46" Driver shaft length

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Lou G — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:35:51 GMT

It is true that a longer shaft will straighten out a fade. I had a G2 driver at 44" and I would hit a very high straight shot or a fade. My current driver was originally 45" when I got it and my longest drive was a slight draw but the issue was I would occasionally get a heel hit and hit a push fade and most of my drives were right of center. Shortening to 44.5" put my drives dead straight and the push-fade all but disappeared.

Also, 44" gives a distance loss for me. With the G2, the swingweight was C8. I'm hitting D2 with my current driver (have a Dri Tac oversize grip).

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Gregory V — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:49:07 GMT

I will be 60 this year; I have been playing my drivers at 46" for the past 6 or 7 years. I was actually at 46-1/4" for a year or two.

For me, the extra length helps to achieve a heavier overall weight and swing weight, which helps me stay a bit smoother in the transition. Also, I generally play courses which are a bit more forgiving in the landing area, and with my 93 mph swing speed, I need all the distance I can generate. Paradoxically, I found that I was straighter with the longer club length when I switched 7 years ago.

Titleist drivers are great in this respect, in that I can alter the weight in the head to achieve a swing weight which works best for me. I am currently playing the 913 D2 with a Diamana S+ 62 stiff at 46", and a swing weight of D5.

Hope this helps someone else!

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Lou G — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:51:01 GMT

I tried a couple 46" drivers (RBZ and Amp) and I had the most difficult time hitting them. My current driver has M flex (senior) but plays more like regular because it is 1.25" shorter than stock (TM 2K7 is 45.75"). Even R flex feels a bit like rubber on a 46" driver.

Jim McClean recommends most golfers use a 44-44.5" shaft with 10.5 loft. Don Trahan takes it a step further and recommends 43.5" (and some of his students experience superior control) - for this to work, one would have to set a 910D2 (and etc) on A3,D3,A2 or D2 for lie angle, use the heaviest shaft possible (Pro Force V2 96g listed on the options), a Winn Lite Dri Tac grip and probably the heaviest weight that Titleist has.

I came up when drivers were 43.5", 3 woods were 42" and 5 woods were 41". When I went to graphite in 2006, I had to cut the shafts 1" to get them to hit correctly. I played with steel shafts on my fairways and hybrids up until 2011 (I actually played the last half of 2010 with a persimmon 21* 5 wood and 28.5* 10 wood along with a 980F 15* and had a couple clone hybrids 31 and 35*).

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

larry m — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:57:01 GMT

I AGREE TOTALY WITH LOU G

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Lou G — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:26:35 GMT

I played with 44.5" while coming up on drivers between 2006-2008 (I was changing over to metal woods then and used a laminated or persimmon 3 wood off the tee since the 1970s). Wasn't super consistent at the time (I hit them straight most of the time and my bad shot was a pull -never sliced). I alternated

I played with 44" between 2008-2011. Pretty consistent with my G2 but tended to hit a fade and my dead straight shot had a bit of a high trajectory and I ended up more near the right side of the fairway. They didn't have the Dri Tac Lite grips at that time so the swingweight on my driver was C8 with an Excel RF grip and the G2 driver had a flatter lie angle than my current one.

My current driver is a 13* draw face I played with it at 45" between Jan 2011- May 2012 and I pretty much stayed in the fairway with my longest drives being slightly left of center. My WORST shot would be a push fade that ended up on the fairway but near the right (this is if I got over anxious). Going back to 44.5" was the best thing I did - my shot pattern is very tight and I seldom stray from the middle of the fairway and I can swing away - I also put a Dri Tac Lite grip on to maintain swingweight (it is D2). My driving since 2011 has become a strong part of my game and I have hit the green on a couple 200+ yard par 3s (I've also developed a choked down stinger shot since 200 yards is the edge of my envelope for the 19 fairway; I don't carry a 3 wood because of the loft of my driver).

If I had to go to a 44" driver, I would do a 910D2 12* with a Dri Tac Lite oversize grip (for swingweight) and the Surefit setting of A3.

Just as a frame of ref, I have my 19F set at a shaft length of 41" and Surefit setting of A3. I pretty much hit it dead straight or maybe a slight draw and between 190-200. This actually matches the way I had my 2007 TM Burner 7 wood set up. I've been pretty strong with fairway woods since 2007 (carried 975F and then a 980F 3W and a couple LV persimmons in 2010).

Also, my hybrids and irons are 1/2" shorter than standard. The 910H 27* is set at C3 and my AP1 6-PW are 1/2* upright.

Part of the reason I play shorter clubs is the equipment I used between 1972-2003. The irons of the '60s and '70s were 1/2" shorter than nowadays (5 iron was 37.5 and 9/PW was 35.5). I've also played with an upright swing since 2008 for better consistency.

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Jeff L — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:16:14 GMT

I, like you, am 5'7". some years ago I experimented with clubs neg. 1" from standard with great control ability results. I did end up sacrificing a few yards, but I thought it was a good trade. Have since improved consistency and gone back to standard length. The choice is yours though.

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Lou G — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:38:54 GMT

[quote user="Jimmy Lee"]

I am 5'7'' weighing 160 lbs at 48 years old, and had a moderate swing speed around 100 mph. To increase my distance from the tee, I have been using a 910 driver, 3 wood and hybrid that play at 46 inch length. I average about 250 yards from the tee with my driver but the club feels heavy and I have very little ball control. I was considering going with a shorter shaft with a playing length of 44 inch's with a 62 gram shaft weight. I have been following the TPI workouts all winter and have seen increased club speed and now at 106 mph. Will a shorter shaft benefit my game?

[/quote]

I'm 6'1" and use a 44.5" driver and I am 55. TM drivers are 45.75 stock and I have a Dri Tac Lite grip to maintain swingweight. I pretty much stay near the center of the fairway with this shaft length.

Yeah a Titleist driver with a 46" shaft length is going to be almost a E0 swingweight considering the extra 1" adds 6 swingweight points.

Without changing the grip, 44" driver is going to be 12 swingweight points less than the 46" driver. If you use a Winn Dri Tac Lite grip that should give the same swingweight as with a stock 45" driver and standard rubber grip (the Dri Tac is 23g and Golf Pride Tour Velvet is 52g - that is ~ 6 swingweight points).

Re: 46" Driver shaft length

Cameron D — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:15:46 GMT

Jimmy,

Length could certainly be an issue if you are struggling with your control off the tee. Any Titleist Club Fitter can assit in finding the right length. This is something to consider, since you may not need to take that much length off the club. Also, keep in mind that you will lighten the clubs swing weight by cutting that shaft down.

Cameron

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