D/2W setup people -- what's your teebox strategy?

[mryank]

For those with Driver/2W (I'll define this as <310cc + between 10* and 13* in loft): what's your strategy for using both clubs?  Have seen a few variations of this:

• A la Mickelson - long-driver + mini-driver set-up.
  • D is long driver (46", softer flex, super low loft <8*) + 2W is functionally the main teebox option.
  • D is used when fairways are more open.
  • 2W used when fairways narrow/trouble exists at Driver carry yardages
• Fade club vs. draw club
  • D used exclusively for fades
  • 2W is workable both ways, but particularly for holes requiring the draw.
  • Seen Finau treat it like this (and probably several others)
• 2W as bandaid (either during a round, or more medium-term for someone's game overall)
  • 2W is used when D is misbehaving on course or semi-permanently while Driver is being worked on
• 2W is sort of a magic club and can effectively be used all of the time, with minor penalty on distance compared to D
  • A la Stenson

 

Related, but just for fun:

 

I looked at this graphic from ~2015, looks like Finau and Stenson (both noted 2W users) use the 2W with greater frequency than pretty much everyone else -- Finau using 2W 45% of time, Stenson 67% of time.

 

[hagimihale]

I have had this setup in the bag for almost 2 years now:  actual driver, and a 12* 917D2 (2W, see sig) that I use as an alternate tee club.  12* took the place of my 3W, which I rarely hit off the deck, and the 2W is more consistent off the tee. 

 

2W gets pulled on shorter/tighter par-4s, or where trouble (OB, water, bunker) says the best strategy is to be short of it (and you get penalized for being straight and long)

 

Driver comes out on wider holes, most par-5s, and where trouble (see above) doesnt come into play.

 

This setup also allows me to effective play with (2W) or into (Driver) the wind, especially during winter months when it gets entertaining...

 

My best rounds (lowest score, or most consistent) have been when 2W gets the call most of the time.  That may be reflective of course setups around here, where so many holes favor the short & straight crowd (ala retirees).  

[driveandputtmachine]

15 hours ago, mryank said:

Fade club vs. draw club

• D used exclusively for fades
• 2W is workable both ways, but particularly for holes requiring the draw.
• Seen Finau treat it like this (and probably several others)

 

This is exactly how I use my mini driver.  It is set at standard, and because of the smaller head than a driver it is easier to hit a draw with.  However because it is 300 cc's it is more forgiving than my old 13.5 three wood I used.

 

The driver is strictly a cut shot.  The mini I can cut or hit straight, but it is more at home with a draw.  The driver is typically 25 yards longer than the mini.

[vandyfan]

16 hours ago, mryank said:

2W as bandaid (either during a round, or more medium-term for someone's game overall)

• 2W is used when D is misbehaving on course or semi-permanently while Driver is being worked on

 

 

I went from the above...to your last option which is that the 2W is a magic club. Basically I give up about 20 yards on an absolutely perfect strike but on average the 2W is keeping up with my Driver and going straight. Now, if I had to play in significant wind my 2W would not be great since it launches the ball very high. 

[ezra76]

I have a GBB Epic 10.5 and a Tour edge xcg5 13*. They both end up about the same distances, the driver just carries more of the way there.

Ideally I'd hit the 3w more draw and the driver more fade. 

Edited June 23, 2022 by ezra76

[b.mattay]

I kind of use it in the draw club vs fade club option, except my driver isn't a guaranteed cut (it can draw a bit, go straight or cut depending on the day). However, if it is a hole where 10+ yards of right to left is beneficial (e.g. dogleg or wind hard off the left), the mini driver gets the call. Also, the mini gets the call when driver would get into a pinch point/hazard etc. 

[third-times-a-charm]

I just moved to this but in a club I can change from 14*-16* with the adapter. I've learned that pulling a trusted 2-4 wood over the driver on certain holes can be advantageous.

 

This adjustable Mavrik Max 15* is a beast and as a 80% tee club with some minor fairway usage it seems to be working so far.

[BagofToast]

I would use it as more of an alternate tee club type deal, maybe 60% driver. Use 2w for tee shots that are tighter or can't hit it as far due to trouble or something and hopefully still has some use off the deck if the situation comes up. TSr2+ has me excited. 

Also love the chart. Good post. 

[Seattlegolfnut]

5 hours ago, BagofToast said:

I would use it as more of an alternate tee club type deal, maybe 60% driver. Use 2w for tee shots that are tighter or can't hit it as far due to trouble or something and hopefully still has some use off the deck if the situation comes up. TSr2+ has me excited. 

Also love the chart. Good post. 

very similar here, except I never find the need to hit the 2W off the deck. I’m also very intrigued by the TSr2+.

 

My bag:

 

9* Driver

13.5* Mini

 

strictly tee clubs

 

D when no danger and I can put a free swing on it.

2W when I need to hit the fairway (tight or trouble long), and will give up ~25 yards to do so.

 

On shorter courses, the mini gets >= 75% of tee play.

Edited June 24, 2022 by Seattlegolfnut

[Valtiel]

On 6/22/2022 at 4:02 PM, mryank said:

I looked at this graphic from ~2015, looks like Finau and Stenson (both noted 2W users) use the 2W with greater frequency than pretty much everyone else -- Finau using 2W 45% of time, Stenson 67% of time.

 

Those two i'd consider somewhat outliers though, not just statistically but practically as well. Tony was a wild bomber when he first came out on tour and had pretty severe accuracy issues, so a 3w/2w was somewhat of a necessity. Stenson has simply had notable driver struggles because of his mechanics and has a co-dependent relationship with that Diablo 2w, lol. My only point is not to look at them as examples of why something like this makes sense for anyone but them necessarily. Both of them are slower now and i'm sure Finau favors the driver way more these days. 

As for the original post, I do something similar as the draw/fade setup, only sometimes with two drivers just because it's more fun. I'd probably ditch that if it was for more serious competition as i'd prefer an extra wedge. 

Edited June 24, 2022 by Valtiel

[J.Bex]

3 hours ago, Valtiel said:

draw/fade setup, only sometimes with two drivers just because it's more fun

This is where I'm at.  Not even doing a shorter or higher lofted 2nd driver for a "safer" club.  Safety maybe a squeeze fade... but usually talk myself out of that to bomb away 💣 🥳

[BagofToast]

11 hours ago, Seattlegolfnut said:

very similar here, except I never find the need to hit the 2W off the deck. I’m also very intrigued by the TSr2+.

 

My bag:

 

9* Driver

13.5* Mini

 

strictly tee clubs

 

D when no danger and I can put a free swing on it.

2W when I need to hit the fairway (tight or trouble long), and will give up ~25 yards to do so.

 

On shorter courses, the mini gets >= 75% of tee play.

Definitely looking to move to the lower lofted “bomber” driver and 2w setup. Can’t imagine I’d need 2w off the deck more than once every couple rounds, but want to know I can trust it if I do need it. 

[uglande]

I either play Driver-Mini or Mini-Mini. Either way, the longer and lower-lofted club is set up to guard against a left miss (open face) while the shorter and higher lofted club is set up to avoid the right miss (neutral face). The longer club also goes a bit lower and farther. The shorter one gives me more control. 

 

Right now I'm playing the Mini-Mini setup and I've never hit so many fairways. I'm using one of these two clubs off of EVERY tee (except par 3s). Even on shorter par 4s, I'll just use the shorter mini driver and hit a little punch stinger. 

[Dan Drake]

My tee shot strategy is the same, regardless of which club is in my hands........

 

Swing hard. 

 

Seriously though, mine is somewhat of a combination of option #2 with the shot shapes, and the DECADE tee shot decision tree.  There just aren't that many holes where I "have" to shape the ball off the tee. But, if that does present itself, I do have both options with my D/2w setup.  

 

Remember though, when using the two shape strategy, I also have to be aware of whether or not I'm gaming more of an "under curved" shot (read: double cross) that day, or working on a bit more of an "over curve" (read: snap-fade or duck-hook).  And I have to know that for two different clubs. 

 

Rarely do have all of that information accurately until at least the 16th or 17th hole, so..........