Shortening your driver

[ManinBlack]

How would taking an inch off affect swing weight?

Er... Because the clubhead would be closer to the centre of gravity of the club as a whole and it would feel lighter when swung. Can't remember exactly but 1" off is roughly the equivalent of going from, say, D4 to D2. A club fitter told me you needed about an additional 5 grams in the head to compensate for 1" off the shaft.

Looking at my MX23 6 iron experiment, when I added 1" to the shaft the swingweight went from D0 to D8, but that is because 1" on a 6 iron is obviously a larger proportion of the length.

 

[Jon321]

Cut 2 inches off my spare shaft this evening. Will find out the results on Saturday.

 

[Region3]

Swingweight Factors
[TD="align: center"]Swingweight Change[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Increase Factor By[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]S.W. Factor[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Decrease Factor By[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]S.W. Change[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]+1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]2 Grams[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Headweight[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]2 Grams[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-1[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]+3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1/2 inch[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Club Length[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1/2 inch[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-3[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]-1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4 Grams[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Grip Weight[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4 Grams[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]+1[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]+1*[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9 Grams[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Shaft Weight[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9 Grams[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-1*
[/TD]

 

[moogie]

Most golfers probably don't even know their own clubs swingweights
Nor would they notice the difference in SW after cutting an inch off their driver either
( obviously some Will )

Just go for it
I currently have my driver at 44"
Plays no different
Feels more comfortable tho

 

[seasidehacker]

Well I had a go on a 10 degree Ping cut down too 44 and every hit was on the sweet spot. Then gripped down on my Driver by an inch or so and the same results but with higher loft it created a lovely ball flight. The swing felt alot more comfortable and I cant belive I never looked in to this before. Now I just need to find someone to cut it down.

 

[Slab]

Had my driver cut to 43.5 and while its currently on leave from the bag I know its not due to the club being too long. Much happier with it at the shorter length

 

[ScienceBoy]

I have a habit of gripping too close to the butt of the club. I found a huge increase in good shots by gripping correctly.

I agree shorter shafts are a good benefit, currently I am working on swing width so won't be looking into that until the technique is sorted!

 

[seasidehacker]

Well as an update to this thread I took my new shortened driver out on to the course yesterday and didnt loose one ball. Everything off the tee stayed in play. I think I have lost about 5 to 10 yards distance but I am happy loosing that if it means the ball stays in play. The main difference was the feel of hitting the sweetspot alot more often. So far so good. Worth a tenner

 

[bigslice]

great news. i changed the 5 wood shaft to a 3 wood in mine and defo no loss of distance. if it works keep doing it

 

[IanG]

I have a habit of gripping too close to the butt of the club. I found a huge increase in good shots by gripping correctly.

I too am trying out gripping down an inch or two on the driver and have noticed no loss of distance (and indeed have hit a few screamers) and a bit better accuracy. I think it is simply easier to hit the sweet spot with a shorter club and that compensated for the loss in clubbed speed. Win-Win so far.