Opinion & Analysis
The stupidest golf strategy idea ever?
…or the most brilliant?
During a Phillies broadcast a few weeks ago, legendary color commentator/sage John Kruk asked play-by-play man Tom McCarthy:
“So, you know how I think of things when I have free time? I was wondering. The person who invented the clock, the first clock ever. How did that person know what time it was?”
Now, this column (generously called) has nothing to do with that excellent question. However, in a similar spirit to Kruk’s scholarly musings, I was thinking (dangerous, I know) about a no-less-significant query.
Namely, my mind drifted, while scooping one of our approximately 300 litter boxes, to a question a friend of my dad’s posed years ago.
The man, a banker and an incredible watercolor painter, interestingly, was a 6-handicap or so. Frustratingly straight off the tee, as I recall, and only limited by an overall lack of distance from ticking closer to the scratch end of the spectrum.
He posed the following to my dad, who didn’t pick up the game until his 40th birthday and was then probably an 18-handicap.
“Do you think you’d shoot a lower score if you hit every tee shot with your 7-iron?”
I recall he then suggested further that high-handicappers ought to hit all shots longer than a 7-iron with said club. For example, on a par 5, you might tee off with a 7-iron, then hit, like, three 7-irons to approach the green, rather than using, say, driver, 3-wood on your first two shots.
Now, at the time, with the accumulated wisdom of my 12 years, I thought this was moronic. Pure stupidity! This was, of course, largely because I loved to unfurl a Tiger Woods-inspired lash at the ball with my driver. Usually, the results were hardly Woodsian. However, thinking about it now, many years later, having witnessed thousands of hackerly rounds at public and private venues alike, I don’t think it’s the worst idea for golfers above a certain handicap.
Stay with me.
While it’s true that, for the duffer, the upside of the driver is substantial. If the average male driving distance is 225 yards-ish, we’ll knock a few off for the higher handicapper and say, when solid contact is made, that’s a 200-yard poke. But to which fairway? The rightward slice into the trees that results in a punch-out from penal position, or worse, an out-of-bounds misfire. Both of these outcomes, I think, are worse than a 140-yard 7-iron shot off the tee that results in an outcome that is, at the very least, playable.
And of course, how many topped fairway woods from the fairway or chunked efforts from the rough will it take for a high handicapper to realize that the 15-degree 3-wood shot is best left to, well, scratch golfers and better. I’d certainly agree that the average distance and dispersion of such an effort is worse than if the golfer in question selected a 7-iron instead.
It’s not the worst idea!
Ultimately, however, I’m not sold on taking the largest-headed club (by a wide margin) out of the hands of the least precise swingers of said club. I’ve certainly seen plenty of horrid efforts with a 7-iron from high handicappers. Tops, blades, chunks, etc. You don’t want to be the guy who says he’s trying the revolutionary 7-iron-off-the-tee strategy, who then shanks said 7-iron 40 yards hard right.
Which, of course, is to speak to the obvious elephant of ego in the room. Nobody is going to kennel the big dog in favor of a 30- 34-degree iron.
Never going to happen.
Realistically, I think higher handicappers would be wise to consider a shorter-shafted driver, or a mini driver off the tee. Also, consider removing the 13 or 15-degree 3-wood from the bag in favor of a 7-wood or hybrid. While we’re at it, leaning into super game improvement irons and more forgiving wedges…not a bad idea. However, the aforementioned hubris.
All of that said, I appreciate the thoughts of the watercolorist banker and am always willing to entertain suggestions from well off the fairway to help struggling golfers improve. Lord knows we need them.
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
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I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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Pilgrim
Sep 13, 2025 at 10:44 am
I shoot my lowest scores when I just aim for between the 150 yard markers from the tee.
Not much fun but great for medals.
Takes all doubles out of the scorecard.
Ken Moum
Sep 1, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Well, a few years ago I walked off 16 green royally POed about how I was playing and pulled out my 7 iron on the 17th tee.
But it’s a par 5 that I can’t reach in two. Parred the damned thing.
ericsokp
Aug 29, 2025 at 11:53 am
So all this talk about 7 irons has stirred up one of my numerous technical/gear questions … since most golfers feel very confident hitting their 7 iron, why aren’t all irons shaped like a 7 iron with the only difference in the head being the loft and lie? I’ve never understood why a traditional 3 or 4 iron has such a small hitting surface which just makes it more intimidating to hit.
Hal
Sep 3, 2025 at 2:19 pm
I believe it has more to do with the length and loft of the 7 than the “shape” of the head. It seems to me to be a Goldilocks length that’s comfortable to address and swing (if it’s fit anywhere near correctly), and the loft is enough to get the ball out there and elevated with little difficulty with reasonable swing speed. Any longer or less lofted, and flaws in the swing quickly start announcing their presence, and going shorter and more lofted is a good recipe for topping/blading if the swing ain’t there. Basically, it’s just a very conveniently-sized club.
At least that’s my theory as to why the 7 is the “go to” club.
Vince V.
Aug 29, 2025 at 6:44 am
Tiger Woods famously used a conservative, irons-off-the-tee strategy at the 2006 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, hitting his driver only once in 72 holes to win the event. While he hit irons off the tee at other tournaments, the 2006 Open is specifically noted for his driver-less approach. It makes sense to me if you want to score low and can swallow your pride.
Mike
Sep 11, 2025 at 10:38 am
The problem is an 18 handicap can hit their 7 iron just as bad as any other club in their bag. They aren’t striping their 7 iron every time. You are better off getting as far down the hole as possible. Unless you are a great iron player, or fairway woods, you should be taking driver off the tee.
Chris
Aug 28, 2025 at 9:42 pm
This exactly. I’ve put Big D in his shipping box in the closet until I unlock the secret to his swing. That leaves my longest club at around 170 with a 4 hybrid. But the mantra I picked up recently was “putt for par.” Yes, I could hit the 4H on a 245 par 4 from the reds and have a wedge onto the green. Or I could hit 2 7 irons. Guess which choice is more likely to give me a birdie look?
My most recent round was a +19 in 9 holes in my first season. I only missed a chance for a par putt three times. “Boring” golf is also lower scoring golf. Easily dropped 5 strokes and better putts will drop my handicap even further towards the 20s.
Ben Hoagie
Aug 28, 2025 at 11:34 am
my driver goes 260y when straight. my next longest club in the bag is a callaway 19* UW going 225y, followed by a 2016 apex 4(23*) and 5(26*). then comes the irons – jpx forged 7(31*) – GW(51*) with 5* loft increments. and to top it off, a 56* SW. there’s a bigger gap between the 5H and 7I but I work around it.
The Truth Network
Sep 3, 2025 at 8:26 am
Nobody cares
Bob Jones
Aug 27, 2025 at 8:39 pm
I was once a 9 and hit my driver as straight as any club in the bag (no lie), but there were holes on which it stayed in the bag because was to no advantage.
Larry
Aug 27, 2025 at 4:28 pm
over 70 and from the front tees can eaisly break 80 teeing off with a 7 iron (5,100 yards red tees) same token from the White tees (6,200) never break 80 and sometimes get into the 90’s eaisly loosing 5 shots becasue of the driver. It is a mental issue you get to the driver and think you need a faster swing, when you just will not accept the driver should go 10 to 20 yards farther than the 3 wood.
Robin
Aug 27, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Hitting for me off the fairway is easier than off the tee.
Especially laying up.
WSinTX
Aug 27, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Interesting. Since I was a 10 year old boy, my play – without fail – when the wheels have fallen off mid-round has been to hit 7 irons exclusively until getting within wedge distance. Something about that club inspires confidence. Usually after a hole or two everything reverts back to being right in the world.
When I’m playing well, having a full 7-iron shot (182-yards with no wind or slope) from a fairway lie into any pin is green light city for pin hunting. Makes me more excited than a full wedge because I know I’ll pick up at least a shot against whomever I’m playing.
Hal
Aug 27, 2025 at 2:09 pm
You can have your cake and eat it, too.
Leave the big dog in and then leave a big gap down to the 7i. Learn to chill the f out and take an easy swing with the driver when you’ve got some extra room in front of you to work with, and then put the D back in the bag for your walk to the ball in the correct fairway. No room? Hit the 7 off the tee instead.
Only way to learn to hit driver is to hit the driver, even if you’re easing into it. As you get more comfy swinging the lumber, you can start adding a WEE bit to your backswing for a few more yards (resisting the urge to go John Daly on it) and/or hit it on tighter holes.
Hal
Aug 27, 2025 at 3:35 pm
(plus, having that nice long driver in the bag is handy for taking relief…)
Raven
Aug 27, 2025 at 1:04 pm
“Nobody is going to kennel the big dog in favor of a 30- 34-degree iron”
As a beginner kid in the late 80s, my dad’s biker friend would take me out for the occasional round. One day he removed everything longer than my 7 iron from my bag and, well adults wouldn’t argue with my “uncle Steve” so your theory was tested on that day. It ended up being the first round in which I ever broke 100!
The concept was to have nothing I couldn’t hit well all the time in the bag, which just happened to be the 7 iron and shorter. A classmate tried the same with only a 5W, SW and putter as a joke after I pulled that one off (go figure, he could make approaches better with the 5W for some reason)… and he also broke 100 that day. We often set club choice challenges after that.
If nothing else, leaving the ego at home can be educational and help us to learn shots we might never have tried as beginners. As a now occasional golfer I have days now where I can spray my woods, and even two 4 irons to start a par 5 can result in a birdie. This article has a lot of meaning to me… it summarizes in a way how I hit 95 yesterday on just my third round in four years.
Gary McCormick
Aug 27, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Another member of my employee golf club made the same suggestion to me once, years ago. He was then a much more experienced golfer than me, and I was expressing some worry at using driver off the tee on a golf hole with a very narrow, tree-lined, fairway. I hit driver, nice and straight (unusually for me at the time…), but have pondered his suggestion over the years. I may try that strategy sometime, just for the sake of experimentation.