Driver: Try this!

[PuttPutt]

I try with a standard length (45.5 inch range) nike driver.

I tried chocking down an inch to 1 1/2 inches.

I used to use the whole length of the club. But for now I'm going to keep chocking down.

Give it a try & get back with replies.

[Shanks A Million]

You're doing what all of us with shorter drivers already do. I play a 44" driver. Many of the lower handicaps here play a driver around 44-45". 99% of all the drivers on the market are too long. The Taylormade Burner Superfast is 46.5" long. Who do you think can control that thing? Not me, and not most of the tour pros. I'll stick with a 44" driver (there's only about 3 yards of difference anyway) for now.

[Tugglife2]

Shanks, are there any good drivers that come stock at "44? Also, when referring to the length, are people referring to shaft length or total driver length?

[CrazyXGolfer]

My driver is 44 and I love it! Then I still coke down on it in the wind when I hit my low stinger.

[Shanks A Million]

Shanks, are there any good drivers that come stock at "44? Also, when referring to the length, are people referring to shaft length or total driver length?

It's the lengh from the ground to the butt of the grip when the club is in playing position. There are no more 44" drivers as far as I know, marketing executives have long since realized that people will buy the driver that gives them the longest drive. If they get on the simulator, and hit one 260, one 256, and one 262, they will pretty much always buy the 262, even if most of the drives hit with that driver were around 180, and the drives of the other two were more consistantly in the 240s. They struggle to get every single inch out of them, and longer shafts are one way to go.

[chilly]

I just put a 42" driver setup together last night to see how it works, should definitely help find a few more fairways. If it works well, I'll go to a 43 and 44" to see how it goes.

[pxc]

Are there any advantages to having the shaft cut down vs. just choking down when swinging?

[groovezilla79]

Are there any advantages to having the shaft cut down vs. just choking down when swinging?

For me it's knowing that my grip is in the exact same place every time. I know exactly where the butt of the club should be in my palm and can feel when it's off. I can't feel the butt when choking down, so I don't know for sure that I've gripped the club the same way every time. + or - 1/4 inch when choking down can make all the difference when trying to hit the center of the clubface.

[chilly]

Functionally, choking down shouldn't be any different then cutting a shaft. For me personally, the "nub" at the top of the shaft bothers me and I can't seem to release the club...it's a mental thing but I do not like choking down much on clubs.

[Fozcycle]

Watch Anthony Kim the next time he plays on TV...He always chokes up 1 - 1 1/2" on every swing.

[sean_miller]

I just put a 42" driver setup together last night to see how it works, should definitely help find a few more fairways. If it works well, I'll go to a 43 and 44" to see how it goes.

I was thinking about putting the shaft from a POS Nickent 4DX 2-hybrid into an older Nickent Hyperforged 9 degree driver. I don't know why, I just was. Would that be totally ridiculous?

[enis750]

Functionally,

correct functionally it doesnt, except.......

cutting the shaft will affect the swing weight 95% of us wont notice cutting 1/2 to 1/4" off the butt

I was thinking about putting the shaft from a POS Nickent 4DX 2-hybrid into an older Nickent Hyperforged 9 degree driver. I don't know why, I just was. Would that be totally ridiculous?

hybrid shafts are usually heavier than driver shafts

the weight of that hybrid shaft might be somewhere between 75-85gms if its the latter of the two, then yes....for me a 85gm driver shaft would be a beast

[SeanMcFarlin]

I'm 14 and 5foot 6 inches and I use a 46.75 inch shaft on my Nike SUMO 5000. Its a stock shaft and I grip it right in the middle of the grip and I can still hit it pretty straight.

[yellokyd03]

Watch Anthony Kim the next time he plays on TV...He always chokes up 1 - 1 1/2" on every swing.

That's because his family was poor when he was younger so he played with his dad's clubs who was much taller then him. He got used to choking down. Nike made clubs for him that had shorter shafts with the same stiffness but he was just too used to choking down.

[sean_miller]

if its the latter of the two, then yes....for me a 85gm driver shaft would be a beast

Thanks.

PS. I love your new Anthony Calvillio / Alouettes headcover.

[enis750]

Thanks.

CFL....bleh....hahah!

it's actually an Arizona Wildcats cover Derek Gillespie had one on his driver when i was watching him a few weeks ago at the Open here thought it was sweet....ebay sent me one

[Jay-Bird]

correct functionally it doesnt, except.......

Choking Down changes the relative Swing Weight.