Driver shaft trimming

[spongebob59]

Want to take a shaft down from 45.5 to 45, trimming from the butt will make it play slightly stiffer ( I believe it will be difficult to tell the difference) but if I trim the tip it has no affect on flex ?

I can worry about swingweight if I like the shorter shaft..

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Will affect the weight by about 3 points, so you’d likely need to add around 2-3 grams of weight to the head.

Should make it easier to find the centre of the face with shorter shaft and something I’m looking at for the new year getting a new driver with 44.75inch shaft.

 

[Neilds]

Is it really worth taking half an inch off? Wouldn’t just gripping down a bit have the same effect?

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Is it really worth taking half an inch off? Wouldn’t just gripping down a bit have the same effect?

Depends on the individual doesn’t it. Driver is literally the one club I can’t comfortably grip down on, whenever I try it, it just doesn’t feel right.

It’s completely psychological I’m sure but I can’t get the feel for a driver if I’m gripping down. Whenever I’ve used the 3/4inch shorter shaft before I’ve been able to grip as normal and let fly. Getting more distance and direction control from finding centre of the face.

 

[jim8flog]

It should not affect the flex if you butt trim.

The majority of driver shafts do not have the tip trimmed unless you want to use it in a fairway club.

Flex is largely about the distance from the hosel to the kick point.

Will affect the weight by about 3 points, so you’d likely need to add around 2-3 grams of weight to the head.

Should make it easier to find the centre of the face with shorter shaft and something I’m looking at for the new year getting a new driver with 44.75inch shaft.

Without doing the maths and or using a swing weight scale I cannot see that much difference. 0.5" of graphite at the butt end only weighs 1 gram and is the sort of difference just using a different make of tape can make. Would probably not be noticed by the average golfer. Changing the grip can make bigger differences.

 

[rulie]

Want to take a shaft down from 45.5 to 45, trimming from the butt will make it play slightly stiffer ( I believe it will be difficult to tell the difference) but if I trim the tip it has no affect on flex ?

I can worry about swingweight if I like the shorter shaft..

Imo, trimming from the tip will make it play stiffer. Trim from the butt is easiest.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

It should not affect the flex if you butt trim.

The majority of driver shafts do not have the tip trimmed unless you want to use it in a fairway club.

Flex is largely about the distance from the hosel to the kick point.



Without doing the maths and or using a swing weight scale I cannot see that much difference. 0.5" of graphite at the butt end only weighs 1 gram and is the sort of difference just using a different make of tape can make. Would probably not be noticed by the average golfer. Changing the grip can make bigger differences.

Google and science says otherwise

 

[GreiginFife]

Want to take a shaft down from 45.5 to 45, trimming from the butt will make it play slightly stiffer ( I believe it will be difficult to tell the difference) but if I trim the tip it has no affect on flex ?

I can worry about swingweight if I like the shorter shaft..

Tip trim for flex, butt trim for length. Simples.

 

[rulie]

Tip trim for flex, butt trim for length. Simples.

I built a driver for my wife, nice head, great shaft. However, I tip trimmed it and she couldn't get the ball airborne. I can hit it, but very low - runs out well. I was playing a round in North Berwick with it, and the caddie remarked how low the ball was going. Told him it was my wife's driver, and he immediately responded that he wouldn't tell anyone! Good day, good memory!

 

[jim8flog]

Google and science says otherwise

Many years of club building for me to base my comments on.

It has been many years since I saw a driver shaft that was tip trimmed for a driver, probably because manufacturing techniques have improved the state of the tip on graphite shafts.

 

[RichA]

I always trim about 3/4 inch off the butt of standard length drivers. I do nothing to counter the weight change.
I don't notice any appreciable difference in flex but just feel like I have much more control.

I currently have a steel shaft in my G400 that weighs about 40g more than the standard graphite shaft and the only difference is greater control.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Many years of club building for me to base my comments on.

It has been many years since I saw a driver shaft that was tip trimmed for a driver, probably because manufacturing techniques have improved the state of the tip on graphite shafts.

I’m not arguing against your experience just merely commenting what my research in to doing this has highlighted and also when I’ve done it in the past I have noticed a difference personally.

 

[Imurg]

Trimming a shaft at either end is going to stiffen it to a degree..tip trim and you'll notice it, butt trim and you won't.
If you're sensitive to swing weight then you may feel a difference if you take 1/2 inch from the thick end....
It does change the SW but, at our level it's likely you won't feel it...take an inch off and that's a different story
Gripping down for a few swings will give you a feel for it even if it's not ideal.

 

[spongebob59]

Shaft arrived this PM, 1/2 inch off the butt amd grip on.
Adaptor on later tonight and on the course tomorrow

 

[spongebob59]

So I tried the following today :

Aldila Synergy 50g R flex 45 inch and Aldila Ascent 60 S flex 45 inch in the Titleist TSR2 today.

Couldnt feel any difference between the two , ball flight was lower with the heavier S flex.
Strike felt slightly better with the lighter shaft.

Next stage will be at the next lesson with the pro on trackman to get useful numbers

 

[jim8flog]

Shaft arrived this PM, 1/2 inch off the butt amd grip on.
Adaptor on later tonight and on the course tomorrow

Were you just aligning up with the old shaft for the measurement?

Normal practice would be fit the adapter, put it in to the head, measure then butt trim.

With a new shaft this would mean 2-2.5 inches being cut off the butt end depending on the head.