Hitting a driver without using a tee, also known as hitting a driver off the deck (DOD), is a difficult shot. Driver size and swing speed are just a couple of the variables you need to consider. I’m breaking down exactly how you can master your next driver off the deck and four key takeaways.
Almost every time we hit a driver, it is placed on a tee. With the size of the driver being so large, the tee helps us make pure contact with the ball and keep the ground out of it. A 3 wood or 5 wood is not quite as large as a driver, so it makes it easier to hit these off the deck with more consistency.
When And Why Would I Hit A Driver Off The Deck?
I can honestly say that throughout my career as a golf teaching professional, driver off the deck was not a shot I would often teach. Hitting a driver off the deck takes a bit more precision than most golfers have, and sometimes the risk doesn’t outweigh the rewards. Use this article to compare against hitting a regular driver off a tee.
However, understanding what this shot is, how to hit it, and determining whether or not it will work for you is important. Let’s look at how to hit a driver off the deck when you should use it and a funny story about a golfer I knew that would never use a tee to hit his driver.
Key Takeaways for Hitting A Driver Off The Deck
- Hitting a driver off the deck means you hit a ball directly from the fairway or do not tee up the golf ball and instead place the ball directly on the ground.
- Driver off the deck can refer to hitting a driver without a tee from the tee box, or it can be considered an approach shot on a longer par 5.
- The larger your driver, the harder this shot is because the center of gravity is well above the bottom of the club face.
- The faster your swing speed, the easier it is to see at least some success with a driver off the deck because you tend to be able to generate more spin on the ball.
When To Hit Driver Off The Deck
When I was younger and working at a country club, there was a member who never used a tee. The first time I played golf with him, I asked if he needed to borrow a tee because I couldn’t quite understand what he was doing.
He would walk up to the tee box, take his driver, and hit the ground with it making a slight indentation. Then he would put the ball at the front side of the indentation and swing away.
His ball flight was low, straight, and relatively long, all things considered.
Remember, that this was done years ago when a driver club heads were not 460cc; in fact, the driver use to be closer to the size of a 3 wood today.
This story is interesting because the golfer was successful in hitting this difficult shot even though the percentages of success are low. Here are the only times I would hit a driver off the deck.
A Perfect Lie In the Fairway With Very Little Trouble
Do not attempt to hit the driver from the rough; it won’t be worth it; there is not enough loft in the club head, and the chance of getting the ball off the ground is very low. If your golf ball is sitting in the middle of the fairway and the grass at your course is plush, this could be an excellent time to pull the driver out of the bag.
Long Second Shot Directly In To The Wind
Drivers have a very low loft; if you are playing a golf hole with quite a bit of wind, the lower trajectory of the driver may be a good way to help improve total distance and increase the roll. One of the best tips you will get about playing in the wind is to hit the ball low and keep the spin down to have the course feel like its playing similar to an average windless day.
Given the above points, here’s a quick video of Adam Scott nuking a driver off the deck.
How To Hit Driver Off The Deck
Now the most critical part of this process is how to actually pull this shot off. I mentioned that you would need quite a bit of skill to hit the driver off the deck with decent distance and direction. Most golfers will be able to make contact with the ball, but if you hit it 50 yards, there is clearly no point.
Here are the steps to hit a driver off the deck to have it land on or near the green.
Setup and Posture
The most important thing about hitting a driver off the deck is the ball position. It’s important to still play the driver towards the front of your stance. If you play it further back in your stance it’s common to hit down on the ball. This will create issues with your ball flight and hitting down on the ball with your driver could damage it. It puts too much pressure on the tip of the club and you don’t want to have to replace the shaft!
I also recommend playing these shots with a little extra distance between you and the ball. You don’t want to be reaching for the ball too much, but if you stand too close, your swing path will be more vertical. A shallow swing path helps improve the chance of making clean contact with the driver club head.
Alignment
The driver club head can feel odd when you place it directly on the ground. Club heads can be set slightly open or closed, so be mindful when setting the club face down.
If you tend to slice the ball, keeping the club face square or a little closed is a good approach.
Takeaway Or First Move In Your Swing
The takeaway is your first move away from the golf ball. I would be certain to incorporate your lower body in the takeaway. If your lower body gets stuck, the chance of getting your ball off the ground is relatively slim. Make sure you’re not just swinging with your arms.
Try to take the club back in one fluid motion. Make sure your arms and body are turning, and ensure that you are rotating your body. If your back swing cannot be a full turn for this shot, that is entirely acceptable. In fact, aiming for a ¾ swing is probably best to ensure smooth contact.
Tempo and Timing
The tempo and timing are where you see the successful shots separate from the unsuccessful shots. Take some time on the back swing. A slower back swing with a controlled transition is much better than a quick transition.
That quick transition with a long club like the driver could cause you to hit behind the ball. Some golfers even pause slightly at the top of the swing to ensure they have the timing and tempo correct. To be clear, this is not a bad idea with any of the woods in your bag.