
How to Shorten Golf Club Shafts
- Remove the grip using a utility knife with a hook blade. Remove the grip tape from the shaft.
- Measure the amount of shaft you want to remove (add an additional 1/8 inch to make up for the end of the grip), and mark the spot with ...
- Align your cut mark with the blade of the saw and secure the club in the vise. ...
- Turn the saw on. ...
How do you cut a golf shaft?
Most clubmakers use a shaft cutter–the same as a small pipe cutter a plumber would use. This cuts a small groove in the shaft slightly deeper each circle around the shaft until it cuts through. Some clubmakers might use a grinding wheel equipped with a saw blade to cut the shaft cleanly.
What end of the shaft do you cut on a club?
The butt end of the shaft is grip end. If you are shortening or extending the length of a golf club, this is where you will cut. If you want to change the play-ability of the club (feel, flex to a certain extent, spin rate, dispersion), you will be cutting the tip end of the shaft.
Can you cut a shaft from the tip end?
In certain cases, you will not cut a shaft at all from the tip end. This may be due to the shaft is designed for a putter, driver, a hybrid or an iron or wedge requiring a taper tip shaft. Parallel tip shafts (where the shaft remains a constant diameter from the tip up a specified distance up the tip) will most often require some tip trimming.
Why do golfers cut down shafts and reinstall them?
But some do-it-yourself golfers also cut down golf shafts, then reinstall them in their clubs. They do this to make their clubs better fit their swing, which might mean cutting the shaft simply to change length, or to change swingweight, flex or other playing characteristics.

How much can you cut off a golf shaft?
If you are going to shorten a golf club, there are a few things to keep in mind. The more shaft you cut off, the lighter, more stiff, and effectively flatter the club becomes. For every 1/2 inch you remove, you will lose approximately three swingweight points.
Can you cut down a shaft?
Although it is possible to use a simple (and sharp) hacksaw to cut down steel shafts, using this tool on graphite shafts can cause splintering or other damage to the shaft. Most clubmakers use a shaft cutter–the same as a small pipe cutter a plumber would use.
How much does it cost to shorten a golf shaft?
How much does it cost to shorten golf clubs? On average, it will cost $3-5 per club plus the cost of a new grip to shorten your clubs. If you're looking to save your old grips, you won't have to pay for new grips, but you'll have to pay a save grip fee of around $10 per club.
Can I cut an inch off my driver shaft?
Shortening the shaft will make the club shorter but it will also make the shaft stiffer and adjust the swing weight as well. Plus, the more length you remove, the less flex your club will have. Depending on how much you cut it down, it could move a regular flex to a stiff or a stiff to an extra stiff.
Does cutting down a shaft make it stiffer?
1:323:54How Does Butt Trimming a Golf Shaft Affect Playability? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you cut it from the tip end than the butt end and that has to do with diameters. And theMoreIf you cut it from the tip end than the butt end and that has to do with diameters. And the flexibility of these two ends of the ends of the shaft. But that's for another video. Today we're just
Can I shorten my own golf clubs?
If you have purchased a set of used golf clubs that are too long, you can quickly cut them down to size with a hand-held rotary tool. You can also resize your old clubs and pass them on to your children. The shaft of a golf club is narrower at the head end to generate power on the swing.
Do you lose distance with a shorter driver shaft?
The long and the short of it Your current length may be perfect for you. You may even need a longer one. But, as our experts and test have shown, a good number of golfers would benefit from a shorter shaft. You may actually increase distance and there's a good chance you'll hit more fairways.
How long should your driver be based on 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
How does cutting a shaft affect swing weight?
For every half inch of length added, the swingweight increases by three swingweight points. For every half inch of length removed, the swingweight decreases by three swingweight points.
How do I know if my driver shaft is too long?
The longer your driver shaft, the more your swing faults will be exaggerated. Assuming you don't make any other adjustments, your driver shaft will also be stiffer, which will impart less spin on the ball. The result: less curving right and left.
Should I shorten my clubs?
A shorter club technically should improve control and accuracy. A longer club technically should increase distance. A club that is properly fitted in terms of the length of the shaft will maximize accuracy and distance.
How long is a driver shaft without the head?
The average driver shaft length on Tour is roughly 44.75 inches, give or take a half-inch in either direction depending on preference. Contrary to what some might think, there isn't a run on longer shafts as a way to chase more distance.
How does shortening a golf shaft affect swing weight?
Shortening the shaft can make the golf club less flexible. If you are going to shorten a golf club, there are a few things to keep in mind. The more shaft you cut off, the lighter, more stiff, and effectively flatter the club becomes. For every 1/2 inch you remove, you will lose approximately three swingweight points.
How many swingweight points do you lose when you remove 1/2 inch?
For every 1/2 inch you remove, you will lose approximately three swingweight points. You can readjust the swingweight by adding lead tape to the head of the club. Any amount of cutting will slightly stiffen the club. It will probably go unnoticed if you take 1 inch or less off the club.
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I know this might seem obvious, but be sure to measure and mark off the point at which you are cutting. Especially while tipping a shaft (you can’t undo this), it is important to have precise measurements. Use a sharpie to make your marks on the shaft. Here is a tutorial on how to measure golf clubs.
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Hey!! I'm Zach, the founder of The DIY Golfer. I created this site in 2015 while playing D1 collegiate golf to help myself understand the game of golf better and improve as a player. Fast forward a few years, and it has become much more than a journal.
What does cutting the shaft shorter do to a golf club?
The swing weight, or weight at the head of the club and any additional weighting inside the shaft, is still in place, and cutting the shaft shorter changes the balance of the club as well.
How much should a golf shaft be tipped?
Many pros have their shafts tipped as much as one or two inches. The idea behind tipping is to make the clubhead end of the shaft stiffer and even lower torque than it was designed to be to minimize twisting of the club at impact.
Why do tour pros have their shafts tipped?
Tour pros often have their shafts "tipped," or cut back from the clubhead end slightly to make the tip of the shaft stiffer. This enables them to keep the same length club but have a slightly stiffer shaft near the ball. Cutting a club from the butt end will have somewhat the opposite effect, making the shaft stiffer overall but shorter as well.
How does changing the length of a golf club affect the swing?
Changing swing characteristics: Changing the length of a golf club can moderately or severely change the swing characteristics of the club. Removing length from the butt end of the shaft also removes weight from that end and changes the swing weight and balance of the club. Cutting a shaft from one end or the other also changes the kickpoint ...
How to adjust length of golf club?
Step 1. From the butt: The easiest and quickest way to adjust the length of a club is to remove the grip and cut a given amount of the shaft off the butt end. Traditionally, this is how many youngsters get their first sets of golf clubs. Their parents cut the clubs down so they are easier for them to handle. Keep in mind, though, that cutting the ...
Is a shorter shaft stiffer than a longer shaft?
A shorter shaft is typically stiffer than a longer one. Although a shorter golf club shaft tends to be firmer than a longer one, it is important to understand the changes trimming a shaft will make to a club before making such a permanent change.
Can you cut a shaft from the butt end?
Cutting a shaft from one end or the other also changes the kickpoint of the shaft–lowering it if you cut from the butt end or raising it if you cut from the tip. Even a small adjustment to a putter can cause a significant change in feel. Keep these changes in mind when planning any changes to your club.
How to cut a club shaft with a rotary tool?
Insert the cutting blade attachment into the rotary tool according to the instructions in your owner's manual. Use the rotary tool to cut the club shaft along your marked line. Smooth out the end of the shaft with a piece of fine grain sandpaper.
Why is the shaft narrower at the head end of a golf club?
The shaft of a golf club is narrower at the head end to generate power on the swing. When shortening a golf club, you must remove the grip and cut the wide end of the shaft so the club can still flex properly.
How to shorten a golf club?
How to Shorten Golf Clubs. If you have purchased a set of used golf clubs that are too long, you can quickly cut them down to size with a hand-held rotary tool. You can also resize your old clubs and pass them on to your children. The shaft of a golf club is narrower at the head end to generate power on the swing.
How to wrap a golf club grip?
Start at the end of the club and wrap grip tape around the shaft. Overlap the previous layer of tape slightly to keep it tight. Smooth out any wrinkles or bumps in the tape as you go along.
Why trim a shaft?
Why trim or cut a shaft at all? When the manufacturers make a shaft, they do so in mind that is could be used for a wide number of golfers and applications, so the manufacturer makes the shaft longer than it will most likely be used in the final golf club. The number one reason for making the shaft longer is to accommodate taller players so they ...
Why do you need to trim a parallel shaft?
This is required to offset the increasing heads weights as the clubs become shorter and maintain the flex the manufacturer designed into the shaft for a finished club.
What is a combination flex shaft?
These "combination flex" shafts are designed to reduce inventory by being able to create multiple flexes from a single shaft rather than produce two different shafts. Here are the most common ones below.
What does a trimming chart show?
It is also important to understand the trimming charts show how much (if any) to take off the tip end (the skinny part or where the head will be attached). The trimming charts will not tell you an amount to take off the butt end (the fat part where the grip is installed).
