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How Many Potential Yards Lost By Cutting Driver Shaft?


PJE

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Time for my obligatory comment about shorter driver usage     LOL

 

Several years ago, went for a driver fitting; I was having a persimmon reshafted (graphite to graphite, fwiw).  I work on my own clubs for the most part, but don't feel comfortable doing persimmons myself, so decided to get fit as part of the process.  I'd long been using drivers that top out at 44.5", with 44" or 44.25" being a more common length.

 

Brought the persimmon in question, my then in the bag Ti driver (just over 44"), and a steel shafted persimmon at 43.25".

 

Once I'd warmed up, swung my Ti driver at X.  Clubmaker had me swing the persimmon, similar results.  Decided to take some swings with the shorter steel shafted persimmon, I'm getting X+3 mph.  Cue the intrigue.  I am run through a gamut of options, including a 100g graphite metal wood at 43", and sure enough, everything from 43" to 43.5" was that X+3mph.

 

Took a while for this to sink in, but I finally moved to play my drivers at 43.5", and they've worked wonderfully.  More consistent (relatively speaking with respect to my inconsistent tee game), no loss of distance, all the fun.

 

Recently, I was able to again compare my mini driver at 43.5" (BRNR) with my Cobra SpeedZone, which is at 44.25".  I averaged a slightly better ballspeed with my BRNR than the Cobra, in spite of the length difference.

 

Main point:  shorter length doesn't always mean slower.  <shrug>

 

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The Ever Changing Bag!  A lot of mixing and matching
Driver: TM 300 Mini 11.5*, 43.5", Phenom NL 60X -or- Cobra SpeedZone, ProtoPype 80S, 43.5"

Fwy woods: King LTD 3/4, RIP Beta 90X -or- TM Sim2 Ti 3w, NV105 X
Hybrid:  Cobra King Tec 2h, MMT 80 S 

Irons grab bag:  1-PW Golden Ram TW276, NV105 S; 1-PW Golden Ram TW282, RIP Tour 115 R; 2-PW Golden Ram Vibration Matched, NS Pro 950WF S
Wedges:  Dynacraft Dual Millled 52*, SteelFiber i125 S -or- Scratch 8620 DD 53*, SteelFiber i125 S; Cobra Snakebite 56* -or- Wilson Staff PMP 58*, Dynamic S -or- Ram TW282 SW -or- Ram TW276 SW
Putter:  Snake Eyes Viper Tour Sv1, 34" -or- Cleveland Huntington Beach #1, 34.5" -or- Golden Ram TW Custom, 34" -or- Rife Bimini, 34" -or- Maxfli TM-2, 35"
Balls: Chrome Soft, Kirkland Signature 3pc (v3)

Grip preference: various GripMaster leather options, Best Grips Microperfs, or Star Grip Sidewinders of assorted colors

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I'd just like to point out that most of us trying the "shorter driver" thing are not striking center of the face consistently enough to gain the speed advantage of a longer shaft, which is why we're trying out a shorter driver.....

 

😁

Callaway Paradym 10.5* HZRDUS Silver 6.0

Callaway 3HL Paradym X HZRDUS Silver 6.0

Callaway 7w Paradym HZRDUS Silver 5.5

Tour Edge C522 4 and 6 hybrids Fubuki HL 55R

Callaway 6-52* irons Paradym HZRDUS Silver 6.0

Callaway Jaws Raw 58* Catalyst Wedge

Odyssey 11 Triple Track SuperStroke Traxion 2.0 

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On 3/25/2024 at 6:42 PM, PJE said:

Hi Golf WRX Clubbuilding Experts,

I’m wondering if there is a formula or approximation which states potentially  how much distance is lost by (butt) trimming a driver shaft? 
For example, some OEMs have a driver playing length of 45.75 inches which I guess potentially allows for longer drives. If you cut the shaft to 45.25 or 45 inches what would be the potential distance loss on a center strike: 2 yards ? 5 yards? 
I realize there are other, highly individualized, factors which could negate the potential distance loss but I was wondering if there is a formula or rule of thumb about this issue. 
Thank you for any insights which you can provide. 


Humans are not like robots, so shorter dont always mean lower club speed, and since most improve impact, the norm is actually a gain of average distance.

A robot and theory to answer your question.
- As average, we can say 1 inch PL = 4 mph club speed
- If we use 1.50 as "smash factor", 4 mph club speed, becomes 6 mph ball speed
- All else equal (spin, launch), we can use 2 to 2.2 yards carry for each mph ball speed.
= 1 inch shorter PL, can potentially reduce distance 12+ yards....

How ever, it often looks like this.
45.50" long - 100 mph club speed, smash 1.45 = 145 mph ball speed
44.50" long - 100 mph club speed - smash 1.50 = 150 ball speed
If that happen, we gain average 10 yards....

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DO NOT SEND PMs WITH CLUB TECH QUESTIONS - USE THE PUBLIC FORUM.

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On 3/25/2024 at 6:42 PM, PJE said:

Hi Golf WRX Clubbuilding Experts,

I’m wondering if there is a formula or approximation which states potentially  how much distance is lost by (butt) trimming a driver shaft? 
For example, some OEMs have a driver playing length of 45.75 inches which I guess potentially allows for longer drives. If you cut the shaft to 45.25 or 45 inches what would be the potential distance loss on a center strike: 2 yards ? 5 yards? 
I realize there are other, highly individualized, factors which could negate the potential distance loss but I was wondering if there is a formula or rule of thumb about this issue. 
Thank you for any insights which you can provide. 


Humans are not like robots, so shorter dont always mean lower club speed, and since most improve impact, the norm is actually a gain of average distance.

A robot and theory to answer your question.
- As average, we can say 1 inch PL = 4 mph club speed
- If we use 1.50 as "smash factor", 4 mph club speed, becomes 6 mph ball speed
- All else equal (spin, launch), we can use 2 to 2.2 yards carry for each mph ball speed.
= 1 inch shorter PL, can potentially reduce distance 12+ yards....

How ever, it often looks like this.
45.50" long - 100 mph club speed, smash 1.45 = 145 mph ball speed
44.50" long - 100 mph club speed - smash 1.50 = 150 ball speed
If that happen, we gain average 10 yards....

  • Thanks 1

DO NOT SEND PMs WITH CLUB TECH QUESTIONS - USE THE PUBLIC FORUM.

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