3W shaft in a driver head

[ZGriswold83]

I've always had a tough time hitting a driver straight, but always have been able to stripe a 3W down the fairway. I've been thinking about buying a driver head and then putting a 3W shaft into it. I have a YS-6 FW+ shaft in my 3W right now, and would love to put that shaft in a driver head, because I love the length. I don't want to cut down my driver shaft and mess with the swing weight and flex of the shaft....Is this kind of thing able to be done??

[dberry90210]

I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I'm sure it's been done and obviously it CAN be done but I'm just wondering how difficult it'd be to find the right shaft? Anyone who has done this please advise...

[Shanks For The Memories]

Actually, it's one of the best ideas there is. A 3 wood is easier to hit because it's shorter, and a little heavier. 90% of golfers need a shaft shorter than whats in a stock driver, and modern stock drivers are getting even longer.

The average driver on the market today has a 45.5" shaft, the average length of shaft on the PGA tour is 43.5".

[dberry90210]

I think I might do this very soon, esp. after todays play. Length wise I don't even really need a driver but if I knew I had more control and could place it with the same accuracy as my 3 wood, I would no doubt pull it out more often.

Would you think adding a bit of weight to the head and then going with your favorite 3 wood shaft would be the best bet? Or would you just use your launch monitor numbers from your regular length driver and try to match up a shaft? (unfortuantly I don't play an R9 because this would be very easy to do)

[Stinger82]

[quote name='ziggityz83' post='1862892' date='Aug 3 2009, 11:59 PM']I've always had a tough time hitting a driver straight, but always have been able to stripe a 3W down the fairway. I've been thinking about buying a driver head and then putting a 3W shaft into it. I have a YS-6 FW+ shaft in my 3W right now, and would love to put that shaft in a driver head, because I love the length. I don't want to cut down my driver shaft and mess with the swing weight and flex of the shaft....Is this kind of thing able to be done??[/quote]

I tried this. The first time out it was money everything dead straight and pretty long to. Everytime since then it has been ugly!! It seemed like a good idea to me because like you i kill my 3 wood but it did not work for me. I assume that the new big driver heads are just too big and don't work for me. Who knows. Good luck and I hope it works.

[ZGriswold83]

I actually just had an idea...if I play a stiff usually would buying a regular flex shaft and then having 2 inches cut off the butt end be pretty equal?

[celts5407]

no. you would have to tip it to get it to play to a stiff. then you could butt cut it to your desired finished length. butt cutting it alone wont affect it enough.

[jlin453]

Tip, shorten, and heavier shaft = 3 wood shaft.

[jowwy]

i've been playing a YS-6 Stiff shaft in my driver for the past 6mths - i tipped as per instructions for a 3 wood rather than the driver and shortened it to 43.75 inches......i hit more fairways now than i ever did and still equal driving distance if not further on occassions to my playing partners...........

Head weight is 209g - plus shaft and grip - swingweight = d2.2..............

I recently played the Celtic Manor Roman Road course, the one they used to use before the 2010 was completed, i reach the par 5 16th in two with driver, 5wood to 10ft and missed the eagle putt the hole is just over 515yds............but the driver is so much more easily controllable.

i'd say go for it.....and hit better, straighter drives...........GOOD LUCK!

[dberry90210]

Let us know if you try it and what shaft you go with. I'm going to give it a shot as well but not for a few weeks b/c I'm playing in a few tournys and don't want to turn decent driving into bad driving.

[Swoosh-Thud]

You're supposed to tip a shaft 1" from driver length to put in a 3w b/c of head weight/shaft length/droop etc, so if it was put in correctly you may be unknowingly going up in stiffness and vice verce.

This past weekend I pulled my Accra XC from my driver as it was an M5 (X) and just a shade stout for my liking so I put er in my 3w as is/untipped to turn er into an "S." I spoke with the Accra rep who also confirmed that and that Puring it was unnecessery. (Also pulled a tipped VTLT 3w shaft and put it in a 5w...loved the change as well)

If you like the shorter length (I too have gone down from 46 -> 45") just butt trim as you may not like the same shaft in your driver. Good luck.

[ZGriswold83]

jowwy, I think that's just what I may do. I've been looking at a lot of titleist drivers on ebay..I figure if I hit their 3W good I'd give the driver a try...so it shouldn't be a tall order for my local shop to pull the shaft, tip it, and then trim it back down to about the same length as my 3W?

[dakotus]

I took the Aldila NVS 85g out of my 3wood and put it in my driver straight up. Its already tipped one inch, so it firmed up the crazy nvs tip. Now this thing is a real bomber.

[Shanks For The Memories]

I'd like to cut my tip down some more. My driver is 45" right now, and I'm thinking that 43.5" might give me some more swing speed as I'd be less afraid to swing a bit harder.

As it is, today I missed only 3 fairways by more than 5 feet. 8/14 total with 3 more in the first cut about 3 feet off the fairway. Striped about 3 down the geometric center.

I don't hit bombs, I hit fairways. I choke up on the driver, and take a small swing, and just give it a little tap to about 225. When I cook one a little hotter, it goes about 265 total. If I do a full on rip, I can launch it nearly 300 yards total.

But since a 65 year old guy was outdriving me today, I let one rip just to show who was boss. I outdrove all 3 playing partners on the fly! Unfortunately, I was in the left rough.

[hogan234]

[quote name='ziggityz83' post='1862892' date='Aug 3 2009, 11:59 PM']I've always had a tough time hitting a driver straight, but always have been able to stripe a 3W down the fairway. I've been thinking about buying a driver head and then putting a 3W shaft into it. I have a YS-6 FW+ shaft in my 3W right now, and would love to put that shaft in a driver head, because I love the length. I don't want to cut down my driver shaft and mess with the swing weight and flex of the shaft....Is this kind of thing able to be done??[/quote]

In addition to overall length, I think the higher loft of your 3 wood enables you to hit a straighter shot. I'm a firm believer in shorter drivers. My current driver is a R7 Quad TP 10.5* (the original 390cc version). I've up the weight so I could play it at 44" w/o losing head feel. It's amazing how many more shots are hit on the sweetspot. Sweetspot hits = longer drives and more fairways.

[Shanks For The Memories]

[quote name='hogan234' post='1865838' date='Aug 5 2009, 09:17 AM'][quote name='ziggityz83' post='1862892' date='Aug 3 2009, 11:59 PM']I've always had a tough time hitting a driver straight, but always have been able to stripe a 3W down the fairway. I've been thinking about buying a driver head and then putting a 3W shaft into it. I have a YS-6 FW+ shaft in my 3W right now, and would love to put that shaft in a driver head, because I love the length. I don't want to cut down my driver shaft and mess with the swing weight and flex of the shaft....Is this kind of thing able to be done??[/quote]

In addition to overall length, I think the higher loft of your 3 wood enables you to hit a straighter shot. I'm a firm believer in shorter drivers. My current driver is a R7 Quad TP 10.5* (the original 390cc version). I've up the weight so I could play it at 44" w/o losing head feel. It's amazing how many more shots are hit on the sweetspot. Sweetspot hits = longer drives and more fairways.

[/quote]


I also use more loft in my driver, 2° more than I need. So, instead of a 7.5° driver, I use a 9.5° driver. The ball flies out and climbs, but mishits are more forgiving. I tend to find the toe side a lot on my driver, so these shots come off the face with just a touch of hook spin, not as a massive snap hook.

[ZGriswold83]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to find a cheap driver on ebay and just have it cut down on the butt a couple inches. The more and more I think about it, I think it will really help. So anyone have a 905R they wanna let go for about $50

[hogan234]

[quote name='ziggityz83' post='1867660' date='Aug 5 2009, 11:06 PM']I'm pretty sure I'm going to find a cheap driver on ebay and just have it cut down on the butt a couple inches. The more and more I think about it, I think it will really help. So anyone have a 905R they wanna let go for about $50 [/quote]

Remember to get have some lead tape handy. I'm guessing that a shorter length and firmer 3 wood shaft may make it difficult for you to feel the head in your swing. Also, the very deep borethru of the 905R head will further stiffen the shaft.