You will find out by shortening the shaft you will hit the sweet spot more consistently thus better accuracy and distance and more confidence with your driver. Dec 01, 2019 what is the optimum driver shaft length. The best 2019 driver and shaft combinations dlance golf. Does shaft flex have a direct correlation to driving distance though. We immediately set out to fix that and to discover whether golfers are helped or harmed by longer driver shafts. I am not sure what is the standard 3wd shaft length.
Can a shorter driver shafts say from 44 to 42 help or aid in driving the ball more consistent as opposed to longer shafts. Shaft flex is one of those things that you just need to see the golf pro about. Generally, the longer your driver shaft is, the more difficult it becomes to have control over the club and hit a ball squarely. Oct 30, 2012 my thoughts on driver distance would be this. More distance for golfers over 50 golf power and distance are one of the primary limitations for senior golfers and golfers over 50. These lengths for drivers are shorter than manufacturers standard lengths for improved accuracy and distance. The importance of shaft weight in fitting golf clubs cannot be overstated. You most likely will not see any loss in distance because what you lose in terms of club head speed is made up for with more consistent contact on the true center of the club face the sweet spot. Nov 16, 2018 the fairway woods are used for distance and at times to attack the green, and most players use graphite shafts that are lighter than steel. Jan 31, 2020 project x pxv is the best driver shaft that especially design for delivering high speed, this shaft is handy when it comes to transmitting maximum energy at impact, providing more distance and outstanding consistency. So i decided to not only experiment with a shorter driver, but also heavier and stiffer. Shorter golfers or those who are uncomfortable with longer shafts can order their graphite shafts shorter to match the length of a comparable steelshafted club.
Alternative driver designs are available for more distance. I think the real factor here is that the shorter, stiffer shaft actually plays more into the carry factor. Moreover, a short shaft helps you gain better control. Though there isnt a standard length for a driver, most are sold between 45 and 46 inches. Another important consideration is the shaft installed into a 45 driver isnt the same length but shorter for two reasons. Graphite shafts can be used in drivers and irons, though they are most commonly found in longer golf clubs. The right shaft can get you more distance off the tee d. On the shorter shots played with irons, more golfers benefit from the accuracy and control that steel offers than from the raw distance of graphite. Most male golfers are wielding drivers that measure 45 to 48 inches, the maximum allowed under the united states golf associations rules of golf.
Find the right driver shaft length for your game golficity. All things being equal, a longer driver shaft will allow you to swing the club. Wed jan 15, 2014 by dave phillips drivers generally come standard at 4546 inches in length, the longer the driver shaft the potential exists for more distance, theoretically your swing arc would be wider and therefore you could create more speed. Mar 25, 2018 when golf shafts are manufactured and shipped to clubmakers and clubmaking companies, they are in what is called a raw, uncut form. To learn more about swing man golf products, click here. The perfect driver lets you play golf the way it was intended to be playedfrom the fairway. The folks at ping built me two identical g30 driversone at their standard length of 4534 inches, the other two inches shorter. The suggestion as ive always interpreted it is that a shorter driver will be more accurate, and because youre better able to control the club, and find the sweet spot, more often, average total distance could actually increase. Driver performance is based on three main variables. Now that i have confidence in a driver, i can now work on my swing to gain more. This does on occasion result in a little more roll and overall distance. Was your friends shorter shaft and clubhead the same as yours.
Many golf monthly forum members are increasingly inquisitive over the distance gains we see on readerfitting days, questioning where exactly the distance. Importance of shaft weight in fitting dlance golfd. I do notice a difference between my driver and 3wd but, yes, it is not a big difference. Graphite is typically the best material for amateur golfers. Driver shaft length is shorter better than standard length. Theres probably a lesson there for a lot of people. The bottom line is that 99% of all drivers sold today are too long. While you may worry that a longer club could create some control problems, the 460 cubic centimeter club heads on most modern drivers are designed to. Before getting fit for a driver, work with an instructor that uses a trackman or flightscope. On the other hand, players with high handicaps and slow swing speeds would find the extra distance offered by long shafts beneficial. Does shaft flex affect driver distance callaway community. So all things being equal a shorter backswing does not equal more distance. I hit a lot more consistently with 45 shaft lenght drivers i own. From this form, the clubmakers have to cut the shaft, often from both the tip and grip ends, to properly install it into each clubhead.
However, the longer the shaft the harder it is to control the club and hit the ball. Michael breed give tips for driver length and distance. Is it ok to cut down a 46 inch driver shaft to 43 inches just have your clubfitter. The perfect driver lets you play golf the way it was intended. If a shorter driver enables a golfer to achieve more consistency with striking the center of the face, the golfer will maximize distance with that length club. Golf club shaft flex and the effect on driving distance. Guy explores the theory that a longer driver shaft equals more distance. As this is my first 46 shaft lenght driver, if i decide to reduce the dhaft to 45 will i lose considerable distance from the tee. The standard length of a driver for men used to be 43. The complete guide to maximizing driver distance practical golf. The lighter weight allows for a longer shaft, but the 3wood shaft is normally cut an inch shorter than the driver to offer more control. This edition of golf tips relates to driver accuracy.
Try adding 1 a longer shaft means more width and more swing speed from your driver. Oct 01, 2018 we immediately set out to fix that and discover whether golfers are helped or harmed by longer driver shafts. So if a longer driver will increase swing speed, why write about it. I believe there is great merit to the shorter driver trend. Head weights, shaft weights and balance points oh my. Did you also know that many pga tour players have driver shafts that are much shorter than that. A web site offers light weight driver heads which would use 44. Missing the center typically results in loss of distance as well as accuracy. So if a longer shaft equals more distance, why doesnt everyone use a.
Nov 16, 2008 i am having difficulty being consistent with a 46 shaft driver i recently bought. Nov 28, 2015 cant say that i have tried a shorter driver, but i tend to hit my 3 wood straighter than the driver and i think that its because of the shorter shaft. The argument for playing a shorter driver has never been about distance. Is it ok to cut down a 46 inch driver shaft to 43 inches waylandmy current 3wd is 42. A short driver shaft may help you hit a straight shot better and also hit the center of the face more than you usually do.
Shorter shaft hitting the sweet spot more consistantly thus keep or even gaining distance. Once again, we feel that the shaft is of critical importance to getting optimum performance out of any club, but especially the driver. What do half inch long shafts do to your golf shot. Shaft lenght reductionwill i lose distance clubs, grips. Standard length for modern drivers with graphite shafts has settled at 45 inches. That said, a shorter backswing for most, helps golfers find the correct sequence and leverage required for a good golf swing.
Nov, 2011 if your driver is too long for your golfing ability, it will mean more offcentre hits, resulting in offline shots and a massive loss in distance at least a five percent loss in distance on. Driver shaft length custom fitting for the correct length to help improve your strike pattern and. The perfect club driver 370 vft perfect driver golf club. Once the length becomes too long, the golfer starts to hit around the clubface. A shorter shaft was probably suggested to help you with more consistent contact with the sweet spot which will lead to more distance and more consistent drives. One maintains that drivers should be shorter for accuracy, the other says drivers should be longer for distance. Typically 75 gram shafts but smoother tempos can play lighter weights.
If that is the reason a new driver is on the horizon, there are only a few ways to accomplish that. Standard drivers for women are an 1 inch shorter than standard mens drivers. Contrast that to the lengthy driver and youll soon realize why so many golfers struggle getting off the tee box. Why shorter driver shaft higher swing speed tiger woods uses a driver that is very short 43. Graphite shafts are longer, kramer notes, to help golfers build greater clubhead speed, thereby gaining more distance on their shots. Any loss in distance has been minimal, as im making contact with the center of the club face more consistently and i get better roll out in the short grass. All things being equal, a longer driver shaft will allow you to swing the club faster, which could add more distance. Our guide to maximizing driver distance goes over every single way you can add distance to your drives. He shows you what happens when he takes a normal swing with his driver golf club as is, then demonstrates the effect of a little bit of lead tape in terms of centeredness of contact. Not only will you get great distance but every hit, even the ones that are a little. I play a 44 driver, and i hit about 75% of the fairways, and if you count first cut, more like 85%. Is it ok to cut down a 46 inch driver shaft to 43 inches. I didnt lose much distance on slight mishits, but was in the short rough instead of behind a tree. The correct combination of length and weight will have you hitting the driver more in the center of the face.
Shorter golf drivers dont require the distance rendered by the extra length of the shaft as theyre able to generate enough distance by using drivers with shafts of usual length. Keep the golf club in the playing position such that the center of the sole is in contact with the ground. If driver accuracy is not a problem for you, get a longer shaft. Which can ultimately lead to better distance than they had previously. Shorter drives lead to longer approach shots, longer approach shots lead to fewer greens hit. Golfsmith tests show 50% of golfers show a less than 6% increase in swing speed. But as i noted drivers have also gotten lighter and longer than ever and for me, i cant swing these clubs consistently. Proper length shorter is better weight and flex can give you more distance, accuracy and consistency.
Players who need more swing speed to get the ball airborne or need to limit stresses from impact sometimes use graphite shafts on their irons. If you prefer a short but straight shot, go up a stiffness in shaft flex. Making sure you have the right shaft is key to improving your game, but deciding between the hundreds of options is more difficult. Golfers want more distance and the manufacturers are happy to give it to them with longer shafts.
New driver shafts are made as long as 46 inches, requiring them to be cut down to size for most players. Many have heard that a shorter driver shaft can increase their. Some players claim that a 45 inch driver allows them to hit the ball better with increased distance and more accuracy than a 44 inch driver. I just cut my driver down from 46 to 44 and it is way easier to make center contact. For example, a weaker senior golfer would possibly buy a 176 gm lighter than usual driver head to be installed in a 55 gm light shaft for a 47. If longer drivers helped them maximize their distance and accuracy, they would. The right shaft can get you more distance off the tee. Drivers can be lengthened up to 48 inches, which is the maximum length for clubs allowed by the rules of golf. Thinking about cutting my driver shaft down an inch. I wonder if ill lose distance and how much, or will it stay the same if the strikes are better combined with decent launch and. On paper that might be true, but when the human element is involved everything changes. Use our fitting wizard to find the right driver shaft for you.
Shorter driver shaft i went from 45 to 43 12 a few years back and have gained more control over my driver. Shorter shafts deliver a more consistent and centered shot pattern. Might i get more distance by using a regular instead of a stiff shaft. Hitting the center will help control those shots and increase in the distance as well. Why longer shafts arent the key to longer driving golfmagic. Top 5 best driver shafts for distance you must buy in 2020. Again, as mentioned before, the key is finding the driver shaft length that best provides your unique swing and ability with the most distance, and more. Firm mid section and low launch, low spin is the norm for more control.
Generally, the slower the swing speed, the more flex you want in your shaft. Well, the actual loss of distance when doing tests with swing robots shows a loss of about 7 yards between a 43 and 46 driver. Oct 29, 2018 in this video we compare the same driver built first with a 45 shaft and then with a 47 shaft to see the differences in speed, distance, consistency and accuracy. If you would like to add 30 to 40 yards to your drives without changing shafts, and for the cost of less than 12,5% of a new driver, use this tool below to find out how much distance you could get from our unique swing man golf swing speed training. Remove the grip from the driver using a hook blade or a utility knife, as well as the grip tape on the shaft. If the same clubhead speed is achieved with the shorter shaft, then the same distance should be achieved. Those moves are difficult to repeat, leading to wide shot dispersion and inconsistent distance. If you look at the picture to the left, these are just a few of the steel iron shafts available and they run the range from 85 grams to grams. In contrast the shorter model yielded a maxed out smash factor of. The perfect club driver is shorter than a conventional driver.
You should also get a shorter driver rather than continuing to grip down on the shaft. Shaft lenght reductionwill i lose distance sign in to follow. Wishon also told me that the average driver length on the pga tour is shorter than the standard lengths equipment companies sell us. If anything, im hitting it the same distance, sometimes longer. However, in the 21st century a standard driver is considered to be 45 inches. Driver shaft 315 feet average 31 off line on my andrew rice golf facebook page i asked readers if they had any experience with shortening the shaft of their driver and here are a few of their responses. Pga professional eric hogge explains why adding even the tiniest amount of weight to your driver golf club can have a big impact on the distance you get off the tee.
I have a decent swing speed 105 mph and dont have much of a problem hitting the shorter driver a good distance with good accuracy. So why would someone swing a longer club slower than a shorter club. Add weight to your driver golf club for more distance pga. This may not seem like much but weight can dramatically change your. However, since i swing weighted the head and tipped the shaft 1 and butt trimmed 1, it resulted in a higher spinning, higher lauching shot. If i shorten my driver shaft will it help with accuracy of. The more i am hitting the driver, the more my distance is improving.
Remove the grip from the driver using a hook blade or. A shorter shaft doesnt necessarily mean that you will lose any distance like someone mentioned. I am definitely more accurate with the shorter driver. Driver shaft length is shorter better than standard.
Short shaft, more distance september 09, 20 michael breed, host of the golf fix, teaches how to find the proper length of your driver shaft and gives a drill to maximize distance. This is especially true because, to the untrained eye, a row of shafts will all look identical. The best 2019 driver and shaft combinations true fit clubs. Kenny given that the average length of an off shelf graphite shafted driver is 45 and steel shaft is 44, then why did the club manufacturers decide to go. Over the past decade, there has been a shift to give longer shafts to consumers. Golfers have experienced more clubhead speed with a 45 inch driver over a 44 inch driver. Jan 15, 2014 will a shorter driver give you more distance. Sep 25, 2018 based on the above, it seemed my good drives were equal, or so close that it did not affect club selection on the second shot. Shorter shafts eliminate those compensation moves, improving accuracy for the majority of players.