golf clubs why are driver shafts longer than 7 iron shafts

Why are driver shafts so long?

“Longer driver shafts can create more clubhead speed, resulting in additional ball speed and overall distance gains,” says Custom Lab Golf founder Gavin Hay. “That's why manufacturers have continually increased their standard spec driver shaft lengths over the years.

Are drivers longer than irons?

Irons vs Driver Because your irons are shorter than your driver, and because the ball is positioned farther back in your stance, there will be less tilt in your spine. The center of your body will even with the ball, not slightly behind it like with the driver.

Why are golf club shafts different lengths?

As a club is longer (as well as lighter), then it can be swung faster up to a limit. The increased length provides greater leverage and speed to hit the ball further if solid contact is to be made. Shorter clubs are designed not for length, but rather precision.

Is a longer shaft better on a driver?

All things being equal, a longer driver shaft should generate more clubhead speed and offer more distance off the tee. As I've discussed before, adding distance is an important part of increasing your odds of lowering your score. That is the main reason any golfer would pursue a longer shaft.

How long should my driver shaft be for my height?

Driver Shaft Length Based Solely on HeightHeight (feet/inches)Driver Shaft Length5'4″-5'7″45.5″5'2″-5'4″45″5'0″-5'2″44.5″4'10”-5'0″44″6 more rows•May 9, 2021

Why do I hit my driver well but not my irons?

There is a myriad of reasons why you hit your driver better than your irons. However, the root cause for most golfers stems from posture, the position of the ball in your stance, and your swing plane. Plus, the optimal ball speed and forgiveness produced by a driver make it easy to launch.

How long should my golf clubs be for my height?

Using the ratio of every 6" of height there should be a 1" change in length then there should be a 1 ½" difference between their 5-irons. For example, recommend 36.5" for the lady and 38" for the man (or 36.75" / 38.25").

Do any pro golfers use single length irons?

DeChambeau is currently the only Tour player who uses single-length irons, but Norman said he thinks that could change in the future.

Do longer clubs go further?

Distance. Shaft length is certainly a factor in how far you hit a given club. However, some clubs benefit more than others. Installing longer shafts in wedges and short irons will almost always result in more distance, as most players have little trouble swinging the shorter clubs.

Do pro golfers use longer shafts?

Pagel explained that the model local rule, MLR G-10, not only wouldn't affect recreational golfers, as it applies to only the game's highest levels, but it would have minimal impact on the pros; Pagel cited data that determined that just 3% of professional golfers use or have used driver shafts longer than 46 inches ( ...

What length driver shaft do pros use?

44.5" to 45.75"PGA Tour Professionals tend to play drivers between 44-46" in length. The vast majority of pros are in the 44.5" to 45.75" range from what we've been able to gather. There are, of course, exceptions in both directions.

Does driver length affect distance?

Here's a general rule to use – the longer the driver, the more distance you will get. Testing from different companies has found that each inch longer can help you hit it 5-10+ yards longer! But the answer isn't as simple as just buying a longer driver shaft to hit bombs.

Why can I hit my 4 iron further than my driver?

A driver is longer than the irons. The difference in the length of the club is the reason we can hit the driver so far. The longer you swing a club and the faster the speed, the more distance you will get from it. Players who want to hit the driver well need to take advantage of this length that the club offers.

Is a 1 iron the same as a driver?

The most significant difference between a driving iron and a driver is the shape and construction of the club head. A driver has a large (usually titanium) head, and it is going to be one of the largest golf clubs in the bag. The iron has more of a blade type head, and it is typically built for shorter shots.

Is driver harder than iron?

To start with the setup, ball positioning, and angle of swing are different for drivers and irons. Average golfers find hitting a driver harder than hitting an iron for a number of reasons. A driver is the least lofted club, and the margin for error is much greater. Tee shots often miss the aimed target with drivers.

Can high handicappers use driving irons?

If you are hitting the 3 Iron the best, you should consider a driving iron as a high handicapper. Select the driving iron that meets your swing and ability that will inspire confidence when you stand on the tee and require a low penetrating shot with accuracy in mind over distance.

How to lengthen a golf shaft?

The most common way of lengthening a shaft is by placing a “plug” in the top of the shaft which is covered by the grip. See the chart below that gives an idea of the actual length of shaft required for the average player. (men)

What is the function of the shaft in golf?

The shaft is the engine of the “car” and determines how far, straight and the trajectory of the ball flight. The dynamics of the shaft. The flex of the shaft changes if you lengthen or shorten the shaft. The swing-weight and balance will change effectively requiring the golfer to make adjustments to the swing.

How does the lie angle change in golf?

The lie-angle will change by forcing the golfer to stand closer or further from the ball at the address. And finally the real “kicker”, control.

Why are longer shafts fashionable?

To increase the swing arc, and thus the distance off the tee, longer shafts became fashionable.

Why is distance important in golf?

Distance may be important, but will not win you games unless you can control the direction and flight of the ball. Control and accuracy should and will be the factor that lowers the handicap and improves the all-around performance on the golf course.

What chart to use for suggested lengths?

Use the Iron chart for suggested lengths.

When holding a club at an address, should the hand be natural?

The position of the hands should be as natural as possible when holding a club at an address.

Why do you need a longer driver shaft?

All things being equal, a longer driver shaft should generate more clubhead speed and offer more distance off the tee. As I’ve discussed before, adding distance is an important part of increasing your odds of lowering your score. That is the main reason any golfer would pursue a longer shaft.

How much does a golf shaft weigh?

If a golfer used a longer shaft and did nothing to remove weight, all potential benefits would disappear. He told me that most shafts weigh around 65 grams at 46 inches. But with a 47″ or 48″ shaft, he believed that going down to 50-55 grams was necessary.

How far from the tip of a 46 inch shaft should you balance?

If you were to balance a standard 46″ shaft on your finger, it would be about 24 inches from the tip. However, by adding more weight to the “butt” of the shaft, you can further shift the balance in that direction.

How many yards does a golfer have to drive to get a handicap?

Most golfers still average 220-230 yards with their drivers. As such, adding distance is even more important for “normal” golfers. If you gave an extra 10 or 20 yards to a 15 handicap, it would have more influence on their scores than a professional golfer. We need all the help we can get!

How long is a driver shaft?

My normal driver shaft length is 44″ , which is shorter than standard (usually around 45.5″). When you go with a shorter driver shaft, you typically have to add weight to the head so the club’s overall weight isn’t too light. So we added two weights on the tracks of the Epic MAX when I used the shorter shaft. This was more straightforward since we knew this setup has been working well for me for years.

What happens when you remove weight from a driver?

When you remove weight from the driver head, which is almost always necessary with a longer driver shaft, a few things happen: The driver will transfer less energy. In other words, the amount of ball speed you generate from your swing speed will drop a little bit.

Does a longer shaft help with curvature?

Golfers who fight with a slice often see an improvement in their club path, and the longer shaft can help reduce excessive ball curvature. However, the opposite can be true for players who draw the ball. He’s seen golfers with in-to-out swing paths really struggle.

What is swingweight in golf?

Swingweight is the relationship between the overall weight of the club and its balance point. Generally a lighter swingweight will be a result if a lighter shaft is used. So the clubmakers has two options if they want the swingweight to be the same with steel or graphite shafts.

Why is graphite longer than steel?

One of the downsides to having the graphite-shafted club longer than the steel is when golfers are sensitive to additional length that makes it harder for him or her to hit the ball solidly. In those cases if the person let’s say fits into “standard” length with steel, but they want graphite, they may have to order shorter than standard ...

How to tell the length of a golf shaft?

The straight edge should be pressed as close as possible to the shaft. Now, read the measurement at the bottom of the grip cap. This should tell you the length of the shaft.

What is the most important spec to pay attention to when you’re shopping for a new set of golf clubs?

According to the pros, the length of golf clubs is the most crucial spec to pay attention to when you’re shopping for a new set of clubs or an extra driver or hybrid.

How to measure golf clubs?

Measuring Your Clubs in Five Steps 1 Use a forty-eight-inch sturdy straight edge aluminum ruler. A tape measure is too flimsy and won’t give you an accurate measurement even if it is pressed against the club’s shaft. If you don’t currently own an aluminum yardstick, you can easily find one at a local home improvement store. 2 Don’t use your workbench to measure the golf clubs. A better alternative is to stand and place the club in its correct position at address. The sole of the club should be completely flat on the ground. 3 The straight edge should be placed so that the corner is touching the ground. The club should remain in address at this time with the ruler squaring up against the hosel. The hosel is the portion of the club where the clubhead is connected to the shaft. 4 The straight edge should be pressed as close as possible to the shaft. Now, read the measurement at the bottom of the grip cap. This should tell you the length of the shaft.

How many inches to a standard length golf club?

Six feet, five inches-add one and a half inches to the standard length of the club. Six feet, three inches to six feet, five inches-add one inch to the standard length of the club. Six feet to six feet, three inches-add half an inch to the standard length of the club.

How tall should a golf iron be?

Height Recommendations for Irons. Here you’ll find the standard recommended measurements for golf clubs based on height: Six feet, six inches and taller-add two inches to the standard length of the club. Six feet, five inches-add one and a half inches to the standard length of the club.

Why is dynamic fit measuring more reliable?

The dynamic fit measuring technique is more reliable because the measurement is taken as a player swings a club with the help of a launch monitor. A launch monitor is used to determine the correct head and shaft that will best suit the golfer’s playing style.

What should be taken into account when buying a new golf club?

When you’re getting fit for a new set of clubs, launch angle, dispersion, spin rate, and ball speed should also be taken into account in order to ensure you purchase the correct length.

What shafts are available in woods and irons?

You get Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff shafts in Woods and Irons, these are not categorized by gender, but rather by club head speed.

What Happens If Your Shaft Isn’t Stiff Enough?

When the shaft is too stiff, it’s going to feel hard to swing, it’s going to feel heavy, and make you tired after a few swings.

What Happens If Your Shaft Flex Is Too Flexible?

If the shaft is too flexible, you will have a ‘whippy’ feeling in your hands, and you won’t be able to feel the clubhead on the downswing.

How Can You Measure Your Swing Speed To See What Shaft You Should Use?

These are called launch monitors , they track your swing speed, loads of other parameters.

When To Move To A Stiffer Shaft?

You should move to a stiff shaft once your swing speed moves into the next bracket, if you can’t track your swing speed here are some signs you need to go stiffer

What is shaft flex?

Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends throughout the swing, someone that swings it slow will need a more flexible shaft, while someone that swings it fast will need a stiffer shaft. You get Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff shafts in Woods and Irons, generally your Woods and Irons will be the same flex.

Why is my golf club slice?

Try a more flexible shaft, when a shaft is too stiff the clubface struggles to turn back to square, which will present the clubface open at impact, causing the ball to slice. The more flexible the shaft is the easier it is to turn the clubhead over at impact.

Where is Matt from Plugged In Golf?

He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

How many yards did Player 5 gain by switching from 45 to 46?

Four of our five testers produced their highest total distance average with the 46″ shaft. While some of these gains were not substantial, Player 5 gained over 7 yards by switching from 45″ to 46″.

Does longer shafts increase AOA?

For some, the change was minute, but others increased their AoA by up to 1.8 degrees.

Is there a link between shaft length and accuracy?

Our testing found no clear link between shaft length and accuracy.

Is a shorter shaft an automatic?

Our results showed that shorter shafts are not an automatic means for producing consistent distance.

Can you shorten your driver?

If you’re in search of more consistency from the tee, don’t be so quick to shorten your driver. While it’s entirely possible that a shorter driver will help you hit it straighter, our data shows that a longer driver could also be the solution. Whether you’re searching for distance, accuracy, or a little of both, make an appointment with a trusted club fitter to find the optimal length for your driver.

Do you need a longer driver shaft?

This is not to say that everyone will benefit from a longer driver shaft. However, the data shows that players of varying abilities and swing speeds can find benefit from longer shafts. No one should be scared of trying a longer shaft because of their perceived lack of skill or speed.

2. You get the best of both worlds

Andrew Tursky, Senior Equipment Editor: As J.Wall mentioned, it’s absolutely time to get over any stigma around using graphite iron shafts. I’ll go as far as saying that more than 50 percent of golfers would find better performance and a more pleasurable experience by switching to graphite.

3. You can swing faster

Luke Kerr-Dineen, Director of Game Improvement Content: I went to our sister company True Spec for an iron fitting a couple of years ago, with one simple goal: I wanted to hit the ball further. I was sick of steel, so in came the graphite, and I was immediately vindicated.

caniac6

The longest iron I carry is a 5. I also carry a 5 hybrid to replace a 4 iron, and a 4 hybrid in place of a three iron. The gaps seem to work for me.

David in FL

Are most hybrids even "numbered" any more? Mine only have the lofts. I simply choose the lofts that give me the gaps that I need. Even easier with the adjustability that so many offer these days....

David in FL

The longest iron I personally carry is a 4 iron. My 3 hybrid, plays more like a "2-iron".

WUTiger

It depends on whether you have an iron-replacement or "traditional" hybrid.

bubble

the hybrids are not too long, the player iron play capacity is more often not sufficient.

Posts

32 degree where I live so I have not played them yet. No I didn’t get fit. The clubs are 1/2 longer than most brands. They wack you for $60 shipping but the clubs go for only $77 per club with any lie adjustments free. Grips no so much. They didn’t have...

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• All the factors mentioned above have an impact on your golf game andshaft length. Let us discuss shafts concerning theconsmentioned earlier: The shaft is the engine of the “car” and determines how far, straight and the trajectory of the ball flight. Increasing the length of a shaft has the following effect: 1. The dynamics of the shaft. The flex of...

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