Who is going to build a shorter driver based on Wishon article?

I've only gone as short as 44.5" in the past. Tempted to build something at 44" this year. Still having a hard time believing that the change in swingweight won't be a problem.

Been playing mine at 44'5" for ages. Never go back to anything longer. It 'feels' much more comfortable

I just choke down on mine...same result without the work or resale problems.

I went an inch shorter to a 44.5" last year. For me, the decrease in swing speed was negligible (< 1 mph), so it was a no-brainer. It sounds silly, but it's also provided a mental crutch - playing a shorter length club reminds me not to overswing (and gives me a built-in mental excuse in the unlikely case that someone makes fun of me if I don't hit it 290!). But I'd take better contact and more fairways hit with a loss of 10 yards any day and think most people would benefit from a similar change, as Wishon said.

And for those worried about swing weight, a club fitter (or lead tape) can get you back to what you are most used to easily.

I have been following his advise since 2005 when I picked up one of his books to read for the Winter. My original copy has all kinds of notes in it for personal use and as a guide if I get stuck on a project. I have a second copy that I lend out to friends and students. I play mine at 441/4 for control.

I've got a new shaft coming for my R1 and plan on cutting it to 44" or 44.5". Played a R9 a few years ago at 44.5" and felt really good with it.

Been 44 or 44.5 for a while now. I don't know about 43.5, but the important thing is you find something that works for you. I do like the idea of owning different drivers for different conditions. With adjustable tech, it shouldn't be hard to have a shorter shaft ready to go for tighter courses.

I have always choked down on my driver for control and now playing at 44.5 and choked down I have gained even more...thinking of trying 44" soon as well

Had a 3W 70g Fuji Fuel shaft in my Anser head...total length was 43.5". It was short, but something about that length gave complete confidence to just crush it.

Didn't notice a lick of distance loss vs 45+" shaft. Much more accurate.

I went from 45.75 down to 44.5 and the difference in centre face contact was HUGE. Instead of being all over the face I was all in over the sweet spot. At my last fitting they suggested going longer for more clubhead speed... no way. I'll stay shorter and in the middle everyday of the week instead.

[quote name='Apex93' timestamp='1389292223' post='8428975']
And for those worried about swing weight, a club fitter (or lead tape) can get you back to what you are most used to easily.
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Not necessarily true. If you cut a 45" driver down to 44" then you have a 6 swingweight difference to make up. Heavier shaft will get you 1-2 swingweights max. So now you would have to add enough lead tape to make up 4 swingweights? That's a massive amount of lead tape. Not really feasible. If you are starting out with a 45.75" inch driver then just forget about it. Now you are talking 8-9 swingweights. Its impossible to make that up.

I went to 44.5 last year and I don't see myself going any longer than that....if anything, I might look to make a little sledgehammer...43 or 43.5 - D5 - with a fairly heavy shaft...

I have my 913 D3 stock D+ shaft cut to 44.5 and then I have a Rombax 7z08 cut down to play around 44". I've used both but I was doing best with the D+ last time couple months before the snow flew. Might experiment some more in the spring with the two shafts. I did add the heavier weight so the swingweight is still D3 with the 44.5" shaft but it gets a little low with the Rombax, but still works.

I am gaming a 9.5 Nike VR Pro LE with a 44" PX Tour Issue 8a4 shaft. I put a strip of lead tape under the grip to add weight without adjusting the flex and I could not be more pleased. I have NO IDEA what the swing weight is, but then again I dont really care. It feels perfect to me. If you're going to do it, dont let swing weight scare you out of it. Just use whatever you're comortable with and dont let people on here convince you that you messed up because your swingweight is off. Just be aware that a shorter heavier shaft could reduce launch angle so you may want to find a low kick shaft that launches high, or an increase in driver head loft. But its hard to argue with the control it gives you!

Being a short guy 5'6" I've always played a shorter driver. My wrist to floor is somthing like 31". The length of some of these stock drivers (46") to achieve marketing claims of 15yd longer blah blah blah are ridiculous. I've built and played drivers from 44.5" to 44.75" and SW from D0 to D4, the lighter the head the stiffer a shaft can feel. It's not a ton of difference but it is noticible. Does it effect ball flight or kick point of the shaft? . . . prob not, just the feel of the club in the hands. A few range sessions will usually be enough to dial in feel.

Nope.

A fitting session would determine if you need a shorter shafted driver. Now all kinds of people are running out to their shops and cutting down their driver shafts, lol! If you didn't get fitted and want that much of a shorter shafted option then really you're after a 3 wood, are you not? Could always get an 11.5* strong 3 wood. Why not just get fitted for a proper driver? That way you can get the swingweight adjusted from the manufacturer if you do in fact need a shorter shaft.

[quote name='tdelam' timestamp='1389294035' post='8429205']
A fitting session would determine if you need a shorter shafted driver. Now all kinds of people are running out to their shops and cutting down their driver shafts, lol! If you didn't get fitted and want that much of a shorter shafted option then really you're after a 3 wood, are you not? Could always get an 11.5* strong 3 wood. Why not just get fitted for a proper driver? That way you can get the swingweight adjusted from the manufacturer if you do in fact need a shorter shaft.
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I understand your point about fitting, but really who in the world would be fitted for a 45.75" driver? Maybe an NBA player or two. I like your idea of the strong 3 wood. Cannot tell you how many guys have come in my shop and said they now hit their 3 wood (Rocketballz, X Hot, etc) as long as their driver.

I tried one, only problem is the massive amount of lead tape I had to add to get it back to the SW I like. Disregarding that, I lost a little bit of distance but I am more consistent.

Right now, I'm just using my stock RFX and just choking down on it and that's working as well.

I currently play mine at 47", tried going shorter and just never got used to it, feels like I'm standing too close to the ball to really generate any clubhead speed. Of course being 6'3" with long arms means I need a bit of room.

[quote name='Lacey Underall' timestamp='1389294922' post='8429299']
[quote name='tdelam' timestamp='1389294035' post='8429205']
A fitting session would determine if you need a shorter shafted driver. Now all kinds of people are running out to their shops and cutting down their driver shafts, lol! If you didn't get fitted and want that much of a shorter shafted option then really you're after a 3 wood, are you not? Could always get an 11.5* strong 3 wood. Why not just get fitted for a proper driver? That way you can get the swingweight adjusted from the manufacturer if you do in fact need a shorter shaft.
[/quote]
I understand your point about fitting, but really who in the world would be fitted for a 45.75" driver? Maybe an NBA player or two. I like your idea of the strong 3 wood. Cannot tell you how many guys have come in my shop and said they now hit their 3 wood (Rocketballz, X Hot, etc) as long as their driver.
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Yea, I guess the old standard in the 80's was 43" for a driver but things change. I have a friend who cut his driver down but still opt's for his X Hot 3 wood as his driver instead. He kept using his driver and said "I shouldn't be scared of it" until we all reasoned with him and said it's pointless because he hits his 3 wood further and straighter. I don't know, maybe it's just me but I just find it very strange that cutting down a driver is considered a good thing without any sort of fitting or swingweight adjustments.

What s wrong with choking down?..

I'll be building a couple 43" 12* SLDRs w/ Nunchuks for members this year...

Look at driver head weights, there are some that are plenty heavy. G25, i25, to name a couple. Install an aftermarket shaft, especially something tip-heavy, in the 44.5-45" range and the swing weight should be fine.

Or have a sweet Wishon 919 built for you.

So if I'm using a 46" driver, am I crazy? Driving accuracy is a weak point in my game so maybe this could be a solution. Should I go straight to something around 44 1/2? or just take a little off so it's not so a big change? Also do I need to get a new shaft because it would throw off the swing weight?

[quote name='tdelam' timestamp='1389295342' post='8429357']
[quote name='Lacey Underall' timestamp='1389294922' post='8429299']
[quote name='tdelam' timestamp='1389294035' post='8429205']
A fitting session would determine if you need a shorter shafted driver. Now all kinds of people are running out to their shops and cutting down their driver shafts, lol! If you didn't get fitted and want that much of a shorter shafted option then really you're after a 3 wood, are you not? Could always get an 11.5* strong 3 wood. Why not just get fitted for a proper driver? That way you can get the swingweight adjusted from the manufacturer if you do in fact need a shorter shaft.
[/quote]
I understand your point about fitting, but really who in the world would be fitted for a 45.75" driver? Maybe an NBA player or two. I like your idea of the strong 3 wood. Cannot tell you how many guys have come in my shop and said they now hit their 3 wood (Rocketballz, X Hot, etc) as long as their driver.
[/quote]

Yea, I guess the old standard in the 80's was 43" for a driver but things change. I have a friend who cut his driver down but still opt's for his X Hot 3 wood as his driver instead. He kept using his driver and said "I shouldn't be scared of it" until we all reasoned with him and said it's pointless because he hits his 3 wood further and straighter. I don't know, maybe it's just me but I just find it very strange that cutting down a driver is considered a good thing without any sort of fitting or swingweight adjustments.
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The driver is the most forgiving club in the bag, I feel like it would make more sense to play a shorter driver rather than a longer 3-wood.

If someone hits their 3-wood farther than their driver then it's either mental or their driver isn't properly fit for them.

Cutting down my G20 1". I had an old driver in the garage I hit very well and couldn't figure out why i hit it better than my new G20. Turns out, its about 1" shorter. My fitting I recently had suggested I shorten my driver up.

When I cut my K15 down from 45.75 to 44.5 my main concern was shaft flex. I added lead tape to the bottom and installed a Winn Lite grip. After awhile I took off the lead tape and never really noticed a difference. The shaft was still playing to flex (makes me think it was a tad softer to start with) but it worked out well.

My G25 has a D3 swing weight and the Ping fitter said I could trim it down to 45" with no problem.

I wonder how many golfwrx'ers read the part about very few golfers actually doing well with 45"+ shafts (high swing speed, smooth tempo, later release) and immediately concluded that that they fell into this category....I know I did.

[quote name='PreppySlapCut' timestamp='1389295720' post='8429399']
I'll be building a couple 43" 12* SLDRs w/ Nunchuks for members this year...
[/quote]

I have been thinking about doing something similar for myself. Do you plan on using the 460 or 430 head?

I've considered having my driver shortened to 44" (it's 45" now). I think I'd need a much heavier shaft in order to keep the swingweight at D2, however, so I'm not sure if it's worth doing.