Driver shaft length

**JML22** · May 11, 2010

So i have an 09 burner which has the 46.5 inch stock shaft and i just hit my buddy's r9 today which i think has a 45.75 ?
Its such a small length difference but it feels completely different and more controllable.
Am i crazy or is this something proven that a shorter driver will be more consistent/easier to control

**mcotter** · May 12, 2010

of course shorter shaft is easier to control, but shorter in distance too. I choke down a bit on mine on tighter holes and let her all the way out and rip it on more open holes.

**JML22** · May 12, 2010

Yeah but i'd rather hit 270-280 in fairway 60-80% rather than 280-300 30-50%

**mcotter** · May 12, 2010

sure you would. You would be one of the best drivers on tour.

**JML22** · May 12, 2010

yeah i guess i should have said 240-250 maybe not that short not 270-280 haha
Not fairway either, i meant safe/not in the bush

**deronsizemore** · May 12, 2010

When I ordered a new shaft for my driver, getting it cut down to 44.5 was the best decision I've ever made in regards to a driver. It makes a HUGE difference in quality of my contact and I do not hit it any shorter than I used too with other drivers of 45+ length because I'm making pure contact more often. If my opinion, unless you're unusually tall, there's not reason to ever have a driver longer than 45" but most people would do much better with a 43.5 or 44" shaft.

These new drivers that claim more distance is simply because of their longer shaft which only hurts the average golfer because they don't swing consistently enough to hit a wedge straight, let alone a 46.5" driver.

**imtomtomim** · May 12, 2010

Well, I don't agree that it hurts the average golfer. Maybe it wouldn't benefit some more consistent golfers, but a lot of guys who's drives could be anywhere, it would help them a lot. Yes, the miss is bigger, but that's what goes with the territory. I'd think most people's miss patterns expand over longer distances, but now they can have a whole new look at their target, closer. I play with a bunch of retired guys, even though I'm 22 haha, and I could see them all benefiting from another 20 yards, if not more. It's given some of them the ability to reach some longer par 4's in 2.

That being said, I play a 44" and I'm plenty happy with the distance I get and having more consistency. Maybe someday, I'll get myself fitted for a longer shaft that fits me, but that bill is gonna need to wait.

**deronsizemore** · May 12, 2010

Well, I don't agree that it hurts the average golfer. Maybe it wouldn't benefit some more consistent golfers, but a lot of guys who's drives could be anywhere, it would help them a lot. Yes, the miss is bigger, but that's what goes with the territory. I'd think most people's miss patterns expand over longer distances, but now they can have a whole new look at their target, closer. I play with a bunch of retired guys, even though I'm 22 haha, and I could see them all benefiting from another 20 yards, if not more. It's given some of them the ability to reach some longer par 4's in 2.

I'm confused. It could help them alot, but their miss is bigger? The average golfer misses quite often, therefore it would hurt them a lot, wouldn't it?

It wouldn't add 20 yards either. Typically the rule of thumb is for every inch, add/subtract 7 yards, but that all takes into account how solid of contact you made too which your average amateur doesn't make solid contact all the time. If the average amateur is playing with a 46.5" shaft and catches one perfectly, sure, their drive will be longer than the same exact swing with a 44" driver. But, again, they're too inconsistent to to really get a benefit from 46.5" or longer.

**JML22** · May 12, 2010

Depends what kind of average golfer you're talking about
I consider myself average and i hit the ball fairly solidly with my irons/driver but have atrocious short game and putting.
Where as some have good short game and crappy long irons/driver.
I was just curious, i dont have major problems hitting driver consistently, its just i hit my friends' r9 today and it just seemed a lot easier to handle.

**imtomtomim** · May 12, 2010

I'm confused. It could help them alot, but their miss is bigger? The average golfer misses quite often, therefore it would hurt them a lot, wouldn't it?

A miss is a miss, they get in trouble regardless. I'm just telling you pure observation, it has helped a lot of older golfers as I have watched them with the longer driver. A mishit is still longer than a miss hit on the 44, and hitting a mid iron is a lot better than hitting a long iron/wood into greens.

And is your miss not bigger as you hit a longer club? Distance probably isn't an issue for you, neither to I, but for these guys, having a bit more gives them a new look, closer, easier. But we're getting off topic. yes, general rule of thumb, a shorter club is easier to control, wedge easier than a wood.

**misty_mountainhop** · May 12, 2010

When I ordered a new shaft for my driver, getting it cut down to 44.5 was the best decision I've ever made in regards to a driver. It makes a HUGE difference in quality of my contact and I do not hit it any shorter than I used too with other drivers of 45+ length because I'm making pure contact more often. If my opinion, unless you're unusually tall, there's not reason to ever have a driver longer than 45" but most people would do much better with a 43.5 or 44" shaft.

What he said! The longer shafts are a marketing gimmick - "Our driver is longer than yours!". What's even more daft is they make them >46"

and make them light as a feather; no chance.

A miss is a miss, they get in trouble regardless. I'm just telling you pure observation, it has helped a lot of older golfers as I have watched them with the longer driver. A mishit is still longer than a miss hit on the 44, and hitting a mid iron is a lot better than hitting a long iron/wood into greens.

I suspect the older guys are benefiting more from the ultra-light shaft than the extra ~2". An interesting player to watch re. shaft length and distance is AK. He always grips down what seems like quite a bit but seems to bomb it out there fine. I'd rather a shorter (and heavier!) shaft and a consistently purer strike; better to be, say, 270 average with +/- 10 yard dispersion than maybe 270 average with a +/- 30 yard dispersion. I'd happily drop the 300 yarders if it meant I also dropped the really wayward shots.

**JML22** · May 12, 2010

It depends on the course you play too
my home course i've golfed the most if you miss off tee you're hitting 3 off the tee again and so on. Damn white stakes. But i do see what you're saying. I golf with a lot of my dad's friends who drive it like 200, they need those 20-30 yards if possible or they're automatically hitting 4/5 to the green on a par 5.
I dunno 46.5 and 45.75 seemed like a HUGE difference in control and i'd only give up like 5-10 yards right?
That's worth an OB even if it keeps me in place just once

**shades9323** · May 12, 2010

What he said! The longer shafts are a marketing gimmick - "Our driver is longer than yours!". What's even more daft is they make them >46"

AK also can't hit a fairway to save his life. Ranked 158 in fw %.

**rebby** · May 12, 2010

When I ordered a new shaft for my driver, getting it cut down to 44.5 was the best decision I've ever made in regards to a driver. It makes a HUGE difference in quality of my contact and I do not hit it any shorter than I used too with other drivers of 45+ length because I'm making pure contact more often. If my opinion, unless you're unusually tall, there's not reason to ever have a driver longer than 45" but most people would do much better with a 43.5 or 44" shaft.

Wow! What he said. Cutting down to 44.5" also gained me a few yards in distance as well.

**Scott_K** · May 12, 2010

It depends on the course you play too

I have the stock '09 shaft and I have been using it to the end of the grip. Try choking up on it for a little while. I did this a couple of times my last round and it was a world of difference. You might not end up losing distance because you're able to hit it cleaner.

**JML22** · May 12, 2010

Yah like its not the biggest deal its just everynow and then i get one of those ones where i'm 100 yards into the bush and i'm hitting 3 off the tee lol.
Ill try choking up before anything, i was just trying to figure if it was just in my head or something that is practical to do (cutting down the shaft)

**deronsizemore** · May 13, 2010

Yah like its not the biggest deal its just everynow and then i get one of those ones where i'm 100 yards into the bush and i'm hitting 3 off the tee lol.

Well, cutting down your shaft an inch or so isn't going to save you if your hitting shots 100 yards into the bushes. Your contact should be better as the shorter shaft will allow you to make center contact more often, but if your misses are THAT far off the fairway, an inch or two won't help much.

Go get some lessons.

**JML22** · May 13, 2010

I'm exaggerating obviously.
but a 10-15 yard miss = pond or no pond on some holes

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