My 3W Almost Beats My Driver - New Driver Same Length as 3W? What Head?

[games]

I currently game a G400 Max driver with Ping Tour 65 R shaft playing at 45". My 3W is an old Adams Super Fairway XTD Ti 14.5 with the Fubuki Ax 65 S shaft playing at 43". A couple of range and sim sessions show the 3W is only 5-10 total yards shorter than driver, on average with a dispersion that is far superior.

 

I'm considering a new driver (either a mini driver or a low profile maybe even an HL4) also playing at 43." Not concerned about distance loss due to shorter length. Does anyone play a driver length that matches their 3W? If so, what are you gaming?

[Hack Daddy]

Tell us what the numbers are.

[Poolparty]

Is this a new problem?

[Hack Daddy]

This thread is meaningless, unless he posts numbers. No feedback will be applicable without that info.

[magnus7319]

Nah. Tried it. Many have. Hit the 3 wood off the tee if you’re hitting it straighter and almost as far as driver. Work on the driver till you can hit it meaningfully further than your 3 wood. The whole driver @ 3 wood length won’t be much different than the 3 wood honestly.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Use a similar Fubuki in Driver eg Callaway used the Fubuki a few years ago.ITS on my list to buy. Run a driver at 44.5 and D3 with lead tape and watch your impact marks on the face....loft up to suit....with a stable smooth shaft should gain confidence and distance and fairways hit

[SugarPenguin]

Iv dabbled with a 43 inch driver shaft.

No gains in dispersion and had a higher ball flight. I could turn it over a bit easier however but the distance over my 3 wood was negligible.

Not much point in having two clubs that do the same thing.

 

I would recommend trying a couple of new shafts maybe and a 44 inch shaft length driver and working on it

 

or as you have said a mini driver and then maybe lift your 3 wood to a 4 wood.

[games]

Thanks to those sharing their experiences and opinions of shorter length drivers! As mentioned, I did a fitting for the Tour Edge HL4 on Saturday. Bottom line: My current gamer shaft (Ping Tour 65R) is too heavy. The clue was it was the same weight as the Fubuki Ax in my 3W. I noticed it in testing the HL4, with the shafts in R and S at 57g and 60g, respectively.

Basically, the lighter shaft gave me 2-3 mph more CHS, moving me from 87-88 mph up to 90 mph.

 

I know this is heresy on GolfWRX, but this $200 HL4 might be the best driver Tour Edge has made, Exotics included. I had already gotten off the "Big OEM" train with irons and wedges (Maltby). The G400 Max will likely be my last big dollar purchase (but I fully admit to reshafting with something lighter). Since I don't know what swing I'm bringing to the course on any given day, I don't need a driver with six different lofts. The LM results are really positive for the HL4, so we'll see how it plays on the course.

 

[geochitown]

I've gone to as short as 43" with driver.

I use a 70 g weight shaft in the shorter build.

a little lead tape (or extra head weight) as well.

If you can experiment with shorter driver shaft length, that might help your ocntact.

What LM did you use?

Does it calcualate smash factor?

What was it?

[games]

> @geochitown said:

> What LM did you use? Does it calcualate smash factor? What was it?

 

GC Quad. Smash factors were slightly up, maybe 0.1-0.2. But, club speed up a couple of mph was key.

[geochitown]

so, smash factor up 0.1-0.2, so 1.25 to 1.45, or 1.30 to 1.40? 7.7% increase for 0.1 increase form 1.3 to 1.4.

3 mph increase form 87 to 90 mph is 3.4%

 

 

[Cwebb]

There's certainly a lot of merit in testing drivers that are shorter than the usual stock 45-46", but the best length will usually not be the same length that works best for us in a fairway wood

[games]

> @geochitown said:

> so, smash factor up 0.1-0.2, so 1.25 to 1.45, or 1.30 to 1.40? 7.7% increase for 0.1 increase form 1.3 to 1.4.

> 3 mph increase form 87 to 90 mph is 3.4%

>

>

Crap. My bad. Up 0.02 not 0.2. Before was 1.48-1.49; after was 1.50-1.51. Only reason I remembered smash was the consistency of the 1.5 readings. Small improvement, but it was consistent...

[bluedot]

The answer to this is the same as it is for every "I hit my 3W as far as my driver, and straighter"; you have the wrong driver. Could be the head, could be the shaft, but it's wrong. Spring for a good session with a good club fitter. Ultimately, you'll throw less money at a problem that shouldn't be a problem.

[cardoustie]

50g at 46" ... allo govna