Driver shaft length

[jpalermo]

Titleist staffers:

Rory: MB's

Stricker: AP2's

Scott: MB's

Watney: AP2's

Simpson: 680's

Haas: CB's

Tae Kim: MB's

Fowler: MB's

Karlsson: MB's

Dufner: AP2's

Johnson: AP2's

Ogilvy: MB's

Van Pelt: CB/MB's

So.... Just at the ones I looked at its a 60/40 split.

[ApocG10]

My current shaft is 46.5 inches. But at the same time, I am 6'4", and tried a lot of shafts before I found the perfect one for me and my driver head (Ping Rapture). The original 909d was horrible. I had a very hard time to get a ball out past 220 yards.

[NuclearMike]

I'm short (5'6") but didn't shorten the shaft on my Nickent Evolver.  I have three different shafts from 44.5 to 45.5" and for some reason I make much more consistent contact on the sweet spot on the driver than I do with the longer irons in my bag.  Go figure.

[Golfingdad]

I have a 910 D3 9.5* (adjusted to 10.25*) with a 45" stiff Ahina shaft, and I also have a Razr Fit 10.5* with a x-stiff 45" Kaili shaft.  The Razr Fit has a considerably tighter dispersion than the D3 and so far I have not noticed much distance loss.  (It feels and sounds like it's shorter than the D3, but I can't prove it yet)

The problem is that I don't know if the difference is more attributable to the clubhead, the shaft type, or the shaft stiffness.  (If I knew it was the shaft, I'd get a matching one for the D3 and try it out)

To tie into the OP's question, if I just tried a shorter shaft in the D3 to go straighter, distance would probably come down (all else being equal) so I don't think that is necessarily the answer.

EDIT: And for the record, I am 6'-3".

[TourSpoon]

I cut my Cally Octane Tour to 45" and still grip down. When I walk into a store and pick up some of those 46.5s they just seem too long. Are we going working towards every driver being a "Killer Bee" and we can all be Rocky Thompson?

[k-troop]

I played a standard 43" driver for 20+ years until last summer.  Bought the 910D at stock 45" and it felt too long.  Played with it for a month gripped down 1-2 inches and liked it--so I cut an inch off the butt.  I love it (and I still grip it down an a half inch to an inch most of the time).  I actually hit it longer than when it was 45" because I'm in the sweet spot more often and it doesn't feel as awkward as when I was gripping down 2 inches.

[x1mlf]

I've used a Callaway FT-5 driver for the last 5 years, and had it cut down to 43" before I left the store.  The golf pro tried to talk me out of it when I asked to shave it down by 2", but in hindsight, it was the best decision I could have made because it allowed me to gain confidence with the big stick.  I still averaged between 250 - 265 off the tee, but my drives were always fairly straight.  The only ego crushing problem is that my golfing buddies consistently out distanced me.

I purchased a RAZR Fit over the weekend, and I'm in panic mode because it's 45.5" long (a full 2.5" longer than my former baby).  Although I did fairly well on the launch monitor, I won't know how accurate I am until I can get out there...nail biting time.

If logic prevails, I'll be cutting it down in the spring because I do value accuracy over length (ego check at the door).

[Pat007]

Tests on launch monitors and Iron Byron have shown that for every inch of length you remove, you lose 7 yards of distance. Small trade-off. To not hit it into the woods. It's worth the trim

[Bullitt5339]

Originally Posted by Pat007

Tests on launch monitors and Iron Byron have shown that for every inch of length you remove, you lose 7 yards of distance. Small trade-off. To not hit it into the woods. It's worth the trim

That's assuming you hit the ball on the sweet spot as the length goes up, something not many of us hackers can do.  My current driver is 45.5" and I hit a 44" driver today further because I was making more consistent contact and was more confident swinging harder.

[bigguygonz]

I want to reshaft my driver but go shorter to increase accuracy. Everything ive heard or read suggests shorter is better, so i thought id give it a try. I currently game a 46.5" wilson dxi 10.5, with an S flex pro launch red and midsize golf pride new decade grip. I'm getting the bimatrix tour prototype shaft and I want to play it at 44.5" but an concerned about the sw change. Can I maintain swing weight (or lessen impact on feel) by adding 10g tip weight and switching to the standard GP grip which is about 10g lighter?

[bigguygonz]

I want to reshaft my driver but go shorter to increase accuracy. Everything ive heard or read suggests shorter is better, so i thought id give it a try. I currently game a 46.5" wilson dxi 10.5, with an S flex pro launch red and midsize golf pride new decade grip. I'm getting the bimatrix tour prototype shaft and I want to play it at 44.5" but an concerned about the sw change. Can I maintain swing weight (or lessen impact on feel) by adding 10g tip weight and switching to the standard GP grip which is about 10g lighter?

PS I'm trying to avoid the lead tape solution if possible...

[simonmax]

Am the same h'cap as the OP.  Interestingly for me I found my R11 to be way more accurate than my RBZ, but the RBZ 30 yards longer than my R11.  Solution was simply to put the R11 shaft in the RBZ. Result was near RBZ distance with R11 accuracy - the R11 shaft is slightly shorter.  However, best results for me come from the 910 D2, which has an even shorter shaft but delivers length and accuracy.  Yes, I know this may be comparing apples with oranges but that's what I've found.

[Kujan]

Just for the heck of it I'm gonna pull the lead tape off my 44 inch Superfast and see how that goes compared to my standard 45.75 G15. That is once it warms up a bit!

[Bullitt5339]

Originally Posted by Kujan

Just for the heck of it I'm gonna pull the lead tape off my 44 inch Superfast and see how that goes compared to my standard 45.75 G15. That is once it warms up a bit!

I've tried to play my 44" G-20 without the lead tape, and the results weren't good.  I didn't think at my level it would make a big difference, but it did.

[Kujan]

I've tried to play my 44" G-20 without the lead tape, and the results weren't good.  I didn't think at my level it would make a big difference, but it did.

I was not happy with the 44 inch Superfast with the tape so I'll try it without. I doubt it will outperform the 45.75 G15.

[Kujan]

I was not happy with the 44 inch Superfast with the tape so I'll try it without. I doubt it will outperform the 45.75 G15.

Hoo had a devil of a time getting that glue off!

[tuffluck]

My stock Nike was 45.75, so when I built my new driver I went with 45.5. So far it's been a peach. All of my clubs are actually extended 1 inch because I am 6'5", so in general I am comfortable with a longer shaft though.

[jimmyc]

I just bought a Calloway optiforce 460cc driver, after having played with a Calloway FTi for the last probably 7 years.

After playing a couple of rounds, the optiforce is 25-30 yards further, but the problem is fairway shots are few and far between. I'm popping it up, slicing, and hooking. 1 out of 10 are straight and true.

The optiforce is touted as being the lightest driver Calloway has ever produced. The shaft is like 46 grams in weight. I definitely feel like my swing speed has increased dramatically, and Calloway claims a 23% increase through aerodynamics.

So, today, I had the shaft cut down from 46" to 44.5" to see if I can control it better. Of course now it feels even lighter.

I hope I didn't make a mistake. I'm playing tomorrow and will find out I guess.

My old FTi was also 46", but I think the heavier weight slowed me down enough to control it, creating a loss of distance.

Anyone have any thoughts negative or positive on my ramblings or theory?

My swing is now pretty fast with this lightweight. I'm 5' 8" and 67 yrs old. Need all the advantage I can get. HA!