Driver shaft length

[chilly]

Digging up this thread. Built a 40.5" driver with 460cc head for a junior this weekend, hit it to test it out. Amazed how solidly I was hitting it, and getting around 240yds. Not bad, and jives with the 7yds/inch theory as my really good drives with a 45" driver are around 280yds (no, not average, this is a great drive for me).

I have a 40.5" pullout Grafalloy Blue 95s I'm going to put in a spare clubhead and see how it does as a 42" driver, sort of an extreme experiment to see how shorter shafts work. Hoping I can put together a true fairway finder that still gets it out there 250yds or so. I rarely manage to miss the fairway entirely with my 5wd, and this should play to that length but have a bit more distance and forvgiveness. Also, I figure the bad misses will now become "playable" misses, and cut down on penalty/punch out strokes.

Started playing a 9015d/Axiv Black combo the last few times out that plays at 44.5" and have hit three of my longest drives with it, some of my other combos are up to 45.75"....the solid contact trumps the little bit extra shaft length for me.

[JML22]

I basically hate everything about my driver right now

[Lefty-Golfer]

I basically hate everything about my driver right now

Above is funny!!

Here is what i can tell about driver length, i had a cobra something or other regular length and so on. it was fine and had reasonable length. I never have a had huge problem hitting the center of the face...keeping it lined up str8 yes but not hitting the middle. So anyone one day on a golf trip somewhere on the 2nd 18 with a couple to many drinks i shanked it for the 5th tie in a row and snapped it over my knee...i know dumb but i am not smart!! I play the rest of the trip with a 3 wood and play quite well. I get home and i am behind at work and need a driver by that friday, so i jump on Calloway preowned and buy the driver i have now. what i didn't know at the time is the sharf was at least 1" longer then anything i have ever had before (i still don't know the length) and i was suddenly not hitting the center of the club anymore...with much effort i learned to control this beast, i now hit it as straight or straighter then i ever have and i am at least 15 yards longer then i had been with my old driver. This past spring i went for a fitting for new driver, the pro gave me the entire line about shortening the length, accuracy being better then length, blah blah. after 30 minutes hitting different combinations of heads and sharts he advised me to stick with what i have!!! Obviously I must be the in the minority but it has helped my game in huge way. My Index is down 4.2 points from the start of the year...and that is something nobody can't argue with or complain about!!

[Scott_K]

I basically hate everything about my driver right now

It's the shaft....it's a noodle.

[JML22]

i dunno what it is, i cant control it, i have no idea where its goin
i hit other drivers great, AKA nike SQs dymos, pings etc
I'm just gonna wait for the VR to come down next year
•••• i hate my driver with a passion right now
its so long and kicks the ball up so high, even if i tee up and choke down
I hit my irons great, just can't get off the damn tee box

[keiko]

It's all about the swing. I use a 48" xxstiff in a 7* head and at age 65 I average 265 carry in the fairway. I believe too many fitters and players use too short a shaft in drivers to make up for a bad swing. Instead, get a good swing and you can enjoy distance with a longer shaft and lower lofted/lower spin head.
Don't believe the hype, perfect the swing.

[snofrog]

It's all about the swing. I use a 48" xxstiff in a 7* head and at age 65 I average 265 carry in the fairway. I believe too many fitters and players use too short a shaft in drivers to make up for a bad swing. Instead, get a good swing and you can enjoy distance with a longer shaft and lower lofted/lower spin head.

49"xx stiff ;^) perfect the swing indeed .

[c. lassiter]

It's all about the swing. I use a 48" xxstiff in a 7* head and at age 65 I average 265 carry in the fairway.

Sure, I want to hit it long and straight - but I also need a club that fits in the trunk of my car.

[chilly]

Just finished up the club, MX 700 head with Prolaunch Blue 95S shaft, cut down to 42" total length. Swingweight is definitely light right now but not ridiculous, we'll see how it hits them tomorrow. Feels awesome swinging it in the yard.

[JML22]

Ya i agree with swing faults but its MUCH MUCH MUCH harder to swing a longer club on plane with good mechanics

[ugulini]

I recently picked up the r9 460. I am thinking of chopping it down by an inch or an inch and a half. I am 6'1", and actually have a 1/2" extension in my irons, but I find it a lot harder to control the driver with a long shaft in it.

does anyone have experience cutting this particular driver down? Good/bad results with cutting the stock shaft?

[Joeyvee]

I'm putting a 43inch steel shaft in mine. Screw it. I want more accuracy. Distance was never my problem.

[6iron]

I had my Taylormade Superfast driver cut from 46.5" to 45" from the butt end and regripped with a oversized grip yesterday. I played with it today and hit it VERY straight. I lost only a few yards in length. I'm a happy with it and playing again tomorrow!

[JML22]

i just played a round with an old Ft-3, so much easier to hit than my burner just on the fact its shorter

[Gerald]

The ONLY problem after shortening a drivers is that a first you'll see a big improvement in accuracy, a few weeks later you'll notice balls start getting all over the place again .... as you mind ....... suddenly become aware of the fact that it is still a driver, being the about hardest club to hit great !

[keiko]

My point is: guys with shorter shafts try to hit the ball harder, they swing faster, harder and hit less flush. When you have a longer shaft in a low lofted head(must have right combo), you have a tendency to swing better, easier, and learn to hit it more flush because the swing is using the big muscles(must be taught how to do it).
Simply going to a longer shaft will not do it, fitting with correct shaft(ie.flex, kickpoint, cpm etc) and correct head(low lofted) and teeing the ball higher and more forward while swinging within oneself and on plane.
Yes, alot of if's but those who are willing to work a little will get big rewards. Who wouldn't want an extra 20 yards.