Shaft lengths for drivers

[BigJim13]

I believe within the next week or so I'm going to order a new driver with the 44 or 44 1/2 shaft with mid size grips. Debating a regular or stiff since shortening will cause it to be stiffer

Get the same stiffness you play now, .5" won't make that much difference.

 

[dedicatedhacker]

Get the same stiffness you play now, .5" won't make that much difference.

I'm gaming a 46 inch R shaft right now and its way to whippy. I wonder if a 1.5 to 2 inch reduction would take some of that out.

 

[San Diego Steve]

I believe within the next week or so I'm going to order a new driver with the 44 or 44 1/2 shaft with mid size grips. Debating a regular or stiff since shortening will cause it to be stiffer

If you have a fast tempo and fast swing, go ahead and go with S flex. At worst, you will hit the ball straighter with a slight drop in distance.

The stiffness rating is determined by the tip trimming. A new R flex shaft will play like an R if the tip is trimmed according to spec. It will play at R flex regardless of overall club length. Same with a new S shaft (play as a S). Only if you cut down your current R shaft from the butt end will it a have a major stiffening effect, as it is tipped for R flex, but the shorter length will stiffen it because you are cutting from the butt end.

 

[dedicatedhacker]

If you have a fast tempo and fast swing, go ahead and go with S flex. At worst, you will hit the ball straighter with a slight drop in distance.

The stiffness rating is determined by the tip trimming. A new R flex shaft will play like an R if the tip is trimmed according to spec. It will play at R flex regardless of overall club length. Same with a new S shaft (play as a S). Only if you cut down your current R shaft from the butt end will it a have a major stiffening effect, as it is tipped for R flex, but the shorter length will stiffen it because you are cutting from the butt end.

Well that clears things up, S it is. I love having gurus here to help me out cause I almost went with R because I was under the wrong impression.

 

[BigJim13]

Well that clears things up, S it is. I love having gurus here to help me out cause I almost went with R because I was under the wrong impression.

Yeah, if your R flex is to whippy go for S.

 

[eclark53520]

That 43" driver standard is still the standard...for persimmon heads and steel shafted drivers. The lighter weight of graphite shafts (getting lighter all the time), along with the large titanium clubheads has necessitated adding either extra weight to the heads/shaft tip (not the best method) or extra length to the shafts in order to maintain a playable swingweight. If the shaft is shortened too much it will play too stiff and will feel like you are swinging a whiffle bat. I do agree that unless you are a pro or long drive contestant, that 46"+ is way too long a driver length for the average golfer. 44 to 45" is as far as I would recommend, unless wrist-to-floor measurement dictates it or other unusual fitting parameter is necessary.

Im mens standard + a half inch and play my driver at 43. Doesn't feel much different than my 46 inch in weight and i hit it far longer and much more consistently.

I think most people would hit more consistently with a shorter driver. Actually most amateurs would probably score better without a driver in the bag at all. Gets most people in much more trouble than its worth.

 

[dedicatedhacker]

Im mens standard + a half inch and play my driver at 43. Doesn't feel much different than my 46 inch in weight and i hit it far longer and much more consistently.

I think most people would hit more consistently with a shorter driver. Actually most amateurs would probably score better without a driver in the bag at all. Gets most people in much more trouble than its worth.

Best score I ever had I only touched my driver 3 times, all were long 5's with wide fair ways. I got to put my hands on a driver today that had a noticeably shorter shaft than I have. Felt really solid, to bad it was in a wine shop and being used as display only :/