Anyone playing 47" Driver? Hitting longer?

[M-Stamp]

Title says it all. I'm thinking of putting a 2" extension in my 910D3 8.5 driver with a Whiteboard 63S. I made every effort to be able to carry 265 yards, but so far I've been carrying around 245. I hit my driver very straight and hit the sweetspot almost always, so I don't worry about hitting the sweet spot or hitting straight even with a 47" driver. (Handicap is 1.5.)

 

Is this a good idea? Is anybody using a 47" driver? Are you hitting longer? If so, how much?

[stealthrt91]

47" is gonna be a decent amount harder to hit. I would look into ways to increase your swing speed (such as clearing your hips or bringing your elbow in). Those two tweeks added TONS of yards to my swing a few years back.

-But like you said, if you are confident the length wont be harder to deal with. Yes, you will hit the ball farther for sure. I have no idea how much, but if you watch any long drive competition, those guys are wailing the longest driver shafts you can think of.

[M-Stamp]

By "bring your elbow in", you mean the left elbow on the followthrough, correct?

[Random Hack]

I played one for about two weeks, then chopped it down to 45" and have been hitting it as long with more consistency - those extra two inches really make it harder (for me, anyways) to hit the sweet spot.

[stealthrt91]

[quote name='M-Stamp' timestamp='1308167113' post='3309898']
By "bring your elbow in", you mean the left elbow on the followthrough, correct?
[/quote]

If your a righty, when you start your down swing, try to keep in your right elbow (or potentially your right arm/inside bicep against your body). It forces you to drop your shoulder and create more natural speed. Its very awkward at first if you've never tried to do it, but you'll see it creates a smoother follow thru as well.

http://www.golf.com/golf/instruction/article/0,28136,1565232,00.html

-There are many tweeks you can try to increase your swing speed. Before you start looking at equipment, remember...

Swing Speed = Distance

[wishbone]

I've been thinking about trying one. I have heard about good results on the ultra lite, long drivers, and I have been hitting a 12* 2 wood (Wishon 929) off the tee quite a bit lately, with very little distance loss compared to a driver. Might see if an extra long, extra lite headed driver can improve the distance gap to make it worth using on long, open holes.

[Sean2]

I was fitted for a 47" driver. I'm 6'5" with relatively short arms. My pro put my on the LM and my smash factor was averaging 1.46 so he said I was good to go. He also said that a 47" driver for me was roughly equivalent to a 44.5" driver for the average person. I haven't had any problems and at 56 I could use the extra yards.

[596]

I'm 6-3, 6 handicap, 56yoa, and play 2 drivers consistantly.

1. Ping K15 12* TFC stiff shaft, 45.75"
2. Integra 175 12* 65 gram stiff shaft, 47.5"

The Ping is a fairway finder at 250 yards or so average. The Integra is 10-12 yards longer and really not that much harder to hit. Still a wonderful driver even with the long shaft. But its not only the shaft length that gains you yards. My Integra weighs in at 245 grams, much lighter then the Ping. The lighter weight allows for faster swing speed, thus more yards, then add the shaft length and a few more yards.....

The longer you hit the ball on average the more problems you will have with misses. Its simple geometry. At the same angle and greater distance you missed the fairway by more then me at the same angle but shorter distance. At an average drive of 250, which I find is plently long enough for drives, I don't miss many fairways and hardly ever take a penalty or recovery stroke after my drive. So , the longer driver, though a tad less accurate still does not miss the fairways too often at 260 yards average.

[hangubber]

I have been playing a 47 inch driver lately (7 degree Ping Tisi with Accuflex Assassin in X). I have not noticed a loss of accuracy but have noticed some ballooning which has negated any increase in distance. Back to the drawing board for me.

[bkends35]

I HIGHLY doubt it will be longer. Same distance and fewer fairways. Plus that will mess the swingweight up A LOT. IMO don't do it.