2 and 3/4". Does it cost accuracy?

[kid2]

This has been bugging me a bit of late...Im sure that im not the only one that might think about the answer to this but if i am able to hit my 3 wood so well and feel very confident standing over a ball with that club in my hand why does a driver with a bigger head and a longer shaft cause so many problems?

You would think that the 3 wood with the smaller head would be far harder to use....I mean 460cc of driver head...How can you miss....So what gives.....

If i was to cut that 2 and 3/4"s off my driver shaft what would be the conclusion.....Would i loose any distance and would i have a club that was easier to control and find the centre of on most swings...
Surely a few extra mph that a longer shaft gives robs the player of the accuracy in the end.

A lot of my marks on my driver are either in the centre of the face or towards the heel.

Bit of an interesting read here.....http://www.amigo4golf.com/shafts.php

 

[G1BB0]

I found this http://www.golfwrx.com/2009/05/05/the-lengths-that-we-drive-to/

I also remember reading an article showing actual stats for long v shorter driver and the accuracy & dispersion were much better and the loss of distance was neglible. will have a wee search for it now

 

[Imurg]

It's where you miss rather than missing altogether.
With less loft, the Driver is much easier to hit sideways so it has to be huge to counter that. But being huge doesn't stop the driver being easy to hit badly
Couple that with the (probable) fact that most of us swing harder with the Driver because it supposedly goes further leads to inconsistent results.
Shortening the shaft should mean a better strike and potentially more distance but there could be a loss in swing speed too.

 

[JustOne]

It probably costs both accuracy and length what with dodgy swingpaths and off-centered hits. Bubba's driver has a 40" shaft?... shorter than pretty much ALL club golfers. Whilst he's not the longest hitter on the planet he's certainly one of the longest and most consistent on tour.

 

[kid2]

It probably costs both accuracy and length what with dodgy swingpaths and off-centered hits. Bubba's driver has a 40" shaft?... shorter than pretty much ALL club golfers. Whilst he's not the longest hitter on the planet he's certainly one of the longest and most consistent on tour.

Right im off for the hacksaw ......

Would cutting an inch and a half off a shaft need an adjustment to swing weight and to grip size afterwards?..

 

[JustOne]

Right im off for the hacksaw ......

Would cutting an inch and a half off a shaft need an adjustment to swing weight and to grip size afterwards?..

Not really grip size but it does affect the swingweight... however it might suit you so no need to rush off and correct that until you've hit it.... if it's crap sell it

I've had a couple of clubs cut down over the years and they've been brilliant... until a newer technology comes along and then it's hard to take a hacksaw to something you've paid good $'s for.

 

[BeachGolfer]

Loping 2 3/4" off the shaft would make the driver so light you'd have a job knowing where the head was at any point during the swing. Getting the weight back through adding to the club head end would throw out the shaft flex to some where slightly stiffer than a wet noodle which for most produces guaranteed low left hosel rockets into the gorse.

Just grip down it a bit.

 

[kid2]

Not really grip size but it does affect the swingweight... however it might suit you so no need to rush off and correct that until you've hit it.... if it's crap sell it

I've had a couple of clubs cut down over the years and they've been brilliant... until a newer technology comes along and then it's hard to take a hacksaw to something you've paid good $'s for.

Well i picked it up 2nd hand for 100 notes James....So im not married to the thing.....I suppose sticking some weight back on the sole would bump the weight back up if needed.

 

[kid2]

It's where you miss rather than missing altogether.
With less loft, the Driver is much easier to hit sideways so it has to be huge to counter that. But being huge doesn't stop the driver being easy to hit badly
Couple that with the (probable) fact that most of us swing harder with the Driver because it supposedly goes further leads to inconsistent results.
Shortening the shaft should mean a better strike and potentially more distance but there could be a loss in swing speed too.

Ever shorten one Murg?

 

[SGC001]

Fitting for length Wishon would argue for the longest that you can hit solid and on centre regularly.

Impact tape, chalk on the club face or non permanent marker on the ball can help identify where you are contacting the ball (you have mentioned it's centre to heel so trying a shorter driver may be worthwhile).

If you don't know of anyone with a shorter driver who's willing to let you try it, why not start of by cutting of 1" and re-check the marks. I say start with 1" as your pro should be able to extend it (assuming graphite) by an inch at a later date should you wish to sell it and the buyer prefer 'standard' length.

It'll play a little stiffer, will feel a little lighter; as suggested previously see how you feel with it before rebalancing.

It might be worth checking with your pro for a price, they may be able to save the grip and cut it down for less than you think. If not there's info out there on how to do it. Your pro may even have a shorter driver for you to try.

Wishon argues that shorter shaft length, flexier shafts and more loft may suit the majority of golfers versus what they are currently using, but he's a fitter and wouldn't go off generalisations. One of his books 'search for the perfect golf club, is worth reading if you're thinking of buying equipment. It could save you money in the long run, help you understand what is happening and make the right choice for you. It's an easy read for what could be considered a technical area and he shows a sense of humour too.

 

[Dave B]

One thing you must bear in mind when taking a hacksaw to a shaft is that if you grip at the top the lie angle of the club will also change. It may not cause a big difference but it is something to bear in mind. If it doesn't work out you can re-grip and have an extension put in.

It's a shame that when you go for a fitting most pro shops don't carry different length shafts because 1-2 inches could make a huge difference for the average golfer

 

[bobmac]

if i am able to hit my 3 wood so well and feel very confident standing over a ball with that club in my hand why does a driver with a bigger head and a longer shaft cause so many problems?

There's a simple answer which Imurg has already said...

Couple that with the (probable) fact that most of us swing harder with the Driver because it supposedly goes further leads to inconsistent results.

 

[Ethan]

Bubba's driver has a 40" shaft?... shorter than pretty much ALL club golfers.

Bubba uses a 44" driver.

 

[CMAC]

Before cutting just place a rubber band 2" down the grip and use that mark as the top of the club to see how you will fare, quick, easy, cheap and no perm damage to your beloved driver.........yet

I read a great article with evidence of shorter drivers NOT costing us any length as the strikes are better, smash factor improves so does ball speed and ultimate distance.

 

[Oddsocks]

Kid, if I remember right the g20 & i20 both have shorter shafts this year, before you cut yours what about trying one of them.

For what it's worth the best driver I've had was a callaway great big Bertha 416. The head was easy to control, the shaft was around 3 inches shorter than the burner and I rarely missed a fairway. Only moved it on as the head was non conforming.

 

[m10johnson]

My dad cut his driver down an inch or so after using a female driver in America. He now hits it straighter and has a more consistent length.

 

[Hobbit]

I went the other way with a 5 wood. In its original guise it worked wonders. Unfortunately I damaged it hitting a tree on a follow through... So thinks I, lets fit a 3 wood shaft. Disaster!

 

[kid2]

Bubba uses a 44" driver.

Would this be the average tour length Ethan?
Kinda makes me wonder why our drivers are longer...

 

[kid2]

There's a simple answer which Imurg has already said...

But i consciously try to swing the driver the same way i would my 3 wood Bob....I wont lie i do hit it well at times but its a 50/50 mix....
Either this or my course management is going to need a slight overhaul.
I think that from playing without a driver for so long im trying my best to tame the thing and its biting back more often than not.

 

[SGC001]

Would this be the average tour length Ethan?
Kinda makes me wonder why our drivers are longer...

44 1/2 iirc from the book I quoted earlier. I'll double check it later when I get chance.

The same book would suggest marketing, along the lines of further than ever, which is pretty much the same argument for vanishing loft on irons and some been made longer as 'standard'.