cutting down a driver / length measurements

[Ogameone]

since i´ve figured out that i hardly can adress my driver/woods square i had the suspision that my driver simply could be too long, maybe way to long. after googling around i´ve found the "cutting down a driver - topic" which already convinced me that it´s might be not a bad thing to follow my instincts.

 

but there is one open question, it is about the length. since i´m from europe i´m accustomed to use the metric-system. that´s not a problem at all due to all the translating tools on the net.

 

in the other topic there were a lot of driverlength data like 44"inch for example.

 

question is: how is it measured? is this the length of the shaft only? (for this case my driver would not be realy long) or is it the measured the whole club? if yes, how do you measure it due to the angle of the head?

[pingman1]

Sole the club on a flat surface and measure from the floor to the end of the grip.

[irishfight4it]

place it in playing position, measure from heel to end of grip

[Ogameone]

thanks, from heel to end of the grip it´s about 45,3 when the club lies square. that should it be?

[irishfight4it]

yea it's approximately correct. most drivers are standard between 45" and 46"

[Ogameone]

thanks, irish

[XLSDRAW]

Before you cut down your driver try choking up on the grip several lengths such as 1", 1.5", and 2". With my WTF measurements I should be playing a 43" to 43.5" driver. Mine OEM is 45". I choke down 1.5" ala Anthony Kim style and it works well for me. If by choking down you find the length that works best for you, you then have the option of cutting it down or not. A negative to cutting down is resale value. A positive to cutting down is a thicker grip. Personally I down mind the smaller grip size of choking down so I opted to leave mine uncut.

[bsc1872]

Half Inch equals 6 grams of weight which equals 3 swingweights so if it is D1 and you chop a half inch off you will be around c8 just have a club builder Hotmelt the head the 6 grams you cut off and then at a half inch shorter you will have the mass you need. This is done by every major company on the Tour Vans for there players just so you don't think I'm talking out of my #@! it is a proven method. I do this regulary for my customers and they love it.

 

A driver 3 inches longer than another will only carry 10more yards but will loose 25-30 yards of accuracy if mis hit. The longer driver does not pay off because most people get to flat and can't time the longer shafts so going shorter they hit it more solid which is what gets you distance