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  • Looking for recent feedback on Shorter Length Drivers

toraider

When I was building drivers they were all 44 or 44.5" and worked quite well and usually D1 or D0 swing weight.

With OEM drivers at 45.75, I have little success at that length unless I choked down. Even that was no guarantee. Also OEM shafts are usually counterbalanced to keep the swing weight down.

Getting tired of all this with OEM's, I got fitted. At full length and chocking down, Ping (stock head and shaft) was yielded less distance and was the most erratic. Callaway and TM paired with their lighter shafts were much better. The best was a TSi1........lighter weight head and shaft.

Bottom line, whatever length provides the best center strikes should yield the best distance.

    For years I did better with shorter drivers 44.5" and heavier seemed the best compromise of distance and accuracy. The last few years I have played with 44.5 to 46 and it just seems to depend on what swing I have that day. Also used a TM Mini at 43 and 43.5 and initially thought that was the holy grail, but then kept hitting pull hooks. Lately I don't think any spec of the club matter for me it's just whether or not I have a swing.

      I have an Alpha V2 425 10.5 at about 44", Matrix 7321 stiff, and it's really solid. I often carry two drivers, one around 47.5" and the other in the 43.5"-44.5" range. Shorter and heavier can work if you don't lose too much swing speed.

      Spuzz

      I guess you missed it, found a lower tee height after the first hole, a which point, it was way better. Yes, you are correct. Lower was better.

      Then started to stiffen up late in the round after waiting on every tee. At which point, no turn in the swing, so all arm left shots.

          I've been choking up on my driver to the end of the grip, so about 4", so I'm basically hitting a 41.5" driver. I really don't lose any distance and have hit some of my longer drives swinging this way, go figure. I'm also taking what feels like a short backswing and half effort coming through. It might actually be the easy swing but I'm really hitting a ton of fairways. Hit 13-14 in my last tournament. I will occasionally try going full length and I really don't gain anything in distance. I wonder if the 4" of shaft sticking out the end have any back weighting effect that helps?
          I used to play 48" drivers back in the day and hit them fine but I pulled one last year and it didn't go well. I hit it reasonably straight but just didn't gain the distance.

          Just got back from a golf trip and one of my playing partners had a custom cobra f9 built at 43.75 with it weighted to normal. Felt wonderful to me. I always choke down on mine. This might be a great option on my next driver

          Golf swing is so individualistic there is no one size fits all even though G'Buzzers try and make it that. 😁

          DonM I think most people would be better off starting out with 44".

          I think this re-write is better. And more fitting.

          I never could hit drivers when I started playing. After a break of some 23 yrs., I came back in the 'titanium era', and found that longer is better. I started with +45" and now am at 46-47". Through experimentation, it was a simple matter of what felt comfortable to swing, using MY swing. (re: Bagger Vance). Even now, I am only comfortable hitting driver or using my putter. Everything in between gives me the willys, even though I can 'hit' them. Not well at all, but I can, even 3 wd. off the deck. But, I cannot hit that 3 wd. off the tee, and an iron there would be very dangerous.
          Ima hack. Big deal. 😅

          Each person has to find what fits THEIR swing, not mine/not yours. But, didn't we all know that before today???

              Par4QC Each person has to find what fits THEIR swing, not mine/not yours. But, didn't we all know that before today???

              Some have but most don't think that way Rex. Hence I am going to suggest what works for me and it will work for you. NOT! 😄

                  Par4QC Everyone is happy, that there is only 1 me. 😄

                  Might be someone unhappy that there's a YOU at all? 🤣🤣. Nobody here, though.....I swear.

                    Typhoon FYI you driver distance should be 2x your PW (45-48 degree) carry distance.

                    I must be hitting my PW too far......

                      I have used 46" or 46.5" drivers for years. I decided I needed more accuracy than length and decided to go with a 45" driver. I had to swap the standard weights in the Callaway Epic Flash SZ from the a6g/2g to 17.5/6g in order to get the swing weight back up. It was E1 with my 80g shaft at 46.5" and I was able to get my 45" 80g shaft up to E2 with those weights.

                      BTW, I have noticed that I can hit more fairways with it but it really likes to be swung fast. When I first went out with it, I was taking it easy and kept loosing the ball to the right. Swing hard and it goes straight or has a very slight fade. The ball doesn't go as far, but that could be other factors contributing as well right now.

                      Don't underestimate swing weight on it's affects it will have.