Iron 7 length driver.

[matjak79]

Hi,

I have been playing the cobra one length irons and hybrid last season and are very happy with them.

But my driver has been going even worse since I now almost never hit any longer clubs.

So I tested to cut of one of the shafts on my Cobra Ltdx driver to exact the same length about 37 inches.

It is a HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.0 Stiff from my old driver. I also replaced the weight in the back of the driver with a 18g.

 

The result was pretty good except one issue.

Club head speed 92-95 mph vs 100-103 with the original shaft.

Ball speed on good strikes around 140 mph.

But the spin numbers are way down I have increased the loft to maximum but the spin on good strikes are about 1500 rpm.

And it launches way to low.

I am guessing it might have something to do with the shaft is too stiff for the swing speed. (or that you are not supposed to cut of a shaft that much 😃)

 

So do anyone have any idea what a good shaft would be to try on the driver or any other suggestion how the get more spin and higher launch.

 

/Mattias

 

[Feelingofgreatness]

Ltdx junior driver with 39" shaft set to 13.5* 😁

[NHenson815]

It might not be the shaft stiffness per se, and may be attributable to a changing angle of attack.  That is a sizeable reduction in length and would probably require different swing mechanics resulting in a change to how you launch the ball.  If you added weight to the club head, it might actually soften the shaft a bit, so it may not be a too stiff issue.  I’ve tried pretty much everything, and reducing driver shaft length is certainly an effective way for many golfers to increase their performance with that club, but that might be a little too much.

[gdb99]

That much cut off the shaft, you haven’t added enough weight to get it back to the stock swing weight. The shaft could be playing stiffer.

 

Question is, what swing weight do you need? 
 

Cutting 8+ inches off a driver shaft is pretty extreme. Have you tried a 3 or 5 wood shaft? Same adapter. 
 

“Experts” opinion that I have read on here usually say if you are cutting down a driver to use a heavier shaft. You have a lot of experimenting to do!
 

 

[Stuart_G]

On 2/5/2023 at 11:14 AM, matjak79 said:

The result was pretty good except one issue.

Club head speed 92-95 mph vs 100-103 with the original shaft.

Ball speed on good strikes around 140 mph.

 

That's about what one would expect for a 7i length swing speed.

 

 

On 2/5/2023 at 11:14 AM, matjak79 said:

But the spin numbers are way down I have increased the loft to maximum but the spin on good strikes are about 1500 rpm.

And it launches way to low.

 

Check impact position on the face first (foot powder spray) but more than likely with a 7i length you're swinging it more like a 7i - which typically means shaft lean (hands ahead of the ball at impact) and reduced dynamic loft.   Normal driver swings typically result in no shaft lean or reverse shaft lean (hands behind the ball at impact).   But that's just a guess - would need to see LM data.

 

On 2/5/2023 at 11:14 AM, matjak79 said:

 

I am guessing it might have something to do with the shaft is too stiff for the swing speed. (or that you are not supposed to cut of a shaft that much 😃)

 

Unlikely.   No such thing as being too soft or too stiff for a given swing speed.    It's only if the stiffness feel is causing some change to your swing that it might make it potentially part of the problem.

 

 

On 2/5/2023 at 11:14 AM, matjak79 said:

So do anyone have any idea what a good shaft would be to try on the driver or any other suggestion how the get more spin and higher launch.

 

/Mattias

 

 

Sorry but I doubt there is any shaft that is going to help with that particular problem.

 

You really want to stick to that length?   

 

I'm ALL in for am's going shorter with the driver playing length - but IMO that's overkill.   I'd suggest using Howard's DIY driver tune up to find a better playing length (as well as the right shaft weight and head weight for that length).   If (after following the tutorial) you still have problems as you get down to 43" (or maybe even 42") - then no equipment changes are going to help  you - it's time to go see a pro.   Any shorter than that and the lie angle will likely start getting too flat - which might lead to some bad habits creeping in to counteract the effects.

 

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by Stuart_G

[renobleiii]

this guy did a test where he did excactly what you’re doing. There’s a follow up video where he did it to hybrid length. 
 

Also, your speed reduction partially comes from having a shorter club. Less radius= less speed, even when your body is moving the same way/speed.