insightful discussion!
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Avoid Driver Into Major Trouble
- Avoid driver when it brings you into disproportionate trouble like water, deep fescue, OB, or clusters of trees.
- Use a three wood, five wood, hybrid, or long iron to keep the ball in play and protect your score.
Think Driver Decision As Expected Value
- Weigh distance gain against penalty risk using expected-value math (e.g., 20 yards ≈ 0.1 strokes for many golfers).
- If driver increases your OB probability above the break-even point for your distance gain, choose a safer club.
Lay Back When Fairway Pinches
- Avoid driver when the fairway pinches and trouble clusters create a small landing window beyond your typical carry.
- Lay back with a shorter club to find a wider landing area and reduce disproportionate penalties.
