44 inch driver.....WOW!

[enduro]

I normally play my drivers at 45" or longer, but my Razr Fit with Graphite Designs G60 was awful at 45". The swingweight at D6 was higher than I prefer, the driver felt really heavy and unresponsive. Yesterday, I cut the RF down to 44.25, the SW is stlll D1.5 and I didn't have to add any extra weight to the head. The RF drivers have heavier than normal heads and work great at shorter lengths.

I definitely get a straighter and hotter ballflight now. The clubhead is easier to square up consistently and it looks better at address due to the toe not sticking up as much. Distance was better and it feels like I can swing harder with less effort.

I hit 2 large buckets of balls comparing the RF to my Ping Anser (45,25". TFC 800 D shaft, D4). Both drivers are 10.5 loft and S flex. The RF had a much straighter flight and was noticeably lower spinning. I was hitting into about a 20 km wind, so any spin was magnified.. No doubt the shafts played a role as the G60 is quite a bit stouter playing than the Ping TFC shaft. Still, it was obvious that the quality of impact was the biggest factor affecting spin rates and dispersion

I preferred the Ping driver to the 45" RF, but the same RF driver at 44.25 has b**** slapped the Ping to the backup bag for now.

[mitchdoc]

[quote name='Wordmixer' timestamp='1366395916' post='6879033']
Glad to find some fellow "shorties" here. I too had played a 45" driver (Adams F11) and found that with my 101 mph swing speed off the tee I often hit my 43" 13* Sonartec SS-07 3-wood (more like a 2-wood) just as far, though with less carry and more roll. One afternoon I even teed up 3 ProVs for each club and found a whopping difference of 3 yards. So I wondered if there was some happy "middle ground" between the 460cc Adams and the tiny-by-comparison sub-200cc Sonartec. I acquired an old school Titleist driver, a 975L-FE 9.5* (the thing is probably between 330 and 350cc) and had installed in it a Purple Ice 65s shaft. The Titleist's total length is 44 1/8, and it is the purest feeling, most fairway-hitting driver I've ever owned. Some of the guys I play with keep looking at the club like "What is that small thing?"

Bottom line: 44" driver = narrower shot dispersion off the tee = boost in confidence.
[/quote]


Funny I just took an old 983K 9.5* and had it cut to 44-44.25 inches long slapped on an ultralite grip and played it for first time.
I have been struggling with driver hitting maybe 35-40% fw compared to about 70-75% with my 3 wood.
Well Used the 983K driver on 11 holes and was 10/11 with it last round, by far my most accurate round with driver in years.
I bought an extra shaft for my R1 Black. Will mess around with shortening it as I also have some extra weights from an old TP set. This should allow me to dial in swingweight....

[crazygolfnut]

After reading this thread, I would like to try a shorter shaft. Instead of cutting one down, I guess I could take the shaft from my Razr fit 3 wood and put it in my driver to see how it works. My driver shaft is 45.5 and my 3 wood is 43. Could be interesting. By the way, I am 5”6” with a 85 to 90 mph swing speed.

Questions.. does a shorter shaft change the spin/ball flight? Because I am not cutting anything down, would the shorter pre-made shaft have the same swing weight. Thanks.

[DNice26]

Your 3 wood shaft would play quite stiff in your driver because the shaft is tipped more than your driver shaft.......your results will not show you what you are looking for.

[Lord Helmet]

[quote name='DNice26' timestamp='1375045206' post='7556412']
Your 3 wood shaft would play quite stiff in your driver because the shaft is tipped more than your driver shaft.......your results will not show you what you are looking for.
[/quote]

Yeah, Id be cautious about taking a 3w shaft and putting it into a driver, due to the tipping.

[xabia]

I cut my driver back down to 44" total a couple weeks ago and picked up 15 yards. I just can't get used to a longer shaft no matter how hard I try.

Last year I played a 43.75" RBZ tour and that was the best I have ever driven it so I decided to go back to the really short driver. Only problem is swingweight, I could definitely use some hotmelt in my RFE

[Arizonalefty59]

My driver plays like 43.5" and my 3 wood is like 41" and I absolutely LOVE them!

[OspreyCI]

[quote name='Golfdoctor' timestamp='1372950074' post='7387480']
I cut down my Ping G25 driver down to 44" and only added about 8 grams of weight to the head for a D-3.5, it must be the shaft's weight point.
[/quote]
What was your method of adding weight?

[itismarv]

I cut my 910D2 with a regular shaft down to 44" and set it to 9.75deg loft and 1deg closed and also switched the seven gram weight on the head to 12 and it was bombs away all day!

[smitty]

[quote name='itismarv' timestamp='1375133237' post='7563600']
I cut my 910D2 with a regular shaft down to 44" and set it to 9.75deg loft and 1deg closed and also switched the seven gram weight on the head to 12 and it was bombs away all day!
[/quote]

Thinking of cutting my 913d2 down to 44". Just curious if you saw any difference in trajectory or anything? Did you deloft it after the cut?

Did you just take an inch off the butt?

Thanks for any input.

[alldayVOL]

I am putting a PING i15 together with an X100 at 43.75. My gamer is a NIKE VR Tour with a VTS Black 6 at 44.75. Looking forward to the experiment.

[itismarv]

[quote name='smitty' timestamp='1375135778' post='7563838']
[quote name='itismarv' timestamp='1375133237' post='7563600']
I cut my 910D2 with a regular shaft down to 44" and set it to 9.75deg loft and 1deg closed and also switched the seven gram weight on the head to 12 and it was bombs away all day!
[/quote]

Thinking of cutting my 913d2 down to 44". Just curious if you saw any difference in trajectory or anything? Did you deloft it after the cut?

Did you just take an inch off the butt?

Thanks for any input.
[/quote]

I delofted immediately after cutting but I thru in a heavier weight on the head to bring back the swing weight to what I'm used to. I just took off an inch of the butt.

[Ezgolfer]

I choke down on the grip while playing tourney's .

[smitty]

[quote name='itismarv' timestamp='1375197553' post='7568548']
[quote name='smitty' timestamp='1375135778' post='7563838']
[quote name='itismarv' timestamp='1375133237' post='7563600']
I cut my 910D2 with a regular shaft down to 44" and set it to 9.75deg loft and 1deg closed and also switched the seven gram weight on the head to 12 and it was bombs away all day!
[/quote]

Thinking of cutting my 913d2 down to 44". Just curious if you saw any difference in trajectory or anything? Did you deloft it after the cut?

Did you just take an inch off the butt?

Thanks for any input.
[/quote]

I delofted immediately after cutting but I thru in a heavier weight on the head to bring back the swing weight to what I'm used to. I just took off an inch of the butt.
[/quote]

Thanks for the answer.

Would you say trajectory was about the same after delofting as it was prior to the cut? I'm just curious if cutting will increase trajectory. Always seems like I hit my clubs higher when I choke down. Might just be in my head. But I could deloft all my woods and hybrids if needed. All the flights on my woods are perfect, just looking for a bit more control.

[PeanutsDaddy]

I have cut down three four shafts in the past month. First played at 44.25* and the last three have played at 44.75*. I've actually discovered that I like to choke down, even with a shorter shaft, so the extra 1/2 inch gives me the feel that I want. I have seen no change in ball flight in any of the shafts (V2, Project X Black 5.5, Xcaliber SL, and Motore F1). There is already a different flight on each of these shafts for me.

Good luck.

[itismarv]

[quote name='smitty' timestamp='1375203005' post='7569256']
[quote name='itismarv' timestamp='1375197553' post='7568548']
[quote name='smitty' timestamp='1375135778' post='7563838']
[quote name='itismarv' timestamp='1375133237' post='7563600']
I cut my 910D2 with a regular shaft down to 44" and set it to 9.75deg loft and 1deg closed and also switched the seven gram weight on the head to 12 and it was bombs away all day!
[/quote]

Thinking of cutting my 913d2 down to 44". Just curious if you saw any difference in trajectory or anything? Did you deloft it after the cut?

Did you just take an inch off the butt?

Thanks for any input.
[/quote]

I delofted immediately after cutting but I thru in a heavier weight on the head to bring back the swing weight to what I'm used to. I just took off an inch of the butt.
[/quote]

Thanks for the answer.

Would you say trajectory was about the same after delofting as it was prior to the cut? I'm just curious if cutting will increase trajectory. Always seems like I hit my clubs higher when I choke down. Might just be in my head. But I could deloft all my woods and hybrids if needed. All the flights on my woods are perfect, just looking for a bit more control.
[/quote]

I noticed that the flight is more penetrating rather than the balloon that I used to get.

[zodiackill]

Yeah, I'm currently playing an RFX at 44.5", but I'm switching over to a Ping Anser. I'm considering putting the same shaft, a Rombax 8z08 in the Anser. It should play around 44.25". I'm finding more and more that I like short clubs, period. I'm a shorter guy. But I have an aggressive, fast swing. I just recently cut both wedges down .5", and I'm chipping and using my wedges better than I ever have in my life. I'm considering cutting a couple of my Irons down .5" as well to see if I get the same thing. I may end up playing the Anser at 44" and then cut my 3deep down to 42". Throw a bit more lead tape on the 3deep though if I end up doing that.

[sTmGolfer]

I recently too made the switch to a shorter driver. I'm not a long hitter by any means ... short T-Rex arms, limited flexibility, short backswing. Recently cut down to 44.5" with a PX 5.5 tipped .75" in my G25. It is an absolute BOMBER. I added probably 10 yards or so with this set up. Been extremely happy and consistent. My misses are much less offline.

[OspreyCI]

Well.... Guess I am going this route too. The Whiteboard I am installing in my G25 will play 44.75". This will be a first for me playing both a shorter and heavier driver. The WB is a 73gram shaft. Hoping for the best.

[Adkinsgreats]

44.5 inch driver here

[rodney24]

I am gonna be cutting my G25 down to 44 -44 1/2. I am really interested on how its gonna go. I also have an i20 laying around. I dont know if i want to experiment with it first or go strait to my gamer. Which ever driver I go with it is going to need some hotmelt most likely. Never had a club hotmelted and honestly a little hesitant about it. But if anything the G25 could use some hotmelt or something, pretty loud driver to my ears.

[OspreyCI]

Yea, want to hotmelt my G25 too. I am wondering if the PGA SS can do it?

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I've got a Cobra Amp 9.5* Stiff Adila RIP 55g, totally stock at 45.50". SS somewhere in the 92-110 range, depending on my mood. I'm 6'4" 210lb. Some days I flush it one after another... with some dispersion granted, but lately it's been one gigantic banana slice after another. Which is scaring me from really swinging like I can. My irons are pretty decent... X-22 7 iron is good for 180.

At any rate, there's an interesting thread on here about putting steel shafts in drivers, and I'm highly tempted (my 904f 4W w/ S300 shaft is a favorite of mine), but I think I might try this first. ...take it down to 44"? I'd get it done at Golf Galaxy and I don't trust them to advise on this; how should I tell them I want it cut? Butt? Tip?

[bwrong]

Just got a new Veylix Alpina for my G25 at a playing length of 44.5. This combo was a fairway finder and I felt like I had a much easier time finding the sweet spot on be head on each shot. 11/14 fairways today, I'll take that all day long.

[OspreyCI]

[quote name='bwrong' timestamp='1375319396' post='7579922']
Just got a new Veylix Alpina for my G25 at a playing length of 44.5. This combo was a fairway finder and I felt like I had a much easier time finding the sweet spot on be head on each shot. 11/14 fairways today, I'll take that all day long.
[/quote]
Have to do any adjustment for the swingweight of the G25? Lead tape or hotmelt?

[bwrong]

[quote name='OspreyCI' timestamp='1375321608' post='7580162']
[quote name='bwrong' timestamp='1375319396' post='7579922']
Just got a new Veylix Alpina for my G25 at a playing length of 44.5. This combo was a fairway finder and I felt like I had a much easier time finding the sweet spot on be head on each shot. 11/14 fairways today, I'll take that all day long.
[/quote]
Have to do any adjustment for the swingweight of the G25? Lead tape or hotmelt?
[/quote]
No adjustments for swingweight. I read somewhere since the stock shaft is counter balanced that if you go with an aftermarket shaft at a shorter than stock length (45'' or less) youd be in a D1-D2 range. I confirmed with Ken at Victory Custom Golf when i ordered from him and he said it should be fine.

[PeanutsDaddy]

Played with a friend today who had questioned my decision to cut down my driver shafts. I was driving the ball incredibly well and he asked to borrow my driver (R11s, V2 44.75*). He liked the length, feel and launch characteristics so much that he asked if he could borrow the club for his Friday morning foursome. I would be shocked if he doesn't convert like I did.

[OspreyCI]

[quote name='bwrong' timestamp='1375323686' post='7580382']
[quote name='OspreyCI' timestamp='1375321608' post='7580162']
[quote name='bwrong' timestamp='1375319396' post='7579922']
Just got a new Veylix Alpina for my G25 at a playing length of 44.5. This combo was a fairway finder and I felt like I had a much easier time finding the sweet spot on be head on each shot. 11/14 fairways today, I'll take that all day long.
[/quote]
Have to do any adjustment for the swingweight of the G25? Lead tape or hotmelt?
[/quote]
No adjustments for swingweight. I read somewhere since the stock shaft is counter balanced that if you go with an aftermarket shaft at a shorter than stock length (45'' or less) youd be in a D1-D2 range. I confirmed with Ken at Victory Custom Golf when i ordered from him and he said it should be fine.
[/quote]
Thanks for the help. I am going 44.75" with a 73 gram Whiteboard. So it sounds like I should be fine also.

[zodiackill]

When my Anser comes in either Monday or Tuesday I'll be promptly swapping in a Matrix 7m3 Black Tie in X flex to play at 44.75" I believe. I want to try it at 44.25", but I figure I'll leave room for half an inch of tipping if I need it.

[zodiackill]

So, I took the Anser out yesterday. Haven't gotten a chance to have it reshafted yet, taking it in for that today. However, the used one I ordered had a VTS Black 7sx at 44.75". WOWW. Absolutely incredible. I don't know if its just superstition or what, but I tried combos at 44.5" in my RFX after playing it at 44.75 and it just felt odd to me. Like I couldn't set up comfortably. Don't know. Either way, absolutely amazing. Had my best driving day all season, and like everybody said above, lost no distance. I only played 9 holes, had 3 drives 320+ and only hit driver 5 times.... I normally wouldnt have even hit it that much, but was hitting it so well I just couldn't bring myself to pull the 3w or hybrid haha.

In the next couple days I'll have it back with the 7m3 x @ 44.75" tipped .5" and I'm beyond excited. I'm having trouble selling my tour spec 6.2x. It's already playing short in a driver, like 44.5 in a Ping Anser I believe, and I just noticed it has a scratch in the tip so it'd need to be tipped further in my opinion to feel comfortable swinging it. If it doesnt sell at what its listed for on fleabay I think I'm just going to tip it half an inch, throw it in a Ping adapter and try the Anser at 44" w/TS 6.2x tipped .5" to see how that length works for me. I'll have to throw a good amount of lead tape on the head I know, but whatever, its just an experiment.