Got my driver shortened...............

Interesting, I'm currently playing (or was) with a shorter driver and it isn't working out at all well.......

Maybe it's just too light, who knows. Will be going for sale soon though as the old faithful G5 is back in use for the time being.
 
Your use of the words crazy, far out and wacky don't seem to imply you see sense in the concept of shortening, when gripping down will do.

my lighthearted point that I didnt seem to get across very well, was before anyone rushes out and chops a bit off, just try gripping down for a round and see the effects. Personally when I want a real low one into the wind I'll grip down 4 or 5 inches, works a real treat everytime
 
I'm sure I read that most pro's have shorter driver shafts than the stock shafts most amateurs buy.

Of course the pro's don't need the help of a longer shaft to generate distance where as most amateurs probably do. But in the never ending quest to prove their clubs go longer I think the trend is for manufacturers to make the shafts longer on all clubs. Which then of course makes it harder to control the ball. To me there's no point hitting it 260 yards into the rough 50% of the time when you can hit it 240 yards down the middle of the fairway most times. So shortening the shafts to increase accuracy sounds a very sensible thing to do. It's just a shame that the obsession on distance means this is not more widely suggested and accepted.

I saw a review from Mark Crossfield the other day of the new Nike covert irons that I liked the look of. But he said they have lengthened the shafts and of course jacked the lofts. And he inferred all this covert face gubbins probably makes minimal difference to the distance, as any distance gains are mostly derived from the longer shafts and reduced lofts. And Nike are by no means the only manufacturer to do this. I compared a Rocketballz stage 2 23 degree hybrid with an older Mizuno MX700 23 degree hybrid and the Rocketballz shaft is as least an inch longer.
 
Here is Adam Scott's driver spec. Pretty much one of the best drivers of the ball, and 6ft tall, so no shorta**e :

Model: Titleist 913D3
Loft: 9.5º
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8
Flex: X flex
Length: 44.75"
SureFit Tour Hosel Setting: A•1 (neutral)

Joe Hacker, 5 foot 9, 46 inch shaft.

Added benefit, Scott's probably fits in the boot of my Golf, unlike my recently de-butticated v2 rapture....
 
Swingweight is only a numerical idication of feel - if chopping 2 inches off your driver means you're nailing it down the middle more frequently, then swingweight is largely irrelevant.

If, however, you feel the swingweight reduction is too much and you don't like the new 'feel', you can restore that with some lead tape. Easy.

FWIW, for every half inch you chop off you will lose 3 swingweight points. For every 2g of lead tape you add to the head of your club, you gain 1 swingweight point back.

You do have to be careful before you do this though. Chopping 2" off your driver means a 12 swingweight point reduction which is massive. Yes, you could restore that swingweight with 24g of lead tape... but that is a lot of lead tape... and increasing the headweight by that amount will impact the flex of the shaft making it play much softer.

Just something to think about before you pick up the hacksaw...
 
I'm sure I read that most pro's have shorter driver shafts than the stock shafts most amateurs buy.

Of course the pro's don't need the help of a longer shaft to generate distance where as most amateurs probably do. But in the never ending quest to prove their clubs go longer I think the trend is for manufacturers to make the shafts longer on all clubs. Which then of course makes it harder to control the ball. To me there's no point hitting it 260 yards into the rough 50% of the time when you can hit it 240 yards down the middle of the fairway most times. So shortening the shafts to increase accuracy sounds a very sensible thing to do. It's just a shame that the obsession on distance means this is not more widely suggested and accepted.

I saw a review from Mark Crossfield the other day of the new Nike covert irons that I liked the look of. But he said they have lengthened the shafts and of course jacked the lofts. And he inferred all this covert face gubbins probably makes minimal difference to the distance, as any distance gains are mostly derived from the longer shafts and reduced lofts. And Nike are by no means the only manufacturer to do this. I compared a Rocketballz stage 2 23 degree hybrid with an older Mizuno MX700 23 degree hybrid and the Rocketballz shaft is as least an inch longer.


Very good post

I had my driver shortened by a pro and he made the same point about the pro's having shorter driver shafts than most club golfers.

I think it's just a marketing ploy that's used to make the claim that the latest drivers go farther,also it has to be noted they test the new drivers on machines that gives a perfect strike every time.

I find it interesting that we are told we should get custom fitted for drivers but I don't think I've heard of anyone being advised by a fitter to get a shorter length shaft for their driver.
 
A wee update on this. It has definitely helped. More confidence, straighter, longer as its hitting more fairways.

Not regretting it one little bit

I wouldn't regret it given the big cut to 5.2. Great golf mate.

Can't be ersed reading the rest of the thread so perhaps you'd be so kind as to let us know what effect the shaft reduction has had on your distance.

Also- what height are you?
 
Im only 5'9 so not tall. Distance is actually longer as im hitting it better. I still have to fight my slice at times but have been winning a lot more.

Im also teeing it higher and hitting up on the ball more.

aye played well yesterday. 2over gross including 14 pars. Chuffed with that
 
The good thing about modern drivers is most have an interchangable system, being on the short side myself I'm considering putting an aftermarket shaft in the G25 and getting a playing length of 45".All component drivers I have had have been made to this.
 
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