Rory Goes NO DRIVER on the DP World Tour This Week!!

If you’re still following golf even though the PGA Tour is done for a while, you’ll have seen that this week in India Rory McIlroy decided to leave the driver in his locker. One of the most dominant drivers of the ball, didn’t use a driver. You don’t hear that much but it makes you wonder. The course you play, would it help or hurt to play less aggressive and hit irons and hybrids off the tee?

Through some research that was done with DECADE Golf they found that 3wd isn’t any more accurate than a driver for the majority of amateur golfers. So in our theory here, let's say you have to hit hybrid or iron off the tee more often. Are there some holes that you could lay back and still hit good shots into greens?

Going conservative doesn’t mean you’re playing scared — it means you’re playing smart (Sometimes!). It’s the “keep the ball in play, take your medicine, and make a stress-free par” approach.

Advantages:

• ✅ Less Risk = More Pars: Hitting a fairway wood or hybrid might leave you farther from the green, but you’ll likely be hitting your second shot from the short grass — not under a tree or behind a fence.

• ✅ Consistent Scoring: The more often you keep it in play, the fewer doubles and triples creep onto your card.

• ✅ Confidence Builder: Seeing your ball in the fairway hole after hole can calm your nerves and help your swing stay relaxed.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Longer Approach Shots: Sometimes being 40 yards farther back means you’re hitting a long iron instead of a wedge — and that’s not always ideal.

• ⚠️ Playing “Not to Lose”: If you’re too careful, you might miss scoring opportunities, especially on reachable par 5s or short par 4s.

The Aggressive Play — Drive for Show (and Sometimes for Dough). Pulling the big stick and going after it is fun. It’s why most of us play this game — there’s no better feeling than catching one flush and watching it soar. But aggression off the tee comes with its own set of trade-offs.

Advantages:

• 💪 Scoring Potential: A good drive can set up birdie chances and make par 5s reachable. That’s where you separate yourself from the pack.

• 💪 Confidence Booster (When It Works): When you stripe it, it’s pure momentum — your confidence skyrockets for the next few holes.

• 💪 Course Shortener: Modern drivers are built for forgiveness and distance. Sometimes “aggressive” is actually the smart play if the risk isn’t that high.

Disadvantages:

• 🚧 Big Misses Hurt: OB, hazards, trees, or deep rough — one poor swing can turn a birdie hole into a triple bogey.

• 😬 Inconsistent Scoring: A driver-heavy strategy often leads to a mix of birdies and blowups — fun for highlight reels, but not for your handicap.

So, What’s the Right Call? Here’s the truth: the best golfers know how to mix both. If the fairway is wide, the trouble is minimal, and the reward is big — go ahead and let it rip. When the golf hole tightens up, the wind is swirling, or your driver feels like you may miss the planet… grab something safer and play to make par. Smart golf isn’t about ego. It’s about understanding when to attack and when to manage.

Similar research done by DECADE Golf shows us that it is advantageous to always try and hit the ball further off the tee. The closer to the hole you are, the better you'll score. They also say you should look for a 50 yard wide lading area between any hazards on the course. Personally when I'm heading into a tournament I go on google earth and do some work! Measure the distance between hazards or trees and see how far you should it it! The further the better as far as the research shows, but there's always holes where laying up or playing safe can benefit you.

So the next time you're on the course and you come to a golf hole that you've struggled with in the past, think about it differently? Could you lay back and play it safer? Or is it FULL SEND with driver?!

Remember: you don’t have to play safe — just play smart.