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Should I use driver or iron?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 20, 2026

That being said, driving irons are typically only used by better golfers since they require more club speed and have a smaller sweet spot. For most golfers, hitting a driver will be the best choice. With a bigger head and a bigger sweet spot, it'll be much easier getting respectable distance with a driver.

Is it easier to hit a driver or an iron?

When you compare the loft of the driver as opposed to a driving iron, your driving iron typically gets more loft than a driver. The loft angle is higher, which means it will be easier to hit the ball and your hit will have more forgiveness. While the loft is still low, it is higher than the driver.

Should I hit my driver like my irons?

If you are struggling to hit your driver but not your irons, the issue could be a lack of clubhead speed. If your driver is slowing down as it makes its way into the impact position, you will lose both distance and accuracy. A lack of clubhead speed is a problem throughout the entire game, not just the driver.

Should your iron and driver swing be the same?

The way you swing your irons and driver should be pretty similar in a lot of ways. You'll want to have a wide stance which will give you balance and a good foundation. The swing itself should also be very similar and that's a good thing because it'll make things much easier.

Can high handicappers use driving irons?

The TaylorMade GAPR Lo Gold Driving iron is the best premium driving iron for high handicappers and beginners. These TaylorMade clubs were designed to fill the gap between the hybrids and the irons. They were made in several different models that will appeal to a wide range of players.

27 related questions found

Is a driving iron worth it?

If you have trouble with your driver consistently and can hit your irons dead straight, you are probably best to go with a driving iron. As a beginner, the driver can be the hardest club to learn so it might be worth your while to test out your 3 wood or 3 Iron off the tee to see if you can improve your performance.

Should amateur golfers use a driver?

All beginner and high handicap golfers should use a driver to try to drive the ball as far as possible. This is because of the impact that driving distance has on scoring. An extra 20 yards increase in driving distance will reduce a typical 100-scoring golfers score by 2.3 strokes per round.

Why do I hit woods better than irons?

The woods generally feature longer shafts and less-lofted clubfaces; therefore, they hit the ball farther but are harder to control than irons.

Can you swing a driver like an iron?

The truth is, the best golf swing for drivers and irons is essentially the same. The difference is not in the swing itself, but in how you approach the swing. I'm going to share a few easy adjustments you can make between your driver shots and your iron shots.

Why do I hit my 3 iron as far as my driver?

Players who hit their 3- or 5-wood as far or longer than their driver are typically using too little loft with the driver for their clubhead speed. You know, it's a funny thing with the driver and its loft compared to the other clubs in the bag.

Why is hitting a driver so hard?

The driver is the lowest lofted club in your bag and creates the most ball speed. That combination is why it is difficult for the average golfer to keep tee shots in the fairway.

Why can you hit a 7 iron without a 5 iron?

Each club is about three or four degrees less loft than the club before them. This means that your seven iron is going to have considerably less loft than your four iron. The longer a golf club is and the more loft that it has, the more difficult it is to hit.

How far can a 1 iron go?

Naturally, there are lots of factors that influence how far you can hit a 1 iron, but men can reasonably expect to hit it between 180 – 220 yards, providing they execute the shot perfectly. Women tend to hit the 1 iron slightly shorter, but could still hope for 160+ yards from a good shot.

When should you not use a driver in golf?

Here are four instances where you should think twice about hitting driver.

  • There's a forced carry. ...
  • The fairway squeezes. ...
  • Driver leaves an awkward shot. ...
  • Your opponent is out of bounds.

Do you hit a 3 wood like a driver or iron?

Do you hit a 3-wood like an iron? Yes, you should hit your 3-wood like an iron – more specifically, a 3 or 4-iron. Your set-up position, including stance and body tilt, should be the same for a 3-wood as a long iron. Your ball position should also be slightly forward of centre when hitting 3-woods and long irons.

Do you swing a 3 wood the same as a driver?

Most players use a shorter shaft in their three-wood, which will offer greater control and consistency of impact on the face. Most players swing the driver faster, and the ball tends to go farther, so offline shots will go even farther offline with the driver.

Is a hybrid better than an iron?

Interestingly, from over 200 yards a hybrid is almost twice as effective compared to a long iron. It is still more effective between 180-200 yards, but that gap closes within 180 yards. This proves that most golfers should not be carrying irons which they can hit over 180 yards – instead, swap them for a hybrid.

Do beginners need a driver?

You do not require a driver to play golf. Many golf instructors recommend that beginners start with a 3-wood for swinging off the tee. The longer shaft and lower loft of the driver are often difficult for beginners to handle. The lack of control may cause the ball to land far off the fairway or green.

Should a high handicapper carry a driver?

The driver is the most intriguing club in the bag for beginners but also the most difficult to perfect and come to terms with. That leads many golfers to question whether they should even use a driver or swap it out for another club instead. The truth is that, high handicappers should definitely be using a driver.

How often do pros hit driver?

Pros hit just under 1.0 percent of tee shots into one-stroke penalties and only 0.4 percent into two-stroke penalties. Think about that. Pros hit into stroke-and-distance trouble just one in 250 par-4 or par-5 tee shots — or about one big miss every 18 rounds. How do us weekenders do?

How far does Tiger Woods hit a 7 iron?

Tiger Woods is a legend of golf but on average, how long does he hit a 7 iron? Tiger hits his 7 irons approximately 172 yards. This is an average figure and there will times when Tiger hits the ball closer to 200 yards.

How far does Tiger hit his 2 iron?

Tiger hits his 2-iron 240 yards and his 4-iron 205. He achieves maximum distance when he strikes the ball solidly, with his body in balance and under control.

Is a driving iron a 2 iron?

Driving irons are bulked-up players irons that are designed to hit the ball higher and farther than standard 1, 2 or 3 irons. Their trajectory will be lower than most similarly lofted fairway woods and hybrids, however, their lower launch angles and landing angles lead to a huge amount of roll.

Do PGA players use driving irons?

31 of the top 100 PGA Tour players use driving or utility irons with 4 of those players having more than one in their bag. The most used driving iron within this elite group is a 4-iron with 15% using one. 5% carry a 2-driving iron, 13% use a 3-iron with only three players using a 5-driving iron.