Cutting Down My Driver

[Sproutland]

I have been tracking my stats using TheGrint.com for the last two years and earlier this year I noticed that my driving accuracy was 38% FIR, well below even high handicap golfers. This led me to cut down my driver and three wood in early July to 42.5 and 42 inches, respectively.

 

Since that time my driving accuracy has jumped to 65% FIR over the last two months, culminating in a 100% FIR driving effort for my last nine hole round yesterday. I will say that I lost nominal distance with the driver (approx. 5-10 yards) but it has been worth it.

 

Mileage may vary and cutting 3 inches off a driver shaft may not be the right solution for everyone, but for me this was the best thing I've done for my game in years. It is much more fun hitting from the fairway and not losing your golf ball 3 times a round.

 

Just wondering if anyone else has done something drastic like this to try and fix a weakness in their game and how it turned out.

[JudgeSmails]

I've been curious about this as well, did you experiment with 'choking up' first to see if it helped?

[Sproutland]

I've been curious about this as well, did you experiment with 'choking up' first to see if it helped?

I tried choking up and it helped a little, but I wasn't comfortable with having my right hand virtually off the grip.

 

 

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[Undershooter]

I play my driver at 44" and 3w at 42" so I prefer shorter as well. 

[PlaidJacket]

Do shaft manufacturers make shafts for drivers and 3 woods for example at various lengths? Or do they make them 46" and cut them off to a specified length for a given club?

I thought that by taking the shaft on your driver and sawing off an inch or two stiffened the shaft and messed with other properties such as bend profile, stiffness, etc.

Seems as far as Sproutland is concerned it's worked out fine for him.

What the correct take on this? I'd be very leery to cut any off my driver shaft.

[Kor.A.Door]

I think that butt trimming the shaft to a final length won't mess with the stiffness of he shaft, but can affect the swingweight of the club. At least I think that's what remember of shaft trimming. I'm sure on the the fitters will see this and have the technical answers. As for cutting down the shaft for accuracy, sometimes you have to make drastic changes or choices, sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. Glad it worked for you.

[Undershooter]

Do shaft manufacturers make shafts for drivers and 3 woods for example at various lengths? Or do they make them 46" and cut them off to a specified length for a given club?

I thought that by taking the shaft on your driver and sawing off an inch or two stiffened the shaft and messed with other properties such as bend profile, stiffness, etc.

Seems as far as Sproutland is concerned it's worked out fine for him.

What the correct take on this? I'd be very leery to cut any off my driver shaft.

Generally with most shafts you can butt trim the shaft and it won't affect the stiffness/ bend profile too much. Tip trimming on the other hand can change how it plays. At least this is usually the case in my experience. Some companies like Paderson, do not want you to tip trim the shafts at all because they have done it themselves to the optimum place. They don't mind you butt trimming it though. I'm sure there is a limit for each one how much you can trim though. Its usually on the companies website. 

[Maverickping]

I play my driver at 44.5 and I forget what the fairway is. Do not recall any pro players that use 46 in. TW if I recall correctly is at 44.5 as well.

[Undershooter]

I play my driver at 44.5 and I forget what the fairway is. Do not recall any pro players that use 46 in. TW if I recall correctly is at 44.5 as well.

I think Tiger's was always 43.5". But you are correct that most pros play shorter length drivers. I think Rory is one of the few who prefers his on the long side.  

[BigtazzGolf]

I have a 43 inch driver shaft that I'll use every now and then.

Shorter shaft does help straighten me out and I didn't notice to much difference in distance.

 

Tazz

 

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[Maverickping]

Come to think of it I believe you are correct with TW. Brooke Henderson plays a long shaft too.

[AH1980MN]

I believe Brooke Henderson plays hers at 48"...

[Undershooter]

I believe Brooke Henderson plays hers at 48"...

I heard the announcers say that one day. That's crazy if its true because its not like she is big 

[revkev]

There are in fact tour players who approach 46". They play what fits. Sergio plays 42.5 for example because it fits him best.

 

No matter what any of us may think far more important than what happens in tour is what happens in the LPGA. There are several players in that tour who use longer than 46.

 

Go to a fitter and find out what fits your swing best. It may be shorter but it may not.

 

I've tried everything imaginable to help distance, accuracy, club tapping. Here's what I've learned. In often wrong in my assumptions. It may work at first but sometimes leads to bigger problems. If it works for a while and isn't now the problem is with my swing, not the equipment. Making equipment adjusts costs a lot of money when I'm wrong.

 

So now I spend the extra money and get the second set of eyes to stop me from doing something stupid.

 

The accuracy increase here is impressive. What I'm not reading is how it's impacted your scores. Shortening the shaft should not dramatically affect distance of it's a proper fit because you are hitting more balls on the sweet spot. You may loose a bit off the occasional bomb but overall your average drive should not change.

 

I hate to be a pooper but if your distance is less it may be that the offline shots are just staying in the fairway now.

 

The idea that a shorter driver shaft is better is one that I used to believe in until my fitter proved me wrong.

 

Good luck

 

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[StrokerAce]

Sounds like maybe the bigwigs are getting it: New Callaway driver comes in " 1 inch under " version...

http://www.mygolfspy.com/first-look-callaway-big-bertha-fusion-driver/

[SkiBumGolfer]

I thought about doing this at one point. But driver is one of my most consistent clubs right now even at 45.25", so I ain't messin' with a good thing haha. Glad to hear it worked out for you though!

 

I guess I am sort of experimenting with having a shorter driver in the bag by trying a 16* mini driver. But 255cc is a long way from 460cc so apples and oranges...lol

[cksurfdude]

I haven't even been carrying my driver most of this season due to on-going disagreements between us on which direction the ball should go and where it should land....

 

Was considering a shorter driver shaft but figured this is a situation where I'd benefit from going to a good fitter (eg. try out different driver heads and different kinds of shafts).

 

Did try "gripping down" (positive connotation vs. "choking up" = negative connotation) but as Rev pointed out I can only blame it on the player and not on the equipment.

 

My swing, though, is hugely improving lately and .. who knows? .. maybe I'll take it to the range and give it a workout!

 

Am intrigued by that Callaway "Control" option - presumably they've properly trimmed, balanced, "pured", etc. the shaft at that length?

[sp0rtsfan86]

As a 5'5 player I'm always wondering how the companies want to go longer shafts and virtually none offer shaft lengths as a customizable option in stores. I just wish I could walk into a big box store and see if a shorter shaft would work better and go from there. As is I play 46 inch shafts and they do fairly well, but always curious.

[revkev]

As a 5'5 player I'm always wondering how the companies want to go longer shafts and virtually none offer shaft lengths as a customizable option in stores. I just wish I could walk into a big box store and see if a shorter shaft would work better and go from there. As is I play 46 inch shafts and they do fairly well, but always curious.

Do remember that the LPGA players avg driver length is longer than that of the avg PGA player.

 

Its really not that hard to get for for a driver. I strongly suggest that anyone do so. It satisfies curiosity and avoids expensive mistakes.

 

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[Sproutland]

As a 5'5 player I'm always wondering how the companies want to go longer shafts and virtually none offer shaft lengths as a customizable option in stores. I just wish I could walk into a big box store and see if a shorter shaft would work better and go from there. As is I play 46 inch shafts and they do fairly well, but always curious.

I'm also 5'5". I have been just smashing the ball down the middle with a shorter driver shaft. If you can find a five wood from the same oem you could use that shaft at the store to see if it helps.

 

 

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[fozcycle]

My Cobra King LTD is 45.5" but i replaced the stock Aldila Rogue Black shaft with a Paderson Kinetix IMRT that is 44.5".  I really do like the better control with a shorter shaft.

[ChiHuskyFan]

I cut down my D2 by 1" when I custom ordered with the Fujikura Speeder evolution shaft and asked them to maintain the swing weight. I also cut down my GBB 3 wood as well by 1". I was prepared to adjust the swing weight on the 3 wood as well but found that I was striping the ball 240 to 250 off the deck without changing anything...

 

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[Fireinthehole]

I prefer a shorter shaft playing at 44.5" but I also have my M2 on the upright setting. That might factor in in some how.

 

 

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[revkev]

I cut down my D2 by 1" when I custom ordered with the Fujikura Speeder evolution shaft and asked them to maintain the swing weight. I also cut down my GBB 3 wood as well by 1". I was prepared to adjust the swing weight on the 3 wood as well but found that I was striping the ball 240 to 250 off the deck without changing anything...

 

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Which Huskies are you a fan of?

 

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[ChiHuskyFan]

Which Huskies are you a fan of?

 

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Originally from CT, so the UConn Huskies!

 

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[revkev]

Just the answer I was praying for ChiHusky!  I'm also a CT native.  My best High School buddy played hoops for Dee Rowe in the mid-70's and a current good buddy is Desmond Conner who was the Hoops and football beat writer for the Hartford Courant.

 

As I'm writing this I'm in my work study which is proudly decorated with some Husky paraphernalia!  I take a ponding over it but because they are the Huskies I often have the last laugh - my favorite here was the last Men's Championship.  It was with great joy that I watched us wrestle them Gators into the abyss. 

 

UConn, UConn, UConn!