Iron Length

[duckhook]

I've always choked down about a half inch on all of my clubs, but lately the club doesn't feel comfortable unless I grip way down on the club. I'm wondering if I shorten the length of my clubs about an inch if it will mess with the swing weights too bad. I know I can get the weight added back, but am mainly just wondering if you guys think this would be a good idea and if I would be able to notice the difference. I'm not really looking to get a new set so I would rather just adjust my set.

[snowman0157]

I am not a clubfitter, but IMO, you won't notice 1/2 inch, but an Inch might be an issue. This will raiise the swingweight a good bit I believe which would make them fell more 'head heavy' (someone correct me if I am wrong). I actually like my clubs to be a little longer than standard, so I have them extendned 1/2 inch. You could just continue to choke down a bit and if you, want you can get your grips built-up a bit (extra wraps of tape) if the grip feels too skinny when you are choking down (that is a peeve of mine, when chking down), or I also think you can find low-taper grips if that is important to you.

[Boyder]

This reminds me of a story I heard Anthony Kimm tell on TV once where he said that he like choking down on his driver, so Nike made him a shorter driver ... and he just ended up choking down on that one too making it too short ... basically he discovered he simply liked the way choking down on a standard club felt in his hand ... so I guess I'm saying is perhaps the best thing for you to do is leave the club as is ... just a thought.

[Jay-Bird]

  snowman0157 said:

(someone correct me if I am wrong).

You're wrong.

Cutting the shafts an inch will decrease swing weight - about 5 swing weight points (per inch) - if all other things stay constant. So you'll go from say D2 to C8. But, by choking down in the first place you're changing the effective swing weight of the club...

[Shanks A Million]

  Jay-Bird said:

You're wrong.

AND the balance point. Changing things will change the whole swing. If it feels good and natural, don't mess with it. Choking up on a club is a great idea, and offers a great increase in control by increasing the MOI of the swing plane (well, sort of, it's hard to explain).