Effect of 1/2" off Driver Shaft

[bslosh]

PING's "standard" isn't "standard"!

Just received my new PING G5 driver with an Accra T70 M4 shaft. I ordered "standard" length from PING not knowing that PING's"standard" is 45 3/4" long. While I hit the club pretty darn good, I hit it better after choking down on it a bit. Without checking with anyone, I had about 1/2" taken off the butt end so the length of the club would be more "standard" and I wouldn't have the choke down on the club. My buddy tells me I may have just screwed up the whole club. He says I probably lost about 4 swing weights (D-2 to C-8) and that the flex will be "much" stiffer. While I haven't hit the club yet, I'm afraid of what I've done. Your thoughts please on what I've just done and what I may have to do to get this stick back to "normal." Thanks for sharing.

[taylormadefan]

As is usually the case with advise from friends, he's only partially right.

 

For each 1/2 you cut off (or add) you'll change the swing weight by 3 points. Usually this is true, balance points may vary, the only way to know for sure is to get it on the swing weight scale.

 

Secondly, if you want to make up this difference, just add six grams of weight to the head. Also, swing weight is about feel, you may like a lighter feel. Some people are more sensitive to swing weight than others.

 

As far as changing the flex of the club, he's complteley false. Butt trimming may make the club FREQUENCY stiffer, but frequency does not tell the whole story. Butt trimming does not change the tip section or dynamic flex of the shaft (which is why so many MANUFACTURERS reccomend it instead of tipping). It will still flex the same, don't worry about that.

 

You're fine, just slap some lead tape on the head and you'll be good to go.

[Dyno]

Did a G2 on the weekend and it was just shy of D4 at 45.75". 1/2" will get you to around D1. Ping heads are standard to a little light at 198g.

 

If you freq the club on a 8cpm/inch slope, you'll find the flex will exhibit a very minor change in flex from butt trimming....1/2" won't do anything as stated in the post before. The length/flex issue is a complicated one and I've seen lots of qualified clubmakers argue about it. Basically it comes down to the chart used and the chosen frequency slope. 8.6cpm/inch is usually cited most but it really only applies to a certain segment of shafts. Long story short, don't worry about the flex. Just be aware that adding 10g of lead tape will soften it by about a 1/2 a flex. Good luck. That's a great combo....seen it first hand!

[Mugnut]

Just did it. Had a new shaft put in at 45" on my G5. Took a couple strips of lead tape to bring the swingweight back up to D-2, and had it pured while I was at it.

 

The G5 just seemed ot long for me at standard length.

 

Never hit the ball better than I did the rest of the week . . . confidence? equipment? who knows, but it was reassuring to have the driver feel like it fit, which makes you relax, which makes you swing well, which leads to good results.