How long is too long

[numberonecoog]

How long is too long?

Before we start today, go measure the length of your driver. Dont worry, Ill wait. Are you playing some thing from 2011 on? Let me guess the length. I would imagine its around 46 inches. If its a superfast 2.0 its 46.5. I know you're probably asking why that matters. Since 2005 the USGA and the R & A have limited the COR (the trampoline effect) of the driver. A driver can not exceed .830 COR. If that's the case how do club companies create drivers every year that allow you to hit the ball farther than last year? The Anser (see what I did there) comes in the length of the driver.

Think of your favorite driver from when you were younger.One of the more popular drivers of all time is the Titleist 905r. It did what a lot of drivers now are trying to do. It was fairly low spin had an amazing stock shaft and met the COR limit. People say that they find that driver more forgiving than anything that is currently out there.That club played at 45 in.

Science tells us that the longer a club is the more clubhead speed you will gain. Clubhead speed = More Distance. Again its simple science. Another thing science tells us is that the farther away from an object you are the harder it is to hit. Think of it like a putt. A 2 footer is easier to make than a 50 footer. It is simply harder to hit the center of the club face (where COR is maxed out) with a longer driver. This is why you are more comfortable with your old driver than your new 400 dollar driver. I personally play my driver at 45 in. Shorten up that driver and gain consistency. Since I shortened my driver down to 45 in my drives havent lost any distance plus I am finding the fairway more often.

Not convinced to join the short driver revolution yet? Almost every pro uses a driver that is probably shorter than your driver is. Just a few examples Jeff Ogilvy (44.5), Andres Gonzales(44.5),Sergio Garcia (44!),and Dustin Johnson (45). This is a very short list of many that I could add.

Now that I have you convinced to join team short driver you need to know how to determine what length to go to. Here is how I figured out my length. It takes a few supplies. Dont worry you can get most of these at a golf store. You could even probably use some things around the house but I will teach you how to do it right.

Supplies:

Impact Tape

Bucket of Range Balls.

Steps to shortening your driver:

1) Place impact tape on face of driver

2) Take 5 swings

3) Look at impact tape if shots are all grouped together in the center you are good to go

4) If scattered all over the face choke down a half inch and repeat until all marks are in the center of the club face.

When you finally decide on the length you hit best,take the club to a club repair shop. Tell them you want the driver cut to what ever length you decide on. This will make the club much lighter. This will need to be countered with tip weights,a heavier shaft,lead tape,or heavier weights. Make sure you keep your swingweight fairly consistent.

Do not take this post as me saying your old Big Bertha is as good as say an R15. I am not saying that at all. Technology has advanced in terms of aerodynamics and materials used for faces. Faces are thinner and creating crazy ball speeds. Clubs are lighter and overall are better. They are more forgiving for those days when the swing just isn't there. With all things being equal (length, weight, shaft) newer clubs will go further. I am a firm believer in new technology. Take your new driver cut it to a shorter length. Enjoy the consistency of your old driver with all the benefits of the new technology.

Find the Fairway Friends

Please critique this im trying to sstart my own little golf blog. I enjoy writing it helps me relax. I really enjoy doing sipping on some bourbon and smoking a nice cigar. When I wrote this article I had just got done with my uncle complaining why he couldnt hit his newer driver further than his old Big Bertha. 

[Guest Electric Pig]

44.5", and has been for a while. What I lose in (1-2) mph I make up for in purer impact. Since my drivers are built to that length, they always swingweight to D2 out of the shop.

 

Interestingly, back in the olden days of persimmon and Dynamic shafts, 43.5" was the professional norm and 44" was dramatic. It shows how much marketing influences specification.

 

For the average golfer, specification exceeds ability.

[hckymeyer]

Like the message and methods for testing.  Very similar to an MGS labs article done 4-5 years ago.

 

http://www.mygolfspy.com/mgs-labs-is-longer-really-longer/

[Kenny B]

Playing my driver at 45" and I still choke down an inch.  I remember back in the earlier PGA tour days of Rocco Mediate he had lots of back problems and experimented with long drivers to regain some swing speed.  It didn't last long.  I've tried it.  At my age you try anything to gain a couple of mph.  I just wasn't consistent enough.  

 

As for the Big Bertha, I have one too.  I would bet that I could still hit it almost as far as my SLDR if I hit a pure shot; but there won't be many of those.  (Maybe I will try it when the weather warms up.)   I think when you get to be my age, it doesn't matter what driver you hit, they will all be about the same distance and the best one is the one that feels best when swinging it.  However, if your uncle's newer driver is longer than the BB, I suspect that the added length has resulted in his tempo being off and his swing speed maxed out before he hits the ball.  That was my problem and why I shortened my driver.  He also has more confidence with the BB because he has been playing it for a long time.  Confidence allows you to put your best swing on the ball.

[numberonecoog]

Well I told him once you get a driver that is maxed out in COR you will be fine. The big things with drivers now to me at least is the size of the sweet spot. The forgiveness isnt weather you hit it straight. No amount of offset can correct coming Over the Top to prevent you from slicing the ball. The forgiveness I usually talk about and what I said to him is how close to the COR limit can you reach when not struck in the sweet spot. To me that is what the newer drivers have over the older drivers. When my swing isnt perfect how far will you go

[PlaidJacket]

My SLDR is 45.25" I think. And quite frankly I hit it pretty good most days. With this discussion in mind I've measured some of my old "wood" drivers and they are all exactly 43". This spring I'm going to consider a new driver or perhaps I might even look at a new shorter shaft for the SLDR. Or not.

[PlaidJacket]

My SLDR is 45.25" I think. And quite frankly I hit it pretty good most days. With this discussion in mind I've measured some of my old "wood" drivers and they are all exactly 43". This spring I'm going to consider a new driver or perhaps I might even look at a new shorter shaft for the SLDR. Or not.

[fozcycle]

My Cobra Bio Cell Driver with Project Xv shaft was 45.75".....when I received the Padersonn Kinetix shaft a few months ago, it was 1" shorter than my Project X, so it took some getting used to.  Now, the Bio Cell is 44.75" Now I would not give it up.....it is definitely more accurate than the longer Project Xv shaft.

[Undershooter]

I cut mine down to 44 inches and my driving has improved immensely.

[PlaidJacket]

Before I play tomorrow I'm going to mark my driver length with a wrap of tape starting at 43" and again at 44". I'm not sure if this is a valid experiment but I guess I'll find out.

[McaseyM]

My Cobra Fly Z+ is at 45 and plays well for me. I'm 6-2 and have most of my clubs extended 1.25 inches, except my woods. 

[PlaidJacket]

I did play the other day and marked my length and Inch shorter. Basically all I really needed to do was grip down an inch but I used a tape wrap as a guide and reminder. So, essentially I was playing my driver at 44.25". Not problem at all. I didn't notice any loss of distance not any gain. My accuracy was good for the most part but no real difference there either. I also had my grip marked at 43" and tried that once or twice. It didn't feel right gripping  down 2". Too much shaft exposed and looked odd too me.

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I did play the other day and marked my length and Inch shorter. Basically all I really needed to do was grip down an inch but I used a tape wrap as a guide and reminder. So, essentially I was playing my driver at 44.25". Not problem at all. I didn't notice any loss of distance not any gain. My accuracy was good for the most part but no real difference there either. I also had my grip marked at 43" and tried that once or twice. It didn't feel right gripping down 2". Too much shaft exposed and looked odd too me.

wouldn't that make the shaft play a bit stiffer also?

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I've always played a shaft slightly shorter then stock and I hit the ball a decent distance so I don't think cutting down the shaft costs you too much if you do it correctly and get the equipment that fits you best.

[PlaidJacket]

wouldn't that make the shaft play a bit stiffer also?

 

Yeah I suppose it could but I didn't notice any difference in the feel - stiffness. I certainly think I'd like to try a shorter shaft the next time I buy a new driver.