Distance con

[duncan mackie]

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/2012/10/which-driver-shaft-length/

Here's a good link. I'm not saying its scientific testing but certainly accurately reflects my own experience.

I guess I have to start with the disclaimer that I'm not 'having a go' but -

1. AR never made the tour
2. even after his testing he uses 44.5"
3. his testing was soooo flawed it's irrelevant (different shafts in different heads!)
4. he states in the article "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. For some that threshold could be 46″ while for others they perform best with a 42″ driver."

Can we just agree that the average driver length on the main male tour is less than the shaft length on most retail drivers today, as a 'fact'

If you find 43" the right length for your driver, then great, if you follow the really great club fitters (like Tom Wishon) you will no doubt be using a loft of 12 or 13 degree to go with it......but that's another discussion.

 

[two-clubs]

How is the shaft measured - is it just the bit you can see or to the base of the hosel?

 

[duncan mackie]

How is the shaft measured - is it just the bit you can see or to the base of the hosel?

For woods and irons, the measurement of length is taken when the club is lying on a horizontal plane and the sole is set against a 60 degree plane. The length is defined as the distance from the point of the intersection between the two planes to the top of the grip.

 

[3PuttCharlie]

I've just lopped an inch off my driver.

If you cut some of the shaft off...doesn't it affect the way it is balanced?

aren't they tested and built according to the spec of all the components of the club, if you changed one part wouldn't you change the whole set up of the club

I'd have thought it would make the shaft flex stiffer and maybe even move the kick point from where it was designed to be

I can understand having more control with a shorter shaft length

I'm just curious

 

[granters]

It does affect the feel a little, but very small to no effect on flex. The club feels slightly lighter to swing afterwords, but you soon get used to it. I've played about with different flexes and lengths over the last few years, it is trial and error. I've finally found something I'm extremely confident with but it's not to say its for everyone. I generally switch the shafts on bought woods anyway, remember they are mass produced with specs to suit the general masses, so length will to suit a lot of people anyway. It's a case of keep trying different things until you find the thing that works for your own swing. Takes a while unless you have a fitting centre in your garage...

 

[duncan mackie]

If you cut some of the shaft off...doesn't it affect the way it is balanced?

aren't they tested and built according to the spec of all the components of the club, if you changed one part wouldn't you change the whole set up of the club

I'd have thought it would make the shaft flex stiffer and maybe even move the kick point from where it was designed to be

I can understand having more control with a shorter shaft length

I'm just curious

basically this are minor, very minor, elements - think about it; if you gripped an inch down the shaft would you expct all these elements to chage dramatically?

the SW will change slightly - you could notice but it wouldn't make a difference
the stiffness wouldn't be affected as much as removing the bottom 1" - it's there but tiny
kickpoint stays the same

 

[granters]

Assuming the length is cut from the grip end of course! I've tipped shafts 1/2 an inch and ruined them in terms of flex. I'd say my shortened setup feels slightly more boardy as the kick point is a little higher, but that suits me

 

[duncan mackie]

Assuming the length is cut from the grip end of course! I've tipped shafts 1/2 an inch and ruined them in terms of flex. I'd say my shortened setup feels slightly more boardy as the kick point is a little higher, but that suits me

we are rapidly moving into total agreement..........

 

[granters]

we are rapidly moving into total agreement..........

I didn't think anyone agreed with you

 

[need_my_wedge]

Saw this chap doing this last year, was caning it a good 500 yds at times, sees length is everything....


[video=youtube;0a7Ctl3q57I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a7Ctl3q57I[/video]

 

[londonlewis]

Sorry if someone has already said something to this extent, I haven't been able to read all the posts.

When club manufacturers say 'our longest driver ever' they are correct but they mean to say 'longest shaft ever' not 'most distance ever'.

The laws of physics dictates this would increase distance if everything else remains equal, but everything else doesn't remain equal as we are not robots. So many people will find that their new purchase of a 'longest driver ever' may result in fewer yards off the tee.