How to Play Golf Without a Driver: 3 Pro Tips to Help You Play Without a Driver

If you’re like most golfers, you likely always have the driver in your bag when you play golf. However, have you ever wondered how to play golf without a driver? If not, then understandably so, because most golfers use their drivers as much as possible and, from my experience, put golf driving tips at the top of their list of where they want to focus most of their time during a lesson.

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Drive for Show and Putt for Dough

All golfers should know by now that driving the golf ball off the tee is essential; however, it is not the most crucial aspect of the game.

If you want to be taken seriously as a golfer, and perhaps even if you don’t, you will realize soon enough that the driver is not the only tool in your golf bag that can finish out a round.

The short game and especially putting outrank the importance of driving the golf ball because regardless of how straight or far you may hit your tee shot, if you cannot get the ball in the hole, you cannot shoot a good score.

This saying, “Drive for show; putt for dough,” used by golfers for years, basically sums up the necessity of a good putting stroke and the ability to accurately read the greens.

In other words, the first thing a golfer attempting to play golf without a driver should know is that hitting the driver may not be necessary for playing a good round of golf. Although, I should also point out that having a driver in the bag that you can hit well will significantly increase your odds of playing a great round of golf.

To Hit a Driver, or Not

There are a few alternatives to using a driver in golf. For example, let’s assume for the moment a golfer is either not a fan of their driver or perhaps does not have a driver, for whatever reason. In this instance, the next best thing is to move to a 3-wood and play the game. While distance will be lost, countless golfers stop using driver and go to the 3-wood for a given length of time. However, using a 3 wood instead of a driver will also put more pressure on the tee shot. Meaning, there will be less room for error when teeing off during a round because the loss in distance requires a more accurate shot and more emphasis on hitting the approach shot well. In other words, hitting the fairway and following it up with a solid second shot is key to success.

Other clubs can be hit off the tee box, especially on short par 4’s or, of course, on par 3’s. That said, if a 3-wood is in the bag (it should be), it must be the club utilized on long par 4’s and par 5’s. Otherwise, the amount of distance lost off the tee will be too great and will be reflected in your score.

Most golfers do not have the swing speed of Dustin Johnson or Bubba Watson and must remember their limitations when considering if the driver should be left in the bag or if they can go with another fairway wood to take its place.

Course Management

If a golfer is going to play golf without a driver, they must understand the importance of course management, which involves more than just hitting a golf shot.

Course management involves working your way around a golf course with a game plan. Essentially, a golfer must know their game and use it to their advantage in whatever way possible.

Course management includes:

• Knowing when to lay up on a par 5.
• Picking spots on the green to hit approach shots.
• Not playing the hero shot when finding oneself in trouble.
• Playing to a certain distance off the tee.
• Sticking to a predetermined game plan for a round.

For example, if a golfer hits their tee shot in the woods, the best thing they can do is punch it out to the fairway and not try to hit a low percentage shot. Such as going for the green through a small space in the trees. This scenario can be referred to as playing the smart shot instead of trying to be a “hero”.

Course management is a skill that golfers develop over their careers; however, the basics of course management can be utilized by golfers of any skill level.

I have never met a scratch golfer or professional golfer who does not have excellent course management because it is undoubtedly a vital part of what it takes to play golf at a high level and continue to improve in the game. 

It is also important to point out that course management should involve not practicing on the golf course. Essentially, a golfer’s mindset should be whatever golf swing they brought to the course that day is the one they have to use because practicing the golf swing is for the driving range.

Pro Tip: If you want to gain distance off the tee while improving your balance and, potentially, your accuracy, I recommend using the SuperSpeed Golf Training System. I use the SuperSpeed System regularly, and it has helped me gain clubhead speed and distance off the tee with my driver, as well as hit all of the clubs in my bag longer and straighter. 

Adding It All Up

With good course management, a reliable short game, and a trusty 3-wood, playing golf without a driver should be little to no problem for many golfers. However, playing without a driver will still be challenging, especially at first, because anytime a golfer gives up distance off the tee box, there will inevitably be a change in their approach shots and, ultimately, their course management.

Most golfers should try to use a driver if possible, as they likely will not have the ball speed to hit their tee shot long enough to use a 3-wood off the tee, and their score will suffer as a result.

Regardless of a golfer’s skill level, the driver will be the longest club in the bag, which means it will be the best choice for generating clubhead speed and driving distance.

So, if you’re thinking about playing golf without a driver, for whatever reason, I say give it a try. It certainly beats not playing golf at all. However, if you’re not playing a driver due to a swing issue, I recommend taking a golf lesson from a professional instructor, especially if you’re a beginner golfer. Golf lessons from a qualified instructor are great for learning to hit the driver off the tee for beginners.