44 inch driver.....WOW!

[feedlotdoc]

[quote name='bag302' timestamp='1366321603' post='6873969']
Been playing 45" but I'm afraid to cut my shaft down to try 44"
[/quote]

I started out by putting a 1" piece of tape on the end of my grip and then using that to take my grip. Sort of like AK grips down on his shaft, I just used the tape as a guide for how much to grip down.

[kurlin]

Well I took apart my backup driver that played 45 inches (HoF Jamie Sadlowski x), tipped it to play 44 (about 1.25 inches), and put a r11 adapter on it. Took it to the range to test it today. The results were very good. Much more accurate and just as long as my gamer shaft that plays 45inches (fujikura rombax 6w06 x). Only thing I had to do was add 4 grams to the head to get it to d5.5.

Need to get on a launch monitor to see the numbers.

[PixlPutterman]

[quote name='golfer64' timestamp='1366735190' post='6900685']
[quote name='PixlPutterman ' timestamp='1366732266' post='6900317']
[quote name='golfer64' timestamp='1366731621' post='6900231']
I see more people are cutting their shaft down to under 45. Is the purpose making lighter, and more control? Some of these post say it increases their SS.
[/quote]

[color=#282828]More control is the reason, drivers used to be 43 inches. Once club heads were limited to COR specs, how else were club manufactures going to make distance claims for advertising? Lighter longer shafts that you can swing faster.......[/color]

[color=#282828]I play my driver at 43 inches, and steel at that....... and keep it in the fairway 270-280 all day long......[/color]

[color=#282828]and it may just be me.....but the whole swing weight arguement is hogwash to me....just do it and enjoy the results [/color]

Not saying everyone would benefit from a shorter driver, but those that are having problems with consistency, the price of your shaft is not the problem, the length is.

Just as everyone has a specific length putter they like, finding the right length driver is far more important the profile of your shaft.
[/quote]
Do you gain or lose distance?
[/quote]You average out......

Think of it this way, Obviously a well struck ball with a 45 inch shaft given all other variables being the same.......goes further. But at what cost is that? 8 balls in the tress for every 2 well struck shots??

I may be 10 yards shorter with steel at 43 (or shorter) inches, but I gain 7 of those balls back out of the trees and in the fairway where they belong

You can argue you gain distance because you should have more well struck balls.............

[PixlPutterman]

[quote name='kurlin' timestamp='1366760306' post='6903701']
Well I took apart my backup driver that played 45 inches (HoF Jamie Sadlowski x), tipped it to play 44 (about 1.25 inches), and put a r11 adapter on it. Took it to the range to test it today. The results were very good. Much more accurate and just as long as my gamer shaft that plays 45inches (fujikura rombax 6w06 x). Only thing I had to do was add 4 grams to the head to get it to d5.5.

Need to get on a launch monitor to see the numbers.
[/quote]

Dont get tooooooo wrapped up in numbers, trust more what you see on the course

[Howard_Jones]

Here is som "food" for your brains....

1 inch shorter club is on paper 4 MPH club speed
At maximum PTR 1.50 that gives 6 MPH ball speed
1 Mph ball speed is just above 2 yards carry, so on paper you loose 12 yards carry, BUT ONLY IF PTR is the same, and it never is

Most likely, a player who gets a PTR of 1.50 with a 44 long driver, would only get 1.43 with a 45 long club, so how does the numbers look now ?. Lets say Club speed is 100 at 44 inch, and 104 at 45 inch like the example where 0.5 club length is 2 mph club speed.

100 x 1.5 = 150 Mph ball speed
104 x 1,43 = 149 Mph ball speed

The 44 long club will have 2 yards MORE carry than the 45 long club, PLUS the 45 long club will, suffer from gear effects on the face, since we could not hit the sweetspot, and that means a lot of variables for both distance and direction.

NEVER play a driver you cant get a PTR of 1.48 or above

[TahoeDust]

So, right now my R11s shaft measures 44" from the tip of the adapter to the butt. I believes that means the driver plays 45.25. Is this correct? Can someone confirm? Also, if I was to cut off 1.25" to make it play 44" do you think the swing weight change would be noticeable? How much weight would I need to add to the head to keep it the same swing weight?

[golfer64]

My club is 45.25 so Iam trying to take this post advice, so I put my hands down on the shaft about 1/2 to 3/4. I hit more drives in the fairway and just as far. You have great control of the club.

[golfer64]

If the tour players play there shafts at 44.5 and 44.75, why do we play it 45 and 45.25.

[Lord Helmet]

[quote name='golfer64' timestamp='1366811641' post='6907099']
If the tour players play there shafts at 44.5 and 44.75, why do we play it 45 and 45.25.
[/quote]

Average joe SS is less than pro so need more SS to generate ball speed. I suppose. But at the cost (for some, not all) of accuracy and where you hit the ball on the face of the driver.

My driver is at 44" and I wont fool with it.

[Howard_Jones]

[quote name='TahoeDust' timestamp='1366799191' post='6906329']
So, right now my R11s shaft measures 44" from the tip of the adapter to the butt. I believes that means the driver plays 45.25. Is this correct? Can someone confirm? Also, if I was to cut off 1.25" to make it play 44" do you think the swing weight change would be noticeable? How much weight would I need to add to the head to keep it the same swing weight?
[/quote]

At 44" you can use 10 grams pr inch you cut of,(12.5 grams in your case) and YES you cant take of 1.25 without you notice
- If flex and launch is fine now, take half of tip, rest from butt.
If you ONLY cutt off from butt, launch will raise some due to more head weight on the same shaft, so we tip trim to keep it as close to original specs in play, unless there is other needs for either a tad higher or lower launch than it is.

[Howard_Jones]

[quote name='Lord Helmet' timestamp='1366812556' post='6907213']
[quote name='golfer64' timestamp='1366811641' post='6907099']
If the tour players play there shafts at 44.5 and 44.75, why do we play it 45 and 45.25.
[/quote]

Average joe SS is less than pro so need more SS to generate ball speed. I suppose. But at the cost (for some, not all) of accuracy and where you hit the ball on the face of the driver.

My driver is at 44" and I wont fool with it.
[/quote]

Power transfer ratio or Smash factor is what gives ball speed, NOT Club speed.... it never was, and it never will be.

[golfer64]

[quote name='Howard Jones' timestamp='1366812879' post='6907259']
[quote name='Lord Helmet' timestamp='1366812556' post='6907213']
[quote name='golfer64' timestamp='1366811641' post='6907099']
If the tour players play there shafts at 44.5 and 44.75, why do we play it 45 and 45.25.
[/quote]

Average joe SS is less than pro so need more SS to generate ball speed. I suppose. But at the cost (for some, not all) of accuracy and where you hit the ball on the face of the driver.

My driver is at 44" and I wont fool with it.
[/quote]

Power transfer ratio or Smash factor is what gives ball speed, NOT Club speed.... it never was, and it never will be.
[/quote]
When I set my hands down on the driver grip about 1/2 inch I hit it further and in the fairway, which makes the club around 44.5

[Lord Helmet]

[quote name='Howard Jones' timestamp='1366812879' post='6907259']
[quote name='Lord Helmet' timestamp='1366812556' post='6907213']
[quote name='golfer64' timestamp='1366811641' post='6907099']
If the tour players play there shafts at 44.5 and 44.75, why do we play it 45 and 45.25.
[/quote]

Average joe SS is less than pro so need more SS to generate ball speed. I suppose. But at the cost (for some, not all) of accuracy and where you hit the ball on the face of the driver.

My driver is at 44" and I wont fool with it.
[/quote]

Power transfer ratio or Smash factor is what gives ball speed, NOT Club speed.... it never was, and it never will be.
[/quote]

Thanks for correcting me.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

Tell that to the guy swinging at 85mph who expects to drive it 240 yards!

[PixlPutterman]

[quote name='Fourmyle of Ceres' timestamp='1366818883' post='6908129']
Tell that to the guy swinging at 85mph who expects to drive it 240 yards!
[/quote]

shhhh dont burst the bubble

[bag302]

[quote name='PixlPutterman ' timestamp='1366819150' post='6908175']
[quote name='Fourmyle of Ceres' timestamp='1366818883' post='6908129']
Tell that to the guy swinging at 85mph who expects to drive it 240 yards!
[/quote]

shhhh dont burst the bubble
[/quote]

According to the Trackman chart, it is possible to hit 241 yards with an 85 mph swing

[Kacee]

I cut BOTH of my gaming drivers to 43", the Callaway RXB with stock shaft I need to add 15g of lead tapes, so I tip the shaft 1", the Nike VRS I installed a steel shaft, with 22g grip, came out D5 with MOI of 2720, right where I want it so no extra weight need.

Results? My last three rounds, I hit 28/42 fairway, distance 190-210 with the Callaway RXB and 200-242 (GPS measured) with the Nike VRS.

It's funny that I have always thought that steel shaft driver will make me lost some distance, but no, this Nike VRS is 13*, steel shafted, consistently giving me better distance off the tee compare to the Callaway RXB 10.5*, much straighter, too. I actually hit 2 balls off the tee with 2 of my drivers last round, the fun driver might become the main driver.

[lui_boy]

My best results are from a 44" driver. I'm able to hit draws, fades, straight, and consistent all day long. At 45", the driver just seems a little too sloppy at times and really didn't give me more distance. Maybe it's just a visual / mental thing. However, I do have a 48" long driver I use for speed and strength practice; super long, but not that consistent. I'll take the ability to control the shape, hit it straight, and consistent any day.

[TahoeDust]

[quote name='Howard Jones' timestamp='1366812773' post='6907239']
[quote name='TahoeDust' timestamp='1366799191' post='6906329']
So, right now my R11s shaft measures 44" from the tip of the adapter to the butt. I believes that means the driver plays 45.25. Is this correct? Can someone confirm? Also, if I was to cut off 1.25" to make it play 44" do you think the swing weight change would be noticeable? How much weight would I need to add to the head to keep it the same swing weight?
[/quote]

At 44" you can use 10 grams pr inch you cut of,(12.5 grams in your case) and YES you cant take of 1.25 without you notice
- If flex and launch is fine now, take half of tip, rest from butt.
If you ONLY cutt off from butt, launch will raise some due to more head weight on the same shaft, so we tip trim to keep it as close to original specs in play, unless there is other needs for either a tad higher or lower launch than it is.
[/quote]

Thanks. The shaft that I would be trying this on is about 10 grams heavier and a little stiffer. I have been playing a PX Black 5.5, but have a PX Blue 6.0 that I would be doing this experiment with. Would you still trim the tip and butt as well considering the shaft is already a bit stiffer than what I am currently playing?

[PixlPutterman]

[quote name='Kacee' timestamp='1366823137' post='6908679']
I cut BOTH of my gaming drivers to 43", the Callaway RXB with stock shaft I need to add 15g of lead tapes, so I tip the shaft 1", the Nike VRS I installed a steel shaft, with 22g grip, came out D5 with MOI of 2720, right where I want it so no extra weight need.

Results? My last three rounds, I hit 28/42 fairway, distance 190-210 with the Callaway RXB and 200-242 (GPS measured) with the Nike VRS.

It's funny that I have always thought that steel shaft driver will make me lost some distance, but no, this Nike VRS is 13*, steel shafted, consistently giving me better distance off the tee compare to the Callaway RXB 10.5*, much straighter, too. I actually hit 2 balls off the tee with 2 of my drivers last round, the fun driver might become the main driver.
[/quote]If I had to guess, the wieght of steel is helping to calm some over active hands during the swing, resulting in better quality contact.

[Trap Junior]

I cut my driver from 45.25 to 44.25'' about 10 days ago. I hit the sweetspot more consistently but the shaft feels stiffer and different and not in a good way. I put lead tape on the head to bring the swingweight back up to where it was, and the butt frequency is within a CPM of what it was before we cut it. Maybe I just have to get used to it but the ball flight is definitely lower.

[NRJyzr]

I hope I'm not repeating myself...

I have long played 44" drivers, with 44½" my previous limit. I tried playing 45" last year, ultimately finding success with a loaner club shafted with an F1 75. Aside from that, it's been inconsistent.

So I'm finally going to try the Bi-Dominatrix Proto I bought last fall, in a Fast 12LS. Back to 44½" again, and it looks right and proper.

We'll see what we get....

As a side note: if you like heavier swingweights, and I do, it can be a bit of a problem getting clubs to that weight at these shorter lengths with graphite. This might actually be where the weights on TM (and other) drivers that I used to laugh at would be a positive. Replace the stock weights with something heavier and off we go...

[High Draw]

I am having a lot of trouble lately hitting my driver on the extreme heel of the clubface. It is really bothersome and I wondered if any of you that have cut your drivers down, did anyone have that problem before and did trimming the shaft help find the center of the clubface. Thanks!

[PixlPutterman]

My problems weren't so much specific to a miss on one spot of the club face. I just never could consistently bring the club face down to the same spot . Trimming gave me far more control

[Trap Junior]

[quote name='High Draw' timestamp='1371255469' post='7245304']
I am having a lot of trouble lately hitting my driver on the extreme heel of the clubface. It is really bothersome and I wondered if any of you that have cut your drivers down, did anyone have that problem before and did trimming the shaft help find the center of the clubface. Thanks!
[/quote]

yes all my hits were consitently on the heel. Cutting it down brought it bang onto the sweetspot consistently. However as I said my shaft stiffened up alot and my ball flight is lower.

[High Draw]

What driver shaft combo are you using?

[Trap Junior]

D3 8.5 Fubuki x flex A1 setting. It was perfect for me on trackman before cutting it.

[Fade to Black]

When people say they play a 44" driver, are they talking about shaft length or shaft + head?

[High Draw]

cutting from the butt end, will that make the staft stouter? and if for some reason you would want to make it longer again and adding an extention would that change the profile of the shaft at all or would it be noticable??

[Trap Junior]

Length is with the head including grip cap for me anyway. Just think shortening a shaft by an inch must have disturbed the flex zones of the shaft somehow because mine feels different. Stiffer and it seems to launch lower.