Bugbear of mine

[Smiffy]

A cynic would say your case helps prove that by omitting it folks will disregard it, despite its importance to a successful strike

I always check the "spec" of a driver on the respective manufacturers website, where no doubt they DO show the shaft length. I'm just saying that it's not a spec I'm particularly interested in.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I always check the "spec" of a driver on the respective manufacturers website, where no doubt they DO show the shaft length. I'm just saying that it's not a spec I'm particularly interested in.

That sums it up for me - if I ever wanted to check the length of a club I'll just have a quick look on their website - but don't think I have ever known the length. Doesn't make a difference to me knowing It.

 

[sawtooth]

a) Driver shaft length is either not important and has zero or very little bearing on ones ability to hit a good shot.

Or b) it's a critical factor and it must be taken into consideration in order to get the best results from a driver.

If the latter then manufacturers and retailers have a duty imo to make that very clear to the consumer.

At the very least common sense dictates that it's a good idea for all parties that the customer walks away very happy with his purchase, for many reasons.

Must be a) then , which is why no one seems that fussed?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

For someone to walk away happy with their purchase will depend on the results of hitting the ball - it won't matter to someone what the shaft length is as long as the club produces the results when the person uses it

 

[Slab]

For someone to walk away happy with their purchase will depend on the results of hitting the ball - it won't matter to someone what the shaft length is as long as the club produces the results when the person uses it

Makes me wonder why reviewers or retailers very often (if not consistently) include the CC size, surely the same 'rule' applies?

 

[Smiffy]

Makes me wonder why reviewers or retailers very often (if not consistently) include the CC size, surely the same 'rule' applies?

Some people like bigger headed drivers, some don't. To show head size is common sense I think as you immediately know what you are looking at.
Shaft length is not so black and white as it were.

 

[SAPCOR1]

It wouldn't be such an effort to include stock shaft length in a review.

However I would argue that the vast majority wouldn't know or care what the length of the shaft was.

For those that are interested it is easy enough to find out from the manufacturers website, retailers website or shop that they are buying from.

If you take it to the next level of interest then they are more likely to go for custom fitting anyway.

The main point of advertising is to get your attention and create interest in a product or service and hopefully gain a sale

 

[Slab]

Some people like bigger headed drivers, some don't. To show head size is common sense I think as you immediately know what you are looking at.
Shaft length is not so black and white as it were.

Don't want to get all pedantic about this but that could easily be applied to shaft length....... Some people like 'shorter shafted drivers', some don't. To show 'shaft length' is common sense I think as you immediately know what you are looking at.

I just think that with some reviewers/retailers its conspicuous by its absence if other less meaningful stats are included

I'd never buy a club with a 46" shaft knowing that the first thing I'd need to do is get a saw out

 

[Smiffy]

Don't want to get all pedantic about this but that could easily be applied to shaft length....... Some people like 'shorter shafted drivers', some don't. To show 'shaft length' is common sense I think as you immediately know what you are looking at.

I just think that with some reviewers/retailers its conspicuous by its absence if other less meaningful stats are included

I'd never buy a club with a 46" shaft knowing that the first thing I'd need to do is get a saw out

I'm not going to get all "pedantic" either, but the FIRST thing that interests me in a Driver is the looks. If it looks good, it will get my initial interest.
Then I will read the reviews. If these all come out crap, I will lose my initial interest. If they all come out good, I will then visit the manufacturers website to read up about the technical aspects but I will not be bothered by shaft length. To me, rightly or wrongly, all drivers are "around" the same length and that's good enough for me.
Then I will try to have a smack with one, but am quite happy to splash my cash on one sight unseen.
This, I know, is not the best way to do things. But then I'm a prat.

 

[Slab]

I'm not going to get all "pedantic" either, but the FIRST thing that interests me in a Driver is the looks. If it looks good, it will get my initial interest.
Then I will read the reviews. If these all come out crap, I will lose my initial interest. If they all come out good, I will then visit the manufacturers website to read up about the technical aspects but I will not be bothered by shaft length. To me, rightly or wrongly, all drivers are "around" the same length and that's good enough for me.
Then I will try to have a smack with one, but am quite happy to splash my cash on one sight unseen.
This, I know, is not the best way to do things. But then I'm a prat.

I'm the same as you on this, my new driver was bought based purely on looks/features and reviews (& price) never got an opportunity to hold it or see it in the flesh, let alone hit it

Same for my current irons, come to think of it the only club I got a few practice swings with was my putter!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Makes me wonder why reviewers or retailers very often (if not consistently) include the CC size, surely the same 'rule' applies?

Because of the advent of "mini drivers" and smaller heads some mention the CC if it's a smaller head

 

[garyinderry]

If its a variable then it should be listed.

It can give the consumer a heads up so that they don't give up on the driver after three swings if they find it unwieldy and wild.

 

[Imurg]

Because of the advent of "mini drivers" and smaller heads some mention the CC if it's a smaller head

Yeah, but unless it's a proper mini driver (Bertha1.5, SLDR MiniD) the vast majority of driver here are 460cc. Some, mainly those aimed at better players, might be 440/430 cc...not a huge difference and it can easily be disguised with a flatter or taller face....
Let's face it, on the whole, shaft length can be more variable that head size..
Where's the harm in mentioning it..?

 

[USER1999]

My driver is off the rack. I didn't even hit it until a week after I bought it. I like the look of it though. It's fine. Stiff shaft, 9 ish degrees, done. Don't give a stuff how long the shaft is.

Thing is, most drivers are sold at around the same length. Why? Because you can cut them down. There are plenty of us who need longer shafted drivers, b cause we aren't midgets.

I'm not sure what the problem is? If you know what length you like cut it down. If you haven't got a clue, get c/f, or buy one you have hit successfully.

If it didn't come with a grip on it, which I always swap anyway, there would be no mention of shaft length at all. Sold long enough to cut to length, like unfinished trousers.

 

[chrisd]

I don't know the length of any of my clubs and only know the loft of my wedges, driver and rescue clubs because that's written on them. I would probably never buy a club without testing/custom fit, so the length is totally unimportant. I really don't see the need for the advertising blurb to make mention of it but, like others have said, the information is there if you check the manufacturers web site, I'm equally certain that there's no attempt to deceive the buying public.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I guess if there was a big demand for it they would include it in reviews and manufacturers would mention it but I don't see them hiding anything when it's freely available information

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I really don't see how this has been blown by some into a big issue. Adverts are there for one thing and one thing only, to grab your attention and get you out wanting to buy their wares. Putting too much information including specs will dilute this impact if customers see a waft of jargon which is why they don't do it.

Reviewers, and there are plenty about online, and in the press, should however give as much information as possible and that should include stock shaft lengths (and ideally stock shaft make). However, every golfer is different and if you stuck me and any other forum member off a similar handicap together with three standard off the shelf models, we'd get widely differing results. That's why you should try before you buy, even if that's bashing balls in a bay in a retailer (not my ideal choice) and at least getting an idea of how it'll perform for you. That's nowhere near a custom fit, but not every new shiny is going to suit and £300+ is a lot of cash to splash on a whim (been there done that) and so it is important to do at least a little research first. Would you really buy a new car without a basic look over the specs and even a short test drive. Is this really that much different?

 

[sawtooth]

I don't know the length of any of my clubs and only know the loft of my wedges, driver and rescue clubs because that's written on them. I would probably never buy a club without testing/custom fit, so the length is totally unimportant. I really don't see the need for the advertising blurb to make mention of it but, like others have said, the information is there if you check the manufacturers web site, I'm equally certain that there's no attempt to deceive the buying public.

Maybe the presumption from the manufacturer is that everyone that buys a driver will know that they ought to be custom fitted to get the best out of the club.

I never considered length of shaft as being important when I first started playing. That only become apparent later on (that shortening shaft would help) as I got more into golf and from reading on here, see what the pros do, etc

It certainly would not insult people's intelligence to have an advice sticker on the club. We aren't all club and shaft experts and with online shopping you won't have a sales rep advising you.

If some or most professionals adjust the shaft length to get the best results, do we need to also? If so it wouldn't hurt to be told about that IMO.

 

[evahakool]

Ok



You also said that manufacturers should say that the driver will be of no use to you unless custom fit ?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Maybe the presumption from the manufacturer is that everyone that buys a driver will know that they ought to be custom fitted to get the best out of the club.

I never considered length of shaft as being important when I first started playing. That only become apparent later on (that shortening shaft would help) as I got more into golf and from reading on here, see what the pros do, etc

It certainly would not insult people's intelligence to have an advice sticker on the club. We aren't all club and shaft experts and with online shopping you won't have a sales rep advising you.

If some or most professionals adjust the shaft length to get the best results, do we need to also? If so it wouldn't hurt to be told about that IMO.

All Pro's and club fitters etc tell everyone they believe custom fit is the way to go to get the best from a club - I would be very surprised if there is many who haven't heard that

But it's also an opinion as opposed to fact in regards custom fit is needed to get the best out of a club - heard a good deal many say it's not needed

But all information and recommendations etc are available for all to find and see