The perfect driver lets you play golf the way it was intended. Advanced ball striking view topic shorter driver shaft. But, when i hit my driver, the shot is a consistent push to the right with a little bit of a fade. Shorter driver shaft length and distance by norcalvol.
Cobra last week released the king f7 driver, a club designed with lots of. I have long monkey arms and drive the ball pretty far, ive been told by a few people that shortening my driver shaft may help me control the ball off the tee better. Pj media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Harrison shotmaker shaft insert improve driver accuracy. Golfers are obsessed with distance, especially off. And from time to time, i still go back to golf lab and they will put a shorter shaft club in my hand to see if i can get better accuracy and not loosing much distance, and time and time again, my current long shaft driver out perform the shorter version. I have plenty of distance, but driver accuracy is an issue for me. What is the ideal shaft length for a driver golf club. For the past few months, ive knowingly been flouting the 14club rule by carrying two drivers. Jan 12, 2012 and from time to time, i still go back to golf lab and they will put a shorter shaft club in my hand to see if i can get better accuracy and not loosing much distance, and time and time again, my current long shaft driver out perform the shorter version. May 20, 2015 why you probably need a shorter driver shaft. For nongolfers or those just starting to get into the sport it can seem almost impossible that the design of the shaft will have much effect on the overall swing of the user.
That said, it makes sense to use, for example, a 70 gram shaft as a starting point for a player who prefers a 60 gram driver shaft because, when its cut shorter, the shaft will feel similar in terms of weight. Rickie fowler finds shorterlength driver to his liking. They may still hit the occasional bomb with a longer shaft, but playing it at 44. My swing speeddistance off the tee increased when i shortened my titleist driver shaft by one inch. In actual fact the best driver shafts can add a remarkable number of yards to a shot and can vastly improve the users game. Find the right driver shaft length for your game golficity.
One thing i came across that i am going to explore in this article was playing with a significantly shorter shaft. Cutting driver shaft the 19th hole mygolfspy forum. The perfect club driver is shorter than a conventional driver. Driver shafts have gotten longer over the last few years. Jan 12, 2017 the results from the driver test showed much larger fluctuations in accuracy and really demonstrated the value of fitting. So i decided to not only experiment with a shorter driver. Is that helping the average golfer or hurting them. Shorter driver length means better and more consistent contact which leads to better and more consistent distance. I have a tm 320 regular version with a prolite stiff.
You can readjust the swingweight by adding lead tape to. We have watched as driver heads have gotten bigger and bigger over the course of the past few years. They prioritise accuracy and control when configuring their driver setups. No matter how good they are, tour players know that the longer the length of the driver, the more difficult it will be to hit on center and to hit with accuracy. Senior flex shafts are appropriate for golfers who swing between 75 and 90 mph and carry a driver about 180 to 200 yards. If you are a golf fan you may have seen the news recently that reigning pga championship winner jimmy walker put a 42 inch titleist 917d2 driver into play at the pga tour events held recently in hawaii. The longer shaft promises more speed but possibly less control while the shorter shaft promises more consistency, but which is best. Its probably a good idea for the vast majority of amateurs, but cutting the driver shaft down is not the final word. Four years ago the average driver shaft length sold in retail shops was 45. This is the primary reason they, on average, use driver lengths that are much shorter than what the golf companies make to sell to regular golfers. Effect of driver shaft length on distance i have a 2006 ti460 cleveland launcher, with the standard cleveland sliver aflex shaft, and the clubs length is 45.
Im 57 with shoes on and bought a 9 d2 about a year ago. Is there an optimum shaft length depending on driver swing characteristics. Jds clubs offers hot deals on aftermarket driver shafts, for sale. So would the average 18handicap golfer benefit from having a shorter driver shaft fitted. In the march hotlinks, club expert tom wishon wrote that one key to real improvement with the driver comes from a shorter length. The more shaft you cut off, the lighter, more stiff, and effectively flatter the club becomes. A shorter driver, he said, encourages center contact on the clubface, which leads to longer, straighter drives. My question is if i was to take my older driver the older cobra f speed and take off the grip and take it down, oh say 1.
Additionally, you can try visiting your local pro shop for a professional driver fitting. According to s jonathan wall, fowler cut his driver down to 43. There is an optimum driver shaft length with which golfers will achieve maximum clubhead speed and it will. Having different flex shafts in your bag is common. The most popular deviation is to go one grade stiffer with your driver. Get the best deals on cleveland golf club shafts and upgrade your home workout gear with the largest online selection at. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the accuracy and distance of.
I know there are some that successfully play their shafts over 45 but they are certainly the minority. I think the player who went from, say, a 50 gram driver shaft to a 90 gram fw shaft would be a significant outlier. Michael breed, host of the golf fix, teaches how to find the proper length of your driver shaft and gives a drill to maximize distance. Extremely over active power fades, no distance, very humbling and aggravating to say the least. Jul 24, 2008 right shortening the shaft will make the shaft stiffer for starters eg. More than once, fitters have told us that that accuracy differences between shafts can be much more significant than the other metrics we sometimes focus on.
A shorter driver could be beneficial because it is typically easier to hit squarely. Tiger woods at his longest used a relatively short 43. For fairness, accuracy and balance in news reporting. I am definitely more accurate with the shorter driver.
A recent golf test i dont remember where, showed amateurs hitting the longer shafts 45. We have a great selection in our product line at prices that are pocket friendly. Sounds counterintuitive, and probably is, as i expect. I had my driver shaft professionally shortened to either 44 or 43. For some that threshold could be 46 while for others they perform best with a 42 driver. I found a few studies that showed promising results. The drivers and shafts used by the top10 drivers on the pga tour.
Youll find it easier to hit the sweet spot with a shorter shaft, and you can go. Distance was a little shorter, but i think that was more the club and the gd tourad ysq just not matching my swing more than the 1 inch shorter shaft. Driver shaft length will be reduced by the biggest golf companies in the near future and they will market heavily the far increased accuracy of the shorter shaft. Aftermarket driver shafts for sale custom golf clubs. Can i shorten my driver shaft or should i just reshaft.
Later in the session, he started suggesting a shorter shaft. I didnt lose much distance on slight mishits, but was in the short rough instead of behind a. My driver woes have returned with a vengeance here of late. I havent lost any distance and ive gained plenty of accuracy. Trying a longer shaft is a popular suggestion these days, but most players should, if anything, try a shaft half an inch shorter than whats in their driver. The same thing happened on my previous driver several years ago. The purpose of golf myths unplugged is to challenge the accepted wisdom of golf, but even we have blind spots. We also offer free shipping on orders over usd 100. I have pretty good results, but am not as accurate as i would like. The tip section of a golf shaft is the most flexible area of the shaft and as such it tends to deform and vibrate upon impact, and this inconsistency affects driver accuracy. Jan 07, 2015 you really would not want to take a 3w shaft and stick it in a driver, if in fact all you are trying to accomplish is to play a shorter length driver. Over the last week i have experimented with choking down and have found that the distance is the same if not better since i hit the.
Also does a shorter shafts allow more consistent control. The perfect club driver 370 vft perfect driver golf club. Im a very consistent and straight hitter but can use all the help i can get on. As illustrated by the charts below, that certainly was the case during our test. Something that has also been happening that has not been as well publicized is that shafts have also been slowly getting longer.
If you are going to shorten a golf club, there are a few things to keep in mind. Changes in shaft length changes a bit more than might be obvious and it does not equate to greater accuracy regardless of what frank thomas writes. When i pull the trigger on a new driver, that is something im going to factor in. Anyone ever shorten their driver shaft for more control. There are articles out there stating that there is no consistency difference between a longer driver and a shorter driver so you might as well play the longest driver you. For every 12 inch you remove, you will lose approximately three swingweight points. But im almost 62, and always figured, im to tall for that to work for me. What difference would i expect from a heavier shaft. Dec 01, 2019 what is the optimum driver shaft length. This raises the immediate question, why is a relatively tall, obviously highly skilled player using a shorter than standard driver.
Jun 21, 2018 driver shaft length is longer or shorter better. Jimmy walker on using a 42inch titleist driver at the sbs. Lets take three woods and compare them, 1 a wood wood, a steel wood and a titainum wood. Having tested a few golfers with shorter shafts it seems to me that each golfer has a threshold length an ideal length that gives them the optimal combination of speed and accuracy. Shorter driver shaft can a shorter driver shafts say from 44 to 42 help or aid in driving the ball more consistent as opposed to longer shafts. He played moses in the epic film the ten commandments 1956, for which he received his first nomination for the golden globe award for best actor motion picture drama. There is an optimum driver shaft length with which golfers will achieve maximum clubhead speed and it will vary from player to player. I am thinking of reshafting this driver with a ust low carb aflex shaft which i was very pleased with in my previous driver a cobra ss350. This will cost you a bit of time and effort but at the worst, youll probably improve your understanding of what works for you. But as i noted drivers have also gotten lighter and longer than ever and for me, i cant swing these clubs consistently. If i shorten my driver shaft will it help with accuracy of. Shorter driver shaft here is my explaination when fitting.
Jan 31, 2017 the stock driver length of most manufacturers taylormade, callaway ping, cobra these days is 45. One player was most accurate with the lightest shaft, and his distance from center more than tripled when he went heavier. Struggled with it for a week or so and then it seemed great. The distance the players hit the ball was also negligible between the two shaft lengths, with an average of less than 1.
Most will find improved accuracy and improved distance with a shorter shaft. As a hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. Sounds counterintuitive, and probably is, as i expect most people will experience some increase in accuracy by going down 12 to 1 inch. Wishon also told me that the average driver length on the pga tour is shorter than the standard lengths equipment companies sell us. Dec 11, 2018 clubs other than drivers gradually get shorter if a 44inch steel shaft driver is indicated by the chart, your 5iron will measure 38 inches and sand wedge 35. For many of you reading this i am confident that if you were able to shorten the shaft of your driver you will actually pick up distance because youll be striking it closer to the sweet spot of the club. Our reporters and columnists provide original, indepth analysis from a variety of perspectives. Many golf monthly forum members are increasingly inquisitive over the distance gains we see on readerfitting days, questioning where exactly the distance.
Kapalua is a course where accuracy off the tee isnt as important, and right now hes actually losing strokes in the strokes gained. This may seem short to you but with their amazing club head speed and sweet spot accuracy the pros are still able to crush the ball a country mile, even with the shorter shaft. Only the most gifted athletes can handle the long shaft of a conventional driver and successfully square up the club head at impact. Needing both a shorter shaft and a heavier shaft is a right pita.
Standard drivers for women are an 1 inch shorter than standard mens drivers. Even my playing partners couldnt believe how much straighter i was hitting my driver. The stock driver length of most manufacturers taylormade, callaway ping, cobra these days is 45. The harrison shotmaker is a usgaapproved removable insert which goes into your driver shaft to improve accuracy. However, because i drive the right shoulder down and through the ball so much, it means that the plane gets quite a bit steeper.
Check out this article to find out more about this concept. I am interested to attend my lesson and swing with a shorter shaft to see if that helps too. Aug 20, 2015 using trackman my idea was to test the same golfer, clubhead and golf ball, but change the shaft length. Effect of driver shaft length on distance im a very consistent and straight hitter but can use all the help i can get on distance since my typical drive is about 210 yards. Interestingly i always thought i had a pretty flat swing, especially as i stand up tall to the ball at address. Forecaddie events newsletters instruction fitness 2020 media kit. Driver shaft length are you shorting yourself using a 46. When i bought it the salesman recommended a diamana blue shaft. Same if not better distance and the ball marks on the face were in the center and more tightly clustered than my longer driver.
Michael breed give tips for driver length and distance golf. Four players were best with the midweight shaft, and, again, some struggled mightily with lighter or. On monday they also talked about it in a simulator segment and how you should try choking down on your driver first to see if you like the feel of a shorter shaft before you get fitted for one. We address why longer shafts dont actually produce longer. Length of shafts according to height in golf sportsrec. I took my current driver, which is the titleist d3 8. Taking a look at the driver shaft length used by the tour leaders in strokes gained. This gives him less flexdistance but more accuracy in his shorter irons. October 4, 1923 april 5, 2008 was an american actor and political activist. Ok, i know, there have been plenty of threads on here touting the advantages of shortening the shaft on your driver. One of those was revealed recently when we realized that we had never tested the concept of shorter driver shafts being more accurate. Regular flex shafts are designed for golfers who swing 90 to 100 mph and carry a driver about 200 to 240 yards. Com equipment insider jonathan wall takes a look at rory mcilroys callaway apex mb irons, the rise of taylormades spider putter on tour, the.
Many have heard that a shorter driver shaft can increase. Can a shorter driver shafts say from 44 to 42 help or aid in driving the ball more consistent as opposed to longer shafts. Why you should consider a shorter driver shaft new zealand. Thinking about cutting my driver shaft down an inch. Read the excellent article on testing long and short shafts carried out by mygolfspy here. So i decided to not only experiment with a shorter driver, but also heavier and stiffer. Struggling with accuracy off the tee, rickie fowler shaved an inch off his driver length at the honda classic, using a 43. More importantly that test showed a 28% increase in accuracy with the shorter shaft. The folks at ping built me two identical g30 driversone at their standard length of 4534 inches, the other two inches shorter. I think having a shorter driver is a great idea, but it should only be in play at events where accuracy is a premium.
I was hitting the ball so far off line it cost me not only accuracy but. I have no idea why, as the research definitely shows that you should be a lot more accurate if you shorten your driver, but for me, it did exactly the opposite. In reality, the average length of a driver used on tour is 44. Recently, i figured out how to hit my 3 wood a satisfactory distance with control. The shorter driver did perform more consistent overall, however there were a few of the testers that did see a positive result with the longer driver over the shorter driver. Graphite clubs are slightly longer, with a standard driver at 45 inches, 5iron at 38. Many tour pros are opting for a shorter driver shaft these days, but why. The quest for a more accurate driver practical golf. But if longer shafts compromise your accuracy, youre driving for show instead. I was on a monitor and the fitter said i hit the ball high with a lot of spin and tended to pull it. The perfect driver lets you play golf the way it was intended to be playedfrom the fairway.
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